Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Christmas Gifts for Women

Here's a quick guide to gifts any woman would love! Including myself! 

1. Marc Jacobs Watch - $131.25
It's simple, dark, and sexy! Any woman would love this watch. I know I would ;) 

2. Tom Slippers - $53.95
Be in style while being at home (or secretly wear them out.) & with every pair that you purchase Tom will donate a pair to a child in need. 

3. Ray Bans Clubmaster
Ray Bans! Who doesn't love them? 

A woman can never have enough watches so this one is another sexy watch that can be worn with any simple outfit. 

For those who like makeup! The Naked 3 is a beautiful natural palette that any woman can get use out of. 

6. Corkcicle - $16.90
For the wine lovers out there! Keeps your white and red wine at the perfect temperature every time. Comes in 5 different colors. 

Super stylish diaper bag! Has 11 pockets. Skip Hop has some amazing products. I need to update my diaper bag. 

This item is amazing for the whole family. This home defuser is a humidifier, air purifier, atomizer, and aromatherapy diffuser into one. It releases essential oils in the air to eliminate order and create a relaxing atmosphere. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Christmas Gifts for Men

Hello everyone and welcome to Blogmas number two! Today I'm going to share some Christmas gift ideas for the men in your life. I'm not sure about everyone else but for me, shopping for David and my dad is so tough!! So I came up with this list hoping to help some people who may be in the same dilemma I'm in.  

1. Uggs Australia Butte - $225.00 

These boots are built for the harshest winter. Available in three colors. It's waterpoof full-grain leather & nylon is perfect for snowstorms. The inside is made of real fur to keep your feet nice and warm during the coldest nights. Best of all they're extremely durable!! 



I'm obsessed with all black watches! I think it looks great on everyone and goes with everything! 


3. Mophie Powerstation - $79.95

The Mophie Powerstation is an external battery charger for iPads, iPhones, iPods, Droid, HTC and Blackberry. It is lightweight, charges quickly, and last about three charges before you have to charge the Mophie. Perfect for those who travel a lot. 

4. Fit Bit Flex - $94.99
David and I both have this item. It is great for people who love to track their steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes. It also monitors how long and well you sleep. Wakes you with a vibrating alarm on your wrist. 

5. Nike Air Max 2015 - $189.99
Great sneakers for running. The upper part is made of mesh for lightweight and breathability. Padded heel for extra stability. Great traction and very comfortable. & did I mention they're all black to go with any workout gear. 

To go with that beautiful all black Michael Kors watch. They offer a high level of clarity, comfort, and protection. 

Personalized gifts are always great because they always have a little more meaning. You can personalize anything for that man in your life from a watch case, mugs, and pocket knifes. The list goes on. 

8. MagnoGrip - $19.99

It is a magnetic wristband for the DIY man of the house. It's like having a third hand helping. Never looks those screws or bolts again. 

9. Beats Pill - $199.99

My dad owns this and he loves it. Perfect for traveling or just hanging out in the backyard. Although it's small, it is loud. Connect it with Bluetooth & you can change the songs from your phone. 

10. Sports Tickets
I could not think of one more gift so David helped me with this one. He says sports tickets because its a great opportunity to bond as a couple. LOL. 

It is 11:19pm and I just finished this blog. I will try to get them up earlier from now on. Hope that I've helped for anyone who was stuck. Time to go watch a movie & cuddle with my honey boo. LOL. 



Monday, December 1, 2014

What is Blogmas?

Disclaimer: This is not my photo. Rights belong to its owner.
Hello everyone and a happy first of December!! Month of lights, snow, and feast. Its time to countdown the days until Christmas and that's what I'll be doing with "Blogmas." This means I will be blogging once a day until Christmas. How exciting is that? Most of my blogs this month will have a Christmas theme (not all). If you haven't been in the Christmas mood since November (yep, I have) I'm hoping to get you in the mood with some wonderful blogs I have coming up. I hope you all have an amazing start to December and keep a look out for tomorrows blog. Please let me know in the comments if there are any specific blogs you would like to see. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Goodwill Haul

The Goodwill is hidden with amazing treasures!! 

We have been looking for mini goodies to create some at home Montessori activities for Nate; one being a mini pitcher and cup so that Nate can practice pouring his own drinks. This is a great 
practical life activity that teaches children to be independent. This was my first visit to a Goodwill 
and I literally felt like a kid in a candy store. The Goodwill is a store where you can donate and buy gently used items.  I initially went in only looking for a small pitcher & cup to fit in Nate's hands but I found other items that I knew I could use for something. We found a white tray that is perfect for teaching children to pour just incase of spillage. If you know me, you know I love all sorts of buckets and baskets so I had to get the blue tin bucket when I saw it. Best of all, all of this ONLY cost us $5!!! You guys, you can't beat those prices anywhere; Not HomeGoods or sorry to say, Target!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Honest review about Honest

The day I became a mom, I finally found who I was. I knew I wanted to create the safest and healthiest environment for my son. I started to do tons of research about the products I was using on or around him. A lot of baby products are proclaimed to be safe but often contain chemicals that are linked to chronic diseases, including some of the products we use around our children. With that being said, this blog is going to be an Honest review about The Honest Company and their amazing natural products! If you don't know about The Honest Co, it it a company that was founded by Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan. They sell affordable natural baby products, bath & body, cleaning and health & wellness products. 

Their best product is their diapers. I can't express enough how much we LOVE Honest diapers. Not only do they have tons of cute prints but they're chemically safe for our babies. We use cloth diapers on Nate, but there are times where we get lazy or backed up on diaper laundry. Reason we switched to cloth diapers is mainly because of the severe rashes Nate use to get from disposables, like Pampers or Huggies. Once we switched we never dealt with a rash while using the cloth diapers. But when we are lazy or backed up on diaper laundry we want to make sure that Nate's booty is rash free. Nothing worked for us, not Pampers or Huggies, or A&D and Desitin creams. Nate would have a severe rash for days until we came across The Honest Company. It sometimes is hard to convince David of why natural and organic products are good for our family, so for him to say that Honest diapers are the best disposables out there, its BIG! I love hearing his Crunchy side! LOL. These diapers also have a better fit than any other brand we have tried and never leak overnight. Ingredients in their diapers are Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) Wood Pulp (From Certified Sustainably Managed Forests - No Optical Brighteners), Absorbent Bio-Core (Wheat/ Corn Starch Blended With Sodium Polyacrylate), Plant-Based PLA (Inner & Outer Layer), Non-Toxic Adhesives (In Seams & Joints), Polymer Spandex & Polyolefin (In Leg/Waist System), Polyurethane (In Waist Padding), Ink (Free Of Lead & Heavy Metals in Printed Backsheet), Citrus Extract & Liquid Chlorophyll (Natural Odor-Blockers in Bio-Core) 

                                                                   Another product that David thinks are amazing are the Honest wipes. He loves them when we run out of toilet paper lol. They are plant based, hypoallergenic, very soft, and fragrance free. They're Honestly free of alcohol, chlorine, phthalates, formaldehyde, paragons, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, SLS, and lanolin. 


The Honest soothing bottom wash is great for adding more moisture to the wipes, especially during poop diaper changes. We spray Nate's tooshy and use one wipe which is great. We usually make our own solution that includes water, natural baby soap, coconut oil, and tea tree oil for our cloth wipes. This product is great for anyone who doesn't want to make their own. We won't be buying this again since we use our own in a spray bottle. Honest suggest that it is also great for an all over cleanser. 

My Holy Grail!! My favorite product EVER! The Honest healing Balm! If you're reading this you MUST purchase this! This can be used for a lot of things. Nate had a severe rash once for days and I wanted to cry because no matter what I used, it would not go away. Received this and tried it and I kid you not! His rash was gone by the next diaper change. It is also great for chapped lips, eczema, minor cuts and scrapes. Nate fell on his forehead recently and got his first bump, I put healing balm on it because I swear by this product! The consistency feels great; easy to wipe off during rash diaper changes unlike A&D or Desitin. 

The Organic breath easy rub is another amazing product we are happy with.  We put it on Nate's chest, neck and back every night so that that he can have a good night sleep. When Nate has a stuffy nose we go straight to this product and it puts him at ease. We use it on ourselves as well.  It is Honestly free of menthol, petroleum, lanolin, phthalates, parabens, fragrances, mineral oil, and dyes. Smells great too.  

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Honest Toothpaste is one product hard to convince David to switch. Honestly free of SLS, sulfates, saccharin, fluoride, artificial sweeteners, paragons, gluten and dyes. If you like your toothpaste to leave you with that extremely minty clean feeling than this toothpaste isn't for you. David doesn't like it for that reason. I on the other hand don't think its that bad. The more I use it, the more I'm liking it. My teeth look and feel clean after I use it.                                       

If you enjoy that extreme minty feeling than buy the Honest mouthwash. Use that after brushing with the Honest toothpaste and you will feel really minty and clean. They're a perfect match! 

The Honest shampoo and body wash is another great product. It's scent is sweet orange vanilla. Smells like a creamsicle. Honestly free of SLS, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, fragrances, dyes, sodium chloride, formaldehyde, MEA, DEA, TEA & most common allergens unlike other brands like Johnson & Johnson that have admitted to having formaldehyde in their shampoo. 


The Honest bubble bath is great for bath time fun or relaxation. David is a big fan of bubble baths; I keep trying to tell him that a little bit goes a long way. It is recommended to use 2-4 capfuls for the perfect bubble bath. I use one capful on Nate and I believe thats enough. They even send you a free bubble wand for bath time fun with your children. 

Honest hand soap in scent Mandarin isn't one of my favorite products. It is too watery for my liking. It would slide off a kids hands before even making it to the water. They made a new formula called foaming hand soap so that might be a better option. I will be buying it soon to test it out. 






I have extremely long thick tangled hair, so I bought the Honest Conditioning detangler for myself. I have tried it on myself, my sister who has extremely tight tangled curls, and Nate. It is one of the best detanglers I've tried. My sister usually cries when having her hair brushed and this took the knots right out. I use it for Nate's little mohawk; it does a great job of keeping it in place. Best of all, it leaves you smelling like an orange creamsicle. 


I am very allergic to mosquitoes, every bite becomes extremely swollen. I become the biggest babies when I get bit everywhere. I will do everything in my power to keep these stupid mosquitoes away from my baby boy. I hate the feeling myself so I can't imagine how a baby will feel. Thank God I haven't noticed any bites on Nate. I have tried the Honest bug spray once at the park with mosquitoes; neither of us were bit so hopefully thats because it worked. Summer just started so by the end of it I should have more of an opinion. 

The Honest multi-surface cleaner is great for everyday cleaning. Does not work for tough spots but great for cleaning counters, high chairs, cribs, night stands, etc. It's important that we know what chemicals are in surface cleaners since our children touch everything and then put their hands in their mouth.





The Honest fruit and veggie wash naturally removes waxes, toxic pesticides, chemical residue, pathogens, dirt, and bacteria cur face contaminants (found on both conventional and organically grown produce.) Has no taste or oder. Just spray your fruit and veggie, leave for 1-2 minutes than rinse it off and enjoy! Those are the only cleaning products I've used but can't wait to buy the rest. I will post an update review on my next order. 



The last product I will review is the Baby & Toddler Multi Powder. Honest says to mix it with breastmilk, formula, drinks, or food. It has a berry taste so Nate loves it most mixed in his greek yogurt. I have tried it with his water but the powder doesn't mix well with drinks so he didn't drink it. Made with pure, high quality & real food nutrients to provide the critical nutrition needed to support the development of a healthy, strong body. Honestly free of soy, wheat, gelatin, sodium, dairy, eggs, lactose, tree nuts, peanuts, fish/shellfish, gluten, yeast, casein, sweeteners/HFCS, GMOs, dyes/colors, parabens, phthalates, preservatives, salicylates, artificial flavors, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals & synthetic additives.

If you want a free trial of their diapers, wipes, healing balm, hand soap, shampoo & body wash, multi surface cleaner, face & body lotion, and a health and wellness bundle than click here (Honest). You get to try a lot of their products, all you have to pay is shipping $5.95. Definitely worth trying. 


Saturday, June 21, 2014

Vaccines


This is a blog I debated about for a while because it's a controversial topic, but after much thought, if I can help someone decide whether to vaccinate or not, why not? Let me start by saying I am NOT a doctor or in the medical field. This is just one Crunchy Mama, sharing her outlook. 
When I first got pregnant with Nate, I automatically knew that I was going to vaccinate. I didn't know anything about vaccinations, only that they are "mandatory". At Nate's first doctors appointment his pediatrician mentioned he was going to receive FIVE shots at his next appointment and that I should give him tylenol before he receives them. 5 shots seemed too much for a newborn to handle and I felt very uncomfortable. I still didn't know much of what these shots were. I told the pediatrician I didn't want 5 shots in a row, so for her to do 1 shot a month. She looked at me like I was crazy and that I as the mother was making a bad decision. I knew at that moment that something was wrong. But I was still naive and continued to get his shots until he was 8 months. 
One day, I decided to do my research about each shot and I wish I did this research before giving birth. With that being said, we have decided to stop vaccinating Nate. Again, this is just our decision. There are many things to consider when deciding to vaccinate or not, and there is no right or wrong. For this blog, I want to inform you of each vaccine so that you can make your own educated choice. 
Here are some thoughtful questions to consider before decided on vaccinating:
  • Is your child in day care or only has a few caregivers?
  • Do you plan on traveling internationally with your child?
  • Does your child have siblings that are in school?
  • Does either parent work at a school or daycare?
  • Has the child shown any signs of a weakened immunity such as eczema, asthma, allergies, and so forth? 

 Hepatitis B 

Hep B is a sexually transmitted virus that causes liver damage and can lead to death. It can be passed through needles such as infected drug needles or tattoo needles. This dose of Hep B is administered at 2 months, 6 months, and a year. Hepatitis B is uncommon in infants with less than 3,600 cases a year and some believe less than 200. Hep B is transferred through blood it can only be passed along from an infected mother. It can also be transferred through saliva from an infected family member although very rare. This vaccine contains unwanted ingredients including 250 micrograms of aluminum and some traces of formaldehyde. Since the main way of contracting this disease is through sexual contact or infected needles we have decided against this vaccine. 

Rota-Virus

The rotavirus is an intenstinal disease that can result in vomiting and diarrhea. It is given in three doses: 2, 4, and 6 months. It is the only oral vaccine. Transmitted through saliva of an infected person. Common in daycare where there are diaper changes and shared toys. The symptoms are like the flu. About 2 million infants and children are hospitalized for this virus, mainly because of dehydration. 20-70 fatal cases due to severe dehydration. There are a lot of questionable ingredients like monkey kidney cells, and fetal cow blood. unfortunately, Nate received each dose of this vaccine but when we decide to have more children we will be against this vaccine since we are the only caregivers. 

DTaP

Dtap vaccine is a combination of vaccines that include immunities against Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis. Diptheria is a severe throat infection that is known for releasing a toxin that can lead to an excessive cough and difficult breathing. Diptheria is rare in the U.S. with only 5 cases a year and sometimes no cases. Because it is extremely rare we have decided against this vaccine. Tetanus is a bacteria that lives on dirt and rusty metal. It is dangerous when the bacterium enters your body through a deep wound. Tetanus releases a toxin that enters your immune system and can cause a paralysis that starts on the jaw.  Tetanus is extremely rare in infants since their chances of receiving a deep wound or being exposed to soil is close to zero. Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. Pertussis is serious for babies under 6 months with a 1% fatality. There were 27,550 cases reported in 2010. Ingredients in DTaP include aluminum and formaldehyde which isn't good for babies. Aluminum can store in a babies brain or bones which can cause kidney malfunction. Because of the questionable ingredients in the DTaP we have decided against this vaccine. 


Hib 

Hib is a bacterium that is spread through a cough, mucous, and saliva. It can cause illnesses from a cough to meningitis. Hib protects against Haemophilus Influenzae type B. It has a 5% fatality rate with 25% causing permanent damage. It is given in 4 doses: 2, 4, 6, and 15 months. There are about 25 cases reported annually in children under 5. Since the virus is very rare in the U.S. we have decided against this vaccine unless we decide to travel while Nate is young. 

PVC

Pneumococcus is administrated at 2, 4, 6, and 15 months. It is a bacterium similar to Hib. Illnesses range from a common cold to meningitis. Transmitted through cough, mucous, and saliva. There are approximately 8,000 to 12,000 of severe pc every year. This vaccine contains 125 micrograms of aluminum and also has the highest side effects of all vaccines. It leaves 1 in 20,000 children reacting in a seizure. If you have a baby in daycare or aren't breastfeeding I would suggest going with this vaccine since the pc bacterium is out there. 


Polio Vaccine (IPV)

This vaccine protects against polio and is administrated at 2,4, 18 months and five years old. This virus is spread like a common cold. Most cases are harmless. There have been zero cases reported of this virus since 1985. I do not recommend this vaccine since there hasn't been a case since 1985. 

MMR Vaccine

This vaccine protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. Administrated at 1 year and 5 years old in form of a booster shot. Most Measles cases are harmless although there are 1 in 1000 fatal cases. A large part due to the MMR vaccine, this virus isn't common anymore. There are less than 100 cases reported annually. Mumps is a virus that causes fever, runny nose, cough and red rashes. The symptoms are so minimal that no one diagnoses mumps. This is a disease that can run its course without serious issues which is why we decided against this vaccine as well. Rubella is similar to measles and mumps. Transferred through cough and saliva. Rubella is never diagnosed since the symptoms are also mild. This vaccine is the most controversial. The rubella virus that is used in this vaccine is taken from an infected aborted fetus in the 1960s. 1 in 20 children will have rash and fever reactions up to 2 weeks after the injection. This vaccine is also known for possibly having a connection to autism. In 1998, Dr. Wakefield who was a british researcher, published an article that stated there was a possible connection between 12 autistic children who had inflammatory disease that may have been triggered by the live Measles virus in the MMR vaccine. Dr. Wakefield was banned from practicing medicine in the UK. If your son or daughter has immune issues such as allergies, eczema, and asthma, I advice you too be cautious since there are some correlation's with autism. 

With all that being said, do your research. Know exactly what is going into our children's bodies. Figure out wether you want to vaccinate your children according to the American Academy Pediatrics schedule, or pick and choose which vaccines you want and space them out so that you and your baby aren't overwhelmed or you can choose to not vaccinate your children at all. There is no right or wrong choice. We as mothers know what is best for our children. Do not let anyone tell you you're making the wrong decision. If you want deeper information read "The Vaccine Book" by Dr. Sears. I based most of my information on the book and cdc.gov. 




Saturday, June 7, 2014

Friends

Even though it's great to have friends, some friendships don't last forever. You'd like to think that your best friends will always be there for you, bu unfortunately sometimes they change. Change can be good and sometimes not so good. You may have friends that face a different direction than you're going in life. This could be that you aren't into the things that they are into anymore. This doesn't happen on purpose; just simply means that you're growing up. Your feelings, beliefs, priorities, and interests have changed. Although it hurts, it's a part of life and someday you'll find friends who are more suited for you. As friendships grow apart, you will learn more about yourself and the type of friends you want. As you grow you will see certain qualities in them, that you don't want in a friend. The way I see it, everyone is put into your life for a reason. Sometimes friends are meant to be in your life for a certain period of time. When they have served their purpose in your life or you have served yours in their life, you will both move on to new friendships. Eventually you will realize that some people are a bad influence on you and that you're heading towards the wrong direction and when you realize that, it is time to move on to more positive friends who will never make you question their friendship.