Summer Scoop Giveaway

You guys!! I have a very special surprise for you today - summer is almost here and I'm absolutely thrilled to be working with Project Nursery, Savvy Sassy Moms and some amazing bloggers to bring you this absolutely INCREDIBLE giveaway of some of the coolest gear, gadgets and gizmos around (over $2300 in prizes!!). Whether you're expecting or already have a baby, toddler or kid (or maybe all of the above), you're going to flip over these awesome prizes, which are all perfect for getting you and the kids ready for summer. I'm talking about an amazing new baby carrier, a travel system, a sun tent, a gorgeous diaper bag, an iPhone, a stroller that folds up to the size of a handbag and more! I've included all the details below, photos of the prizes, plus a link to the giveaway. Best of luck - I hope you win!!

Make sure you’re following me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest all summer long for previews, pics, reviews and information on these brands and prizes. We'll be using the #SummerScoop4Moms hashtag if you want to follow along!

BABYBJӦRN Baby Carrier One Outdoors

Introducing the newest baby carrier from BABYBJÖRN. Designed to help you share an active, open-air lifestyle with your child, the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier One Outdoors ($260) is the ultimate ergonomic choice for active families. The Outdoors Carrier features a sporty design, high-quality materials and functional details, while offering all of the best features of the Baby Carrier One. The carrier has an extra-sturdy waist belt for added weight distribution and pressure relief, padded form-fitting shoulder straps to help you comfortably and safely carry a growing child from newborn up to the age of three years, and four ergonomic front and back carrying positions. Perfect for parents who want optimal comfort and functionality while they are exploring the magic of the outdoors with their children, the Baby Carrier One Outdoors is made of breathable and water-repellent materials and includes a waist belt pocket and loops on the shoulder straps for easy access to keys, credit cards, baby accessories and more. Baby Carrier One Outdoors also comes with a practical storage bag that protects the carrier when it is not in use.

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Babymoov Anti-UV Tent

Babymoov’s Anti-­UV Tent ($40) takes the hassle out of Baby’s beach trips by protecting Baby from the elements and blocking 99% of UVA and UVB rays. Ventilated mesh will keep Baby shielded from the sand and wind, while still providing comfortable airflow on hot days, and a built-­in mosquito net keeps the pesky bugs at bay. Tie back the tent’s mesh entrance or secure it shut when the wind starts to pick up. The tent’s large capacity gives Baby ample room to play, while still being light­weight for parents. A pop-­up system and transport bag allow for set­up in as little as three seconds, with four tent poles to anchor it securely to the ground.

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Cybex Agis M-Air3/Aton 2 Travel System

The CYBEX Agis M-Air3 Stroller & Aton 2 Infant Car Seat Travel System ($600) allows parents to have an all-in-one, on-the-go system to allow them to explore with their little one. At Cybex, safety comes first and it shows in the features of their Aton 2 Infant Car Seat. Made for children 4-35 pounds and up to 30-inches tall, this car seat has innovative Linear Side-Impact Protection, while still being one of the lightest car seats on the market, weighing in at just under 9 pounds. The accompanying stroller fits children up to 55 pounds and is the perfect way to get around the city with your Aton 2 Infant Car Seat. Moms will love that you only need one hand to operate its key features — it only takes one hand to fold it into a standing position or recline the seat for Baby.

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Lily Jade Diaper Bags

When Meggan Wood's oldest daughter, Caroline, was born, Meggan found herself frustrated by the lack of beautiful, leather diaper bags. She wanted a bag that was stunning and hardworking, and one that would last long enough to still carry all those precious memories beyond the baby years. She sketched the perfect diaper bag design to her husband, Landon, and the rest is history! The real genius behind Meggan's idea is the "Baby Bag," a removable, washable organization insert included with every Lily Jade. This amazing engineering feat allows mommies to move from diaper duty, to meetings, to date nights. Lily Jade's most popular styles convert to backpacks with the flick of a clasp, and can be worn over the shoulder and crossbody as well. Lily Jade supports its rapidly growing community of moms with by encouraging them to tell their #storyofmotherhood and giving bags away as often as possible!

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Platypus Australia Swimwear

Platypus Australia is a leading Australian UPF50+ swimwear brand for children from babies through to size 14. Designed to mix-and-match, Platypus Australia is for little ones who like to be active, comfortable and stylish yet protected from the sun. But, just because these swimsuits for babies and kids come from the other side of the world doesn’t mean you can’t get them for your own little sun worshippers. Easy shipping is available to both the U.S. and Canada… and, it’s free if you spend over $80.

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gb Child Pockit Stroller

Designed for frequent travelers, the gb Child Pockit Stroller ($250)  in Monument Black quickly folds into an ultra-compact package, shaped like a handbag, for simple transport on airplanes and more. The stroller offers a self-standing folded option for added versatility when you and Baby are dining out. When in use, the Pockit offers a height-adjustable harness that is easy to tighten or loosen to secure your little one properly. Front swivel wheels make maneuvering simple and you can lock the tires for stability when strolling along uneven paths. Easily push your little bundle of joy with one hand in this compact stroller.

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STIYA Memory Keeping App

What’s the name of that lunch place? Where was that fun park? Ever wondered why you can search any data in the world except for your own memories? You had a fun day... how can you share the details with a friend?  Meet the newest app on the block, Stiya. Stiya stands for ‘Stories In Your Attic,’ bringing those precious ​stories from the attic of your memories into your to your pocket, making us all storytellers in a click. Stiya is a silent app that is completely private, capturing your memories and experiences — such as where you dined, walked, took a photo, and more — into beautiful journals that are searchable and, if desired, shareable via text, email, Facebook, or Twitter. We can’t wait to see where you’ve been making memories! (Note: Stiya currently only available via iTunes.)

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Ubbi Snack Tweats

The Ubbi Snack Tweat ($10 each) is an innovative snack container that combines playfulness and functionality making snack time enjoyable for both parents and children. Fitted for a small child’s hand, the bird shaped Ubbi Tweat stores and seals snacks to keep them fresh. Cleverly designed, the lid remains attached when open and the weighted base leans and wobbles to prevent the container from tipping over. The Tweat opening has a practical soft spill guard and is large enough for easy snack access.

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Enter to win the Summer Scoop grand prize!

One winner will receive all of the products in the #SummerScoop4Moms:

• BABYBJӦRN Baby Carrier One Outdoors in Turquoise or Black ($260 value)
• Babymoov Anti-UV Tent ($40 value)
• CYBEX Agis M-Air3/Aton 2 Travel System in Moon Dust ($600 value)
• Lily Jade Bag of Your Choice (Up to $375 value)
• Platypus Gift Certificate ($100 value)
• gb Child Pockit Stroller ($250 value)
• iPhone 6s from STIYA ($649 value)
• Ubbi Snack Tweat Collection ($50 value)

Total prize value: $2324

Please enter using the Gleam form below. You must be a U.S. resident and at least 18-years-old to enter and win. Winner will be contacted via email after the close of the giveaway. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prizes to arrive. All entries will be verified.

Summer Scoop

5 on Friday - Volume 14

1. I'm so excited about all the awesome stuff we have coming up in the next few weeks.  Mim's baptism is this weekend, followed by Mother's Day (with a special surprise giveaway for those of you that follow me on Instagram), then Mac's 3rd birthday (ahhh!!!) and our annual beach vacation (soooo ready).  May is going to be a really great (and busy) month!  

2. I am really enjoying Wednesdays, now that I have the day off and can spend it with the kids. It's been awesome to have a day in the middle of the week to reconnect with them.  Plus, it makes my work week feel so much shorter.  We've been doing all kinds of stuff these days.  So far, we've been to the Magic House (twice), the Zoo (twice) and the Botanical Gardens.  This week I took Mac to get a haircut, then we hit up the bookstore and out for a lunch date at Chick-Fil-A.  We've got plans to do Grant's Farm and Wild Bird Sanctuary soon.  Every week is a new adventure!  This upcoming Wednesday, I'll be taking over the Savvy Sassy Moms Instagram account and giving you a sneak peek into our day and all the chaos that ensures.  Should be fun! 

3. I absolutely love that Mim is a pacifier baby.  Mac never took a paci and always had a hard time self-soothing, but this girl has loved her paci from day one.  She's so funny now that she can manipulate her own paci - she pulls it out, makes faces, sticks it back in, swaps it for another one.  It's adorable.  We received a package of Nuby Comfort Orthodontic pacifiers* to review and she loves them.  They're specially designed for babies age 6-12 months (did you know that you should only give your child pacifiers specifically made for their age because of choking dangers?).  They're also BPA free, have a handle (for easy attachment to a pacifier clip) and come with a package of pacifier wipes.  We're pro-germ, so we don't use the wipes that often (I say that jokingly, but only kind of), but they're great for easy cleaning when you're out and about and not close to a sink.  They're available at Wal-Mart and Babies R Us.  

4. I just got my second Stitch Fix and it was even better than the first!  I'm kicking myself that it's taken me this long to finally pull the trigger and sign up for this.  I'm pretty happy with the items that my stylist sent and ended up keeping 3 out of the 5 pieces (sorry, I didn't take any pictures).  I kept a long sleeve black and white blouse for work, a black and blue striped shell (also for work) and a casual/comfy grey and white striped long cardigan.  I requested a dress that I could wear for Mim's baptism and they sent me two really cute ones - both wrap dresses with stretchy fabric - but neither of them felt dressy enough for the occasion.  I really liked the style of them and they'd definitely both be something I could wear to work, but they were a bit tight in the midsection and emphasized my non-baby bump way more than I'd like.  Ugh.  It's seriously time to lose the baby weight.  

5. I really need some help and motivation in the meal planning department.  Every now and then I'll get myself organized enough to actually plan out our meals for the week and then shop for them and I am blown away by how much easier that makes my life and eliminates weekday stress.  But I can't seem to find the time to actually commit to doing it every week.  Most nights, dinnertime is a total shit show and we're desperately just trying to throw something together that wouldn't get us thrown in jail for child neglect.  If it was just me, I'd have a can of soup for dinner every night (or just ice cream), but alas...these kids need to eat real food.  I'm always so impressed by other bloggers that share their weekly menus and shopping lists. How do you all do it?  Do you plan one week out?  A month?  How often do you grocery shop?  Do you repeat meals?  Do you pick recipes you've tried and know you like or do you try new recipes?  

Please please please share your meal planning tips/tricks and advice!  

I'd love to hear how you do it!

*We received this product to review as part of the Nuby Parent Blogger Program.  All opinions are 100% my own (and Mim's are her own).  

Six Ways to Encourage Toothbrushing in Toddlers and Preschoolers

It wasn't until I received these tubes of toothpaste in fun colors and flavors from Hello Products and started asking my friends about their kids' brushing habits that I realized kids are pretty hit or miss when it comes to brushing their teeth.  Some kids (like Mac) LOVE it and would brush 10 times a day if we'd let him.  Others HATE it and have to be chased around and held down to get them to brush.  But it sounds like the majority of kids are rather indifferent to brushing.  

Luckily for us, Mac is one of those kids that loves to brush his teeth.  I'm not exactly how or why this happened - I'm not taking any personal credit for it.  I think maybe we just lucked out with the way we implementing his brushing or maybe he just loves the taste of toothpaste.  Either way, I'm pretty happy about his good brushing habits (Lord knows makes up for it with noncompliance in many other areas of life) and would like to encourage them, so I've been looking for ways to make brushing more fun for him to keep it up.  Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

1. Let your kid pick their own toothbrush.  

This sounds simple enough, but you'd be surprised how much more they'll want to use a toothbrush that they picked out themselves.  There are hundreds of choices, colors and characters.  Some that light up, some that vibrate, some that play music.  Let them pick!  Mac has a toothbrush "just like daddy's" and loves it.    

2. Get a stepstool so they can reach the sink.

This one was huge for Mac because, like most toddlers/preschoolers, he wants to do everything BY HIMSELF.  Putting a stepstool in the bathroom allows him to lean over the sink, turn the faucets on, and reach the toothpaste/toothbrush himself.  Yes, it's messy...that's life with a toddler.  He spits and gets toothpaste everywhere, but it's a small price to pay for not having to fight him on this.  

3. Try fun toothpaste flavors

Some kids hate brushing because they hate the flavor of toothpaste.  I love the taste of mint, but my step-brother was one of those kids that absolutely could not stand mint and would refuse to brush his teeth unless he had another flavor option.  I've heard kids call toothpaste hot or spicy and I can understand why they might not like the taste of it because it's really strong.  Luckily for kids these days, there are lots of options for fun toothpaste flavors.  We just got the opportunity to try some new flavors from Hello Products - bubble gum, green apple and blue raspberry.  Mac tried all three right away, back-to-back and declared pink (bubble gum) to be his favorite.

4. Let him DO IT HIMSELF

From putting the toothpaste on the toothbrush, to brushing, spitting and rinsing, it's best if I just let him do it all by himself...first.  No, he's not great and he doesn't do the best job, but giving him the chance to do it himself first lets him feel like he's in control and then he won't fight me so much when it's my turn to "help" him get the back teeth.   I gently encourage him to make sure he gets the back ones and the top teeth...and he gently ignores me and does whatever he wants.  So, yeah.

5. Sing a brushing song or set a timer

If your kid won't brush for more than a second or two, try singing a brushing song and making them brush until you're finished singing.  You can pick any song you want, but make sure it's long enough to give them adequate time to brush all their teeth (or repeat a shorter one a few times).  I've heard two minutes is ideal.  Your singing might also provide a nice distraction for them, making it go by a little quicker.  If you really want to jazz it up, add some funny facial expressions and a couple dance moves (I'm totally kidding).  And if that doesn't help, try setting a timer - whether it's on your phone, watch or a kitchen timer.  Kids love timers.  Never underestimate the power of a good timer. 

6. Lead by example

Make sure your kids see you brushing your teeth, especially when they're little.  Kids love emulating adults and acting "big," so take advantage of it and make sure they see you brushing too.  I feel like we can convince Mac to do 90% of any of the things he doesn't want to do if we do them first.  And if seeing me brush my teeth isn't enough, I call in the big guns...daddy.  Anything daddy does it alright by Mac.  It must be nice to be that loved.  Anywhoo.  :)  Hello Products also makes toothpaste for grown-ups, so daddy and I can join in on the fun.  We got a chance to try Peach Mango Mint and Supermint.  Both have a strong fresh (cold) mint flavor and reminded me of Altoids.  So fresh and so clean...clean!  They're not as sweet as a lot of other toothpastes, which I also appreciated, and left my teeth feeling really refreshed.  

Do your kids love to brush or is it a struggle?

What are your brushing tips/secrets?

Click to Tweet: 6 ways to encourage your toddler/preschooler to brush their teeth! http://bit.ly/1GpT6J2

*I received these products for review as part of the Savvy Sassy Moms Product Scouts program. All opinions are my own.

Baby Bjorn Feeding Set

As I mentioned last week, I received an awesome box filled with goodies to review as part of my Product Scout duties for Savvy Sassy Moms.  Half of the products were kid/baby related (which are fun to test out on the littles) and the other half were treats for mommy (which were GREATLY appreciated).  I love trying out new products and discovering fun brands and items that make life easier/better for moms.  And of course, as a blogger, I love sharing these finds and reviews with you, in the hopes that you'll love them as much as I do.  I am so excited and honored to be a part of the SSM family and I've had the best time getting to know the other mamas in the group and sharing ideas. 

One of the first products we tested out were these bibs and bowls from Baby Bjorn.  I'm a huge fan of our Baby Bjorn carriers, so I was excited about trying some of their other products.  We received a package of 2 plastic bibs and 2 plate/spoon combo sets, both in turquoise and orange.  I immediately loved the color and pulled them out to show the kids.

Mac doesn't wear a bib to eat anymore (his choice, not ours) and he refuses to eat off anything that's not a "grown up" plate (toddlers are SO opinionated), so these fun items are reserved exclusively for  the little lady in the house who is just getting started in solid foods.  Of course that didn't stop him from trying on the bib to show Mim how to wear it ("Like this, Mim") and immediately asked if he could put some worms in it.   Umm...no.  

Unfortunately, Mim can't use a spoon yet and just repeatedly throws/swipes the plate off her high chair tray and onto the floor, so I'm going to wait a few more months before trying these awesome plates and spoons out with her.  Her hand-eye coordination is pretty impressive already though, so it shouldn't be too long before she's feeding herself with utensils.  Anyway, on to the bib. To be honest, I've seen these Baby Bjorn bibs online and purposely didn't buy them because I thought they looked hard and uncomfortable.  To me, they looked rigid and like they'd get in the way of the baby's arms.  However, I'm SO incredibly glad Baby Bjorn sent these to us to try because they are AMAZING and I'm now adding them to my list of all-time favorite baby products...for real, they're that great.

We do Baby Led Weaning with Mim and it's wonderful, but it's also really messy.  We have a dozen of those cheap soft laminated bibs with the pocket that can be thrown in the wash machine.  They've served their purpose relatively well, but they're not ideal.  First of all, you can rinse them off in the sink, but they don't really clean unless you machine wash them. Which means, if you don't have tons of them, all your bibs end up sitting in the dirty laundry basket and you're left using a dish rag tucked into baby's neck as a bib.  No bueno.  And if you just rinse them off, they take forever to dry and they sit around your kitchen wet and taking up space.  Secondly, the velcro tabs don't work very well after being repeatedly washed and they're really easy for babies to pull off.  Third, the pocket on the front is flimsy and rarely catches food - Mim always ends up with tons of food getting squashed into her clothes and the front buckle of the high chair.  Messy.

We have NONE of those issues with this bib.  Yes, it is somewhat rigid, but the plastic is much softer and more flexible/comfortable than I thought it would be.  It has an adjustable neck strap, so you can make it larger as your child grows.  It snaps in place and holds tight, even with pulling (see above, Mac couldn't get it off when he put it on) and doesn't have the issue with the velcro losing it's strength after multiple washings.  

The bib is wide enough to cover the baby's entire chest, but curved to allow for arm movement.  Mim does not seem to be bothered by it at all and it certainly doesn't slow her down while eating. The front catch-all pocket is huge and doesn't fold shut, so it catches everything she drops before it falls down into the seat and gets ground into her clothes and high chair straps.  It's also big enough that she can see what's in there and fetch it back out if she still wants to eat it. 

But the best part about this bib is that you can just rinse it off in the sink and it's good to go.  No machine washing needed, no long drying time required.  Just one of these bibs replaced a dozen of our cheaper laminated ones.  I'm kicking myself for not having tried this sooner.  

My only complaint (and it's very minimal) is that since the bib is made of sturdy plastic, it's not the easiest to fold/roll up and stuff in a diaper bag when we go out to eat.  But really, who am I kidding with that line?  We have a mess baby and the most hyperactive toddler on the planet...we NEVER go out to eat.  I can't even remember the last time I took either kid to a restaurant, so while that point may fly with some folks, it doesn't really affect us.  

Anyway, we love this bib.  I'm really impressed with the quality and the design.  It comes in all kinds of colors and is available just about everywhere.  Two thumbs up.

Have you tried the Baby Bjorn bib?

What do you do to keep the baby feeding mess to a minimum?

*I received these products for review as part of the Savvy Sassy Moms Product Scouts program. All opinions are my own.

Nuby Squeeze N' Squeak Teether

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you all have fun plans for the holiday weekend - preferably ones that include lots of peanut butter eggs, marshmallow peeps and chocolate bunnies.  We have two egg hunts planned and I'm so excited to hunt with Mac this year, now that he's old enough to actually get it.  And I'm even more excited to steal the candy out of his eggs and eat it myself.  Does that make me a terrible mom?  Don't answer that.  

Anyway, I am thrilled to announce that I'm now part of the official Nuby Parent Blogger Program. Nuby has been one of my favorite baby brands since Mac was little.  We're big fans of their sippy cups and teethers already, so I'm looking forward to trying out some of their other products and letting you know how we like them.  Most of all, Mim is terribly excited because this means she actually gets a few new teethers and toys all of her own - not used chewed-up, drooled-on hand-me-down items from her big brother.  Second child problems.  

The good news for you is that I'll not only be reviewing some Nuby products, but I'll be giving some away too!  I can't wait to send you some of our favorite things - we're all about sharing the love these days.  If you're in the market for some awesome sippy cups, toys, feeding gear or teethers, you've come to the right place.  

The first product we got to review was this adorable elephant Squeeze N' Squeak plush teether.  It's great for any baby 3 months and up.  The middle section is plush (with a squeaker) and there are multiple taggies, loops and plastic links on it for teething.  It's really easy for babies to hold and super colorful and fun.

Obviously Mim is a fan.  Now if someone could just tell me how to keep our dog from thinking that all these plush squeak toys are hers, that'd be great!  (Good thing it's also machine-washable and easy to clean!)

Anyone else have a teething baby?  

Or a dog that thinks baby toys are hers?

What are your favorite teethers or secrets to getting through those tough teething days/weeks/months?

Nuby Squeeze n’ Squeak

• Age: 3 months +
• Multiple textured surfaces
• 3 soft and fun characters
• Bright fun colors and patterns
• Easy for baby to hold
• Fun squeaking noise
• BPA-free
• Available at Walmart (retails for $5.97)

If you'd like to keep up on Nuby's latest products, you can follow them on social media:

Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram // Twitter

* I received this product free of charge for the purposes of a review, but all opinions, love and drool belong to me and Mim.