Reviews Archives - Page 17 of 23

SwaddleDesigns Ultimate Receiving Blanket Giveaway

November 11, 2010 By Michelle Barneck 43 Comments

Now for another one of my favorites. I discovered SwaddleDesigns receiving blankets when my Mother-in-law gave us one of their organic receiving blankets with our last son. We had just watched The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD and learned about how swaddling could calm our new baby so we were thrilled to have a brand new swaddle blanket.

I loved how soft it was and that it had the swaddling instructions right on the tag. So handy, especially when people who were unfamiliar with swaddling watched our little one.

I also love that these blankets are bigger than your usual receiving blanket. There is plenty of blanket to go around if you know what I mean. With some of the others our son would break out of his swaddle within seconds because the blanket was so small and difficult to wrap around.

SwaddleDesigns exclusive 123 Swaddle tip tag helps babies sleep better.

SwaddleDesigns recently sent me one of their Ultimate Receiving blankets for my new little one. I had no idea how many adorable patterns they had available!

I chose the Pastel Brown with Blue Mod Circles you can see a peek of here in our recent newborn photo shoot. I absolutely love it and so does he. He calms right down when we get him all snuggled up in its softness.

He is all mine, isn’t he amazing?!

You know how I love a deal and SwaddleDesigns has a couple of really amazing discount sections!! The deal of the day offers items at 50% off and changes daily. I bought another organic receiving blanket on a daily deal. They also have a hot bargains section where they discount items to make room for new inventory. So go now and see what they have today!

Now for the good stuff…SwaddleDesigns is giving away an Ultimate Receiving Blanket of your choice!

To enter: (Leave a comment for each entry)

1) Follow SwaddleDesigns on Twitter and tweet about your favorite @SwaddleDesigns print or product

2) Become a Facebook Fan* and state your favorite SwaddleDesigns print or product.

3) Follow A Little Tipsy

*Facebook fans get the inside scoop, previews of new collections and Fan discounts!

Giveaway closes Monday, November 15th.

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Baby Week: Happiest Baby on the Block Giveaway

November 8, 2010 By Michelle Barneck 85 Comments

As many of you know bringing a new baby home can turn your world upside down. Our newest addition was born last Wednesday November 3rd and we just came home last night. We are still in the honeymoon phase and have not even started to begin the adjustment back in to real life.

I remember with my first little guy we read so many books and articles, took classes and watched DVDs on how to care for and prepare for our son. There were so many theories on what worked to calm babies and get them to sleep better and longer. There was one DVD/book set that really worked for us, like miracles.

A friend recommended I watch “The Happiest Baby on the Block” DVD from Dr. Harvey Karp M.D. Being the anxious nesting first time mom I was I got it from my local library and sat my husband down to watch it. I could not believe what I was seeing. Screaming babies being suddenly silenced by the 5 S’s: Swaddle, Side, Swing, Shh, Suck. The more I watched the more I was enthralled by the fact that these babies were so immediately calmed and happy. I could not wait to try it and see if it really worked or if this was the product of some really great testimonial/video editing.

Our son came and my husband started using these techniques from day one. I can tell you from experience that they work. I was shocked. Any time my little one would begin to cry we would start with one of the techniques and continue adding S’s until he stopped. It literally took less than 30 seconds to calm him. It was amazing. My family can attest, it was common to see my husband holding him all swaddled and on his side like in this pic. He LOVED it.

I can’t wait to try these out on my brand new little son. We already know he loves to be swaddled, but honestly he has not cried enough to try out the others yet. He is an angel baby.

Now of course, since this is one of my go to techniques I want all of you to be able to try them out too! I contacted Dr. Karp’s office and we are giving away three copies of The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD!!

To enter: Become a fan of The Happiest Baby on the Block-the official page on Facebook and leave us a comment saying you did so.

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Follow A Little Tipsy
Like A Little Tipsy on Facebook
Tweet, facebook, or blog about this giveaway and leave us the link

Giveaway closes Monday, November 15th. Good Luck!!

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for free Tipsy updates via RSS or email.

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BabyCenter Online Birth Class and Parenting Books Review & Giveaway

November 2, 2010 By Michelle Barneck 55 Comments

Even though I had my son just under three years ago I find myself needing to review. I feel like I have forgotten so much I need to know about labor practices and newborns. My son is pretty independent at this point and well if I don’t use it I lose it so all those tidbits of infant knowledge have seemed to slip through the cracks.

That’s why I was happy to be contacted by BabyCenter (through MyBlogSpark) to test out their new BabyCenter Parenting Books (BabyCenter^® Pregnancy and BabyCenter^® Baby) and “Preparing for Labor and Birth” Online Class. I have used their website in tracking milestones for my first child and was excited to try these new additions.

I took a childbirth refresher course at my hospital which was helpful so I was not sure I would find much new on BabyCenter’s Online Course. I browsed through and in a matter of seconds found a wealth of new information.

I especially liked the section on pain management where it had videos from experts and moms on breathing and massage techniques and how they best dealt with contractions. I resulted in C-section last time and am trying VBAC so these tidbits are important to me.

I also really liked the “Things to do before you’re due.” It helped me create my birth plan, remember things to pack in my hospital bag and think to install the car seat now.

I would totally recommend the “Preparing for Labor and Birth” Online Class to anyone, not just those who cannot leave the house due to bed rest, etc. I felt the information covered a vast array of areas and it was really nice to have it at my fingertips any time I got a few minutes.

As for the BabyCenter Parenting Books, I really like how the Pregnancy one breaks everything out in to weeks, not just months. I went through the 39th and 40th weeks and found it very comforting to find out that only 5% of babies are born on their due date and a whopping 75% are born later (p.206)! In some strange way that is comforting to me as I quickly approach my due date on Sunday. They even list coping strategies for those who go overdue. Seriously, I love how they think!

I can’t wait to dive in to the Baby book and figure out those all important basics all over again like how to clean an umbilical cord. Woot.

Now, you all know I am all about sharing. So who wants to

win a BabyCenter Prize Pack

including BabyCenter parenting books (BabyCenter^® Pregnancy and BabyCenter^® Baby), a package of Seventh Generation diapers, a gift card from BabyCenter partner, Shutterfly and a BabyCenter bib.

Win it for yourself or give it as a gift.

To enter: Give me your best piece of labor/newborn advice.

For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each one):

Follow A Little Tipsy
Like us on Facebook

Giveaway closes on Nov 7th, my due date!! Just in time to kick off baby week that starts Nov 8th. Be sure to tune in for tons of baby themed tutorials and giveaways!

The prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all provided by BabyCenter through MyBlogSpark.

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Freezer Meals and Plentiful Pantry Giveaway

October 27, 2010 By Michelle Barneck 20 Comments

I am in full nesting mode. I spent the last two weeks preparing freezer meals to have for after the baby comes. I have just made double batches of everything I make for dinner and freeze half of it. It is so easy. Why have I not been doing this all along?! So far I have a whole shelf full of freezer meals. I have a side by side fridge and freezer so the shelves are small, but hey it makes me feel good to have something ready. Someday my freezer will look like this…

http://img4.southernliving.com/i/2003/08/freezer-meals/freezer-m.jpg?300:300

Here are a few of the recipes I used to freeze:

Picky Palate’s Baked Ziti
Pumpkin Soup
Simply Lasagna
Beef Stroganoff (from Betty Crocker Red Cookbook, sorry could not find a link and was too lazy to type the recipe in)

Taco Soup
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can corn
1 can black or kidney beans
1 package taco seasoning
1/4 chopped onion
1 lb. ground beef

Brown ground beef with onion. Do not drain the cans. Add all ingredients to large pan. Bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes.

I put the soups in freezer bags and laid flat to freeze so I could store them like files and the ziti and lasagna in to those disposable foil baking dishes.

I was also contacted by Plentiful Pantry to review some of their items. Their products are great because you can store them on a shelf and grab them when you need something quick. You just have to add a few ingredients to each.

First, we tried the Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars. Is that not the cutest packaging ever?! I could not bear to throw it away! These were so easy, just add hot water, cream cheese and butter and chill. We added caramel sauce and whipped cream the first night and it made them really sweet! We actually liked them better the second day after they had set up more and the flavors had more time to mingle. The box says it makes 16 bars, but I would say more like 12. We like dessert. 😉

Next, we tried the Chicken and Dumplings. I was totally skeptical about this one because I did not request it and I do not like anything soggy. Also, it called for canned chicken which I am not a huge fan of. I have to tell you though, I am converted. I broke the chicken up and it was just like shredded chicken and the dumplings were like little biscuits, completely cooked and non-gooey inside. I was amazed. I thought for sure bread cooked in soup would be a ball of yuck, but it wasn’t at all.

Next, we tried the Apple Bread. It’s just like making a cake mix add oil, eggs and water. The smell alone was worth the minimal effort. I wanted to bottle that divine scent. Again love the cute box and how beautiful is that loaf?! I even forgot to use the high altitude directions and it turned out wonderfully. I was expecting it to be sweet when I bit in to it, but it is a bread not a cake. It tastes really yummy, just not super sweet. Don’t let the streusel on top fool you.

We still need to try the Pumpkin Cobbler and the Artichoke Dip, but if they are anything like the first three I’m sure they will not disappoint.

Now, Plentiful Pantry wants to give you the chance to try them out and see for yourself. They are giving away a Pumpkin Cobbler to one lucky reader!

To enter: Visit Plentiful Pantry and let us know in a comment on this post what product you would like to try.

Giveaway closes Thurs, Nov 4th.

And don’t worry, if you don’t win you can still try out Plentiful Pantry on a discount! They are offering 25% off their entire product line for Tipsy readers until November 15th!
Just use code: ALTIP25

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