Archive for the ‘SPARK’ Category

Last year, 7 in 10 babies born in the United States were BabyCenter babies and more than 8 million moms in the United States turn to BabyCenter each month for information, advice and guidance.

As the world’s partner in parenting, BabyCenter offers moms trusted advice from hundreds of experts around the globe, medical advisory board-approved information, friendship with other moms, and support at every stage of your child’s development.

In an effort to be there for mom during her pregnancy and parenting journey, wherever and whenever she needs it most, BabyCenter continually strives to offer valuable parenting tools. Among the latest and greatest include:

BabyCenter My Pregnancy Today App

• This new, free application for the iPhone and iTouch, guides expectant moms through their pregnancy journey, offering award-winning, medically reviewed health content; advice from obstetricians, midwives, nutritionists, and other experts; daily activities and reminders; and conversation and connection with other moms-to-be in BabyCenter’s community.
• The BabyCenter Class is a convenient, at-home option for moms who can’t attend hospital childbirth classes due to hectic work schedules or being put on bed rest. And the price is right, too! For only $39.99, the all-new 2-hour instructional course lets you hear from doctors, ask your questions, and build confidence for your big day. Preparing for Labor and Birth includes: An explanation of the signs and stages of labor; What to expect during labor; Labor and birth stories from new moms; An overview of your pain-management options; A tour of a delivery room; Suggestions for creating your birth plan; A checklist to help you prepare for the big day and more.

BabyCenter “Preparing for Labor and Birth” Online Class

• The BabyCenter Class is a convenient, at-home option for moms who can’t attend hospital childbirth classes due to hectic work schedules or being put on bed rest. And the price is right, too! For only $39.99, the all-new 2-hour instructional course lets you hear from doctors, ask your questions, and build confidence for your big day. Preparing for Labor and Birth includes: An explanation of the signs and stages of labor; What to expect during labor; Labor and birth stories from new moms; An overview of your pain-management options; A tour of a delivery room; Suggestions for creating your birth plan; A checklist to help you prepare for the big day and more.

BabyCenter Parenting Books (BabyCenter^® Pregnancy and BabyCenter^®Baby)

• These two new practical and reassuring books provide pregnant women and new mothers with all of the information and support they need during this exciting new time in their lives, with a blend of expert advice and true “mom wisdom.” Both are great, highly visual, reference books to keep on the nightstand for that nagging question or concern that inevitably pops up in the middle of the night.

Mom Answers

• This new interactive tool gives BabyCenter moms an emotionally supportive environment where they can ask questions and get answers straight from other moms who’ve had similar life experiences. It’s like having access to 8 million best girlfriends 24/7.
  
  

Milestones

• The new Milestones tool provides BabyCenter moms the ability to quickly and easily record important pregnancy and childhood milestones and share them with friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, and the BabyCenter Community. It’s a fun way to create an online “baby book.”

My Thoughts

I was very excited to be able to share my thoughts on BabyCenter.com! I had used this site as a resource during my first pregnancy and with such great results, I am continuing to use it through my second pregnancy and of course well beyond as Baby Centers give  you the low down on your child up to age nine years old!

I was so excited to learn about the two brand new books offered by Baby Center! These books are wonderful resources for new, expecting, and well seasoned mothers! I’ve been reading them and learning so much from them. They’ve totally been a blessing to have!  If you at all are interested in the two books I mentioned, they can be purchased here.

I’d never been to a birthing class though I would have liked to attend one. The timing wasn’t right with our first child and being newly weds and new parents we couldn’t afford them at the time. I’m really excited about the Baby Center’s Online Childbirth Classes. I’ve been working my way through them in my spare time and in the convenience of my own home.  I’ve been learning so much and am feeling more confident in knowing so many things that could play out into the labor of my second child.  These classes are very affordable, well put together, and I would highly recommend them!

You can check out BabyCenter on Facebook and Twitter today! Visit BabyCenter on Facebook and on Twitter @babycenter to “Like” or “Follow” the brand and keep up with the latest news.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.

For many of those that know me, know that I prefer to purchase products that are Made in America and support companies that are located in the USA like Ramblers Way. This company is doing everything they can to limit their carbon footprint!

This company of which I speak is located in Kennebunk, Maine. I used to live in Maine and knew of lots of hometown business like Tom’s of Maine which creates natural care personal products and it brought me great joy to know that Ramblers Way was started by the same people!

One huge aspect that really makes me proud of this company is that they have brought manufacturing facilities into distressed small towns and are helping to revitalize the communities! I’m all for keeping jobs local and right here in the USA!

Rabblers Way is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for one of a kind wool apparel to wear all year round! I know when most people think of wool, they of itchy uncomfortable attire but with Rabblers Way, you can think again! Using modern technology to create a smooth, luxurious wool from which they create garments that are light, soft, and can be worn year-round. The Company sources, grows, and produces their fine woolen apparel using 100% domestic resources!

I highly recommend checking out their website and supporting a company that’s set out to give their customers and country the absolute best!

Costco is one of my favorite stores to shop for bulk items of all kinds especially with a growing family! That’s right my family is growing from three to four and we are all pretty excited about it.

A few of the snacks we like to purchase from Costco include animal crackers, popcorn, nuts, dried fruit mix, and as of recently thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills, Fruit Roll-Ups and Nature Valley’s Chewy Trail mix!

Now available at Club Stores, Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars and Simply Fruit Roll-Ups deliver great value and are perfect to have on hand for last minute day trips and even an afternoon in the backyard.

Not only nutritious, but convenient too, the club sized snacks are individually wrapped and ideal for throwing in your purse or travel bag, just in case your little one’s tummy starts to rumble.

Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars are a delightful, 100% natural, combination of tastes and textures you’ll love. Now, you can get 25% more of the whole almonds, peanuts, raisins and cranberries in every bar! With no artificial flavors or colors and only 140 calories, Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars also contain 8g of whole grain per serving.

Simply Fruit Roll-Ups are a better-for-you treat that kids love! Simply Fruit Roll-Ups are an excellent source of Vitamin C and are available in a convenient variety pack of Strawberry and Wildberry flavors. Every delicious roll is made with 90% real fruit and fruit juice and packs a full serving of fruit. Even more exciting? They’re gluten-free and contain only 50 calories per roll.

Overall Thoughts…

I will be looking to Costco again to purchase these great snacks. As a mom of a toddler and with a another baby on the way, I appreciate the convenience of how easy it is to throw these individually wrapped healthy snacks into my purse or diaper bag for a trip out! Great snacks at affordable prices that my whole family loves, I can state we have a winner!

Check out your local Club Store today for stock up packages of these delicious snacks and more!

Win it!

Thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills, I have a “Costco Sunny Day Snacks” prize pack for one of my readers! It includes:

• Stock-up sized package of Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Bars (48 ct.)
• Stock-up sized package of Simply Fruit Roll-Ups (42 ct.), and a
• $25 gift card that you can use at Costco.

To Enter: Tell me what kind of healthy snack you’ll stock up on the next time you’re at Costco or what your family’s favorite healthy snack is.

Extras:

1. Add me to your blogroll or add my button.
2. Blog it, link back to this post. (2 extra)
3. Favorite my blog on Technorati
4. Subscribe by email/RSS. (2 extra)
5. Follow on Twitter @erinlowmaster & Tweet (daily entries available)
6. Email a friend about this giveaway. (Leave name of friend)

Tweet: (copy/paste)

RT: Win a Costco Sunny Day Snacks” prize pack ! @erinlowmaster– Ends 6/12/10.

Giveaway running till 06/12/10 . Winners will be notified shortly afterward by email. Please respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize to another participant. USA only please and no P.O Boxes.

Disclaimer: General Mills provided me with the free product, information, and gift cards through MyBlogSpark.