The Mommy Hook Review & Giveaway (US & Canada) {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

**GIVEAWAY CLOSED**

With each baby I have had, my diaper bag gets heavier and heavier. I guess that is because instead of clothing and diapers for one, I now have clothing and diapers for two...makes for a pretty heavy bag. The huge thing about having a diaper bag is having to carry it places. My husband always teases me about my monster bag and cheers when I take stuff out that we don't need for certain trips. Seriously, my bag weighs a ton and I hate to tote it places. Most of the time if I am just running into a store to grab a few things, I will leave it in the car and take only my necessities with me. I think part of the problem is that my diaper bag also turns into a purse as well. I hate to carry two bags around so if I can squeeze it all into one, that is way easier for me. Well, if you are like me and have the same issue, I have a product today that I am totally in love with and want to show to all of you!

 

The Mommy Hook is exactly what it sounds like. It is a large and durable clip that can fasten onto anything (grocery carts, strollers, etc.) and hold your bags for you! The Mommy Hook was invented by parents especially FOR parents, which I love. Parent-invented products are the BEST! Here is a bit more about who invented The Mommy Hook and why...

In 2006, David Abels and his wife were parents of three young children, had too many bags to tote and a growing pile of broken plastic stroller hangers.  The answer Abels devised for his family—The Mommy Hook—has since become the world’s bestselling stroller accessory. Retailers praise the product’s simplicity and reliability.  Parents everywhere call The Mommy Hook “a real lifesaver.”

What I really love about this product is it's diversity. It is very easy to use and super handy to have on hand!

 

So, for this review I was sent a red Mommy Hook...great color for me! :) The first thing I noticed about this product was the size. Look at it...it's HUGE!!! It seriously is big and looks like it would hold just about anything. Once I saw how sturdy it was, I was very excited to try it out on my stroller.

 

We had a gorgeous day today so I got the stroller out and while the children were playing, I played with my new gadget! The Mommy Hook is very easy to use and the best part is that I can easily clip it onto my stroller handle with one hand. This is really important for moms because of how much we do things one-handed.

 

Once The Mommy Hook is clipped onto my stroller, it looks something like the photo above. Very subtle, yet very handy.

 

All that is left to do now is to hang your bag on the hook, freeing up your hands and the under-carriage basket of your stroller! That is another thing that I love about this hook. The opening to the basket of my stroller is very small and makes stuffing the diaper bag under there extremely difficult. This really dissolves that issue very nicely for me!

The Mommy Hook retails for $9.99 and would make a wonderful gift for any mom that you know who needs a free hand. You can find this awesome product at Babies 'R' Us, Walmart, Toys 'R' Us, Buy Buy Baby and Bed Bath and Beyond.

 

So, in my opinion...The Mommy Hook is a really great product! I kept mine hooked to the stroller so that whenever I am out and about it is ready for me. It keeps my hands free while I am shopping and walking, and it also keeps my diaper bag handy for quick and easy access. SUPERB product and very useful for any mom.

You now have the opportunity to WIN The Mommy Hook!! Thanks to the sponsor for this wonderful giveaway!!! Here are your entry options...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a free Mommy Hook for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from The Mommy Hook website and email. Prize is being shipped by the sponsor. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

When Water Heaters Break...

When my husband and I were married, we moved into a cozy little house in a quiet neighborhood. Our new home was a foreclosure so we were able to get a terrific price and a GREAT house. It was not a huge house, but was just right for us. Everything was in working condition when we moved in (except for the roof, which we totally had to rip off and replace.) and needed little to no work at all. For this we were grateful. Being newlyweds, we of course were short on cash so not having to do a ton of repair work was wonderful.

 

Several years later we took an weekend trip out of town and were gone for about 4 days total. When we came home I was unpacking and getting things back in order. I went to the kitchen and turned on the hot water and waited and waited and...........waited. I wasn't sure why it was taking so long to get the hot water running so I thought I would go to the basement and check the water heater just to see if maybe it was turned down. When I rounded the corner of the basement to where the hot water heater was, my heart immediately sank. There was water EVERYWHERE. It was under the rugs, the walls, the furnace, etc. My dad is a really handy guy when it comes to Water Heater Repair so I called him as soon as I let my hubby know what was going on. Dad came over right away and confirmed that indeed, our water heater had broken. Uggg...how much was THIS going to cost us?? 

Well, to make a long story short we were able to get a very nice water heater for a reasonable price. My hubby took the next day off work and he and my dad installed the new unit. Since that time, we have had no issues with it and boy am I glad for that!!! I sure did take that hot water for granted for those two days! :)

 I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own. 

Get the Runway Look With Mary Kay!

While I have never been to a fashion show I have seen bits and pieces of them through news stations, YouTube videos and other media outlets. Runway models always seem to have perfect hair, perfect skin and perfect bodies...a reality check reminds me that I have none of these characteristics!

 

Being a mom of two and currently 33 weeks pregnant with my third, my body is far from perfect. But that doesn't mean that I cannot try to look my best. When you approach someone, what is usually the first thing you look at? I tend to look at someones face. So, I have decided that probably from my shoulders on up is where I want to try to look the best.

I have been using Mary Kay products since I was a teenager (I LOVE their perfume!!!) and still use them today. Whenever I am trying to put my "best face" forward, their products are usually what I reach for. Today, I am going to show you some products from their cosmetic line that are sure to give you that runway look, without having to go to a professional!

 

For this post, I was sent a number of items to try and experiment with my skin tone. I was sent:

Mary Kay TimeWise Luminous Wear Liquid Foundations
Mary Kay Foundation Primer
Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara (black)
Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara (black)
Mary Kay Liquid Eyeliner (black)
Mary Kay Really Red Creme Lipstick 

 

The first product that I tried in this lovely selection was the Really Red Creme Lipstick. Now, I have VERY fair skin so I knew that this would probably not look the greatest on me. I don't wear red normally (unless I am painting my toe nails!) so this was a bit on the wild side for me. As you can see, it is a beautiful lipstick, just not my color of choice.

Liquid Eyeliner

 Next, I decided to try and apply the eye makeup. I am NOT good at applying eyeliner so my attempts at that were pretty sad. I love how easy the Liquid Eyeliner went on though...it definitely was great to work with and did look nice. 

 

After applying that I went with the Lash Love Mascara and I LOVED how it wasn't goopy or left clumps on my eyelashes. I always go with black when using mascara so this was a perfect product for me!

 

Then, I tried the Foundation Primer. This product is a light-weight gel primer that acts as a base for your foundation. It also helps the foundation go on much smoother and more evenly as well. I could honestly wear this by itself as it is so silky and smooth...it makes my skin feel great! It also contains sunscreen so that would definitely help to prevent sunburn on your delicate facial skin.

The Luminous Wear Liquid Foundation was so great to use as well. Because I have fair skin, I chose to apply the Beige 1 color as it is light. It did look very nice on me and applied easily and evenly as well.

Each of these Mary Kay products differ in price and you can find them directly on Mary Kay's website or find a beauty consultant near you to help you find your perfect colors.

 

So, in my opinion...Mary Kay can really make your face look like runway perfection! I was very happy with my "look" (aside from the raccoon eyes) and how nice it felt to look my best. I would definitely recommend these products to any woman who is desiring a new look or just wanting to freshen up her current line of make-up.

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free Mary Kay products for review purposes from Mary Kay. All quotes and stock photos are from the Mary Kay website and email. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Join Club Nylabone!

If you are a pet owner, then you should check out Club Nylabone! Right now they are in the midst of their March Sweepstakes and if you win, you will receive over $200 in Nylabone  products! When you sign up for the sweepstakes, you will also recieve exclusive coupons, offers and dog-related tips and articles throughout the year.

 

So, check out Club Nylabone today and enter this great sweepstakes! Good luck! :)

How to Choose Easter Gifts for Baby's First Easter Baskets

All children love Easter gifts and baskets. However, babies don't really know what it is all about. You should consider putting a simple Easter basket together for your baby who experiences his first Easter, or for a baby you know who is celebrating Easter for the first time.

The importance of the first Easter baskets

It is vital that you give your baby an Easter basket if you have older children. This would keep the older children wonder why your baby was left out. According to tradition, Easter Bunny brings gifts to good children, so you can only think what your older kids may think.

You should still consider on getter your baby their first Easter basket even if you don't have other, older children around. Easter is the time of the year when friends and families get together or meet up. It is common that when there is a new arrival, they are the usual subject of numerous photos and videos. Just imagine when they baby will look back at their first Easter and see many adults and other children eating chocolates, but there was nothing for them.

The most important reason why we should give Easter gifts and baskets to our babies is that they are special. Of course, we really want to spoil them.

Types of gifts you can give

The second type of gifts that you can give is practical stuff. These practical stuffs are some things that the baby perhaps would not choose for themselves. These are the things that mom and dad will be happy with. These gifts would include some Easter-themed clothes, bibs, blankets, teething rings and other things that the baby needs.

The third type of Easter gifts is those that are for babies, but are really for dad and mom. A chocolate egg with the baby's name on it is an example of this type of gift. The baby may be allowed to eat the chocolate, but most importantly, they make a good addition to the family's Easter photos.

Why I Love Using Google Maps

Here in our family, we do a lot of out-of-state travelling. We always have a GPS with us, but long before we embark on a trip, I usually try to get an idea of just how far we have to go to reach our destination. I believe that good planning is essential when going anywhere...especially to a different state with several small children. Today, I am going to talk a little bit about why I am crazy about using Google Maps.

Early on, I began to utilize google maps optimization to plan our travels. This was even before we had children. It was good to know if we could make a trip in one day, or would need to break it into two days. It was also helpful to figure out if we would be passing through an area in which we knew someone and could stop and visit for a few hours on our way. When using Google Maps you can search for a particular city or state...I used this recently following the tornadoes that hit Midwest. I know people who live in Indiana and Illinois and I was wondering if the towns that were hit were anywhere near my friends. Thankfully, they were not really close and everyone was fine.

The one thing that I just LOVE about using Google Maps is the Street View option. You can click on a small icon of a person and drop and drag it to a particular street. This is really helpful if you want to see what the place to which you are going looks like. I needed this several months ago when I was taking dinner to a friend who had just had a baby. I had never been to her house, nor was I familiar with the area in which she lived. So, I was able to use the Street View option on Google Maps and was able to find her home easily as I knew what color her house was, how big it was, etc.

So, these are just a few of the reasons why I love to use Google Maps. I find them to be very helpful in planning my trips and visualizing my destination clearly. How about you? Have you ever used Google Maps before and if so, how was your experience? I would love to hear your story!

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Nonni's Biscotti BOGO Coupon!

I found this out through my mom...right now (until they reach 20,000 coupons printed) Nonni's Biscotti on Facebook is offering a buy one get one free coupon! Here's how you get yours...

-Go to Nonni's Biscotti on Facebook and make sure you "Like" them.
-I used Internet Explorer as people were saying it would not work otherwise.
-Click on the Biscotti Coupon tab
-It will take you to another page on Facebook and it will say Print your coupon.
**MAKE SURE you temporarily enable pop-ups or you won't be able to print anything. People are getting mad because they haven't done this and don't think there is really a coupon.

Then, you are good to go! I printed mine just now so they still have them and they expire on 4/19.

Enjoy!