Let's Live Well With Michele: An Introduction to Essential Oils for Pregnancy

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I wanted to introduce a good friend of mine to all our readers, Michele, she is a new Mom and trying to reach out to other Moms about the benefits of Essential Oils. I am not affiliated with Doterra or its products, I am helping a fellow Mom out to help her build her business.

Let's Live Well with Michele

Doterra Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies

Online Class

Who: Anyone! If you're not pregnant & don't have kids, tag a friend who does!

What: Hop online in your pjs :: grab a cup of coffee & a notebook! I just had my sweet baby boy & am ecstatic to share with you some of the experiences we've had with our oils! I'll share recipes & tips on how to create a relaxing, inviting, happy environment for your little bundle!

When: Saturday 12/16 :: 10 to 11 am

Where: Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/letslivewellwithmichele/

Why: I am all about doterra essential oils. They have changed my life in many ways, and I can't help but share & educate others on the amazingness I've experienced! I'm passionate about oil education and am always here to answer any questions you may have.

*Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Michele R.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letslivewellwithmichele/

Instagram: @letslivewellwithmichele

Email: 

letslivewellwithmichele@gmail.com

Sea-Band for Mamas and More Review #MomsMeet #ad

 *I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

When I was pregnant with my son I suffered with severe morning sickness, well all day sickness until I discovered Sea-Band. I did not want to take any medications for the nausea and vomiting but could not figure out a natural way to help me. After some online research my husband went to the store and came back with Sea-Band. I try to look for natural remedies for health ailments and I thought its only a blue bracelet won't cause any harm to try them. Sea-Bands are acupressure bands that fit around your wrist just like a sweat band-with a pressure stud sewn inside. 

At first it felt a little tight like I needed to pull it a bit to make it fit with pressure but not much. After wearing it for a day I did not see too much relief but I think I was so focused on if it felt like they were working that stressing about it was not helping with nausea. The next day I wore them all day and did feel a lot less nauseated. I would put them on as soon as I woke up because I wanted to avoid any feeling of being sick to my stomach. For the remainder of my pregnancy they were my accessory to motherhood, my baby blue bracelets. 

I had significantly fewer headaches while I was using them too. I think it was due to the acupressure benefits of the bracelets. My son is 7 now but I still have those little blue bracelets for road trips and headaches.

Recently I saw a co-worker wearing them and asked her if they were Sea-Bands. She started to rave about how amazing they are for nauseousness just like I do anytime I see another fellow Sea-Band believer!

• Sea-Band is a knitted elasticated wrist band, which operates by applying pressure on the Nei Kuan acupressure point on each wrist by means of a plastic stud. The bands can be worn on each wrist whenever you feel nauseous.
• Recommended by midwives and pregnant women around the world, the Sea-Band Mama! acupressure wrist band provides a natural choice for effective morning sickness relief.
• Scienti c studies have proved that one of the most effective drug-free treatments is Acupressure on the P6 (Nei- Kuan) point between the two central tendons near the wrist.
• For Instructions on positioning the Sea-Band Mama! bands, please see this page: sea-band.com/mama/sea-band.
• Recently, JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) recommended acupressure and Ginger as solutions to relieve morning sickness. An Italian study has also found that morning sickness was reduced in 70% of women who used Sea-Band acupressure bands.

Sea-Band Mama has some products on the market that I would like to try next time I need to cure nausea for pregnancy or may even be worth a try for my headaches. The Essential Oils Rollette contains Lime, Spearmint and Ginger that can be beneficial aromatherapy for nausea. You can buy Sea-Band products at Target, Walgreens, CVS and Walmart.

Since I do suffer from migraine headaches I like to wear my Sea-Bands when I feel like I maybe getting a headache, it can help stop them from becoming too intense. Early in the week I was wearing them as I cleaned up after my son was playing super heroes and reading a book in the living room. They come in many colors but I still love my light baby blue ones.

Pregnancy 2.0 Mommy Party

This weekend I was hosting a Pregnancy 2.0 party for my Mommy friends and even some Husbands and Kids of my Mommy friends. We made it a family affair! We got some really great products from places like BabyPlus Prenatal Education System, Britax. And some goodie bag items from Snuggle Buddy, and Xlear.

Here was the table set up for the party with the goodie bags and some yummy snacks!!

The first product that we reviewed was the Baby Plus Prenatal Education System. Baby Plus is a little belly machine that you wear for one hour twice a day for noises that resemble a mother's heartbeat. Very cool little device, wish I had known about it when I was pregnant with my boys.


Here is what Baby Plus is saying about their product-

The BabyPlus curriculum is a series of 16 naturally derived sounds that resemble a mother's heartbeat. The rhythm of the sounds increases incrementally as the pregnancy progresses. The BabyPlus sonic pattern introduces your child to a sequential learning process, built upon the natural rhythms of their own environment. This "auditory exercise" strengthens learning ability during the developmental period when the advantages will be most significant and enduring for a child. BabyPlus is the first educational tool designed for prenatal use that has been proven effective. BabyPlus children have an intellectual, developmental, creative, and emotional advantage from the time they are born. Your baby can very clearly hear these patterns. She/he learns to discriminate between the sound coming from the mother and those from BabyPlus. In other words, learning has begun.

Here JJ and I are enjoying each other as the baby listens.

The next products were from Britax, oh man do I love them. Great quality products from a great company. They sent us three great products to test out!

Our BRITAX products!!

We got the B-Safe Car seat, and it is red which I love! The car seat is lightweight and holds up to 30 pounds, designed to carry your child through the first years. It was so easy to click in and out of the base, everyone said how they were so surprised at how lightweight it really was. The Britax B-safe is designed to click and go into the Britax B series strollers.




The B- Agile stroller is compatible with the car seat and has a lightweight aluminum frame that weighs 16.5 pounds total! We ended up having this item as the giveaway because with a small child and one on the way a double stroller is a must for us these days. Our winner is a pregnant Mama herself do she was over the top happy about this!!!
Lastly we got to try out the Britax Baby Carrier in black. I just love their carriers, they are ergonomic, soft and really well made. The top part where your babies head goes has a soft terry cloth material just seems so snugly and soft. Love it!

A few of the ladies Ohhhing and Ahhhing over the carrier :)

Haha here is our littlest one "trying" out his soon to be sisters seat!!! Even carrying him around in the seat it was not too bad ;)

Of coarse the kids favorite part of the party... THE BOXES!!

Disclosure:  I was provided with products from Britax and MommyParties to review and use with my guests.  No monetary compensation was received.  Any and all opinions are my own.  To learn more about MommyParties, please visit their website at http://www.mommyparties.com/

Kiki's Fashions Maternity Review and Giveaway

I have a love/hate relationship with maternity clothes. It seems like they are quite pricey for the short amount of time that you are actually going to wear them. I like my maternity clothes to be stylish but at a great price. I found just that at Kiki's Fashions, trendy maternity clothes for the stylish Mom. They have a ton of great short sleeve shirts, tanks, long sleeves, dresses , bottoms, and clearance for cheap maternity clothes!


For my review from the New Items section, I was sent the Brown Pink Stripped Long Sleeve Maternity Sweater. I have to say I really like the sweater on me, which is hard to say when you are feeling huge! Stripes are in, even if you are pregnant and I happen to love the colors of pink and brown together. The extra long brown sleeve are so cute and they give you extra coverage on a chilly day. I have just pulled them over my hands and still have my finger tips out. The V-neck is a little low so I just wore a tank top underneath to give me a little extra coverage. One more thing I would suggest is to by larger than you normally would, their clothes run small. I would definitely recommend Kiki's Fashion's to all of my friends for maternity clothes. They have really great prices and stylish clothes for the hip Mom in all of us.

Brown Pink Stripped Long Sleeve Maternity Sweater

Love this Brown Button Down Maternity Coat

Oh also loving this Blue Rosette 3/4 Sleeve Maternity Shirt








Have a few holiday parties to go to? How about their Black Long Sleeve Maternity Dress

I have given you plenty of ideas, now go check them out for yourself :)

GIVEAWAY
 

Win a $25 Gift Certificate to Kiki's Fashions Maternity

To Enter This Giveaway: 

What is your favorite item on the website?

 

 *Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on. 

-Like KiKi's Fashions on Facebook +1

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-Share this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day) This means you have the chance to get 2 extra entries a day.

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +2 (right hand side) 

*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts October 29, 2011 and ends on November 7 , 2011 at midnight PST.  Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The Sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Baby Shower Event Starts Today!

When I thought about my family life years before I had children I never really thought about how great it would actually be. I know there are rough time, believe me we have those almost daily, but it is also so great. The idea of growing our little family excites me (I guess 2 going on 3 children is not so little anymore). I come from a large family so the more the merrier I say :) I love the fact that I have two sons who love and adore my husband and I as well as each other. I know that as they grow up they will fight and be best friends at the same time. I know that with each passing year their little personalities are blossoming into what kind of adult they will be someday and what they will carry with them as they grow. There is just something so special about knowing you and your husband are the ones helping them discover who they are.

As we have two boys and found out one was on the way I was a bit nervous that I would not have a little girl. I know, I know it is not the end of the world if you don't have a girl. But like most Mom's (not all) I wanted the Girl Scouts, the sleepovers, the Barbies, and the PINK!!! I wanted to know what it was like for my Mom as she raised girls and how strong the friendship between a Mother and her Daughter can be. When we found out that these two little boys of ours were going to be big brothers to a SISTER we were over the moon. JJ is into all things superheros and fighting, I am hoping this softens him up a bit. Even when we talk about his little sister it just seems to soften his heart. I love it.

So as we prepare for the arrival of this sweet baby girl we are having a Baby Shower here on the Frugal Family Tree. There will be plenty of great things (blue and pink) to win as the month goes on! Please tune in and enjoy all things BABY!!!!

Just a few pictures of the boys when they were first born.... Ahhhh can't wait!!

JJ in the hospital 2006

Baby L in the hospital as well (ha look at the smirk) 2010

Shabby Apple Dress Review

When it comes to beautiful clothing, jewelry and accessories I find myself wanting most everything from shabby apple. Oh a girl can dream and dream on their website, oh and also start composing her Christmas list as well!! There are so many post baby things I want like this and this, oh and this because it would be cute with some boots for the winter :)

In the meantime while I am cooking baby #3 here, I am shopping in the maternity department at shabby apple. They have some pretty gorgeous things too, like this and this. Shabby apple was kind enough to send me a Two's Company dress from their maternity line for me to show you.

This picture is so blurry but you get the idea, hey I never said I was a model :)

What I like about the Two's Company dress is that it is casual enough to wear with flip flops, dressy enough for heels, or the perfect length to put on some boots and a sweater as it cools down. I liked the feel of how loose it was on my body, not too tight that you could see every detail of my ever growing body. I feel like a "hot mama" in it and what a great feeling that is!

Check out all of shabby apples products like their swim line, accessories and arts and crafts. I promise you will not be disappointed and find yourself wanting MORE!!!


*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free the dress pictured for my review.

Allergies anyone?

My allergies are going WILD! Normally pregnancy cured this for me, no really it did. At least while I was pregnant with my boys they were long gone. Oh NO not this time around! They are worse than ever and I just want to curl up in a ball and sleep the rest of my pregnancy off, that or at least the allergy season. Oh dear. I bet it is because this time we are having a girl and she just wants to torture me. Already....

Pink? Purple? Lace? Bows? OH MY!

After the news of a Baby Girl I have been on the hunt for all things "girlie" and it is hard. To be honest having two boys I have never really let myself "go there" in the girl department of any store. I always felt there was no need to torture myself, I may never have a little girl so why even look?

Seriously, I never really looked how weird is that? Now that I have a reason (Thank you GOD) it is so overwhelming to me. There are a million things to look at and see that I am having a hard time committing to anything. I know it is not a "real" problem and once I get a grip on things it will get easier but in the mean time my head is swirling with pink and purple everything!! And I am loving every second of it ;)

The ultrasound is in and It's a...

GIRL!!!!!!!

Finally we are seeing pink!! Ahhhhhh we are on cloud 9 right now mixed in with a bit of shock. I told myself it was probably a boy so that I would not be shocked (ok maybe a bit disappointed) if they told me we were having our 3rd boy. Don't get me wrong I love my boys and if it was a boy then of coarse we would love him just the same. But I don't even have to worry or think about that because we are having a GIRL!!!

It is still sinking in and my thoughts are all over the place. She will have 2 big brothers to love her and torture her, she will be the "baby" of the family and will know it. My husband in so excited, although he is trying to keep his cool. There is just something about a Daddy and his daughter :) There is girl scouts and sleepovers and I have not forgotten about the DRAMA!! Girls are dramatic, I know I am one, but I am still so excited over it. My Mom is one of my best friends and I hope to create and nurture that same relationship with my daughter.

Now excuse me, I am off to search the Internet for all things PINK!!

and BABY makes 5

I have been a little MIA on the blog lately. I have been doing some posts here and there but slacking to say the least. I have a semi good excuse....

I am pregnant and we are expecting baby #3 this winter!!!



The excitement is pretty high around here, especially from JJ. Here I thought that he would be the one to protest the most but he is so excited. He will tell everyone and anyone that we are having another baby. It is super cute. With Baby L he was so so about it, this time around he can't wait to have a new baby. So with my news being announced I am free to write about it, I have a few stories (like my husband wanting to buy a Mini Van) to tell and some things to say about being pregnant (is it possible to be this tired and cranky) this time around. I am working on getting it together and posting more. Please bare with me as I get back into the swing of things.

Next week we have the ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby, for my sake PLEASE think PINK!! With 2 boys and a husband the testosterone is pretty thick around here ;)

P.S. Thanks to Liz who has been carrying most of the "baby" weight around here!! Haha