Christmas in January.

We had a fantastic Christmas this year. Our backyard has been officially stocked, housing a playscape, a playhouse, a baby slide, a cozy coupe, a trike, and a ride-on car. Now, thanks to the fine folks at Wayfair and their awesome reduced prices, we also have a wagon!

Ava's been acting like she's wanted a wagon for some time. The boys have one, and she really enjoys riding inside of it while in their backyard. My only reservation about getting one for her was a combination of a.) they can be a bit pricey, and b.) the red Radio Flyer that the boys have can have a bit of a rough ride, with having more than one rider in the wagon being a bit nervewracking without seat belts. Enter, the Step 2 Wagon for Two Plus.



We got this gorgeous, durable green wagon for Ava as a gift for Christmas, and we finally had the time and good weather to play around in it today. Not only was it a pretty easy assembly (a plus for this spatially-challenged mama!), but it's also incredibly good quality. The wagon, which is built for - per the name - "two plus", also has an optional add-on trailer that matches that we are likely to look into purchasing in the future. In case that wasn't awesome enough, the wagon features seat belts, which is a huge plus for this safety-conscious mama, as well as two cup holders, two seats for Ava and a friend to ride along, and a seat with storage. What more could you want?


One of the best features, though, is the turning radius of the wagon. Because of the way the wheels are set, this bad boy can sail around corners without any snags, making it easy on both mom and kiddo!

If that's not testament enough about the quality of the product, check out Ava's own review:




(Note: for disclosure information, click here. I was provided with this wagon in exchange for agreeing to review the product, but the opinions expressed above are entirely my own.)

Continuum Games Review and Giveaway!

The holidays are quickly approaching, and as such, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to test out two great games from Continuum Games: Lumps, and Family Talk 2.

As you all know, my own daughter is a bit young for organized games, but luckily the older children that I nanny for are not, and had a blast playing with me while I tested out and reviewed them both.

First, we'll start with Lumps, as the holiday theme is appropriate to the time of year. To play Lumps, you gather the pieces of coal (dice) in your hands, give them a lucky shake and let them fly. The goal is to score the most points in three rolls by rolling pairs. What makes Lumps exciting is that there are four different types of dice and only a few of them have high numbers on them. After your first roll, you have to decide which dice to keep and which dice to roll again. Though the preschooler I watch found this game a bit complicated (as she should have - it's made for children 6+), she did pick up on the excitement, and I loved that I was able to make her feel included and modify the rules a bit to fit her developmental stage. The third-grader was far more capable of playing along, and particularly loved the little stocking that the game dice came in. For those who do not celebrate Christmas, or are interested in a less seasonal edition, Lumps comes in a year-round edition as well. This would make a great stocking stuffer for a school-aged child!

I also reviewed the game Family Talk 2. The game cards come on a portable key ring, great for traveling or taking in the car on those holiday road trips! The game is made for 2 or more players, ages 3+, though you'll likely be able to play longer and ask a wider range of questions with the older kiddos, who have the added benefit of being able to read the cards themselves.

The questions start off simple enough - such as "What is your favorite flavor of cake?" - and grow increasingly probing - for example, "Have you ever had a crisis of faith when your faith was tested?" While a lot of these questions could be great for school-aged children who are increasingly interested in their family members and history, the single best age group for this game seems to me to be tweens, who may be increasingly isolating themselves from their families and need conversation starters. Whatever age your child is though, learning more about each other as a family is sure to be a wonderful experience!

Both Lumps the Elf Coal game and Family Talk 2 are available at Hallmark Gold Crown stores, Books-A-Million,
Go! Games and 100s of specialty toy stores in the US, as well as on Continuum Games' website.

Now, thanks to Continuum Games, you all have the opportunity to win copies of these games for yourself!

As a mandatory entry, hop on over to Continuum Games website and leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite product/game on their site is! Also, make sure you're following me on Google Friend Connect :) That's it!

For additional entries (one entry per action - leave a separate comment for each!):

"Like" Continuum Games' Facebook page
Follow Continuum Games on Twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet about the giveaway with the following text: Enter to win two Continuum Games on @unexpexpectbaby blog http://bit.ly/vbnsui (maximum of once per day)

Good luck, and happy gaming!`

*Disclosure: For the purposes of this review and giveaway, I was provided with both games free of charge. The opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.

I Love Motherlove.

This isn't the first time I've talked about Motherlove products on this blog (Don't you just love great deals on the internet?!). If you remember from when Ava was just weeks old, my lactation consultant recommended one of their products, More Milk Special Blend capsules, in order to help boost my dwindling supply, and I can honestly say I credit Motherlove with my ability to have made it through that hurdle to be a still breastfeeding mama today!

So imagine how happy I was when I was contacted by their wonderful PR person about doing a review! Seeing as how I'm not in those early stages of breastfeeding anymore - where their breast pads and nipple cream rule the world - or pregnant (praise Jesus! haha) - where their pregnant belly oil and rhoid creme would come in very handy - I asked to review two of their wonderful salves: Their Diaper Rash & Thrush Salve, and their Green Salve.



I can honestly say that both of these products are at the top of their category. I have been incredibly lucky in that Ava has never had terrible diaper rash (because I'm breastfeeding, perhaps?), but because of her tummy issues with dairy and eggs, occasionally we have a diaper that causes some immediate irritation. We had one such occasion just about a week and a half ago, and I put the Motherlove Diaper Rash & Thrush Salve on her tushy right before putting her to bed for the night. The salve is made with 96% certified organic products, and has a zero rating on the Environmental Working Group's toxin scale (meaning it has ZERO toxins!), so I felt comfortable putting it on Ava's sweet skin. And I was glad I did, since she woke up in the morning irritation-free!



The other product I received, Motherlove's Green Salve, is a lifesaver if you - like me - live in an area where humidity and nearly year-round warm temperatures keep the mosquitoes alive and well all year, leading to those pesky, itchy mosquito bites. While I try to keep Ava covered in mosquito-repellent, bites still happen from time to time, and Motherlove's Green Salve was able to take the itch right out, for me, and - seeing as how she left them alone to heal ASAP - for Ava.

Thank you, Motherlove, for such a mom-, baby- and Earth-friendly line of products!

The Toy Organizer That Saved My Sanity!

I recently received something that I always LOVE getting: a package from CSN Stores in the mail! I have shopped with them now on several occasions and have been fortunate enough to become a Preferred Blogger, and cannot tell you how happy I am with my latest purchase!

After seeing this fabulous toy organizer that Emily had for her adorable little guy, I just knew I had to have it! Enter CSN Stores. Not only was I able to shop from the comfort of my own home, in my pajamas, without having to drag Ava out in the cold (!!), but I was able to find an amazing toy organizer to meet our needs both on amazing sale (from it's already discounted price!) and with free shipping. This is one happy mama!

Not only did I have a great shopping experience, but I received my package super quick, despite not selecting any shipping upgrades. Is there anything better than coming home from a long day at work to find a package that you weren't expecting for days?

The organizer itself - a Honey Can Do Sort & Store Toy Organizer - is AMAZING. Seriously, I'm not what anyone would consider overly spatially aware. I have a difficult time assembling things, and usually collapse in frustration before I achieve the finished product. Not this time! I managed to put it together - with a little assistance from my teeny tiny helper, of course - in 15 minutes, and within 20 minutes from starting, my house was neat and organized into the toy bins, rather than cluttered and chaotic!

Check out our assembly process and finished product:

Post-Holiday Shopping.

While it could be said that January is a terrible time for shopping, with the holidays barely a memory away, I feel the opposite. Sure, I probably went a bit overboard this Christmas, seeing as how it was Ava's first Christmas and her first birthday just days later, but still, I've found that January is a great time to find exceptional deals, as retailers nationwide know that shoppers are a bit more reluctant than normal to hand over the cash.

CSN stores is no exception, offering amazing deals (everyday, not just post-holiday!), a great selection of merchandise from over 200 stores, and - and this part is the best if you ask me - the ability to shop exclusively from home. That's right. I'm lazing around in my pink PJ pants right now, and yet picking out birthday gifts for some of baby A's friends. I'll check that off my to-do list now, thank you very much!

Aside from great gifts for children, which we can all use at some point, you can find much, much more at CSN stores. Take for example this great, contemporary furniture by Herman Miller. Even with my house being four years old, I still always feel like it's missing a quintessential piece as a finishing touch, and have found some great things available from CSN Stores.

If you're not in the market for furniture or baby gifts, rest assured there is still something for you at CSN. From gardening essentials (if you live in the South, like me, spring is just a hop, skip and a jump away!), to office accessories, to exercise gear to help breathe new life into your already forgotten resolutions, you're sure to find something you love at CSN!

CSN Stores Review.

If you remember from a couple weeks back, I was fortunate enough to be able to partner with CSN stores in order to do a review of one of their products, as well as the overall experience.

First, let me say that the transaction did NOT take the past two weeks. They actually provided unbelievably fast shipping - I'm talking, so fast that when the UPS man rang the doorbell, I asked D what on Earth he had ordered. I just had to wait until D's dad was here for it to be installed, since D is...unmotivated?..and I am spatially unaware.

CSN Stores has a wide array of products available, from baby toys to kitchenware to dining room sets and luggage, and after careful review of their many stores, I chose to purchase a ceiling fan. We've all heard the research that having a fan in your room contributes to a lower risk of an infant succumbing to SIDS, and so I've been a nazi about the fan from day one. Unfortunately, however, despite our house not even being four years old, it did NOT come with ceiling fans. No joke. So when I noticed that CSN carried a great - and economical! - selection of ceiling fans, I jumped on the chance to pick one up!

The only difficult part of my experience was making my selection - there were so many choices! Once I had decided on my purchase (I went with the Vaxcel Zephyr 52" Ceiling Fan in Brushed Nickel), I was able to quickly add to my cart, select any specifications I wanted (such as the finish) and place my order. It was quick, easy, and best of all, the fan was a great deal - selling well below the retail price you might find at a home store!



Once the product arrived - at lightning speed - it was exactly as I had hoped it would be. The fan blades were the color they appeared on the site, the fan was a great quality, and it was simple to install (for someone else - those things are best not left up to me!).

Overall, I had a great experience with CSN stores, and would highly recommend them for your shopping needs, from baby gear to home improvement!

CSN Stores Product Review Forthcoming!

Y'all, I am SO excited. While my blog was started as a way to keep out-of-state family and friends up-to-date on little Baby B (now known as Ava...), it's turned into so much more. It's cathartic, as in my ability to vent to an objective audience from different backgrounds with different viewpoints on things like whether or not we'll ever get married (remains to be seen). It's connected me with an invaluable audience of smart, talented, wonderful women to share this journey through parenting and motherhood with, which is indescribably HUGE for me, seeing as how I have very few friends in this baby-having stage with me. AND it's given me the opportunity to review some great products, and in some cases, pass them along to you all as well as a thank you for all you do for me, which brings me to my next order or business!

In the next week or so, I'll be connecting with CSN stores to do a review of one of their many products. If you haven't heard of CSN stores, a.) I'd be shocked, and b.) here's what you need to know:

CSN has over 200 online stores, where you can find anything from baby items (always helpful for us mamas!) to dining room sets to garden accessories!

What are you waiting for? Hop on over to CSN Stores and start shopping now!

Ola Loa Review.

I was recently sent samples of Ola Loa's line of vitamin drinks for review, including the Ola Loa Energy, Sport, Repair and Kids.

Being a relatively new mom, I chose to try out the Ola Loa Energy Packet, which promises that, "Ola Loa ENERGY is a delicious effervescent multi-vitamin-mineral-amino powder that provides quick recovery for stress, sports and the rigors of daily life." The powder contains Vitamin C, A, numerous B vitamins, Coenzyme Q10, selenium, potassium and many key amino acids, amongst other healthful additions. While it wasn't by any means bad tasting, being "tropical" flavored, I did have a hard time with the powder's effervescent nature, not being a particular fan of drinks like alka-seltzer or even seltzer water.

I will say that I did feel refreshed throughout the day, despite skipping my morning latte to ensure that I was giving Ola Loa (and my readers) a fair review, and that I had plenty of energy to keep up with three kiddos, my household, and still make it through the day without needing a nap!

If you're a fan of the Emergen-C line of products, you'll definitely be a fan of the Ola Loa drink powders, as they're quite similar in texture and yet far tastier and with many more nutritional and health benefits!

Ola Loa drinks also come in Repair, Sport and Kids formulas, depending upon your needs and lifestyle. If you have a kiddo whose not big on swallowing pills, Ola Loa can provide a great alternative to ensure that your little one is having their nutritional needs met, particularly for those parents who are concerned over their finicky eaters. For any athletes (aren't all moms athletes?) out there, the Sport and Repair formulas will help to replace lost electrolytes while supporting the extra needs of active adults.

You can learn more about the drinks by visiting Ola Loa's website here, as well as following them on Twitter here, and visiting their Facebook page by clicking here.

Boogie Wipes Review & Giveaway!

I recently (read: not as recently as it may seem, but I've only now caught up with reviews thanks to life having gotten in the way - sorry!) received a fantastic package from the uber nice folks over at Boogie Wipes. In it was a sample of their Simply Unscented Boogie Wipes, as well as samples of the Great Grape Scent and Fresh Scent Boogie Wipes.



While A's not the snottiest kid just yet, S & P seem to have no limit to the amount of snot they can produce, particularly in the upcoming months when cold and flu season hits the ground running, and so I was eager to try out these gentle saline wipes.

So what's so great about Boogie Wipes as opposed to a regular tissue? From their website:
Boogie Wipes are made with saline to dissolve boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold, allergies or otherwise booger-filled kid moments. Extra soft, alcohol, phthalate and paraben free, Boogie Wipes are available in Great Grape, Fresh Scent, Magic Menthol and Simply Unscented. Recommended by pediatricians as a gentle, effective alternative to a dry tissue.

Now you all know how much I love a nice, "green" product, making Boogie Wipes an obvious choice for me. Not only did they work as promised, they were soft on the girls' tender noses, keeping them free of any redness and dryness that ordinary tissues previously caused. Not only that, but they worked double duty the day I realized I was out of wipes for A's epic dirty diaper, and left her skin clean and fresh without any harsh chemicals.
Bottom line? I would 100% recommend Boogie Wipes, regardless of your child's age!

Now for the good stuff! Boogie Wipes will be giving away two packs of 30-count Boogie Wipes to one of my lucky readers - here's how to enter:

*Mandatory entry: Visit their website at Boogie Wipes and tell me which two scents you'd be most interested in trying in a comment.

Additional entries:
-Follow Boogie Wipes on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know you do.
-Follow Boogie Wipes on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you do.
-Follow my blog or leave me a comment letting me know you already do.
-Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know you do.
-Add my button to your blog and let me know that you do!
-Add my blog to your blogroll and let me know that it's there.

That's it! Good luck! This giveaway will end on August 15th at 12AM CST.

For disclosure information, click here.

All-Terrain Sunscreen/Repellent Review.

It's summer in Austin, which means one thing: it is H-O-T. Not wanting my little one to sustain any sort of sunburn or skin damage, this year I've gone through more sunscreen than in the past five years combined, and it's only July! That's why I sprung at the opportunity to review All Terrain's line of kids sunscreen and insect repellent when it presented itself.

Seeing as how our pool recently opened up after undergoing extensive renovations (sidenote: HOAS - do NOT renovate your pool. In the summer. In Texas.), we've spent four out of the past five days poolside, giving us ample opportunity to try out the sunscreens.

All Terrain sent me two sunscreens: the KidSport performance sunscreen, a non-greasy, SPF 30, sunscreen cream that read "very water/sweat resistant", and the KidSport spray, also SPF 30 and water and sweat resistant. Both are oxybenzoane and paraben-free, both cruelty-free, and both in recyclable packaging - all a huge plus for this green mama. Better yet, they both worked wonders on A's fragile little skin. Not only did they go on easily and non-greasy as promised, but they didn't irritate her sensitive little baby skin, and most importantly, she stayed as pasty as ever. No burns here!

All Terrain also sent me samples of their Kids Herbal Armor, a natural, DEET-free pump spray insect repellent. Seeing as how I'm a magnet for mosquitoes and July in Texas usually means swarms of them, I put this on the other night while we were out in the backyard grilling. Not only did I stay bite free, but I was pleasantly surprised with the fragrance of the spray. Whereas most spray insect repellents have a harsh chemical odor and thick feeling that you want to avoid breathing near, this spray had neither but rather a nice citrus-y smell reminiscent of - you guessed it - a citronella candle. I'll definitely be replacing our OFF! spray with this product.

The last product I tried out was the Kids Skin Soother Gel (clearly these products work for adults as well, they're just kid-friendly also). The Skin Soother Gel is a natural skin protectant gel that helps to protect minor burns/cuts/scrapes, as well as heal dry/chapped skin. It is made from allantoin and aloe, and is paraben-free. Seeing as how I didn't have my Kids Herbal Armor until recently, I suffered some mosquito bites a few weeks back and decided to put this product over them to give them an extra healing boost. I was worried that it would sting, but lo and behold it actually had a soothing cooling effect, and felt nice against my skin.

I would recommend any and all of these products, particularly if you spend a lot of time outdoors or live in an area plagued with mosquitoes or with particularly heavy sun (I'm looking at YOU, Southern U.S. states!).

You can follow All Terrain Co on Twitter, or visit their Facebook page!

For disclosure information, click here.

If you're interested in having me review your product or host a giveaway, please contact me via email at unexpectedlyexpectingbaby (at) gmail (dot) com :)

Soapwalla Review.

I recently got in touch with Soapwalla, an all-natural, organic company owned and operated by Rachel Winard, that sells face and body products. I was sent a sample of one of her amazing soaps - the almond oil and oats soap bar - and one of their signature products, the Soapwalla deodorant cream.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't skeptical of the deodorant cream. Besides the texture issue (a deodorant cream??), I worried that the coverage and effectiveness wouldn't keep up with my usual deodorant or my super-busy mom lifestyle. Boy, was I wrong. I used the deodorant cream both yesterday and today, and I was blown away by how it held up through hour after hour of errand-running, grocery shopping, wrestling my active little monkey through diaper changes and beyond. Not only that, but application was easy (you just dip your finger into the cream like lip balm, and gently rub it into your underarms), mess-free AND smelled great - no chemical or overpowering smells like with most commercial deodorants! Best of all, no pit stains or embarassing body odor.

I should also note that I have highly sensitive skin. I can't wear Secret, and Degree usually causes me to develop razor burn. I generally use scent-free deodorants such as Almay. This product, however, did not irritate my skin whatsoever! I would highly recommend the Soapwalla deodorant cream!

As for the soap, I was equally impressed. I put the sample in my kitchen, seeing as how I was preparing a meat dish from scratch last night, and used it to clean my hands over and over and over throughout meal prep and cooking. Whereas my usual Bath & Body Works foaming soap leaves my hands feeling dry, the almond oil and oats soap left them feeling fresh, without the need for lotion. My favorite thing about the soap, though, was that it didn't leave any filmy feeling on my hands. So often the soap I use feels like it didn't quite wash off, which isn't ideal when you're handling a baby who inevitably sticks your hand in her mouth all day long. This soap, though, smelled great and washed off clean.

I am definitely going to be shopping Soapwalla in the future!

For more on this company, you can follow Soapwalla on Twitter (@soapwalla), visit Soapwalla's Facebook page, or visit the Etsy shop by clicking here.

For disclosure information, click here

Exciting Happenings!

First off, head on over to Boston Baby Mama where my birth story is being featured today!! How awesome is that?

Second, if you haven't already, head over to this post to enter my giveaway/read it forward event featuring a great beach/summer read!

And last, but not least, I'm in the process of working with two great companies, Soapwalla Kitchens and Boogie Wipes, to review their products, and share a giveaway with one lucky reader! Can't wait!

Happy Tuesday everybody!