Fitness for Moms Like Me - Month-long Walkabout Launches Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear

Fitness

I was invited to the Media Only Event Kickoff with Podiatrist Philip Vasyli and Dr. Andrew Weil in NYC. Unfortunately NYC is a little out of the way for me so instead I will be attending virtually on Tuesday, March 27th at 11:30am EST.

The great part is though the live event is media only YOU are invited to the virtual event. You can join Philip Vasyli, Dr. Andrew Weil, myself, and the other 49 ambassadors as we Kick off this amazing experience. Learn what it is all about and get motivated to join a movement to get fit. 

Virtual Tea 28-day Walkabout

Where: http://www.weilbeing.com
When: Tuesday, March 27th
Time: 11:30am EST

Kids Easter All-in-One Music CD, Project Book and Stickers Activity Set Review & Giveaway, Ends 4/4

Celebrations

Giveaway details below

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What could be better for families with kids who will be celebrating Easter on April 8th than this? Designed by 'ZinePak, this cute, creative and educational all-in-one activity set has it all. First there is the CD with 10 popular children's songs performed by kids that capture the fun and frivolity of spring. Then there's the 60-page full color book that includes all kinds of activities and projects youngsters ages 5-11 will enjoy.

The recorded CD classic song list features tunes that have been enjoyed for generation. Included are  Good Ship Lollipop, Six Little Ducks, Here Comes Peter Cottontail, My Choc'late Rabbit, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, It's Raining It's Pouring, Polly Wolly Doodle, Bingo, Apples & Bananas and There's a Hole in My Bucket. Songs performed by The Hit Crew Kids from Drew's Entertainment.

While your child is listening to the music they can also be enjoying the color book full of bunnies, chicks, and multi-hued Easter eggs. This softcover includes a storage slot inside the back cover for the CD as well as page after page of everything from word search and crossword puzzles to coloring and drawing projects and some really clever but simple arts and crafts ideas. There's even a few pages of adorable photos of different breeds of dogs wearing bunny ears where your child gets to pick the pup he/she likes best. To top it all off 15 darling Easter stickers are stashed inside the package.

Pg from 'Zinepak's Easter Book - Dogs in Bunny Ears

This would make a really novel and memorable add-in to a child's Easter basket this year. It is also would make a great gift just to entertain your own little one -- all you need is a CD player to enjoy the music with your children -- without the help of an iPad, iPhone or any other mobile device or computer. 

I think the 'Zinepak Easter Activity Set would make an awesome hostess gift for anyone that has kids, too, and would likely keep the small fry busy while the adults sit around the table and talk at Easter dinner. Just $5, all inclusive, and available exclusively at Walmart.

About 'ZinePak

According to the company's site, a ‘ZinePak (pronounced ZEEN-pack) is a new, fan-centric configuration of entertainment packaging designed to enhance the entertainment experience. Each ‘ZinePak is different. For more information visit Zinepak.com

Easter All-in-One Kids Activity Set

CD w/ 10 songs, 60-pg book & stickers

GIVEAWAY

Ends 4/4/12

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends April 4, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Four winners will be selected at random from all entries. Winners will notified via email and will need to respond immediately to receive prizes in time for Easter. 

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what's your favorite thing about this prize. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the initial comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow MBE on Twitter

2. Like MBE on Facebook

3. Subscribe to MommyBlogExpert

4. Like ZinePak on Facebook

***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

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Easter Kids Activity Set - Music CD, puzzles, stickers + more GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/88q9wl2 Ends 4/4 #Easter RT 2 #WIN

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Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

FTC Disclosure: 'ZinePak provided the Easter Kids Activity Set to facilitate this review and is supplying and shipping the prizes. This blog did not receive any other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Curated Maternity, Baby Shower & Newborn Monthly European Gift Box Concept Launches in U.S.

Mother & Baby

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All images in this post from PetiteBox

Luxe subscription gift box grab bag-style fashion shopping sites like Little Black Bag, Umba Box, and She Said Beauty for us grown up girls that offer eclectic collections of branded products and good deals are all the rage right now. 

But what about a special place where pregnant women or new moms might go for a special treat?   Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a company that catered just to expectant moms and mothers with newborns providing beautifully curated monthly gift boxes of high end items valued at much more than you pay for them?

Well, guess what? There is an online source, a new site which just launched called PetiteBox and it fits that description like a perfect fitting glove.  Yes, finally there is a similar shopping resource for those of us with discriminating tastes to go to for a beautiful and memorable gift that keeps giving monthly for expectant moms, baby showers, and newborns -- or maybe even for you to indulge yourself if you're expecting or for you and your child to enjoy together if you already have an infant.

To join the growing PetiteBox community all you do is register on the site. Then a lovely surprise box is sent to you filled with 4 to 7 of fine mommy and baby full-size (not sample) products each month or it can be gifted on your behalf to someone you know to enjoy. Quality products, valued at retail prices much more than your cost, are curated and designed specifically to match the recipient's stage of pregnancy (starting at week 17) or the baby's age (up to 12 months old).

At launch, the brands PetiteBox is working with include Angel Dear, Basq, Dr. Hauschka, Earth Friendly Baby, HABA, Happy Family, Lansinoh, Lotus Wei, MAM, MD Moms, Petites Frites, and Weleda. Others will be added in the months ahead.

PetiteBox Subscription Options

• Monthly subscription $25/May be canceled any time
• 3-month subscription $70/Auto cancel after 3 months
• 6-month subscription $130/Auto cancel after 6 months 
• Shipping is free and is including in above prices

 

Each month's selection is customized for the woman receiving it and every surprise box a recipient gets is different. So, this is a fun and thoughtful gift that will be eagerly awaited each month.

PetiteBox plans to be expanding rapidly. There will be lots of opportunities in the months ahead for expectant women and new moms to try and test some  great new and exclusive products just for you as well as to share your luxe gift box reactions with others in the group and interact with the brands that are represented.

Stay tuned to MommyBlogExpert for more news posts as this new innovative mom community develops.

Keep up on what's new at PetiteBox.us by following them on

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Four Tips for Breastfeeding Career Moms Going Back to Work When Baby is Still on Milk Only

Baby Care

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This post is especially for nursing moms who have babies but who want to go return to work outside the home.  Whether you will be transitioning to bottle feeding breast milk or formula given by a caregiver, I hope you'll consider the expert points below offered by Sara Chana Silverstein, IBCLC, before weaning your baby and heading back to the office.
 

I nursed my triplets and also used a breast pump to feed them

As a mere mom who nursed my four babies  --  triplets plus one more all born within a year -- I wish I'd known about this talented practitioner after I delivered. That's because at the time I didn't even know how to change a diaper, much less nurse my first child, when I became a mother.

I admire Sara Chana not only because she has made a name for herself professionally both here in L.A. and in New York as a highly-regarded board-certified lactation consultant but has also mothered seven children.

Sara Chana Silverstein, Photo from SaraChana.com

Sara Chana's Working Moms Dos and Don'ts

• Do assure breastfeeding is well established before the introduction of the bottle, if that has become your choice for getting back to work.

• Don't introduce a bottle before six weeks. If possible, wait until eight to ten weeks. Most babies take a minimum of six weeks to learn how to master and become a professional on the breast

• Don't worry that your baby will not be able to learn to take the bottle. A baby who is nursing well and truly being satisfied on the breast, will be able to figure out and learn how to take a bottle in mommy's absence.

• Do ask someone else to introduce the bottle to your baby. It is better for someone other than the mother to introduce the bottle so that the baby identifies the bottle only with another caregiver and not with the mother.

Moms with infants might also like 5 Tips for Successful Breastfeeding features more helpful hints from Sara Chana.

FTC Disclosure:  The Dos and Don'ts in this post were provided by lactation expert Sara Chana Silverstein. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Five Secrets to Successful Breastfeeding for the New Mom Nursing Her First Baby or Subsequent Child

Baby Care

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When my kids were babies, I breastfed my four children -- triplets plus one more born within a year. My kids may all be teens now, but I still strongly advocate making a concerted effort to at least give nursing baby a try prior to deciding to exclusively bottlefeed.

My Triplets in an old photo: Talk about having lots of mouths to feed

For some time now there has been scientific evidence that breast milk strongly impacts not only a baby's nourishment during the first months of life and but also may actually increase her/his intelligence later on. What's more, as a nursing mother, you can potentially reduce your chances of breast cancer by breastfeeding your little one.

In this post an international expert shares her advice for new mothers. I think all these ideas provided by Sara Chana Silverstein, IBCLC, will be helpful and encouraging both to those of you breastfeeding for the first time and those who may have been unsuccessful with a previous child but want to try again with a subsequent baby. Sara's essential hints come from a woman who is not only a very experienced mother of seven children but also a board-certified lactation consultant, birthing instructor, classical homeopath, herbalist and popular speaker who splits her time between Los Angeles and New York.

Mommy Blog Expert's babies after about 3 months of nursing

Sara Chana's Breastfeeding Dos and Don'ts

• Don't believe breastfeeding is supposed to hurt and that sore nipples are the norm, or perhaps even a badge of courage for toughing-it-out. If the baby is latched on properly and draining the breast, it shouldn't hurt! 

• Do teach your baby to "breastfeed" and not "nipple feed." To do so, start by holding your breast steady and compress it into a pointy shape with your hand.

• Don't stuff your breast into the baby's mouth. Instead, bring your baby "to you". To accomplish this, support the baby well, holding him along his spine and at the base of his head.

• Do use RAM (rapid arm movement), and bring your baby (or RAM him) onto the breast in a quick-swift motion, allowing the baby to take the breast as deeply into his throat as he can.

• Don't get discouraged. With practice, a mom will be able to nurse pain free, when she and her baby share the experience of being on the breast deeply.

In the video above lactation expert Sara Chana goes into greater detail about nursing in an interview with mom blogger Daphne Brogdon of Coolmom.com

The benefits of nursing properly are clear. Breastfeeding can be not only a natural, positive and healthy experience it can also be a pleasurable one both for you and your baby.

You might also want to check out 4 Tips for Transitioning from Nursing Mom to Career Woman Returning to the Workplace

What advice would you add to Sara's helpful lactation hints? Feel free to share additional suggestions for new moms on this subject as a comment to this post. 

FTC Disclosure:  The Dos and Don'ts in this post were provided by lactation expert Sara Chana Silverstein. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.