#cbias

Girl’s Best Friend

April 29, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NudgeThemBack #CollectiveBias

Ryan bought me my first puppy for our first Christmas together. We had talked about getting a small dog and found a breeder who had just had a liter of Maltipoos the day before we were married. Ryan contacted her and surprised me with her on Christmas eve. I instantly named her “Pippa.” Why? Because I love the royals and thought that Pippa was the perfect name for this spunky little ball of fur.

Pippa has always been a very loyal and loving dog. She is extremely cuddly and has bad anxiety when we leave her at home. During my pregnancy with Hampton, she laid beside me all the time. This pregnancy has been no different. She is always by my side, even when I go to the bathroom, she follows. Yes, she has prepared me well for parenthood.

Because of her loyal nature, I am always trying to give back to her when I can. Whether it be through a tummy rub, a snuggle or the perfect treat, she deserves the very best. When I was at Walmart the other day, I happened to pick up a few of the new Nudges® Grillers and Sizzlers dog treats. With the new baby on the way, I know she will be going through a lot of changes and adjustments over the next couple of weeks. I did not want to leave her out by not doing anything special for her. These delicious treats are made in the USA with real meat as the #1 ingredient. They offer great nutrition for our sweet girl and they are very flavorful. She loves them so much that I just may have to go get her some of the new jerky cuts!

Be sure to check out all the new flavors at nudgesdogtreats.com and check them out on Facebook!

Do you have a dog? What do you do to give back to your loyal friend?

New Mom Essentials

April 27, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LongLastingScent #CollectiveBias

I have an eighteen month old child and a second one due any day now. Becoming a “new mom” all over again can be a bit intimidating. This time around, I know what is coming. I know pretty much what to expect, although every child is very different. I have been very busy preparing for her arrival these last couple of weeks. In doing so, I’ve compiled a list of all the new mom essentials I found that I needed the first time around.

Nutrition Essentials:
Healthy Snacks – Fruit, granola bars, yogurt, etc.
Water Bottle – It’s so important to stay very hydrated while breastfeeding. Make sure you are drinking enough with a water bottle that has fl. oz. marked on the side.

Health Essentials:
Maxi Pads
Tucks
Dermoplast
Peri Bottle
Nursing Pads
Supportive Nursing Bra
Lanolin
Hand Sanitizer

I think these are all pretty self explanatory. The hospital may give you some of these things, but probably not enough. You will definitely want to have these on hand when you arrive home from the hospital.

Home Essentials:
Tissues
Suavitel® Fragrance Pearls™ – You will be doing loads and loads of laundry with a new baby. Picture your normal weekly loads times 5. It is important to be prepared for this before you bring your bundle of joy home from the hospital. I ran to Walmart the other day to purchase some Suavitel® Fragrance Pearls™. These are in wash scent boosters that hold 5x longer lasting fragrance. You will be thankful for fresh smelling laundry after dealing with all of that poop every day. These come in two scents – Lavender and Field Flowers. I also purchased the Suavitel® liquid fabric conditioner in Field Flowers and have really enjoyed it. There will be Suavitel® Fragrance Pearls™ samples and select Suavitel® liquid fabric conditioners in your Walmart store!

Disinfectant Wipes – These are so convenient for a quick clean-up.

Beauty Essentials:
Face Wipes – It is important to take care of your skin and wash your face really well, but sometimes we just don’t have time. Face wipes are really convenient and make you feel fresh even when you’re running on little sleep.
Concealer – to hide those dark circles.
Eye Cream – also, to help with dark circles and puffiness.
Lip Balm
Dry Shampoo – because who has time to wash their hair these days?

Entertainment:
Magazine
Book
Netflix and a Remote
Coffee

I made a list of items that I found out very quickly after my first baby that I needed. Unfortunately, I was not as prepared the first time. This time, I have made up a little basket that is sitting in my bathroom ready to go for whenever this baby decides to come on!

What are some of your new mom essentials? Were you prepared for all of the extra laundry that comes along with a new baby?

Strawberry Lemonade Popsicle Recipe

April 13, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SensitiveSmiles #CollectiveBias

I have very sensitive teeth and have always had to use sensitive toothpastes to find some relief. The tiniest bite of ice cream can send me in a fit. I decided to venture out and try the Colgate sensitivity toothbrush and pen to see if it helps. I have a huge sweet tooth and my pregnancy cravings aren’t helping my ~~addiction~~ love for sweets.

Thanks to my experience with this product, I have been able to actually enjoy my cold treats lately. In fact, I made my favorite popsicle recipe the other day while Hampton had a double ear infection. He was pretty miserable and I wanted to make him a special treat. Luckily, this popsicle is not too bad for you, so I felt okay about giving him a few tastes. I’m excited to share this very simple popsicle recipe with you!

Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles Recipe:

Ingredients:

3 cups of Lemonade (you can choose to make yours homemade, or store-bought).
1 case of Strawberries
1/4 cup of sugar

Directions:

Blend all of the ingredients really well and pour into popsicle molds. Freeze overnight. Tomorrow, enjoy your sweet treat!

Recipe makes 6 popsicles.

You should definitely try these. They just taste like summertime to me. Thanks to Colgate’s Sensitive Toothbrush and Pen, I can still enjoy my favorite summer treat, pain-free. This pregnant woman is very happy about that!

The Colgate Sensitivity Pen is so easy to use. The Actis Enamel Pen blocks sensitivity at the source of pain. Simply: Brush, Apply, Go. That easy! If you continually use the Colgate sensitive toothbrush, over time, the formula builds a barrier so that your teeth are less sensitive. If you have struggled with sensitivity, you know how awesome this is!

Check your local Kroger (and Kroger banner) stores for a coupon for the new Colgate Sensitive Toothbrush and Sensitivity Pen.

Do you struggle with sensitive teeth? What is your favorite summertime sweet?

Mother’s Day Gift Basket for the New Mom

April 9, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WicklessWonders #CollectiveBias

As a fairly new mom with a second child due in a couple of weeks, Mother’s Day has definitely been on my brain. So often, we buy the same ole gifts for our Mother’s: jewelry, picture frames with our latest family photo, perfume in her favorite fragrance, etc. This year, I want to do something special.

Several of my friends are having babies this month and next. I thought it would be really fun to fix up a gift basket for these new mothers, full of special and stylish gifts that will help them through those late night feedings, and long sleepy days. No one is more deserving of a little pampering than a new mother.

Here is what I’m including in the gift baskets:

-Dry Shampoo because, what new mom has time to wash her hair?
-Magazine
-Nail Polish to paint her piggies and hopefully feel more like herself.
–Monroe Mosaic Warmer and Wax Cubes to fill her home with a soothing fragrance and help her relax. Not to mention, they are also posh and stylish and the perfect addition to your home decor.
-Healthy Snacks because breastfeeding makes you hungry All. The. Time.
-Water Bottle to encourage hydration (also important for breastfeeding moms)
-Lotion
-Chapstick
-Hand Sanitizer

Other Options:

-Coffee and Coffee mug because she will be living off of caffeine for the next few months.
-Vitamins
-Good Book
-Face Mask to help with dark circles and those hormone breakouts.
-A DVD

There is nothing more soothing than a heavenly scent in a home. When the baby is crying and I need a mommy time out, it can be so calming to turn on my Monroe Mosaic Warmer or Whisper ScentSationals Warmer for that immediate fragrance release. There are so many scent options to choose from so depending on your mood or the season, there is a perfect scent for every new mom. The wax is made of superior quality right here in the USA! I just bought “pretty in pink” at Walmart the other day and it has definitely helped this pregnant mama feel more at ease. I went out and bought this scent for my gift baskets because it is just so perfect…and pink.

I tried to choose items that will pamper the new mom and help her feel more like herself again. Those first few weeks after giving birth are rough. You feel so tired, gross, sore and just don’t feel like yourself. It takes a while to get back to normal, but it is nice when people acknowledge you, not just your baby.

Another great tip for new mothers would be to bring them a meal. It is so helpful to have food brought to you right after the baby is born. I know I’d love that as a Mother’s day gift this year (hint hint)!

Please note that when using a Mosaic or ScentSationals warmer, you must not lay it on a cloth or unstable surface and must never be used in a child’s room.

What are you getting your mom for Mother’s Day this year? It’s only a month away!