The Party Works Review {&} Giveaway -- Mom's Birthday Party

We like to make birthdays a big deal in our family. So when The Party Works contacted me about doing a review of their products, I was excited. I chose The Sweet Treats party pack to help us celebrate my mom's birthday.

My first impression was being blown away by how much was included in pack. It literally came with everything we needed {and then some!} to throw an amazing party for my mom.

As you can see, the pack included dinner plates, dessert plates, napkins, cups, forks and spoons, invitations, balloons (2 colors of latex balloons and 1 mylar balloon), plastic tablecloth, streamers (2 colors), ribbon (2 colors), and candles! And all in a cute and fun cupcake design. 

The table wear was a good quality. The plates and cups were sturdy. Although we had tacos, which is not a typical birthday dinner, the dinner plates were a great size. The silverware was sturdy - you didn't have to worry about the forks breaking off like plastic silverware sometimes does. They also had no sharp edges which is important to consider when kids are involved. 

The balloons {and streamers!} added a nice touch of extra festivity that we usually save just for the kids' birthdays. It was so much fun to be able to go "all out" for my mom as well. I tied this bouquet of balloons to her chair at the dinner table.

I also added these balloons and streamers to the mantle. This is where we always set up gifts. 

I made a giant cupcake cake to go along with the cupcake theme. We called her party "How sweet it is!" Because every time we get to have the family together to celebrate and every year we get to spend with my mom is super sweet. 

Here is everyone ready for dinner

The dessert plates were the perfect size for cake and ice cream and were sturdy enough that you didn't have to worry about them sagging or leaking as they were passed around the table. 

As I mentioned before, the silverware was a high enough quality that we didn't have to worry about the kids using it. Even Jordan was able to feed himself without us having to go get a kids fork out. 

The Party Works really made planning my mom's sweet birthday celebration a breeze!! They carry high quality party decorations and table wear at great prices and offer tons of different themes, from kids birthdays to adults and everything in between. They also carry supplies for baby showers, holidays, baptisms, graduations, and more! (Yes, even divorce... do people really throw divorce parties?!) Check them out for your next party!!! 

Now here's a few more pictures of my mom's party!

opening presents

A Jordan sandwich!

The necklace from my brother and me

No evening would be complete without someone making my mom cry! {Sorry Mom! Couldn't resist....}

Time for cake!

   

Hugs & Kisses for Lolo  

The Party Works has offered to give away a Standard Party Pack for 8 Guests to one lucky reader of this blog. Enter below for your chance to win. Open to USA residents only. Giveaway ends 9/5 at 12:01am.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

World Breastfeeding Week: Leading Lady Nursing Chemise Review

Leading Lady is a premiere intimate apparel company dedicated to creating comfortable, functional, and affordable bras, tanks and sleepwear, including those for nursing as well as full-figure, maternity, and leisure. They are a family owned and operated business with retailers across North America. Leading Lady is proud to celebrate “Leading Ladies” everywhere through its products, programs and philanthropic activities. Leading Lady is dedicated to arming new moms with the support they need to nurture their babies through breastfeeding. Follow Leading Lady on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Leading Lady was kind enough to send me a Nursing Chemise to try out for this event. I chose the azalea color which is a really pretty pink. The Nursing Chemise looks like a really long nursing tank top. It has adjustable spaghetti straps, a built-in supportive "bra," and hangs down just above my knees. I was unfortunately sent a size that was too large for me but being that it is a nightgown it still works wonderfully.

You can kind of see in the above picture how it hangs a bit big under my arms. The chemise has hooks similar to most nursing bras or tanks for easy one-handed use. This chemise is absolutely perfect for side-lying nursing during the night. It is much more convenient than the old t-shirt routine I had been doing. Instead of having to adjust my whole self to lift up my t-shirt, I am able to simply unfasten one side of the chemise without hardly  moving at all! It can also be used lounging around the house. Below is a picture of me "nursing" Curious George, since my kids don't like to cooperate most of the time! 

This is one of the most comfortable nightgowns I have owned. And like most nursing things, it can be used well beyond the breastfeeding relationship. Even when not breastfeeding, I like the support of the built-in bra while lounging or sleeping. 

Leading Lady has lots of other great products, including this Nursing Sports Bra and this Organic Wirefree Nursing Bra, both of which I'd like to purchase at some point! Check out their webpage for other great products!! To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week Leading Lady has a special of 20% off nursing bras plus free shipping with the purchase of a nursing bra! It's the perfect time to check them out. 

Leading Lady was also kind enough to offer a discount to my readers. Enter code LLBLOG7118 at checkout to receive 15% off site-wide! 

What is your favorite product Leading Lady offers?

{Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product{s} free of charge in exchange for my review. As always, this does not influence my opinion of the product{s} in any way and all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. Your experiences and opinions may vary}

World Breastfeeding Week: Undercover Mama Review {&} Giveaway

When Jacob was a baby, Matt used to work at the computer at our church. This meant we would sit in the very back of the church. To keep Jacob quiet, I would often nurse him during the service. Sitting in the very back, I didn't have to worry too much about if anybody would see anything. Unfortunately, I realized too late that the ushers were even father behind us and they were getting an awful view of my back flab while I nursed! Yuck! 

I wish I would have known about Undercover Mama at the time! Undercover Mama is a neat concept. It's just like a nursing tank top but without the straps. It can attach to any nursing bra and can turn any shirt into a nursing shirt! No more back flab!

There are two ways to attach the Undercover Mama to your nursing bra. It comes with a hook and a loop. You can either attach the loop to your nursing bra clasp or you can slide the hook in the bra strap. Here is an image below describing the attachment. 

 

I chose to attach it using the hook. I found this the easier option. I think it will take more practice attaching and detaching it. Right now, I am unable to do it one-handed.

The concept behind the Undercover Mama is amazing. Now I no longer have to look for clothes that are easy to maneuver into nursing tops (low cut, stretchy, etc) because I can take any shirt I own and stick the Undercover Mama underneath it and voila! An instant nursing-friendly shirt! They can also be attached to any non-nursing bra as well and used as an undershirt when you are finished breastfeeding.

Undercover Mama shirts are machine washable and made from 95% cotton and 5% spandex. It is recommended to get them in a size smaller than your normal shirt size {which I'll admit, made me really nervous but it actually did end up being a good fit for me!} I think you will really like the Undercover Mama, whether or not you are currently nursing!

BUY IT: You can purchase an Undercover Mama at www.undercovermama.com. They range in price from $24.99 to $26.99. They come in a variety of colors and are even available will lace trim.

WIN IT: One lucky reader will win an Undercover Mama in their choice of black or white (excluding lace). Use the rafflecopter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


{Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product{s} free of charge in exchange for my review. As always, this does not influence my opinion of the product{s} in any way and all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. Your experiences and opinions may vary}

World Breastfeeding Week: Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover Review {&} Giveaway

My style of parenting has changed drastically with each of my boys. One of the many things that was different between them was my view of nursing in public. This can become a very heated debate between people. Modest little first time mom me was very shy about nursing in public. Not only would I find a very private place, but I'd pop a cover over top of me and if possible, turn around backwards as well. No chance of anybody seeing anything! Less modest second time mom me decided it wasn't worth the effort. Nursing covers - absolutely! But other than that, it was not worth my time and effort to try to be discreet. If people didn't want to see then they could look the other way. And if people did want to see, well, more power to them. {Though honestly, there wasn't much to see!} 

The first cover I bought was one that went all the way around you. Both my kids hated it. It's hot underneath and it's difficult for me to see them. I wasn't very happy with it either. 

Bebe Au Lait makes gorgeous nursing covers. They are more of an apron style but have a curved top so you can see your baby. I like this feature because it is so important to me to be able to see my baby {is there really anything sweeter than watching a baby nurse?} and I know my baby wants to be able to see me as well. It's important to have that sweet bond even when using a cover. You can see the curved top in the pictures below. You can also see the ring on the neck strap - this allows you to adjust the height of the cover to meet your needs. 

 

Please ignore my make-up less face and my ugly hair in these pictures!! 

But perhaps my favorite feature of the Bebe Au Lait nursing cover is the terry cloth pockets on the bottom corners. These pockets are perfect for holding small items such as a pacifier, burp rag, or even your nursing pads! Plus the terry cloth material is perfect for wiping baby's mouth when they have finished nursing. This is a feature I have not seen in any other nursing covers. 

Overall, I really really like this nursing cover. Unfortunately for me, my boys do not. I think if I had used a cover like this from the beginning they would, but Jordan got so used to not using a cover that now he does not like being underneath this. I am hoping to use this from the beginning if we ever have another baby because I love this cover!! And did I mention they come in lots of gorgeous prints?! Bebe Au Lait nursing covers can also be used as carseat or stroller covers, sun shades, or even a light blanket for baby. Bebe Au Lait covers are machine washable and are packaged with recycled and recyclable materials. 

BUY IT: Check out Bebe Au Lait to purchase your own nursing cover. They range in price from $35 to $38. 

WIN IT: One lucky reader will win their choice of Bebe Au Lait nursing cover. Use the rafflecopter form below to enter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product{s} free of charge in exchange for my review. As always, this does not influence my opinion of the product{s} in any way and all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. Your experiences and opinions may vary}

World Breastfeeding Week: GlamourMom Nursing Tank Review {&} Giveaway

Nursing tank tops are a must have for breastfeeding moms, as far as I'm concerned. To be honest, I think I could live in them. They are super comfortable, have built-in bras, and are very convenient for public nursing.  I wear one almost every day! GlamourMom is a great company that offers nursing tank tops, bras, tops, and sleepwear.

GlamourMom sent me this brown nursing bra long tank to try. The first thing I noticed when I received it was the quality of it. It is slightly thicker than other nursing tanks I have tried. The clasp is easy to use one handed and the built in bra is supportive.

I love using my GlamourMom nursing tank. It is nice enough to wear by itself and can also be worn under clothes so almost any outfit can become a nursing friendly outfit. I also wear it under my work clothes for easy pumping at work. As I mentioned, the clasps are easy to use one-handed. They are different than the standard nursing bra/tank clasps in that they are flat for more discretion under clothing. The straps are also adjustable for the perfect fit for both comfort and support.

The tank is longer than most nursing tanks I have tried before and has a fabric panel on the inside so when it is unclasped there is still fabric on your breast with an opening to allow your baby access. This is helpful in maintaining modesty while nursing in public. My favorite aspect of the GlamourMom tank is the layer of wicking material on your breasts to keep them cool and dry. This is something I haven't seen before.

I really love the GlamourMom nursing tank. It is by far my favorite nursing tank top that I own! I would definitely recommend these to all nursing mothers. And the best part is that you can continue to wear them even after you are finished nursing!

 

BUY IT: You can purchase your own GlamourMom nursing tank from their website. They come in a variety of styles and colors and range in price from $34 to $59.

WIN IT: One lucky reader of Love{&}Bugs will win a GlamourMom nursing tank of their choice. Use the rafflecopter form below to enter! Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product{s} free of charge in exchange for my review. As always, this does not influence my opinion of the product{s} in any way and all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. Your experiences and opinions may vary}

World Breastfeeding Week: Mommy Necklace Review

Like most babies, my babies both reached a point in nursing where they would become very distracted. And their little hands start wandering. To my mouth. To my nose. To my hair. To my eyes. To my shirt. To the necklace I would dare to wear. That's when I discovered nursing jewelry, such as Mommy Necklaces.

Mommy Necklaces is a Holland, Michigan based company, which I love since it is "local." All the beads used in the necklaces are made from non-breakable, non-toxic, USA-made acrylic. So it's something you can feel comfortable letting your child play with. Not only during nursing but during other activities where their little hands might wander.

Mommy Necklaces come in a variety of styles and colors so Moms can wear fashionable jewelry again without the worry of their kids breaking them. Mommy Necklaces also offer matching bracelets and earrings in addition to the necklaces for a complete look.

 

Mommy Necklaces was kind enough to send me the above necklace to try out. What I liked about this necklace {besides the obvious! it's so cute!} was that even though it is covered in beads, it wasn't heavy. And it has a break-away clasp so if little hands pull really hard, the necklace will open instead of break. 

Does it keep little hands from wandering? No. They still wander. But most of the time they aren't poking at my eyes and digging into my mouth, but are instead happily playing with the beads on the necklace while nursing. 

Mommy Necklaces are available for purchase on their webpage. They range in price from about $18-$27.50. You can also check them out on facebook. 

What is your favorite style? 

{Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product{s} free of charge in exchange for my review. As always, this does not influence my opinion of the product{s} in any way and all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. Your experiences and opinions may vary}

World Breastfeeding Week: Milk Makers Review {&} Giveaway

One of the questions I am most often asked is how can I increase my milk supply? And one of the answers I most frequently give is lactation cookies. Lactation cookies are cookies that contain three key ingredients that help to naturally boost milk supply when eaten. {No, they will not cause someone who is not currently lactating to start producing milk! Husbands and children are safe to eat them ;-)} 

Milk Makers is an awesome company that does a lot to support breastfeeding moms, including selling their delicious cookies. Their webpage also includes a whole section with great information about breastfeeding resources. How great is that? Milk Makers was kind enough to send me a sample of their cookies, which are made with organic ingredients. I received both oatmeal raisin and oatmeal chocolate chip to try out. Each cookie came individually wrapped with a cute sticker on them with the Milk Makers logo. I have to be honest, I am not a huge oatmeal raisin cookie fan but these were absolutely delicious! I am ashamed to say how quickly I ate all five cookies I received! Both my kids also gave the cookies a seal of approval. 

The label on the oatmeal raisin cookies reads: "please enjoy this sample of our new dairy free oatmeal raisin cookie. why dairy free? some nursing moms avoid dairy products due to lactose sensitivity"

I think it is great that they include moms who avoid dairy products!

As far as an increase in milk supply, they work! I noticed about an ounce increase per side from eating cookies. {I had a high production, results may vary} So if you are looking for a simple and delicious way to increase your milk supply, I suggest you check out Milk Makers!

One of my favorite aspects of Milk Makers is how available they are for breastfeeding support. Not only do they have the previously mentioned section on their webpage with resources, but they also have a live question and answer with a lactation consultant once a month on their facebook page and send out a monthly newsletter. What's not to love?

Image used with permission from Milk Makers

BUY IT: Milk Makers cookies come in packages of ten, which retail for $19.99 or packages of 30, which retail for $49.99. You can purchase them here.

WIN IT: If you'd like to try your luck at winning a set of 10 cookies of your choice (chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, or variety) just enter the rafflecopter form below. The winner will be chosen on August 9th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product{s} free of charge in exchange for my review. As always, this does not influence my opinion of the product{s} in any way and all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. Your experiences and opinions may vary}

World Breastfeeding Week: Bamboobies Review {&} Giveaway

I've been in love with reusable nursing pads since I first discovered them. Not only are they a more eco-friendly solution to leaking but they are far more comfortable than the plasticy, hot, and dare I say awful disposable pads. Not to mention, they are cute!

When I first heard of Bamboobies I was intrigued with them - mostly because of their unique shape. Bamboobies are heart-shaped to help cup the breast, instead of the typical round breast pads which can bubble up. When I first received them, however, I was very skeptical. They were thinner than any other reusable nursing pad I ever tried. I didn't think they would hold much. But they were so soft I wanted to make a blanket out of them! It's been said that Bamboobies are "like a cashmere sweater for my boobs" and that is very true. They are so soft and comfortable, you don't even realize you are wearing anything. The thinness of them as well as their unique heart shape makes them practically invisible under your shirt. The regular Bamboobies pads come in black, pale pink, or hot pink. 

Since I'm no longer leaking, I had to test them out by the tried and true sink method. I ran water over the pads. As you can see from the picture below, there was quite a good amount of water pooled on the top of the pad, yet I couldn't feel it on my hand underneath. I held the water on there for several minutes and it never leaked through to the other side. After pouring the water off the top of them, they felt almost dry proving that even with leaking, they will still make you feel dry.

I really love these nursing pads. I love how comfortable they are and how soft they are. But most importantly, I love how well they hold up against leaks. I would definitely recommend these to all breastfeeding mothers. And remember, they also make great gifts! 

Bamboobies come in regular and overnight. They also make a cute nursing cover as well. Check out buybamboobies.com to see all they have to offer and to pick up a pair or two for yourself! Be sure to enter code LNB20 for 20% of your order - good for two weeks! 

You can also enter below for your chance to win a $16.99 credit to Bamboobies which can be used to purchase a set of 2 pair of regular or overnight pads or used towards anything else on the site. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclaimer: I received the above mentioned product{s} free of charge in exchange for my review. As always, this does not influence my opinion of the product{s} in any way and all opinions expressed here are 100% mine. Your experiences and opinions may vary}