97 Design, Inc.

97 Design Inc. has also joined up as a great sponsor for our Momtourage Spring Project challenge (find out what that is here!

I have known Deb & Ginger since college and they are 2 fantastically creative mamas who are also as sweet as can be!

 

97 Design Inc. is the coolest resource to find custom recycled lumber products, fashion statements, and beautiful handmade fabric accessories for your home. 

Known for their cool rope scarves!

They have some pretty great baby stuff too! 

 Although their Etsy shop is currently on a break right now, make it a favorite and stay tuned for more great products coming soon!

 

 For our contest, you'll be entered to win a $25 gift card, simply by sharing #momtouragespringchallenge! So stay tuned, it all starts Saturday, March 1st!

Pick Your Plum

 Another great sponsor for our Momtourage Spring Project challenge (find out what that is here!) is Pick Your Plum! Pick Your Plum posts daily deals - but let me tell you, this is not your typical 'deal' site. They have the best products!! I have gotten jewelry, skirts, kids legging, party supplies + more from them and I have never been disappointed at all! Their prices are amazing. 

Because their inventory is constantly changing, these pics show a sampling of their variety of products.

 

 

 

 Check out their current stock here, but be sure to enter our Momtourage Spring Project Challenge for the chance to win a box stuffed full of goodies from them ($50 value!!)

Lily Noelle Jewelry + code for 40% off!

 The Momtourage Spring Project challenge (find out what that is here!) has begun and I am thrilled that Heidi from Lily Noelle Jewelry has come on as one of our prize sponsors! You'll have a chance to win a $50 gift card to Lily Noelle!
BUT, you don't have to do any house projects to be a part of this deal - she has offered 40% off necklaces + bracelets to any Momtourage followers! (Excludes the Heidi Collection & Little Fashionistas)

What's that I hear? Mother's Day is just around the corner? Oh yes, start making your list and strategically place it in front of your hubby. :) Your mom & MIL might even enjoy some of these pretties! 

Lily Noelle is an original line of jewelry meticulously crafted from semi-precious stones, sterling, crystal and vintage items.  The process of each design begins with Heidi personally selecting each stone while venturing to shows and auctions worldwide, and ends with heart-felt customer service .

And here's the really cool part....

Making A Difference
In 2006 and 2007, Heidi traveled to the Dominican Republic to help a group of women learn the art of jewelry making.  As a result, an organization was formed to provide at-risk women with education, training, and the skill-set necessary to earn an alternate income with dignity.  A portion of each jewelry sale benefits these women in the Dominican Republic.  By choosing Lily Noelle, you are providing humanitarian aid beyond the pleasure it brings to decorate your favorite styles.

Here's a gift that keeps on coming....

Join the exclusive Lily Noelle Earring of the Month Club! Receive a pair of stylish earrings mailed directly to you each month. Purchase a 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year membership and enjoy a special gift each month. Go here for more info.

 

 The coupon code does not include the Heidi Collection, but you still might want to browse through...some really fun pieces!

 And because she is a mom of little girls, she certainly hasn't forgotten about them. Check out her Little Fashionistas line - perfect Easter basket stuffers!

So who's ready for some shopping? 

Use code pghmom for 40% off!

(valid for 40% off necklaces and bracelets, excluding the Heidi Collection and Little Fashionistas.)

Code is valid through March 31. Free shipping and returns on orders over $100.
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Follow Lily Noelle on facebook here. 

Important survey for Allegheny County residents

 The Allegheny Department of Human Services recently contacted me about sharing this survey with you. I am not being compensated in any way, but I have a particular reason for wanting to share this with you.

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We had a foster child who came to us at 23 months and could not communicate at a basic level. Did not speak any words and didn't understand simple commands such as "go get your shoes, sit in your chair", ect.... We later found out his mother had said she didn't believe in talking with children and that it was a waste of time. After a few short months with us, with no special therapy or help, he was speaking & understanding clearly for his age range. Only through what we consider normal family interactions. I almost cried one day when he said to me "Let's sit on my bed and read this book" - just amazing!

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The Allegheny Department of Human Services (DHS) is conducting research to gain an understanding of Allegheny County, Pa., parents and caregivers’ perspectives on talking to their babies and young children, and to see whether or not they have the information and materials they need to increase the time they spend doing this. Talking to babies or young children appears to stimulate a lasting curiosity, which leads to the motivation for lifelong learning. Research has found that the greater the number of words children hear from their parents or caregivers before they turn 3 years old, the higher their IQ will be and the better they will do in school.

 Through this survey, DHS hopes to generate insights into the most effective ways of motivating Allegheny County parents and caregivers of children from birth to age 5 to talk with their babies or young children.

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So please take a short minute and take this quick survey. Be honest. It will be a big help in advocating for kids all over our region!
 

St. Patrick's Day Cheer and Gear

Sponsored post by Fifth Avenue Place ~ bringing you all the info for holiday fun in Downtown Pittsburgh!  All opinions remain my own.
More info and the Fifth Avenue Place calendar can be found here.
Follow them on Twitter here.

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St. Patrick's Day can be a fun holiday for the whole family! Give your kids the giggles when you all dress in green for the day, serve green food (here are some fun ideas), and of course, head downtown for the big parade! (Oh, I'm hoping for a warm day!)  

 Are you wondering what you are going to wear and how you are going to accessorize this St. Patrick's Day?  Look no further than Fifth Avenue Place in Downtown Pittsburgh!

  Stop by Laurie's Hallmark for both men's and women's Life is Good t-shirts.  Accessorize with a comfortable pair of fuzzy green socks, beads, and a luck o' the Irish hat!

  

Coming in from out of town?  WelcomePittsburgh has this year’s Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2014 t-shirts!  Pick up yours today before they are sold out! 

St. Patrick's Day Family Fun at Fifth Avenue Place 

Saturday, March 15 ~ 11am - 2pm

This St. Patrick's Day, Fifth Avenue Place is your Downtown destination!  Following the St. Patrick's Day parade, bring the whole family to Fifth Avenue Place.  Show your Irish spirit with live music by Steven Vance, create "Shamrock Badges and Ice Paintings" with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, face painting with a cheery leprechaun, and bean bag toss!

All events are FREE and open to the public. All other info is here. 

For more information about the St. Patrick's Day Parade, visit their website.

We're ready for some green fun!

Parenting Expo Pittsburgh ticket giveaway

This content has been compensated as part of a promotion for the Pittsburgh Parenting Expo. However, all opinions remain my own. #parentingexpo

For the first time, the Parenting Expo is coming to Pittsburgh! This is a great family event that will be filled with lots of helpful information + fun activities for kids!

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  Monroeville Convention Center

Saturday, March 8th, 2014 / 10am - 6pm

Sunday, March 9th, 2014 / 10am - 5pm

Here's some of the great things happening at the Expo:

• Get expert advice / informative workshops

• Check out the latest products and services

• Save hundreds of dollars in coupons

• Stop in & win- hundreds of prizes + giveaways

• Free family fun events + activities

• Stroll through easy access (stroller friendly) aisles

There will be a variety of kids activities, including face painting, a puppet ventriloquist, jugglers, Radio Disney + more! 

Adult eTickets are $8/person when purchased online before March 5, 2014. At the door, tickets are $10/person. Children under 14 are FREE - no ticket required.

BUT if you want to be sure you get the best deal on tickets, a group of us local bloggers have a special code just for our readers (YOU!!)

Use promo code BLUEPITPM for getting  your tickets for only 7 bucks! Purchase tickets here. 

{ Be sure to click on this link when ordering on the ticket page > > Yes, I have a Blue Promotional Code! }

This code is only good through March 5th and then all tickets will be $10!

Admission includes: 

• Exhibits
• All events + activities
• All workshops + programs
• Eligibility for prizes + giveaways 

Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a local physician, blogger at Ask Dr. G. and official spokeperson of the Expo. 

Don't miss any upcoming info! Follow the Parenting Expo on Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest. 

GIVEAWAY:

And to be SURE you don't miss out on this great event & resource we have 10 tickets to giveaway! FIVE winners will each win 2 tickets. Bring your hubby or take a friend. But hey, at $7 you could do both!  You will receive your bar-coded tickets via email within 7 days of winner being announced.

Go here to enter -
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest closes for entries on Tuesday, February 25. Five winners have 24 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.  

Momtourage Moms Gettin' Fit & Healthy: Introduction

*Please note that I am not a medical professional, it is not my intention to offer any medical advice. This series is intended for encouragement to moms in this journey. These opinions remain my own and I encourage anyone to seek the advice of their physician if they are pursuing a serious weight loss plan. 

 After my household went from two to five kids overnight (we're foster parents) I found my lovely work-out routine (pushing my 2 kids in a double stroller) fly out the window. All 5 just wouldn't fit. :) So then came the challenge of trying to fit in workouts....when? When you're a mom with multiple young children, you really just battle tiredness a lot. So getting in workouts can be really challenging - good thing playing tag with your kiddos counts! (wink.) I have always been an athlete and involved in sports my whole life. I haven't battled weight gain in a huge way. But I also am used to feeling fit and certainly see extra lbs. easily creeping on as each decade goes by. I know that this is a big challenge for most moms to find ways to stay fit and healthy. So on the Pgh Momtourage facebook page recently, I asked if there were moms out there who have either a) been able to lose a lot of weight or b) would like some motivation in their quest to fit & healthy. I am chosing to focus this series on being fit + healthy and not strictly weight loss. We all know that a healthy weight looks different for everyone - it might be size 6, it might be size 12, it might be something else! I fully believe that being active & eating healthy go hand-in-hand, it's almost impossible to do one without the other. I had several moms who immediately responded either sharing the great accomplishments they've made in this area or asking for encouragement as they begin this journey. So over the next few months, I will be sharing the stories of several Pittsburgh moms. I hope we can all be a good cheering squad for them and offer lots of encouragement! We can all be inspired by each other. It takes a lot to share your story. To say I was this. Or I looked like this at my heaviest. I really applaud these women for putting their story out there and they hope it will be an encouragement to others in the journey. 

Let's give ideas for staying fit. Share recipes for healthy eating. And, as we anticipate our long-awaited Spring (it will come! it will come!), work together to be Momtourage Moms: Fit & Healthy. 

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Look for their stories coming soon. If you are interested in having your story featured, please email me at pghmoms@live.com.