Giveaway! Dial Coconut Water Hydrating Body Wash Review

A few months ago I reviewed another dial body wash.  I liked it so when I got the chance to review a different variety I was excited.

This time I was sent Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango body wash.  I guess coconut water must be a new thing because this is not the first time I've seen it.  

As soon as I opened the box up, took the body wash out and removed the tape (so it wouldn't leak in transit) I flipped the top to smell it.  I'm not one who is sensitive to smells, but I have my preferences.  Tropical smells are some of my favorite (I'm sure I've mentioned this before).  So this moisturizing body wash was sure to be a hit already.  And I loved it.

I've been using it for about a week and I'm sure this bottle will last me a long time (I actually have some left from the other bottle).  The scent is nice in that it's strong, but not overpowering.  And I could still smell it on my skin after I was done showering and had gotten dressed again and I like that.

Maybe you don't think of of a body wash when you think of dial but you should.  This is a body wash for the whole family (although I bet a child will use waaay more than needed so watch them!)

You can enter to win a coupon to try it for yourself! 
Enter using the form below.

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Pampers Points to Grow

I've signed up for several reward programs from companies because I feel like why not? It's free and I can get free stuff for it as well. Pampers is one of those companies. I haven't accumulated enough to redeem, but I often am able to get free codes for 10 points here or there, and add that to the points from diapers and wipes that we have for Eleanor and I'm sure that sometimes soon I will be able to.

Click here to sign up 

The Eleanor Update: 42 weeks

Sleeping:

Rob and I went to a race Saturday and so Eleanor didn't go to bed to well (my mom was babysitting).  She was asleep when we got home at 10:30 and then was up for an hour from 5:30-6:30 and was back to sleep until almost 10 am.  It was crazy!

Of course that meant she slept poorly the rest of the day and went to bed late but you win some lose some. 

So Rob thought she was sleeping that long because she didn't have the snuza on.  It makes sense because she's a belly sleeper and it's probably not the most comfortable thing to be laying on.  I wasn't sure if it was that or just being wore out from playing with my parents and my niece and being up later so I tried again last night.  She slept 8-9 hours.

I've known it's probably time to be done with it (although we did just replace the batteries) for a little while.  She constantly wiggles it loose and the alarm goes off.  When she was younger I could just reach under her and fix it but now she stirs around a lot more and I can't do it without messing her up. 

Feeding:

She had soft serve ice cream (and regular ice cream-oops), chicken fried rice (she really liked this), jambalaya (which was pretty spicy), yellow squash (she didn't mind this, but it was bland), pickle, & ranch Doritos (that was Rob';s doing and he only gave her one chip in little pieces).

Because we were gone and we went a while without nursing I pumped on Saturday when we got home.  I got 9 oz (both sides) in less than 30 minutes and probably could have gone longer and gotten more out. 

Misc:

She can now say "hi dada" and she can wave correctly.  She could do it before but now she actually knows what it means and does it at the appropriate times. 

I don't have very many pictures from this week.  My phone is constantly running out of memory and I just didn't take very many. 

Free Magazine-American Baby

Has anyone ever gotten this magazine?  It's free so I'm going to sign up for it, but is it going to be something that I will actually read?

Click the image below for your own free subscription.

#Spellbinders Celebra'tions Review

The Spellbinders brand provided me with a sample of Spellbinders Celebra'tions Collection for review however all opinions are my own .

Last year I started to make my own cards.  I wanted to save money and I had all the supplies (paper, punches etc...).  So chances are if you know me in real life that you've been given a handmade card.  

When I had the opportunity to review some card making supplies and craft kits I knew it was perfect.  Richard Garay has a line to help create easy beautiful products.

I was sent supplies to make a party hat card and a treat bag.  

I made mine slightly different- I had the card open from the bottom instead of side, and didn't include the string and attached the celebration banner differently, but otherwise it was so easy to make.  I made it in 15 minutes maybe.  There are directions included but it was basically a layering process. Fold the blue cardstock, attach the white, attach the pink then fold and attach the hat shape.  After that it was layer the flower pieces, add the center and then the celebration banner.  You can see in the video above how easy it was.  

The only thing I didn't like was there were not enough foam stickers included.  I didn't even have enough for the first project (used school glue) and I was supposed to have enough for both.  I'm not sure how many are usually included.

I didn't make the treat bag but I'm sure it will be just as easy when I do. 

For more ideas and products visit Spellbinders.

41 Weeks

It's official.  She's been out longer than in (born at 40 weeks 6 days).  Eek!

Sleep: 

It was pretty rough this week.  I don't think she went to bed before 10 (except for when she was sick- see below) and she was up by 6:30 most days.  Add that to the middle of the night waking and I.am.exhausted.

Feeding:

Our local fair was last weekend.  Eleanor had her first taste of an elephant ear.  Although she got mostly the dough and not the sugary goodness she still liked it.

We had barbecue chicken on night.  I tried to feed her pureed chicken that night (bleh) and she was not having any of it.  I gave her some of the chicken we were eating and she gobbled it up.

Although it wasn't the first time she had pasta again and loved it!

Last night I made Edamame (soybeans).  I assumed it would be like pea pods and it wasn't.  You can't eat the pods so it was a little more work than I thought it would be but once they were shelled and I put a little sea salt then they weren't bad and Eleanor seemed to like them. 

Misc:  

She had her first fever this weekend.  Nine months is pretty good but it was so sad. I'm pretty sure it's teething related.  Aaturday night it was 99, then Sunday night it was 102.6.  This morning I'm pretty sure I felt the little sharp poke of a tooth on top but she wouldn't really let me check so I'm not totally sure. 

On Saturday I took her to her first parade.  We didn't stay long because it was loud (although the noise didn't bug her) and the sun was hot but she enjoyed it. 

My mom and sister and nephew were camping this week so I took Eleanor out for the day on Wednesday.  She got to see the 'Big Lake' aka Lake Michigan and had her first beach experience.  Despite the super cold water she still liked it. 

The power of a song

This post isn't something I would normally write about, but I'm trying to get more personal so you can get to know me more.

What is is about a song that can bring up so many memories?   It can stir up so many feelings and emotions, both good and bad. 

I heard this song a few days before I found out I was pregnant with Eleanor.  

I had recently experienced two pregnancy losses just a few months before and in that moment, I knew that I would be a mom somehow.  I doubt that was the purpose of the song, but it helped me so much the next 9 months. Every time I would get that nervous panicky feeling of what if, I'd listen to this song and it would calm me.

Then over the weekend I had a urge to listen to this song again. 

 This was the song that was played during our wedding ceremony when we lit the unity candle.  I haven't heard it in years, yet as soon as I hear it I can picture that moment.   Standing on the altar knowing I picked a super long song for such as short moment, but loving the lyrics and praying that I could live by them. 

These are two of the songs that stand out the most to me.  What are some of the songs that stand out for you?

~Babyganics Sunscreen Review~

Last week I took Eleanor to the zoo.  I put sunscreen on her before we left the house, reapplied when we got to the zoo, and then again an hour later.  And still her little legs got red.  I felt terrible even though it didn't seem to bug her.   I'm not sure how it happened.  Either I'm that bad at applying or the sunscreen was ineffective.

A few days later I got some Babyganics sunscreen in the mail for review.   It's summertime and while I do my best to limit the sun exposure (by avoiding during peak hours, using sunglasses and wearing a hat, and the obvious one- using sunscreen) I still think getting out in the sunshine and getting fresh air is important. 

I received a tube of Babyganics mineral based sunscreen as well as a pure mineral sunscreen stick. Both products have uva/uvb protection and are spf 50+

My hope was that the stick would make getting her face easier.  She's a squirmy girl and I'm worried I'm going to get it in her eyes.  I still applied the more traditional sunscreen cream on her forehead, chin, and nose, but this helped with her cheeks.  

I used the tube on her arms, legs and feet and applied it before going on a walk around the neighborhood.  The sunscreen doesn't smell any better than other sunscreen (and why hasn't someone invented sunscreen that smells good?) but it was thicker in consistency.   I liked that because it coated her skin better.

I worry about the products that I use on Eleanor and make an effort to choose ones that have less chemicals and are more natural.  Babyganics suncreen is much better for her than other on the market suncreen brands.

I'm kind of frugal and most times I get the cheaper option but this is one of those times that I will pay more to get something better for her.  Babyganics sunscreen is not the cheapest on the market (but I doubt it's the most expensive either).

This week I went and visited some of my family who was camping.  I had to go west an hour to get there and this meant that my rear facing daughter was getting the sun in her face on the way and then heading east to get home she was getting the setting sun in her face again.   She was sunscreen up before we left, when we got there and several other times as well as before leaving.

We spent a little bit of time down at the beach in the afternoon and this sunscreen worked great.

I would recommend this product for sure.  You can even buy it in single one time use tubes of an ounce which is extremely convenient because that's the recommend application and you don't need to carry around a big tube of it. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Eleanor Update: 40 weeks

Already into the 40 weeks, and then it will be 50 weeks and then 52 and then I'll have a one year old.  She's almost been out longer then she's been in almost (she was born at 40 weeks 6 days)

Feeding: 

We tried mac n cheese (the good old Kraft blue box stuff).  She loved it and cried when I took it away.

Sleep: 
There were a few good naps this week actually.  One night she was up a lot, but other than that she's getting better.   She's been a morning catnapper but that's because I feed her and hold her, but I think that may be the problem.  If I can put her in her crib (and she might fuss for a minute) but then she'll sleep for a long time.  Or it could just be a fluke (it's happened twice).

This picture cracks me up.  She's running in her sleep.  It's not the first time either. 

Misc: 
I went to a baby wearing group last week.  I want to get a woven wrap, but am hesitant because they are expensive and there are so many choices.  I actually didn't get the chance to try one because there were a lot of people there, but I plan on going back.  I did learn how to back carry in the ergo and I like it other than the fact that it means Eleanor can easily pull my hair.




I went to the zoo again last Monday (I don't know if I'd mentioned that in last weeks post) with my sister in law and niece and nephew.


I also visited the Library one day and we went to the Children's Museum another day.  Busy week!







And she's decided pulling the dvds down is so much fun.  Look at how good she's gotten at standing.  In the picture  with the pink dress she was holding onto the ottoman lid but that was it.

We went to our friends house over the weekend.  Their youngest son is 2 days younger than Eleanor (I've mentioned them before) but it's always fun to get the babies together.

Eleanor and Liam (Eleanor is 2 days older)

This walk took place before 7 am yesterday.  She had been up for several
hours in the middle of the night and then was up at 6:30.  I was frustrated, but it
wasn't really her fault so I decided to get some fresh air to help my mood.