As you can see from my posts over the past week I have really been enjoying my Laptop Lunches Bento. Although I no longer have to take a meal to work with me I love creating lunches for Neil and plus a laptop lunch box is a perfect fit since he is a senior java developer.
Neil has taken all of these lunches shown to work with him and everything stayed in place with no leaking! He even brought it in his backpack when he biked to work and there were no issues!
I love how there are little compartments for each food which makes it great for packing the main lunch and snacks all in one place.
There really isn’t much that I don’t like about this lunch box except I would make it a little taller because although my apple could fit in the lunch box wouldn’t close with it in it.
The Giveaway (closed):
Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Also note the additionally entries only count if you complete the mandatory entry first. Giveaway ends 9/23/2012 at 8pm EST.
Winner:
Laptop Lunches is giving one lucky reader a $25.00 gift certificate to their store!
Mandatory: Head on over to the Laptop Lunches website and tell me what you would buy with the gift certificate.
When we first found out we were pregnant I knew immediately that we would be the type of parents who would take on the practice of babywearing. As we learned in our Natural Baby Care Class there are a number of benefits to babywearing which just made us more excited to try it out.
Did you know?*
Babies that are held/carried often cry less.
Babies that are held/carried are calmer.
Babies that are held/carried are better sleepers.
Babies that are held/carried nurse more frequently.
Babies that are held/carried have better digestion, especially those who experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Babies that are held/carried develop better.
Once we decided to babywear we had to then figure out which carrier would be the best for us to use. There are so many different types of carriers (you can read about them here) it can get really confusing and honestly expensive because I really want to try them all but alas I have to reign myself in and only try a few.
Since Edie is so tiny our options have been more limited on which carriers are safest due to the weight minimum of many carriers, many are 8lbs which I am happy to say Edie should be up to now or at least soon. So to start out with we have been using the Boba Baby Wrap which I am happy to say Neil and I have both really been enjoying.
The Boba Baby Wrap is the perfect wrap style carrier – with its unique fabric blend and the no-guesswork tying, the Boba Wrap is a great choice for beginners and advanced babywearers alike. The simple design of this baby wrap, free of buckles, straps or buttons makes it perfectly comfortable for both you and your baby. By evenly distributing the weight of your child, there is no time limit to how long your baby can stay in the wrap, so you may calm and sooth your baby with your warmth, your voice, your movement and your heart beat as long as you are both content! (Source)
It took Neil and I a few tries to get the fit right but after watching a few videos and following the instructional photos we finally figured out how to do it correctly.
The fabric is light which is great with how hot our summer has been.
Edie feels secure in it.
Edie sleeps in the wrap leaving my hands free to do other things.
I can wear it anywhere. I love to wear it out because Edie sleeps in it and I can walk around without having to push a stroller and it leaves my hands free to eat, drink or shop.
It takes some thinking ahead when I am planning to wear it out. I have found that the best way for me to prepare is to put it on before we head out so when we arrive at our destination I can just take Edie out of her car seat and place her in the wrap. Prior to doing this I would end up dragging the long fabric on the ground as I tried to wrap it around myself. It’s not a huge deal but I just wish it was a little more convenient to put on quickly.
Enter for your chance to win a Boba Baby Carrier, and one of two Boba Wraps! All products can be seen at www.bobafamily.com. With Boba products it is easier than ever to enjoy Freedom Together as a family and Boba wants YOU to get a chance to use their products. To enter to win, “Like” them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boba), follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/boba) and follow them on Pinterest! (http://pinterest.com/bobafamily/).
*Source: From Babywearing: The Benefits and Beauty of This Ancient Tradition by Maria Blois, MD (Pharmasoft Publishing, 2005) found in excerpt from Mothering magazine.
Disclaimer:Boba provided me with their product at no cost. I was under no obligation to review them if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.
I love to entertain especially in the summer, however having a new baby doesn’t really allow me time to plan (or have) a dinner party but one can always dream. One of my dream summer dinner parties is to have an Bollywood themed party where I would serve up tasty Indian dishes while playing Bollywood themed music and we would all be sipping a mango lassi. Who wouldn’t love a creamy, refreshing (and dairy-free) mango lassi to go with their nicely spiced Indian meal?
How can you reinvent your favorite summertime gathering? Here are some great recipes using Silk over on their Silkology FB page.
Mango Lassi Recipe
3/4 cup Silk Original or Vanilla soymilk or almondmilk
1/2 cup diced ripe mango (about 1/2 mango)
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 Tbsp honey (could sub agave or coconut nectar)
1/2 cup ice cubes
Mint leaves for garnish
In a blender, combine all ingredients until thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Serve in a tall glass garnished with mint.
Feeling a little naughty? Add 1oz of bourbon to your mango lassi to make a tasty adults only version of this recipe.
Silk inspired me to think outside of the bowl with their new Silkology-inspired drink recipes. Tell me something new you want to try this summer when entertaining to win a Silkology prize package.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.
It’s National Running Day! Are you getting out for a run? Days like today make me anxious to get back to running. I wish I could get out and participate today, however my 35 week pregnant body just isn’t down for running right now; I will however be getting out for a walk this afternoon!
After losing over 80 pounds, I run because the act of moving swiftly feels SO amazing! I love getting from one place to another on my own two feet and I’m impatient so I like taking it at a swift pace! I’d love to enter The Arthur Rat Race on September 3rd in Arthur IL! I’ve got the day off and they have an awesome town festival going on too!
In honor of National Running Day I am giving away (aka I’ll pay for up to $25) a race entry to one lucky winner- (almost) any race (max entry fee $25) anytime and anywhere. All you have to do is tell me why do you run? and which race entry you’d like to win. I will pick a winner tomorrow morning!
There are a number of prenatal and postnatal beauty products out there today and it can be a real challenge to figure out which ones you should try and which ones you should just pass on. I recently received a package from Belli Skincare containing their Your Best Baby Bump Duo and their Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen. Although all three items had their pros and cons, I absolutely loved them all and would recommend everything. I really look forward to trying products from Belli’s Motherhood Line and maybe even their Baby Line. Check out my review of each product below:
Maintains the look of smooth, healthy skin with scientifically researched* ingredients that help prepare skin for stretching during pregnancy.
A luxurious blend of pure plant extracts to nourish and moisturize the skin
The aromatherapy benefit of lavender soothes and calms the senses
Contains Vitamin E and grapeseed oil, both are rich in antioxidants
Used in fine spas as a pre-natal massage oil
Pro: I love the smell! It is really wonderful and I am looking forward to packing it up and taking it to the birthing center with us so that Neil can use it to massage my back. I also love how it sprays on so easily and isn’t too greasy feeling. Neil also loves the smell of this oil.
Con: The spray is nice but sometimes it goes on a little wild- I have learned to remove my shirt before putting it on now so it won’t get all over my clothes. The other con is the price- it is a little expensive at $39.
Would I recommend? I would and I AM recommending it to moms-to-be. I would recommend getting the Your Best Baby Bump Duo because it is a good deal and has both the oil and the lotion.
Deeply moisturizes, soothes and comforts dry skin.
Features lemon oil which is known for its uplifting qualities
Chamomile soothes and refreshes
Shea butter moisturizes and smooths
Pro: Smells like lemon cookies! I absolutely love this lotion and so does Neil. We both used it after spending too much time in the sun and it did a good job at soothing our burnt skin. It also really does a great job at moisturizing. I also love that it smells like lemon cookies but the smell isn’t over powering and really mellows out shortly after applying.
Cons: I really can’t think of any cons! It is a little on the more expensive side for some but honestly I think the price is pretty competitive for the quality.
Would I recommend? I would definitely recommended this to anyone regardless of whether you are pregnant or not.
Shield yourself from UVA and UVB rays with pregnancy-friendly sunscreen ingredients.
Features zinc oxide & titanium dioxide– minerals that act as physical sunscreen filters
Sun exposure during pregnancy can result in chloasma– dark brown spots that 70% of pregnant women experience
Lightly tinted to blend in with all skin types
Oil-free
May be worn alone or under makeup
Pro: It doesn’t have the normal sunscreen smell (which I hate). Although it is tinted it blends right in and I find it evens my skin tone out just a bit (maybe I’m the only one who notices though). It isn’t heavy on the skin and it works really well with my makeup. I usually wear a tinted moisturizer and lately I have just been wearing the Belli sunscreen instead.
Con: It is a little expensive, especially if you plan to reapply frequently or if you are a little heavy handed with it. I wouldn’t wear this as my go to sunscreen if I were heading to the pool or the beach but it is good for everyday wear.
Would I recommend? I would recommend this, however, if you know you really need a lot of sunscreen in the summer and/or spend a lot of time lounging on the beach I would also have another facial sunscreen for that and use this as more everyday use.
Tweet about this giveaway: “I want to win @runwithtongs @BelliSkincare giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-3jU”
Disclaimer: Belli Skincare provided me with these products at no cost. I was under no obligation to review them if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.
Did you know? You can take advantage of savings on Belli products by clicking on the bright pink Share & Save button that appears on the far right-hand side of belliskincare.com. When they click the button and share Belli with at least 3 of their friends via email, Facebook or Twitter, they and their friends can receive an exclusive promo code good for 20% off their purchase at belliskincare.com.
If you are looking for the giveaway you’ll just go nuts about scroll down!
This weekend Neil and I were fairly busy and it seems that things aren’t going to be slowing down anytime soon! We started the weekend off with a homemade Mexican pizza (recipe to come tomorrow) which was absolutely delicious.
Here it is all fixed up with a sprinkle of baby arugula, fresh tomatoes and sour supreme. We enjoyed our slices, went for a walk and settled on the couch to watch a few shows.
Saturday morning I got up bright and early to bake up a batch of Babycakes gluten free Pumpkin Spice Muffins for our early morning birthing class. Around 8:30 our birthing class teacher arrived (we are taking private classes) and we served up coffee, muffins and fruit before starting our four hours of class. In other news our birthing class teacher is also a doula and last week after doing a bunch of reading Neil and I made a last minute decision to hire a doula for the birth. I checked with Sarah (our birth coach) to see if she had any July openings and she did so after our class we decided to hire her to be our doula (she is really wonderful and so comfortable to be around). I’ll discuss more of this doula talk in Thursday’s update post.
After our four plus hours of birthing class Neil and I were so hungry we decided to use up the remaining homemade dough and make another small pizza for lunch and then I passed out for a few hours. When I finally woke up Neil was going a little stir crazy and was ready to get out of the house so we decided to have a date night downtown including window shopping, drinks (beer for him and water for me) and dinner out at A Single Pebble <–Neil had a gift card from work so free (almost) dinner for us! After dinner we headed home and cuddled on the couch while watching the remainder of the Yankees game, we should have just gone to bed though such a bad game.
Sunday we enjoyed a lazy morning before heading out for brunch with friends that we hadn’t seen since last July. We spent over two hours enjoying food, conversation and having tons of belly laughs at Duino Duende. It was so nice not to have a rushed meal and really enjoy the company. After brunch we rean a few errands, took a nap, Neil did a training run and I watched House Hunters International.
While Neil finished up his run I made dinner of arugula walnut pesto with peas and white beans, a side of kale and leftover tofu from dinner at A Single Pebble. After dinner we went for a stroll and then relaxed on the couch. What did you do this weekend?
Now that you’ve read my weekend recap keep scrolling and you’ll find a great giveaway!
A few weeks ago Doug’s Nuts sent me a few complimentary bags of their nuts to try out and ever since then I have been in love. When I first open the nuts I am expecting them to be sugary based on their shiny coating but they were super mild and really delicious. They are coated with a flavorful glaze consisting of organic evaporated sugarcane juice, honey, oatmeal stout beer <– my husband saw beer and had to try them immediately, sea salt, organic vanilla extract, and other natural flavors. In the mix are roasted almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and pumpkin seeds (the hazelnuts and pecans are my favorites).
I unfortunately finished off my two pouches pretty quickly (time to get some more I guess!) but boy where they good. I enjoyed them over soy yogurt, by the palm-full and my favorite way as a topping for apple “nachos”. What are apple nachos? Simply thinly sliced apples (I use my mandolin) drizzled with almond butter and topped with a sprinkling of Doug’s Nutsand a few mini chocolate chips for good measure.
Giveaway Details- Open Until Friday May 11th at 8pm EST: CLOSED
Doug’s Nuts will provide and ship one 6-pack of Doug’s Nuts to the winner ($30 + shipping costs value) – OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY
Winner:
To enter:
Visit the Doug’s Nuts and come back and leave a comment letting me know something that you have learned. (Mandatory)
Additional Entries: (Leave a separate entry for each)
Chia seeds can be eaten raw or ground to make a flour substitute and added to baked goods and even pastas. It can also be mixed with a small amount of water to be used as an egg replacer in baked goods. Chia seeds bring a nutty flavor to smoothies, granola and oatmeal. One of my favorite chia seed products are Ruth’s Foods Chia Goodness. Chia Goodness is also a favorite of many of my clients, one is even so in love with it he ordered himself a case!
It is a quick and easy breakfast option or even a snack! I keep a package of the chocolate flavor at my desk at all times so when I get hungry I can make myself up a bowl. I love that you can eat it hot or cold, which makes it great to travel with. I usually take along some whenever we travel because as long as I have a bowl or cup, a spoon and water I can eat it anywhere!
Today I am sharing my love of chia AND of Ruth’s Foods Chia Goodness with a giveaway! Three people will be the proud winners of this giveaway and will receive three flavors of Chia Goodness and a package of chia seeds.
Chia Goodness™ is a new concept in breakfast cereal. The ingredients are completely raw – just stir in milk or water, hot or cold, and wait a few minutes for it to thicken, giving it the comfort quality of oatmeal. We combine chia with our shelled hempseed, a great source of protein, essential fatty acids and trace minerals, and add other seeds, fruits and nuts to give you the best breakfast ever. (Source)
How to enter: Giveaway is CLOSED.
The winners are: JW, Jamie and Melissa
Mandatory Entry: Must Enter by March 20, 2012 at 12pm EST
1. What types of post are you most interested in reading on this blog?
Additional Entries (please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry)
