Giveaway: We're swimming in Hanna Andersson

A few weeks ago, we headed to the East Coast during our kid's spring break. Although it certainly wasn't warm enough to swim, my kids were just as happy to play and run in the sand. We were generously given new swim wear by Hanna Andersson and it was the perfect opportunity to test them out!

We swim a lot in the summer and so I always look for swim gear that will hold up to a lot of wear. All of our Hanna Andersson products have held up well through many washings.  I'm also a big fan of rash guards for sun protection. We go through a lot of sunscreen with 4 kiddos, so rash guards help save in the sunscreen budget! 

As soon as I saw this suit, I knew it would be perfect for my Mya girl. She looks so radiant in yellow!

My girls do not like how one pieces pull and tug (I don't blame 'em!) and so they prefer something in two pieces. (Also makes for easier bathroom runs!)  But I also want my girls to have good coverage. Hanna Andersson has so many adorable options for two pieces, there is a ton of variety!

The second day they braved touching the chilly water!

We were staying with some friends who live on a fairly private beach. My kids had the best time running and playing in the sand with no hindrances! 

We didn't bring beach toys with us since we'd only be there a few days, but sticks, solo cups and plastic bowls are all kids need for their imaginations to be in full force!

For anyone looking for a protective swim cap, check out this cute option (there's a matching suit as well!)

For those of you in Pittsburgh, we are lucky enough to have our own newly opened Hanna Andersson store at the Ross Park Mall! Have you checked it out? We have loved the quality of our Hanna Andersson wear. Each piece is super soft and has comfy seams so that kids love to wear it!

We love the new suits and I am thrilled to pass on the special gift of a new Hanna Andersson swim suit to a lucky winner! Enter below for your chance to win.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#ilovemyhannas

#happyhannas

I was given products in exchange for my review. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse products that I don't love!

Check out Minted holiday cards!

Did I blink and it was time to be thinking about Christmas cards again? Wow, that really snuck up on me! Last year was the first time I chose my cards from Minted and I loved them so much! The quality was amazing and they turned out perfect. I will definitely be starting my search for the perfect card this week!  Minted is a design marketplace that uses a community of independent artists and designers who are located in 48 states and 43 countries. Because of this, they have a beautiful, creative and diverse product selection.

1. Choose a unique design from an independent artist.
2. Customize and make the design yours.
3. They'll make it with luxe materials and a passion for quality.

Here are some of my favorite designs for this year.....

Enjoy 15% off + free recipient addressing on holiday cards. Code: CHEER15, exp 11/24.

Love these adorable holiday ornament cards!

Postcards are also a great option, a little lower in cost for cards and postage as well!

And I love, love, love the free recipient addressing!!

Minted also contains beautiful choices of Art, gorgeous fabrics,  and a cool selection of children's art!

Cheers to stress-free card sending! :)

This post sponsored by Minted.com. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse companies I don't love!

A mom's new best friend: Little Helper

We love living in Pittsburgh, but the one thing that we don't have living here is family. With young children, it is often hard to ask people when you are need in a helping hand. Everyone I know is crazy busy and I always feed bad imposing on someone else! There are caregiver sites and I know they have some amazing sitters to offer, but truly, those are just out of our budget. Although there has been a wave of apps for moms that have recently flooded the market,  Little Helper, definitely caught my eye with its unique features. When Little Helper Founder (Paul Burke) began to have kids, he noticed the unique role that many moms hold.  They are running the household, planning the family schedule, and managing the kids’ schedules. He knew his wife was in need of a system to help her successfully create the network of support as she juggled all of these details and so Little Helper was created. Read more about the passion Paul has in empowering the chief household operator here!

What is Little Helper?

Little Helper is a service to help the Chief Household Officer (mom!) and her family better coordinate with their most trusted support resources. We help families build what we call “essential networks”. These networks are made up of the small set of people you’d trust to help in your home with your most precious assets—your children. Our goal is to make it easy for these micro-community members to efficiently get and give support from trusted resources by streamlining the request process.

First, set up an account and then add the emails for those people that are your go-to contacts when you have a need. Rather than sending a personal message to someone, you can send out your request to your network and it gives your helpers the option to respond if they are available.
Example....."I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, would anyone be willing to watch my kids from 9-11am?" or "Mommy and Daddy are in need of a date night, anyone up for a swap?"

A few events that Little Helper can make easier:
o Date nights
o Sudden emergencies
o Special events
o Scheduled childcare
o Household events

This program can also be used for non-kid related requests such as dog-walking, house-sitting, barter offers + much more!

At this point, Little Helper is completely separate from any social media sites. They want to ensure that people keep the feeling of trust and safety and that their requests are kept private. There is also the Give & Get aspect. If you build your network, share your relationships and offer to help others, you increase the likelihood of getting help when you need it!

Step 1: Build Your Essential Network

Step 2: Ask for Help

Step 3: Find Ways to Help Others

Little Helper is currently in its testing phase, so right now it is completely free! Go create an account, start adding your helpers, and breathe a little easier at the ease of asking for help.

I'm truly excited about using this tool with my friends around me!  Not only to get a hand when I need it, but so I can help out my sweet friends when they have a need as well. So often we don't even know that someone is in need of some help. I hope this system will give moms the freedom to ask when they need it, knowing that we can reciprocate to those around us as well!

Learn more about Little Helper:
Blog: http://littlehelper.co/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlehelperco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlehelperco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/littlehelperco


#alittlehelp

This post sponsored by Little Helper and The Motherhood. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse companies I don't love!

#HannaJams Retail Event

I was recently introduced to the Hanna Andersson brand and have fallen in love! Their clothing line is gorgeous and their pj's are just the cutest in the world! The quality is outstanding and has already held up beautifully through washings + play. My kiddos LOVE their Hanna Andersson pj's. 

Do you have the special Christmas tradition on new pj's on Christmas Eve? If so, you definitely want to check out all the adorable options they offer. 

Pittsburgh has recently been blessed with it's very own store at Ross Park Mall. This Saturday, November 14 from 10 AM – 12 PM all customers can receive 40% off ALL Sleepwear for baby, girl and boy at their local Hanna retail store. Includes poly and licensed (Disney, Star Wars…) sleepwear. Enjoy a  special holiday treat while you shop as well!

Although the adult items are only available online, if you can convince your hubby to join in the fun, they have some awesome family coordinating sets!

 My pick is currently on back order, but I can't wait to snuggle into these comfies!

Social Media Giveaway: 

Starting now until Jan 3,2016, Hanna Andersson is giving away a $100 gift card every week (one winner per week) to customers that share their #Hannajams moments by posting on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or upload here: http://www.hannaandersson.com/hannajams.aspx with #hannajams.

This post sponsored by Hanna Andersson. All opinions remain my own, I don't endorse products I don't love. :) 

Our bunk bed adventure

We recently made a kid's room overhaul that was lots of fun! It was time to move both sets of kids into bunk beds and thus, the Pinterest searching began. :) After researching prices, we decided we would try to build one set to get the quality we wanted and well as a fun and unique look. I found a beautiful set on Pinterest, but unfortunately, I couldn't get the plans downloaded! So I showed my hubby the picture and said "could you build these?" I love having a husband that isn't afraid to delve into a project like this! And so he started.......

The extra fun part for Mom was finding just the right bedding! I was so grateful when Land of Nod (love them!) kindly offered bedding sets for each of my kids. I wanted something that would fit each of their personalities, but not be too matchy-matchy. They had a lot of fun picking out their quilts and it was a happy mail day when they arrived! We found the Land of Nod quilts to be just the right thickness to work well for year round and they are comfy and durable as well!

We've got superheroes, balloons, Lately Lily, and a beloved orange. Beds later, camp out in the living room first. :) 

Our boys bunk beds were already in place and they settled right in as new roommates. I know this isn't the greatest picture quality, but it was such a sweet moment I walked in to and managed to catch. :) 

 Meanwhile....the girl's beds continued.....Andrew built the top one right on to the wall.

 After it was built, we went it to sand and stain. I don't highly suggest this progression, haha!

We decided to do a natural stain and tried using both tea leaves and a vinegar/steel wool concoction. The tea ended up being darker that what we wanted, so used the vinegar. A very easy and non-toxic stain! The wood ended up taking the stain a little differently, but we love the unique look it created.

Yay for completion!!

Ikea bookshelves and under the bed bins were great space savers!

My daughter had picked out an adorable Lately Lily quilt (currently on clearance!). This was our first discovery of Lately Lily and we found out she is such a fun character! Lily travels the world and shares her adventures which is such a fun way to teach your kids about happenings around the world. Find some fun gift ideas here. Thank you, Lately Lily, for sending my daughter this doll, book & tshirt, she loves them!

I wanted to be sure we had a local store that could be a part of our kids room makeovers as well and USA Baby to Teen was the perfect fit. Local kids store can be very difficult to keep in business as it's hard to compete with big box stores as well as sites such as Amazon. USA Baby to Teen (North Hills) has so many beautiful products for kids including beds, bunk beds, dressers, strollers, car seats, room decor and much more! Be sure to stop in next you're looking for baby/kids items. And their employees are wonderful - you can't beat customer service at a locally owned business!

This Fatboy beanbag is the perfect seat and lounger for my boys room. 

My girls love their sweet little rocker that is a perfect fit for their room!

With doing foster care, our kids had to be flexible in their room situations for a couple of years and we are grateful for their good spirits about it. But with our adoption recently being finalized, it was so fun to be able to have complete and permanent spaces for all four of our kiddos! Thank you to each company who was a part of it and all the fun products you provide to make special spaces for kids. :)

The #SnackMob truck

Have you heard that the Bolthouse Farms #SnackMob truck is here in Pittsburgh? They are traveling around our city handing out FREE snacks that your kids don't want to miss. For those of us who will soon be packing school lunches, they have great healthy options to add to packed lunches. You can find the Bolthouse Farms Kids™ line in the Produce Section at your local Giant Eagle and they contain no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors. Their new kids line include smoothies, veggie snackers, and squeezable fruit tubes. 

Last week was National Night Out where neighborhoods across the country plan events to encourage greater community awareness. My church was hosting a kickball game for kids in the neighborhood and we were thrilled when we heard the #SnackMob truck was able to come by during the event. The Snack Mob truck is a happy and friendly crew and we enjoyed hanging out with them for the evening. 

They passed out smoothies and carrot snack packs. I loved seeing so many people walking around with healthy foods in hand!

Lots of happy customers! We had 125+ guests which included neighbors, church members, police officers and other officials. 

It was pretty cool to have the Bomb Squad + S.W.A.T. truck stop by as well!

The Snack Mob truck will be at a lot of venues over the next few weeks. A few to highlight are:

Sunday evenings through August: Citiparks Cinema in the Park Movie Nights (dusk)

August 15: "Kindergarten … here I come!” at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh ​ (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.)​​

August 30: First Responders Day at Kennywood Park(10:30 a.m.) ​

​

September 19: Junior Great Race at Point State Park (8 a.m.) 

You can find the complete schedule for the Bolthouse Farms #SnackMob truck here. 

------->>>> Head here to print a coupon for $1 off any Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product!

But that's not all....YOU could have the #SnackMob truck to come to your party! 

Here are details to enter the #SnackMob #Contest:​

• WIN a visit from the Snack Mob by tweeting @BolthouseFarms for a chance to get the #SnackMob truck to deliver Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product for free at your next party! ​
• Be sure to use the hashtags #Snackmob and #Contest in your tweet, and include the date and type of event (e.g., soccer tournament, block party, etc.) in your entry. Contest ends Sept. 10, 2015 at 11:59pm. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Maximum of 100 people per event.​

Follow Bolthouse Farms Kids™ :

http://www.bolthouse.com/

http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bolthousefarms

https://twitter.com/bolthousefarms

https://instagram.com/bolthousefarms/

This post is brought to you by Bolthouse Farms Kids™ and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Get your labels + save 20%!

So your kids never lose stuff, right? (Said no mom ever.) As my kids progress into school years I shudder to think how many gloves, hats, and who knows what I else I will be replacing over and over! So I try to be as proactive as I can with labels. I have worked with Label Daddy several times over the past few years and I'll tell you, I love these labels! We have used them on water bottles, sweatshirts, baseball gloves + much more. They stick on through washing machines, dishwashers, kid wear & tear and hold up extremely well. So just in time for school, you can save 20% Label Daddy labels! 

Label Daddy is the number one solution for labeling your belongings! Remember to label all clothing, sports equipment, electronics, and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports leagues, day care, vacation, and other places. Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others. These labels are great for adults too! -- Put them on your sunglass/eyeglass case, phone, camera, sports equipment, tablet, e-reader, hats, clothing, and more.

These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant. Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos, including Disney and Marvel characters, MLB, NBA, and NHL team logos, other sport and fun logos, and more. Their exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp. These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.

So go here to grab your 20% savings on your entire Label Daddy order - this is the best discount available anywhere! Use code USFAMILY20 at checkout. 

This post sponsored by U.S.Family and Label Daddy. All opinions remain my own, I don't endorse products I don't love. :) 

Healthy Snacks for Kids #SnackMob

I don't know about you, but once that summer sun hits, we can't wait to be outside as much as possible! But wow, my kids are hungry nonstop. :) I am always looking for good options of healthy snacks to take on the go. With 4 kids, we go through a lot of snacks! We were all excited to receive a box of goodies from Bolthouse Farms Kids™ so we could try their new line of kid-friendly snacks. I think the overall vote was thumbs up all around!

Bolthouse Farms Kids™ is a refrigerated line of real fruit and veggie snacks for kids. They have smoothies, fruit tubes, and carrot packs. This mom loved the carrot pack! It comes with a delicious seasoning packet that gives the carrots an extra yummy kick.  If you have ever trouble making yourself eat veggies, this is an awesome option for moms as well. :) The fruit tubes are a great option for kids that might have a dairy allergy and wish they could have yogurt tubes. And my kids loved that there was a joke on every tube!

You can find the Bolthouse Farms Kids™ line in the Produce Section at your local Giant Eagle.​

• Contains no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors.​
• Perfect snack solution to get kids to eat more fruits and veggies.  

Smoothies are packaged in an individual serving "kid-size” bottle for on-the-go occasions in two fun flavors:  Strawberry Meets Banana, Peach Meets Mango​

• They’re packed with 1 ½ servings of fruit per 6-oz bottle and contain no dairy.​
• Smoothies contain no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors.​
• With 80-90 calories per bottle, these smoothies are full of flavor and easy to pack in any lunch box.​

Veggie Snackers: Skip the chips and grab some fresh veggies with these fun-ized baby carrot snacks. Two varieties available:  Carrot Meets Ranch, Carrot Meets Chili Lime​

• The individual sized bags unleash tremendous flavor with all-natural seasoning and just a pinch of salt.​
• These baby carrots pack a punch of crunch at just 25 calories per pack. Go ahead and shake your way to snack time fun!​

Fruit Tubes are squeezable, slim tubes of real fruit puree blends featuring three fun flavors: Mango Meets Banana & Pineapple, Strawberry Meets Banana, and Blueberry Meets Raspberry.​

• The fruit tubes can be served chilled or frozen.​
• At just 30-40 calories, and no added sugar or preservatives, these tubes are a delicious snack for your little one.​

So here is the cool thing! Bolthouse Farms Kids™ has chosen to send one of their #snackmob food trucks to Pittsburgh for 6 weeks. Everyone in Pittsburgh will have the opportunity to find them at an event and try their new snack line for free! With school right around the corner (sad face!), many of us are beginning to search out options for healthy foods for our kid's school lunches. The Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Snack Mob trucks are helping kids go back to school in a healthy way as these snacks are perfect for on-the-go lunches. Throughout six weeks in August and early September, the Snack Mob team will be stopping by select Giant Eagle stores and many community events throughout the region – sharing FREE samples of Bolthouse Farms Kids™ products with kids and parents alike.  Kids will be sampling Strawberry Meets Banana Smoothie and Carrot Meets Ranch Veggie Snackers​. You can also always find them in the produce section at your local Giant Eagle.​ Follow along with us as we welcome Bolthouse Farms Kids™ to the neighborhood!  ​

Here are some of the upcoming events to find a #snackmob truck.You can find the full list of events here: http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com.

Sunday evenings throughout August: Citiparks Cinema in the Park Movie Nights (dusk)​

August 2: Snack Mob kickoff event at Settlers Ridge Market District (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)​

August 4: Three Rivers Grace Church Neighborhood Kickball Game. My church is hosting a neighborhood kickball game for National Night Out and the #snackmob truck will be stopping by. Bring your kids to play kickball and try some healthy snacks! Then head down a few blocks and catch the free evening movie at the West End Overlook. See more details and RSVP here. 

​

August 15: "Kindergarten … here I come!” at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh ​ (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.)​​

August 30: First Responders Day at Kennywood Park(10:30 a.m.) ​

​

September 19: Junior Great Race at Point State Park (8 a.m.) 

But hey, how would you like the #SnackMob truck to come to your party?! 

Enter the #SnackMob #Contest:​

• Have the Snack Mob truck crash your next party!​
• WIN a visit from the Snack Mob by tweeting @BolthouseFarms for a chance to get the #SnackMob truck to deliver Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product for free at your next party! ​
• Be sure to use the hashtags #Snackmob and #Contest in your tweet, and include the date and type of event (e.g., soccer tournament, block party, etc.) in your entry. Contest ends Sept. 10, 2015 at 11:59pm. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Maximum of 100 people per event.​

Follow Bolthouse Farms Kids™ :

http://www.bolthouse.com/

http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bolthousefarms

https://twitter.com/bolthousefarms

https://instagram.com/bolthousefarms/

This post is brought to you by Bolthouse Farms Kids™ and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.