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Gaiam Watercress Aluminum Water Bottle Review and Giveaway!!!

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Are you drinking enough water?  It’s so important to drink water throughout the day especially during any type of exercise. Are you tired of drinking from plastic bottles that just create more plastic garbage for landfills?  Do you want a water bottle that’s easy to clean and made of high quality materials without toxins?  If you answered yes to the last 2 questions, then you should check out the Watercress Aluminum Water Bottle from Gaiam. The wide mouth of this bottle makes it easy to add ice cubes and to clean thoroughly.  The durable stainless steel is durable, non-toxic and 100% recyclable.  The bottles are BPA free and have no need for an inner lining.   Making a difference is as easy as changing how you drink your water!

Gaiam Bottle

Watercress Aluminum Water Bottle Features:
  • Lightweight aluminum is perfectly portable
  • 100% recyclable, including the caps
  • Plastic bottle alternative
  • Leak-proof

WHY STAINLESS STEEL? 86%t of plastic water bottles used in the United States end up in landfills, taking up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Americans are currently adding 30 million PET water bottles to our landfills every day. Transporting bottled water consumes approximately 1.5 million barrels of fossil fuels per year. Help reduce this number by carrying a refillable bottle. When you use a stainless steel bottle, your water remains free of unhealthy plastic residues.

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Gaiam is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own Watercress Aluminum Water Bottle!  Thanks to Gaiam for the review bottle and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Gaiam, Watercress Aluminum Water Bottle Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to the best readers a blogger could ever hope for!  I will be taking off the next couple of days to spend with my family but will return with more articles, DIY, Curb Appeal Series and of course Giveaways and Winners!!!  Enjoy Your Families!!!

Luke 211


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Pregnant Yogini, Amy Pastore, Continues To Practice Yoga, Listening Not To Critics, But To Her Inner Compass!

Amy Pastore has been practicing yoga for 20 years and teaching for over a decade.  Last spring, when Amy received the good news she was expecting, it never so much as crossed her mind to stop practicing yoga.  As you may imagine she has faced critics along the way, mostly in the opinions of  other moms who did not agree and were not shy letting her know what she should and should not be doing as an expectant mother.

Amy shakes it off and says she feels we all have an inner guide, she calls it her intuition. She believes this intuition is innate and always there for us to access if we’re willing to listen.  She believes that as a woman becomes a mother this inner compass will grow even stronger and so it’s important that she stays tuned in and follows its direction.

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Amy is due 3 days from now on Christmas Day but she still practiced yoga today.  She acknowledges that as her body has changed and with her baby at full term, it’s very different from earlier in her pregnancy.  With her belly at maximum capacity, her center of gravity is changing as often as the baby shifts, causing her to be present in a very intuitive way.

You will not find Amy guided by the advice found in pregnancy books or a doctor and most of all not from opinionated mothers.  Instead, she is constantly moving from a place of feeling and sensation while understanding that well-meaning advice is coming from people who do not know her history, body or health better than she does.

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Amy with her husband Freddy

Amy with her husband Freddy

She feels that there is a very basic knowledge that lets an expectant mother know what to and what not to do.  If something doesn’t  feel right, a mother will naturally protect her child inside and out.  She believes that if you’re moving from a place of feeling and intuition that with intelligence and care, you can and should continue your activities throughout your pregnancy.  When asked  what she thinks of those who disagree, Amy says she has no problem tuning them out, after all she practices yoga.

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Amy and her husband, Freddy Pastore, are the creators of iflow Yoga and host teacher training and retreats locally and internationally. Amy generously shares with her students what has been valuable and what has worked for her from her vast experiences.

Her most important message to her students: “This practice is a metaphor for life, the mat is a mirror. Each time we come to the mat, it’s an opportunity to learn something about ourselves. Everything we learn on the mat we can take and apply to life.”  Amy is widely recognized and respected by her peers as a teacher dedicated to her practice and inspired by the love of sharing it with others. For more information visit amypastore.com and also stop by her Facebook Page for the latest updates and news!

Amy Yoga


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ChicoBag, Nomad Tote In Brittany Blue Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

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Are you traveling this holiday season?  If you are and you have kids, you know for sure you will have a lot to pack.  Have you ever been on a vacation where you discover you need to buy extra luggage or bags to cart all the souvenirs or hauls from shopping you did while there?  I know because this happens to me all the time!  Wouldn’t it be nice to be prepared for that?

The Nomad Tote is such a great life saver for times like that because it can be stored so compactly in its own storage bag when not needed and takes up no room at all.  They’re great to have in the car, in your purse, to pack with you on trips and will act as a safety net.  Forget your beach bag?  Not a problem, with the Nomad, it’s there in a flash to hold everything you need.  It’s also machine washable so you don’t have to stress about a little dirt which is inevitable with kids.  Whether you pack it full for a weekend getaway, a trip to the gym, an outing at the farmer’s market or just pack it compactly for just-in-case, the Nomad Tote will not let you down!

Nomad Tote Brittany Blue

 

This large bag fits comfortably over your shoulder and has 3 exterior pockets and an interior zippered pocket.  Mommy Ramblings thinks the Nomad Tote makes a great gift this holiday season so we are adding it to our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide. 

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ChicoBag is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a Nomad Tote in Brittany Blue!  Thank you ChicoBag for the review tote and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

ChicoBag, Nomad Tote in Brittany Blue Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Let Disney Planes Help You With Your Holiday Travel Stress!!!

If you holiday plans are gathering with family and friends who are  a car or plane ride away, make holiday travel a breeze with some handy holiday travel tips from Disney’sPlanes in the slideshow below and keep little ones entertained with fun printable activities inspired by the film! Whether your holiday meal is a car or plane ride away

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Disney’s Planes is now available on Blu-ray Combo Pack!

 

Enjoy This Clip on How To Draw Dusty

Here are a couple of bonus clips:

 

Download Facts & Activities

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Dress First is the First and Last Place To Shop For Special Occasion Dresses of Every Kind!!!

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I think New Year’s Eve is not only about the start of a new year but a new season for dresses.  If you think about New Year’s Balls, you probably envision women with gorgeous full length ball gowns dancing and ringing in the new year with class and style. The new year seems to transition effortlessly into one formal event after another.  The start of spring brings with it college formals, high school proms, graduations and of course full speed ahead into wedding season.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming the amount of functions we’re invited to and the decisions on what to wear coupled with the expense of buying several different dresses. All those decisions can be stressful on your mind and your wallet!

I recently found out about Dress First and I have to share it with you!  DressFirst.com is the global leading online retailer for wedding gowns, special event dresses, wedding party dresses, and accessories.  Dress First takes great pride in providing their customers with high quality garments at affordable prices and exceptional customer service. Their enormous selections of dresses can be tailored to your exact specifications.

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I could not believe the Wedding Dress collection and how low the prices were!   I was married way more than a few years ago, and my gown cost at least 10 times more than most of these dresses!  Imagine the savings for the parents of the bride!  But it does not stop there, you will find great styles for mother of the bride or groom, bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids.  They also sell a full line of accessories including wedding veils, shoes, jewelry, evening bags and more. The even carry maternity bridesmaids dresses.

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Jewelry Sets

 

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Are you a guest at a wedding?  They have gorgeous evening dresses of all types, lengths and styles.  Need a little black dress?  You should probably pick up a few with this selection and pricing.  If you have daughters heading to the prom, head on over to Dress First to see all the great styles.  Your daughter will love them and you will not have a heart attack when you check the price.  You might even consider doing a trash the dress photo shoot with the money you save!

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The site is so user-friendly, you can shop by dress length, neckline, back and strap style, fabric, color, embellishments, season and more. So do yourself a favor and keep Dress First in mind when the invitations start flooding your mailbox. Follow Dress First on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest updates and news on new inventory, sales, specials and more.  It may be cliché but you don’t need a million to look like a million.

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This is a sponsored post that I was financially compensated for on behalf of a PR agency, influencer network or company.  As always the opinions, views, writing and ideas are 100% my own.


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Holiday Travel Essential Package For Baby Giveaway With Tortle & 2 Red Hens Diaper Bag!!!

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Did you know that 1 out of 2 babies develop flat head syndrome and that it is totally preventable?  A pediatrician developed a product called Tortle,  this lightweight baby beanie can prevent flat head and even treat babies who have developed flat head.  Target.com will carry three Tortle designs; Blue Elephant, Pink Flowers and Solid White.  The Tortle beanies are available in medium and large sizes at a suggested retail price of $19.99.  You can follow Tortle on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to stay up to date with all the latest product news.

Developed by Dr. Jane Scott, a Board Certified Pediatrician and Neonatologist, the Tortle beanie is an FDA-cleared patented Class 1 medical device that promotes proper head and neck movement which is essential for appropriate development.  Tortle helps prevent and treat early stages of flat head syndrome: plagiocephaly (the flattening of the baby’s skull) & torticollis (unbalanced neck muscles). Tortle works by gently deflecting a baby’s head from side to side when they are sitting or lying on the back of their head.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular head repositioning of babies younger than six months.

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The incidence of Plagiocephaly and Torticollis (or Flathead syndrome) has increased to epidemic proportions since 1992 with more than a million babies being diagnosed with the condition each year in the U.S. alone.  This is due to their lack of movement and the amount of time infants spend on their back (the safest place for them to be).  If left untreated, there can be long-standing problems.  Treatment is frequently expensive and can be somewhat uncomfortable for a baby.  Plagiocephaly and Torticollis are almost 100% preventable with repositioning and Tortle makes this safe and easy.  It is recommended that all newborns wear a Tortle for the first 6 months of life to support healthy development.

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 Dr. Scott, whose specialty is Pediatrics and Neonatology, is recognized as an expert in the areas of Plagiocephaly and Torticollis.  In her nearly 30 years as a practicing physician, Dr. Scott has counseled and educated hundreds of parents to help prevent as well as treat the many problems associated with Flathead Syndrome.  Dr. Jane’s mission is to prevent Flathead Syndrome-an epidemic affecting the babies across the world. Please visit tortle.com for more information.

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Traveling with baby is a breeze with the 2 Red Hens Studio Rooster Diaper Bags!   These custom designed bags give mom all the style and sass she had before baby, and all the functionality she needs now that her precious little one has arrived.

Features include:

•             Interior zipper pocket, bottle holder and 2 elastic pockets

•             Convertible stroller straps

•             Attached key fob

•             Magnetic snap and button closure for easy access

•             Extra long changing pad in 2 Red Hens signature red dot pattern.

 

Available in 5 custom designed, vintage-inspired patterns:

•             Chevron Stripes, Grey Damask, Peacock Mum, Pink Lemonade and Owl Dots

Recommended retail: $50

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Based in Denver, Colorado, the 2 Red Hens Studio collection of Vintage Chic Inspired Items for Modern Mamas include diaper bags, the Toy Nanny, Shopping Cart Nests, and a range of accessory items. Limited edition handcrafted one-of-a-kind diaper bags and dolls are also offered. For more information visit 2 Red Hens.com. Follow 2 Red Hens on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and  visit their blog.

 

Tortle and 2 Red Hens are sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a Tortle and 2 Red Hens Rooster Diaper Bag in their choice of style!  The value of this giveaway prize packages is $69.99!  Thanks to Tortle and 2 Red Hens for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US and Canadian residents.

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Tortle & 2 Red Hens Diaper Bag Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Marika, Balance Collection For Yoga Review!!!

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My daughter has recently become very passionate about Yoga.  She is in graduate school and it is a major stress reliever and keeps her in great shape.  She goes as many as 6 times a week.  She has been expanding her Yoga wardrobe and recently tried out some items from the Marika Balance Collection. She chose the Marika Tek – Artificial Reality Galaxy Print Leggings and  Marika Tek-Solid Intuition Tank.  She remarked immediately with the softness of the tank and how it was softer and felt better than a brand she buys that is much more expensive.  She loved the leggings too, they were comfortable and fashionable and stayed put no matter the pose.  She even found they were nice to wear outside of class paired with a different top.  If you are looking for multi-sport active wear you should check out Marika.  Use Promo Code BRIGHT40 to get 40% off all bottoms.  Get 30% off your Balance order with code RELAX30.

Marika Tek Legging Artificial Reality Galaxy Print

 

Marika Tek Legging

Solid Intuition Tank Marika

Marika Solid Intuition Tank Back View

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 You can follow Marika Fitness on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on sales, promotions and all the latest news.


I received the above pieces at no cost from Marika in order to facilitate my review.  As always the opinions and views are entirely my own.

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The Green Glass Co., Oversized Glass Tumbler “Re-Bottled” Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

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I remember one Christmas my older sister received a kit made for kids, that turned glass bottles into drinking glasses.  When I think about what was involved and the potential danger to kids, I can say it would never make toy of the year by today’s standards.  I remember you would put the bottle in this device and it would score the bottle and then some how you would crack the scored top off.  Next you would smooth and polish the raw edges of the glass with from what I remember required putting it through the flame of a candle.  Sounds like fun for kids, right?  Either that or a trip to the emergency room.

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You can’t argue that it’s a neat idea to recycle bottles into drinking glasses.  Well, The Green Glass Company has done all the work for you, their Oversized Glass Tumbler is made from a reclaimed chardonnay bottle.  This glass holds 20 ounces of liquid and is the perfect way to ditch one time use plastic cups and plastic bottles.

If you are still looking for gift ideas the Oversized Glass Tumbler is a perfect choice, especially for the tree huggers on your list.  My four-year old noticed that the recycled carton the tumbler comes in makes a great sounding drum, perfect for his rendition of The Little Drummer Boy. You can find the Oversized Glass Tumbler from Green Glass on our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide!!!

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The Green Glass Co.  is sponsoring  a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own Oversized Glass Tumbler!  Thank you to The Green Glass Co. for the review tumbler and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

The Green Glass Co., Oversized Glass Tumbler “Re-Bottled” on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Manhattan Toy, Motorworks Customizable Wood Vehicles Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

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My boys love monster trucks, cars and trains as most boys do.  We recently had a chance to experience Motorworks from Manhattan Toy.  Motorworks vehicles are able to be detailed by your child and they can swap wheels and parts from vehicle to vehicle creating new looks for their race cars, monster trucks and cars anytime they want.  My boys went to town with the stickers and had so much fun decorating their cars and trucks.  After that they were off and playing, stopping for tire rotations and then right back in action.

 

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Motorworks Race Pace

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Mommy Ramblings thinks Motorworks from Manhattan Toy would be a huge hit for the little guys on your holiday gift list.  We are adding Motorworks to our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide!!!

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Mahattan Toy Motorworks

MOTORWORKS is the only line of customizable wooden toy vehicles, accessories and play sets. The collection includes three different vehicle trim levels: Street Series, Speed Series and Extreme Series. It also offers vehicle accessory kits, custom car decals and play sets. Experience MOTORWORKS today!

Manhattan Toy is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win the same Motorworks toys that I reviewed (their own of course!).  Thank you Manhattan Toy for the review toys and for sponsoring this revved up giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

 

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