TotLogic Diaper Balm #review and #giveaway, part of the Bringing Home Baby Giveaway Hop!! #BHbaby US only, ends 9/23

Is there anything more precious than welcoming a new baby into your life? In celebration of the joys that come from having a new baby we are celebrating by joining the Bringing Home Baby Giveaway Hop hosted by The Frugal Greenish Mama and Life as Leels! Each blogger participating in this giveaway hop is offering a fabulous prize for Mama or Baby valued at a minimum of $25. Be sure to hop around and enter them all, including our two Grand Prize packages valued at $274 and $557!

Two of our readers will win fabulous prize packages!

The first grand prize giveaway package focuses on all things baby! Who knew something so small could need so much? This amazing package includes an Ingenuity Washable Playard with Dream Center in Sahara Burst, Boba 3G Carrier, Tiny Love Gymini Bouncer, Svan Child Totseat, Moraki Cloth Diaper, Rockin Green Laundry Soap , a pair of adorable Pediped Originals shoes, Lillie by Bebe au Lait Hooded Towel, 2 Red Hens Rooster Diaper Bag, Dolphin Organics Travel Set, MAM pacifiers and teether and a Halo Sleepsack Swaddle.

The second grand prize package focuses all on Mama! It is valued at $274 and includes a set of nursing clips from Glamourmom, a $35 Lamaze Intimates gift certificate, $25 Pink Blush Maternity Gift Certificate, a Loving Moments Nursing bra, Milk Makers & Bumpboosters cookies, Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover, Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Package and a way for Mama to have a few moments free with an Automatic Bouncer from Ingenuity!

Go Enter the Grand Prize Giveaway Baby Package & Mama Package now!

I started entering baby and mama-themed giveaways when I was pregnant, and one of the first things that I won was a big tub of TotLogic Diaper Balm back in January. When I received it, I tucked it away with all of the other baby stuff I was accumulating. I ended up giving birth to my daughter this past May 29th, and she was gorgeous and beautiful and healthy (a wonderful newborn baby :) ). Unfortunately, she ended up having high bilirubin counts from Day 3 of life until she was about ~2 and a half weeks of age. It was quite a stressful, trying time for our family, as we were so worried for little Valentina. I have been breastfeeding her since she was born, so I was on order from her doctor to breastfeed her on demand.

My little girl in her going home outfit that was too big for her. 

You can see she's pretty yellow from the bilirubin :(

Of course, when you are feeding a baby on demand, your baby is making dirty diapers more often than she would if you had her on a scheduled feeding. My daughter's doctor had recommended to use petroleum jelly or Desitin cream to prevent diaper rash, but she ended up getting it anyway. We then had to utilize prescription diaper rash cream on her to help keep the rash at bay. While it did prevent it from spreading, it didn't do much to make it go away.

Valentina was about a month old when my sleep deprived brain remembered something important that was packed away in the many tubs of baby stuff in our house. The TotLogic Diaper Balm! The balm that is filled with loads of natural ingredients, is safe for sensitive skin (and although we were using disposable diapers at the time, is also cloth-diaper safe!) and has a nice scent and feel to it. I found it and immediately started using it on Valentina at every diaper change.

Well, it didn't take me and my husband long to become believers in this amazing product. It is FANTASTIC. It cleared up her diaper rash in only a couple of days and it has not come back! I can't make any claims that it actually cured the diaper rash, but I do know that her condition improved once I started using the diaper balm regularly. It goes on smooth and cleans up great, unlike the other petroleum and zinc oxide based creams that so many use on their little ones. What's also fantastic about it is that it can be used on any parts of the skin, even mamas with dry hands! I am telling you... this product is absolutely amazing.

I actually ended up writing to the owner of the company to partner with them to hopefully make another individual a true believer of this wonderful company. So TotLogic and I have teamed up to offer one lucky winner a tub of TotLogic Diaper Balm!

Enter below between now and September 23rd!!

Disclosure: The Frugal Greenish Mama, Life as Leels and the Bringing Home Baby participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.
Furthermore, while this review was based on a product that I received as part of a giveaway I won back in January, I was offered another free product from Logic Product Group as described in this post as compensation for hosting this particular giveaway.

Entry-Form

Awesome jewelry candle giveaway, with new perfect fit rings inside!! Ends 10/1!

Welcome to the Jewelry Candle Giveaway

Hosted by Mom Loves 2 Read!

*Sponsored by Jewelry Candles*

Mom Loves 2 Read has partnered up with Jewelry Candles to bring you this amazing Giveaway!
This time we are giving away TWO Ring Candles to 2 lucky winners!

Each Ring Candle is a unique gift - you can Choose the size of the ring you will find inside!
Choose from sizes 5 - 10

AND each Ring hidden inside is worth anywhere from $10 up to $7500!!!  

These would make fun surprise gifts for loved ones or friends!
Can you imagine a romantic candle-lit dinner - as the wonderfully scented candles burns a surprise begins to appear - a beautiful ring - and not only that, but it fits! 
The hubs and I don't often get a chance to have a romantic night on our own with our beautiful little one in our lives now, but I certainly would love to have a nice date for two at home (with my parents watching her, perhaps?) illuminated by this gorgeous candle. And what lady wouldn't want to wear a gorgeous piece of jewelry custom fit for her? I love this idea - it's a beautiful surprise and really makes an occasion extra special. Hope my hubby is reading this for a possible 30th birthday present for me :)!

Giveaway dates: September 9 12:00 pm through October 1st 11:59pm CST.

Open to US only please -  must be 18 or older to win. 

Void where prohibited.

Easy to enter - simply fill out any of the entries on the provided form - The winners are chosen at random from all validated entries - Entries will be checked for validation prior to winner's random selection.  Winners will have only 48 hours to reply and claim prize, if no reply another will be selected.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Mom Loves 2 Read did receive compensation in the form of free products in exchange for posting this giveaway. Sponsor ~ JewelryCandles.com is responsible for sending prizes, prizes often take up to 8 weeks from validation to receive.  Mom Loves 2 Read is not responsible for prizes!  Regardless this sponsor is personally promoted by choice.  A personal review of the product will be coming soon from Susan @ Mom Loves 2 Read. This Giveaway is in no way affiliated with facebook, twitter, pinterest or any other social media mentioned in the giveaway form.

$100 gift card giveaway from MyPerfectGift.com! Ends 9/30!

Welcome to the $100 Giftcard Giveaway

Sponsored by MyPerfectGift.com!
 

Hosted by Mom Loves 2 Read

& Military Wives Saving Money

Mom Loves 2 Read has teamed up with MyPerfectGift.com and an amazing group of bloggers, including Tia's Sweeps Go 'Round, to bring you this fun giveaway.

MyPerfectGift.com is a great website where you and your family members can register for free and set up a personal wishlist.  It's so easy you can even use facebook to login and register!

My Perfect Gift has nearly anything you could think of to add to each wishlist.  You, your spouse and even your kids can all make their own wishlists to share! 

Ever since I became a mother to a beautiful baby girl a little over 3 months ago now, I miss those days where I could pamper myself. I have already been dreaming of getting myself a Clarisonic face cleaner, a white gold locket to hold my little girl's picture when I'm at work and even an Ergo baby carrier for when my girl gets a little bigger (and the baby k'tan is getting tight so that might be sooner than later). Making a wish list on myperfectgift.com will make it easier for my friends and family to buy presents for me for my birthday and the holidays instead of trying to buy that ever elusive guessing game of "What does she want this year??"

Here is how you can be Eligible to Win~
Only mandatory entry 

First ~ Sign up and create a registry and add at least 3 gifts to it 
- it's that easy!
{you can even sign-up with one click using Facebook}

If you already have a MyPerfectGift Registry just add a new gift to your existing wishlist.

Entries will be validated using Winner's email he/she registers with.

If registering using fb, it is the email you use for your fb account 

One lucky winner will receive their choice of a 

$100.00 Amazon.com or Visa gift card!  

(Visa GC only available to US residents)

Giveaway Details

Open to US residents age 18+

Giveaway starts September 8th and 
ends September 30th at 11:59pm CST

Enter using the GiveawayTools form BelowHave FUN!

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: Disclosure: To be eligible to win this giveaway you must create an account and add at least three items in your registry. If you have an existing account add at least one new item to your registry. 

Mom Loves 2 Read did receive compensation for this giveaway event, however my opinions are my own and may differ from yours.  Tia's Sweeps Go 'Round is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.  This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, twitter or any other social media.  Prizes can take up to 8 weeks to arrive.  Void where prohibited.

Arbonne Skincare Giveaway & Review! Part of "Spa for Ma" event!! Ends 9/16 #spa #relax #pamper #mom

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Spa for Ma Giveaway Hop! I have teamed up with a bunch of other bloggers and our hosts Measuring Flower and Homemaking Hacks to bring you this fun event that helps mom to kick back, relax, and WIN--just in time for the kids to be back at school!

This event is a giveaway hop which means that, after you're entered my awesome prize below, you can "hop" on to the next blog to enter their prize as well. All the prizes in this hop are worth a minimum of $25. You can find a list with links to all the other blogs towards the bottom of this post.

I am excited to announce that our grand prize sponsor for this event is KOHL'S! They're giving away a $300 gift certificate to one very fortunate reader! Click HERE to enter to win this incredible grand prize.


I had the pleasure of reviewing some awesome products from a spectacular company called Arbonne. Arbonne is a skincare company founded on botanical principles by a group of leading bio-chemists, biologists and herbalists. It originated in 1975 and its products have been available in the U.S. since 1980. They offer a wide range of products such as skincare for any type of skin, cosmetics, hair products and even holiday gift sets.

I was lucky enough to review some of their products from their FC5 product line as well as their Arbonne baby product line. First, my beautiful daughter Valentina got to be pampered with an Arbonne baby body lotion product sample. The ABC design is cute and simple, and catches the eye. The body lotion has a nice herbal smell to it that isn't too overpowering, which I liked because I like my baby to smell like well... a baby :). It has a nice thickness which moisturized her really well with only using a little bit. It didn't leave any filmy residue either, which made me happy.

I then got to review a sample of some fantastic body moisturizer from Arbonne's FC5 line. The cream smelled great as soon as I opened the package, and it instantly felt awesomely thick and luxuriously rich on my hands when I began to spread it on them. I have pretty dry skin, and have since giving birth to my daughter. I can personally attest to how great this lotion made my skin look and feel - they are definitely as soft as they look! I don't often have time to pamper myself with a 3 month old, so it felt great to use this Arbonne lotion and soften up my hands to feel silky smooth!

BUY IT: Tia's Sweeps Go 'Round readers will get 15% off orders from Donna Lotts', Independent Consultant for Arbonne's official ordering site http://www.ddlotts.myarbonne.com/ , when mentioning Tia's Sweeps Go 'Round. In addition,  if Donna receives 15 orders of $50 or more as part of this event, she will give away a Coach purse!

WIN IT: One lucky winner will win an Arbonne Shea Butter Hand & Body wash, ARV $26.00! Enter below!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Measuring Flower and its writers, Homemaking Hacks and its writers, and the other bloggers participating in this hop are not responsible for any sponsor(s) who do not fulfill their prize(s).

Happy Mommy Labor & Delivery Gown from Butternut Designs Giveaway! #readytopop US only ends 9/18

We've decided to celebrate Labor Day this year in a totally fun way – by celebrating those Mamas and Babies who have done some of the hardest labor out there! Welcome to the Ready to POP! {a Labor Day Giveaway Hop} hosted by So Easy Being Green, According to Jenny, and Viva Veltoro!

 Each blogger in this Hop has a fabulous Mama or Baby prize for you to enter to win – so be sure to hop around to them all, including the Grand Prize!

As many of you already know, I gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl back this past May after 22 hours of long, arduous drug-free labor! While I labored in my own clothes for many hours of it, I ended up changing into a hospital gown when I was getting into the heat of my labor (close to transition). My baby girl had to be monitored closely throughout my labor since I had pregnancy-induced hypertension, so it was essential that I had something on that allowed me to have the fetal monitors on me at all times. Throughout my intense labor pains, I never felt completely comfortable in the hospital gown since it didn't fit good and it wasn't really on me very well as I wiggled and braced myself for each contraction. Now looking back, I think to myself, if I could do one thing different, it would be to make sure I had comfortable clothing through the ENTIRE labor process, not just before transition. Thankfully, Kristen from Butternut Designs on Etsy has put her talent to good use in making custom gorgeous, custom sized labor and delivery gowns that follow strict hospital guidelines with easy arm and back access. With beautiful black lace trim and a stylish sash for a more fitted look, Butternut Designs' Happy Mommy Labor and Delivery gowns (ARV: $55) will not only keep you comfortable throughout your labor, they will give you a sense of style for your first pictures with baby that a hospital gown just can't compare to!

Talk about stylish! Check out this gorgeous Happy Mommy Labor and Delivery gown in black with black lace trim!
BUY IT
You can learn more about the Happy Mommy Labor and Delivery gown and all of the other great maternity clothing that Kristen from Butternut Designs offers by checking out her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ButternutDesigns. WIN IT One lucky winner will receive a Happy Mommy Labor and Delivery gown with black lace trim in the gown color, size and sash color of their choice! 

Entry-Form

Now, be sure to hop over to enter to win the  amazing Grand Prize for Ready to POP!

One lucky reader is going to win an adorable 2 Red Hens Diaper Bag, a fabulous set of Buttons Diapers – an All-in-Two Cloth Diapers System, and an absoutely beautiful CatBirdBaby Pikkolo Baby Carrier! 

What are you waiting for!?  Go Enter Now!

According to Jenny, Viva Veltoro, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Ready to POP! participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Gorgeous Signature Black Duffle Coach Bag Giveaway!!!

This post is sponsored by yours truly and a great group of bloggers! Back to School doesn't have to be just about the kids! Moms deserve a BIG thank you for all the hard work they put in year-round, especially at back to school time. And that's why My Boys and Their Toys has teamed up with these amazing bloggers to give one lucky reader this awesome COACH Park Signature Duffle in black. Seriously, I have a fascination and love for Coach products. They are so gorgeous and exude instant style. There is nothing like walking in the streets of Midtown Manhattan with a Coach purse on your shoulder!!

My first class without my daughter

Your Hosts

Shannon at GrowingSlower

Jennifer at Every Breath I Take

Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama

Christine at African Babies Don't Cry

Melissa at Adventures of Captain Destructo

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new semester for me. I am an adjunct college professor at 2 area colleges, and will be teaching epidemiology and nutrition to formidable, undergraduate minds. This is my 3rd semester teaching college, and this one is much different than the previous two. Yes, the excitement is there, but (thankfully) a lot of the nerves of how I would be as a teacher aren't. There is also one more notable absence that I can't stop thinking about, however. Tomorrow is the first class I will teach without my daughter inside of me.

The first class I taught, August 29, 2012, was actually when I was 2 weeks pregnant (and even though I wasn't officially preggers at that point, we all know that the first day of pregnancy begins with the first day of your LMP). The last day of the spring semester, which I spent feverishly grading my class' online finals, was also 2 days before my due date (and 5 days before I actually gave birth to my little girl). This past year, I taught in East Harlem, and the commute from where I am to where I teach door-to-door is about 2 hours. Every step that I took, every song I listened to on the train ride, every thought that crossed my mind while passing by all the towns so beautifully placed along the Hudson river, my daughter was in my belly. She was the frequent subject of my thoughts, especially because I didn't find out her gender while I was pregnant.

The bigger I got, the more I enjoyed looking obviously pregnant. The more I enjoyed teaching thinking to myself, "Wow, I wonder if she is absorbing any of this!" and "I bet this will make her one smart cookie!" It was especially fun when I would feel her kick or move around when I was teaching - she never liked when I wasn't talking so she would get active if it was too quiet for her liking!! There was just something so special to me about experiencing the journey of being pregnant for the first time and teaching (almost) every single week while pregnant.  I got to foster a love for epidemiology in my students and watch them grow, and they got to see me grow as a professor and of course, quite literally as a pregnant person :).

But tomorrow, there will be no sweetheart in my womb. She will be at grandma and grandpa's house, having fun with them as well as her godmother/aunt (our blog co-writer, Sara). I am trying to just embrace my enthusiasm for teaching this class, as it will be the first time I am teaching at this particular college. While it may be hard to forget the emptiness of my womb, it is easy to recall how full my heart is with love for my little Valentina. That's an occupation that will never leave :).

~Tia