Just for Baby Giveaway Hop with Earth Mama Angel Baby

Welcome to the Just For Baby Giveaway Hop!

This Giveaway Hop is hosted by Fabulous Finds and Mama Chocolate. This Giveaway Hop features everything under the sun you’ll need for baby. Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win some really amazing prizes! This event will end on August 10th at 11:59pm EST.

The Simmworks Family Blog will be giving away an amazing prize package retailing at over $40!

Earth Mama Angel Baby is including one of my favorite kits for baby! Seriously... all of my favorite products in one little package. ARV $19.95.

A Little Something For Baby Includes:

• Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash 1.67oz
• Angel Baby Bottom Balm 1oz
• Angel Baby Lotion 2oz
• Angel Baby Oil 1 oz

To read about my love for Earth Mama Angel Baby head here. 

I'm also including a Little Bee Co Bee Changed Bamboo Solids in African Rain (that gorgeous light blue color in the basket). ARV $21.95.

Interested in winning? Simply fill out the rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

A Few of my Favorite Things

One of the best parts about running a playgroup is that the women I meet become more than just "other moms" they be come friends as well. And sometimes these friends come up with awesome ideas. Recently an idea was posted on our meetup page about having a My Favorite Things party. I wasn't quite sold on it until I found out what it was.

Don't know what a My Favorite Things party is? Well channel your inner Oprah and read on!

My guests' favorite things

A My Favorite Things party is a night in (or out) where each guest shares their favorite item under a certain dollar amount with their friends. For our party we chose a dollar limit of $6 per item. Each guest brings 5 of the same item under that $6 limit to share and gift to the others at the party.

When you get to the party, write your name on 5 pieces of paper. Each guest will choose 5 different people to give their favorite thing to (make sure to do this in advance to avoid duplicates or drawing your own name). Once the names are drawn, go around the room and explain why the item is your favorite and then announce who the lucky girls are to receive your item The party can be general, like our first one was, or themed!

My favorite thing - Earth Mama Angel Baby!

We each brought one of our favorite dishes to share and our favorite bottle of wine so that before we jumped into the fun of exchanging our favorite things we were able to eat and mingle together. Since each dish was a favorite I made little signs to go along with them. The party can also be hosted at a restaurant or other location outside of the home but since we all didn't have childcare this was the best option for us. Dads watched the kids outside while the moms enjoyed some time to chat and talk.

Once everyone had a bite to eat we got to sharing! And boy was this part fun.

When the kids heard that presents were involved they quickly came in to help pass out the favorites. Once they realized what was inside the presents, they weren't too excited about helping. Ignore my son, spiderman... he just got home from a birthday party.


Here's the favorites from our party:

• My Favorite - Earth Mama Angel Baby Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash
• Elizabeth's Favorite - Krispy Kreme gift cards
• Clarissa's Favorite - Muir Glen Organic marinara sauce
• Jen's Favorite - Tresemme dry shampoo
• Kari's Favorite - Lush Bubble Bar in Dorothy
• Sophia's Favorite - Yellowtail wine
• Nikki's Favorite - Bath & Body Works CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint

In addition to these awesome favorites, Chobani was kind enough to send each of my guests Family 4 Pack tickets to Kidsfest AND 2 free product coupons.  Boy were these mamas excited about yogurt!

I also included my Lipton Tea & Honey Klout perk samples and some Hot Dog on a Stick temporary tattoos for the kiddos that I received in a prize package I won at the SD Mom's Night Out Tweetup. What fun is it to keep all these fun goodies to myself, right? Gotta spread the love!

Each mama went home with five new and fun items. I was so excited to see what each person brought and was surprised to find how diverse each of our items were. We're already planning our next My Favorite Things party and this time we're going with a theme: Baby/Kid's Favorite Thing!

I gave a little bonus to my guests courtesy of Earth Mama Angel Baby and shared my Baby/Kid item, Angel Baby Bottom Balm. I've blogged about it before and can't say enough about how awesome it really is. And EMAB was kind enough to also send samples of their awesome Monthly Comfort and Milkmaid teas (both of which I needed!). So stay tuned for our next party and what new favorites we come up with!

Check out more photos of my party on Facebook and G+!

What would you bring to the My Favorite Things party?

Disclaimer: I was given a free product or sample. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

Lips Appreciation Day {Earth Mama Angel Baby Lip Balm}

Did you know today was Lips Appreciation Day? I didn't either until yesterday afternoon!

Lips are one of those features that play a large roll in our day to day life but are usually forgotten about. So do something for your lips today! I'll help you out just a little by introducing you to a fabulous product to help soothe and protect those lips of yours...

Recently I was sent a set of 3 lip balms from Earth Mama Angel Baby® to try out that consisted of the following flavors:

Coconut Smoothie: Silky Smooth Coconut Vanilla Herbal Lip Balm
Lavender Meringue: Light as a Cloud Lavender Vanilla Herbal Lip Balm
Mint Herbal: Herbally Moisturizing Lip Balm for Naturally Kissable Lips

And boy are they awesome. Not only do the new scents smell great, but they feel amazing as well. For my avid readers, you know my love for Earth Mama. So when I had a chance to try out these amazing balms I got a wee bit excited.

I'm not a big makeup person. Sure, I get dolled up every once in a while for a night out on the town with my friends or with my husband but for the most part I'm a chap stick or lip balm girl. I keep it in the diaper bag and swipe throughout the day. When I feel like a little extra something I throw on some mascara. But that's about it.

So when it comes to lip balm I want perfection. Perfect scent. Perfect coverage. Perfect feel. And as I mentioned before Earth Mama did not disappoint!

Now that you're eager to try Earth Mama lip balm, you just have to decide which incredibly smooth, naturally yummy flavor will be your new favorite! Will it be silky, Vanilla tinged Coconut Smoothie Lip Balm, light as a cloud Lavender Meringue Lip Balm with its luscious hint of Vanilla, or classic and beloved Mint-Herbal Lip Balm? Maybe you need all three!

Every Earth Mama Herbal Lip Balm is 100% Natural, vegan, smooth and yummy, and safe for EVERY body, even pregnant mamas!

NO Petrolatum
NO Artificial Flavoring
NO Artificial Colors
NO Artificial Preservatives
NO Toxins, ever!

So pucker up, slather on some all natural lip balm, and kiss your sweetie with those wonderful lips. As an added bonus you can enter to WIN a set of Earth Mama lip balm in the rafflecopter form below.

Happy Lips Appreciation Day!

Zero Toxins Castile Soap - Safe for Everyone! {Earth Mama Angel Baby Review & Giveaway}

Despite marketing claims like “gentle” and “pure,” dozens of top-selling children’s bath products are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, according to the March 2009 Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, "No More Toxic Tub." This study is the first to document the widespread presence of both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in bath products for children, including baby shampoos, bubble baths and baby lotions. Many products tested contained both chemicals. To read more please go to this article written on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website.

As news spreads about these toxins and the ongoing concerns about formaldehyde-releasing ingredients in baby products, Earth Mama wants to spread the good news that some hospitals are making safer choices for their newborns. Earth Mama Angel Baby® products were chosen by Miami Valley Hospital, in Dayton, Ohio, as the first step in their “greening process” following a year of research on the subject of environmental toxicants and the health risks they pose to newborns and mothers. Here is some info about their ZERO toxin gentle castile soap- safe for everyone to use!

Earth Mama makes it easy to avoid this toxic chemical with four soaps made with pure, clean, USDA Certified Made With Organic ingredients. And they have a soap or wash for every body in the home! I was able to sample their line of soaps and shampoos with my family and absolutely LOVED the experience. I was sent the following travel size items: 

* Naturally calming Lavender Vanilla Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash
* Truly unscented Natural Non-Scents Hand to Toe Wash
* Exhilarating, queasy-busting Ginger Lime Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash
* Gentle Vanilla Sweet orange Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash

The first one I was super excited to use was the Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash. Since I am the one person in the house who doesn't get a shower regularly (oh, the life of a mom), I took full advantage of this product and closed myself in the bathroom for a shower all alone. Now normally I have one or two little heads poking their way into the shower and moving the shower curtain so they can try and climb in with me but this shower was all mine. And I loved the soap. The smell quickly relaxed me and made me feel citrusy fresh. My skin stayed smooth and soft and felt clean.

The next soap we used was the Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash for bath time with the kids. Each child got their hair soaped up as they played along in the bath with their toys. I then wanted to use the unscented Natural Hand to Toe wash for my daughter's sensitive skin and the Calm & Clean Hand to Toe wash for my rambunctious boy. I loved that I knew the exact ingredients in each of the soaps and that none of them contained harsh, toxic chemicals. No formaldehyde for my family!

I am absolutely in love with the scents and clean feel of the Earth Mama Angel Baby line of soaps and shampoos. Earth Mama has proven time and time again that they are at the top of the pack when it comes to providing quality products that are safe for the whole family. I've reviewed their products before and have never been disappointed. And these soaps made me feel even better about supporting this wonderful company. If you need a great shower gift (or even a nice stocking stuffer) I highly recommend checking out Earth Mama Angel Baby's site to find the perfect product for your family.

Earth Mama Angel Baby has kindly offered to gift one of my readers with one 5.3 oz soap of the winner's choice to use in their home! To enter for your chance to win simply fill out the rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Happy Halloween Giveaway Blog Hop {Diaper Bag Essentials}

I think I've carried around a diaper bag for the past three years now. And luckily my bag has only gotten lighter as I have come to realize that carrying every gosh darn thing we might need around just didn't have to happen.  There are five essentials that I now make sure i have with me at all times. Diapers, wipes, butt cream/balm, a changing mat and hand sanitizer. Everything else I can either leave in my car or leave at home. Every once in a while I'll throw in a change of clothes but I haven't had to change my kids clothes while we were out since they were either newborns or potty training.

Now you are probably wondering what in the heck do diaper bag essentials have to do with Halloween? Nothing, silly! But since Halloween is a holiday (and one of my favorites) I figured that presents to go along with the holiday would be amazing. I was given the opportunity to review three amazing diaper bag essentials recently and I was excited to find out that I could share each of them them with one lucky reader!

So hurry up and enter for your chance to win this awesome Diaper Bag Essentials package that includes an itti bitti change mat, Earth Mama Angel Baby angel bottom balm and Prefense hand sanitizer (ARV $34)! And when you're done entering this giveaway check out the linky below to enter more blog giveaways all in celebration of Halloween! Each blog will be hosting a giveaway valued at $25 or more.

If you don't see the Rafflecopter prompt below simply leave a comment on this post with your email and your answer to the following question - What do you consider essential in your diaper bag?

Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm {Sponsor Spotlight}

I first learned about Earth Mama Angel Baby® when I read about their cloth diaper-friendly products and eco-friendly ingredients on an Eco-Friendly Family forum online. I was looking for a gift for a friend and was sent to their website. And I fell in love. I ordered a Breastfeeding Essentials Bundle and had it sent to her home. Then I entered a contest on their Facebook page and won a pair of Booby Tubes.

I was pregnant with my second at the time and no longer nursing but I held onto them for when I breastfed again. And I was so lucky to have them because within the first few weeks of having my daughter I developed thrush. It was not fun but the warmed up Booby Tubes® kept me from feeling the intense burning feeling of the infection in my nipple and reduced the soreness as I treated the thrush with an anti-fungal ointment.

After having such luck with the Booby Tubes I was dying to try their Angel Baby Bottom Balm. I loved that it was cloth diaper friendly and that it served more than one purpose. It seemed like the perfect addition to a cloth diaper stash. Not only can you use this balm on your little one's bum to help clear up diaper rash, you can also use it as a first aid ointment to help care for minor burns, scrapes, and even bee stings! So basically if you have this balm in your diaper bag you're set! No various tubes of this and that, just one simple jar of heaven. And it smells amazing to boot!


Once I received the balm I was eager to use it. But, sadly, my daughter didn't have any diaper rash to use it on. Darn cloth diapers just work so well for that! She did, however, have bad eczema around the diaper area (her upper thigh) so I thought why not use the balm on her eczema? The days before receiving the Angel Baby Bottom Balm were the worst for her eczema. Every diaper change my daughter would go to scratch her thighs because they bothered her so much!

I probably should have used the Angel Baby Lotion instead but the combination of the balm and the lotion I already had made for an awesome treatment for her dry patches. And within a week of using the balm her eczema was less extreme and less itchy. She smelled amazing too. Now I'm considering buying her the Angel Baby Lotion and using that combined with the balm as a great preventative measure against eczema flair ups.


Not only do I love the products from Earth Mama Angel Baby® I love the people behind the products as well. The mamas over at EMAB Headquarters are friendly, helpful and informative. They also have an amazing line of Baby Loss Comfort products as well. If I would have received one of these products (especially the Healing Heart Comfort Kit) after having my miscarriage I would have been so grateful. The thought and consideration put behind these products is overwhelming. And while I didn't have a chance to purchase a Light of My Heart Baby Loss Candle for this October 15th candle lighting I will be doing so for next year. It is the perfect way to remember my angel.

Since receiving my Angel Baby Bottom Balm I haven't removed it from my diaper bag! That's why I'm so excited to announce that Earth Mama Angel Baby® has happily agreed to include a jar of Angel Baby Bottom Balm in my Happy Halloween Giveaway Blog Hop package. So remember to check back on October 23rd to enter to win! And be sure to follow Earth Mama Angel Baby on  Twitter and sign up to receive Mama's Monthly Newsletter for extra entries!

And even though it won't get you an extra entry, you can also stay up-to-date with all of the EMAB happenings on their Facebook page as well. That's where I find out all about amazing 1/2 off sales and other deals they have going on.

Do you use Earth Mama Angel Baby products already? What are your favorites?

Disclaimer: I received a jar of Angel Baby Bottom Balm for review purposes only. All opinions are 100% my own. The links included in this post will take you to the Earth Mama Angel Baby website. I am an Earth Mama Angel Baby affiliate and will earn 20% from all purchases made by clicking on my links or banners. If you'd like to become an EMAB affiliate, too, go here. I only promote products I believe in 100% and will always disclose this information to my readers.