Six tips for sun safety from our latest giveaway

1. Hat and sunscreen! And make sure to reapply sunscreen as necessary!
2. “If your baby hates hats, like my own, I like to cover her hair in coconut oil as its a natural sunscreen and I dont have to worry about it clumping up hair and getting down to her scalp.”
3. Always put sunscreen on at least 30 minutes before leaving the house or getting in the sun.
4. Stay indoors between 10 am and 2 pm and wear a shirt over sunscreen if you are out at that time.
5. Wear full lightweight cotton clothes.
6. Make sure to check the UV rating for the day, keep the kiddos out of the sun during the high points and drink lots of WATER, not just fluid.

Also check out:

• Imagine Baby’s The Shade Founder’s Five Sun Safety Tips
• Protecting your baby from the sun
• Getting baby ready for the beach....lessons learned the hard way.
• Sunglasses?....check!

Guest Blog Post: weeSpring eBay Pilot Program!

weeSpring eBay Pilot Program by  Ally Downey

 

When I was prepping for baby, even my best efforts at staying minimalist were defeated by well-meaning gifts and mistaken purchases. So what's a parent to do with all the items that my baby outgrew--or never really liked in the first place? At first, I only had the energy to set them aside in a closet or unused corner, but soon we were in need of more space in our NYC apartment.

Of course, most of our parent friends were in the same boat... what do we do with so much gear? When we started weeSpring, we set out to help parents make smart decisions about what they needed for their baby.  But even the most diligent and careful parents winds up with excess gear-- and because so many of our users are sharing ratings and reviews, we knew about tons and tons of  products that parents were ready to let go of. So we connected with eBay to take another approach to making these parents' lives easier.

Until the end of September, weeSpring users can offload the gear and toys their little one has outgrown, right from their weeSpring profile. If enough weeSpring users are as excited about this program as we are, we'll build a one-click process, making it easier than ever to sell old clothes and products.

We've always aimed to make weeSpring a simple, social, and fun way to find out what you need for baby - now we want to help you sell what you no longer need. Check out our blog post with Courtenay, a mom and eBay PowerSeller, who has sold 90% of her children's clothing on eBay. She's sold almost 1,000 items over the last five years which gives her perks like reduced fees and increased exposure. Read her amazing tips here and good luck selling!

 

Bio

Ally Downey is the founder of weeSpring, a social review site for baby products. Similar to a Yelp for baby gear, weeSpring helps parents navigate the perils of shopping for baby and gives new+expecting parents a one-stop shop for finding the best baby stuff for their lifestyle needs. Parents can also look up reviews of friends and other like-minded parents and follow their friends though Facebook. Sign-up at weeSpring.com.

Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week- Frozen Virgin Mojito

Source

Mojito Mocktail

by Blue Bonnets and Brownies

Ingredients
2/3 cup ice
1/2 cup organic lemonade
2 tablespoons lime juice
12-15 fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon Splenda or Sugar, if desired
1/4 cup Perrier Citron, Lemon, or Lime (or your favorite seltzer)

Directions
Add ice, lemonade, lime juice, mint leaves, and splenda or sugar if using, to the blender. Use the ice crush setting or blend until ice reaches slushy consistency.
Add Perrier or seltzer and pulse again for just a moment to mix well.
Enjoy immediately!

Last weeks post:

Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week- Watermelon Mocktail

What to Wear Wednesday: 8 End of Summer Maternity Fashion Finds on Pinterest

Baby Hugh loves....a seat at the table!

Since the little man started eating solids I have been using The First Years Deluxe Reclining Seat. As you will see from the reviews this chair is far from perfect but I absolutely got my monies worth (it is less than $30). It takes up no space, is easy to clean and the reclining function was really handy when Hugh first started eating solids. Also, I loved the fact that I was able to throw it in the back of the car when we were going away for a few days.

Alas, the time has come that Hugh wants an official seat at the table. A friend that was visiting the US from Ireland with her twins last year had the Inglesina Chair and absolutely loved them. Whether they were staying at a rental home, hotel or just out to a restaurant the Inglesina went with them and was a huge success.

Given that we are going to Ireland next month I wanted to get one myself. I struck out in all my local stores so after ordering one online I got the Regalo Portable High Chair for this past weekend's visit to my in-laws. This chair is more than half the price of the Inglesina and in all honesty worked perfectly well. Hugh was thrilled to be sitting beside everyone and eating with his family. There was one individual that was truly beside themselves with the new set up: Cassie our goldendoodle. This dog has never had table food but is more than happy to play Hugh's favorite game of fetch. Although it would appear she likes Cheerios but not blueberries or melon as she carefully navigated the dropped foods and picked out the cereal! 

While there are some good options out there to protect your floor, such as the Sugarbooger Jumbo Floor Splat Mat, a cheap alternative is a shower curtain liner!

Baby Hugh loves....

hummus! When I think of the food Hugh has tasted by ten months I am shocked by how progressed his palate is. He has had a handful of foods that I didn't have until I was WELL into my twenties; mango, avocado and hummus to name a few. While he enjoys all food so far, although I am expecting that to change, he gets really excited for hummus.

I am a big believer in allowing him to try lots of different flavors and deciding what he likes for himself. One day I was having my afternoon snack of hummus and he made it obvious he wanted to have some. This wasn't a plain hummus...it was Trader Joe's Cilantro Jalapeno hummus (which I am obsessed with) and it turns out Hugh is too.

I was a little anxious about the spice being too much for him so I did get him his own simpler version. I know that hummus is one of the easier foods to make yourself so it is my goal to make it next week. It would seem the main area of concern is the tahini and the potential allergic reaction babies may have to the sesame seeds and oil. The good news is that it can be left out of the recipe altogether and you will still have a delicious snack for you and your little one.

Here is some great information and a basic recipe.

What else does he love?

Baby Hugh loves.....yogurt!

Baby Hugh loves.... books! like this one. and this one.

Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week- Watermelon Mocktail

 

Source

Watermelon Mocktail
From Watermelon.org

Ingredients
1 cup watermelon puree
1 teaspoon grenadine syrup
1 serving of juice from a fresh orange
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 cups ice cubes
 
Instructions
Place all of the ingredients in a martini shaker and shake for 20 seconds.
Strain the chilled liquid into a sugar rimmed martini glass.

Love watermelon? Check out these previously published posts:
Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week: Frozen Watermelon Lemonade
Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week- Kleinworth & Co. Creamy Watermelon Lime Chiller

12th Annual Jif® Most Creative Sandwich Contest!

Now through November 8th and just in time for National Sandwich Month, Jif is launching the12th Annual Most Creative Sandwich Contest! Grab your kids and let their creative juices flow in the kitchen, all for a chance to win a $25,000 college fund! Basically kids can make up their own sandwich recipes using at least two tablespoons of Jif Peanut Butter, Jif Hazelnut Spread, Jif Almond and Cashew Butters or Jif Whipped Peanut Butter Spreads.

Parents; once you have your child’s winning recipe, head to Jif.com and complete the contest entry form. Keep in mind the judges are looking for creativity, taste, visual appeal and ease of preparation. Once entries are in, judges will narrow it down to ten semifinalists, who will then be listed online, for the public to vote around January 2014. After that, five finalists will go to an event in New York City and the lucky grand prize winner will be announced! Visit www.Jif.com for more info and good luck!

Guest Blog Post from Imagine Baby: 5 Sun Safety Tips & The Shade Giveaway!

Fully Covered – Five Sun-Smart Ways To Protect Little Ones From UV Ray 

By Lauren Lang, Founder of Imagine Baby 

By now, most adults have incorporated the practice of safe sun protection into their daily routines. But when it comes to babies, many parents don’t realize the places where unwanted or unexpected sun exposure may occur, such as when babies are sitting in the infant car seat.

Babies have delicate skin and require extra defenses from the sun, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies under 6 months old be kept out of direct sunlight and that sunscreen should only be used if no other protection is available. So parents need to take extra measures to ensure their baby’s skin is not directly exposed to the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays.  In addition to melanoma, a form of skin cancer, sun exposure can also result in sunburn, heat rash, and overheating. 

A few “sun smart” tips for babies include:

• While many strollers and car seats come with canopies, those canopies do not sufficiently keep babies entirely shaded – often leaving their feet and legs in direct sunlight. A protective infant car seat canopy such as The Shade will ensure that baby is surrounded by shade on all sides. 
• Until babies are past the six month mark, sunscreen is not recommended as its formulation – even organic – may have an adverse reaction to the delicate skin of babies. A hat with a flap is a great way to protect little faces, necks, and ears from the sun. Loose, lightweight cotton clothing is also a good way to keep babies covered without overheating.
• The sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm – a great time to schedule naps indoors or in a shaded area. Don’t be fooled by clouds – clouds are not shade and do not provide sun protection.
• Babies are not too little to wear sunglasses – you can find ones with a head strap so they stay in place.
• It may seem too hot for socks – but socks will keep little feet protected. Always keep an extra pair in your diaper bag or under the stroller incase one gets kicked off.

Bio

Lauren Lang is the founder of Imagine Baby, a company creating products that make parents’ lives easier.  Imagine Baby’s inaugural product, The Shade, is a first-of-its kind infant car seat canopy that provides UPF 50+ protection against the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, other outside elements and germs. Lauren is also a mom who created this product based on unmet needs with her own children when they were in their infant car seat. The Shade can be purchased at various online retailers and specialty baby stores nationwide at www.imaginebaby.com.

Now who wants The Shade for themself? Imagine Baby is generously providing one Shade to a winner of the following Rafflecopter giveaway! You choose the color. Entrants must be in the USA. Thanks and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

30 pieces of advice for mom-to-be and new moms!

See below for some great advice we collected during our Pampered Preggers Bundle Giveaway, which was hosted right here on Baby Bump Bundle Blog and on RUPreggers.com too!

1.    Nap when the baby naps.
2.    Use fenugreek seeds to increase milk production.
3.    Take others advice into consideration but at the end of the day your judgment is the best decision maker.
4.    My advice to a new mom is to sleep whenever you can and enjoy your babies when they are little because they grow so fast.
5.    Learn as you go.
6.    Try to still make time to go out with friends whenever you can.
7.    Best advice is to not worry so much about what you did not get done. Cleaning is always there.
8.    Accept the help that is offered! You'll have plenty of time later to be independent, savor time with baby while still young.
9.    Advice to mom: Make a sign for your door that says, "New Family Acclamation in Process. Thank you for stopping by, please leave food/ gifts at door. Will call you when ready for visitors." And for those who visit and ask what they can do, post a list on your refrigerator, that way when they ask what they can do to help, you can point them to the list & let them have their pick. :)
10.    Know how to delegate responsibility and do so. Don't try to be super mom, you will burn out and not enjoy your experience of being a new mom.
11.    Enjoy your pregnancy and be sure that you work together with your family!
12.    My best advice is to be patient, buy lots of onesies and swaddle, swaddle, swaddle!
13.     Don't stress it takes time to learn everything.
14.    Best advice: trust your instincts you know your child best.
15.    My best advice is to relax during pregnancy, ask for help where you need it, and wear comfy shoes!
16.    Remember to take some time to yourself to breathe! 5 minutes alone can make a world of difference.
17.    Don’t sweat the small stuff.
18.    Get used to messes, they never go away!
19.    Never COMPARE yourself to any other family!
20.    Take things one day at a time – trust yourself and your instincts! Make time for yourself as well.
21.    My best advice would be is sleep when baby sleeps! so cliche, but it works!
22.    You are never given more than you can handle just breathe.
23.    Housework can wait!
24.    Take time for yourself and just relax with your baby there is no time like the now. Nothing is as important as they are.
25.    All the advice everyone gives you, isn’t going to be the best for you. Find out what works for you and do it!
26.    Stay calm and relax it will all come to you naturally.
27.    Trust your instincts…
28.    Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Whether its cooking, cleaning, nursing…just ask!
29.    Just enjoy the ride, don’t stress too much. Listen to your own body and baby.
30.    If people offer to help, take them up on it!

Source

Baby Hugh loves....

books! Since I wrote about Peek a Who and how much Hugh loves it he immediately moved on to a new book. Murphy's law of course but I thought it was worth sharing the new favorite; Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.

This book was published in 1982 and has sold over 2 million copies world wide. The story gives you an opportunity to show off your ability to create animal sounds....I'm still trying to figure out how a giraffe "talks" and Hugh likes joining in with the lion's roar. 

It has been so much fun to see Hugh pulling the flaps down by himself and since they open in different directions it has been a really good learning process for the little man. 

I would love to find similar books so would welcome any suggestions!

Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week- Non-alcoholic Bloody Mary!

 Source

Virgin Mary 
By Greg Tooke on Best Bloody Mary Recipe.com 

Ingredients: 

• 5oz Tomato juice 
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 
• 1 Tbsp Fresh lemon juice  
• 1/8 tsp Fresh cracked black pepper
• 1/8 tsp Mustard powder
• 1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper powder 
• 1/8 tsp Celery salt

Directions: 
Fill a pint glass with ice.
Add all ingredients.
Pour into cocktail shaker.
Shake vigorously and pour back into pint glass.

Optional: Garnish with celery, olives, cucumbers, lime, lemon, or whatever you prefer and enjoy! 

In case you missed it: 
Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week- Kleinworth & Co. Creamy Watermelon Lime Chiller

A day in the life of a mom....breastfeeding; the emotional roller coaster.

Did you know that August is National Breastfeeding month? That, combined with the fact that my boobs have tendered their resignation, makes it a good time to chat about the Big B: Breastfeeding.

 Image Source

Before I say another word I want to make one thing very clear: what you feed your baby is up to you. People have to do what is right for them and who am I to question their decisions. I am certainly not the "Teat Nazi" that Tina Fey hysterically describes in Bossy Pants but when I became pregnant I knew that I wanted to give breastfeeding a shot.

All that being said the little man is 10 months old today which means that I have been thinking about breastfeeding for 19 months. When I was pregnant people asked "are you planning on breastfeeding?", when Hugh was born people asked "how is the breastfeeding going?", a few months in I was asked "are you still breastfeeding?". Questions, questions, questions and my answer was always the same: "I'm going to do it until, and unless I can't".

I was anxious before Hugh arrived because I really did feel this weight of expectation and responsibility to breastfeed. Not only from myself but from society in general. What if I couldn't do it? Would I disappoint everyone, most importantly my baby? Would baby be okay if they had formula? I know from personal experience the answer is YES; I am the oldest of four children, none of whom were breastfed and all of whom are healthy.

So 10 months ago today I was relieved when both myself and Hugh worked well together on the breastfeeding front. I did not have such a positive relationship with the breast pump which meant that I have to exclusively nurse. I had heard horror stories of exclusively breastfed babies rejecting bottles so at six months we introduced a bottle and formula to make sure he was okay with both and he was cool with that too.

At the beginning breastfeeding was a lot of work but it was so worth it. Then the idea of making bottles seemed like a lot more effort than nursing so I just kept on going and have made it so much longer than I ever thought I would. I figured I made it this long I will just keep going for the year when he will more than likely switch to milk anyway. But alas it would seem that my body is not on the same page as me and for the last week or so I have felt a serious decline in my supply. Luckily I have a friend that is a lactation consultant and she assured me that it "was normal for my milk to decrease around now".

And so the emotional roller coaster continues. I didn't want it to end like this. I want to say when and how. I have tried everything you are supposed to for increasing supply (hydration, oatmeal, supplements) but I think it is time to accept that my baby is growing up, my body is moving on to the next stage in our relationship and now I have to as well.

I am sad. I will miss it and the ease, comfort and connection I have felt with my son. But there is a bright side. I will not miss nursing tank tops and look forward to wearing the majority of my wardrobe that has been off limits because of boob accessibility!

And that is a day in the life of a mom.

In case you missed it:
A day in the life of a ROYAL mom....

*Use BUMP10 at www.babybumpbundle.com for 10 % off our BreastfeedingBundle (or any of our bundles) for mom-to-be, baby, or nursing.

Hump Day Hop!

Welcome to the 15th Hump Day Hop!  Brought to you by...

We are excited to have Michelle from Baby Bump Bundle as our co-host this week!

 If you are looking to gain more followers and make new blogger friends then this is the hop for you! This is a recurring hop every Wednesday where you can link up your Bloglovin', Facebook and Twitter. We only ask that you follow all the host and co-host, then visit a few others!

If you are a new follower leave a comment and let us know how you follow so we can return the favor!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.liferevolvesaroundthem.com" title="Life Revolves Around Them"><img src="http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc517/mkwuethrich/humpdayhop1_zpsae1c3947.png" alt="Life Revolves Around Them" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Grab our button for your sidebar while your here! If you are interested in co-hosting with us for FREE, email me at mkwuethrich@verizon.net!    Help spread the word! Tweet Now hop on and link up!

*Button design by now a queen*

Mom's Getting Moving Monday – Five Headbands Perfect for Fitness

Remington Yoga Head Wraps- Black/White / Bic Bands - Skinny Dotty Mint Green Blue / Sweaty Bands- I’m So Dragon-Fly / LuluLemon Get Sweaty Headband / Kitsch- Safari Headbands



In case you missed it:
Mom's getting Moving Monday with FitBump: You're Invited!

Pampered Preggers Bundle giveaway!

Preggers by Therafirm™ offers up everything from stockings and leggings to compression socks for wearing daily, during and after pregnancy.

What do their compression products do?
• Energizes tired, achy legs.
• Helps reduce and prevent swelling.
• Offers a controlled amount of pressure greatest at the ankle and gradually decreases towards the top of the stocking.
• Promotes blood flow.
• Improves circulation.
• Offers support for women who sit or stand for long periods of time.

We’ve teamed up with them for an AWESOME giveaway today!

One lucky expecting mother will receive (or can gift) the Pampered Preggers Bundle ($200+ value!) featuring:

-A choice of one trimester BumpBundle with 5+ handpicked products especially for mom-to-be at this exciting time! From beauty products to fashion accessories, Baby Bump Bundle will provide a mix of fun and functional items just for her!
-Also, for baby's debut, the prize package includes the Itty Bitty Baby Bundle with a onesie, monthly stickers, and a mix of organic bath and body products!
-One pair of Preggers Leggings - which are not your ordinary leggings. They feature light gradient compression that helps improve circulation, providing relief for swelling, tired, achy legs. PLUS, they are cute and affordable! Preggers by Therafirm just came out with their feisty new fall colors including Radiance, Shop Teal U Drop, Chameleon & Mulberry for Fall/Winter 2013.
-One pair of Preggers trouser socks. Choose from ribbed, diamond or French twist patterned socks from Preggers by Therafirm and be sure to check out the sassy fall colors such as Shop Teal U Drop! Besides being cute, these socks have light true gradient compression which helps your circulation all day long resulting in preventing & relieving swelling, tired, achy legs – great if you are on your feet or sitting all day.
-One Preggers by Therafirm maternity support band, providing just the right amount of support for any growing bump & comes in a variety of sizes & colors. This support band can be worn during & post pregnancy – bonus!

Everyone is a winner today because we also have two special discount codes. Use BUMP10 for 10% off any of our bundles at www.babybumpbundle.com and BUMPSHIP at www.rupreggers.com for free flat shipping in the contiguous US ($4.99 will be taken off your shipping selection)! See below to enter the Pampered Preggers Bundle on Rafflecopter! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thirsty Thursday Mocktail of the Week- Kleinworth & Co. Creamy Watermelon Lime Chiller

Hi Everyone!! 

I'm Gina Kleinworth from Kleinworth & Co. I'm SUPER EXCITED to be here posting today at Baby Bump Bundle Blog & sharing one of our new favorite family recipes. We are in the home stretch until the end of summer for most people (unless you live in the Southwest & you will be in the heat until November), so I thought I would come up with a tasty treat to share to give one last hurrah to the heat. 

I have been on a kick for making beverages because they are so simple & refreshing this time of year. My kids love having all sorts of different things to try & share with their friends too. I love coming up with things that can be made both in kid version & adult version because that way I'm just changing one ingredient & not having to make a whole separate recipe for the different age groups. 

One of our latest favorites is this Creamy Watermelon Lime Chiller. With all the watermelon in the house this time of year- it's the perfect way to kick back & enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Ingredients 

2 C watermelon- cubed 

1-1/2 C simple syrup 

1/2 C whipped cream 

1/2 a lime - juiced 

Instructions 

Blend all ingredients until smooth & well combined. Serve immediately.

Thank you so much Michelle for sharing your space with me today. It's been a pleasure!

About: 

Gina is a mom to 3, wife to a fire chief, photographer & homeschooler. She just relocated with her family to Northern Idaho after 12 long years living in various parts of the Nevada desert. Gina is a Southern California beach native & enjoys food photography, blogging, baking & getting crafty with re-purposing & up-cycling on a budget. 

You can connect with Gina via Blog, Twitter, Google+, Instagram & Pinterest

8 ways to "Bump" up a boring maternity look!

1.    Babymoon in Sedona Nail Polish

2.    Neon pink loop scarf

3.    Jo Jo Loves You studs

4.    Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy Nylon Natasha

5.    Multi Colored Cabochon Necklace by Pim + Larkin

6.    SunaharA Malibu Turquoise Stone Sonic Ring

7.    Tingo T-Straps

8.    La Mer Collections Charm Wrap Watch 

 

 

In case you missed it:

6 uses for a moms scarf