New Fresh Baby Products (Review & Giveaway)

Closed – Congratulations, susan!

I find that the most helpful products for parents are made by parents.  Sisters Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are mothers to five children in total.  They founded Fresh Baby to support other parents who want to feed their babies all natural foods and encourage healthy eating habits.  Having been raised by a mother who was a gourmet cook, they’ve got the experience and practical knowledge under their belts and are now sharing their tools for success with others.  

Earlier this year, I posted a review of the first Fresh Baby products, the So Easy Baby Food Kit and the So Easy Toddler Cookbook.  I still use the baby food kit to make and store my own food purees to have on hand, and the toddler cookbook is my go-to book for when I get into a toddler-food cooking rut. 

Fresh Baby has recently introduced two more helpful products for parents.  The first is their line of Mama Jewels.  These pretty creations are made with Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and glass beads.  If you’re familiar with breastfeeding, you know that it is important to alternate sides to ensure an abundant supply of milk for your baby and to while also giving your breasts time to heal.  Mama Jewels serve as a reminder of wear mama left off at the last feeding.  Just put the jewel on the bra strap of the breast your baby fed from.  This would have been a huge help to me when I started breastfeeding Emma, especially considering I barely slept at all in the beginning, and easily forgot just about everything!

Mama Jewels are available in Pink, Amethyst, Blue and Clear and are only $9.95.  A portion of the proceeds are donated for breast cancer research.

I remember when we first brought Emma home from the hospital.  We had strict instructions to keep track of diaper changes and feedings, and we scrambled for random pieces of paper to write it on.  It was neither a pretty nor organized system, and sitters were baffled by it.  If we had a Caregiver or All About Me Diary, everyone’s lives would have been much simpler.  Even now when I leave her with one of her grandparents, I like to get an update on Emma’s naps, what her diapers were like and what she ate during the day.  Even though she is older and we don’t necessarily have to track everything like we did when she was an infant, this diary is extremely helpful in keeping track of all of the ins and outs of her day.

The diary is spiral bound and includes enough pages to record four full months worth of days.  It makes a great keepsake when you’re done with it.  You can even insert a photograph of the baby into the area provided on the front cover.  you can click the above photo to see a detailed view of the pages.  The All About Me Caregiver Diary is only $10.95.

GIVEAWAY!  One lucky parent will win the two products above courtesy of Fresh Baby!

Mandatory Entry:  Comment below telling me something else you learned after visiting Fresh Baby.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each entry.
+1 Entry if you ‘Like’ Fresh Baby on Facebook, leave your fb name.
+1 Extra Entry if after you like them comment on their wall:
I entered the giveaway @GirlGonemom for the caregiver diary and mama jewels - http://bit.ly/cSwOGY
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+1 Entry ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall.
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+1 Entry per day for tweeting this message, must leave the url to tweet in your comment.

WIN a set of Mama Jewels and a Caregiver Diary from Fresh Baby! @FreshBabyBiz @GirlGonemom – http://bit.ly/cSwOGY

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+5 Entries if you blog about this giveaway.

No compensation was received for this post. Thank you to Fresh Baby for providing the products for me and a lucky reader.. Contest is open WORLD-WIDE for those 18 and older and closes at Midnight EST on September 17th.  The winner will be selected using Random.org. See giveaway rules before entering. GOOD LUCK!

10 products to always buy generic (Sponsored)

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you buy generic versions of your favorite brand name products?  I do. Not always, and not with every type of product, but I pick and choose depending on what the item is.  I was reading this article on Wallet Pop called 10 Products to Always Buy Generic which recommends 10 non-brand name products to try.

These are the top 10 items listed in the article, and my thoughts.

1. Medications
I’ve always bought generic drugs from the pharmacy.  My father is a pharmacist, and he has taught me that you will get the same benefits from a generic medication.  With the rising cost of healthcare, why not save where you can?

2. Cereal
I have to admit that I never considered purchasing a generic brand of cereal.  Normally I just wait for our cereal to go on sale or a shop at a discount store.

3. Pantry Staples
Sugar is sugar, right?  Spices cost a small fortune too, so I always shop by price in the backing section for sugar, flour, spices and more.

4. Soda
We don’t drink soda often, so this one doesn’t really apply to us

5. Gasoline
I won’t name the gas station we like to use.  You can probably guess it, but we do like a specific company for our gas that is said to refine the crude oil more than other companies.  There’s really no way of knowing though, and if I’m low I’ll go pretty much anywhere but try to support U.S. companies if I can.

6. Electronic Cables
Sure, why not?  What are the brand names going to do any better than a non brand-name?

7. Makeup/Beauty
I admit that in the past I used to think that you had to buy makeup from big expensive department stores to get a good products.  But makeup has come along way, baby.  Drugstores have the latest and greatest products at a fraction of the cost of department stores.  Some will even allow returns if it’s not your color.

8. Batteries
Same as Gasoline – of course.  The cheaper, the better in my opinion.  Batteries are pricey and we go through them so quickly with all of the toys in our house.

9. Produce
As long as it’s fresh and in good condition, I buy whatever is on sale or costs less.  But mostly I like to grow my own.  It’s cheap and organic, and nothing is more fresh than hand-picked from your garden.

10. Baby Formula
I’ve seen the generic formula on the shelves, and I would have any problem buying store brand formula but we got a pretty good discount on a brand-name product when we needed formula, so that ended up being more cost-effective for us.

Like the Wallet Pop article states, many of the brand name manufacturers create the same exact product that the store will sell for less.  It’s just cheaper for the consumer.  Many people are embarrassed that friends may see their generic container on the pantry shelf.  They think that it reflects poorly on them.  So if it makes you feel any better, transfer the cheaper product into your brand-name package.  Personally, if a friend has a problem with a generic package in my pantry, then I’d need to get a new friend!

Bebe Au Lait {Review + Giveaway}

Closed
When I was pregnant, one of the things I most looked forward to was bath time.  I sure was right to think how much fun it would be.  Emma delights in playing with the water and all of her toys, and I love watching her have fun while getting her body all squeaky clean.  Some of my all-time favorite photos of her are post bath, wrapped cozily into her hooded towel, none of which compare to the towel we received from Bebe Au Lait.  You might have heard about their beautiful nursing covers, but their towels are pretty amazing too.  Made of 100% cotton, they are luxuriously soft and absorbent making them functional, but it’s the pretty fabric edging that makes them special.
What’s more, Bebe Au Lait also offers bibs, burp cloths, and nursing covers to match.  I would have loved to receive one of their sets as a shower gift.  Maybe Bebe Au Lait will make a line for moms (hint, hint).

It was difficult to choose between all of the gorgeous fabrics, but Chocolat is the style I ended up choosing.  I thought the brown floral pattern was striking.  The towel is too pretty to use exclusively after bath time – we’ll be taking this one to the beach this summer!

G I V E A W A Y !  One lucky person will win the hooded towel of their choice – a $40.00 value!

Mandatory Entry – Visit Bebe Au Lait and tell me which towel you want.  Choose wisely, if you win, this is the one you’ll be sent.

EXTRA ENTRIES to increase your odds:

• Follow this blog publicly via google friend connect.
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• Sign up for the Bebe Au Lait newsletter
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• Follow The Penny-Pinching Mama on twitter and tweet the following message (once per day):

#Win a luxurious hooded baby/toddler towel from Bebe Au Lait http://tinyurl.com/2d9kmgu #giveaway @pennypinchingma @bebeaulait (US + Canada)

• Add my button (at left) to your blog.
• For 5 Extra Entries, blog about this giveaway, and only this giveaway in 50 words or more, include a link back to this post.

No compensation was received for this post. I received product coupons to facilitate my honest review. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents 18 and older and closes at Midnight EST on May 20th. The winner will be selected using Random.org. Please leave your email address either in your comment or make sure it is listed on your profile page so that I can reach you if you win. GOOD LUCK!