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14 Ways to Have a Fresh and Festive Holiday

I absolutely love this time of year.  Everything about it is cozy and festive.  I love the snow, the stockings, the hustle and bustle of shoppers looking for th eperfect gift.  I love family get togethers and delicious dinners of mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and stuffing.

This year it will be especially important for me to embrace the Holiday cheer and make my home festive, because it will be my first Christmas away from my home and family.  This move we are in the middle of right now will take me clear across the country, and away from everyone I know.  I am planning on throwing myself into the Holidays to help lift my spirit and make my Daughter have a wonderful Christmas, even if we are far away.

TwitterMoms is asking for 14 ways to have a fresh and festive holiday season.  I thought it would be a great way to get some brainstorming done and get me excited about my favorite season!

Turn on the Christmas Music!  I am (slightly) embarassed to say that I lareday have been listening to Christmas music for the last couple of weeks!  We have a 24 hour radio station that plays all ofthe classic favorites and new releases.  It gets me festive and my Daughter is really enjoying the songs. It's great to bake to and wrap presents to!

Use Scented Candles I love walking into a home and smellingsomething wonderful!  There are great holiday scented candles that make you feel festive, like sugar cookies, cinnamon, or apple spice.

See Santa! We have gone to see Santa every year since my Daughter was born, and it is always so much fun. She always does really well, and only cried her first time seeing him :)  Malls are so fun to be in when the Holidays are here, the decorated trees and lights are so pretty to look at.

Involve your Kids in the Baking!  We like to make sugar cookies, because they are so easy to cut with cookie cutters.  Stockings, snowmen, trees, angels.....there are a ton of choices around the holidays. You can use sprinkles or frosting as decorations! Easy & yummy!

Make Homemade Gifts!  Not only is this an affordable way to give to your loved ones, it will give you something fun to do with your kids! Get them involved and make homemade fudge or decorating Christmas cards!

Decorate the Home I would love to be able to afford expensive decorations, but I have found that even my local dollar store has some great Christmas items that really spruce up the house.  A lot of items are great for Winter too, so you don't have to worry about taking them down right away after Christmas.

Set up a Nativity Set  Tonight we actually went out and bought my Daughter a Child friendly nativity set that she could play with. She is loving it and I now it will bing her so much joy to b ring out every year aroud Christmas! It's also a great time to teach a Child all about Jesus.

Bring out Family Recipes! My Grandma was famous for her baking, and so many of them taste like 'home' to me. This year I would love to get in the kitchen and try out some for myself to see if I can recreate the tastes and warmth of my Grandma's kitchen.

Make Tree Decorating an All Evening Event!  When we pull out our tree, I make sure to do it on a weekend so my Husband will be home.  We turn on the Christmas music, have some treats, and spend the evening decoartign and talking baout all of the ornaments. And maybe spend an hour or two untangling the lights, lol!  It's a great tradition to start and your kids will remember it forever.

Set Up Your Guest Room  If you are forunate enough to have a guest room, you can easily make it cozy and festive for your holiday guests. Add some decorative candles, a warm quilt, and some toss pillows to make it more inviting.

Use Scented Pinecones  Sometimes when I wlak ito a store, I instantly smell cinnamon.  And I always know exactly where it's coming from....the scented pinecones! These make pretty deocrationsfor a livingroom and will make your home smell amazing!  They are also very affordable and can be placed in a glass vase or bowl that you already have lying around the house.

Clear out the Clutter Trust me, you will feel better!  Clutter is an instant downer for me, and if my house is clean and clutter free, I am in such a better mood. If you are planning on having guests stay, you'll want to clean clutter from coat closets, the kitchen, and bathrooms for sure.


Let in the Fresh Air  Opening up the windows is also a great way to get your home smelling fresh, and everyone feeliong refreshed!  If it's very cold like it is here in Minnesota, you'll want to only crack a window, or everyone will freeze :)  I love cool crisp air!

Use Garland!  Decorate your banister  with garland, or use it along your frotn walkway along the walkway. Even a wreath on the front door is the perfect holiday decoration, that will greet your guests as soon as they arrive. That will be the first thing they see, and let them know you are ready for the Holidays!

All of these tips are going to make my new home feel much more cozy for me this Holiday season. I know it will help keep me festive and happy, and give me and my daughter something fun to do during the day.  For many more tips be sure to check out TwitterMoms!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Snuggle blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Cottonelle is not only a maker of a strong yet gentle toilet paper, but they've also created a new way to stay clean and fresh. Their Flushable Moist Wipes are designed to leave you with a fresher feeling than just toilet paper alone. 

Cottonelle knows that talking about toilet paper isn't always the most natural conversation piece, but their humorous approach has already inspired over half a million people to 'get fresh' snce their program launched in September!

Cottonelle launched GetFreshWithAFriend.Com to help get the topic out there and make bathroom products something easy and fun to talk about.  It features a special 'funny or die' video as well as great fresh reward offers that encourages people to try their products.

Thanks to Mom Central I was able to try a package of Cottonelle's Flushabel Moist Wipes for myself.  I normally use toilet paper alone, but I really liked the extra cleanliness that these wipes provided my family and I.  They are safe to flush just like your toilet paper, so no worries there.  There are a couple of different design choices for your tub of wipes so you can find one that matches your bathroom decor.  The tub is also designed with an easy pop up style to give you one sheet at a time.

For a limited time the packages also come with a convenent Cottonelle EasyReach hanger with Command brand strips from 3M for damage free hanging. I loved this feature because my bathroom doesn't have a lot of extra counter space, so this attachment allowed me to hang the tub of wipes right above my toilet paper, without taking up counter space. This feature made Flushable Moist Wipes even more convenient to use, which is a huge plus in my book!

For more info you can visit http://www.getfreshwithafriend.com/ 

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the Cottonelle brand and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Moving Day...CSN Stores Helps With Travel!

Tomorrow is the big day....moving day! Well, at least it's packing day :)  I am so fortunate that I don't have to worry about packing anything, we have movers coming that do all of that for us.  Which is perfect, because at 7 months pregnant the last thing I want to do is lift and pack boxes!  I'll be heading West about a week after our things get shipped, so I'll be staying with my Mom until our things get to our new house.  My job today is to get all of our belongings packed and ready to be put into a suitcase for our journey ahead!

We will surely be traveling more frequently now that we are moving away from family.  We'll want to come back as often as possible in the years ahead for visits.  For those upcoming trips, CSN Stores has us completely covered  with plenty of luggage options to choose from. 

I love this 4 Piece Luggage Set by Rockland.  The polka dot style is fashionable, and lets your luggage stand out in the baggage claim area!  They have some great sets that will be large enough for your whole family, and at a great price!

I am trying to keep it light so that I don't have too many checked bags...the carry ons are all for toddler entertainment.  My main goal is to keep my little one happy and meltdown free.....or at least keep the meltdowns to a minimum!  I'll include lots of snacks, books, a couple of toys, and the always fail proof DVD Player!

This would be an adorable option for my daughter's carry on. I love that it rolls so that it is easy to maneuver.  The design is so adorable and would make traveling that much more fun for her!

It seems like the most work is ahead of us in the next couple of weeks, but after that I will be able to relax and be in a larger home, with plenty of room for us all.  Just in time for the Holidays, and for the new baby!

So many families will be traveling all of the Country to spend the Holidays with their loved ones. If you are looking to buy luggage for the first time, or interested in updating your older pieces, check out CSN Stores for a great selection and great prices!

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Couple of Winners!

Crazy Dog T Shirt Winner

#11...Jingle!

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 Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover

#107...Beckee

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all winners have been emailed & have 48 hours to reply to claim their prize.

Nature Made Prenatal MultiVitamin With DHA! Plus A Great Giveaway!

When I first decided that I wanted to have a second baby, I knew the first step would be to start taking prenatal vitamins.  I always try to eat healthy, but taking a vitamin gives em the extra help in getting vitamins that my diet may miss.  Also when you are pregnant, your body must support not only you, but your growing baby.  

Nature Made, a trusted maker of vitamins and supplements, offers a prenatal Mulitvitamin with DHA in one single softgel.  This product provides the needed vitamins plus 200mg of DHA, an omega 3 Fatty Acid, which is passed directly from the mother to the baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding. 

Here is some more info on this product and the importance of DHA:

Product Information:

• Nature Made was the first OTC brand to launch a Prenatal Multivitamin with 200mg DHA in one single softgel so that expecting moms/nursing moms would only have to take 1 softgel per day.
• One softgel offers:
  
  • 200mg DHA
  • 800mg Folic Acid
  • Vitamins A,C,D and Zinc
  • Iron
  • B – Complex (Vitamins B6, B12)
  • EPA/DHA, Niacin
    

What is DHA?

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that plays an important role in brain development, especially during the critical period of fetal development and infancy. DHA is transferred directly from the mother to the fetus during brain and retina development or to the infants through breastfeeding.  Recommended DHA dose is 200-300 mg/day.

What is Folic Acid?

Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, orange juice, and enriched grains. Repeated studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms or more (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to conception and during early pregnancy may reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.

How do the the vitamins, iron, etc. play a part in my overall health?

Vitamins A, C, D & Zinc –  Support Immune System Health

Iron – Supports Blood Cell Production

B – Complex (Vitamins B6, B12) – Supports Energy Metabolism

EPA/DHA, Niacin – Support Heart and Circulatory Health




I have been taking Prenatal Vitamins for months now, and will continue to do so even after I give birth, to help while I breastfeed.  Many prenatal vitamins do not include DHA, so it is great to see that Nature Made makes a product that provides this great nutrient to expecting Moms and breastfeeding moms. 

The prenatal vitamin I was taking prior to trying Nature Made was very large and hard to swallow.  Especially with my morning sickness I had the first few months! The last thing you want to do when you are nauseous is swallow a huge pill, and some brands even have you take 2 pills a day.  The Softgel made this an easy pill to swallow, and I take one pill at night with no ill effects on my tummy.

To learn more you can visit www.naturemade.com for complete product information

 

One reader is going to win a great prize pack!

• 9 Month Supply of Nature Made Prenatal MultiVitamins with DHA
• 'Just For Baby' Food Processor
• 2 Packs of Cloth Diapers

 

Please leave a comment telling me a kind of food you would put into your food processor!

EXTRA ENTRIES:  Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe to my blog by Email
3. Follow Ladybug Soup on twitter
4.  tweet about this giveaway - and leave your link!
5. 'Like' Ladybug Soup on facebook

Giveaway will end on Sunday November 14th at 10pm CST.  Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be emailed and announced on this blog.  Winner has 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central on behalf of Nature Made and received the products necessary to facilitate my review and giveaway.”

Life Changes

Big changes are coming to my life...even more than I had originally planned on.

Of course, we will be having another baby - I'm in my 3rd trimester already! 

But the unplanned change is a biggie too.

My husband is being relocated for work, and we are moving across the country.  Soon.

Very soon.

So needless to say the last month or so has been extremely hectic around here. There are so many things that go along with this.  Finding movers, packing, finding a place to live, getting rid of things that won't be coming with us....

And trying to squeeze in as much family time as possible, before we leave.

Oh, and then you have the problem of finding a new hospital to deliver at & a clinic to go to.  

All while I am dealing with a busy 3 year old and a growing belly.

So that's why I haven't been posting as much lately.  I won't have a holiday gift guide this year either, because they are a lot of work, and with the move it just won't work out.  But I'll still be doing regular reviews and giveaways, just nothing huge like everyone else is doing.  And I'm okay with that....Once we get settled, I'll find a comfortable place again and be back at it all.

If anyone has any advice on moving, relocating, etc I'd love to hear it!  I honestly think the hardest part will be living so far from my Family.   And also figuring out what to do with my 3 year old when I go into labor. I can't get any of my family out until I have the baby, and I literally will know zero people in this new state. That's probably my biggest concern right now.

Bringing Home a New Baby - My 10 Tips (That I really need to get started on!)

Bringing home baby.  In a couple of months, I will be bringing home my new little baby, and let's just say I am not quite as prepared this time around!  I think it has to do with having a very busy 3 year old to take care of now, whereas before it was just me and a lot of free time to plan.

When Twitter Moms asked for 10 tips for new moms that are bringing home babies, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share my thoughts and make sure that I actually started getting ready to bring home MY new baby.  I've got about 2 months left, which is going to fly by, especially with the Holiday hustle and bustle.  So here are my tips for new moms...and actually not so new Moms that are just a little busy and may have forgotten about this stuff  :)

The most important thing is keeping your new baby healthy.  Young babies don't have a strong immune system yet, and are more at risk of complications from things that may seem common or harmless to everyone else, like a cough or fever.

With that said, my first tip would be...

1. Wash your hands frequently, and be diligent that all of your visitors wash their hands before touching or holding the baby.  This is an easy way to prevent spreading germs to your baby.  I found that if you make it 'the rule' no one can get offended when you tell them they need to do it. 
2. Don't let sick people be around your baby.  I know sometimes if a Parent or Sibling is sick, it is harder to prevent.  But if your cousin is still getting over a cold, tell them you'd like to hold off on a visit until they are completely better. It's okay to be the cautious, over protective parent right now.
3. Wash all of your babies clothes NOW. Don't wait until they are home, laundry will be the last thing you'll want to worry about.  New clothes should be washed, but if you are like me and have hand me downs form a previous baby, you'll want to sort and wash those too.  This is a big one on my to do list.
4. Go through hand me down baby toys and disinfect them now.  You'll wan to make sure there aren't any lingering germs on them for oyur new little one.
5. Keep disinfecting wipes in the house so that you can clean easily and get rid of germs quickly.  You can use them on all of those plastic toys, counter tops, door handles, faucets, etc. I find that if something is convenient, I am much more likely to do it.  So I keep these in my house at all times.
6. Have lots of food options available in the house, like meals that you have prepared & then frozen.  One thing there was never time for after a new baby? Cooking!  Or eating a warm meal....with 2 hands. I noticed that I was always eating one handed, so you may want to have convenient foods on hand that will keep you full.
7. Prepare your nursery now, while you have time. When that baby gets home, you'll be so busy with their needs that you won't have time to worry about anything else.  Work now to get your nursery set up so that it is a calm, clean, serene place that you will enjoy with your baby.  Let's face it, the only one who enjoys the room at first is you, baby won't notice.  Have a nice comfortable glider chair (with an ottoman, it helps!) set up for rocking the baby.  Maybe a CD player for lullabies, a nice night light that makes you both feel cozy. It will do wonders for your mood!
8. If people offer to help, let them!  Tell your Mother in Law to bring by some groceries.  Let your sister come over to clean up the house.  If you have a second child, let them stay at Grandma's overnight.  They'll have a blast, and it'll be a little break for you and give you some baby bonding time too.
9. Don't be Afraid to say NO!  Your 3rd cousin wants to visit, after work, on a weeknight?  Don't feel bad saying no.  This is not the time to be worried about letting everyone you've ever met meet your new baby.  When you first get home from the hospital, you'll be exhausted.  the last thing you'll want to do is entertain guests.  Tell them you'll email them some pics soon, that should hold them off awhile :)
10. If you are Breastfeeding - remember this is a great health benefit for Baby.  Even if you yourself are sick, the baby will already be getting your antibodies before oyu even get your symptoms.  Those antibodies help to protect baby and keep him/her healthy.  My daughter never caught any of my illnesses while we nursed, and I credit breastfeeding for that.

There are so many more tips that would be helpful, I could literally go on and on.  The most important thing is to enjoy your baby, and trust your motherly instincts.  If something doesn't feel right, it's okay to call the Dr...even in the middle of the night.  and if you worry that you'll have no idea what to do, trust me that you'll do fine.  Every moms was once in your shoes, just starting out for the first time, not sure what to expect.  Just take it one day at a time, and if you need help...ask for it.  And remember it goes by fast.  My daughter is now 3 1/2 and it feels like just yesterday I brought her home from the hospital, exhausted and overjoyed.  Cherish these days!


“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Lysol® Wee Wisdom blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”