Category Archives: Product & Restaurant Reviews

Milk Nursingwear to the Rescue! Review and Giveaway {Ends 4/28}

*Disclosure in accordance with the FTC: I received a sample product to facilitate the following review.

Mark my words. One of these days, I’m absolutely going to answer the front door with my boob out.

I guarantee it.

Poor FedEx guy…Keeping myself together is a challenge these days. I’m still on maternity leave, adjusting to having 2 children, and adjusting even more to meeting the needs of 2 breastfeeding children. Most days, I’m kind of a mess, struggling to “get it together” (whatever that means) before I have to go back to real life at the office. One of the very last things on my mind is how I look.

That said, there are days that I have to muster up the courage to pack both kids up in the Honda and go to a place where there are other people. Like Target. Target is where my sanity lives. It’s also the place where I can’t show up wearing sweatpants and a milk-spotted pajama shirt.

Enter Milk Nursingwear, the freshest nursingwear on the planet!

The folks at Milk heard my cry for help and they sent over their long-sleeved empire scoop neck nursing top in this pretty chocolate brown color. And my husband got happy, and life got just a little bit easier.

Now that is what I’m talkin’ about. This nursing top is so comfortable, and it goes with everything. It’s a total no-brainer. I put it on, I look put-together. The super soft fabric is 60% cotton, 35% poly, 5% spandex and easy to wash in a warm cycle. Then, just hang to dry (you can tumble it on low, but I don’t. I just put it on a hanger and let it dry.) 

Our budget is tight right now, so I can’t go out and buy a whole nursing wardrobe, as much as I’d like to. So, the pieces I have need to be versatile, and this one is. I can pair this easy-to-wear nursing shirt with jeans to go shopping or with nicer pants for work, where it will make pumping a snap. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate pieces that take me from work to weekend. The less complicated, the better, and this shirt fits the bill. And there’s no weird contraption in it like I’ve found in some nursing tops. Just a simple empire seam to access the nursing openings. (Works like a charm with a sling!) When you lift up that seam, it looks a bit like a nursing tank. And when you’re done? It goes right back into shape, without having to fuss with it. Barely anything shows, which is great for NIP. Especially in Target…which I do a lot.

…and while we’re talking about that empire seam, I have to mention how flattering it is. Especially with the slight flare happening around the midsection. I really loathe posting photos of myself around here, and I’ve been especially uncomfortable being photographed since I had Little E. I still have 8 pounds to lose, and the spare baby tire is still hanging around. But you know what? I’m not a model, I’m a real mom, and I’m willing to bet you probably are, too. So here it is. Me, 7 weeks after baby. :)

It really inspires me to lose those 8 pounds because I think once my waist is slimmer, the cut of this top will really show it off. I’ll have to retire it to the back of the closet during the hot weather, but I have no doubt it will be my favorite nursing top again come fall! For now, to get me through the summer, I’m putting the Knotted Nursing Tank Top from Milk on my wish list for Mother’s Day! 

Buy it!

The Empire Scoop Neck Nursing Top in long sleeves is available in berry, brown or deep purple at MilkNursingwear.com for $38.00. You can even earn Milk Money Rewards when you shop and use them to save on future purchases!

Win it!

Milk is offering one lucky ABCGP reader a $35 gift certificate to spend at MilkNursingwear.com! Enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below. (Open to residents of the US, age 18 and older. Ends 4/28.)

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed under Baby Guide, Breastfeeding, Maternity Fashion, Product & Restaurant Reviews

The Anytime Bralet from Bella Materna: Review and Giveaway {Ends 4.24)

*Please note:  I received a complimentary product for review purposes. As always, I will only promote products that I personally use and/or recommend to my readers.

If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me griping at some point about my inability to find a decent-fitting nursing bra. grumble grumble… 

Some of the problems I’ve encountered during my 3-year quest to find a great bra:

  • Weird shapeless mom boob or uniboob
  • Lack of support.
  • Lack of coverage (the always-embarrassing “headlights” issue)
  • Inability to accommodate the varying sizes from pregnancy to breastfeeding
  • Loss of support as the day goes on. (Great at 8:00am, saggy by lunchtime.)
  • Flimsy straps
  • Itchy fabric
  • …and the list goes on.

The folks at Bella Materna thought that they might have the answer to my issues, so they graciously allowed me to give their Anytime Bralet a shot. 

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Filed under Baby Guide, Breastfeeding, giveaways, Product & Restaurant Reviews

The New HALO® SwaddleChange: It’s Not Weird. {4/21}

*Disclosure in accordance with FTC regulations: I received a complementary product to facilitate the following review.
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You may have seen my recent review of the HALO® SleepSack Swaddle, which we are still using 2 months later because I love the peace of mind it brings at bedtime. Well, I’ve since been asked to provide a review of another HALO product: the new SwaddleChange™, designed to make diaper changing easier and less stressful for both babies and parents. The HALO® SwaddleChange™ is a soft and comfy cover for your changing pad that features an attached, adjustable swaddle wrap to help keep baby secure and little hands under control when changing diapers.
So, after all that, I just have one question: Is this weird? 

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Filed under Baby Guide, Product & Restaurant Reviews, Uncategorized

TakeLessons: A Service You Didn’t Know You Needed

In compliance with the FTC, I must disclose that I was compensated for writing this post. As always, I will only promote products and services that I would personally use and recommend. 

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My son will be 4 in November.

OMG. FOUR.

He’s not a baby anymore. When did THAT happen? And when did I have to start thinking about things like Kindergarten and sports and activities? It’s a lot to think about. I worry about pushing him too much, or not enough, and all I really have to guide me is my own childhood and the experiences I had. Some were good, some not so much. I tried a lot of things – track, Girl Scouts, dance team, piano, violin, art club – and I think they all added something integral to my overall education.

Now, as an adult who only recently had kids, I was appalled to find out that programs like art and music are being cut from school districts all over the country. I know, where have I been? This has been going on for a while, but it’s so hard to picture an educational institution cutting such important aspects of the curriculum. In my opinion, art and chorus go hand in hand with math and science, and we can’t afford to be cutting any of them.

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Filed under Family Fun, Parenting & Family, Product & Restaurant Reviews, Uncategorized

From the World of Cars: Disney’s Planes! Coming this Summer! #DisneyPlanes

How many times have you watched Cars? If you have little ones, I’m guessing the number might be a leeetle bit high.

Well, I have good news! This summer (August 9th, to be exact) there will be a new Disney movie in town…

Inspired by the world of Cars, this action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure features Dusty, and his dream of competing as a high-flying air racer. Unfortunately, Dusty also has a decidedly unfortunate fear of heights!  My guess is that he might overcome that fear. What do you think?

Joining Dane Cook, who provides the voice of Dusty, are Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Cedric the Entertainer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Cleese, Carlos Alazraqui, Priyanka Chopra, Gabriel Iglesias, Roger Craig Smith, Colin Cowherd, Sinbad, Oliver Kalkofe and Brent Musburger. Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer, who both also happened to co-star in Top Gun, are even reuniting for the film!

Check out the trailer here:

With all the questionable programming on TV these days, we’ve come to rely on carefully-chosen Disney movies when we want to unwind after a day of outdoor play. This is one we’ll definitely be adding to our collection!

How about you? Are you looking forward to Disney’s Planes?

Be sure to follow Disney’s Planes on Facebook for updates and fun news as the release date approaches!

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Filed under Family Fun, Parenting & Family, Product & Restaurant Reviews