Ava Anderson Giveaway Extension

Good morning, all! I have lots of pictures from our vacation to share and some exciting things to show you from around the hizzle, but due to family visiting last week, I don't feel I gave the Ava Anderson giveaway enough publicity. Therefore, I'm extending it to this Friday, August 31, at 11:59 pm ET. I'll be posting reminders throughout the week on my facebook page and on twitter. Please check the original giveaway post for all the information! 

ENTER HERE for a $20 credit to Ava Anderson Non Toxic!

*I have to purchase more photo storage space! Otherwise, I'd share an awesome photo of Ava products to you. :) Let me get my bank card out. *ouch*

Ava Anderson Saved Our Vacation {& a Giveaway}!

A few months ago, I was introduced to Ava Anderson products by my friend, Melanie. This is the same person who taught me how to make my own laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and helped me pin a zillion things on Pinterest to help get me through cloth diapering. She is gung-ho for using products without toxins and chemicals and has our entire bible study group searching the Skin Deep cosmetic database to make sure we're using safe products as often as possible.

You may know that I took the girls on a 16-day vacation over the last two weeks and because Melanie just became an Ava Anderson consultant, she was kind enough to let me try the diaper cream, which is one of the only all-natural cloth diaper safe creams out there and I also purchased the sunscreen, which is safe for babies under 6 months (I asked our doctor)! All I have to say is these products literally saved our vacation.

Halfway through the first week (at my parents'), I gave up on cloth diapering, temporarily. My parents have hard well water that turns their whites an iron/rust color. I was making every other daily trips to the laundromat, which was not air conditioned, with two small children, running three wash cycles for a load of diapers. When I bit the bullet and switched to disposables, Bean broke out in a rash for the first time, ever. I was devastated and immediately broke out the Ava diaper cream. 

image via

Not only did the diaper cream save the day when Bean broke out in a rash, but it also cleared up her cradle cap that had creeped down to her forehead and eyebrows. I was told that this stuff was a miracle cream and that men even use it for aftershave! I'm totally convinced and although the price might seem a little steep, trust me, it's worth it. The tub is huge and a little goes a long way. The consistency is super thick and creamy and I'm even considering using it on my eczema.

Then, there's baby skin and sunshine. My family went to a resort last week for our yearly vacation and I was so concerned that Bean would get too much sun or that we wouldn't be able to enjoy ourselves because I'd have to stay under an umbrella or inside the whole time. Insert Ava's sunscreen, which is all natural and doesn't have any toxins or pore clogging agents that would be unsafe for a newborn's skin. Because I was able to purchase this right before our vacation, little Beanie was able to enjoy her time outside and even take a few dips in the pool. I still kept her under the umbrella 95% of the time, but indirect sunlight scares me, so I kept her lathered the entire week. I even used it on mine and S' faces because it didn't leave any oily residue. (S and I used Coppertone Pure & Simple, only because our bodies are bigger and I couldn't afford enough Ava sunscreen to cover all three of us for an entire week upon departure). Anyway, Bean is still pale like Snow White and this sunscreen feels like you're slathering yourself in a little slice of Heaven. Two thumbs up!

image via

Why do I go on and on? Well, because like I said, Ava products saved our vacation. And I care about mine and my childrens' future. We deserve to be healthy and not drive toxins into our bodies. We also deserve to be educated about the products we use, which is something I really love about Ava Anderson. The company isn't pushing their products on me (or you, for that matter). Their goal is to educate us about personal product ingredients so that we are able to make better choices or at least informed ones. For instance, the European Union bans 1300+ toxic ingredients in their personal care products. The US bans 9. NINE. So those other 1291+ ingredients are unsafe, but the US passes them, anyway? Did you know that cosmetic companies like Maybelline and Cover Girl have different formulas to sell between Europe and the US because they are required to remove several of the ingredients and if necessary, replace them with safe ones, for European consumers? Nice.
But why should you get excited?
Because your girl (ahem, me) hooked you up with her girl (ahem, Melanie) and one lucky ALBOT reader is going to win a $20 credit to Melanie's Ava Anderson store. You can use it to get one item $20 or less or use it toward a purchase of $21+. Lucky you!
Entries:
+1 {Mandatory} Follow this blog and go to Melanie's Ava store and leave a comment on this post with which product you'd like to try.
+2 {Optional} "Like" Melanie's Ava Facebook page and let me know in a comment.
+2 {Optional} Leave a comment with a question pertaining to Ava Anderson products.
+5 {Optional} Make a purchase from Melanie's Ava online store and let me know in a comment.
Please leave ONE comment per entry and I will take point value into account in my spreadsheet. ie: Don't leave five comments if you make a purchase - just one and I'll count it as five!
Giveaway open to US readers, only. Ends Friday, August 24, 11:59 pm ET.
Winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Saturday, August 25.

*disclaimer: Ava Anderson diaper cream was provided to me for review by the consultant. All opinions are honest and true to my experience with the product.

Party Works Giveaway!

Hey, friends! I was recently contacted by Party Works and asked if I wanted to host a giveaway from their site! I was so excited because Little S is seriously planning her fourth birthday party already and I couldn't find her theme in stores. She really wants a My Little Ponies birthday party and I didn't even know they still existed until we found them on Netflix, recently. Party Works has graciously offered to give away an 8-piece party pack of the winner's choice! 

The Party Works is your one stop source for party supplies and favors for childrens, teen, and family birthday parties. Cake decorating supplies, pinatas, bridal and baby shower supplies, holiday party supplies, and party decorations and ideas for special occasions. We would like to offer the winner any party pack for 8 which includes an assortment of party supplies for any occasion.
Check out some of my other favorites below and pick your own from here!

 

If you would like a chance to win your own party pack, leave a comment below letting me know your favorite pack. Giveaway will end on Thursday, August 2nd at 11:59 pm and I'll announce the winner on Friday morning!

Giveaway open to US residents only

Mommy Moxie Giveaway

*Update*
Mommy Moxie has agreed to give away a $60 credit to her shop if you do not need the Maternity Hospital Gown! You can use this toward crib bedding or changing pad covers, which will hit the shop this week - OR you can request an item!


I hope you're as excited as I am about this giveaway! Nicole, of Mommy Moxie, has graciously agreed to give one of her beautiful, handmade maternity hospital gowns to one lucky a little bit of this reader! If you didn't see/read my review last week, check it out here! I'm so in love with this product and absolutely can't wait to wear mine at the hospital. No drab, used and reused hospital gown for this girl! Check out The Little Bit gown that I got to help create!

Let's get to know Nicole, the creator of Mommy Moxie!

1. How did you get started with making maternity hospital gowns, blankets and burp cloths?

Back in 2009 when I was pregnant with my first son, I happened to stop by the cardiac ICU where my husband worked.  There was a patient that was bleeding all over the place, which included their hospital gown.  I asked my husband if there were different gowns for Labor and Delivery; he laughed and said "no".  That night I went home and started looking for gowns online to wear for my delivery because there was no way I was wearing something someone else had bled all over, sterilized or not.  All the gowns I found were either really ugly or way too expensive.  I then asked my husband to borrow a gown from the hospital and I started experimenting.  I hadn't turned on my sewing machine in years, but I just kept revising...and sewing...and revising...(you get the picture).  I wore a pretty simple gown for my first birth, but then over the next two years I kept tweaking the gown until I had a winning design.  In 2011 I started selling the gowns you see in my shop today :)
The burp cloths, blankets and such resulted from need.  I either started making them when friends requested them, or when I needed something.  In the near future I'll be adding crib bedding and a few other items as well.

2. You're a busy mom. What motivates you to keep up with daily responsibilities *and* your business?

I'm lucky enough to be not only a SAHM, but to also have Mommy Moxie.  Some days my business is the only thing that keeps me sane!  Having a two and a half year old and a six month old definitely keeps me on my toes.  I think the knowledge that I'm helping another mom look amazing on one of the biggest days of her life is what keeps me (somewhat) focused and on top of all the different things I have going on in my life.

3. What's your best-selling item and why do you think it's so popular?

My gowns are my best selling items, and of those, the Hudson and the Adam gowns are my most popular.  I have some other items in my shop, but gowns are by far my specialty.  I think moms are realizing that there is no reason they have to look drab on the day their little one makes their debut, even if they've been in labor for 36 hours ;)

4. What is YOUR favorite item in the shop? Do (or did) you personally use it?

The gowns are my favorite by far and yes, I had one for each of my births.  I was 34 weeks along when my water broke with my second son; I hadn't even STARTED my gown, so I had to quickly add the snaps to a gown that was almost finished while I waited for my girlfriends to arrive to take me to the hospital (my husband was at work and I had no idea I was actually going to give birth that night.  I thought they could stop what I thought was a "leak").  When they arrived, I made them wait an extra 10 minutes while I finished the gown while they laughed at me.  There was just no way I was wearing a nasty hospital-issued gown!

5. For fun, what's your go-to outfit for going shopping with girlfriends?

Shopping with girlfriends?  What's that?  (LOL).  I rarely get to shop with girlfriends these days since our schedules are so opposite.  When I do get to go  I usually wear a long maxi dress and sandals or jeans and a cute top with flats or heels (depending on the amount of shopping!).  When you have two kids, fitting rooms can be a challenge, so if I can just slip something over my head I will.  Gotta keep it easy!

And here are some more of my favorite gowns from Mommy Moxie:

Landry Maternity Hospital Gown

Shellz Maternity Hospital Gown

Ivan Maternity Hospital Gown

NAME ME Black and White Zebra Print Maternity Hospital Gown

(If you choose a gown that doesn't already have a name, you get to name it!)

Giveaway open to US residents only. Sorry to our International readers! 

Open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 8 - Please enter via Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mommy Moxie Review

A few months ago, I reached out to Nicole, of Mommy Moxie, because I absolutely adored her maternity hospital gown design and use of fabrics. After contacting her, we started to communicate on a regular basis and Nicole asked if I wanted to design my own gown for Bean's arrival. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity, and she did an absolutely wonderful job of incorporating my favorite colors, a gorgeous fabric, and she even took my height into account when creating this beauty! I even got to name it, so check her shop in the future if you'd like your own The Little Bit maternity hospital gown!

These gowns are made especially for moms-to-be who don't want to wear a dingy hospital gown that someone else has already... well, used. With buttons all the way down the back for easy access, but lots of modesty and button shoulders for nursing and skin-to-skin contact, the design is exactly what I was looking for! I needed something that wouldn't show my behind while walking the halls and something that would make breast feeding easy and discreet with lots of visitors. Topped off with a coordinating sash, mom and baby look like a pretty wrapped-up present! I'm so pleased.

 Nicole also creates baby items that you can custom order to match your maternity hospital gown! Bean got a beautiful, bright receiving blanket with matching trim and a little burp cloth! The receiving blanket is even embroidered with Bean's initials (hidden). This whole package is going to be so special for our stay in the hospital and makes me feel so prepared and coordinated. Visit Mommy Moxie for beautiful handmade items that will be perfect for expecting mommies and their new babies! I know I can't wait to put these to use.

Special thanks to Mommy Moxie for providing these items for me to review! I will also be posting hospital photos after we get home so you can see it all in (post) action. I'm going to be one of the prettiest  moms in the hospital and I can't complain about that!

Stay tuned for a special Mommy Moxie GIVEAWAY coming on Monday!

Old Navy Maternity Haul + Fun Giveaway!

I have been squeezing myself into a wardrobe that doesn't fit for quite a few weeks now, so you'll understand the excitement I experienced when my Old Navy order arrived yesterday! Squeeee! Clothes that fit! 

Maternity Chiffon-Tiered Top - $8.97 (I did not get it for that awesome price!)

Maternity Cowl-Neck Drawstring Dress - $20.00

Maternity Dolman-Sleeve Tunic - $15.00

Maternity Embellished Floral-Graphic Tee - $16.99

Maternity Full-Panel Flared-Leg Jeans - $32.00

Maternity Jersey-Stretch Tank - $12.94

Maternity Scoop Rib-Knit Tank (Both) - $12.94

Maternity Tiered-Ruffle Drawstring Dress - $30.00

Maternity Ruched-Shoulder Jersey Dress - $22.00

I'm so excited, but I feel like I still have a very limited maternity wardrobe. Unfortunately, my current "state" is not cause for buying a brand new wardrobe to clothe me for a month at a time. Husband is completely confident that I'll survive with a week's worth of clothes. He's probably right, but... I mean, come on. You know me. I really do have enough. It's already 74 degrees, so I truly only need the one pair of jeans (and okay, I might already have another pair or two). And I have dresses that will fit over this belly 'til eternity, so I didn't need all maternity dresses. And let's be honest. If I only had the few things above, my leggings, the Bella Band, and some comfy yoga pants, I'd be perfectly fine. Which is good, because that's all she wrote! 

Now, if you've stuck around this long, you know there's a giveaway involved!

Because my wardrobe is so limited, I'd LOVE some styling ideas for the pieces I did grab. We did a styling contest like this when I took my nanny position last year and it went so well! You can be as creative as you want and include any shoes, accessories, or other pieces that you see fit. Please make them maternity-friendly, though! ie: NO 4-inch heels. Megan can do it, but I cannot.

So, how's it work? You create a polyvore set with one or more of the items above and leave the link in a comment below. Next Wednesday, March 7, I will choose a winner! 

The winner will get a $25 gift card to Old Navy!

Some other things to consider including in your polyvore set:

- cardigans

- leggings

- flats/sandals

- layering pieces

- blazers

Good luck! I will wear my closest rendition of the winner's outfit to church  on Sunday, March 11 (and in Monday's outfit post). NO pressure to be fancy! We are a very casual church!

Darling Sparrow Giveaway!

One of my sweet friends contacted me with her new Etsy shop, Darling Sparrow! I'm so glad I was introduced because these vintage inspired, handmade aprons and smocks are so adorable that Little S definitely needs one for her birthday. Lucky for YOU, the ladies at Darling Sparrow have decided to give one lucky {a little bit of this} reader their choice of one apron from the shop!

"Darling Sparrow aprons are designed and handmade by Brittney and her friend for kids (mostly girls) to wear while doing all things messy, from baking to art to playing with play-doh to, really and truly, anything. They're a delightful mix of modern and retro smock-style and are made for the style-savvy!"

- adapted from Brittney

Here are my favorites from the shop!

So cute!

If you're a mom (or aunt, grandma, godmother, friend) of a sweet little girl, you KNOW you want to score one of these adorable pieces for her! Little S loves to help me in the kitchen and when her apron arrives, she's going to be so psyched! There's nothing better than looking cute while getting messy. C'mon, even WE know that.

How do you enter? Easy!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Darling Sparrow and tell me your favorite item from the shop!

Extra Entries (one each):

- Favorite Darling Sparrow on Etsy

- Like Darling Sparrow on Facebook

- Follow Darling Sparrow on Twitter

- Blog, tweet, or FB about the giveaway (one each)

If you blog or tweet, please leave the link in your entry comment.

Please tag @darlingsparrow1 in your tweet.

Please tag @Darling Sparrow in your FB status.

Leave ALL entries in one comment.

Good luck!

*Giveaway winner will be announced on Thursday, February 2, at 9:00 am ET.*

And just in case you don't win but can't live without purchasing one of these "Darling" smocks, the ladies at Darling Sparrow have generously given a 10% coupon for all [a little bit of this] readers from now until February 10 (just in time for Valentine's Day)! Just use this code at checkout: alittlebit10

Lulu's Dress Giveaway!

Hi, my friends! I have to seriously apologize for being MIA in the blog scene this week. My schedule's been out of whack and I've been very lucky to be home with Little S. for two days in a row! We've been crafting, learning to write letters, learning to write her name, doing laundry, going to the park, and working on the Etsy shop for the holidays! I had no idea how time consuming it would all be, but I haven't had a chance to photograph my outfits or any of Little S', so that's why I'm just now showing up! Hope you haven't missed me too much (but then again, I really hope you have)!

Because you all are so awesome and I have... well, a waistline situation, I want to hold a giveaway for this really hot Lulu's dress that I actually won in a giveaway from Megan! I ordered the dress, which is one of my FAVORITE colors right now (teal) and intended to wear it for my anniversary dinner in September, but it didn't arrive on time. Not that it mattered, because when I did receive it, it just didn't fit! Let's face it, those "typical" size Larges aren't for me.

Here's the beauty! It's no longer available on the Lulu's website, but it's available right here! Tags are still on (they were a bit scratched when I received it in the mail- no worries. My dogs didn't chew them!

So, if you're a Lulu's size Large, go 'head and leave me a comment and tell me where you would wear this dress! That's ALL you have to do. Giveaway is open to US readers only (because I haven't figured out how to ship anywhere else, yet. I'm working on it.) and will close on Thursday, November 17 at 11:59 ET. I will announce the winner the following Friday morning! Good luck!

Poshlocket Giveaway!

When Poshlocket contacted me about reviewing a product and hosting a giveaway, I couldn't have been more excited. Ever since our working relationship began, I've been so impressed with Poshlocket's classic, but unique jewelry choices. When choosing my favorites earlier this month, I highlighted the metal and fabric collection, which I absolutely adore! I was lucky enough to receive the Stacey Three Chain Fabric Bracelet and I'm in love. The thickness makes such a statement and the fabric has splashes of green, lime, royal blue, turquoise, and white, all separated by bold black lines. Sometimes, statement pieces are tough to style more than just a handful of ways, but my Stacey is going to go with virtually everything in my wardrobe! Most of the metal and fabric pieces come with a choice of silver or gold, too, which is super convenient!

*Apologies for night time quality photos- I forgot to take pictures when I wore this to church!

dress: Merona for Target

cardigan: New York & Company

belt: New York & Company

shoes: Ross (gifted by Rochelle)

solitaire: Zales (Christmas gift from Husband)

initial necklace: The Word Jewelry

bracelet: c/o Poshlocket

Because I have gobs of adoration for the fabric and metal pieces, Poshlocket has offered to giveaway one of the items from the same collection! Up for grabs is the Jenny Fabric Weave Cuff, valued at $26! And that's not all! You get a free pair of fabric and metal earrings shown on the site! The Jenny is also offered in gold or silver and the earrings will come in the same metal as your bracelet.

Mandatory entries (only ONE comment needed with all of the following info):

- Follow my blog via GFC! Please let me know in your comment.

- Visit Poshlocket and tell us your favorite item!

- Follow Poshlocket on twitter OR "like" Poshlocket on Facebook.

Extra entries (one comment per):

- Follow Poshlocket on twitter OR "like Poshlocket on Facebook (which ever one you didn't do for the mandatory entry).

- Tweet this giveaway, linking back to this post and including @the_littlebit and @poshlocket so we can count it!

- Subscribe to Poshlocket's mailing list and let me know!

Giveaway open until Friday, November 4 at 11:59 pm, ET. Open to US and Canada.


And remember, TODAY is the last day to enter the Scentsy giveaway!