Baby Bliss - Surya Designs Etsy Shop Review & Giveaway

Day 5 of the Baby Bliss Blog Event is here, and I'm excited to bring you a fun shop - Surya Designs.  Amy creates all sorts of handmade goodness for her shop, including beautifully designed books, cloth napkins, pillows, stickers, magnets, burp cloths, and baby block pillows.  She was kind enough to send me a lovely handmade baby block pillow to review, as well as offer one for a lucky reader.    

Each pillow is handmade and unique with a combination of designer fabrics and decorated with playful accent tags.  Fisher already loves to grab onto the tags with his chubby little hands, and I know he will play with it more as he gains hand/eye coordination.  The cover is removable and washable for when his little hands are grubby, and the pillow is filled with polyblend stuffing to make it soft.

Surya Designs has lot of great options for baby boys, girls, and those surprises like ours.  Head over there and pick out something great for your baby or that next baby shower. I think I need the burp cloths below for our upcoming obsessive watching of the Tour de France.  They are organic and only $18 for a set of three.  

 

Surya Designs is giving away one baby block of the winner's choice to one lucky reader.  That is an $18 value, my friends.  It is super easy to win.  Just leave a comment for each entry.  

Mandatory Entry: Head over to Surya Designs and add her shop to your favorites.  (1 entry)

Bonus Entries: 

Heart your favorite item from her shop.  (1 entry)

Share this giveaway on FB or Twitter.  (1 each)

Follow my blog through any method.  (FB, Twitter, GFC, email, RSS) (1entry)

Don't forget to add your extra entries if you have the event button displayed.  

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on July 13th, and the winner will be chosen through a random number generator.  I was not compensated for this post and the opinions are strictly my own.  I did receive an item to review free of charge.     

Baby Bliss - Winner of the Hope Springs Giveaway

It is time to announce the winner of the Hope Springs Etsy Shop giveaway!  

Congratulations to Brooke Anna from 

Mommy Does!  

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Please take a minute to enter the other giveaways listed on the left sidebar.  Someone has to win, so it might as well be you.  

Baby Bliss - Chubby Baby Etsy Shop Review & Giveaway ($75 value)

I'm bringing you another fabulous Etsy shop today, Chubby Baby.  The shop caught my attention originally because of the car seat covers.  Don't you think Fisher needs that one in the photo above?  I do.  It would have come in handy today when he had a major blow out in the car.  Let's just say there was a lot of scrubbing of the car seat involved.  Colleen at Chubby Baby was kind enough to send me two of her products to review, a wipes case and bikini onesie.  She is also kindly offering a big giveaway for one lucky reader.  The winner will receive a $15 credit to the Chubby Baby shop AND a wipes case of their choice.  To sweeten the pot I'm adding the bikini onesie and wipes case I received because they are definitely for a girl.  So, the winner gets to pick out something for themselves and gets an automatic shower gift to take to their next baby shower.  The total value of the giveaway is $75!!!   

I think I would choose this wipes case above.  Let me tell you about the products from Chubby Baby.  First of all, the quality seems impeccable.  Now I didn't get to try the onesie on Fisher because it is too big, but I did check it out thoroughly.  It is something I would be proud to give as a shower gift (or in this case, to one of you).  The wipes case is super cute, and practical with the attached stretchy band to hold a diaper.  I could also see a toddler or preschool girl using it as a little purse to carry around.  The bikini onesie is just plain hilarious and such an original idea.  I think it would be so cute on a sweet little girl.  You see a lot of unoriginal stuff on Etsy, but this shop is definitely different and fun.  Besides the bikini onesies, wipes cases, and car seat covers, Colleen also features minky slip covers for car seats, blankies, and tutus.

Check out the bikini onesie below.  

Have you ever seen anything like it?  

I know you want to win this Chubby Baby prize package worth $75.  

$15 store credit

Wipes Case of your choice ($20 value)

Leopard Print Wipes Case ($20 value)

Leopard Print Bikini Onesie Size 6-12 Months ($20 value)

It is so easy to win.  Leave a comment on this post for each entry.

Mandatory Entry: Check out the Chubby Baby Etsy Shop and tell me your favorite item.  (1 entry)

Bonus Entries: 

Become a fan of Chubby Baby on Facebook. (1 entry)  Add an extra entry if you tell Colleen I sent you.

Share the Chubby Baby page with your friends on FB. (1 entry)

Share this giveaway on FB or Twitter.  (1 each)  

Follow this blog through any method (GFC, FB, Twitter, Email, RSS). (1 entry)

Enter any of the other Baby Bliss giveaways (listed on the left sidebar).  (1 entry each)

Don't forget your bonus entries if you posted the event button early!  

I was not compensated in any way for this post and all opinions are strictly my own.  This giveaway will end on July 11, 2011 at 11:59 pm and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator.  

Baby Bliss - Kidz Craftz Review and 15% Discount

 I'm excited to bring you Day 3 of the Baby Bliss Blog Event and another awesome Etsy Shop.  Today I'm sharing a very diverse shop called Kidz Craftz.  What do I mean by diverse?   Jennifer makes burp clothes, bibs, travel high chairs, nursing covers, boppy covers, onesies, tutus, hats, blankets, placemats, baby shower decorations, and scrapbooking die cuts all at extremely affordable prices.  She is running a one stop baby shop, people.

 Jennifer was kind enough to send Fisher and I a Boppy cover to review, and we love it.  Fisher likes to lounge around on his Boppy, and I use it for nursing support.  The trouble with most Boppy covers is that they are far from stylish, yet end up on display in your living room.  Not so with this one.  The black cover with tan dots looks great with our decor and is totally functional.  It fits the Boppy perfectly and closes with velcro.  It is soft and comfy for my sweet boy, and looks great.  The cover is really well made and looks professional.  I love supporting handmade instead of factories in China.  I've never seen anything close to this cool at Target or Babies R Us.  Right now she has a big assortment of patterns in stock, including a rockin' houndstooth, a cool zebra print, and lots of bright damask designs.  Best of all, they are only $14.

 I would love for you to go shopping at Kidz Craftz for yourself, your baby, or that upcoming baby shower.  Use the code barefeetbaby when you check out and get a 15% discount on your purchase.  Happy shopping!

Our Breastfeeding Battle

Warning:  I'm about to get real, so if you don't want to read about the details of our breastfeeding struggle, come back another day.  

Breastfeeding is the hardest thing I've ever done.  I know that it is supposed to be natural, easy, and is of course best for baby.  I came into it wanting to do it for a year.  Now I'm hoping to make it a month.  I had no idea how difficult it would be, and feel like I was not at all prepared even though we took a class and I read several books.  The first three days were easy, and then my milk came in.  Immediately I was incredibly engorged, and Fisher couldn't latch on correctly.  He had been circumcised that morning, so he was not in a great mood.  We were still in the hospital because of the c section, so the lactation nurse tried to help.  I was on so much pain medicine that I don't really remember what she had to say.  We came home that night (Friday) and it was a battle for the next 3 days.  We went to the doctor for his one week check up that Monday.  He had gained weight, going from 7 lb 15 oz to 8 lb 2 oz.  We met with a lactation nurse who gave me nipple shields for my bloody, torn up nipples.  They were a huge help, and we thought our problems were over.

One week later we went back for our 2 week check up.  We walked into the appointment thinking everything was great and that our sweet boy was doing well.  He weighed in at 8 lbs, having lost 2 oz and not back to his birth weight of 8 lb 10 oz.  Our pediatrician was immediately concerned and assumed that the problem was my milk production.  He put us on a regimen of nursing for 10 min each side, then supplementing with a bottle of expressed breast milk or formula while I pumped.  We repeat this cycle ever 2.5 hours.  We were sent back to the lactation nurse, who suggested fenugreek and blessed thistle supplements to increase my supply.  We kept this regimen up and went back to weigh in that Friday.  Thankfully our boy gained 10 oz and was back at his birth weight.  

We scheduled a visit with a private lactation consultant who came highly recommended, and also had a friend who is a retired lactation nurse come visit.  Our friend gave me great tips to help with our latch issues, and suggested that the nipple shields could be interfering with my supply.  Judy, the private LC, was awesome.  She weighed Fisher on a scale that showed how much he took in on each side, to the gram.  She also examined his mouth and noticed that his tongue was closely attached to the bottom of his mouth.  He was tongue tied, which was causing all of his nursing issues.  Thank goodness she noticed it.  

Yesterday we went to a children's ENT Doctor who examined his mouth and said it would be in our best interest to have a small surgery to clip the tissue on the underside of his tongue.  Being tongue tied could affect his speech later, and was definitely affecting his nursing and my pain during his nursing.  We are hoping and praying that our nursing problems will end soon, as the result of the surgery and lots of prayer.  So far I think I can tell that he is getting more, and less is coming out when I pump after, but it is hard to know definitively.  We will probably have to bring the LC back out to help one more time.  I pray that we will be done with the regimen of feed/supplement/pump soon.  It is incredibly exhausting.  I'm hoping for improvement and that we will be able to get successfully nurse for the next 3, 6, 9 months, or even a year.  For now, I'm taking it a day at a time.  

Have any of you gone through nursing difficulties?  

I would love to hear from you.    

Daddy and Fisher

 Happy Father's Day to all the daddies out there, and especially to my own sweet daddy and my wonderful husband.  I love you both and am so grateful to have both of you in my life.

Who won the $100 giftcard?

Hey Y'all!  I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to announce the winner of the Ann's Bridal Bargains $100 giftcard giveaway.  Thanks for the reminder, Christie.  This whole taking care of a newborn thing is a little bit time consuming.  Who knew?  And the winner is... 

Melissa Paulson  

Congratulations Melissa!

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Don't forget to enter my current giveaways listed on the left sidebar.  

Baby Bliss - The Plain Chachalaca Etsy Shop Review & Giveaway

It is time for Baby Bliss Day 2!  Today I'm bringing you a truly unique Etsy shop.  Jenny at The Plain Chachalaca creates cloth diaper burp cloths, kid clothes, and dishtowels with really different designs.  She uses the butcher shop and obscure vegetables as inspiration and her designs are both utilitarian and original.  They are not the usual baby cartoons and pastels, and that's the main reason I wanted to feature her shop.  Most men (and a lot of women) don't want to carry around cutesy baby burp cloths.  These are definitely a whole different ball game.

I was sent a set of 3 cloth diapers printed with the Butcher Shop series of designs.  The cloths are 100% cotton, and perfect for use as burp cloths and multipurpose baby wrangling.  They are also perfect for husbands to use, as you can see above.  The designs are heat treated to ensure they will maintain through many washes.  What do I love about these products?  Everything really.  They are useful, fun, and different.
What's not to love?  I can't find a downside.  These would make a great baby shower gift for that mama who isn't finding out the gender, or really any mama.

Here is a closer view of each design.  

This one lives on top of the baby gym, because you never know when you might need it.  I love the logo.

Want a set for your very own?  Buy them at TPC Etsy shop for $15 for a set of three.  

Who wants to win a $20 credit to The Plain Chachalaca Etsy shop?  You do.  Don't have a baby in need of a witty burp cloth or onesie?  The shop also features dishtowels printed with obscure vegetables, birds in flight, and the butcher shop series.  Your kitchen needs them, I promise.  

Mandatory Entry: Visit The Plain Chachalaca Facebook page and become a fan.  

Bonus Entries: 

Visit The Plain Chachalaca Etsy page and add it to your favorites. (1 entry)

Tell me your favorite item from the Etsy shop.  (1 entry) 

Follow Bare Feet on the Dashboard through GFC, email subscription, RSS, FB, or Twitter. (1 each) 

Post the Baby Bliss event button on your blog or share the event on FB or Twitter.  (2 entries)

Blog about this giveaway.  (3 entries) 

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on July 4th.  I was not compensated for this post but did receive the items listed to review.  All opinions are strictly my own.  

Baby Bliss - Hope Springs Nursing Cover Review and Giveaway

Hey Y'all!  I'm slowly but surely emerging from the new mama cave I've been living in for the last two weeks.  Today is the first of the Baby Bliss Giveaways & Reviews that will be happening through the rest of the month.  I'm so excited to share with you some fabulous products, some gifted handmade artisans, and some great pics of our new bundle of joy.  

 The first items up for review are a gorgeous handmade nursing cover and burp cloth from Sara at Hope Springs Etsy Shop.  First of all, the fabric is beautiful and Sara has a ton of options for sale in her shop.  She sent me the Botanical Birds print to review, and I just love it.  Birds are so hot right now for whatever reason, and it is a trend I'm in to.  The nursing cover also came with a matching burp cloth with a luxe brown minky fabric on the other side.  It is almost to pretty to use.  It will definitely be our dress up burp cloth.

 I can't wait to take the nursing cover out in public when I get a little more breastfeeding courage, but for now it is super useful as we've had people in and out constantly for the last two weeks.  Breastfeeding should be accepted anywhere, covered or not, but it is nice to have the option of stylish coverage.  Check out how well the Hope Springs cover works in the photos below.  The neck is fully adjustable and has a stiff wire that allows mama to see baby without exposing herself.

How cute are those little feet sticking out?!  Seriously, I can't get over the cuteness.  Sara from Hope Springs Designs is generously giving away a 50% off coupon for any item in her shop.  Want to win it?  It's easy.  Leave a separate comment for each entry.  

Mandatory Entry:  Visit the Hope Springs Etsy shop and come back here and tell me your favorite item.  Get an additional entry for hearting her shop or your fav item.  (1 entry each) 

Bonus Entries: 

Follow Bare Feet on the Dashboard through GFC, email subscription, RSS, FB, or Twitter. (1 each) 

Post the Baby Bliss event button on your blog or share the event on FB or Twitter.  (2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway.  (3 entries)

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on June 27th.  I was not compensated for this post, but did receive the items listed to review.  All opinions are strictly my own.

Guest Post: Homemade Artisan Bread

Hey y'all! I'm Emily from Insanity Rules.

Not the best photo but when your taking one of yourself you deal. So I'm stopping by while Becca's out enjoying her new little one. Aren't babies so much fun? I am the mom of three insanely busy little guys but I do manage to find time to craft, read, and cook. So I thought today I would share one of my favorite recipes with you. 

I don't know about most people but I love artisan bread. I just hate buying it at the store so when my mom gave me this recipe I was ecstatic! It's awesome and so easy! And really so yummy...  well let's just get to the recipe and when you make it yourself you'll see how wonderful it is. Okay so there is one thing - you have to have a dutch oven or cast iron pot. Like this one:

I bought mine at Costco but I've seen them every where. See the little black things hanging out those just keep my lid from clanging around and breaking. If you have those please make sure to take them off before cooking because yuck, that would be quite messy! So here we go...

Combine in a GLASS BOWL with a wooden spoon ( make sure to use a glass bowl) 

4 cups flour

1 heaping teaspoon yeast

1 3/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups water (warm if going to cook in 4 hours, luke warm if leaving for day or overnight)

Now your going to freak out a little as you mix it up and think this doesn't look like bread dough? Trust me it's bread. It should look like this...

                                        

It will feel rather lumpy and sticky too. Once you have it all mixed together, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise for 4 hours or over night. I will whip it up at night and then bake it in the morning while getting my 6 year old ready for school. Makes great toast for breakfast. Make sure that you let it rise in a warm place like over by the stove. 

When your ready to bake it you need to actually stick the pan in the oven before you turn it on. You want the pan to heat up while the oven is heating up. So put your pan in the oven and turn it on 450 for a cast iron dutch oven that is 5-6 qt. Make sure to leave the lid on.

Then flour hands and counter, dump out wet dough and fold envelope style. Which is fold two sides together and then fold the other two sides together. Something like this...

Oops, I forgot to flour the counter - do not do that!!!! So then you drop the dough into the hot pan, place the lid on it, and stick it in the oven for 25 mins. After the 25 mins take the lid off and cook for 7-10 mins. My oven is 10 mins and my mom had a note on the bottom that if you live at a high altitude the recipe says 480 on the oven for 30 mins and 10 mins with the lid off. When done I just dump it out of the cast iron pot onto a cooling wrack. Now you probably are going to need some really good oven mits. Like these ones I picked up at Kohls because that cast iron pot get's really hot!!!!! 

I can still feel the heat through these ones but I'm not likely to burn my hands. Just be real careful. And your finished product should look like this.

Mine spread out a little bit in the pan but it tastes awesome. Well, thanks Becca for letting me share this recipe with y'all and I hope that you enjoy it. Come stop by Insanity Rules some time. And congrats on the little one, Becca.  Have fun!