Salt and Pepper Grinder Set

Premium Stainless Steel 

Salt and Pepper 

Grinder Set

This set is great! 

I would have been be totally stoked if someone had given us this product as a wedding present or home warming gift. The ceramic grinder is easily adjustable. We let our three and five year old use them on their food and they had a blast. 

 You can snag your own on Amazon by clicking here.

 

I received this product at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.

Naturel Commodity

Naturel Commodity

Vitamin C 

Super Youth Serum 

Review

This is the first product I have ever tried like this. 

I don't use many beauty products and I was pleasantly surprised. 

I have sensitive skin and it seemed to work without any negative reactions. 

I have only used it for about a week but I am happy with the results thus far. 

 

The bottle has a pleasant appearance and the design of the pump mechanism ensures you get to use all of the product. I will definitely recommend this product to friends and family that are in the market for ditching some wrinkles.

You can pick up your own on Amazon by clicking here.

I received this product at a discounted rate for an honest review.

NOVICA Cotton Hammock Swing Chair

NOVICA 

Cotton Hammock Swing Chair

 'Deserted Beach'

 

Krogan totally digs his new swing chair. 

 This hammock swing chair is pretty cool. 

The instructions were a little difficult to understand but we got the gist and were able to safely hang it on the porch. 

We plan to hang it inside for a funky piece of furniture in our living room. I love that it's a fair trade product and feel squishy inside knowing that the people creating these chairs aren't being taken advantage of or treated poorly. It also feels nice being able to give a little back to communities around the world. 

 

Will definitely be purchasing another of these if we can manage to safely hang the one we already received inside.

The material is so soft! Not like other hammock swing chairs that I have seen. It feels so delicate but it's definitely strong enough to keep you safe and secure while sitting in it. The pieces themselves seem quite sturdy and will hold up outside nicely. 

Totally worth the price for the quality.

You can pick up your own cotton hammock swing chair on Amazon by clicking here.

I received a discount to purchase this item and leave an honest review.

 

Cozitot Mei Tei Style Carrier

 

Cozitot

Mei Tei Style Carrier

As far as baby carriers go, this one is on the more inexpensive side but it is still quite safe and functional!

The seat of the carrier is about 21 inches wide. 

The length of the pannel is about 14 inches tall.

  

The only downside I can see is the deep blue color of the carrier. While dark colors are nice for most child related mess, dark carriers show spit rings on the straps and pick up all the lint and animal hair you can find. So keep a lint roller handy and it might not be a shabby idea to get some suck/drool/teething pads.  

The embellishment on the panel is BEAUTIFUL. 

 

The padding on this carrier is better than other brands of the same style I have tried. I took this carrier on a 4.5 mile hike with my family. It made for a comfortable trek for me and my 10 month old 25lb 'little' dude.

I am a fluffier mama with a bigger baby. 

This carrier fit us nicely without discomfort. 

According to the paperwork that came with the carrier:  

The carrier has a min weight recommendation of 8lbs and a max weight recommendation of 35lb. 

According to the amazon listing:
The carrier has a min weight recommendation of 10lbs and a max weight of 25lbs. 

Based on similar carriers, I would say the paperwork that came with the carrier is correct. 

 

The instructions that come with the carrier are quite lacking for a newer babywearing family, in my opinion. There are so many ways to wear a mei tei style carrier. Check out all of your options. Remember, practice makes perfect! There's definitely an art to carriers that use fabric to wrap around the body.

Please hit up "Mei Tei (front or back) carry instructions" on youtube if you purchase this product. 

Your baby's safety is the number one concern with any baby product. 

This product does not have to meet the same safety standards of other carriers because it is made in China. Remember to always check your carrier before AND after each use to make sure the seams are holding up to safety standards. 

 

Here's a quick illustration for a life-hack way to do a back carry.

 You can pick up your own Cozitot carrier on amazon by clicking HERE. 

I received this item for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Pashoshi Baby Bandanna Bibs

Pashoshi 

Baby Bandanna Bibs 

 An adorable new baby gift set for any occasion.
 #pashoshibaby

These bibs are great!
Plus you get a free passie clip and sippy/toy strap!

The patterns are totally adorable! We choose not to adhere to society's gender norms. Our boys wear pink, blue, and rainbows too but I know some families aren't the same. These bib patterns are great for boys, girls, or intersex.

 They get the job done for meal time and are adorable for play time as well. Our youngest little dude prefers to be shirtless most of the time. He is a messy toddling ten month old is constantly on the move. These bibs are perfect for protecting his skin from chapping due to drool or getting sticky from food while still letting him feel free. 

 Front is made of 100% soft organic cotton, backed by an ultra-absorbent polyester fleece. This combination protects your little drooling and teething baby from dribble rash while keeping your baby stylish and dry.

You can pick up your gift set on Amazon by clicking here. Plus, if you don't end up really liking them, there's a 90 day full refund guarantee. We love them so I'm sure you will too!

I received these products at a discounted price in exchange for my honest review.

Back Seat Organizer Car Kick Mat 

Seat Belt Pillow 

Cling Sun Shade 

Giraffe Set Review

I want to start off with the most important part of this review. The adorable Gerry Giraffe Seat Belt Pillow and Organizing Car Kick Mat are NOT SAFE. 

I would NOT purchase these products if I intend to use them in the car. 


Gerry the Giraffe Seat Belt Pillow

Many companies sell aftermarket products for use in the car. Because companies sell them parents assume they are tested for safety and allowed to be used. That is NOT TRUE. Check your car manual! Here is what my 2012 Honda Pilot has to say about aftermarket products and the seat belt. 

 I have also been told by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians that insurance companies may also deny injury claims if aftermarket products are found to be used in a car involved in a crash. This pillow is not worth your child's life.

If your child can't sleep sitting up in the proper position then they still belong in a 5 point harness. "Cute" products like this are geared towards an age group that should likely still be rear facing or in a harnessed forward facing seat. You most definitely can't use this product with a harness so why even gear it towards younger children?  

*These charts were developed from information based on Clinical Growth Charts for Length-for-age and Weight-for-age by the CDC.

My oldest is 4 years and 6.5 months old
 44 inches tall
and 40 pounds.
He JUST turned around forward facing in his Diono Pacifica harnessed seat yesterday (1/19/2016). There is no reason to rush your child's development and then have to use products like these to keep their head comfortable when sleeping while sacrificing their safety.

For bigger kids that need something to lean their head on, keep them in high back boosters with headwings.

If your child can't pass the 5 Step Test they should still 

be in a child's carseat or proper fitting booster.  
Booster Seats are for VERY Big Kids.

Which brings me to my next point... There is NO WAY to get a good seat belt fit with adorable Gerry on the shoulder. 

 To get a proper fit the shoulder belt should be firmly in the middle of the shoulder with shoulder belt guide just above the shoulder and shoulder belt flush against the body. A shoulder belt that doesn’t touch the person can’t properly restrain him.

  This picture was taken from the company's photos on Amazon. Another reviewer submitted it with her positive review. This child is too young for a backless booster. The belt is not flush against the body because of the pillow AND the lap belt falls at his hips and abdomen instead of where it is supposed to along his thighs. This shows that when companies market these products to younger children it reinforces improper car seat safety decisions. 

I believe this child's backless booster is a Graco. 
Page 8 of the Graco owner's manual says:

By modifying the car's seat belt the owner is modifying how the booster seat was tested for safety therefore voiding the safety of the booster seat. 

In order to use this seat the child pictured above must meet the following requirements:

For children 4-10 years old, from 40-100 lbs and 40” to 57” tall.
As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, children 4 feet 9 inches tall or under should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat.
(The mother states in her review that her child is only three years old.) 

 

The company claims their product is safe and even goes so far as to say it is a "safety device".

  

After market shoulder strap pads or covers add bulk to the seat belt, often interfering with tightening the seat belt and proper shoulder strap placement.  They may change the distance and speed the head and chest travel in a crash, resulting in serious injury or death. 

It may seem like 'just a pillow' but is it worth your child's life?

Back Seat Organizer and Kick Mat

Is this product functional? yes
Is Gerry the Giraffe adorable? yes
Is this product safe? NO

"The organizers can hit a front-facing child and cause injury. The stuff that’s jammed into them can become a projectile as well. It’s not just the weight of the thing itself; it’s the weight times the acceleration of the vehicle and the force that creates that hits the baby. An empty soda can could crush a human skull at the right velocity." 

“It’s hard to keep your car clean with kids in it. I know that! But it’s really important,” says Johnson. “In general, you should have the least amount of crap in your car as possible, and whatever isn’t attached to the car needs to be secured: purses, toys, seat belts not in use need to be buckled, even if there is a car seat in that seating position.”
~ Jennifer Johnson, BNS, RN, and CPST

Window Cling Shades

 

The window clings have metal inside of the outter edge making them not safe as well. Do NOT use these products. The sun can be annoying when you're a child stuck in the car and it is in your eyes. Cling shades are the CPST recommended form of window shade, not shades with suction cups or plastic bars along the bottom because they can become projectiles in the event of an accident. Window clings are the safer option, safest being window tinting. 

Want to know why projectiles are so dangerous? Check out this personal account if you take child safety seriously. 

I received these products for free in exchange for an honest review.

Links for reference: 
Non Regulated Products from Car Seats for The Littles

Dangers of Fluff In the Car Seat from The Car Seat Lady

Proper Booster Fit

Boosters are for (VERY) Big Kids
Are Care Seat Accessories Safe? 
Keeping Car Seats Cool 
Gerry Giraffe amazon listing 

Votprof Natural Beeswax Candles 

Tapers Set

 These candles are great! Our health is important to us so we try to use natural products that aren't laced with chemicals that could harm our children.  

 These candles are beautifully made and safe. I love that they aren't made with additional fragrances that could flair my husband's asthma. 

 

The candles don't drip unless you hold them sideways! I was quite impressed. I dislike when birthday candles drip onto the cake. With the warmth of your hands, they are able to be shaped into fun curls that don't break. We will be using them for meditation as well as birthday cakes for a while yet.  

 

I took a time lapse video to show how long they burn and that they don't drip. The candles lasted for one hour and twenty one minutes. There is a bit of smoke towards the end but that's because one of the candle flames was touching the glass stones in the jar.

 

You can get your own #votprofcandles by clicking on this link that will open their product page on Amazon. 

I will totally buy these candles again!

I received these candles at a discounted price 

in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

berlando 

Signature Edition

Chevron Baby Blanket

 

Do you love minky? 

Don't know because you've never felt it before? 

Then let me tell you, you love minky! 

It is so soft. 

It is the perfect material for a baby blanket because it feels unimaginably soft.

These blankets are adorable and afordable.

Minky is typically on the more expensive end of fabrics so this is a great value.

The color and pattern are adorable and great for any baby or child.

My little one doesn't like sleeping with a blanket but even he snuggled this one.

Blankets this size are perfect for kids, especially in the car!

Coats aren't supposed to be worn in the car because in the event of an accident the coat will compress behind the car seat straps and the individual can be ejected from the car. What better way to keep your child safe AND warm than by with a soft and fashionable blanket? 

I would definitely recommend this blanket to a friend or purchase it for a baby shower gift. You can get your very own berlando blanket by visiting this page on amazon.

I received this blanket in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
#berlandoblankets
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017Y13H70