Rave and Review

Snazzy Baby Gear {Review & Giveaway}

As a family who loves to travel with young children, I am always on the lookout for the next big thing that can make exploring with kiddos easier.  That next big thing is the Snazzy Baby Deluxe 3 in 1 Combo Carrier that is a baby and toddler carrier, a convertible dining seat and safety restraint for your little one all in one, making it essential for days out.  I'm all about gear that grows with your child and gives you more time to enjoy each product before you hand it down, but even better is when I can find something like the Snazzy Baby Combo Carrier that has multiple uses and lasts for years.

In our case with two children spaced two years apart, we are constantly running into having to bring two of everything so that I can have a separate one to fit them both, so one of my favorite things is when I find products that I can use for both of my children.  With the Combo carrier, it has a large age range so you can use it from 4+ months {when your baby has good head control} and up to age 3+ {or up to 37lbs}, a range that just so happens to fit both of my children nicely. 

This means that I can bring one carrier instead of two, can leave the portable high chair behind, nix the separate shopping cart cover, and only have to keep track of one piece of baby and toddler gear.  Fabulous!  But, what’s really great is that the Snazzy Baby Deluxe 3 in 1 Combo Carrier is small and lightweight {under 16 oz} so you can easily throw it in your diaper bag, backpack, or even in the stroller basket and be ready no matter where you roam. 

In terms of baby carriers, the Snazzy Baby Carrier stands out in a variety of ways.  The first is that it is a side carrier, which makes it ideal for larger children who ride more comfortably on your hip, as well as situations when you must be able to see your feet when babywearing {for example, hiking or walking up stairs}.  The carrier also allows for inward and outward facing positions, which is great because different kids prefer to ride in different positions and it’s nice to be able to accommodate either option on the fly.

While I have wanted a hip carrier for quite some time, what has always stopped me was the fact that I was worried about a huge amount of weight resting on one shoulder alone.  The smart people behind the Snazzy Baby Combo Carrier understood that a carrier is not going to be used if it’s uncomfortable for us parents, so they made a great gel based shoulder strap which helps cushion and protect our shoulders.  This is great because it helps minimize the weight on the single shoulder strap and keep it from digging in like others I have tried. 

The fabric of the carrier is also unique in that it is easy to wipe and clean as well as being resistant to chlorine and salt water, which means that you can wear it anywhere, including the beach and pool.  If it’s hot enough for you to be jumping in the water, you will be happy to know that the carrier has a nice breathable inside liner that is against your little one and doesn’t cover a huge amount of your torso, which means it doesn’t add extra warmth where you don’t want it.  However, if it does get chilly, you will love that the Snazzy Baby Carrier comes with a free pair of My Baby Leg Warmers that you can easily put on your baby’s legs or arms and add some flair to baby at the same time.  

 

In addition to being incredibly versatile, easy to pack, and great for multiple sizes and ages of kids, the Snazzy Baby Deluxe Carrier is also incredibly easy to use.  It has great color-coded buckles and sewn-in instructions to make switching between functions fast and convenient, as well as letting you leave the manual {and DVD} at home.

The hardest part for us in converting from carrier to travel seat was finding the extra strap that was tucked away in the hidden front pocket of the carrier.  The funny part was that we knew could feel the strap was inside the carrier, but couldn’t find the pocket opening that held the extra strap, which was cleverly concealed underneath the front organizer.  It was only after we lifted up the velcro flap to reveal the handy internal pockets that we saw that there was also a hidden pocket in the seam that neither of us had noticed before.  Once we found it, we both agreed this would be a great secret pocket for traveling to hold id, extra cash, and room keys so it would be completely accessible but not obvious to thieves and not something you would ever lose.

 

 

In fact, I am incredibly excited to take the Snazzy Baby Carrier on the road with us, as I think it is the ideal carrier for traveling.  It is easy to pack, is versatile enough to take the place of numerous other travel pieces, and can be used for both kids.  Since we rarely bring a stroller with us when we are doing serious travel, having a good carrier that can make us more portable is a huge necessity, and the Snazzy Baby is going to be the first one we grab from now on. 

If you have a little one who likes to travel and explore with you, you will love Snazzy Baby’s full line of baby safety products that make it easy to pick up and go with your kiddos.  From protective gear to travel accessories, they are a great place to start when you are ready to get out with little ones.

Price: $79.99 for the 3-in-1 Combo Carrier

Find out more at http://www.snazzybaby.us/

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win their choice of a Deluxe 3-in-1 Combo Carrier, My Baby's Own Deluxe Travel Chair or Knee Pads from Snazzy Baby!

To Enter: Simply check out www.snazzybaby.us and tell comment below with which of the products you would like to win, and then name one of the awards that that product has won!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like Snazzy Baby on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Keep your kids safe with @raveandreview and @snazzybaby Enter to win a combo baby carrier, a travel seat, or knee pads at http://bit.ly/fn1eSw!

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On April 6th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulation to:

#99 emily l said... I subscribe via email. 2/2

A big thank you to Snazzy Baby for providing us with a sample to facilitate this review and a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Pirose for Nursing {and Beyond!}

I’ve tried quite a few nursing covers in my time and quite honestly couldn’t survive breastfeeding without them.  Who wants to leave a party or a good conversation to go sit by themselves and feed their baby?  Not me.  I’d much rather include my baby in everything I’m doing, having them get used to our on-the-go lifestyle and the flexibility that comes from it. 

But, while I love nursing covers, none that I have ever tried have been quite so practical as the Pirose Nursing Cover from Reno Rose, Inc.  Instead of merely offering a discreet place to nurse, it also has numerous different functions from feeding to fashion.  As someone who hates to buy limited lifespan items, I love that the Pirose Nursing Cover can easily be repurposed for a variety of functions and can be used well after the baby stage. 

Since I am nursing now, I am really loving it as a nursing cover for secluded mealtimes.  Besides being gorgeous {and it truly is, I get strangers coming up to me every time I use it asking where I got my scarf not even realizing that I’m using it to nurse}, I adore that it is extremely lightweight and scrunches up in the smallest diaper bag or purse.  In fact, it even comes with a small pouch that I can stuff it in {no folding required} and toss it in my purse for easy storage on the go. 

Although I was really excited about the sheer fabric because of its space-saving properties and how lightweight it is for warmer weather, I was a bit concerned that you might be able to see right through it.  I was really happy that all my many companions said that they couldn’t see a thing underneath the floral fabric.  However, the really cool part is that it is sheer enough so that baby can see out almost perfectly from under the nursing cover and gets good airflow so he stays at a comfortable temperature, even indoors. 

Besides being great for nursing, I really love that I can use the Pirose from Reno Rose for a variety of different functions in between feedings and even well after baby is weaned.  From uses such as car seat covers, hair scarves and even a place to set baby to play as well as fashion accessories for your purse and wardrobe, there are so many ways to use it that I have no plans to hand it down. 

Even if you’re not nursing, you will want to check out Reno Rose to see their gorgeous products and all the many ways that you can use them.  They also sell a Pirose fashion scarf that is similar to the Nursing Cover, but smaller so that it can be used as a headband, a purse accessory and more!

Price: $35.00

Find out how to wear it, how to find the right size for you, check out some videos, and see all the gorgeous patterns available at Reno Rose, Inc.  You can also keep up with them on Facebook and on Twitter!

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Reno Rose for this review. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

My Creative Noggin: Eco-Friendly Clothing, Toys and More!

As a new mommy, I am more concerned than ever before about the world my child is entering into.  I want to make sure that in her lifetime she is able to experience the same great world that I have grown up enjoying.  So, being more environmentally conscious has been a big transition that grew daily as she grew inside of me a neared entering this world. 

Fortunately for my little girl, and for me, there are some great sources of eco-friendly products for baby and the whole family!  One great place to find these kindred souls has been on Etsy.  Etsy is an online craft fair of sorts.  It a place to buy or sell, or both, handmade or vintage items, art and supplies.  Hand-made and eco-friendly based… what could fit my new deep desires more?  I can literally spend hours and days browsing around on Etsy.  There are products and art for every personality and style type. 

I stumbled across this amazing website while seeking out Owl products for the nursery that I could see in my mind, but couldn’t manifest in the department stores or even boutique shops.  Fortunately in my search for Owls on Etsy, I ran across many options, and one of these was My Creative Noggin.  Not only had I found an adorable screen print Owl image for my little one to proudly show off, I had also found a really awesome and almost entirely eco-friendly shop!

My Creative Noggin has several different products: cards, onesies, toddler t-shirts, and plush toys.  I was ecstatic to find an organic lavender onesie {that is the color of my little girl’s nursery} with an unbelievably adorable “Chubby Owl” print on the front.  The shop also has other adorable prints: Buzzed (a bumble bee), Octos (an octopus) and Giraffe characters and less traditional Love Mix tape and Boombots. While I am partial to Owls, there truly is something for everyone. 

When my onesie arrived, I was very glad to find that the onsie itself was a Zee Spot brand and certified organic.  It also wasn’t one of those boxy shapes that are almost everywhere, it was instead a long and lean fit.  I don’t know any babies that have square torsos, so I really appreciate this tailored fit, ultimately making my little one look as adorable as possible!  

The print on the front was also very high quality.  It wasn’t puffed off the shirt as sometimes screen prints are and I could pull and stretch at my onesie without breaking apart the print and ruining the adorable owl.  I love it when you can really tell that time and energy was spent making quality products for little ones, and My Creative Noggin obviously goes that extra step!  

I returned to the website after receiving my onesie and was really excited to see that Oliver the Owl, Sadie the Snow Owl and Li’l Ollie the Owl, eco-friendly plush toys very similar to the Chubby Owl on my onesie, have now joined the products available.  They would look so adorable decorating my little one’s nursery and I am hoping to eventually add one to the décor.  My Creative Noggin is growing like crazy and I am looking forward to seeing what they keep coming out with!

Check out the entire My Creative Noggin collection on Etsy

A big thank you to My Creative Noggin for sending the sample for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Omaha Steaks for the Perfect Meal at Home {Review & Giveaway}

Now that the holidays and all of our large family get-togethers are behind us, I’m looking forward to planning and hosting some much more intimate dinner parties over the next few months.  While I want to wow dinner guests with something truly special when they come over, I really hate the idea of spending the entire visit cooking, preparing, and cleaning, thus missing out on all the great conversations with our guests.  Because of this aversion to cooking an elaborate dinner, I usually would end up doing something rather boring and simple or suggesting we just go out to dinner instead.

But not anymore.  I was just recently given the opportunity to check out Omaha Steaks and was incredibly impressed not only with the food itself, but also how easy it was to cook, serve and clean up after.  When I first heard I was going to be trying out some gourmet gifts handpicked by their experts, I was a little nervous that I might be spending all night in the kitchen stressing about how to cook everything at once but that wasn’t the case. 

Since I’m horrible at timing even the simplest meal, I was doubtful I was going to be able to handle a gourmet feast, but even I did okay with an Omaha Steaks appetizer, two sides and steaks all ready at the same time.  Part of this is because the included instructions are so easy and clear, and part of it is because almost everything was able to cook in a special tray for baking.  Yes, that’s right, most everything cooked in the oven {aka hands-off cooking} and all but one dish came in its own oven-proof tray {aka easiest cleanup ever}!

If I hadn’t been impressed with Omaha Steaks as I prepared the meal, I certainly would have been once I took my first bite of the best Filet Mignon I have ever had and its accompanying sides.  In fact, the meal was so delicious that I completely forgot to take a picture of the gourmet feast as we began to eat.  No worries, I thought, I will just snap a picture of the leftovers.  Unfortunately I didn’t realize that a meal that centers around Omaha Steaks Filet Mignon is not likely to have any leftovers at all, something I figured out later as the last dish was completely emptied.

While most people would expect a company that has “Steak” in their name to give you a premium Filet Mignon, we were all really impressed by how great every dish, side and dessert was and how well they went together.  Something I probably would have never picked out but that we all {kids included} ended up loving was their Jumbo Bacon-Wrapped Scallops.  We served them with the meal itself instead of as an appetizer and paired them with the delicious Steakhouse Potatoes and some broccoli.  Perfection. 

And, just when our guests thought the feast couldn’t get any better, we pulled out Omaha Steaks individual New York Cheesecakes and drizzled blueberries over the top.  Can you say ‘delicious’?  It pretty much was the best dessert ever and we were all raving as we savored them in our post-feast euphoria.      

Now that we’ve seen how great Omaha Steaks are for intimate dinner parties and how easy it is to cook up a gourmet meal at a fraction of the cost of going to a steakhouse, you can bet I will turn to them again for our next party or dinner in with hubby.  It is easy to order a meal or two and save it in the freezer for your next dinner date, or to do as we did and cook it right as it arrives because you are just dying to try it.  Simply browse the delicious steaks, seafood, side dishes, and desserts at Omaha Steaks and choose your perfect meal and extras.

Here's our perfect meal:

Jumbo Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
4 (6 oz.) Omaha Steaks Filet Mignons
Steakhouse Potatoes
Individual New York Cheesecakes
 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Omaha Steaks Gift Card to spend however you would like! 

To Enter: Simply check out the Omaha Steaks site and tell me how you would fill your shopping basket.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Sign up for the Omaha Steaks newsletter (right side bar, just below the $1,000 giveaway)

3) Like Omaha Steaks on Facebook

4) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Thinking about the delicious meal I would create from @raveandreview and @omahasteaks enter to win at http://bit.ly/gRxcwv!

5) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

6) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

7) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

8) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

9) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On April 4th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This Giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#282 John Darrow said...  3/5 - I voted for you on Top Baby blogs; you're #17

A big thank you to Omaha Steaks for providing us with a sample free of charge to facilitate this review and a gift card to giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

The Butterfly Orb: Interactive Art from Childhood and Beyond {Review & Giveaway}

When decorating a nursery there are a lot of things to keep in mind.  Not only do you want something that is truly special for your baby in the color scheme you have chosen, what is great is if you can find items that can grow with your child and become a fixture in the room during childhood.  As someone who sees a lot of baby products, many with incredibly short time lines, I can attest to the fact that that not many items meet these specifications.

So, when I find something really special that can be customized and personalized for my child and that can grow with them, I want to tell everyone about it.  Top of that list is the Butterfly Orb which is a truly unique take on a baby mobile and definitely not just for babies.  Instead of the plush crib mobile that needs to be taken down when baby is just a few months old, the Butterfly Orb could {and should} become a centerpiece for your child’s room through childhood and beyond.      

In the Butterfly Mobile, delicate butterflies are attached to strands of wire and then twisted into a lightweight orb that you hang from the ceiling so that it gently moves with even the slightest movement.  This makes them fun to just sit and watch, soothing for babies and kids, and incredibly beautiful in many different spaces in your home. 

It is simple to customize your special mobile by choosing the size of the orb, the colors, and whether or not you want to add feathered butterflies.  While not necessary, I would highly recommend adding the feathered butterflies to add dimension and that extra special touch to your mobile.  For my daughter’s special orb, I ended up choosing three different colors for the small butterflies and then added a fourth color with the feathered option and it all went together really nicely once constructed.     

Once designed, I couldn’t wait to see my custom butterfly mobile and was really excited when the box holding it arrived in mere days.  While at first I thought someone had mistakenly shipped an empty box because of how light it was, when I opened it up I was incredibly excited to see the beautiful Butterfly Orb inside.  At first your orb will be compressed slightly for shipping, so all you need to do is gently shape it however you would like and then hang it up to enjoy.  My daughter and I had fun doing this together as she was so excited to get it hanging in her bedroom to watch the butterflies dance around her bed.

After it was hanging in the room, I tied in some special notes from the grandparents and hubby and I as well as a tiny hanging crystal to make it even more personal.  I have plans to update it regularly so I can have the special people in her life write her little messages to leave in the Butterfly Orb.  For now I can read them to her, but eventually she will read herself and be able to collect them for her scrapbook.  As cool as we all thought the Butterfly Mobile was before it was hanging, it quickly became even more beloved once we really made it ours.

Now my daughter enjoys making slight breezes so the orb will spin and swing above her bed each night and having me read the notes that were written just for her.  She loves how the butterflies all move gracefully while she drifts off and I love that it’s an age-appropriate piece of interactive art that I can give my daughter.
 
As someone who is incredibly sentimental about my daughter’s room and doesn’t want to part with anything, I love when I can find products that I don’t have to pack up in mere weeks.  The Butterfly Mobile is absolutely perfect for me because I can see so many opportunities to enjoy the orb in the years to come without worrying that it will become “too babyish”.  I love the idea that my daughter can have something to watch now as she’s soothing herself to sleep and still enjoy that same piece of art as she’s daydreaming of where she wants to go to college 17 years from now.  There certainly aren’t a lot of things you can say that about! 

www.Etsy.com/shop/ButterflyOrb

http://www.ButterflyMobiles.blogspot.com

 

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a custom Butterfly Mobile of their very own! 

To Enter: Simply check out the Butterfly Mobiles site and tell me how you would customize your special creation.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Subscribe to Butterfly Mobiles by ButterflyOrb Blogspot feed

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Hoping to win a custom butterfly mobile from @raveandreview Enter to win at http://bit.ly/e5XztU!

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On April 1st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#116 Jessica said... I voted today and you were in 17th place

A big thank you to ButterflyOrb for providing us with a sample to facilitate my review {and adore} and one to giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders {Review & Giveaway}

Being from the Pacific Northwest means that many spring days are spent inside waiting for the rain to pass.  Although I would have plenty to keep me busy should I be rained in for the week, kids and toddlers are another story entirely.  For them, the best way to spend an indoor day is to learn, make crafts, and imagine, and I found just the book to make that happen.

The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders (National Geographic Children's Books) is a gorgeous hardbound book filled with classic stories, poems, and illustrations paired with numerous activities to do as a family that are fun for a variety of ages.  Not just a gift for kids, this book is a great family gift.  Think of it as a piece of art to put up on the bookshelf that you can pull down to create some really beautiful memories with your child.  

Celebrating all that is pure and innocent about childhood, Childhood Wonders is part treasury, part activity book, and is one of our new favorite children's titles.  Whether you feel like curling up with your kiddos and reading a good book or you've got imagination to spare, Childhood Wonders is a good bet. 

Although I love a good mama snuggle while we read {who doesn't?}, I am really excited about all the activities that the kiddos and I can do together.  From directions on how to create a hideaway fort, playing with shadows, and easy recipes we can cook up together, Childhood Wonders has all the makings of a great day. 

Besides being filled with page after page of gorgeous illustrations, stories, poems and activities, The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders has a great vintage appeal that makes flipping through the pages fun.  Whether you are developing a collection of children’s books for your child’s library or are looking to add this to your own bookcase, it will stand out in your collection and be a favorite for years to come.  

The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders: Favorite adventures, stories, poems, and songs for making lasting memories, by Susan Magsamen, may be a long title, but it really does say it all.  These moments with our children are incredibly precious and in this fast paced world we live in, we all could stand to do a bit slowing down and enjoying this magical time with them.  I can't wait to read Childhood Wonders with my little ones throughout the years and teach them how much fun anything can be with just a little bit of imagination.

“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.”

Find out more at: http://www.familystories.org/index.htm
 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a hardbound copy of The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders

To Enter: Simply check out the FamilyStories website and tell me something you are excited about doing with your little ones

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like National Geographic Kids on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Rainy days don't lead to boredom with the Childhood Wonders Treasury @raveandreview Enter to win now http://bit.ly/gR2rXE!

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On March 28th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank  you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#102 WendySue said.... 3/3 voted for you!

A big thank you to National Geographic Kids for providing us with a sample to facilitate my review and one to giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Tea Collection Mix and Match Clothing {Review}

You may remember a few weeks ago when I found Tea Collection and fell in love with their line of baby clothing and separates for kids and women.  Just recently, we were thrilled when we got to check out a few pieces in person and were incredibly impressed with their quality throughout.   

I had told you I would have a hard time picking a favorite, and that definitely rang true as I spent hours trying to find some pieces to review and even ended up consulting my whole family.  While I was originally planning on buying something gorgeous and girly for my little princess, I got sidetracked when I saw their collection of boy's clothing was as adorable as the girl's clothing. 

If you’ve never shopped for little boys, you probably don’t know how rare that is, but it’s something that never, ever happens.  In fact, because the boy’s line was so cute, I ended up buying 7 pieces of Tea Collection clothing for my infant son.  Of course, I then threw in an adorable skirt for my daughter because I couldn’t resist.

For a great deal on clothing for your little one, you should check out the Mix and Match Sets which include multiple coordinated separates in one bundle for a great savings.  We tried out a 6-piece Mix and Match Set in size 6-12 months because we figured it would be a great foundation for a spring wardrobe and we were absolutely correct.  Once it arrived, I realized how cute each of the pieces were and how great they were for coordinating outfits for our little guy. 

What I really loved about the Mix and Match Set is that each piece is adorable on their own, so when you pair them up the result is almost too much to stand.  Once I get a Tea outfit on our 4 month old, the combination is so adorable that even complete strangers feel the need to stop and comment.  Yes, it’s that cute.  Add in a very excited big sister in her new comfortable and go-anywhere Tea skirt in plum and it’s heart melting. 

If you’re buying for kids and babies and haven’t heard of Tea Collection children's clothing for ages 0-12, you should definitely head over to teacollection.com and oogle over all the adorable-ness. You can also find their collections in specialty and department stores throughout North America and Australia.  Stores include Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and numerous high-end children's boutiques. 

You can also find Tea Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/teacollection.

 

A big thank you to Tea Collection for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

The Perfect Nursing Bra from Bravado Designs

One of the most difficult challenges in any woman’s life is finding a good bra.  If this isn’t the case for you, I envy your ability to fit into those predetermined sizes.  Although bras for any purpose can be impossible to find, a nursing bra is even more so because there is so much that goes into finding one that works for you. 

Besides needing comfort for day and night, support for different circumstances, and the right size (cup, band around and straps over the shoulder) you also need the functionality of removing one side to fulfill one of your child’s basic needs on demand.  It’s ridiculous when you really sit down hand think of all the factors coming into play, and it’s really no wonder that most mother’s dread nursing bra shopping.

With two Rave and Review writers currently in the market for nursing gear, I’m sure you can imagine the excitement here at Rave Central when we found a company that seemed to address every need each of us had: day and night comfort, tenderness, and ease of use, all while being reasonably cute. 

That company is Bravado! Designs, which started with a single bra and two nursing moms and now has transformed to a full line offering stylish, comfortable and quality maternity and nursing bras and tanks for every mom.  Here are two mom's tales of finding the perfect nursing bra: 

I got to try out the award-winning, “mom and celebrity favorite” from Bravado: the Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra.  While my hopes for this bra were huge, the Body Silk did not disappoint. 

For me, I crave support.  This has been even more evident as I have gone through my first pregnancy and my chest has been constantly changing; literally every month has been different.  Even worse is that my chest now is uncomfortable at all times and a wired bra for support while having a sensitive chest is not something that I found that appealing. 

I was determined to find support and comfort for my nighttime wear, during pregnancy and then once baby arrived.  To find even one bra that fit the bill, I had tried several options from a major chain maternity store (I bought all but one style available in the shop in my size) and had not found any possible to sleep in, let alone one that was 100% comfortable during the day.

I was so pleasantly surprised when my Bravado Designs Silk Seamless arrived and I comfortably wore it the first night.  This bra truly does mold your own unique shape and size.  Most importantly, this bra was supporting me, all of the new me, without causing any additional discomfort.  Shock and awe!  And eternal gratitude to the two women, and all the new additions to their company that had made this possible!

This Body Silk Seamless design features a molded removable foam cup that gives you the option for more or less coverage to hide nursing pads and nipples.  There are 4 different closure lengths at the back and adjustable straps that allow for different adjustments, so the bra can change to fit you as you are constantly changing - from pregnancy all the way through established nursing.   While I might not wear the Body Silk Nursing Bra out for a date with hubby or for girls night out, wearing it to run errands, around the house, and even to work was just fine.  

I have to admit that when I read the “celebrity favorite” claim, I was a little nervous to click on the link and figure out what kind of a budget I was going to have to build to fund my new need for nursing bras.  Honestly, I don’t make the same kind of money as Jennifer Garner… I wish!  I was pleasantly surprised to find that these bras are reasonably priced, as well as incredibly comfortable. 

Seriously, the price for the Bravado Designs Body Silk Nursing Bra is not much more than those horribly uncomfortable, non-functioning options I had tried out from the chain store.  While I wouldn’t want to broadcast this too loud, but I would actually pay way more for the bra now that I know how perfect it truly is!  Really, when it comes to bras (whether for nursing or not), a good bra is priceless!  Now that I know the quality and comfort that I can expect from Bravado! Designs, I am excited to replace those unfortunate initial nursing bra purchases with other Bravado! options.  

I got to try out the Bliss Nursing Bra from Bravado and 100% feel that it lives up to its name.  Like Katie, I also had bought out all of my size nursing bras from the chain stores in my area and had amassed a small collection of ill-fitting and uncomfortable undergarments throughout the nursing of both of my children.  Because I still have months and months (and months…) left of nursing my youngest, I decided I would finally go on the hunt for some truly comfortable nursing bras this time around. 

That search led me to find the PTPA winning Bravado's line of nursing wear and after trying them out, realized I could have saved hundreds of dollars had I shopped here the first time around.  While I initially was worried because you can’t try on the bras when you buy them online, I found that by following their easy measurement guide, the end result is a bra that fits me better than my entire bra collection – nursing or otherwise.

The Bliss Nursing Bra features seamless foam cups that hide even the bulkiest breast pad, flexible shapers under each cup (no wires!), and cute little details that remind me that I’m not a grandma yet.  While all of this sounds pretty awesome, what is truly rave-tastic about the Bliss is the gentle stretch of the cups that give great support and shape while offering the most comfortable bra I have ever worn. 

Of course, I wouldn’t be raving about the Bliss if it wasn’t incredibly easy to nurse in.  With cups that drop down and away from your body to give babe the best access as well as one hand opening and closing, the Bliss is truly awesome for daily use.  

 Why you should tell all your friends about Bravado Designs:  They really do have everything for everyone, as well as all of those size options you can’t always find in stores.  After trying out the Body Silk and the Bliss, all of us at Rave and Review are huge fans and will never shop at the department stores for nursing bras again!

To find out more, visit Bravado Designs at http://www.bravadodesigns.com/.  You can also follow Bravado Designs on Twitter or "like" Bravado Designs on Facebook to keep up to date on all their promotions, new releases, and news!

A big {huge} thank you to Bravado! Designs for sending samples for review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Spread the Diva Love!

Have you heard of the Double Duty Divas?  The Double Duty Divas are a blog network devoted to helping bloggers promote and grow their sites as well as network with each other. 

 

This February they are Spreading the Diva Love by introducing our favorite DDDiva colleagues to our readers so we can all check out some wonderful new sites.  If you didn't already see it, Rave and Review was featured on the wonderful Cool Baby Kid site (thanks Cecelia, we love you, too!) 

 

To further spread the Diva Love, we’ve chosen some new sites we love that we wanted to share with you, our readers.  Without further ado, here are three that are worth checking out:

 

 

  
 

Dirt Devils are Red, Violets are Blue…

...if you're still looking for something for hubby, I think this will do!

What comes in a shiny red package that is all ready for the day of love?  Why Dirt Devil, naturally.  Since most of us are thinking practical this year, it makes sense to get your honey something that can be used all year long.  That something is the full line of cleaning tools from Dirt Devil that all have their signature red color, sleek design, and affordable price points. 

One thing that is top of my honey’s wishlist is the Dirt Devil Heavy-Duty Pressure Washer.  Since winter left Seattle damp and cold, there has been a huge amount of sludge that has accumulated since we rented a pressure washer last spring.  Determined to save money this year and keep up our home, we decided that instead of paying to rent, we would invest in the tools that allow us to better maintain our yard, patios and outdoor areas. 

Investing in a good power washer would allow us to keep up on cleaning on a regular basis and give us more freedom to get projects done on our schedule.  Now instead of having to pay a bunch of money to rent a pressure washer and spend a whole weekend cleaning hoping we don’t forget something, we can now quickly and easily pressure wash whenever we feel like it without it becoming a day-long project that can easily be ruined by rain.   This was something I was really excited about because our house and outdoor areas only need a deep clean once or twice a year, but it’s always nice to do maintenance cleans throughout the year to keep things looking tidy. 

But, like most homeowners, we don’t need a huge gas pressure washer taking up half of our garage, so we set our sights on a smaller and more economical electric pressure washer that was powerful but not industrial.  When I found out that Dirt Devil made a whole line of PressureFlex power washers that are perfect for residential use and backed by the Dirt Devil name, I knew it was the perfect solution for us. 

Featuring varying sprays, easy-to-use attachments, and an on-board detergent applicator, the 1600 PSI Pressure Washer from Dirt Devil lets you conquer even the toughest cleaning projects while still remaining completely portable.  Even though the Dirt Devil PressureFlex 1600 Pressure Washer is only slightly bigger than a hiking pack, it was more than powerful enough to clean the green buildup off our driveway and front porch.  And, since it is electric, it was much quieter than other units we have rented, but had all sorts of features that made it perfect for our applications.

With an adjustable nozzle to vary the flow and size of the spray, you can go from dried on gunk removal to light furniture cleaning easily.  From the siding and decorative rockery on our house to outdoor furniture and play things, the adjustable flow allowed us to tackle each job easily and left it looking brand new without peeling off paint or damaging softer woods and structures. 

Not only is a Dirt Devil Heavy-Duty Pressure Washer ideal for patios, porches and decks, it is also perfect for portable jobs where weight and size are issues.  Another thing I love is that the Dirt Devil Pressure Flex 1600 comes with a detergent tank that you can fill with your favorite cleanser and actually clean outdoor spaces and rugs thoroughly each season.  Why pay money for rentals or call the professionals when you can get a deep clean on your own and keep your house looking great year-round?  

Dirt Devil 1600 PSI Heavy-Duty Pressure Washer Product Features:
• 12-AMP motor
• 19' high pressure hose
• Adjustable stream-to-fan spray nozzle
• Aluminum pump with auto stop system
• Turbo spray nozzle
• Gun with safety catch
• Quick connect spray wand with trigger lock
• On-board accessory storage
• 30' power chord with GFCI protection

Even if power washers aren’t on your honey’s list, Dirt Devil has a full line of signature red appliances to make cleaning more enjoyable that are perfect for gifting this Valentine’s Day.  From uprights, hand vacs and stick vacuums to canister vacs and carpet shampooers, Dirt Devil offers professional level cleaning with great price points for any household.

You can now keep up with Dirt Devil on Facebook, follow them and interact with them today!

 

A huge thank you to Dirt Devil for sending a sample to review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.