Veronica Mars DVD Giveaway

My husband just told me about the Veronica Mars DVD that is in theaters today, March 14, 2014. He is super excited because he faithfully watched every episode of the Veronica Mars television series. I am hosting this giveaway for his sake. I do not get a free copy of the DVD but he (and everyone else!) is allowed to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a free copy of this below.

About Veronica Mars:

On the eve of graduating law school, Veronica Mars has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her. While interviewing at high-end New York law firms, Veronica Mars gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don't seem right with how Logan's case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind.

Visit the website to preorder a digital HD copy today: http://theveronicamarsmovie.com 

In Theaters MARCH 14, 2014

ETA Movie Release MAY 2014

The television series aired from 2004-2007. If you need a refresher, watch Director Rob Thomas' Top 10 Episodes. 

If you think you know all there is about Veronica Mars, test your luck at the Purity Test Marshmallow Super-Fan Trivia game. One of the giveaway entries will be to brag about your high scores in this post's comment section. =)


Enter to win your free copy of the Veronica Mars movie below! This giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada. Good luck! I can't wait to check out this movie for myself!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother Daughter Silly Time with Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask #PowerOfPlants

Can you guess what is on the top of my relaxing spa and pampering list?? It is definitely face masks! I love them! They clean, purify, and soften the skin on your face. Many of you know that I received a Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask in my J'Adore VoxBox from Influenster. I have already used it once before and decided to share the fun with my daughter, Miss A! She is two and a half years old and has a crazy-big sense of humor! We had a blast!

The Boots Botanics face mask was developed with Kew Royal Botanic Gardens plant extracts, to bring skincare products proven to work. It uses oceanic minerals to help draw out deep-rooted impurities and oil without drying to create a clearer, softer look. There is also Willow bark extract added, as it is a natural source of salicylic acid, used to refine skin texture and target skin imperfections.

(Obviously my two year old has beautifully young skin so she was just in it for kicks and giggles!)

Ingredients:

• Sea Silt (Natural Oceanic Clay)
• Aqua (Water)
• Potassium Sorbate-- Naturally occurring anti-microbial compound used as a preservative
• Sodium Hydroxymethyglycinate-- Often used in 'natural' products as a preservative in place of parabens. 
• Salix Nigra (Willow) bark extract

This is a very runny face mask so be careful when applying it and do so over your bathroom sink. It is recommended to apply the mask on to a clean face and let it set for 10 minutes before rinsing. I took my daughter's mask off a little early because she kept saying her face felt messy. The mask dries super fast though, so there were no problems with it running off my face and getting onto my clothes.

My skin felt very refreshed, tight, and clean. It did not cause a burning or tingling sensation either. My face was very soft and smooth. I will continue to use this product and possibly even purchase more in the future!

Check out the Boots USA Website to view more of their products.

J'Adore VoxBox from Influenster

I was super lucky to receive a second VoxBox from Influenster in exchange for product reviews! I was wayy excited to sample these new products. Even my husband benefited from my social media addiction this time!

My J'Adore VoxBox contains the following products:

• Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate
• Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes
• John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray
• Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask
• Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas: Creme Caramel & Lemon Chiffon 
• Vaseline Men Spray Lotion

I have already tried Hershey's Kisses many, many times! As always, they are an excellent addition to our candy bowl.

I have never ever tried fake eyelashes before and never intended on doing so until I saw my tiny, little, baby sister (k.a.l.l.o) wear a pair. [Excuse the inside joke.] A little time passed and I forgot about fake eyelashes. Suddenly, a pair of Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes showed up in my mailbox. It was time to test those babies out!

Boom Baby! You know you like that! 

So my overall opinion of fake eyelashes only applies to the idea of fake eyelashes. I don't like them. I went to the grocery store and was paranoid that my eyelashes were hanging partially off. They were definitely secured in place... but I was worried about it all day. Also, I don't like the idea of people seeing me wearing fake eyelashes and knowing that they are fake. Therefore, no fake eyelashes for me unless it is a special occasion. Overall, I had no problem with the Kiss brand. They were fairly simple to apply and readjust as necessary.

Glamour Shot- Oooh I feel so sexy!

So far I really like the John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray. I am positive that it will keep my hair straight for three days. I can't experiment and do the three-day-no-wash confirmation test yet because I constantly have a baby spitting up all over me. I can go two days without showering but I feel really gross by then. If I don't have spoiled milk rotting in my hair, my son probably sprayed me with urine. Pleasant huh? Maybe once my newborn stops drooling all over the place, I can give it a go! I definitely like the product because it is so lightweight that I can not even feel it in my hair. I am anxious to try it out when the summer humidity hits Michigan.

I am a huge fan of any and all face masks; homemade or store bought. So when I found a tube of Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask in my J'Adore VoxBox, I was stoked! I had a lot of fun with it. I like that it dries really quick and it leaves your face fully refreshed! I only noticed one slightly negative thing about this face mask. The consistency is very thin and runny. It works great but it can get messy. Below, I just had to include pictures with my son who was did not seem to mind that my face was covered in clay... Next time, my sweet two year old girl and I will be using the mask together for some quality girl time. This mask did not make my face burn or tingle intensely.

Gotta love those wrinkles... Hubby thanked me for giving him insight into my future old lady looks!!

The next product is the Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas. I am more of a coffee drinker than a tea drinker but I do occasionally enjoy a fine cup of tea! The Red Rose Creme Caramel tea has a very rich taste. It is an excellent choice for drinking in the bitter cold, winter weather. I prepared my cup with a dash of sugar and splash of milk. I also made a cup without sugar and equally enjoyed the taste.

My husband got to sample the last product, which was a can of Vaseline Men Spray Lotion. I will summarize his comments and first reactions below, and include my own opinion!

Essentially, the can does what it says it will do. It hydrates your skin quickly. However, he said he was not the ideal candidate for testing this product because he likes to steer clear from lotions with fragrance, as fragrances tend to irritate his sensitive skin. At the very least, he states, "This product increases my chances of getting lucky because my wife likes the scent... haha" It is true that the lotion smells very masculine and sexy! But overall, he does not like it because he finds it dumb that you still have to rub the lotion into your skin after spraying it. He says, "What's the point?" I say, what a typical male response! No true care in the world about silly new products on the market... LOL. I love spray on lotion and think it is much easier to apply than bottled lotion!

I cannot convince him to let me film an instavideo of him applying the lotion to submit to Influenster. He is NO FUN! Hahaa... I want to make one of those sexy perfume commercials with a deep voiced man saying "OH BABY" in the background!! I will continue to work on catching him in action using the Vaseline Men Spray Lotion he claims to have no interest in! Hahaha.

Anyways, that is all for now! A big thanks to Influenster! If anyone is interested in signing up for Influenster, contact me with your email and I will send you an invite. Otherwise, feel free to check it out yourself at Influenster.com.

Giveaway: One Year iParent.TV Subscription

I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF iPARENT.TV THIS JUNE 2014!! 

What is iParent.TV? 
It is a yearly, subscription-based website for teaching and informing parents on all things tech, mobile, devices, websites, and apps to keep children safe on the internet.

Why subscribe? 

I feel that I am well educated about what happens on the internet. However, the internet is large and it is almost impossible to keep up on the ever changing technology. I expect this new platform will help me to teach my children about internet safety. iParent.TV will offer access to hundreds of videos, reviews, how-tos, and live chat support to help parents understand what is safe and what is not safe in the world of tech. It will offer expert advice on everything related to popular apps, social network sites, major websites, and top devices. When you have a two year who is already using your phone and laptop to play internet based games, you know how easily it will be for them to wander throughout the internet on their own. A two year old is extremely smart. The younger they start to use the internet, the faster they will find trouble.

The $49 annual subscription includes a password and login to the access the site's information on what is new in the world of tech and how it affects your family. There will be ratings and rankings on which platforms are safe for kids and age ranges so you know if a site is safe for very young children.

Enter below for your chance to win a free subscription! In the unfortunate event that you are not chosen and you are still interested in subscribing, they are currently offering a pre-launch discount of $29 for the year subscription at iparent.tv on IndieGoGo.
You can also visit iParent.TV for more information on their services.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**I am receiving a year subscription to announce the upcoming launch of iParent.TV this June 2014.**

Product Review: Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump

View on the Ameda Purely Yours on Amazon.

The Ameda Purely Yours breast pump retails around $160.00. My insurance company actually covered the cost of the Ameda Purely Yours breast pump in full but I was highly disappointed. This breast pump is very inefficient. It fails to create suction over half of the time, pumping little to no milk at all.

I like that this pump is lightweight and easily transportable. I like the ideas behind the Ameda Proven Airlock Protection technology. According to their website, Ameda has the world's only breast pump kit to provide a protective barrier to prevent air flow between expressed milk and pump tubing. This allows for milk purity.

Unfortunately, the silicone diaphragms do not inflate and deflate properly. This is essential to create suction and express milk. I was constantly removing the top caps in the middle of pumping in order to deflate the diaphragms entirely. The pump would work for one or two more suctions before I had to undo the caps again. I checked for rips and tears in all pump parts and ensured that all parts were completely dry before use. It did not help. I do not know why the pump worked one session and not another. I was even told that a lactation consultant did not recommend this specific pump. (Unfortunately it was a little too late though!)

This pump caused a lot of unnecessary stress for a sleep deprived mother, in pain from engorged breasts. I ended up in tears multiple times trying to get this pump to function properly in the middle of the night. I ended up giving up entirely after one month and acquired a Medela Pump in Style Advanced breast pump, which was a huge relief. I am not receiving any compensation to promote Medela but I highly recommend Medela breast pumps for mothers who plan to breastfeed and work full time.

Giveaway: Smile Brilliant's LED Teeth Whitening

{Read with sad, depressing voice. Think Eeyore.}
Do you long day and night to rid the yellow from your grungy teeth?

Do you feel your self consciousness eating away at your soul?
Do you feel a constant rejection due to your unpleasant appearance?

Well I am certain that the statements above are true and that means it is time to change reality.
Smile Brilliant is here to save you from your sorrows! 

One lucky reader will have the chance to brighten their smile and make their dreams come true.

Funny? Okay, maybe not. Let's be real though and I will show you what Smile Brilliant has to offer!

Smile Brilliant created an affordable product to whiten your teeth using a high intensity LED accelerator light and 22% carbamide peroxide professional strength whitening gel. It is a superior alternative to other over-the-counter teeth whitening products based on thousands of personal reviews available on the internet. The whitening gel works by removing stains that lie on the tooth enamel, the protective coating that covers your dentin. It helps to reveal the natural color of your dentin, which varies from a bright to off white color depending on the person. Over 95% of users will achieve some level of whitening while using this product.

Each kit contains an LED accelerator light, 4ml whitening pen with 22% professional strength whitening gel, lip guard, and a detailed instructional brochure. The gel lasts 2 years if refrigerated and 1 year at room temperature. If you only whiten your front teeth there should be enough for 5-8 applications.


Take a look at beautiful me turning my life around! ;) I have already completed one 30 minute application and found that the process is very simple to use.

1. Apply the gel to your teeth.
2. Insert the lip guard.
3. Place the LED light in front of your teeth and wrap your lips around the plastic guard. 
4. Perform each LED light session for 20-40 minutes and if desired, leave the gel on for 1-3 hours. 

I am very excited to do further applications. I have never experimented much with teeth whitening products because I have not felt the need. However, thanks to my two little children, I have grown into a coffee addict. No coffee equals no motivation and minimal patience! And as you probably know, coffee stains teeth and ruins a white smile. I figured I would use this teeth whitening system to give my teeth a fresh start, since I will not be stopping the coffee intake anytime soon! Nor will I stop my casual red wine soirees... which also contribute to stained teeth.

Please feel free to check our their website for additional information.
http://www.smilebrilliant.com/product/led-teeth-whitening

And then enter the giveaway! Good luck to you!! =)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rimmel London Scandeleyes: My Retro Look

I can look into your soul with my new Rimmel London Scandeleyes Retro Glam Mascara... 

The secret lies within the hour glass wand shape.

One application coats your lashes entirely.
Three layers for effective "build-ability".
No clumping.
And you get your beautiful Retro Glam look... as if you glued on a fake set of lashes!

Advice: For best results, do not let the mascara dry on your lashes in between coats.

Minimalism & Rimmel London Scandeleyes Retro Glam Mascara

Check out my Instagram video below to see how this new mascara really is buildable. 

If you have been amazed, this product hits stores November 2013! ;)

The Rose VoxBox 2013

I found this Rose VoxBox in my mailbox this past week and I was thrilled!!! This is my first time receiving products from Influenster so the anticipation was just killing me! Anyone can sign up and become an Influenster member for a chance to sample products. However, you must maintain a certain status by reviewing products and taking short surveys to qualify. For more information on Influenster, visit www.influenster.com. Anyways, back to my excitement-- Take a look at what I got!!

The Rose Voxbox 2013 contains the following products:

• belVita crunch Breakfast Biscuits 
• Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions
• Kiss Gradation Polishes
• Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara
• VitaBath Hydrating Lotion
• Lindt LINDOR Milk Chocolate Truffles

What an excellent surprise!

Here is what I have discovered digging into this package. 

• Well, I have already purchased the belVita crunch breakfast biscuits in the past. They are delicious and make for an easy breakfast containing 18g of whole grain, energy releasing B vitamins and fiber without the corn syrup or artifical flavors and sweeteners. I have personally tried all five flavors (Blueberry, Apple Cinnamon, Cinnamon Brown Sugar, Chocolate, and Golden Oat) and they taste equally delicious. I recommend buying them, however, I only buy them on sale as they are a little pricey. It was a real treat to have another sample!

• I was very excited to see the Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions in my Rose Voxbox. I have never tried any Dr.Scholl's products before but have been curious about them. Unfortunately, my casual flats that I wanted to put them in did not work with these cushions. They made the shoe too tight for my foot. They do make an excellent addition to my black shoes below though. These shoes have zero support in them. I like that the cushions add support and warmth to my shoes. How perfect for the cold weather that has finally arrived!

• I painted my nails tonight using the Kiss Gradation Polishes. I thought that I would fail altogether and end up using the three nail polishes separately but it actually turned out nice! The process was very easy and there is plenty of room for error while still finishing with a professional look. 

Kiss Gradation Polishes

• My favorite product in this box is the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara by far! I love this mascara for its hour glass shaped wand and thick black coat it does in one application. The hour glass shape allows you to coat all your eyelashes in one stroke without missing the inner and outer sections of your lashes. I doubt I will go back to the straight wand again. 

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara

• I like the VitaBath hydrating lotion enough to use the whole bottle. I received the "relaxing green tea" and "soul cleansing power of sage" scented lotion, which is pleasant and light. It is an excellent product in that it is free of parabens, propylene glycol, phthalates, sulfates, petrolatum, mineral oil, and synthetic color. It is also filled with an antioxidant rich superfruit blend of acai, goji, coffee, noni, pomegranate, green tea, and manosteen. 

• No one can go wrong purchasing Lindt LINDOR Milk Chocolate Truffles. This company makes some of the best chocolates ever due to the smooth, rich, and creamy texture. I have previously tried the white chocolate truffles but never the milk chocolate until now. They are both delicious and I can say with 100% certainty that all of their other flavors are just as delectable! And this is coming from someone who does not label themselves as a chocolate lover. 

I received all products complimentary from Influenster.

Best Children's Books for One Year Olds

We love Touch and Feel books! These books have pages filled with bumpy reptile-like skin, silky bows and clothing, shiny mirrors, furry dogs, felt, ribbons, and more. These are definitely my recommendation for the best children's books for one year olds and even younger babies.

They are great because not only do they offer a nice reading experience, but they keep your child entertained while reading. Let's face it, with all the new sparkly, musical, dancing toys out there, books aren't always a child's first choice.

The three children's books that we have of this sort are DK Baby's Touch and Feel Farm, Usborne Touchy-Feely books That's Not My Dolly, and DwellStudio Touch and Feel Zoo. Let me tell you again how awesome they are... THEY ARE AWESOME!!





Miss A likes to feel every page, whether or not there is animal fur or some soft material to feel or not. She loves it. It's really cute to watch her little fingers reach for the page every time I turn it to feel the ducky or penguin skin.

Reading with your baby is so much fun when they sit on your lap and follow along the whole time! It's a good experience for all. :)

Does the Gyro Bowl Really Work?

Let me start by saying that I do LOVE the idea of the spill-proof Gyro bowl for children.

But you can't seriously think a bowl could be smarter than your child?? Children are specialists at creating messy disasters all over your house, car, lawn, and basically everywhere that their tiny, little, grubby hands end up touching. Come on people... of course it doesn't work all the time. It is not completely spill-proof as it claims to be. In general, the Gyro bowl will work to hold most of the snack inside, even as your child is whipping it in a circle over their head. (Gotta give the bowl some credit for that!) But you will still have grapes, little bits of cheese, or crackers spread all over your floor. If you are lucky enough to have a child that is part dog like me, they will end up picking up all the leftovers one by one until the floor is cleaned up.

I'd say this bowl is definitely worth the purchase. It does a much better job at containing food compared to a regular bowl.



The package says it's for ages 2 years and up but it does a decent job for my 11 month old as well. Look how she likes to hold it...

Miss A modeling how she uses the Gyro Bowl to eat her morning snack.

V-Tech Sit to Stand Pink Activity Walker

This past Christmas Miss A received this totally awesome pink activity walker made by V-Tech. She hasn't been able to use it in the standing position until recently. Before she pounded on the top piano/activity center while it was on the floor. (And I do mean pound. Anything to hear that dang cow or lion talk!) Now that Miss A is 9 months old, we let her stand by it and play with all the gadgets and buttons attached to it. Since she her legs are still pretty wobbly, I still remain close by while she plays. The toy itself is fairly stable. I've only seen her tip it forward once or twice. It has breaks on the bottom so it won't roll forward. I'll lift the breaks once she starts walking or taking a few steps by herself. The best part of this product is that it is an educational toy. It promotes learning colors, numbers, animals, and traffic safety ("Look Both Ways!" and "Go Slow!") not only in English but in Spanish as well. I am even learning some animals in Spanish-- pretty cool for the parents passionate about foreign language. (That's us!) She really loves this toy because she is able to stand and play... and that's exciting! It's something new. Sounds silly but it's huge for her. Look at all her excitement!

 

Miss A is fully entertained by the V-Tech Sit to Stand Pink Activity Walker! 

vtech

Bright Starts Bounce-A-Bout Activity Center

This is one of Miss A's favorite toys... or should I say "Activity Center"! She loves it because there are so many fun things to look at. The best part about this toy is that there are NO BATTERIES REQUIRED and she still loves it! I hung up another Bright Starts Tug n Pull Musical Pig on it so there's some music for her to listen to. There are seven different toys on it and you can order more off their website. We probably won't order anymore because we have a lot of other toys we clip on to it. There's also a little tray where you can set more toys, pacifiers, or even a sippy cup [filled with water of course ;)] on it.

My mom isn't thrilled with this activity center because she can't walk around the house with it like she wants her to. I like it because it keeps her entertained in one place! She still gets her exercise because she can bounce on it! She hasn't quite mastered the bouncing aspect of it yet but soon! We registered for this for our baby shower and happily received it as a gift! We thought the bouncers would be safer than the baby walkers so she doesn't get into anything she's not supposed to. This would definitely be the better option for those with stairs!

 

 

Munchkin Food Nets

I recently bought a Munchkins Food Net for my teething (?) baby. These food nets are amazing! Right now she is only four and a half months, so we haven't really started solid foods yet. I still plan on waiting awhile longer before introducing solids but since she appears to be teething, I've been peeling apples and putting them inside the food nets for her. This way she has a nutritious, soothing toy to chew on. The first time we gave it to her she absolutely loved it. She chewed/sucked on the food net like a popsicle. It's sooo cuute and funny! It really was a lifesaver. After hours of fussing/screaming, this was the only thing that calmed her. I'm almost positive it was soothing her gums. I recommend these to all teething babies, especially if they aren't doing well with solids yet. These nets have a handle that snaps tightly shut, preventing the food chunks from entering the baby's mouth. Later, when we start to give her more solids, I'll put more fruits and vegetables inside. But until she's at least six months, I'm only putting apples in them. :)

Baby Steps also makes their own version of the food net. I haven't tried this one but it serves the same purpose as the Munchkins version.  

My Experience Using Fenugreek

I feel guilty and ashamed to be feeding Miss A so much formula! She's only four months and I am almost unable to nurse her... :( I tried using Fenugreek a month ago to help with this situation. Fenugreek is an herb that's supposed to help increase milk supply and help maintain the overall health of your breasts. The first two weeks I took two 500mg capsules three times a day, as directed by the bottle. I was really good about not forgetting to take it because I was desperate to increase my milk supply. It made me smell sweet. [sweeter than I already am! pff..] Sweet like maple syrup. I could smell it especially if I did some type of exercise. It was like I was sweating maple syrup. How pleasant! Anyways after two weeks of taking this herb, there was no noticeable change in my milk supply. :( I might have messed it up by starting an eight hour work day but I pumped consistently. Once at 7:30am, 12:00pm, 4:15pm, and then every 2-3hrs after until bedtime which is around 10-11pm. After two weeks, I kinda lost hope already and only took two capsules once or twice each day for another week or two. But now I have officially stopped all together. I still pump consistently but I only get about 3-4 ounces per day. THAT IS BAD. Let me repeat. THAT IS REALLY BAD. I keep thinking, "Okay, so for the next baby I will know how to keep up my milk supply. I won't supplement as many bottles of formula too early. I won't stop pumping consistently. During the first month when my milk supply is ridiculous and I am LOADED with milk, I will pump like crazy!" I just feel bad because I want to keep giving Miss A breast milk, especially since winter is coming. Colds and flues get passed around more often when it's cold so I want Miss A to have as much protection against viruses as possible! I will keep pumping and trying but Fenugreek has failed me.

I still do have hope that Fenugreek may work for other women. I might not have pumped enough to stimulate milk production. My diet hasn't been the greatest/healthiest lately. Lastly, I don't know if I have been drinking enough fluids or not...

What is really nice and comforting is that I can still nurse Miss A each morning when she wakes up. I never thought I would miss breastfeeding but I really do! It's our snuggle time. It's mommy-baby time. :( I'm hoping to be able to keep it up until she's at least six months old! That is my goal-- hope I'm successful!

Blairex Boudreaux's Butt Paste

This is a great product to cure diaper rash fast! Someone at my baby shower gave me a tube of Blairex Boudreaux's Butt Paste and told me it was Miracle Cream! She told me she uses Butt Paste not only for diaper rash, but for baby acne or breakouts anywhere on the skin.

Miss A had a minor case of diaper rash this past week. [Yes, using cloth diapers can cause diaper rash too unfortunately.] It was there for a few days before I realized that was what she had. As a first time mother, I have never seen what diaper rash looked like. Miss A was so fussy! So I dug out the tube of Butt Paste and rubbed some on her bum. By the next diaper change it disappeared! No joke! It was 2-3hrs later. I put more of the cream on her just as a precaution but it was completely gone and Miss A was a much happier baby girl!


PROS

• Works fast!
• Good value/ price
• Helps treat & prevent diaper rash
• Protects chafed skin due to diaper rash
• Helps seal out wetness
• Soothes & heals cuts and scrapes
• For people of all ages! 

CONS

• None. I read somewhere online not to use diaper rash creams with gDiapers because it will cause build up and ruin the cloth's absorbency. However, I haven't had any problems with this.   

BeBands & BellaBands

These are maternity bands that you wear over your too-tight-unbuttoned-regular or too-loose-maternity jeans/shorts/skirts. You layer them so it looks like you are wearing a tank top underneath your shirt and they hold up your jeans.

BellaBand

BeBand

Thoughts Before the Purchase: I had never heard of maternity bands until I went to a garage sale. The lady was selling a lot of used baby and maternity clothes. I asked her if she had any stretch pants because I was having trouble fitting into my jeans, skirts, shorts, etc. She asked me if I had any maternity bands and tried to explain what they were to me. I had never heard of such thing. She ran inside and grabbed a pair she didn't think to put in the sale and gave it me. At the time I was wearing a longer shirt over an unbuttoned skirt so I was really excited about ending this problem. I've had to be careful not to lift up my shirt, exposing myself/my underwear, and taking away my dignity so I gladly bought them!

Pros [after use]:

Very comfortable

Available in neutral colors [white, black, beige, etc] to easily coordinate with shirts

Retains elasticity and doesn't stretch out or become too loose

Doesn't ride up and expose you
Hides belly button if you pull it up over it! [I love it when it isn't protruding so far out... I don't like hearing daily comments on how people can see my belly button!]

I'm about 32 weeks pregnant and I can still wear my regular jeans with these! Just purchasing one or two of these bands is a money saver itself because I don't plan on buying any maternity bottoms.

I vote this to be the Best Maternity Accessory ever!

Cons [after use]: 

None, except for the general problem of trying to maintain balance while slipping one foot into the band and then the next foot without falling over! [This is the same issue I have when putting on pants, jeans, skirts, underwear...my baby bump gets in the way!]

*I have not noticed any difference in practicality between BeBands and Bellabands. I own one of each. You can see in the chart that there are a few differences between the two brands though.

BeBand	BellaBand
Cheaper, $16.99 at Target	More Expensive, $26.99 at babyuniverse.com
Thinner Material [72% Nylon, 21% Spandex]	Thicker Material [84% Nylon, 16% Spandez]
Regular Style	Regular Style & Lace Trimmed

BeBands to keep your Fashion during Pregnancy

I was out looking for clothes at garage sales this weekend and I came across something very helpful for pregnant ladies who do not want to buy much maternity clothing.

It's called a BeBand and it's magical!

It's a band of fabric you wear over your pants and underneath a shirt to cover up jeans or skirts that you can no longer button. I will tell you that it is definitely worth the extra $10-15 it costs in stores. I can wear jeans with normal length shirts again! I have completely worn out all of my longer shirts that could hide my unbuttoned/unzipped jeans, so it's nice to be able to wear my other shirts again. The BeBand makes it look like you layered your shirt with a tank top, which is "in" regardless. So I give props to whoever invented this handy little maternity band!

Below are two pictures of me modeling the BeBand at 30 weeks pregnant.

Here are two maternity band links by Topshop that cost $14.00.

If you don't own one of these maternity bands yet, check out my first solution to Wearing Jeans While Pregnant.