I generally reserve Fridays for a link up of some sort. I took part in Friday Letters for ever but tuckered out with that. Lately, I've been doing Five on Friday but actually getting that accomplished is a hit or a miss. I feel like with spring coming we need something new, something fresh. So, I've come up with a little idea that I'd like your input with. Sometimes we all need a lil' place to vent. Somewhere to blow off the stress of the week. Some where that people will hear us, understand and support us. I mean that's a huge part of the blogging community right? Sometimes {with all that venting} it's so easy to overlook the good things in life. The wonderful, the beautiful, blessings that come our way. So...what would you all think about a little link up, each Friday called....wait for it...

Pits & Peaks

You could share with us the "pits" of your week as well as the "peaks" giving everyone the chance to vent while making sure to focus on the good things too. Maybe you got stuck in a traffic jam making you late to work {pit} but then your hair stylist did a rockin' job on your trim later that afternoon {peak}. 

I'm jumping on board today but would love to know if this is something that would interst others as well. This week I have more peaks than pits..definitely not a bad thing to have if you ask me! If so I'll get a button & graphics made up! Let me know loves! 

Peak: I'm in the midst of a four day weekend and we all know that four day weekends pretty much rock my socks. I just love the extra snuggles with my baby boy and getting extra time with the husband too! On top of that we have an Advocare booth to run tomorrow for a few hours & then I have a baby shower to attend on Sunday! I am so excited to see my family, have them {finally} meet Garrett & to meet my cousin's new lil' baby, Rhett! I'm sure it will be a fun time! And don't worry, my camera is going along! I just have to pick up a new memory card first! 

Pit: We met with a potential in-home baby sitter last night. She's a retired preschool teacher who really focuses on teaching the children all while having fun. She seemed like she'd do a fairly good job but I can't get over the overwhelming dread of leaving my precious boy with a stranger. How do you mommas do this?! Garrett turned seven months yesterday {update post coming soon!} and we've been so blessed to have either I or Steve with him thus far! I just want to be a stay at home mom! Whaa!

Peak: A dear friend gave birth to an adorable baby boy this week! I'm guessing he was super excited to come out & meet the world as he was born at 32 weeks gestation! I'm withholding any further information as I'm sure she'll update you all on her blog when she gets the chance! But, by the slim chance she's reading this...congrats again girl! He's a cutie & we can't wait to meet him!

Peak: It's set to be nearly 60* here this weekend! About freaking time! Forget the fact that it's going to be short lived...I'll take it!

Peak: I've found a new job that I'd love to apply for! I just have to gain the courage to do so! I know that my bosses aren't looking forward to me leaving in the least but this will be a job that will allow me to do both, for now anyways. I'm just trying to convince myself that I have enough time to take it on...being a full time wife, momma, medical nurse, blogger & Advocare Advisor gets a little crazy every now & then!  

Pretend With Poppins: Review & Giveaway

Hey there ladies! It's Thursday & you know what that means! Another Etsy shop showcase! Today I'm bringing you a shop that is beyond adorable & fun! Pretend With Poppins is filled to the brim with some of the most creative and unique toys I've seen! 

Nia sent me six of her chalkboard blocks to review & I am in love with them! Garrett is a bit small for them yet as he doesn't quite understand that if he sucks on them he'll destroy all of momma's pretty pictures. On the other hand, that gives me another reason to erase and start over! I have so much {probably too much} fun drawing on the blocks! It will be so fun to change up the pictures on them as Garrett grows and his interests change! 

The chalkboard blocks aren't the only adorable thing in Nia's shop! There is tons more! And get this, she hand makes it all! Every last little ear, pirate and fairy is handmade by her! Seriously, it's all adorable! 

Nia is so kindly offering a chance for one of my readers to win a $40 credit to her shop: Pretend With Poppins! The possibilities are endless with her shop! Enter via Raffelcopter below. The giveaway will be open until Thursday, April 10th. Winner will be announced that weekend-just in time for Easter! ;) Good luck ladies! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. Is it weird that I'm beyond jacked up to see what the winner picks?  

My Zen Baby {Review}

Teething can be a challenge. A big challenge. Garrett started teething around 3 months old and has yet to pop a tooth {though there are two that are very close to coming through!} My poor boy has been downright miserable at times. Fussy, drooling, chewing on everything and in constant pain. I'd had many people suggest an amber teething necklace. Being the skeptical person that I am I reasearched and researched. I wasn't about to spend money on something that wouldn't work. Or something that would affect my baby negatively. 

Here's a little bit of information about amber teething necklaces. Among other things, amber is a natural analgesic (pain reliever) and anti-inflammatory. When amber is worn on the skin, the warmth of the skin releases trace amounts of healing oils on the skin. Commonly known as “teething jewelry,” Baltic amber has been a natural and traditional European remedy for teething discomfort for hundreds of years. Succinic acid is the most beneficial component of the amber. It is scientifically accepted that the darkest colored amber generally contains less succinic acid than lighter colors. The more cloudy or opaque amber is, the more succinic acid it contains (and usually the more cloudy amber is the nearer to the color white it becomes).

As for benefits of amber teething necklaces:

- The anti-inflammatory properties soothe red inflamed cheeks and gums
- A natural analgesic, amber absorbs pain
- Neutralize negative energy & alleviates stress, therefore will help calm and soothe a baby
- Helps minimize the need for medications used to ease the teething process
- Stimulates the thyroid glands to reduce dribbling
- Helps the body heal itself therefore speeding up the recovery process
- Boosts the immune system in assisting healing with ear, throat, stomach and respiratory infections.

Once I researched until I could research no more I stumbled upon My Zen Baby. The owner, Sonia graciously offered to send me a teething necklace of my choice for Garrett. After looking through them I choose the Raw Wild Honey. A week or so later it was waiting for me in my mailbox. 

I have to be honest...I was so nervous putting this on Garrett! I was terrified that he would either rip on it & break it or that it would strangle him. Good news! Neither of those happened! In fact he hardly seemed to know that he had it on! 

The first day I feel like I didn't notice much. I took the necklace off for bed because I just can't get past the thought of it strangling him in his sleep. The next morning I put it on as soon as he awoke. I noticed much less chewing, cheek redness and he was far less fussy. I still wasn't 100% convinced. Again, I took the necklace off for bed and put it back on the next morning. It was another day of less chewing, redness & fussy baby. Since then we've done this routine nearly everyday. There have been a few days that we've forgotten it and I certainly have noticed that he's definitely more uncomfortable those days! So? I say amber teething necklaces really do help! I would absolutely recommend them for every momma & baby struggling with teething! 

My Zen Baby is also something I would absolutely recommend! The quality of the necklaces is superb! The prices are affordable, shipping is quick and Sonia is great to work with! So, if you're little one is having trouble with teething be sure to check out My Zen Baby!

Also, don't forget to enter the LIVE 6:10 giveaway! And, keep your eyes peeled! There's more giveaways coming soon!

Target & Baby Clothes Make Me Broke

Well hey there fancy pants...hey. Happy Monday huh? This weekend flew by insanely fast which actually made me incredibly happy due to the fact that I was at work. Score! Our census actually dropped quite a bit over the weekend but the patient's we have left are incredibly complex & time consuming! PEG tubes, dementia, C-diff, trachs, MRSA, wanderguards anybody? All in all though it was a pretty good weekend. We had a jumbo pot luck yesterday with all the nurses and doctors so that was fun! {The 5lbs I'm pretty sure I gained isn't so pleasant however}

I figured we'd play a little catch up lately. Can we first talk about how I went into Target for dish soap and left with $100 less in my wallet? Dang you Target! I just can't resist the delicious smelling candles, cute baby clothes, Easter treats and the clearance! Ahh the clearance! Sucks me in every stinkin' time! Though I did start shopping for my cousin's baby shower & the spring swap! Still I thought husband was going to murder me when he came home & there was mounds of Target bags everywhere. Opps.

So, if that didn't hurt my bank account enough Carter's was having a huge sale! 50% off their entire store! And I can NOT resist me some Carter's! Garrett is flying through his clothes so quickly that I can't keep up! Thankfully I found some adorable stuff though and I'm thinking I might have to make a 2nd run this week! #shhh #donttellhusband

I have to tell you, I have the sweetest co-workers! I was talking to one of them about how quickly Garrett is growing and that I couldn't buy clothes fast enough and yesterday she showed up with a pile of clothes for him! Seriously, how sweet is that? And seriously, how freaking cute is that lil' wet suit?

In other news, I dug out my easter decor & have started putting together Garrett's easter basket. I'm so excited to see his reaction though I know he won't fully understand what's going on!  I've also been all over Pinterest looking for some Easter time fun! There are so many cute treats and crafts that I'm hoping to do! What are you ladies all putting in your kiddos Easter baskets?

Well, that's all I got for you lovelies. Today I'm planning on cuddling my ever growing chunk of love, cleaning the house and visiting with my sister. Sounds like a great day off to me! I woke this morning and saw some welcomed sunshine and was hoping for some nice spring weather but it looks like we're actually going to get some snow possibly. #comeonspring 

I'm also looking for some fabulous ladies to join my sidebar in April! I have an exciting idea in the works for April's sponsor post & want to be sure to have loads of ladies in on it! If you're interested please let me know! Also, if you're the owner of an Etsy shop {or know someone who is} please send them my way! I'm looking for a few more shops to join in the Etsy Extravaganza! 
Don't forget to enter the LIVE 6:10 giveaway! And, keep your eyes peeled! There's more giveaways coming soon!

Five On Friday

- One - We where shopping in Target a couple weeks back when my husband came wandering back and put the above onesie in our cart. He followed it quickly with a "Well he's a boy, he has to have this" I'm not much into superheros but darn did he look stinkin' cute in it!

- Two - Be sure to keep checking back here at Life's A Dance because there's tons more fun in regards to the Etsy & Small Business extravaganza coming your way! Yesterday I shared one of the most incredible shops I've had the honors of working with thus far, LIVE 6:10.  Next week I'll be sharing two more shops with you so keep your eyes open friends! 

- Three - I'm dying, DYING for it to warm up here in Wisconsin! I am so sick of having to bundle myself & Garrett up no matter where we go! It seems crazy to think that yesterday was the first day of spring and we're still in the mid 20's/low 30's. Right now 50's sounds like pure heaven! 

- Four - Lately I have been stumbling upon so many wonderful, inspirational blogs! It really is incredible the battles that people go through and overcome! 

- Five - Garrett is back to be an all night party animal most nights meaning this momma is exhausted! He was doing so well for a couple weeks that I was seriously hoping we'd hit a turning point! He's even been beyond stubborn with naps and he'll scream and throw himself about for an hour sometimes. Then he's so worked up that sleep doesn't even seem possible. Anyone else go through this? He's never been a fan of sleeping from the get-go but I was hoping the straight six hours at night would be something he stuck with! Wednesday night he slept from 8pm-10pm and then was up pretty much the entire night until 3am. But then he only slept until 6am. That's only 5 hours of sleep-not enough for a growing boy I'm sure!

LIVE 6:10

It seems like just when you think that you've seen all the amazement and wonder that Etsy has to bring you find some more! Today I have an incredible shop to share with you! One that not only has beautiful jewelry but has an amazing drive behind it as well! 

Amanda is the shop owner behind LIVE 6:10. She is gorgeous, smart and incredibly giving! She graciously sent me an amazing necklace that I am overly in love with! In usual Etsy fashion it was packaged just so perfectly:

With it came an incredible note...one that I can't help but sharing. 

"Your beads. They tell a story. A story of a girl living in Indiana who visited Guatemala in July 2013. She was forever changed. She met a little girl named Mirna. Mirna runs barefoot through the dump with a smile on her face. She laughs and plays without fear of her circumstances. Her home is made from cardboard & metal cans. Her clothes are dirty and quickly becoming too small. She doesn't mind. She has joy; the kind that radiates from the inside out. The kind that doesn't depend on earthly circumstances & material things. Her life is difficult and she doesn't recognize it.

The girl returned home to the States determined to never forget what she saw and experienced. She came home with a desire to do something about the circumstances she saw that the dump. God put a passion in her heart to help the poor. love the orphans & feed the hungry. She began to roll paper beads. Hundreds and hundreds of beads that turned into necklaces and bracelets and sold to raies money for Mirna & her beautiful people. Sometimes her fingers start to hurt and she isn't sure if what she's doing will make a difference. And then she remembers. She remebers Mirna's smile and the way her face lit up when she recieved shoes. She remember the touch of her hangs & her voice saying "yo te amo." It reminds her that what she's doing has a purpose. 

She began to dream about starting a non-profit. One that will support the orphans, widows, broken, hurting & those stuck in poverty. One that will tell the story of Mirna. The story that in a filty, heart-wrenching dump in Guatemala there is a beautiful little firl who impacted the girl's heart in a profound way. She will roll bead after bead and create necklace after necklace, with the vision of teahcing Mirna how to make them one day. To show her that poverty does not define her & that Jesus sees her greater than what her circumstances define her as. To remind her to dream abou the future & live with hope. 

With the story of Mirna beating on her heart, she started LIVE 6:10. A God-profit founded on Matthew 610; to live on earth as it is in heaven. To bring hope to a people hwo are broken and living in poverty. To show the ends on the earth, that Jesus sees them where they are & loves them despite their circumstances. To speak Truth into the lives of not only the broken & impoverished, but to those who are supporting LIVE 6:10 as well. Each piece of paper has the words "loved, adored, cherished" written on them. Each bead is rolled and handcrafted with the determination and heart to make a difference. Know that YOU can make a difference. You are loved. You are cherished. You have the power to change the world."

After opening the package I was in pure amazement of the beads. They are beautiful. After reading the above letter I had tears streaming down my face. Sometimes I feel like so much of the good in the world is gone. The world is filled with sorrow. With pain. With hurt. And right there, in the middle of it all is shops like LIVE 6:10. Shops brought to the world by caring, giving, selfless people like Amanda.

I love wearing my beads I love when people ask about the necklace. Because I love sharing Amanda & Mirna's story. The bracelets and necklaces that Amanda creates are gorgeous, this photos really do not do them justice!

Two of you will be so blessed as Amanda is so graciously giving away one bracelet set and one necklace set. She has also included a promo code for all of my readers! Use the code HAPPYSPRING14 for 30% off your total order! Promo code is good until March 31st!
 

Enter via Raffelcopter below! 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans

I've meantioned before that every holiday seems so much more exciting once you have a baby. After Valentine's Day I had thoughts of all things mint, emerald and lime. I had plans to make an amazing St. Patrick's Day breakfast that looked a lot like this:

My plans called for green pancakes, green smoothie, Lucky Charms & rainbow fruit skewers. And then I was scheduled to work on St. Pat's Day. No worries there was still the weekend! Except then our weekend piled full of activities and there was no time for green pancakes and good ole' Irish tunes cranked up. Talk about a total bummer! 

There was a few things that managed to happen in celebration of the holiday though! Garrett & I where decked in our 50 shades of green for the Advocare booth that we ran at a local St. Baldrick's event. 

I also whipped up a chalkboard which brought  a few tears when I looked back at last years. Our lil' leprechaun is growing so quickly! It really is crazy to think that one year ago I had a little baby bump and was just feeling the movements of our precious lil' man. And now he's over six months old. He's gaining independence and quite the personality.

I also whipped up a new wreath for our front door. This simple project turned into quite the hassle when the wreath fell, broke & wouldn't glue back together. A few changes in my design plan and you can't even see the jumbo crack in the side. It didn't turn out quite as planned but I think it's alright for my first attempt. 

And though it wasn't at all what I'd had in mind, that's alright. I got to spend the weekend off work with my family. All while sharing our passion for Advocare & raising money to support the fight against childhood cancer. I call that a win!

Now, is it too early to put up Easter decor? #ithinknot #ihaveitalloutofstorage

Spring Swap {Inspiration}

Hey ladies! Today I'm here sharing some fabulous spring goody ideas! These are perfect for those of you that signed up for the spring swap but also perfect for anyone looking for ideas to brighten someones day!

mason jar tumbler 
I'm fairly certain that this tumbler is the cutest by far! I mean you can't get better than a mason jar right?! Fill it up with tea or some lemonade and you're set to spend the afternoon soaking up some springtime sunshine!
nail polish
Spring is all about fun, bright colors and there's no better way to get in the spring mood than pretty lil' colors on your nails if you ask me! These two are my favorite colors to wear on my nails in the spring!
scarf
Whether it be florals, cheveron or stripes...bright scarves scream spring to me! And what better way to accessorize for spring?  I've been all over Target & Forever 21 as they seriously have some of the most perfect scarves for spring!
candle
I'm a candle addict as you all might know and spring brings some of the best scents! Anything fruity usually finds itself burned down rather quickly here in the M household!
chalkboard print
I find it so much fun to break out the colorful decor come spring! Vases filled with bright flowers, fun table runners and adorable chalkboard prints on the walls! 
necklace
I think this necklace is perfect for spring! It'd make for a perfect addition to an Easter dress!
cosmetic bag
I don''t know a single girl that can't find something to hide in a cosmetic bag! I have two of them in my purse alone! 
straws
Let's face it. Cute straws are just a must!

Good Fortune & Luck: March Sponsors

Being that March is all about good luck & fortune I thought we'd chat with a few of the lovely ladies on my sidebar about what makes them feel lucky and what they'd do if they stumbled upon a "good fortune"

What would you do if you stumbled into large "good fortune"?

What in your life makes you feel lucky?

samantha l elah tree
Well, if I stumbled into large "good fortune" I would pray about it first. Whatever money or blessing we've ever had has come from God. It's his to begin with, so I would ask God what he would like me to do with it. I would love to be able pay off our student loans. It has always been a hope of mine and Tyler's to be able to give more. Paying off our student loans would allow us to do that. 
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becca l two places at once
I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. I feel really lucky that I met my fiance when I did, he totally changed my life. Without him, I wouldn't be in Texas,  I wouldn't have the job that I have (which I love) and I wouldn't have had the opportunity to grow like I have in the past two years. We've made such a great life for ourselves in Austin and it all started because he asked me to follow him out to Texas two years ago.  I'm extremely lucky to have met him.
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casey l love & waffles
My fiancé and I are always talking about what we would do if we won the lottery. He always says he would go buy a bunch of his dream cars, while I always say I would start making plans to build our dream home. I would build a home for us, a home for my parents and his parents, and I would spend some time traveling the world. I think I would like to spend some time in Europe, no rush and no plans, just travel and go wherever I want at my own pace.
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persis l at first blink
Hello there, While life has been very kind to me and given me plenty of reasons to feel blessed the one thing that I have recently been feeling very lucky (and thankful) about is my work.  Last year I took the bold step to free lance and opened an online design and branding studio. While freelancing is the most exhilirating experience, it often tends to be daunting, especially if you do not find a steady stream of inquiries and clients coming your way. However, in my case things took off almost immidiately  after I started my little venture and the fact that I took a gamble and started something new which is doing well makes me feel so happy! I also love the fact that I get to interact with like minded design enthusiasts and creative bloggers and get inspired every day!  My work makes me feel so lucky!
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emily l hudson & emily
Cuddling together and sipping hot chocolate when we should be at work is SUCH a good feeling & makes us feel very lucky! :) If we received a large “good fortune” we would absolutely travel! That’s one of our dreams!!
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Being Content

I've been struggling lately. 

Like majorly struggling. Struggling with life. Struggling with love. Struggling with what seems like everything. Let me preface this by saying that I have an amazing life. I have a husband and son that I love more than life itself. I have an incredible family that offers me unending support and encouragement. I have a job that provides me with a steady paycheck, flexibility and acknowledgment of a job well done. I have friends who know my deepest secrets and who are there for me no matter what. I have a newly redone home that is warm, safe and exactly what I wished it to be. There is two vehicles in the driveway that are our dream vehicles and get us where we need to go. I have good health. I have a lot to be thankful for. And I realize that. There are times though where my mind gets away from me. Times where I feel that I don't deserve the goodness that has come my way. Times where I feel so incredibly guilty for wanting more than I already have.

I long for a new home. One with a yard and more space for our growing family. I long to be able to spend my days at home with our child(ren). Teaching them, watching them grow and nurturing them. I long to be a better wife. One who is able to really devote time and energy to her husband. I long to be a better me. A person who is confident in her own skin. One who is able to find joy in even the darkest times. One who is able to give her all to every part of her life. 

You see, my struggles are conflicting. I'm struggling with being content with the goodness in my life all while struggling about wanting more. Has anyone else ever felt this way? I certainly don't like feeling uneasy in life but lately it seems I feel that way more times than not. 

Saving $ At Target: Baby Edition

Buy 3 Up & Up Infant Formula, 36 oz $24.99, regular price Buy 3, Receive $10.00 Target Gift Card through 3/22

Use one $15.00/1 - Up & Up Product Purchase, $40.00 or more, text UPANDUP to 827438
And use one $1.50/2 – Up & Up Baby Formulas, 23 oz or larger, limit one coupon per person, Target Coupon (target.com)

And use 5% Off – Up & Up Formula, Target Cartwheel Offer (exp 3/22) – (cartwheel.target.com)

Pay $55.55, Receive $10.00 Target Gift Card

Final Price: $15.18 each, when you buy 3

- See more at: http://thekrazycouponlady.com/2014/03/06/new-15-00-target-mobile-coupon/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_content=722502&utm_campaign=0#sthash.V87Mxu5q.dpuf

Buy 3 Up & Up Infant Formula, 36 oz $24.99, regular price Buy 3, Receive $10.00 Target Gift Card through 3/22

Use one $15.00/1 - Up & Up Product Purchase, $40.00 or more, text UPANDUP to 827438
And use one $1.50/2 – Up & Up Baby Formulas, 23 oz or larger, limit one coupon per person, Target Coupon (target.com)

And use 5% Off – Up & Up Formula, Target Cartwheel Offer (exp 3/22) – (cartwheel.target.com)

Pay $55.55, Receive $10.00 Target Gift Card

Final Price: $15.18 each, when you buy 3

- See more at: http://thekrazycouponlady.com/2014/03/06/new-15-00-target-mobile-coupon/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_content=722502&utm_campaign=0#sthash.V87Mxu5q.dpuf

Hump day? Already? How in the heck did we get here so quickly? After two dreadful days at work I'm ready to soak up my next two days off, with tons of baby cuddles! While work was dreadful there is something I'd like to share wiht you today that is 100% not dreadful. And, it envolves two of my favorite things:

1. Saving money
2. Target

We where due for another baby stock up (diapers, wipes and formula) and when I started looking in Target's ad I found some great deals. I paired coupons and really had some great savings. Therefore, I thought I'd share them with you. Passing the goodness is always a great thing right? ;) Speaking of goodness, be sure to check out the bottom of this post...there's a whole lot more goodness there! 

Up & Up Infant Formula 36oz: Regular price $24.99

Buy 3, receive $10.00 Target gift card (exp 3/22)

Use one $15.00/1-Up & Up product purchase of $40.00 or more

And use $1.50/2-Up & Up Infant Formulas 23oz or larger

And use Cartwheel for an additional 5% off-Up & Up Formula (exp 3/22)

Pay $55.55 & receive a $10.00 Target gift card

I already had a $10.00 Target gift card from last time so I used that too and purchased the items with my REDCard which saved me an additional 5%. So, for three 36oz canisters of formula:

Total: $74.97 

Paid: $43.27 plus I received another $10.00 Target gift card 
Savings: $31.70 plus the $10.00 for next time! 

Up & Up Diapers-Size 4 156 count: Regular price $25.99

Use one $15.00/1-Up & Up product purchase of $40.00 or more (you'll need to buy 2 boxes)

And use Cartwheel for an additional 5% off-Up & Up Baby Diapers (exp 3/22)

I also purchased the items with my REDCard which saved me an additional 5%.

Total: $51.98

Paid: $33.37 
Savings: $18.61 

Up & Up Baby Wipes 800 count: Regular price $14.49 

Use one $15.00/1-Up & Up product purchase of $40.00 or more (you'll need to buy 3 boxes)

And use $1.00/2-Up & Up Baby Wipes 144 count or larger

And use Cartwheel for an additional 5% off-Up & Up Baby Wipes (exp 3/22)

I also purchased the items with my REDCard which saved me an additional 5%. 

Total: $43.47

Paid: $24.79
Savings: $18.68 

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Diaper Cream & Powder 4oz: Regular $9.99

Use $2.50/1-Burt's Bees 4oz cream-to-powder 

Total: $9.99
Pay: $7.49
Savings: $2.50

Gilligan & O'Malley Nursing Bras:Regular $16.99
Use 20%/1-Gilligan & O'Malley Nursing Apparel Item

And use Cartwheel for an additional 15% off-Gilligan & O'Malley Bras 

Total: $16.99
Pay: $11.55
Savings: $5.44

Don't forget to get in on all the fun going on around these parts! There's a Blogger/Instagram Spring Swap that you absolutely need to be part of! There's a chance for one of you lovlies to win a bracelet of your choice from Tatum Bradley & Co. AND, if that isn't enough one of you fabulous momma/momma-to-be's can win a Moby Wrap in your choice of color!

Five On Friday

Well hey there party people! Happy Friday! I'm in an uber good mood today for various reasons:

1. It's Friday
2. It's a three day weekend for me
3. Garrett slept from 9pm-5:30am! That's 8.5 hours people! Longest he's ever gone! 
4. It's Friday
5. It's set to be about 38* here in Wisco! Granted I heard it's also supposed to sleet and freezing rain but as long as it's sunny & warm for a little while! I'm hoping to get Garrett outside for some fresh air and I think a trip to Joann's and Target is a must!
6. Did I mention it's Friday? And a three day weekend?
7. It's my daddy's birthday tomorrow! Birthday cake! 

So, there ya have it. I'm excited about today. It's funny how here in the Midwest all it takes to get every one jacked up is the mention of a glimpse of spring! This whole weekend is supposed to be in the 30's. Trust me, this is a big deal around these parts! But, enough about the weather! Let's talk Five on Friday!

- One - I've been on the mad hunt for a new dress for an upcoming wedding. For some reason I'm craving floral though that's so far out of my comfort zone. Of course I turned to Pinterest and found these beauties: 

I'm swooning over all of them for sure (and apparently mint & coral are going to be my colors again this spring) But, I'm dying to know where your favorite place to dress shop is! The wedding is an outdoor wedding, in May. I need something that will show off my post baby body (let's face it...I'm a little proud of it) but still be practical as I'm changing diapers and chasing baby around :)

- Two - I'm dying for a vacation! We're looking to take a little vacation in September around our two year anniversary and had been considering Mexico again. But we're not really sure we're willing to leave Garrett for a week or so and we're not sure we want to take him out of the country so soon either. Therefore, we're trying to find somewhere warm, sunny & relaxing that we can have a great time all while keeping him busy. He'll be just over a year at that point so we're looking for suggestions! My ideal looks like this: 

source

- Three - I'm in a total shop til I drop mood. All I can say about that is "Hello tax return!"

- Four - I'm keeping it on the down low (which doesn't explain why I'm about to tell a large group of people on the internet) but I've started job searching. I really feel that my heart is being pulled in a different direction. Though I'm not sure what this means quite yet I'll be sure to keep you all in the loop! Stay tuned! I think this will be a spring/summer of big changes for our family!

- Five - Don't forget to get in on all the fun going on around these parts! There's a Blogger/Instagram Spring Swap that you absolutely need to be part of! There's a chance for one of you lovlies to win a bracelet of your choice from Tatum Bradley & Co. AND, if that isn't enough one of you fabulous momma/momma-to-be's can win a Moby Wrap in your choice of color! 

If that isn't enough to make your Friday I don't know what is! 

Babywearing {A Moby Wrap Review & Giveaway}

Though some make fun of the whole "baby wearing" thing I knew when I found out that I was pregnant that I would baby wear for sure! I've always valued a clean, tidy & organized home and I knew accomplishing that with a baby would be difficult. So, the thought of having baby close and still being able to get stuff done was not one I could pass up!

I did loads of research on different carriers and wraps and finally decided the Moby Wrap was right for us. I loved that it was a wrap that could be used in various different ways and could really grow with our little one. When Becky from Moby offered to let me review one of their wraps I jumped at the oppurtunity! I was totally looking forward to wearing our babe around! Little did I know though just how much it would come in handy! 

Garrett isn't a sleeper, and really never has been. When he was a newborn he was pretty good about sleeping in his bouncer or swing. As he grew he HATED sleeping anywhere but our arms/chest-PROBLEM! We tried our best to break him of it but we ended up wearing ourselves out and he still wasn't sleeping! So, we gave into the little guy (terrible parenting I know). We let him sleep on our chests and in our arms because it was the only way he (and us for that matter) would get any sleep. I was relieved that baby was finally getting sleeping but the fact that my house was starting to look like a tornado ran straight through Babies-R-Us wasn't so wonderful. Our solution? The Moby Wrap! We'd just wrap it on, snuggle him in and he'd sit/sleep content while I was able to clean, do laundry, load the dish washer and on great days I even brushed my hair. Our Moby Wrap was seriously SUCH a lifesaver!  

Though at first it baffled my mind as to how to put the thing on it became very easy after a couple times! So easy that I was able to do it in my half zombie state of mind! And, if the instruction booklet isn't enough-I loved that Moby offers step-by-step instructions on their website too! I watched those time & time again in the beginning to be sure I was doing everything right! They also offer helpful information about getting baby in and out and making sure the wrap is correctly placed and snuggling baby just so. 

And if all of that isn't great enough there's tons more great stuff about Moby! The fabric is soft, durable and washable! This was one of the most important aspects for me because let's face it-babies are not the most clean creatures. Spits up and blow outs? No worries just toss your wrap right into the washer & it's as good as new! 

All in all I'm beyond impressed and in love with my Moby wrap! I love it's versatility, it's ease of use and that it allows me to keep baby please while getting stuff done around the house as well! 

Learn more about the Moby Wrap

Read about the benefits of babywearing

About Moby

Important wrap safety information

Shop Moby Wraps

*Giveaway is limited to in stock items only*Winner must be a resident of the US*

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 Disclosure: Moby provided me with a Moby Wrap for this review. I was not compensated for this post and, as always, opinions are my own