No Throw Review & Giveaway

If you have a baby over the age of six months you at one point have or will be blessed with the mommy version of "bend and snap" meaning your child will throw something out of the stroller and you will have to bend down to retrieve it and the game begins. Then there are times that you weren't so luck and you come home missing yet another bottle or sippy cup.

No Throw is the solution! A company started by twin sisters who are mommies to active kids! Yes, and whom better to test a product on than their own kids. No Throw was developed by these ladies after several frustrating car and plane trips. And what an ingenious product it is indeed! According to the website:

Our product is for 3 months +. We have designed a velcro strap that will fit tightly around and hold onto children's bottles and sippy cups. The NoThrow's leash styled handle can be slipped over the seat belt that are attached to your child's car seat, stroller, bike seat, high chair, baby-backpack, you name it!.

Tightly attach the Velcro strap around your bottle or sippy cup then slip your leash style handle over the seat belt before you buckle your little one into the car seat, high chair, bike seat, stroller...where ever your baby sits.

The Review:This product is wonderful. I received it several weeks ago and use it on a daily basis. My only problem is that I only have one! It is on my to-do list to pick up another, as the one that I have currently travels from the car seat to the stroller and so on. It would be great to have on that lives on the stroller. I not only hook up Ace's sippy cup, but often I will hook his toys onto it so that it cannot be tossed aside. Because the dropsy game is one of Ace's favorite.

The designs that they have available are adorable and the price is really great! Only $5! You can purchase them at Walgreens or online, here! Every parent has a favorite item as their children grow. When Ace was small that was his boppy. Nursing him it was a must have. However, NOW I'd have to say this is one of my favorite baby items. Perfect for a shower gift!

I highly recommend stopping by No Throw and picking up one or two for yourself and a friend.

Win it! No Throw has generously donated a No Throw to one A-Priori Mommy reader!

How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment! Your first entry it's that simple! (1 entry)
2. Visit No Throw and tell me which design you'd pick if you won (1 entry)
3. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (2 entries)
4. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
5. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
6. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end September 1st at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US & Canada entries accepted. Winner may choose from available stock the No Throw of their choice.

The Joyful Organizer Book Review & Giveaway

Who doesn't love to be organized? No one. What we don't love is getting or staying organized. Nope often we get buried in tasks, or paperwork and the ideal of organization at that point seems like a four-letter-word. Now add moving into the mix and selling your home and most people's heads are close to the exploding point. It's overall a frightening disaster. If you are sitting there saying "what's the big deal?" Then this isn't for you. If you're sitting there reading and nodding with a few amens every now and again, well then keep reading there is a solution!

The Joyful Organizer is a company that offers professional organizational help. The founder, Bonnie Joy Dewkett has been a life long organizer, some people are just born with that knack, the rest of us live our lives constantly digging ourselves out from under clutter and piles. :) The Joyful Organizer also offer IN home help, yes they will come to your home assess your room and then organize it for a fee! Personal shopping is also involved! Yes, The Joyful Organizer will go to the store and purchase (at your expense) the supplies necessary to organize, it just sounds magical, go to work to your messy office there, come home to a beautifully organized home-office. Although I think my favorite part is they are willing to work with children to teach them how to be organized! A list of their services can be found here. Anything else you'd like to know about this company can be found here in their FAQ section.

I reviewed The Joyful Organizer's Guide to a Happy Move and it is chalk full of details and advice from preparing your home for open houses to getting your vet records (if you're moving out of town) there are several helpful print out sheets that contain checklists to help keep yourself organized and it is wonderful to just be able to go the book to double check details. After moving 4 times in the last 5 years, I completely understand the frenzy that it can be and how things can get lost, forgotten or left undone. This book honestly would have been helpful during some of those moves. It was well written in easy to understand sections. Lots of bullet points so you don't get lost in the dredge of too many words on a page. There are some things that are in the book that seem pretty obvious, but overall I think the point that it all boils down to is that it CAN help you to get organized and if you're moving that is the KEY.

Win it! The Joyful Organizer has kindly donated one digital copy of The Joyful Organizer's Guide to a Happy Move

How to Enter
1. Leave a comment! Your first entry it's that simple! (1 entry)
2. Visit The Joyful Organizer and tell me something I have not mentioned here. (1 entry)
3. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (2 entries)
4. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
5. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
6. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end August 6th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen.
Worldwide entries accepted!

Brain Child Book Review and Giveaway

As new parents you are quick to recall the basic things that you need to teach children: shapes, colors, numbers... but there are so many other more complex ideas that can be introduced to children earlier than we might thing. A big issue that is plaguing America is nutrition and healthy living. A concept that often isn't taught but rather is emulated or it is not. That is why when I came across Brain Child Press, Inc. I was intrigued.

About the Company:

Brain Child Press, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is an independent publisher of children's nonfiction picture books, teaching materials, and educational games. Their mission is to develop child and family-friendly books and materials that help create healthy individuals and communities. I love their concepts: present big ideas, but use simple text; vivid photography, not abstract art or cartoons, and they have been developed and reviewed by experts in education, pediatrics, and nutrition. Not often do you find books with that attention to detail and education.

The Review:

I was given A Very Purple Pepper and A Visit to the Farmers' Market to review. First thing that catches my eye are the beautiful pictures that are in these books! Ace of course was instantly drawn to the colors - the books are geared for pre-k and onward, but honestly they are perfect to read to him for him to understand colors and they will continue to be useful as he ages beyond just the understanding of colors because he can learn about the Farmers' Market and about all the different veggies. The books are made of good quality material so while not indestructible to my little tot, if he managed to grab a page it won't instantly shred under his toil.

The company also gave me a few flash cards made of some sturdy material with wonderful pictures of fruit - they have a fruit set and a vegetable set. They are cute and certainly will hold a child's attention. The last item that we reviewed was the Match-Up Veggies card game. And by we I mean me. Although Ace is advanced in many ways - he is still far from holding the patience to flip over cards and find the matching partner. However, when he is old enough - these will be wonderful to take with in my purse. The box is super compact and the 40 cards are like the size of a min deck of cards. They have great colors and a wide variety of veggies to match up.

My overall impression with Brain Child Press, Inc. is a very positive one. I find that their goals and targeted methods for achieving those goals are spot on. Their products are a great learning tool with a very amicable and important message: healthy living and proper nutrition.

Interested in their books, flash cards, games? Stop by their website and purchase them directly.

Brain Child Press has generously donate a copy of one of their books to one A-Priori Mommy Reader!

 

Would you like to win a copy of A Very Purple Pepper: Colors to Know So You Can Grow?

How to Enter (Up to 12 chances to win!)1. Leave a comment! Your first entry it's that simple! (1 entry)
2. Visit Brain Child Press, Inc. and tell me one of the items you like! (1 entry)
3. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (2 entries)4. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
5. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
6. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
7. Purchase anything from Brain Child Press, Inc. between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end July 13th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced July 14th. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US entries only, please.

BabyLegs Review and Giveaway

I have an on the go boy! Never wanting to be still - and since he learned to crawl there is no stopping him. Even when his diaper is dirty! So trying to get a pair of pants back on him after a quick diaper change is often futile. But with all that crawling around if he isn't wearing pants his little knees get rug burn and in the mornings his legs are chilly. And so I sought out a solution and the company BabyLegs was there to be of assistance.

BabyLegs is a Northwest company (I love to support local!) Nicole Donnelly, then a stay-at-home mom, created BabyLegs to keep her daughter's legs warm. After numerous inquiries from other moms about where Donnelly found the little leg warmers, she began selling her invention out of a diaper bag, and the popularity of BabyLegs spread quickly throughout the community. BabyLegs can now be found in over 50 countries from Israel to Chile to Iceland.

The Review:

The thing that I love about these BabyLegs is the convenience! I can put them on my son in the morning when I change him into his clothes for the day and then diaper changes throughout the day are easy! Just have to undo the onesie and go for it. They are a great item to carry in the diaper bag in case he gets chilly while out - and aren't nearly as bulky as a pair of pants. Ace seems to be more than ok with them on his little legs, and appreciates the quick diaper changes so he can squirm and crawl away sooner.

I love that they have them for boys there are other companies out there that sell similar products, but they only seem to have them for girls - well that's silly. BabyLegs is wonderful and provides products for boys, girls, older kids and now even adults!

The only downside to BabyLegs is they cannot be tossed in the washing machine. And they mean it! There are lots of things that say do not machine wash - but really they fair just fine... and it is possible that just washing BabyLegs would be ok - but drying is OUT of the question. I have a pair that I washed and dried and they no longer fit on his legs. However, they do work as arm warmers and those are great for the night when he refuses to put his little arms under the covers! So you have to be sure to separate them out from the rest of your items and in a sea of laundry that can be a tad difficult.

Buy them! Buy from BabyLegs directly or to find a local store near you that carries them click here.

Win it! BabyLegs has generously donated a pair of BabyLegs for you to win!

How to Enter (Up to 12 chances to win!)

1. Leave a comment! Your first entry it's that simple! (1 entry)

2. Visit BabyLegs and tell me one of the patterns you like! (1 entry)
3. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (2 entries)
4. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
5. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
6. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
7. Purchase anything from BabyLegs between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end June 29th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced June 30th. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US entries only, please.

The Ravenna Girls - GIVEAWAY!

I love to surround myself with crafty and delightful people and B and D of The Ravenna Girls are just those kind of people. This summer season, they are expanding their crafty selves into the blogging world. So let's give them a howdy-ho neighbor and welcome them to the blogosphere. Stop by their blog: The Ravenna Girls and give them a wonderful welcome!

These two ladies, although new to the blogging world are seasoned pros over at Etsy and have recently expanded into two different shops.

One shop is for all things vintage. Ravenna Girls - Vintage has all sorts of gems from vintage books, dishes, and jewelry. These cups are adorable and these serving trays are a steal of a deal!

Ravenna Girls is a shop that I frequent often to see what they've come up with is is for all their handmade and creative items. I own one of their Jewelry Hangers and love it. These headbands are so adorable and use upcycled felt and fabrics. They also have a wide variety of soy candles in upcycled containers. I think my latest favorite thing the Ravenna Girls make are their wreaths. They make both silk floral wreaths and yarn wreaths (which I own one of each!)

The Ravenna Girls have graciously provide one of their medium yarn wreaths which measures 9" in diameter to one A-Priori Mommy Reader. This wreath below is the one up for winning!



A message from the Ravenna Girls:
These wreaths can be made in nearly any color or size so custom orders are always welcome. So if you don't win one... we can make one just for you.

How to enter:
Visit Ravenna Girls and tell me something else you like in their shop.
This must be done first before any other entries will count.

Additional Entries: (Up to 13 chances to win!)
1. Visit The Ravenna Girls blog and leave a comment on their blog, be sure to come back here letting me know! (1 entry)
2. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
3. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
4. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
5. Purchase anything from Ravenna Girls or Ravenna Girls - Vintage between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)
6. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy AND The Ravenna Girls and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end June 21st at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced June 22nd. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US and Canada entries welcome!

Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover Review and Giveaway

To nurse in public, is a tricky thing. Some are afraid to even attempt it, others barely cover their breasts with the baby's head. I fall somewhere in between (like most nursing moms.) I like to nurse anywhere I please, while tastefully draped with a cover. Now for Ace and I that has meant an off-brand nursing cover that has a hole the plops down over my head and covers me almost to my waist and of course my shoulder blades (since those are so riske.) The fabric was long enough to cover the boy during his early life, but in more recent days has proven not enough to encase him (not that he needs to be fully covered) and the part that does - he's bothered by because it rests on his face while nursing - so he'll do ANYTHING not to be under that cover. That's when Bebe au Lait came to the rescue!

About the Company:

Bebe au Lait is owned by a husband and wife team Ronnie and Claire Ekelund. You might have heard about them, the company was originally called Hooter Hiders. The award winning company, after two years with business booming, they decided to change their name and add a more sophisticated feel to the company and thus Bebe au Lait was transformed. The company sells nursing covers, double reversible bibs, hooded towels and burp cloths and all are in stylish and adorable fabric choices! Bebe au Lait is also in the blogging world, and you can find their blog, here.

The Review:

I fell in love with Bebe au Lait's nursing cover! It's that simple. When I first was looking for a nursing cover, I admit I was skeptical about fabric that didn't fully encase me on all sides. I think that was the nervous new mommy in me. However, upon using Bebe au Lait's nursing cover all my skepticism is gone. It is by far the best cover that I've used to date. The nursing cover simply hooks over your neck and has an ample amount of fabric to cover you and your baby, in fact while the baby is nursing it acts as a nice blanket (for the cozy sense of a blanket, not warmth) because it is not super warm so the baby doesn't overheat while under it, which is good because my little man is a hot tot! The rigid neckline is perfect and allows for me to see my son during nursing and the terry cloth corner is wonderful to wipe his mouth when he's done with his snack. Bebe au Lait lists the following features for their nursing cover:

Terrycloth pocket detail for quick cleanup or storage of breast pads or pacifiers.
Machine Washable
Unique rigid neckline allows for ventilation, as well as direct eye contact with the baby.
Generous sizing keeps mommy completely covered during breastfeeding
Multi-use: Can be used as a nursing cover, a blanket, or even a sunshade to protect baby’s fragile skin from harmful UV rays.

I think my favorite "feature" of these nursing cover are the chic designs. I would love to have one in every design just because they are so stylish and cute. Finally, I think the most important part about the nursing cover is how Ace reacts to it. Like I mentioned before in the other cover - he squirms, twists, and fights to get out from under it (even when he is hungry!) We don't have that problem with the Bebe au Lait cover. With the rigid neckline it stays off his face and provides me with a great view of his beautiful blue eyes as he nurses. He is far more content under this cover than the other. So my squirmy worm gives it his stamp of approval and I do as well!

Buy it: You can go to Bebe au Lait's website and purchase your own nursing cover in several different color and pattern options.

Win it! Bebe au Lait has generously donated one Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover to one A-Priori Mommy reader!

How to enter:

Visit Bebe au Lait and tell me which design you'd like to win.
This must be done first before any other entries will count.

Additional Entries: (Up to 12 chances to win!)
1. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)
2. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
3. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
4. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
5. Purchase anything from Bebe au Lait between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end June 10th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced June 11th. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US entries only, please. Winner can choose any available pattern that is in stock.

Dapper Tags Review and Giveaway

How many times have you left the house after thinking you have everything you need only to establish you're out of extra onesies or even worse diapers?! To be honest it has happened to me a time or two. I mean it happens to everyone. That's why when I came across Dapper Tags, I thought what an ingenious idea! Dapper Tags is a Los Angeles based company that has developed a stylish checklist that goes with you and your diaper bag!

The creators of Dapper Tags wanted to ensure that you were never again found with "your diaper down!" and if that cute slogan isn't enough to getcha, the adorable designs are. In addition to color schemes there are designs to choose from: cherries, pink or blue skulls, and camo! They're just so cute to add a little flare to your diaper bag.

This product is great for the dads too! Not to suggest that dads are any less experienced in packing a diaper bag (yes I am.) So on those rare occassions when us mommies get to sneak away from our babes - the Dapper Tag provides a great way to ensure that dads have everything they need when taking the babes out for the afternoon adventure.

In addition to having a tag that has a checklist, I think it's a great place to brand your child's name and then wa-la you have a name tag for when you drop your child off at day care, the nursery at church, etc.. That way it's really easy to identify the ever popular bag of choice between the sea of others. :)
In our household, Ace enjoys chewing on the tag more than anything! Overall I've found it to be a good way to just do a mental checklist... with a little extra help (and us parental units can use all the help we can get when it comes to the mental stuff!) The brown and blue tag matches our diaper bag so nicely. The tag tucks nicely into the side pocket of the diaper bag and stays out of the way when toting it around.

Buy it! You can purchase your own Dapper Tag by visiting their website.

Win it! Dapper Tags has generously donated one Dapper Tag to one A-Priori Mommy reader!

How to Enter:
Visit Dapper Tags and tell me which design you'd like to win. This must be done first before any other entries will count.

Additional Entries: (Up to 12 chances to win!)

1. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)
2. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
3. Follow me AcesMomma and Dapper Tags on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
4. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
5. Purchase anything from Dapper Tags between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end May 25th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced May 26th. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US entries only, please.

Bath Luvē Review and Giveaway

One night when I was giving Ace a bath he made this face and I realize that even with the heat lamp on and the door pushed almost closed the part of him that wasn't in the warm water was pretty chilly. So every now and again I took his cup and sprinkled some bath water over his shoulders. Well that only worked for as long as the water was on him as soon as it rolled off we were back to chilly square-one. So onto the world wide web to find out a solution! And one of my first and favorite finds was the Bath Luvē. How cute are their designs!? What, what designs? Well go visit the website and you'll see! I'll wait. ;-)

Ace and I have never really had a struggle in the bath department. For the most part he has always been relatively content, but always cold at some point. I felt bad for the little guy because he was so tough and didn't know any better that being cold wasn't an acceptable fun bathtime experience. As he's aged he's started to show a more opinionated reaction to the chill that befalls him every bath time. I was delighted that such a product as Bath Luvē existed because what a perfect and fun way for Ace to be able to stay warm.

About the Company & Product:

It's mommy inspired, created and owned! Yes LUVĒ, LLC was founded by Wisconsin-based momtrepreneur Amy Seckinger. I love to support momtrepreneurs! When Amy was a new mother, she realized how stressful infant bath time was for both her and her son. Safely bathing in only a few inches of water, the baby was cold, and his crying made for a difficult experience. Amy began to look for a solution and the Bath Luvē was born. The Bath Luvē whether it be frog, duck, or fish ;-) measures 14'x10', is machine washable, is 100% cotton and designed with baby’s safety and comfort in mind.

The Review:
Ace and I reviewed the Fish Bath Luvē after swim lessons one day, always good to wash off all that chlorine before it dries out the skin! We soaked the Bath Luvē in his water before he got in, and then applied it to his back. I thought Ace would for sure go right for it and remove it, but nope as you will see in the bottom picture he went for hording the ducks. He sat and played for far longer that he typically does before making the aforementioned "cold" face. And instead of stealing his orange cup from him to cover him with warm water I simply removed the fishy while he continued to play and dunked it again. Not intrupting his splashing at all. It was great!

I would have to say that the fish seems to be lacking the "feet" that both the frog and the duck have. Which would make great shoulder holders that the fish doesn't have. So I suppose for older babies that are old enough to hold themselves up in their tubs, that the frog or duck would be superior for those purposes. When placed on Ace's front it won't stay on (you can see it mid fall) and I really do think that the frog or duck would stay on better because the feet would flop onto his back.

Final thoughts? This product is fun and useful. Skeptics might say, why not just use a wash cloth? First, it's thicker than the average wash cloth (at least mine) and additionally a wash cloth is a square. Where as the Bath Luvē is shaped to fit a baby from chest all the way to their private area. Also great for those parents that don't want to display all their child's glory for the world to see. It is well priced too! Ranging from $6 to $10 depending on which retailer you go to. Do I recommend this product? Yes!

Buy it: You can purchase the Bath Luvē at all Kohl’s stores, Babies R Us, select Baby Depots, Toys R Us Australia and Wal-Mart.com. All the items can be purchased online at Bath Luvē.

Win it! Bath Luvē has generously donated a Bath Luvē of the winner's choosing to one A-Priori Mommy reader!

How to Enter:
Visit Bath Luvē and tell me something about the company, the product, etc.. that I have NOT mentioned in this review. This must be done first before any other entries will count.

Additional Entries: (Up to 12 chances to win!)1. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)
2. Follow me on blogger. Already follow, you count too! (1 entry)
3. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
4. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
5. Purchase anything from Bath Luvē between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end May 19th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced May 20th. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US and Canada entries only, please.

Bebe au Lait - Mother's Day Promotion

This year for Mother's Day, Bebe au Lait is offering two free burp cloths with purchase of a nursing cover, bib, hooded towel, or gift set. On top of that, Bebe au Lait offering free domestic ground shipping on every order!

The promotion starts today and ends on May 11th.

Who is Bebe au Lait:

Ever heard of the ever famous Hooter Hider? Bebe au Lait is responsible for bringing them to you. But they don't just make Hooter Hiders. As the promotion states they also make hooded towels which are available in two sizes (baby and toddler size) and 11 patterns; and also bibs that are reversible. Their fabrics are so exciting and different. Their prices are competitive and did I metion with this promotion there is FREE shipping?! With the rate the postal service is going that's a deal all by itself!

So please stop by Bebe au Lait and check out their products.

SKOY Cloth Review and Giveaway - 2 Winners

I am always on the hunt for something new and exciting! As a SAHM my routine starts to feel a little bland every now and again and I need something to spice it up; and when I came across SKOY Cloths on another blogger's page, that did it for me! I was back in the spice of things! The concept was exciting, the innovation was awesome, and the price was too fabulous not to love! What?! What?! What ARE you talking about, Jo?! Well, keep reading silly - you'll see!

In my house I am obsessed with using paper towels. I use way too many of them, I know and while I'm not as green as some, I do know that I should be better in some areas. So the SKOY Cloths caught my eye first and foremost because they are advertised to cut back on paper towel use, ONE SKOY cloth saves 15 rolls of paper towels! The first thing out of my husband's mouth was: um so it's a rag, not a paper towel. Au contraire my beloved! These cloths are made from natural materials and is 100% biodegradable, while microfiber cloths are made from synthetic materials. So see, not a rag at all, because I don't like to use rags. The fibers no matter what kind I use get everywhere, they stick to things... I often throw them away as IF they were paper towel... I'm not a fan. So to have a Skoy cloth that is durable, yet is also biodegradable - sign me up for that test drive! First, let's talk about the company and the makers behind it.


About SKOY Cloth:
Michelle and Karen are two SAHM's that when their children went off to grade school had some time on their hands and thus their business was born. I LOVE how they got their name, since I have some Swed in me, I love that the name of their company is Swedish! And I really appreciate that they are so fastidious in making sure the factory they use is well aware of the standards Michelle and Karen wish to uphold. Please read more about their company here.

About the Product:
Each SKOY cloth is approximately 7”x7” and are sold in packs of 4. You can elect to purchase them in color (orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, white) or all white. Each SKOY has a flower print and if you elect to buy the white SKOY cloths the flower is in color. They also have a 4 pack with inspirational text. A pack of 4 SKOY cloths is $5.99. As I mentioned one SKOY cloth replaces 15 rolls of paper towels. Now 12 rolls of paper towels is $15 (at least this last bundle I just bought was and that was them on sale. sheesh!) and 4 SKOY cloths cost $5.99. Quick breakdown for you: average cost of a roll of paper towel: $1.25. 15 rolls=$18.75. If one SKOY cloth equals that of 15 rolls of paper towels and you buy 4 for $5.99 there are a savings of $69.01 on the cost of paper towels! Now think of that in terms of waste: 4 SKOY cloths or 60 rolls of paper towels. It's staggering.


The Review:
Talk is cheap, it's the in action stuff that matters. How does well does it absorb liquid? I dumped 3/4th of a cup of water onto the counter top and taking a completely dry SKOY cloth was able to absorb all but the dampness, which air dried away pretty quickly. How does it dry? After using the SKOY cloth I let it dry over night and it dries up and retakes it's original shape and feel. How does it work for reuse? It works great. It's extremely durable I can ring it out, wet it and reuse it over and over again. How does it hold up in the wash? Extremely well! I didn't choose to dry my, I just set it out to air dry. How does it feel in your hand? I don't know if any of you would actually ask that question, but I thought it when I first saw the product so I figured I'd answer. Prior to adding any liquid to it, it feels almost like thin cardboard, after adding water to it - it's really thick. I was surprised at how dense it remained. How did I use it? It worked great to scrub the counter tops and I tried it on the mirror! Yes another flaw to paper towels and rags... bits remain on the mirrors. With the SKOY cloth, all was well with the world! :) Downsides? Size matters! Whaaat? Keep your mind out of the gutter ladies and gents! All I mean is that part of the reason I do love my paper towels so much is the coverage I get with one. They are large! That's the one thing with the SKOY cloths, they aren't large. Now while often I don't need as big of a towel and while the SKOY cloth can be reused over and over again, sometimes, I'd just like a little bit more cloth for my cleaning amusement. So it would be great if they offered "regular" and "extra-large" sizes. Final thoughts? I love this product. Not only does it help cut down on waste in our landfills, it really is a great and effective product! Also think of how much space it takes to store 15 rolls of paper towels? A SKOY cloth can be put in a drawer, heck several SKOY cloths can be put in a drawer! So if you are too eager to wait for the giveaway to end, stop over at SKOY and order your SKOY cloths today!

Want some? Go to SKOY and order a pack in a variety of colors, you can also subscribe to receive a shipment every 3 months!

Win it! SKOY has generously donated two 4 packs of the color SKOY cloths to two A-Priori Mommy readers!

How to Enter:
Visit SKOY and tell me something about the company, the product, the name of the company, etc.. that I have NOT mentioned in this review. This must be done first before any other entries will count.

Additional Entries: (Up to 12 chances to win!)
1. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)
2. Follow me on blogger. (1 entry)
3. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
4. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
5. Purchase anything from SKOY between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end April 30th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced May 1st. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US entries only, please.

Follower Giveaway!

Remember way back, long ago when I said this... well I'm finally going to make good on it! I got distracted with daily life, I was busy blogging, I was busy with my family, I forgot. Yes there's no real excuse I just plumb forgot about my promise to my followers! And since I just remembered I wanted to waste no time in getting my Follower Giveaway posted. First of all I love followers, I like knowing that there are people that like to read my posts. I in turn want to take care of them, like you do your IRL friends, because just because we're in the bloggy world doesn't mean we can't be kind.

Now for my Follower Giveaway, all you have to do is be a follower and comment! I'd love for you to also comment on other posts in addition to the one that I'm giving you free stuff on, but it's not a demand. I mean the whole point is to be nice to those that choose to read my blog. So if you're merely a follower for the free loot, well I can help you out with some, with a side of guilt. :) You can join THIS Follower Giveaway even if you are just now becoming a follower. You don't have to be an existing follower. Follow me! I'm pretty funny and I have some other giveaways in with wings that are awesome and you won't want to miss.

How to Enter:
1. Be a follower (new and existing count!)
2. Leave a comment on this post and if you're nice on another post too.

That's all folks! Nothing fancy.

Now what am I offering my followers?! Well, since I just remembered JUST now, I don't have anything purchased or store bought - but I do have an lavender eye pillow from my Etsy store* Ace Quilting And just to make it more exciting, I will let you choose your color scheme! (i.e. blues, purples, bright, pastels, etc.) The Lavender Eye Pillow is filled with dried french lavender and flax seed.

This giveaway will end April 29th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced April 30th. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen.
US entries only, please.

* The A-Priori Mommy is not above shameless plugs and bribery. If you succumb to these plugs and briberies The A-Priori Mommy is not hereby liable for any of your actions or affects resulting from your actions.

Little Luvee - Review and Giveaway

I think one of the most common gifts you can get when you announce that you're expecting a baby (next to the ever famous onesie) is a blanket. They come in all forms. There are those that you treasure because they are made by someone you love. Some you love for their utility and purpose. Then there is the Little Luvee blanket! I love this blanket and it stands out from all the other blankets! It is handmade and is perfect for just about any purpose imaginable! It is thick enough you can take it to the park and lay your baby on it or cuddle up with your little one snug as a bug!

About Little Luvee:
It is a family owned and sponsored business. All of their products are handmade and made with the utmost care. They make burp cloths, baby blankets, and also blankets for adults. Trust me, they are worth every penny! You can often find me stealing sharing Ace's blanket and tossing a less plush, more standard blanket over him and I myself curling up with the Little Luvee, so the adult throw would be divine!

My son absolutely loves this blanket, when he was super tiny he laid on it as it is the softest blanket we own. Then as the weather cooled down into the winter months it was the first blanket I reached for to wrap him up in and toss over him in his car seat. We also use the burp cloths for a number of uses. The obvious is for burps! No real shocker there, right? In fact they are perfect! The plush minky fabric on the burp cloth just adds that much more support in collecting those unexpected urps. Additionally we use them frequently to place under Ace's head* when he sleeps in our bed, that way it is a nice soft on his face AND will collect the urps in the night time and we don't have to change all of our sheets.

The baby blanket measures approx. 36in X 36in and the burp cloths are sold in sets of 3 and measure approx. 18in. X 13in. The quality of the materials in both the blankets and the burp cloths are wonderful. We have been using them all in high frequency for over seven months now (so frequent washes) and they look brand new. There is zero pilling of the fabric and the stitching is flawless! The cloth diapers they use for the burp cloths are wonderful - in fact I went on the hunt for some cloth diapers (similar in material to what the company uses) and I couldn't find anything comparable to what Little Luvee offers.

I believe that these blankets and burp cloths are well worth their investment. These blankets are made with the best materials I've found, in fact I can't find them anywhere else. The materials Little Luvee uses are the highest of quality, and like anything you have to pay for that quality. We have other blankets around here that work just fine, but I find myself reaching for this one every time it's clean (and I'll be honest, sometimes when it's not!)

Want One? Go to Little Luvee and order one in a variety of patterns and colors. They make the perfect gift for a new mom OR splurg and get yourself the adult throw blanket! You won't be sorry!

Win it! Little Luvee has generously offered to one
A-Priori Mommy reader a Little Luvee Blanket

Choose from either the Blue Zebra Baby Blanket or the Pink Giraffe Baby Blanket pattern!

How to Enter:
1. Visit Little Luvee and tell which pattern of blanket or burp cloth you like (besides the two mentioned here.)

Additional Entries: (Up to 12 chances to win!)
1. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)
2. Follow me on blogger. (1 entry)
3. Follow me AcesMomma on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry)
4. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
5. Purchase anything from Little Luvee between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end April 20th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced April 21st. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US entries only, please.

*Please use caution when placing loose material under or around the baby. It is typically unadvised. Nieither the The A-Priori Mommy nor Little Luvee endorses nor recommends said burp cloths to be used for this function for anyone besides the The A-Priori Mommy herself and therefore by this warning releases both The A-Priori Mommy and Little Luvee from any liability for any stupid improper use of burp cloths or blankets.

To My Followers

I feel like I should be standing on a hill and talking to the masses... ahem. Just kidding! But I wanted to address you specifically - I HOPE that all of you that are following me is because you like what you see here and that you enjoy my adorable son and my funny stories, rants, and ramblings of our daily lives in the Northwest! But if you are here JUST to win a prize... I guess I should keep them coming, right? ;-)

I am not above bribery to keep people reading. After trolling through literally HUNDREDS of blogs over the last 24 hours and entering contests and reading such great posts. I came across a handful of bloggers that treated their followers to an exclusive giveaway! What a GREAT idea! So I'm snagging it! I'm not sure how often I will provide giveaways to my followers nor what exactly I will give away - but I'm going to do it. Because if you are a true follower - you deserve some love because I certainly feel loved by you following! And commenting on my blog, that you follow, is even better (hint! hint!) And if you aren't a true follower well a little guilt never hurt anyone!

So stay tuned! I will be hosting another giveaway very soon, just for YOU! I just need to get my thinking cap on!

Mommy Relax! - Giveaway

Giveaway time is here again! This time in celebration of the SITS Spring Fling! The SITSas have put together an exciting Spring Fling giveaway extravaganza and I thought it would be nice and only fair since I'm going to be entering like crazy that I should give something away too. So without further ado: My giveaway!!!

During the madness of March, Mommies need to relax! And so I've created the Mommy Relax Package. Granted they can't all be used at the same time - as an eye pillow makes it hard to read a book or watch a movie, but all of them will help you relax at one point or another! And let's be honest you do NOT have to be a mommy to win! I swear! All women and heck even some men might enjoy all of these things - so don't feel required to procreate to participate in this giveaway!

The 'Mommy Relax' Package!
Which includes:
1. Ghost the DVD
2. A book: The Next Thing on my List
2. A collection of Starbuck's Tazo teas
3. A Lavender eye pillow from Ace Quilting

To participate leave a comment! It's THAT easy.

Additional Entries: (Up to 11 chances to win!)
1. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment. (3 entries)
2. Follow me on blogger. (1 entry)
3. Add my button to your sidebar. (1 entry)
4. Purchase anything from my Etsy site Ace Quilting between now and the end of the giveaway and post 5 comments with the transaction number. (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (i.e., if you blog about this giveaway, leave three separate comments stating that you did. Your comments are your actual entries.)

This giveaway will end March 16th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced March 17th. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before a new winner is chosen. US entries only, please.

Pay it Forward

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

I won the Pay It Forward from Stephanie at Our Life in Words. First before we get started here, I encourage you to stop over by her page if you are not a fequent visitor and send up some prayers for her and her family and their unborn baby, one of God's many miracles!

So here is my Pay It Forward. It is a fun and simple contest. Simply, be one of the first three commenters on my blog to win! Then if you win, I'll make you a handmade gift and you host a Pay It Forward on your own blog. I have to get it in the mail within 365 days. I certainly will do my best to get it to you before then, quite the window of time to provide you with something super elaborate. But with a baby don't count on it.

Now, the three people who win a prize, MUST host a 'Pay It Forward' on their blog. They will send a homemade gift to the three people who won and so on. It is easy enough and it is certainly something nice to do for your fellow blogger!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

200th Blog & A Giveaway!

THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS GIVEAWAY!
THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.

This here blog is actually number 201 - but in celebration of my 200th blog I decided it was time to have my first giveaway! I have truly enjoyed participating in giveaways (although never won anything, shucks!) and love the blog world and all the lovely folks that live amid here and so I thought it was time to give back! And what might you ask am I giving away? Well of course something from my Etsy shop: Ace Quilting. Particularly this hanging lavender sachet and a surprise second item!

The lavender sachet has about 2 tablespoons of dried french lavender in it with poly fill for shape. It measures approximately 4"x4" and is great to hang in your closet, door or even your car! Enjoy! If you'd like to purchase one, check out the store!

To participate leave a comment and let me know one of your favorite blog entries of mine.

Additional Entries:
BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE THAT APPLIES TO YOU!
1. Blog about the giveaway with a link to The A-Priori Mommy and leave the URL to your post in the comment.
2. Follow on blogger or subscribe to the The A-Priori Mommy.
3. Add the "The A-Priori Mommy" button to your sidebar.

Up to 4 entries!

This giveaway will end February 21st at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced February 22nd.
US entries only, please.