Hands-Free Pumping Bra!

Anyone who has breastfed for any amount of time, knows that any contraption to make it easier is a life saver!  ;)

When I saw this hands free pumping bra, I was ecstatic!!  Pumping and being able to use both hands at the same time?!?  

The perfect nursing bra!  (Photo credit goes to BeliBea)

 We have cut our nursing down to just one session in the morning and one in the evening.  Mostly, it was because I was sick of pumping while I was at work or away from Baby Girl for any amount of time.  Maybe, just maybe I wouldn't have stopped as soon if pumping wasn't a pain in the behind.  This bra, from BeliBea could have made a world of a difference for us.

The BeliBea motto is this: "Nursing mothers demand a new maternity bra that is comfortable but affordable, flexible and durable, simple yet clever - this is the bra line for nursing mothers everywhere."

And I believe it!!  This is my go-to bra.  It is extremely comfortable, offers great support (without wires), and it doesn't have a weird shape that shows when I'm wearing my everyday clothes.  Always concealed.  Always comfy.  Plus, there is enough padding that no one knows when I'm cold....if you catch my drift.  ;)

Affordable, I suppose, is a matter of opinion.  The Nourish bra runs $49.95, which is way more than i want to spend on a bra (I am pretty cheap).  However, I know, first-hand, that you get what you pay for.  I found nursing bras for under $10 at a bargain store.  They are stretched out, tattered, misshapen, and the elastics are shot!  I won't be able to use them for my next child.  I will have to go through the whole process again.  Nourish from BeliBea is so well made, I have no doubt that it will last me through my next couple of kiddos.  Even if I wear it every single day!

But what about that hands free pumping thing??  Does it really work??  Unfortunately, I do not have the right type of pump for this bra to help.  Again, this is because I'm cheap.  Since I wasn't planning on work much, I got the cheapest pump I could find.  The pump attaches directly to the breast shield, no tubing or anything else.  Let me show you why this is a problem:

The bra naturally pulled the shield against my chest....

Until I attached the actual pump....then it instantly pulled away as the pump was too heavy (this picture was taken at the same angle...and you can see a whole lot more of my tank top since it was pulling forward).  I still had to use one hand to keep it in place.

I'm hoping with the next baby I will able to buy (or maybe win) a better pump.  In which case, this bra will be perfect.  One great feature is that there are two separate clasps and dual panels - you remove the first layer for hands-free pumping and the second layer to nurse.

Two clasps

In the meantime, it is STILL MY FAVORITE NURSING BRA!!  Seriously....I want to wear it every day.  It may be my favorite bra in general...

BeliBea Nourish would make a fantastic gift - think Baby Showers, Push Present, New Mom, 2nd Kid, 3rd Kid, Birthday, Christmas, etc.    ;)   If you know a mom who is currently breastfeeding - she will LOVE this gift, I promise!

Don't forget to checkout BeliBea's website.  And follow them on your favorite social media:

 Facebook

Twitter

Uniquely Daddy: Zoey's Attic Daddy Gear

So far, our unique Father’s Day gifts include camping gear, a ginger beer kit, a daddy diaper bag, antiques, and a few other things.  Today, I’m bringing you an adorable idea for dads of all ages.

Matching t-shirt sets!!

From Zoey's Attic

And I'm not talking the cheesy kind...I'm talking about t-shirts that Dads will actually want to wear.  Here is our selection:

Adorable Baby!!  Love her grin here.  :)

We absolutely love this set because we can keep using it after our first baby!!  And it is easily dressed up for a little girl.

This is my favorite - black and white polka dots! 

Hubby loves this combination so much that he always wants to wear it.  Shortly after it arrived in the mail, we had friends come over.  As soon as he got home from work he changed into his shirt and made sure that I got the baby changed so he could show off.  ;)  And people really do think it's pretty cute!

And if you don't like the grey baby shirt you can also get white, light pink, or light blue.  I love having options!  

These shirts come from a pretty neat little store called Zoey's Attic.  Like a few other shops I have highlighted, this shop was started because there was a lack of unique items for babies.  With a background in graphic design, Erin new she had an opportunity on her hands.  Erin's mom gave her first daughter, Bridget a small zebra names Zoey when she was born.  Since it was a connection between all three generations, Erin used the name for her shop!  And attics, well, to quote the website, "everyone knows that there are wonderful, unexpected treasures to be found in an attic."

Here are some of our other Father's Day favorites:

Who doesn't love mustaches these days!?!  Find this set here.

This is how we stumbled across the Daddy items...since baby girl's name means "oak tree" in Hebrew, we thought this was super cute.  But Hubby really liked the "Adorable Baby" set better... Find this set here.

  

After we have a couple more kiddos, I would love to get this for my dad!  Find this set here.

But they carry more than just items for Dads!  They have all sorts of things for babies and families and much more!  There is something for everyone!

  

To Buy: Head on over to the Zoey's Attic Website and take a look around.  Right now you can use the code NOTIES for 10% off for Father's Day!

To Win: One reader will win a $35 gift code to spend on whatever they like...but don't forget - Father's Day is just around the corner!!  Use the Giveaway Tool below for your chance to win.

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The Terebinth Tree Shop + a Giveaway Hop *CLOSED*

Welcome to the "For the Love of Mom" Giveaway Hop hosted by Mama's Baby Cupcakes & Mommy's Favorite Things. The theme of this event is great gifts for mother's, and each blog participating has a prize valued at $25+. This hop is April 7-21 and your winnings arrive just in time for Mother's Day!

Hey all!! Bri from Learning to Be 31 here....I hope you had a fantastic Easter!!  

Are you looking for a great gift for that special mom in your life??  I may have the solution:

A $25 Gift Code to The Terebinth Tree: Natural Cleaning and Natural Bath & Body Products!  Our very own, brand new, Etsy shop!

Find out a little bit more about the shop here.  

Here are a few pics for a sneak peek at what they have in store:

Deodorant & Vapor Rub

Goo Remover, All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate, & Carpet Scrubbing Concentrate

From now, until May 21st, you can use the discount code MOMHOP10 for 10% off!

Use the Giveaway Tool below for your chance to win:

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Disclosure: 

Mama's Baby Cupcakes, Mommy's Favorite Things and the "Love for Mom" participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Make Nursing Easier with Momzelle (+ a Discount Code!)

During a church service this past weekend, I had to nurse our Little Miss.  So I grabbed my Medahm Nursing Scarf, tucked her under and started feeding.

After service there was a small reception and I had a family friend ask how I was able to nurse her so easily.  She said she was impressed with how smooth and quickly I was able to feed her.  "I was always a mess, pulling this up and that down...it took forever to get situated and I can't imagine what I looked like" she is very exaggerated and also talks with her hands, so this was pretty amusing.  ;)

I told her that, usually, it looks a lot more like that...but thanks to my wonderfully convenient t-shirt from Momzelle, nursing in public is a breeze!  I slipped my hand under the "easy access" part of the shirt to show her how convenient it really was and she was amazed - they didn't make stuff like that in her day!  

I am absolutely in love with the shirt Vanessa from Momzelle sent me in exchange for this review. 

Super cute (definitely my style)...

And super functional!  This was the "ease of access" I was talking about.  I added a bit of red shading to show the cut of the shirt beneath the top material...

Here it is in action....well...here's what it looks like on ;)

Love that I can dress it up or down....

It was fun trying to get a pic with Little Miss.  I imagine she will appreciate the ease of this shirt as she grows older.  I know I already do!!

It is 10 times easier to nurse with this shirt than with a nursing tank top or regular clothes.  Just lift up, pull my bra aside...and we're ready to go!  This is especially nice if you don't use a cover - minimal skin exposure!!  Another really nice feature is that the stripes tend to hide the fact that there is a layer to lift for nursing.  When I show people in person they usually go, "Oh wow, I didn't even notice that..."  You can purchase this top (Christine) can be purchased here.

Momzelle has quite a few different options for nursing moms in the spring & summer!

These are some of my other favorites (clicking the picture will take you directly to that item on the Momzelle web page):

Josiane (Photo courtesy of Momzelle)

Lily (Photo courtesy of Momzelle)

Zoe (Photo Courtesy of Momzelle)

Olivia - currently HALF OFF...get yours quick! (Photo courtesy of Momzelle)

They also have nursing bras as well as a line of nursing clothes specifically made for pregnant moms and a few other things you will definitely want to check out!

TO BUY: Head on over to the Momzelle Website and use code LTB315 for $5 off (Expires June 30th, 2015)

Don't forget to follow Momzelle on Facebook for the latest in sales and new products!!

Do you own any clothing specifically made to help make nursing easier?  I wish my whole wardrobe was Momzelle!

Washing Your Delicates: Laundry Bag Review

Okay ladies, raise your hands if your bras are a little funky from the wash....

Yep.  Been there.  Or maybe you lost some baby socks somewhere during the wash routine??  Done that too.

But these laundry bags from Inside Smarts are the perfect solution!

Two Sizes

When you purchase this pack from Amazon, you receive two medium bags and two large bags.  I have been using the medium bags for:

• Baby socks
• Underwear with frillys (yes, 'frillys' is a technical term)
• Nursing pads
• My reusable facial rounds  

The larger bags are perfect for my bras and I've also been putting Aelah's bibs in one - no matter how tightly I secure that velcro, they always end up stuck to something they shouldn't be!  

Here's a shot so you can get an idea of size...yep...took a picture of my bra.  :P

The quality of these bags is phenomenal.  They look high-quality and they definitely feel high-quality.  They aren't going to be damaged by buttons or snaps or anything on the other clothes in the wash.  My absolute favorite feature is the zipper!  It has a tiny elastic band at the closure to keep it from making noise and from snagging other things in the wash.  Super nice!

Pretty neat right?

I highly, highly recommend these bags!  I'm SO very glad I got to review them!  They have become a regular part of my wash routine!  They would also make a great gift for moms or wedding showers or anyone who does laundry.  :)

Gifts for Mom & Baby (WAHM Review + Giveaway) *CLOSED*

I am always looking for unique gifts.  When it comes to weddings and baby showers (and the like), I tend to get something small off the registry and then get something else that is super fun and creative.  In the coming months, as I do reviews, I'm hoping to also include a "gift guide" in the process.  I'll have gift ideas for babies, kids, moms, and dads.  And today I'm about to introduce you to a really neat Work-at-Home-Mom (WAHM) shop that has fantastic gifts for mom and baby!

I was given free product(s) in exchange for an open & honest review.  No other compensation was given.  All opinions are my own.

When I stumbled across Marley's Monsters, I knew she had to be a part of the WAHM series!  Her branding and products are absolutely phenomenal.  The quality and marketing are to such a caliber that I wouldn't be surprised to find it on the shelves at a fancy boutique.  Sarah specializes in reuseables (cloth wipes, facial pads, nursing pads, etc.) as well as fun things for baby (adorable bibs, crinkle paper, & more).

The story behind Marley's Monsters is a cute one!  While Sarah was on maternity leave with her baby girl (Marley), she started this shop.  What she didn't expect was that she would love it so much that she would leave her job to pursue this hands on experience full-time! 
  

Adorable little family right!?!

Here is what I was sent to review:

And I LOVE all of it!

1. The Spray Bottle.

Love this pattern....so much!

She sells these for use with cloth wipes.  (Yes, she also sells cloth wipes and even soap bits to make a solution!)  You get to pick which fabric covers the bottle and there are a ton of options!  When we were talking about the review, using the sprayer for cloth wipes was what I had originally intended.  However, I love it so much, that I think I'm going to be greedy and keep it for myself.  I'm just about out of hair spray and I've been planning on making my own.  This sprayer would be absolutely perfect for that!  I'll keep my boring sprayer with the diaper stuff.  :P

 2. Facial Rounds....or....squares......

I think her branding is phenomenal.

I love using flannel facial rounds instead of cotton.  They don't leave bits of cotton on my face and I don't have to worry about running out or buying more.  Plus, the facial rounds from Marley's Monsters are just downright adorable and fun!  Here is a size comparison to a typical cotton round:

A little bigger = not a bag thing.

Each round has 2 different patterns.

Here are the rounds Sarah sent me...

...and the second side.

Foxes are a huge hit right now!

Now for my absolute favorite item!!

3. Crinkle Paper!!!

This was such a cute idea!  It would make the BEST baby gift!!  I can't wait until I have another baby shower to go to!  This will definitely make the gift bag!!  And you can create so many different combinations of patterns since it is two-sided.  The possibilities are endless with the amount of fabric options Sarah has!

You know you want to just grab it and crinkle it all up.  The noise is pretty satisfying.

....only louder.  ;)

My Little Lady absolutely loves this fabulous invention!  She is just figuring out how to grab things...and when she gets a hold of this she grins from ear to ear.  It is definitely one of her favorites right now!

This was the best video I could get....but definitely not the best moment.  I just have a horrible habit of leaving my phone where I'm not.  haha.  Can any other mom relate??

Here is a sneak peek at a few other things Marley's Monsters carries:

Cloth Napkins (again....TONS of print options) (photo courtesy of Marley's Monsters)

Bandana Bibs - SO cute! (photo courtesy of Marley's Monsters)

Baby Booties!! (photo courtesy of Marley's Monsters)

Cloth wipes cake!!  Best idea ever!!  (photo courtesy of Marley's Monsters)

This is just the beginning of the Baby Gift Sets she has - again, Sarah has some amazing branding! (photo courtesy of Marley's Monsters)

She also has a ton of gift sets for anyone interested in reuseables.  This is a face wash set. (photo courtesy of Marley's Monsters)

To see all of this (and more) or to learn more about Marley's Monsters, check out these resources:

MarleysMonsters.com

Etsy

You can also follow Marley's Monsters on one of your favorite social media outlets:

Facebook

Instagram

Sarah's daughter Marley AND Marley's Monsters both turn 2 this month!!  In honor of their birthdays, Sarah is offering a 10% off code!

In other exciting news, Sarah has also offered to hold a giveaway for you all!  One lucky reader will win a set of 12 cloth wipes in their choice of boy, girl, or gender neutral prints!

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