Eden Fantasys Bachelorette Review

Yes Ladies and Gents! It's that time again! Time to review more fabulous items from the great store: Eden Fantastys and what better occasion than a bachelorette party! Yes, as the MOH one of my privileges is to host the bachelorette party. We're pretty PG rated folks though and aren't up for body shots, nude dancers, or any 'don't ask, don't tell' moments - so don't feel you need to sensor yourself from this post. Although there are some anatomy inspired products, so might not be best for the tiny tots. There the disclaimer has been issued. Proceed at your own risk.

If you recall earlier this year I did a review of the lingerie that Eden Fantastys has. I gave it a raving review then, with the quality, price and customer service all receiving the highest marks. They were certainly the first place I went looking when it was time to acquire some things for the bride to be! I went browsing their collection and found this number to the right. You see the bride is a military gal and well I just couldn't pass it up! It's adorable. The sizing is perfect and the detail is excellent - even down to the bullets on the front - too cute! You can't go wrong with camo and the material is very soft. The bachelorette gave it 2 thumbs up. I haven't asked for a follow up on the Groom's thoughts ;-)

Now onto the party materials. Eden Fantastys has a wide variety of things to make a bachelorette party exciting and racy. In fact Eden Fantasys is a one stop shop for all your Bachelorette party needs. Yes, they have veils, sashes, games, party decorations, and the list goes on... Our party was in two phases due some invitees that were under 21 and unable to get into a club, so we started off at an Italian restaurant. I didn't want it to just be dinner and then the fun start at the club so what better to make it still bachelorette fun than some festive straws and some uniquely shaped pasta. Eden Fantasys also sells Titaroni Pasta and the straws come in flesh tones AND glow in the dark and as usual the price is great.

We spoke with the wait staff before allowing the bride to come in (and I had pre-cooked the pasta) and arranged for the drinks to come out with our festive straws and for the bride's dish to be replace with the Pecker Pasta with of course some alfrado sauce on it.



It made for an excellent good time and everyone was in agreement that it really tasted good. Sometimes with novelty items it's more the gag than actual food, but this pasta was good! The Pecker Pasta also worked well as table decor, as seen with the Bachelorette modeling her Shot Glass Wedding Ring.

Yes, the Bachelorette dawned the hot bling in style, although she never did take a shot out of it. It was a tad awkward to actually pour a shot into and she's mightily clumsy. ;-) The only negative thing I'd say for this item is that it's a really small ring, there is not expanding it so it didn't fit her finger very well. Otherwise it was good fun. The bachelorette had a great time and Eden Fantastys helped kick up the naughtiness just enough to make it good clean fun for everyone.

I have to say this, Eden Fantastys is a great place to shop whether for yourself, your friend, or your partner. There is something for everyone 18+ or older ;-) So if you're in need of a good gag gift, party favor, or lingerie then I highly recommend stopping by Eden Fantastys.

This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Eden Fantasys who supplied the products for the review.

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!

Bebe Au Lait Hooded Towel Review

Often people wonder why it is important to have baby towels. Some would argue it is because they are softer than the regular towels that we adults use, and that's true - often times they are. However, the feature that I love most about a baby towel is the hood that comes with it. However, I have been less than pleased at my earlier experiences with hooded baby towels. First of all the standard three pack that you can buy at Target (you all know what I'm talking about) are super thin and the hood is "built in" to one of the corners of the towel. BOO I say, because once your child is older than a few months, those towels just do not work! They barely wrap around your baby, let alone that tiny "hood" fitting on their ever growing noggin'

That's why I was so excited to review Bebe au Lait's hooded towel. I love their products. Often most identified by their nursing covers, they also have an expanded inventory beyond that including: reversible bibs, burp cloths and these hooded towels. These towels come in two sizes: Baby and Toddler. I am seriously contemplating the toddler one for myself. I'm small, it might just work. Why? Because I am IN LOVE with this towel. It is super thick and plush, of course is available in a wide variety of their adorable fabrics, and the best feature in my opinion, the hood is not attached to the corner of the towel, it is on one of the sides! Finally! Someone who understands the mechanics of wrapping a baby in a towel effectively! In the toddler version of this towel, there is even a magnetic "clasp" at the base of the hood! That's just awesome.

If you can't tell, I really like this product. My son not only gets to be covered entirely, but he gets to be warm from head to toe! I believe my sister-in-law with her little one on the way might be expecting one of these in her near future, because it is just that great.

Would you like to own one yourself, or perhaps give it as a gift at your next shower you have to attend? Stop by Bebe au Lait and get one (or two!) If you like the towel that Ace is modeling, that is Bebe au Lait's Shrine Aqua Baby Hooded Towel

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.

Bebe au Lait - Nursing Covers BOGO Deal

Interested in a nursing cover? Did you enter the giveaway I had last month and didn't win? Well Bebe au Lait is offering a GREAT opportunity for nursing mothers! They are offering a Buy One Get One deal on their website from now until the end of the month! To read my review click here. But the short of it is that they are AWESOME.

How wonderful to have one in the diaper bag and in the house (you know for when your father-in-law comes over and doesn't want to be THAT close to you to have your breast exposed in his presence.) It would be great to have two - or have one to giveaway on your blog and give Bebe au Lait some well deserved press. Or a wonderful shower gift. Think about the opportunities, they are endless... they convert into a nice cape for your little one after nursing days are over. ;-)

Select any Bebe au Lait, Hooter Hiders or Simple Organic nursing cover (Or any Bebe au Lait or Simple Organic gift set), and use coupon code "MYSTERY09" at checkout. That's it! A mystery nursing cover will be added to your order for free!

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.

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.

Eden Fantasys Lingerie Review

**EDIT! The Promotional code has been fixed**

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming ladies and gents to bring you something for Mommy, so if you are under 18 please visit a different post or two of mine. This is a good G rated post, as is this one. However the following post is for the eyes of Mommy and Daddy only!

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The blogosphere is all a-buzz with rave reviews about Eden Fantasys and their variety of products. Over at All in A Mom's Life she has reviewed one of Eden Fantasys books, hop on over to Country Girl, City Life and see a more intimate review of one of Eden Fantasys sex toys and here at The A-Priori Mommy I am reviewing an item out of their lingerie catalogue... but we will get to that in a moment! First let me tell you about the company.

About Eden Fantasys:
I have to say that this company is well received in my book. Often going to websites for adult toys leads you to unseemly advertisements that is nothing short of porn. Eden Fantasys is is very well designed and everything on the site is tastefully laid out. It isn't dark and creepy. The representative that I dealt with is extremely professional and the shipping was super quick.

Eden Fantasys is above the mark when it comes to providing their clientele with information, especially those weary of purchasing adult toys, lingerie, or party favors and gags (they carry them all!) It's true they aren't just about sex toys! They have an exhaustive FAQ section for almost any question you can ask and their Guarantees are amazing!

• All US orders get $5.95 flat standard shipping on either UPS Ground or USPS Priority regardless order's size; and if your order is $59+ shipping is free!
• Eden Fantasys ships in plain brown boxes. And they charge under WM so nobody will know whose charge is on your banking statement.
• Eden Fantasys also will provide you with a return shipping label for Free!

Lingerie Review:
First and foremost I will say that the lingerie offered by Eden Fantasys is amazingly well priced! That is the first thing that caught my eye! For example this number a lace baby doll with g-string for $10.99! $10.99!? Wow! And to no surprise they are all sold out at the moment! No kidding with such a great deal hard to keep that baby on the shelf! So if you're looking for some quality time in the bouduair with your husband during these economic tough times, keep an eye out for the restock!

I am here to tell you about this piece of lingerie!

This Corset style babydoll is made of satin and mesh and is a set that comes with the babydoll and g-string. This is a new item for Eden Fantasys and for a corset is priced very well. Something like this at VS would run upwards of $100+ but at Eden Fantasys this set is $48.99. The website describes this babydoll:

Show your assets in this playful set. A corseted middle emphasizes your waist while the ruffled sheer top playfully reveals your bust. The flirty ruffled skirt completes this cute babydoll set.

I would have to agree! It's a little bit of everything! Peasant, meets vampire, meets dom... ahem. So much to my husband's dismay, luke warm interest, elation we decided to test run review this product.

First the product is very soft! The fine mesh that is used for the bodice and the skirt are great. The corset laces up nicely and the ribbon used to lace it up glides easily to adjust for your middle. Meaning that it only takes one person to get into it! Nothing like ruining the surprise when you have to have your husband come in to get you IN the thing in the first place. No issue though with this corset! Getting into it is easy and getting out of it even easier!

There are only two things that could be considered remotely negative about this lingerie, and neither would prevent me from purchasing. The hook & eye pieces that hold the corset together pop open a little too easily. Some might consider this a positive feature when considering lingerie, but I would prefer it to hold just a tad better. The only other negative is that it is a handwash only item (as most lingerie is.)

Overall, the lingerie was a nice addition to the evening and I highly recommend* Eden Fantasys for your lingerie shopping needs!

Now a Guest Snippet from an independent thoroughly and enthusiastically biased third party:

Reflecting that the A-Priori Mommy has practiced law and taught a variety of communication courses at the collegiate level, I thought that framing this review in those terms would be best. First, let's begin with a definition of communication: "Communication is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium in which the communicated information is understood the same way by both sender and receiver." If it hasn't already, the relevance of this definition will soon become abundantly clear. :)

As with any thing worn in this genre, 99.9% of it's value is in the message it sends, and the remaining 0.1% is spread out among its functional design, freedom of movement, and aesthetic appeal. In this 0.1%, the piece from Eden Fantasys serves its purpose extremely well. In my experience, res ipsa loquitur - The thing speaks for itself. And though I am not directly involved in the production of this blog, I am always thrilled to be an "amicus curiae". ;^D

Eden Fantasys has generously provided a 15% discount for the readers of this blog off any item in their shop! Enter KISS09 to receive your 15% off the item of your choosing when you check out.

* The A-Priori Mommy and Eden Fantasys are not responsible for any injury or issue (aka children) that are created by said product. By this statement both The A-Priori Mommy and Eden Fantasys are here by released of any and all liabilities resulting from the proper or improper use of the above stated product.

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.

Delight or Dislike

Slings

Ok before I had Ace I had no idea that I would be so into wearing him. What? Huh? Wearing your baby? Yep - and who knew it could be fashionable too! I think the sling is my new purse. I have several! Not quite as many slings as I have purses... but that would be absurd.


Dislike
Eddie Bauer Infant Sling
Eddie Bauer strikes again! Yep I said it, and I do not like it. They should stick to adult clothing and get out of the baby product business. At least the products that I've tried from them. First, it was the baby rear-view mirror. That thing was a fun-house mirror, tiny and completely useless. Now the sling, not nearly as bad - but still not my favorite. We bought it as a "back up" sling that would live in the car - it is made with sturdy materials and it is well made, but to me a sling should envelope the baby.... this thing requires a strap in system for the baby to not spill out of and the Velcro used is extremely harsh if rubbed against the baby's skin. And that strap in system is required! And that's my problem - I feel like he's going to fall right out. If he's the least squirmy I have to hold him in... and um that defeats the point a sling entirely! It also can be used on the hip, and to be honest I haven't tried because well I just don't trust it. So while it might work for a newborn that isn't wiggly or an already passed out child.... I find it to be sub-par at best.

It advertises as an "infant" sling for $35 at Target, but it also says that it goes up to 30lbs. I'm sorry for the same price I can have a sling that last longer than the first month of their life. So I give a big thumbs down! It's just not my cup of tea. It's like the backpack purse, some like it. I do not.

Delight
Boppy Carry in Comfort Dual Support Sling
Our favorite and top pick by far is the Boppy Sling. It is a light weight material and has mesh siding so that the baby can breath through it when they are tiny and nicely wrapped up inside. It does have a strap in feature similar to the EB, if you feel it to be necessary, but it isn't harsh Velcro if you choose to for go the strapping. It also has a counter weight strap to put over your other shoulder. The only draw back to this sling was that it wasn't able to be used for about 2 months (Months 2-3.) Once Ace was old enough to be aware of his surroundings but not old enough to hold himself up. He got fussy because he couldn't see out of it and therefore was not a fan being in it. Although once he hit about 4 months old he was happy and cozy in it all over again and we still use it on an almost daily basis. In fact in California it was the only way he would nap.

It is affordable, under $40 and found at Babies R Us. I think the price is the original reason I purchased this. Also that counter weight strap is a life saver and I really can tell the difference when I use my other slings. I was so discouraged after Ace quit using it after the first few weeks of having it, but we have definitely gotten our money's worth out of it since it's revival. Here are a few photos one stock photo to show you the strapping courtesy of BRU and of course some of my cutie in it!


The Over the Shoulder Baby Holder
In between the time of the Boppy Sling usage we used The Over the Shoulder Baby Holder. I am not sure if there is an official location to purchase this, but this is the first link that comes up when you google it. It was a life saver during the anti-boppy stage. Our friends loaned us theirs and it was an XL and so it was bigger than what I should have used to carry him around in. So it wasn't the most "hands free" sling for me - but it was great in the sense that I was able to sling him and he could fall asleep and he was easy enough to move around rather than simply being stuck some where. The other great thing is that Loving Husband is able to use this sling and wear Ace and for him it's the perfect size. It's so comfy he even falls asleep with teething rings in his mouth, Ace not Loving Husband.

Price wise it runs about $45-$50 but then there is shipping costs in addition to that - although who knows maybe you can find them sold in certain shops. The fabric choices seem to vary on different websites, but at least there are choices - that is a draw back to the Boppy sling. It is one piece of material with a loop system to tighten or loosen the sling to fit your body. A draw back is the excess material has a plastic ring on the end that if you have it pulled really tight then hangs precariously behind you... so if you swing yourself side to side the ring tends to fling around. And you don't want to tuck it in against your back either, hard plastic isn't ideal when the weight of a baby is baring down... That's a less than fun feature. Both sides of the fabric are padded creating nice bumpers for the baby to rest against and there is plenty of fabric for the baby to rest and grow into. Overall, it is a good sling.




Munchkin Jelly Bean Reversible Sling
Our most recent purchase is a very compact sling that can live in the diaper bag. After the disappointment in the Eddie Bauer one I was on the hunt for a new "car" sling - and then I established that I really wanted something that could live in the diaper bag. I know ONE more thing to shove into the diaper bag, but it worked out well. I like that there are no straps, buckles or rings to hassle with. However, I will admit it isn't the best to put my 26.5" and 16lb boy into to fully reclined position for sleeping. The Boppy sling is still really the most ideal for that. However, it works great if he wants to sit in and look out and it is PERFECT for the hip hold.

It holds up to 35lbs and is the cheapest by far of the slings that I have reviewed. $30! It has extreme reviews on Target's website. People either LOVE it or HATE it. I have to say if it were my only sling I wouldn't be a fan. The complaints of it being tight and hard to get the baby in and out of are legitimate. I never tried it when Ace was an infant so I can't speak to those complaints, but I can see how it could be frustrating if it was your only sling. However, I think it is GREAT to live in the diaper bag when you are out and just carrying the baby isn't cutting it and they want to be a little more snug and close to you. My son HATED to be swaddled, but he loves to be slung.

Overall, I recommend the Boppy Sling! My son is nearly 7 months old and is loving it - it isn't that bulky (although won't fit in the diaper bag) and with the exception of a few weeks so far Ace has loved it. He sleeps well in it, I can nurse him by simply lowering the shoulder strap by his head, but it easily slides back up and I can move around again without waking him after his snack. And NO Boppy has not paid nor even asked me to review this product, just wanted to pass on my findings to you. I can guarantee Eddie Bauer won't be knocking on my Blog anytime soon for a review.