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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Come On Over!

Be sure to stop by Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique today to check out the new bath & body line from Ellia C. Naturals.


There are some awesome finds for Mamas-To-Be, new Mamas, Babies, and the rest of the family. Plus, we'll be adding some fabulous Holiday Gift Baskets very soon!


Let Ellia C. Naturals help you start making your list for this Holiday Season!

Whoo Hoo, More Sleep For You!


This Sunday, November 1st, is Daylight Savings. At 2 a.m. time will leap backward and give us all an extra hour of sleep (or whatever else you find yourself in need of an hour to do!). Enjoy the rest...Monday it's back to the grind!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Staying Heathy This Winter

Well, it's done. Everyone that is able to receive the regular flu vaccine has. Little Micah Moo is exempt due to an egg allergy (for those who are not currently aware, the vaccine is cultured using egg protein, therefore, those with egg allergies should not partake), but I must say that all others involved were incredibly brave (including Daddy!) and did great :)

The question comes up every year about whether or not to vaccinate for the flu. Given that it is not used for long-term disease prevention, must be repeated annually, and does not prevent against all strains of flu because of the incredible ability of the disease to mutate, the list of cons is impressive. However, with 4 little ones, 2 of whom are in kindergarten and preschool respectively (and likely to pick up everything under the sun!), it's something that, when combined with good nutrition and loads of hand washing, works for us.

The H1N1 vaccine (commonly known as the swine flu vaccine) is not yet available from our pediatrician and we have not decided about whether we will seek it out when it does become available. Many people have fears about it related to problems that were experienced over 30 years ago, when a similar vaccine was linked (rightly so or not) to an increased incidence of Guillain Barre Syndrome, in which the body damages its own nerve cells, causing weakness and sometimes paralysis. Some studies found no link at all, others claimed that one person in every million might be at risk.

The difference between the vaccine produced in the 70's and the one today is that the H1N1 vaccine today is produced and tested in the same manner as the regular flu vaccine. Ironically enough, had the H1N1 strain of flu emerged only months earlier, it would have been included as one of the components in the regular flu vaccine for this year and would not have been administered as a separate dose.

According to some sources, Swine Flu has emerged in 190 countries, has infected millions, and has resulted in nearly 4000 known deaths. Whether you choose to immunize or not, it is important to educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of this particular strain of flu and the typical treatment options. Above all else, as with any cold and flu season, proper hand washing should be top priority in every household. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should:

Always wash your hands before:
  • Preparing food
  • Eating
  • Treating wounds or giving medicine
  • Touching a sick or injured person
  • Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

  • Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
  • Using the toilet
  • Changing a diaper
  • Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
  • Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
  • Treating wounds
  • Touching a sick or injured person
  • Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

Of course, it's also important to wash your hands whenever they look dirty.

How To Wash Your Hands:

It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Follow these simple steps:

  • Wet your hands with running water.
  • Apply liquid, bar or powder soap.
  • Lather well.
  • Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
  • Rinse well.
  • Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.
  • If possible, use your towel to turn off the faucet.

Keep in mind that antibacterial soap is no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soap may even lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product's antimicrobial agents — making it harder to kill these germs in the future.

The Mayo Clinic also provides guidelines for using alcohol-based hand sanitizer as follows:

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require water — are an excellent alternative to soap and water. If you choose to use a commercially prepared hand sanitizer, make sure the product contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Then follow these simple steps:

  • Apply enough of the product to the palm of your hand to wet your hands completely.
  • Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces, for up to 25 seconds or until they're dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are another option, although they're not as effective as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Hand washing, whether with soap or hand sanitizer, doesn't take much time or effort, but can go a long way in helping to prevent illness. Adopting this habit withing your own family can play a huge role in keeping your loved ones healthy this winter season (and always!).

Thank you to The Mayo Clinic for some great information regarding proper hand washing!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Soap is on the Brain!

Just received a new order of supplies...time to break out the soap molds! Looking forward to a productive weekend :)

My Oh My, I Won A Prize!


Having a husband with severe seasonal allergies and a son with numerous food and environmental allergies, I find myself constantly on the lookout for products that make housekeeping easier. The better job I can do of minimizing allergens within the home, the more enjoyable life is for them.

Last month, I was blessed to be one of the winners in the Aller-Ease Ultimate Flip For Fall Giveaway. My Flip for Fall tips included the following:
1. steam clean all carpets and upholstery at every season change
2. use allergen barrier mattress covers/protectors on all mattresses
3. vacuum carpets regularly using a HEPA certified bagless vacuum
4. use HEPA air filters in areas of high traffic or rooms of those affected by environmental allergens (we have one in my son's room, the playroom, and our main living space)

Thank you to Aller-Ease for a fabulous prize, including two pillow protectors, two pillows, and a mattress protector! Stop by today to see their full line of allergen filtration products.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Happy 4th Birthday, Sweet Face!

Isn't this the sweetest face you've ever seen! My little guy turned 4 years old yesterday (can it be true?). We were so busy celebrating that I'm just now getting a chance to give him his shout out :)

I love you, Caleb! You are such a blessing to us...full of joy, playful, funny, adventurous, and incredibly loving. I am so proud to have you as a son!

Photo courtesy of Craig Craver Photography

Monday, October 19, 2009

Babble Blossom {Review}

Babble Blossom is an adorable children's boutique
specializing in quality handcrafted felt fashions for your little one's hair. Founded in 2008 by Kimberly Beltran, each hairclip is carfully hand-stiched for quality and durability. The snap-style clips are covered by soft pieces of felt, providing a comfortable fit for children of all ages. The functional design means that these stylish clips will look great and stay in place even on babies with very little hair!
I recently had the privilege of trying "Lucy the LadyBug" with my little sweetie. I must say that I was incredibly impressed with the quality of stitching on this hair clip. No worries here about small pieces coming loose and posing a hazard for little Miss Ellie Bean (though, as always, please consider any item with small parts a choking hazard for children under 3 yrs. and monitor while in use). I particularly like the fact that the felt itself creates a "slip-proof" grip for her hair, rather than having a separate grip adhered to the clip (no risk of having it come loose or detached!). The colors are vibrant and versatile enough to fit in well with Ellia's wardrobe and seemed to captivate her during "mirror play"!
Babble Blossom has a wide variety of adorable designs from which to choose. They have Big Blossoms and Bitty Blossoms (similar in design to that shown above), as well as their Butterfly, Barn, and Bites collections.

Stop by today to pick up something sweet for your little one!

All photos provided courtesy of Babble Blossom

Friday, October 16, 2009

Should I Put Hubby on the Payroll?

Since taking a step back from healthcare management 2 years ago to become a SAHM/WAHM, I've often imagined how difficult it must be for my husband to accept the loss of an extremely lucrative income and watch me blindly fumble my way through establishing my own business (in a totally unrelated area I might add!). I know he realizes the benefits of having me home with our 4 munchkins, but there are definitely those days when the extra income would be more than "just nice" to have around.

Fast forward to today...as a special treat, he was able to pull away from work to swing home for a quick lunch. When he arrived, he off-handedly asked how many different soaps I had fully cured and ready for sale. He then proceeded to ask if he could take a sample of each to work...apparently at some point in the morning the subject of my boutique came up with one of his employees and he showed her and a few others my site. About 30 min. later he called me with an "order" for some more soap and gave me a deadline (how cute is that?). All in all, he managed to sell 12 bars and a lip balm in the space of an hour or so! Beside feeling incredibly grateful for his support of me and my products, I'm now thinking of putting my Sweetie on the payroll...what do you think?

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Masala Baby {Review}

Masala Baby is a fabulous new company steeped in the traditions of India with a modern, spirited, urban flair. With vibrant, earthy colors and an eclectic mix of textures, these pieces are incredibly stylish, yet durable enough for active little ones.

I recently had the distinct privilege of reviewing the Peacock Tunic from Masala Baby's Free Spirit Collection. The beautiful embroidery is an ode to the dancing Indian peacock and is truly exquisite. This elegant design sits proudly atop a sumptuous soft cotton voile fabric.

This is an incredibly soft, light-weight tunic with wearability that transcends the seasons. It washes well in cold water on the gentle cycle and should be hung to dry to preserve the integrity of the design. Designed to fit munchkins 6 months to 4 years, my little sweetie is just big enough to start sporting this adorable piece. The tunic style is free-flowing, which is great for an active baby on the cusp of learning to crawl! Ellie-Bean was captivated by the vibrant colors of the embroidery and got plenty of practice with her pincer grasp as she tried to pluck the threads for a closer look. Never fear, though, this piece is well-constructed and she never did succeed in her quest!

Masala Baby also carries some fabulous fundamental pieces like this Moti-Dog Applique Onesie. Stop by today and get your spice on! Masala Baby has a little something for every palate.
Photos provided by Masala Baby.


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

Check out the latest edition from Ellia C. Naturals...Limited Edition Autumn Harvest.

Made with raw organic pumpkin and coconut milk, this is one decadent body treat!

Get yours HERE.

Looking for Inspiration?

Then you must stop over and visit "Living with Lindsay". This DIY Diva is absolutely amazing! I stumbled on her site late last night in the midst of a bloggy fog. Here is just a small sampling of her work...

Pottery Barn Style on a Budget


The Once "Toxic" Coffee Table

I am soooo happy to have found Lindsay's blog. Her ideas are simple and practical enough for the beginning to intermediate DIY-er (something I used to pride myself in, but lost the drive for in the midst of growing our brood!). With this new inspiration, I may just have to get myself back in the saddle!

Original photos compliments of Living with Lindsay and Pottery Barn. Compilations provided by Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Where Has the Time Gone?

Munchkin #2 will be turning 4 on the 20th and today we brought home his birthday present...a bona fide Big Boy Bike! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we were bringing home a bike for our eldest and now we're pecking right on down the line. I know they can't stay young forever, and 4 is by no means "old", but it's all happening a bit too fast for Mommy. For all the chaos having 4 young children brings, I'm in no hurry to see them grow up and into a period of relative calm. They change so much each day and are so engaging...I'm just not ready to face the fact that one day, they won't want to tell me every little detail of their days and may, in fact, request that I (heaven forbid) give them space! Oh the horror!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Baby's Bliss Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Chaotic Kristy!
Your comment "I would like to try Baby's Bliss Gripe Water...this could be a fav product" was selected as the winner in the Baby's Bliss Nipple Cream for Mommies Giveaway :)

Friday, October 9, 2009

Attention All Mamas-To-Be...

Whether this is your first pregancy or you are a seasoned veteran...whether you are planning to nurse or use formula...you may soon find yourself in need of a little Baby's Bliss Nipple Cream for Mommies. Though the most common culprit of sore nipples for mamas is the sucking of a precious newborn, hormonal changes in the non-nursing mama can take their toll too.
For one more day only, you have your chance to win a full size pump of Baby's Bliss wonderful Nipple Cream for Mommies. Check it out HERE!

All About the Wild Pumpkin!

A coffee connoisseur I am not. My palette is not skilled in the art of differentiating the nuances of a dark vs. a light roast or honed for the appreciation of a full-bodied whole bean. I do, however, love me some fru-fru coffee delights (sorry to those of you who take your coffee more seriously)...the more whipped cream and chocolaty, carmely (?) goodness the better!

That's why I'm all about the new Wild Pumpkin goody over at Caribou Coffee. Can you say Yum-O? They've taken their signature White Chocolate Mocha (which I also adore BTW) and infused it with the delicious essence of pumpkin for a terrific fall treat! And never fear, it also comes in Decaf for us nursing Mamas :) Ahhhhh, I think I may just have to indulge myself in one of these yummy nummies tonight!

Photo compliments of www.cariboucoffee.com

UPDATE: Mmmmmmmm, can you guess what sweet delight I'm sipping on right now? :)

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Lookin' Good, Beibi!

Da, da, da, da...And the winner of the Beibi Shoes giveaway by Wee Squeaks is Rook No. 17 with her comment "Blogged about your giveaway at: http://rookno17.blogspot.com. Happy Sunday Sharefest SITSta!"
CONGRATULATIONS, SITS-ta!
True Random Number Generator Result: 6

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Going, Going...

Tomorrow is the last day to enter to win your choice of shoes by Beibi.
Enter HERE...Don't delay!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Happy Haven Celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What could be more beautiful than these handcrafted pendants you ask? The cause for which they were created! October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Happy Haven is raising awareness in a big way by holding a fabulous contest.
Becky, the creative mastermind behind these lovely pendants, is giving you your chance to win a randomly selected Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Pendant AND 4 other pendants of your choosing with ball chains! Even better, every entry is a winner because just for entering you receive a Pink Ribbon Pendant! Every week in October there is a new winner, so stop by Happy Haven now to learn more about this contest and view all of Becky's stunning creations.
Photo courtesy of Happy Haven

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Look Who Who Made A French Connection...

Congratulations Deanna!
Your comment "The Sweet Milk and Honey sounds divine" was selected as the winner in the Ellia C. Naturals French Connection Giveaway.

(True Random Number Generator Result: 11)

Friday, October 2, 2009

Only One Day Left!

Tomorrow is the last day to enter for your chance to win a luxurious bar of French Connection cold processed soap by Ellia C. Naturals. Click HERE to enter. The lucky winner will also receive a sample of a new fabulous Ellia c. Naturals product (not yet available in stores!).

Thursday, October 1, 2009


Sending out a warm welcome to all of my new followers! I'm very excited to have you here and hope to see you back often :)


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