Unique Gifts for Mother's Day from the Husband - How EdenFantasys Can Boost a Marriage

Okay, so this is definitely a little out of the box, but why not think out of the box for your wife on Mother's Day and get her something from EdenFantasys.com? Bring that flame back this Mother's Day, somewhere between running around after (and with) the kids, tending to the everyday demands of life, and trying to balance the needs of a marriage amidst all of the chaos.

 

Add Something to the Marriage on Mother's Day

And, as a woman (and mother) who has been married for 15 years now, I'm well aware that it takes time and effort to keep a marriage strong and healthy. That's why on Mother's Day, husbands should do a little something special for their wives...and add some sugar and spice to the marriage at the same time. Forget the thoughtless acts of going to the nearest convenience store or supermarket to find the best bunch of flowers at the best price and a generic Mother's Day card to accompany them.

No! Your wife deserves more thought than that! The mother of your children??? Come on!

Now, I understand that there are women who expect flowers and chocolates on Mother's Day....and some unique gifts from the children that were made during art class at school.

There are the mothers who want to kick back and be catered to (that's me!) on Mother's Day.

AND, there are also women who are...let's just say "sensitive" about their sensuality, so this is obviously not the perfect answer for every wife on Mother's Day. However, I would place a bet that there's something in their store that she would love! Lotions and candles with yummy scents...

Then, there are the women who would knock their husband out for doing some online shopping at a store like EdenFantasys. To those women: take it from me, you're missing out! (Honey, you can shop there for me anytime!)

For the Rest of the Women...

But I also know that there are plenty of women out there who would be excited to receive a gift from EdenFantasys. (Don't let the fact that she hides the excitement from you deter you.) And, I'm not saying that you have to go and buy the craziest, far-out product in their line-up - here's where "it's the thought that counts"...

I'm talking about a good, old-fashioned massage on Mother's Day after the kids go to bed (doesn't that sound nice, ladies?), complete with the help of this message therapy kit.

Massage Therapy Kit

What makes this one so special? You can give her a choice of five different natural essential oils infused with vitamin E (so good for the skin!):

• Serenity 
• Pleasure Garden 
• Sweet Almond 
• Healing Blend 
• Soaring Spirit

This set is only $27.99 - but don't just buy it and forget it! Make sure you give her that well-deserved massage the night of Mother's Day when the little tigers have settled into bed. That intimacy and obvious display of love is definitely a marriage booster on Mother's Day.

beeswax aromatherapy candle

Add a romantic touch with one - or a few - of the specialty beeswax aromatherapy candles, (which happen to be marked down from $13.99 to $6.00 right now) and you may just win a Husband of the Month award from your wife when the night is said and done...or a reward of some form or another...that part's up to you!



Good luck finding the perfect gift for that special lady on Mother's Day, but don't forget that quality time with her - and making her feel special - can also be just as important as the gift. 


Thank you, EdenFantasys, for the gift card code! All opinions expressed in this post are not influenced by the gift card. I have worked with EdenFantasys for a couple of years now and love their products!

Kidz Bop 21 and Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits (Review and Giveaway!)

There are many things to be said about music and children.

With seven children in the house, there is usually someone playing music somewhere in the house. One thing is for sure in our house...the children, including our sweet four (almost five) year old and our two year old son were even jammin' out to the songs on the Kidz Bop CD's.

I almost collapsed laughing when I realized that the two little guys knew all of the words to some of the songs...apparently learned while listening to music with their older siblings. Because Kidz Bop, if you live under a rock and have never heard of these CD's before, pick popular songs that the kids are listening to on the radio and then they have a group of kids sing the songs for the CD, rather than the original singers on the radio. It's popular pop songs meets children's karaoke, in a way.

We received Kidz Bop 21 a few weeks ago, and when my husband popped the CD in, all of the children started to dance around and sing to it. It's an immediate party in my living room! 

Kidz Bop 21  

Kidz Bop 21 is already available for purchase, and features the following songs:

• Party Rock Anthem
• Moves Like Jagger
• The Edge of Glory
• Good Life
• Without You
• Fly
• Hello
• Many More!

Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits

Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits will release on May 8th (yes, I already received my copy!). A usual, my children were ecstatic to get it in the mail and couldn't wait to pop it in and sing along to the following hits:

• Hey Soul Sister
• Single Ladies
• You Belong With
• DJ's Got Us Falling In Love
• You'll have to buy it - OR WIN IT - to find out more!

Now, my kids want to take the CD's in the van when we go places and "jam" to their "tunes" as we "cruise"...

GIVEAWAY!

And, now your kids can jam out to their tunes with Kidz Bop, because TWO lucky Mommy Rantings readers will win a fresh-off-the-press copy of the yet-to-be-released Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits, right here! Your kids are going to love it!

Two winners will be chosen randomly from the comment section below. Here's how to enter:

1) Like Mommy Rantings on Facebook. (mandatory entry)

You said you want more entries?

2) Leave a quick comment to tell us how your kids react to music. (one entry)
3) Subscribe to Mommy Rantings newsletter (top left hand corner of the site, under Pinterest button). (one entry)
4) Tweet this giveaway. (one entry)
5) Share this giveaway on Facebook (there's a handy share button at the top of this post). (two entries)
5) Blog about this giveaway (five entries)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.

Please be sure to post your email address in your comments so I can contact you if you win!

This giveaway will end on April 30th at midnight EST. Good Luck!

We were provided Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits and Kidz Bop 21 CD's to review, as well as the CD's for giveaway. No compensation was provided for this review.

Evenflo's Big Kid Amp Review

It never ceases to amaze me how excited little people get when a box comes in the mail...and it's adorable to see the reactions when something for them is in the box! This time, it was Evenflo's Big Kid Amp. The bright red color and sleek appearance had my boys ready to give it a whirl immediately, right in the middle of the living room floor!

A sleek red one for any child!

I'm not going to bore you with the importance of keeping children in safety seats in vehicles, statistics on how many children are hurt each year from not being properly harnessed, or why older children still need to be in a booster seat while they're in the car...because you already know the answers! So, I'm going to skip right to the chase and tell you the reasons I love the Big Kid Amp.

Seat Comfort

The first thing I checked was how comfy the padding felt, because when you're riding around with kids in tow, if they're uncomfortable, you can forget about a smooth ride. There is plenty of soft cushion for your "big kid" on the seat of the Big Kid Amp and the padding is also removable for easy cleaning.

Cool blue for your boy!

Armrests

The armrests, although many are hard and not-so-comfy, are referred to as "Softtouch" arm rests, and are sturdy, yet foamy feeling for children who like to hang on while you're driving.


Cup Holders

One issue that has always been a problem with car seats is the cup holders - they usually aren't big enough for many of the sippy cups that we bring with us! I immediately noticed the elastic-y, flexible, grippy cup holders that can accommodate any size sippy cup. I love that!

A hot pink one for your girl!

Installation

Installation is fairly simple. The Big Kid Amp comes equipped with the tandem belt and clip, and the seat is supposed to be used with a regular car seat belt.

Who Can Use It?

The Big Kid Amp is made for children who are 40-110lbs and up to 57 inches.

Where Can You Find A Big Kid Amp?

You're going to find varying prices for the Big Kid Amp, depending on where you look and which color you like, but I was able to find it at Sears for only $24.99. Keep looking around - you may find a great deal on this sleek, sassy and super-comfy child safety seat for your "big kid".

Evenflo's Big Kid Amp gets a 5 stars from Mommy Rantings for comfort and safety.



I received a product for the purpose of this review. There was no monetary compensation for this post.

Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks Review and My Blog Spark Giveaway!

Not all fruit snacks are created equal. I say this because there are some that are really soft and chewy, but have little to no taste, while others can be hard and difficult to chew, but they taste delicious! Then, there are the ones with fruity juices in them - my kids LOVE the juicy ones! But, wait! There's one that has the flavor of the juicy fruit snacks without the juice.

We had the opportunity to try out Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks. The kids said that they tasted just like the fruit snacks with the juice in the middle - they loved them! As a matter of fact, we were sent 6 boxes of the Berries and Cherries and I don't think they lasted two days in this house! (I even caught my husband sneaking them by the box!) They also have the "assorted fruit" flavor.

The Healthy Part

You can put Ocean Spray's fruit snacks on the "healthy snack" list, because they'll give your children their daily dose of Vitamin C and they're made with real fruit juice. Aha! And, kids don't know that the fruit snacks are good for them!

GIVEAWAY!

Did you say you wanted to try them for yourself? Here's your chance!

Ocean Spray and My Blog Spark have offered to giveaway Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks to one lucky Mommy Rantings reader! Here's what you need to do:

1) Leave a comment - What do you look for in a fruit snack? (Don't forget your email!)


Want extra entries? (Remember to leave a comment for each entry!)

1) Like Ocean Spray on Facebook.
2) Follow Ocean Spray on Twitter.
3) Like Mommy Rantings on Facebook.
4) Follow Mommy Rantings on Twitter.

This giveaway will end at 4pm EST sharp on March 7th! Good Luck!

This review and giveaway was sponsored by Ocean Spray and My Blog Spark. Thank you! No compensation was received and all opinions are truthful.

Attention Kitchen Gadget Lovers! Recipe Rock Review

Are you tired of getting ingredients all over the cards and papers with your favorite recipes on them? Who woulda thunk it? A "rock" and a magnet = the Recipe Rock by Architec. Well, it's not exactly a rock. Let me show you what I'm talking about:

Now, would you think that this kitchen gadget would actually keep your recipes nice and clean and wrinkle-free? I wouldn't, but the curve in the "rock" and the exact placement of the magnet holds even a full-sized piece of paper that you would print a recipe on from your computer like this:

The Recipe Rock holds upright even flimsy magazine pages with it's special contours.  

And it holds papers and recipe cards up at an angle that is perfect to reference while you're cooking. So, let's put it to the test...how many papers will this little Recipe Rock handle at one time? Let's say you're cooking up a dinner for the entire family for a holiday...you should be able to stick up to 8 pages between the magnets before the Recipe Rock gives out.

Need to move to another area of the kitchen? Grab the Recipe Rock from the back and it easily becomes portable.

Cooking with the Kids

Yes, cooking with the kids is lots of fun, but they make messes, spill ingredients...and how many times have you had to quickly wipe of your recipes with a paper towel, wishing there was a better way? Enjoy cooking and baking time with the kids without having to worry about that, because the Recipe Rock protects your papers by holding them above the counter.

I think the Recipe Rock is a simple, yet practical an ingenious little must-have for the kitchen!

Unique Gift Idea!

You can also purchase a Recipe Rock for a friend, for any occasion. For those hard-to-buy-for people, this may be the out-of-the-box idea that you've been searching for. While it's great in the kitchen, the Recipe Rock can also be used in the office, holding papers right in plain sight on a desk, on the television, with important notes for the children, or on the mantle, to display a child's award from school. The ideas are endless...

You can find the Recipe Rock on Amazon in light blue or green for $9.99 or gray for $13.99.



I received a Recipe Rock for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Start to Finish, A Children's FUN & Educational DVD: My Children's Reactions (Review)

Sesame Street meets the Muppets, meets Sid the Science Kid, meets Dora the Explorer, meets Baby Einstein =

Start to Finish, a children's educational DVD that has earned the Mommy Rantings two-thumbs up!

Meet Whoops and Bubbs:

They are the two loveable puppets in Start to Finish. They're goofy, clumsy and silly, and they immediately grabbed my children's attention! As a matter of fact, I made the mistake of popping the DVD into my laptop's DVD player as soon as we received it...and lost the use of my precious laptop for a whole, entire (almost) hour.  

It was an enlightening journey with Whoops and Bubbs, though!

Let's Learn About Milk!

They walked us through the process of making milk, from (can you guess?) Start to Finish, including questions to get your kids thinking like, "What does a cow say?" (Moooo!)

They show the cows in the milking parlor and how they stand in line, waiting their turn to get milked. It's adorable how Whoops and Bubbs pop up in the middle of the video clip with their little questions and quips. Real terms are used, like, "pasteurized", and facts about what cows eat and how their eyes, ears and tails are used.

And, of course, when you're talking with children about how milk is made, you have to end it with the all-time favorite, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" song, right?

Apples to Applesauce

Then, they explained the process of making applesauce, from start to finish. In the middle of the applesauce explanation, which included real-life video that showed a step-by-step walk-through that reminded me of an old Sesame Street clip (but in high-def quality that Sesame Street didn't have when we were kids), one of the puppets was counting apples and lining up the yellow, red, yellow....which one comes next?

Patterns! Colors!

Whoops and Bubbs also had a little conversation that included manners. Bubbs reminds Whoops that "It's not polite to grab" the apples. And, they continued with a verbatim using their "Please" and "Thank You's". 

Pizza In the Making

Okay, so at this point, I went to make lunch for the little guys, while they sat glued to my laptop. Later in the day, my little two-year-old Kodi-Bear let me know what I missed. He brought the DVD cover to me, excited to tell me that, "He's makes pizza!" He didn't miss a beat!

Of course, what child doesn't LOVE pizza, so it's the perfect food to include! And, it's so fun to make. Once or twice a month, I buy the ingredients to make pizza - the kids love to make their own pizza, with dough and sauce and cheese!

I did go back and watch the pizza segment, and was so very impressed to see that another important early learning concept was incorporated: shapes!

And, of course, the toppings were discussed with descriptions of how mushrooms and pepperonis feel and taste.

A Firefighter's Day!

Now, if there's one part that my boys loved, it was the firetrucks! I can say, with 100% surety that even if the rest of the DVD didn't grab their attention, the firetrucks would have pulled them in.

How does the ladder move? The lovely narrator's voice talks about the buttons that make the ladder work. Then, what does a firefighter wear? Boots, coat...etc. What are they putting on their faces? How does the water hose work? How do they handle a fire?

Then, it talks about how firefighters eat and exercise to stay healthy (like we all should). And, of course, the firefighters are shown sliding down the pole.

Why I Love It

The real-life, Sesame Street-like videos in each individual segment that show children how things progress from start to finish are broken up with little clips of Whoops and Bubbs talking about the subject, to keep children interested. The Sid the Science Kid aspect, that turns adult-like concepts into educational videos on a little one's level is one of my favorite aspects. Then, there's the Dora the Explorer shapes and colors, question and answer type of verbatim that gets children involved. (Kodi-Bear was quick to shout out answers!)

The DVD includes colorful scenes and moves quickly to keep the attention of children, too. I'm a mom who has leaned on DVD's for babies and children since my first child was born over 12 years ago, and I have to say that I'm ecstatic that Start to Finish is now part of our DVD collection. It far surpassed any expectations I had for it!

Here's another thing: most DVD's that are made for children are usually 15-30 minutes long. Start to Finish is double the length, which means more time for mom to get some extra stuff done around the house while her child is learning!

No stone was left unturned in this DVD! Colors, patterns, children's songs, good manners, topics that have a process (from start to finish) with concepts that children can relate to, cute puppets that have real (and loveable) personalities, real-life videos that show the machines that are used and how they work, shapes, and it's narrated throughout with the perfect female voice - sweet and chipper at the same time.

Appropriate Ages

On a final note, I want you to know that although my two-year old seemed to enjoy the DVD the most (and would probably watch it twenty-seven times a day, if time permitted), it also kept the attention of my four-month old for about 15-20 minutes (step aside, Baby Einstein!) and my four year old loved it, too.

And, believe it or not, during the second time playing the Start to Finish DVD, all four of my older children, who are 12, 11 and 9, also sat down to watch it, out of curiosity! Yes, the DVD is targeted toward children aged 3-6, but it's so unbelievably interesting, it caught the attention of all of my children.


I assure you that this is a DVD that is a must-have for your collection!

I was provided a review copy of the DVD, but the pleasure was all mine!

Strengthening the What?!?! Kegel Muscle Strengthening Exercises

I'm going to give you three guesses to figure out exactly what this is used for:

Learn more about Intimina

Have you figured it out yet?

It's a Kegel Exerciser.

Say what?

You know...a piece of "exercising equipment" with the main objective of strengthening the Kegel (pelvic floor) muscles.

Learn more about Intimina

Surprise Review Product

When I was offered the opportunity to work with Intimina, I had no idea what to really expect for a product. While looking into the company, I first noticed that they had a very pretty website, all pink and white. Upon further delving, I realized that they also have a ton of great wellness content on their site for us women, focusing on healthy bodies and healthy minds.

The product, the Laselle Kegel Exerciser, however was pretty intimidating to me. Just the idea of "wearing" it while running around with the kids or doing chores, for example, was something I wasn't sure that I could do. (Get this: that pink ball has a weighted ball inside that moves around and, supposedly "vibrates" while you're walking...or dancing...or whatever.) With that said, however, who doesn't want tighter, stronger Kegel muscles? Especially after having children!

Find out more about Intimina Laselle Kegel Exercisers

I'm going to let you figure out the whole how-you-use-it routine for yourself.  Just go to the product page link above.

Theoretically, I can say that Intimina should work for you. Just think about it: muscles that are being squeezed against resistance will eventually build up. If you squeeze a ball in your hand all day long, every day, your finger and wrist strength will increase and even your arm muscles will be tighter than the other hand and arm. So, the concept is basically iron-clad.

Discover more about Intimina Laselle Kegel Exercisers

More benefits that Intimina reminds us about exercising our Kegel muscles?

• Prevent and treat continence problems
• Build muscles used in childbirth for easier delivery
• Help speed recovery after labor
• Increase sensation during intimate activities for both you and your partner
• Ease the symptoms of menopause

See the little white pouch in the picture? That's an adorable added plus for discretion. Products are available at CVS.

This is a sponsored post. Still, as you can see, I have stated my own opinions.

Teething Bling! Mom Jewelry and Baby Teether All in One!

The concept is ingenious! You take the fact that our little teethers are constantly trying to yank on our jewelry - with the main goal, just like any other object that they get their chubby little hands on, of somehow getting it into their mouths. Collide the two ideas and you get Teething Bling by Smart Mom Jewelry.

This is the one I have!

Now, I loooooooooooove jewelry. Lia Sophia, Park Lane, Napier, Monet...I have collected an assortment of bracelets (yes, including bangles), necklaces, anklets, rings, earrings, you name it. (Many were steals on eBay and finds at yard sales, lucky me!) So, when you add another element to jewelry, like keeping a baby content and soothed (especially a teething baby, oh, the joys!), you hit the jackpot with me! Now, I've added Teething Bling to my favorite list of jewelry, too.

The pendant on the necklace that I received feels just like a soft, chewy baby toy, but to the eye, it looks like it could be ceramic and it's super-sparkly-glimmery-shimmery. After looking through their product pages, I can tell you that they couldn't have selected a more perfect choice for me!

Here are a few more necklaces that I really like:

Zebra pendant (under Patterned Pendants)

And, don't forget your favorite tween who helps with the baby:

Jungle Green Tween Bling Heart Shaped (under Tween Bling)

And, did you say that you needed a matching bangle bracelet?

Jade bangle

Is It Safe?

Now, I know the question that immediately popped into your mind...Is Teething Bling jewelry actually safe for babies to have in their mouths? And, my immediate response is: Do you think I would back a product that isn't safe for our precious little munchkins? Of course not!

Here's the scoop: According to Smart Mom Jewelry, the pendants and bracelets are made of "medical-grade, food safe silicone", which is the same material used for the baby spoons and teething toys that we already purchase for our babies.

Here's more information, straight from the horse's mouth:


"Teething Bling^® contains no harmful chemicals: no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex.  Our products are CPSIA compliant, carry the European CE mark for safety and are FDA approved.  Pendants also come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature. We remind users to never put a pendant ON a baby, and never leave your child unattended with jewelry of any kind."

And the cord? Obviously, you won't be leaving your child unattended with your necklace, because it's supposed to be conveniently worn around your neck, but just so you know, the nylon cord that they use has been safety tested, as well.

We haven't hit the teething stage here yet with Chase (thank goodness!), but he is starting to figure out how to grasp things and does that crossing-the-eyes thing while he tries to get them to his mouth. He has taste-tested the Teething Bling already, and I can tell that it's going to be a lifesaver in the very near future!

A product was provided for the purpose of this review. Thanks, Smart Mom Jewelry! You rock!

Gourmet Gift Basket Review & Military Donation Opp! Spread the Cheer This Season!

It is always an extreme pleasure working with GourmetGiftBaskets.com! This year, for the holidays, I'm featuring an exciting gift basket! It's GourmetGiftBaskets.com's Christmas Gift Basket Classic.

My first thought when I saw it was, "Ooooh! A beautiful basket to add to my collection!" Because, yes, I am a Basket Queen! Forget what's inside! I have baskets on my mantle, baskets on my television, baskets on my dresser, baskets in my kitchen. Count 'em...I have no idea how many baskets I have around the house! So, the basket itself is a quality basket, and it's one of the bigger ones that I currently have now.

Inside the basket...you're going to find the perfect combination for anyone who loves Christmas!

Let's start with the almighty Chocolate Covered Cherries, the Dark Chocolate Bar, Dipping Pretzels, Cheese Biscuits, Almond Pecan-dy Crunch, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and much more! This is definitely one of those Christmas baskets that anyone will enjoy.

It's a perfect centerpiece for Christmas dinner or a present for someone who's difficult to buy for. Additionally, at only $59.99, it's priced at a steal, considering all of the gourmet stuff that it has inside of the packaging! We're going to save it for Christmas day...that's if the children let me get away with it!

Attention Bloggers: Military Donations for Christmas!

There are still, unfortunately, many military members oversees this upcoming holiday. Gourmetgiftbaskets.com is presenting the opportunity to bloggers to help spread the holiday cheer this year. All you have to do is:

1) Choose one of the Christmas gift baskets from here.

2) The topic of your post should discuss the Christmas gift selection that Gourmetgiftbaskets.com offers.

3) Write up a review of the gift basket of your choice from the link above and explain how you think it would be a great gift choice. Be sure to include the proper links in your post. For each blog post that is written about their Christmas Gifts selection, they will donate two care packages to military personnel.


4) Schedule the post for publishing between November 21st and December 14th and leave me a comment with the URL and I will pass the URL's onto the Gourmetgiftbaskets.com rep. Please be sure to post and leave me a message by Dec 14th to ensure the delivery of the gift baskets is on time for the soldiers to receive by Christmas!

It costs you nothing to donate something this year! Just a little time to write a blog post and you can pat yourself on the back for doing your good deed for Christmas! So, spread the word to other bloggers and start blogging! Just don't forget to leave a comment with the URL to ensure that the baskets make it to the soldiers!



Thanks, Gourmetgiftbaskets.com for the opportunity to review yet another one of your spectacular baskets this Christmas! I was provided a gift basket to review, no compensation was paid for this post. All opinions are mine.

Writing Books for Fun, Fame and Fortune! (The Review)

Out of the blue one day, I received a phone call. The caller asked, "Is this the QueenMom?"

I was a bit taken aback at the moment, as, yes, I am the QueenMom, however that is a name that I hear in emails and essentially on the Internet, but on the phone, I have rarely been referred to as "QueenMom". He immediately peaked my curiosity. As the conversation moved on, I really started digging what the guy on the other end of the line was telling me...

It happened to be Rik Feeney who called me. Rik Feeney, the author of Gymnastics: A Guide For Parents and Athletes and Back Handsprings: The Secret Techniques, to name a couple of his publications.

We talked about a whole slew of topics...and it led to his book, Writing Books for Fun, Fame and Fortune! Of course, as a freelance writer and blogger, this book intrigued me. Aren't we all trying to find a way to make more money?

Get a sneak peak at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Books-Fun-Fame-Fortune/dp/1935683152

I found not only our phone conversation enlightening, but also the book. As a matter of fact, it inspired me to start two e-books that I hope will come to fruition in the near future.

On the back of the book, the questions are posed: "What expertise do you have in business? What are your hobbies? What unique life experiences have you had that others can learn from? What are you passionate about in life? 

If you have knowledge that could relieve someone else's pain, provide a solution for a problem, or show someone else how to get ahead, then you are ready to write a book."

On the phone, we discussed how the idea behind a simple blog post could turn into a book. Every thought, every idea could be expanded upon and lead into a complete, instructional, informative book! Ever thought of that? And, now with ebooks, Amazon and the Kindle, there are ample ways to get your book out there to sell, too.

Mr. Feeney has packed this 142 page quick-read chock-full of tips and advice for anyone who is interested in writing their own book, from the initial thought to the publishing aspect, in an easy to read format that's actually quite enjoyable.His quick and witty way of writing makes it enjoyable and enlightening all the way through!

By the time our phone conversation had ended...and, let me tell you, we talked for a while and it was a sheer pleasure!...Rik had given me several ideas to think about...and actually had me thinking that I could accomplish what I never thought was possible. Oh, yes, I know that I can write a book. I have the ideas in my mind and the information to share, but I just didn't think that I could bring it to fruition.

Do I have the gumption to complete a book? Well, I guess we'll see! And, when it's finished...hopefully, you'll buy it! With Rik's step-by-step guide to writing a book, basically anyone can do it.

You can purchase Rik's book at Amazon for $14.95. The Kindle edition is $9.99.


I was provided a review copy of the book. No compensation was received - all opinions are mine.

BabyBonkie: For Swaddle-Challenged Mothers

Are you swaddle-challenged?

There's a reason that nurses swaddle little newborns in the hospital. It is based on solid facts from centuries of swaddling babies and decades of studies.

I'm a firm believer that hospitals should hold little mini-seminars for moms - even the ones who have had ten kids - on how to swaddle. Seriously, after my sixth child, I still didn't have it right! So, on my seventh child, I decided to get it right...

And, in the door walks babybonkie! It's the perfect solution for swaddle-challenged moms...or is it?

I'll admit...it's a no-brainer. Now, if you bring a peanut home like the one I did, at 4 pounds and 15 ounces, you won't be able to use it right away. They recommend wrapping babies that are 7-14 pounds only for safety reasons, however I bet it will work for babies a little bigger, because they like to keep their legs all curled up. :)

Why Swaddle?

Swaddling has been proven to reduce colic, help soothe fussy babies, and much more. You know those days when your baby is crying and crying and crying...and you've tried to feed them, rock them, put them in the swing, walk them around, give them the pacifier, okay, you've tried everything! Have you tried swaddling?

It may just be the key to a happy baby. Remember, they've come from this really warm, compact, quiet place where they were squished in super snuggled and tight - to the point where you felt them stretch and feet or knees would poke out of your belly. They had no stretching room for nine months! That's what they are used to...and that's what they like, even after they're born. So, swaddle them.

The babybonkie makes it simple...tuck in the feet, tuck arms down, velcro it shut on both sides. Done. Simple as 1,2,3.

My Opinion

It came packaged in plastic to keep it nice and clean and had a very informative tag attached to it with all kinds of useful information, including Safety Warnings, which I think is great. The options for material and texture are awesome! The patterns and colors are super-duper adorable. They have choices for boys, girls and gender neutral. They even have eco-friendly babybonkies! Then, they have the bonkiebag. Hey, I need one of those, too!

And, here's where I put in my two cents. I love the idea of swaddling. I love the idea of making it so simple for swaddle-challenged moms to swaddle their babies. And, I absolutely LOVE the cuddle softness of the babybonkie! This is the one I received:

The outside is so very soft and fluffy feeling. You almost don't want to put your little one down when he's snuggled inside this bundle...you want to keep rubbing your face on the babybonkie. :)

The Con

The only downside that I can tell you about is the velcro (you know I'm going to talk about my honest opinion here on Mommy Rantings!)...the velcro tabs that are used to secure the baby in are hard and large. I don't know what else to say, but you really have to take care in tucking your little one in. Other than that, though...I do very much love our babybonkie...and little Chase does, too. He's definitely a swaddle buddy...and babybonkie helps make it quick and easy to swaddle him up when he's fussy.

This is yet another item I'm going to add to my Must Have Gift List for Your Baby Shower Registry!


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Thanks to babybonkie for sponsoring this review. All opinions are mine, no compensation was paid.

Miracle Blanket Review: Does It Really Create Miracles?

You know I had to try out this "miracle" the moment I saw it. First of all, for those who are mothers already, swaddling is just not as easy as those nurses in the hospital make it look, is it?

You get home with this new little person and look at the blanket like, "Now, how did they do that wrap-around thing again?" I was saying that again with my seventh child, because, somehow, I just hadn't mastered it by my sixth child. Hmmmm...what next?

So, you look around to find the perfect product that promises to help you swaddle the baby...

And then you hear about the Miracle Blanket....

And just the fact that they used the word miracle peaks your interest. But, they go beyond that with their promises.

Here's what they promise (by the way, this is a GREAT video!):






Here's My Opinion:

I received the Miracle Blanket shortly after Chase was born at a mere 4 pounds, 15 ounces due to the early extraction. At that size, he LOVED to be swaddled. As a matter of fact, the tighter I wrapped him, the better he slept...

Here's what happened the first night I swaddled him in the Miracle Blanket: HE SNORED! The littlest guy that I've ever seen in my entire life SNORED like a grown man swaddled up all nice and tight! It was the funniest thing I've ever seen! So, what does that tell you? LOL

Yes, he's loved his Miracle Blanket...but there is one thing that I will point out about it that is a con...because you know that I tell my honest opinion, all the time, every time. The only thing that I did not like about the Miracle Blanket is that it doesn't always stay wrapped up tight, especially when it's wrapped around a wiggly newborn. Sooner, or later, if they wiggle in their sleep a lot, they will wiggle the top part off...or have it up around the neck. Yes, I have a wiggly worm sleeper, and yes, many a-times, he had wiggled it all up around his neck.

You would think that these little tiny people wouldn't want their arms strapped down to their sides, but the first time I wrapped him up, directly after I moved his arms to his sides and gently wrapped him tight, he just looked at me. No crying, just quiet.


Miracle Blanket states (besides the fact that they guarantee their blankets stop colic): 

• Helps Fussy Babies Sleep Great!
• Helps Ease Fussiness For ANY Baby!
• Aids In Preventing Facial Scratches!
• 100% High Quality Cotton

• Helps Babies Sleep Better On Their Backs!
• Helps Stop Twitches That Wake Your Baby!
• Makes Breast Feeding Easier!
• One Size Fits All Up to Four Months

I'm going to have to kick my two cents in here and say that they have created a miracle. Despite the only "con" that I could come up with about the blanket, it really does work! I'm adding it to Must Have Gift List for Your Baby Shower Registry!

I noticed something on the Miracle Blanket's website that really bothered me...By the way, those of you imitators who are trying to reconstruct the Miracle Blanket...please, do not put your child - or anyone else's precious new little one - in harm's way to create an ineffective - or potentially harmful - blanket just to save some money. They have spent years working on the pattern for this blanket...just go buy it. It's not worth a child's life - or any potential consequences - to try to make your own. Thanks!

I was provided a sample for this review. All opinions are completely mine and not swayed by compensation.

AllyZabba Blanket Review: Perfection on Both Sides!

As part of the Mommy Rantings Baby Shower, I received a sample AllyZabba mini-blanket. Forget about the fact that they are adorable and come in the cutest of cute prints, forget about the quick shipping...and forget about the fact that they are hand-made completely without imperfections...

This is the one that I chose to review, only instead of the coral color, it was what they call "kiwi", a nice soft green color, like this (sorry about the small pic, just wanted to show the color):

Yeah, forget about the pretty colors and the adorable prints...

What I loved the most was the texture of the fabrics and reasoning behind why these blankets were made with two different fabrics - the reason that they are different than all of the other baby blankets on the market - their signature difference. Right on their website, AllyZabba explains precisely why they chose to use the silk on one side of the blankies: silk feels similar to that silky smooth, juicy soft, slick, slippery inside of the womb. The other side is just as nice, with a plush, soft and fluffy layer...it makes you want to just keep rubbing it and touching it...and rubbing it against your face...

I can't tell you which side of the blanket that little man likes the best, because he just snuggles up against it, no matter which way it is put on him. As I mentioned, I only received a mini-blanket, which (I didn't measure it, but just guessing here) is about 12" by 15", so I can just imagine how dreamy a normal-sized blanket would be!

Yes, I would highly recommend an AllyZabba blanket as a special gift for a special baby! And, for those of you who know the perfect person (or baby) to buy one of these plush and silky blankies for, AllyZabba is offering Mommy Rantings readers an exclusive 15% off of their AllyZabba order. Just use the code rant15 at checkout.



I received a sample blanket for this review. No compensation was paid. All opinions are mine.

Designer Hospital Gowns - Labor & Delivery In Style: dearjohnnies Review

It was two weeks before my due date when I received the email from dearjohnnies about working together on a review of their designer hospital gowns...but little did I know that I would be wearing it within hours of getting it in the mail!

If you read the birth story of my seventh child, you will realize that it all came as a surprise. Well, the baby didn't come as a surprise...we knew he was coming! But, his timing was a huge surprise! As I frantically packed my hospital bag a little less than two weeks before the due date, I realized that my dearjohnnies designer hospital gown had yet to arrive in the mail...I was extremely upset...and terribly worried that the representative from the company would be upset, too!

The hospital provided me with what I jokingly referred to as "my sexy off-the-shoulder gown", as only one button out of five on the top of the sleeve worked. Grrr! But, to be quite honest with you, I'm glad that I didn't have my brand new dearjohnnies hospital gown, because childbirth can get unbelievably messy - and I would hate to mess up the pretty gown!

So, did my designer hospital gown come in time?

It just so happened that my dearjohnnies hospital gown arrived in the mail on Saturday - the same day that I gave birth to our precious new addition, Chase. My husband had brought it with him when he came to be with me at the hospital for the delivery (how very thoughtful of him, huh? Not only was he gracefully handling the six children that we already have, cooking, cleaning and everything else that comes along with our household, but he remembered to bring me the package that arrived just in time!)

At first, I had no idea what it was, as it came in a nifty matching bag, in the same fabric as the gown. To my surprise, my gown HAD arrived!

So, after the delivery of our 4 lb 15 ounce, baby Chase, I was able to get out of that wretched "sexy off-the-shoulder" hospital-issued gown and slip into my new dearjohnnies, chic and stylish gown that had all of the buttons that it was supposed to have, as well as buttons down the back, which is so much better than four simple strings that tie on the hospital-issued gown.

The nurses admired the gown, asking where I got it and noting the unique design on the fabric. Some of the nurses had never seen a designer gown before...others had, but regardless, my gown by dearjohnnies caught their attention!

Here I am with newborn baby Chase, only hours after delivery. I had enough time to change into my dearjohnnie gown and move into a new room. (Excuse the lack of face in the pics...I'd prefer to keep the after-delivery "look" private)

You can see that the dearjohnnies hospital gown is a lot more  aesthetically pleasing than the hospital-issued gowns. It is also a lot more comfortable - and the buttons down the back cover the parts that you don't want everyone seeing when you are walking around after giving birth.

You can also purchase a matching robe to compliment and wear over your gown.


Labor and Delivery Like A Celeb!

J.Lo packed up four sets of dearjohnnies when she went to the hospital to deliver.

Bethenny Frankel adorned the Lucy version when she was in labor.

And, you can see even more celebrities who have enjoyed dearjohnnies while in labor here.

So, if you want to feel like a celebrity - and bring a bit of couture to the delivery room, make sure you get yourself a dearjohnnies hospital gown. Also, if you know someone who is expecting, this would be the perfect gift for the mom-to-be! What better way than to make her feel special? Give her the gift of modesty, fashion and comfort all in one!


I was sent a lovely dearjohnnies gown for this review. No compensation was received. All opinions, as usual, are my own and uninfluenced.

The Ultimate, Yet Practical Baby Shower Gift: Diapercakes!

I can't imagine a more practical, yet whimsical and delightful gift for the expecting mom! If you are looking for new baby gifts, you'll want to be the person who brings one of these adorable diaper cakes.

The birth story of my seventh child is one that I have already told over and over again...and I'm sure that it will be told many more times in the future...

I was expecting two more weeks to prepare before the little guy was born, but as we all know, things in life don't always go as they are planned. Especially when it comes to babies and due dates! What are the chances that you will deliver your baby on the due date? Very miniscule.

I was working avidly on the Mommy Rantings Baby Shower campaign and was excited to get the chance to work with Diapercakewalk.com! It just so happens that the diaper cake made it to my house JUST.IN.TIME for the surprise arrival of our newest addition. I was induced on Friday, delivered Chase on Saturday and when my husband brought the other children to come visit me at the hospital on Sunday, in he walked with the diaper cake pictured above. It was a wonderful surprise.

The nurses at the hospital ooooh'd and aaaah'd at the diaper cake and when my husband was asked if he bought it for me, he sheepishly admitted that I review products for companies...and, no, he didn't buy it for me. But, the fact that he thought enough to bring it to the hospital was sweet, right? Well, I thought it was! "It's the thought that counts..."

Why Should You Buy a Diaper Cake?

I'm all about "practical"...and diapers are probably one of the most practical items that you can get for a new mom. In addition to the 70-75 size 1 diapers that are magically tiered, the diaper cake that I received had a pacifier, three baby wash cloths, small bottles of Johnson's baby bath wash, baby powder, baby lotion, baby shampoo, a small sample packet of Desitin diaper rash cream - I needed that on day one! - and a cute stuffed animal Gum Drop Puppy that rattles. This diaper cake can be purchased for $89 at Diapercakewalk.com. Choose from any of the unique and adorable baby boy diaper cakes. They also have a great selection of baby girl diaper cakes. And, if the person that you're buying the diaper cake for is one of the few who elects to keep the gender of the baby a secret, they also have gender-neutral diaper cakes, too!

I also know how excited I felt to receive the diaper cake in the hospital - and how much of a stir that it caused with the hospital staff. Now, that's something that makes a new mom feel special. :)


Make Your Own Diaper Cake

If you're looking to make your own diaper cake, here's how to make a diaper cake the EASY way!


Thank you to Diapercakewalk.com for making my delivery day special with a diaper cake! I received a diaper cake for the purpose of this review. As usual, all products that I review represent my own opinions.

Zarbee's All Natural Children's Cough Syrup: The Safe and Yummy Choice For Your Children

There are two things that I look for when it comes to medicine and my children: natural ingredients and yummy taste. Zarbee's hit the spot on both counts! With the FDA recalls of children's cough and cold medicines, it's nice to know that we, as parents, have companies like Zarbee's to turn to.

I'm not the type of mom who runs to the medicine cabinet every time there is a sniffle or a cough, but when the coughing or sniffling is keeping one of the kids (and I) up all night, it's time to open the medicine cabinet doors and dig through all the different products to find the right one for the symptoms and the age.

One size fits all....

One thing is for sure: I only have to stock that cabinet with one product for coughing from now on. Rather than keeping one for the younger children and one for the older children, I can depend on Zarbee's, because you can give children 12 months and up the same bottle.

It was my 8 year old who was coughing all night - to the point of driving me crazy!

How Does It Taste?

So, I pulled out the Zarbee's that I was sent to review and gave him a teaspoon of it. His first reaction was, "Mmmm! This is good!", which is truly abnormal for any cough medicine I have given my children. He said that along with the grape flavor, he could taste a hint of honey in it, too. And, he could, because Zarbee's Children's Cough Syrup is made with a proprietary blend of dark honeys (yes, we all should know that honey soothes a sore, dry throat that is caused by coughing and that honey is a natural antioxidant).

Normally, all of my kids would force down cough syrup, with a drink waiting for them to wash out the after taste. This time, believe it or not, he wanted more COUGH SYRUP!

Vitamin and Mineral Plus!

In addition, the daily recommended value of vitamin C is more than covered in 2 teaspoons of Zarbee's and 22-42% of the daily recommended value of Zinc is covered, too, depending on the age of your child. Two major pluses over the over-the-counter choices that we've had! 

Zarbee's Nighttime Cough & Sleep Drink

And, now Zarbee's has a new offering to bring to the table for our little ones! I know that when I have a cough and a cratchy throat, I like to have a nice, warm drink like tea to soothe it.

Yes, Zarbee's was innovative enough to come up with a "natural comfort drink", made with similar ingredients (and Vitamin C and Zinc) that the cough syrup has. You can give it to your children, ages 2 and up. They also threw in a bit of melatonin to help your child calmly fall back to sleep. What's not to love?


More Pluses...

Both products are gluten, dye & preservative-free, safe & natural (drug-free) and, of course, come in yummy flavors: cheery, grape or lemon.

There's no reason to keep anything else in the cabinet for coughs!

Buy It!

You can order Zarbee's online or in participating stores. The 4 oz is about $7-8.