Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

AH, Spring is in the air and it is time
to fling open the windows and let in the Sunshine.
Let the dog out for hours and worry about the muddy
paw prints another day. Get those snow suits and toss
them in a Cedar box and break out the Spring jackets
and suit up the family. It is time for a walk! Get up
and move people! Rowan has already been out of the
house every day this week. John came back late Sunday
night and has given me a much needed break. Other then
a stray weekend here and there since Thanksgiving I have
pretty much been a single Parent this entire Winter. When
Rowan was teething I didn't think I was going to make it
and thank the stars that slowed a bit. Four in a week was
terminal on my back. Now she has two on the way but
it is not nearly as bad, though still a lot of fussy crabby
yuck yuck going on. Add in my Mothers Heart issues and
I thought once again I was going to crash so that I almost
sang like Mary Poppins when John walked in the house.
The last couple of days I had some issues to catch up
on at home but now I am ready to catch up the site and
that is long overdue. I must admit I want to be outside
with them for John and Rowan are going out about 4 times
a day with the dog right now and here I am stuck in the house
but in another of couple of weeks I will grab the laptop and
hit the patio. I did however get a chance to do this next review
and for that I had to go outside! Gosh, sometimes it sucks to
work other times I am truly blessed for I get to smell the
fresh air.
The Belle Baby Carrier had made my day by letting me
hit the pavement! Thanks Belle, before I even get to the
nuts and bolts of the review I am already grateful. I was
sent a carrier in black and let me first tell you about the
design. I wasn't sure I would be able to do the review for
a little while for Rowan's teeth caused me a lot of pain and
it was pain I had no choice but to endure. You just don't
tell a toddler, sorry, no comfort today for it really aggravates
your Mothers Rheumatoid Arthritis in her spine. The fact my
Neck and Shoulders are all jacked up when I fell last fall
made it even more difficult. I have been trying to mend the
last couple of weeks and have been postponing due to that
fact but when I felt that warm air I pretty much said dang
the consequences and lets do this thing. I tossed on the
Belle and was already prepared for the wave of pain in
simply putting it on but I didn't feel a thing. Lucky me!
Now for sure I expected to feel it when I added Rowan
for she has grown like a weed this Winter and I am sure
she is topping the scales close to 20 pounds right now.
Here came the Belle Design to the rescue. Belle is made
for comfort and they did away with the extra bulk and
brought you a stream lined design that includes cross-over
straps with high-end closed cell foam for comfort. The
reason they can due away with all the extra padding and
supports is they use the same materials found in those
super heavy High End Mountaineering Backpacks that are
made for a big load. A baby is a piece of cake in comparison
and this makes it more comfortable for you all around.
An independent waist belt brings the weight down to your hips
and off your shoulders so your back is spared as well.
With the Steel Rings you and your child are supper secure and
all in a lightweight, simple design that makes it a snap to
use. Baby can face in or out and Rowan, adventurous spirit that
she is wants to see the world. Your baby is in a natural ergo-
nomic position that protects their spine and leaves them comfy
and able to enjoy the ride. They also offer a removable head
support panel that is perfect for your sleeping baby.
John took Rowan out earlier in the day and he is a
totally different size then me and I hate changing the size
of gadgets and gizmo's and thought it would be a huge pain
and I was delighted at how simple it is to adjust. Rowan had
no problem snuggling in and we were soon on our way and
loving it.
"Ohhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" MAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
That must have been a car rumbling down in front of us!"
"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! WAhhhhhhhhh!"
Lucky me, I got to see a firetruck!
The Belle Carrier made it simple for me to enjoy the
experience with her and the cross back design and that
belt made it even more so for me since I didn't feel her
weight at all, even with the constant bouncing a jiggling she
was doing as she narrated the trip. I fully expected to let John
be the one using the carriers this Summer for as
lovely as it is to be able to have your child so close
and I totally agree with Baby wearing and the bonding it
affords a parent with their child I didn't think my back would
make the trip. I figured I would be the one who would be
stuck with the stroller and have to push her everywhere and
also not be able to take the Dog. Have you ever tried to
push a stroller and keep a 12 pound bundle of energy who
acts like she has been stored in a metal cage the entire
Winter every single time you open the door to the outside
world? It isn't fun and next to imposable but I believed I
was doomed to leave her at home. What a delightful surprise
to be able to leave the house with the Belle and leave the
old ball and chain at home, well one of them, the Dog I
had to bring with me! I walked for about 30 minutes and
that was just long enough to wear out both of the little
ones, furry and funny and bring them both home for a nap.
I thought I was going to be just as beat as they were but
I still felt like I could go another 30 and did not feel the
impact of the carrier at all. Their design works like a charm
and that isn't a normal back speaking, that is a down right
cranky one that normally protests acts as simple as picking
up a tennis shoe! Way to go Belle!
All of Belle's products are made right here in the good
old U S of A and in Colorado to boot. Remember when I
said they were created with durable, tough, equipment that
helps keep Mountain Climbers and Hikers wearing their gear
in comfort all day long? I can't think of a more suitable
place to manufacture items that you know are not only going
to work they are made to last then in Colorado. Home of
the Mountains! Smartly made and tough as can be your Belle
is going to last way longer then even the most active child's
energy level! Belle offers a large selection of styles so
you can look as fashionable as a runway model and don't
forget they also have some pretty dandy choices in the
way of Organics as well! You can find their items on line
or at a large selection of retail stores and Belle also
has an extremely informative web site with a great section
on the benefits of Baby Wearing and user support as
well as a blog and anything else you could need. Connect
to other Baby Wearers and share some war stories or
just keep up to date with currant events. Belle made my
first day of Spring one I will remember and Rowan already
wants to do again, or as she would say,
"WahhhhhhhhhhhhEhhhhhhhhhhhhh Ohhhhhhhhhh!"
Enjoy a Belle Carrier and some fresh air yourself with
a chance to win a Carrier of your own. Belle is giving
one of my lucky readers a chance to win one and to enter
just head over to their site and take a look around then come
back here and post something you have learned in a comment.
The contest will start tonight and run to Midnight on April 25th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.


Belle Baby Carriers




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tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
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day per new blog post! For each Daily entry
there must be a blog post for that day!






Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

Sometimes when you are not looking for anything
at all you stumble across the best treasures. That
is what happened to me not all the long ago. I love
Etsy and the shops there. I have told you guys many
times about my Grandmothers thing for Craft Shows and
how she would take me to them. Well I was still pretty
young when I became hooked on them myself and by the
time I was in my Mid-Teens I knew just as much about
them as she did and still can't resists going when I
see one. Craft shows are like re-occurring events and
the good ones turn up year after year at the same site
and develop these huge followings. We used to set our
calenders by a couple of them.
"Hey, Evelyn, would you and your Granddaughter like
to come on down for the weekend?"
No Dorthy, I am so sorry, the Pink Hippo is that weekend!"
Now to other people we might have seen a little nuts for
we passed up some pretty nice offers of trips and vacations
for they conflicted with some of our crafts shows but it
became like a family tradition to hit some of them every
year and going to those shows is one of the things I miss
most about spending the Summers with my Grandmother. Etsy
has served me well to help fill that void a little and had she
been alive I know without a shadow of a doubt she would love
Etsy just as much as I do. I also know it would have made
her last few years where she couldn't;t get out of bed much
more enjoyable for she could have live vicariously through
the shops there.
Now I often stroll through the shops when i get a chance
for it never ceases to amaze me some of the skills people have.
You can find some remarkable items and one of a kind pieces as
well as products I never knew you would be able to make at home.
I have been blown away more then once and have brought you a few
different stores from there but this next one sort of took me for
a loop for I didn't realize if you had some talent you could make
shoes at home. Looking back I feel silly for why wouldn't you be
able to? Shoe stores don't just pop up at malls completely developed
and big places like Reebok or Manolo Blahnik have to have gotten their
start somewhere and unless they have some rich friends who were willing
to take a chance and open a factory for them most likely that start
was in their own homes. But shoes? Wow, that is not like knitting
a scarf, shoes take some real work.
When I came across Wild Cubs on Etsy I was really, really impressed.
They reminded me of Robeez in their construction but only better.
When I say that, it is for two reasons, these are hand made and there for
a lot more attention to detail is paid. Each shoe gets that special touch
and love of their craft poured into its making. It shows in the end product
for the pair we received for review were put together so well even my dog
could not tear it apart and it just about broke my heart when she ran off
with it. It took all three of us almost two hours to get it back from her
and we had to pry it out of her mouth. No holes, no loose stitching and
not one sign of the trauma I know she had to have put that shoe through.
Now that speaks volumes to me for Boo is known to trash everything and has
gotten tearing her own toys up down to a science:
1. Toy comes home
2. You attempt to bring toy out of the bag and see a blur whiz by
3. You realize toy has been snatched already but stubby little dog
4. You go to play with toy and stubby little dog and grab one end
only to have it come off in your hands for she has already chewed
large holes in the toy in the 2 minutes it took you to locate her
after grab from bag.
When she grabbed my review shoes my heart sank for these are just the
right size for a Boo toy and I can understand her thinking it is for
her and as of late I have been having that problem with a lot of Rowans
things but she grabbed it right out of my hands before I even got to
look at the shoes and I was crying like a little school girl thinking
that was surely the end of them. But NO, they are put together so well
that not only were they still completely whole there was no damage at
all. I gave Boo the big long lecture on the shoe and she has not touched
them again since but when they are not on Rowans feet I am taking no
chances and putting them in her dresser drawer. Crazy Dog! Now she
did get her paws on a pair of Robeez and that is why I can firmly
say the shoes from Wild Cubs are better for her little pointy teeth went
through the Robeez like a hot knife through butter. She is lucky I had
bought them at a Garage sale and only paid a couple of bucks for if
these were right from Robeez and I paid the whopping price they ask
I would have duct Tapped her little mouth shut to Rowan was out of
the house, married and buying shoes for her own kids. I do almost feel
bad for the Pooch though for so many of Rowans things look like things
we have bought for her and she just doesn't get the attention she used
to. I am also happy Wild Cubs are made so great and stood up to the
little Puppy. Not only was the Leather thick enough to be durable it
was worked enough so it was soft and ply-able and moved with Rowans
feet. I spent a little time working with Leather when I was younger and
I know that she spends a lot of time getting it to be that soft and
flexible and still so durable. The second reason I think they are better
then Robeez is the price. Robeez are not a cheap shoe. I understand
they are leather and supposed to last and truth be told if the Robeez
I had bought did not meet up with the Pooch first I am sure they would
have lasted a long time but to buy a pair you are looking at 30 bucks
on up and that is if you can get them on sale. The Shoes from Wild
Cubs are 13.99!
WOW
WOW
WOW
Leather shoes, superb quality and design, tons of adorable styles. Able
to stand up to the Pooch and the Baby and fit like a dream all for
under 14 bucks.
Pinch me I am dreaming!
I received the Pink and Purple Pair with Guitars on them for
Review and they are just adorable. You guys know John is in a band
and Rowan is already a dancing fool so they just fit her personality
and when I was looking through their selection I realized a lot of them
would. They have my Skulls and you know I am going to get those
but also so many other styles for boys and girls and such lively items
too. Bright vivid colors that stand out and even boots to keep your little
one snug and warm in the winter. Such a great selection and such a
wonderful shoe it is only a matter of time before you find these everywhere
for when you make a product this good the word is sure to spread and
I am glad to be here at the start of the craze and even more glad that
I just happened to be killing some time on Etsy that day and came
across them. I just had to share with you!
The owner at Wild Cubs was a dream to work with and she is
offering to give one of my readers are pair of her shoes as well! To
enter the contest just head over to her store and take a look around
then come back here and post what style is your all time favorite in a
comment. The contest will start tonight and run to Midnight on April
13th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.


Wild Cubs!




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.


2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.


5. Tweet about this contest elsewhere. 5 entries
please post five times.


Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Mommy Tool Box and Port a Pong Contests!

Alright there guys, now I know you know that I
know that you know we all know I just did a review
for bECO a little while ago. Well I just love that
carrier and could not stop raving about it. Come on
over to my house and talk to my friends and neighbors
and even the mail man and UPS guy and they will
tell you have I have been going on and on about it.
You know me, give me something good and now you
are stuck listening to me ramble on. I just can't help it.
When I like a product I have to spread the news. Now
the mail man is doing some sort of Mission Impossible
thing to stay out of my site right now for he is like 60
and could care less how great I think any item let alone
a Baby Carrier is. I don't think he appreciated the
demonstration I did on Rowans stuffed animal where I
tried to help him understand how the bECO Carrier was
kind to this part of my back and that part and so on
and so forth. Hey, we were snowed in last week and
I take my captive audience where I can get it. Lucky
for me the UPS guy and I go way back and for a couple
of cookies he heard me out and suggested I tell the
people over at bECO how I felt before I ambushed the
FedEx guy for he is not nearly as friendly and isn't a
fan of cookies and I had no time to bake a Pineapple
Upside Down Cake. So I did!

Now they might have gotten the mad stalker vibe from me at
bECO but I had to tell them how happy I was. Rowan is putting
on the pounds and she also has the nerve to expect me to
still carry her and truth be told my back "WAS" lodging some
pretty loud complaints. The fit and comfort I got from my bECO
Carrier has shhhhhhhhhhh'ed my back and come Spring I might
even take up jogging for this is the first time since Rowan hit
double digits on the scale I have been able to cart her around
without having to take a bath in Ben Gay! So with the advice
of my Cookie Loven UPS man I sent them an email or ten
and let them know. They were super to me and might I say,
very patient and offered to let me give a Lenka to one of you
guys! I didn't even have to send them cookies! Now you
guys should remember the details but I will stick the link
for the review for you in case you need a refresher, hey, test on
Monday guys! I am tickled pink to be able to have
this giveaway! As you guys know bECO is one of the top
brands today offering style, support, adaptability and comfort
and I was lucky to be able to do a review for them because
with my back I need more then just "another" carrier. When I
first toted Rowan around in a carrier it was an old one I had
around the house and I just dusted it off thinking any old carrier
would work. I had that impression for a couple of reasons but
soon found out I had been living with antiquated ideas when it
came to baby wearing. With Andrew I would not call it main stream
and the carrier I had was simply used for outdoor activity's when
a stroller was not possible on the terrain. Now we know a lot more
of the benefits and using one has become a part of life for many
parents. Now we know wearing your baby aids with:
Helping Babies Grow and Thrive
Reduces Infant Mortality, SIDS
Soothes Crying and Colic
Encourages Mental Development
Reduces Incidences of Post-Partum Depression
Better Bonding = Easier Discipline
and is also fun and a great way to get out and move with your
child and enjoy the day. Increased time means increased strain on
your back though and my relic just wasn't going to make the grade
with my ouchies and my frequent walks with Rowan and the Pooch. It
wasn't more then a week on the calendar before I was out and
searching for a better one and I took quiet a few strolls around the
block before I settled on carrier that was right for me. Don't get
me wrong, I went on a lot of nice test drives with other brands but
bECO was the one who won me over in the end. Not only was there
style and when I say style I mean fashion sense, my cup of tea
they also were perfect for my aching body and before I made my
bECO such a large part of my life I even went as far as to take mine
to my doctor and Physical therapist. The results, my PT who just
got married over the Summer had me jotting down the web site
information because they were in the process of trying for a baby and
she wanted one for herself. My Doc let me know that she thought
the large, secure waist belt and shoulder straps would be perfect
for me and allow me the support I need. Her only concern was I
wear sunscreen in case I lost track of time while I was outside
enjoying the day! SOLD! And you guys will be too once you
get a chance to try it! I have pretty much told the guys over
at bECO I will be back for more until I get a chance to try
everything in their arsenal, I was that impressed! Besides, when
I saw the bECO mini in the pony I knew Rowan had to have
one too!

Now you guys can get your hands on one and one of my readers
is going to win a bECO Lenka all of their own. To enter just head
over to their site and take a look around then come back here and
post something you have learned in a comment. The contest will
start tonight and run to Midnight on April 12th. You will be wearing
your baby just in time for spring!
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

bECO


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

5. Tweet about this contest elsewhere. 5 entries
please post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Mommy Tool Box and Port a Pong Contests!