Jack and Jill Quilt Shop GIVEAWAY!!

Burp Cloths are one of the most important baby essentials (in my opinion of course), you can never have too many and the cuter the better right? Absorbency and quality is the most important aspect in a burp cloth because lets face it, they clean up spit up so you want them to do their job and last. Jack and Jill Quilt Shop hands down makes the best burp cloths and if you missed my review on them you may want to take a look at it before you enter this giveaway, just so you know what this shop is all about! You can read the review by clicking HERE.

Did you love the burp cloths that I reviewed on Monday? Want to win your own? Jack and Jill Quilt Shop is giving one lucky winner a set of three burp cloths in a fabric pattern of their choice! Whether you have a baby girl or a baby boy, you're waiting to find out, or you plan on giving these as a baby shower gift, I guarantee you'll find a three pack that you will fall in love with! How could you not?! Enter Below for your chance to win!!

The giveaway will close late Friday night (September 14th) and a winner will be chosen and announced on the morning of Saturday September 15th, unless I am still awake when the giveaway closes! Winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter as well as on Facebook so be sure to check both to see if it is you! The winners email address will be given to Jack and Jill Quilt Shop so that you can correspond and claim your prize!!

Have Fun & Good Luck!!

Featured Seller/Product Review: Jack and Jill Quilt Shop

*I received wall decor for review in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions*

When you think of baby essentials, what usually pops in your head? Diapers, wipes, crib, clothes, blankets, pacifiers, and burp cloths? I'm sure that the list could go on and on, but when Baby A was a newborn and small infant, it was so necessary for me to have burp cloths. Everywhere. Lets face it, a common act of tiny babies is spitting up. So much fun right? So many parents just grab a rag, a blanket, or an item of clothing to clean up their child's spit up- I'm not saying anything bad about those who use that method, but for those parents in particular, this is for you. Spice up your burp cloth collection with some cute, hand made burp cloths from Jack and Jill Quilt Shop.

I feel a special connection with Jack and Jill Quilt Shop because the owner Nicole lives in my home town! When I was referred to Nicole's shop by an MCO reader, I got giddy with excitement to see that I held a close connection and I knew that I had to feature Nicole on my blog. After shopping in Jack and Jill Quilt Shop, the light bulb went off over my head and I realized that I had received a bunch of Nicole's burp cloths for my baby shower. I couldn't believe it. Already knowing the fantastic quality of of the product, I was even more excited to have the potential possibility of working with Nicole to bring you guys something very special!

Jack and Jill Quilt Shop opened in May 2011 when Nicole became a stay at home mom to her daughter. She realized she then had the time to pursue her love of sewing, a trait that she had inherited from her aunt. She started creating her burp cloths by using Gerber cloth diapers, but quickly realized that they weren't as absorbent as she would have liked for using the burp cloths. After doing research, she found a high quality diaper service cloth diaper to use, knowing that it would increase the cost of her products, but also knowing that it would give her customers a higher quality item that would last. Nicole's baby is now 2, so she doesn't need the burp cloth aspect of her product, so she uses them on a daily basis for a quick changing pad or for cleaning up messes.

Although I already was lucky enough to test out Nicole's burp cloths, Nicole was sweet enough to send me a brand new three pack of a print that has not yet been released in her shop! When I opened up my package in the mail I was in awe of how beautiful Nicole's presentation of her product was. The three burp cloths were perfectly folded and tied with a white satin ribbon and they're ready to be given as a gift or kept for yourself! The first photo that I wanted to show was of how gorgeous the presentation of the burp cloths, so I tucked them neatly in Baby A's closet until I was ready for them. Low and behold, one afternoon Baby A slid his closet door open and decided to play with the burp cloths! Unfortunately I wasn't able to recreate how it looked so I proceeded to give up and move on with my day! I apologize for that! Nicole sent me three adorable burp cloths that are perfect for a baby boy or even a baby girl as well!

 I was so excited to see the burp cloths in person to compare and contrast the old burp cloths that I received for my baby shower and the new burp cloths that I had just been sent. From what I could tell (since my old ones are very well loved), the craftsmanship and quality are absolutely wonderful on both new and old. They are extremely absorbent which is perfect for spit up or toddler messes and the quality in general is amazing. I looked over my old burp cloths and from what I could see, there was not a single rip or tear! I did notice that the new ones are slightly bigger than the old, so my speculation is that Nicole switched to a new burp cloth since I received mine! I was overly happy with the old, so I know that the new are going to be perfect!

Above: New (Left) and Old (Right)

Above: Two of my Old Burp Cloths Clearly Very Well Loved but Still in Great Shape

The burp cloths are large enough so that they cover a large amount of your shoulder to help avoid spit up, but they're still small enough where if you end up wearing your burp cloth in public, it won't draw to much attention to the fact that you are wearing a spit up protector (although with these patterns, I'd recommend planning your outfit around your burp cloth!).

I love the burp cloths by Jack and Jill Quilt Shop and after testing out many different types, I genuinely feel like these burp cloths are perfect for moms with children of all ages- the quality of them cannot be beat, the price for the quality is absolutely amazing, and the fabrics/patterns are adorable. Whether you purchase for yourself or for a gift, you will not be disappointed when that package arrives on your doorstep with these gorgeous burp cloths!

Check out Jack and Jill Quilt Shop to see everything they have to offer! Whether you're looking for burp cloths, quilts, picnic baskets, or even mixer covers, I can pretty much promise you that you'll fall in love with something! But wait, there's more! Jack and Jill Quilt Shop is offering MCO readers a 15% discount on your entire purchase! Use the code MCOfan for your special discount!

Click HERE to go shopping!
Click HERE to become a fan on Facebook!

*This review is 100% original and in my own words. Everything written is from my own personal view point and opinions. All photos have been taken by me unless stated otherwise. I have been provided with product to review however I have not been compensated monetarily for this review.

6 Easy Steps To Survive Your Infant Crawling

Before Baby A started crawling, I was dying for him to! Silly me, I now know why it is so wonderful to have your little one in one place, he's everywhere!!! Before I lost my sanity I sat down and thought about what I could personally do to have Baby A entertained and able to crawl around as much as he wanted, and still know that he's safe and I don't have to fret about him being all over the house. Follow these 6 easy steps and you won't have to fret either.

Step 1: Baby Proof. Seems like a no brainer doesn't it? Well you really have no idea until they start exploring. Put safety plugs in every single outlet in your home. No exceptions!!! Cover the phone jacks with many layers of tape (unless there is such a think as a phone jack cover, someone please enlighten me!) and make sure there are no spare cords hanging out. Now that last one I will admit I am guilty of. There are a few things in the house with cords visible but I just make sure they're barricaded while Baby A is roaming. Also put child proof locks on your front door handle and your cabinets that contain dangerous cleaners and chemicals in them (ie; bathroom and kitchen sinks). Teach your child what is okay to touch and what is not okay to touch. Yes, they may be young, but they are very intelligent little sponges and eventually your message of "no" will get across. For example, we leave our shoes by the front door. Obviously shoes are dirty and your little one shouldn't play with them. To teach Baby A not to touch, when he would pick up the shoe I would gasp and say "No! Yuck!", take the shoe from him, pick him up and take him to his toys and play with him using his toys to create positive reinforcement. After about four times of "gasp, no, yuck, lift, toys", Baby A now leaves the shoes alone.

Step 2: Invest in some baby gates. Not to block off sections of the house because in my opinion, unless it's screwed into the wall, baby gates to block rooms off are pointless. They fall all of the time! At least mine do. But nevertheless invest in baby gates, I put mine in front of the TV stand to avoid Baby A pulling out all of the DVDs, I keep one blocking the garbage cabs and one blocking the book shelf. Honestly, it makes life so much easier having these things blocked off.

Step 3: Close all of the doors in the house that you don't want your little one exploring. I close all of the doors aside from his room, only leaving open the living room, front room, kitchen, hallway and his room open for exploring. That's plenty!

Step 4: Keep toys in every room in the house, including both ends of the hallway. Think of it like this, your baby is a little pirate searching for the treasure. If you reward them by having a few toys in each room then exploring becomes fun and encourages them to engage in quiet play time and eventually (when they're older of course) use their imaginations. "But my house will be a complete disaster!!!!" who cares? It's not like the toys are hard to pick up during nap time or bedtime. It'll take you 5 minutes to pick up at the end of the day, and give you so much more sanity throughout the day.

Step 5: Play with your child. Get on the ground, crawl around with them, chase them, let them chase you. The more you play and interact with your child the happier they'll be, the more it'll tire them out and prepare them for nap or bedtime and the happier and more sane you will be!

Step 6: Invest in an exersaucer or a play pen. Trust me, there will be times when you want them corralled and safe! Whether you need to vacuum the house, run out to your mailbox, or if you're using the oven, having something to put them in that's safe and can provide them entertainment will be a life saver.

I hope these six easy steps help you moms or expectant moms out there! Since I sat down and thought about them things have helped a ton with keeping me sane during the day and keeping Baby A entertained!

Featured Seller/Product Review: One Red Balloon

*I received wall decor for review in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions*

If you're anything like me, you're a borderline lousy decorator. Sure, I can arrange my furniture to look great, add some accent pillows, blankets and picture frames to make a house a home, but what about REALLY decorating? Usually, I struggle for ideas. Coming across One Red Balloon was probably the best hidden treasure I've found when it comes to Decor. Need something to spice up that entry way? How about that boring wall in your office? Babys room? Well look no further! One Red Balloon is sure to have something that will catch your eye and make you laugh or be close to your heart!

Emily, the One Red Balloon's owner, has always had a love for graphic design. She started One Red Balloon after an afternoon of "window shopping" on Etsy while on maternity leave. She thought to herself, "why don't I make a shop!" and then for the life of her couldn't figure out what she would sell. Her first love is painting portraits but while that is a very rewarding business venture, it is also one that is very emotionally draining and time consuming. She put that idea aside and started browsing Etsy again. Suddenly, it clicked. Her love of graphic design! Giving herself a goal of a shop open date, Emily set to work deigning and creating gorgeous prints for her potential clients to fall in love with. The rest was history.

When I first found One Red Balloon I was instantly drawn in. The colors, the graphic placement, the wording- to me, it was all beautiful and I knew that MCO readers would love what Emily had to offer. Emily was gracious and sent out three prints for me to take a look at and review. Two of the prints I absolutely adore and have had hanging up in my home since the second they arrived! The other print is a sample print of a piece that can be custom made for your family when she is provided with the information! I am about ready to change our last name for this piece- it adorable! Nevertheless I put it in a frame and hung it on the wall as an example of how it could look in your home!! I chose to put my prints in plain, white matte frames because I liked the look of added simplicity. If you choose, yours could go in a matte frame as well, a wooden frame or an all glass frame. The beauty of it is that the choice is yours!

The first print I will be reviewing for you today is the custom sample piece I was speaking about above. Simple yet beautiful, this print will look fabulous in any sort of frame you choose to put it in, anywhere in the house. To me, this is a great entry way piece or perfect for the hallway - which is where I chose to hang it for you today. There are many color options available for this and of course you would choose to put in your own last name and either your "establishment" date, wedding date, or your childs birth date if you choose. As I pulled this print out, I was slightly hesitant about how it would look for the mere fact that it is a solid color. If her printer is anything like mine, I thought to myself, it will surely not look perfect. Oh how was I wrong. With a stunning red background, this print is flawless with not a single printer mistake visable. I chose to hang this piece in the hallway as I thought that it would be the perfect place for it. In my opinion, this would wonderfully take the place of a family portrait. My recommendation- go order one. Now!! Not only would it be great for you, this is also a perfect bridal shower gift, baby shower gift or any other gift for that matter!

The second print I will be reviewing for you, may just be my favorite print of all. When I saw it, I literally laughed out loud and had a very stupid grin plastered on my face. Perhaps it was the "trip down memory lane" into my childhood that this print provided me, or maybe it was just because this print is to perfect not too have shown off ontop of the bookshelf. If you are an avid reader, which I am as you know, then you will want this print in your home. The colors are wonderful because they are suttle, not to attention drawing which is perfect for your bookself, but still vibrant enough where your eyes are drawn to it while looking. Seriously, I don't know how you couldn't at least giggle while looking at this. Acting like the 15 year old girl I am inside, I FaceTimed my mom to show her this print and even she laughed her butt off. If you have a bookshelf, a library or even just a room that you like to read in- then this is the print for you!

So now that we've (I say we've because Emily takes the credit for the humor!) made you laugh, it's time to make you go "awwwwwwwwwww". I hope all of you moms and expectant moms got a chance to take a look at my DIY: Simple Infant Bedroom/Nursery post a few days ago! If you have, you may have noticed a beautiful print hanging above my sons crib. My inspiration for the matte frames stemmed from me wanting to hang this print above his crib, yet wanting him to still be safe! I have had my eye on this quote since I was pregnant with Baby A and I always knew that I wanted to do something with it, I just didn't know what. Well, it was as though Emily had read my mind because not only did she send me my dream print, she sent it in the correct colors of Baby A's room too! I was over the moon when I laid eyes on this print. It lies to near and dear to my heart, I of course Had to hang it immediately. Since I suck at measuring things, my frame unfortunately was a tad to small and I had to cut off the part where the quote gives credit to Winne the Pooh, but in my opinion it still looks fantastic. It was the perfect addition to Baby A's room decor and I highly recommend that you moms or expectant moms grab a print or two for your childs room!

Now that I've shown you the beautiful additions to my home, it's time that you add some to yours! One Red Balloon is generously giving MCO readers an exclusive promo code- so no excuses, time to go shopping!
Use the code MCOTEN at checkout to get 10% off of your entire purchase!

Click HERE to go shopping at One Red Balloon
Click HERE to become a fan of One Red Balloon on Facebook
Follow her on Twitter @redballoonshop

Happy Shopping!


*This review is 100% original and in my own words. Everything written is from my own personal view point and opinions. All photos have been taken by me unless stated otherwise. I have been provided with product to review however I have not been compensated monetarily for this review.

Simplicity

On a daily basis, it cracks me up how the simplest things entertain Baby A the most. This kid is spoiled rotten, we have more toys, books and movies than we know what to do with for him yet he loves the things that don't cost money or cost just a tiny bit of money (which is fantastic in a sense, but not when the money has already been spent!).

Baby A Loves:

-Making the living room blinds move.
-Playing in the dogs water bowl.
-Crawling after Mrs. Bow Jangles.
-Mrs. Bow Jangles (in general, he things she's the funniest thing ever).
-The remote.
-When we walk outside (by far the most exciting thing ever).
-His baby einstein toy.
-His Paci.
-When Mr. Hunky or I walk into the room.

I could literally go on and on. So much makes my baby boy happy. As I write this he's sitting and playing with the blinds. He should be long since asleep (we have a strict bedtime of 7:30pm) but his little tummy hurt so he's been away for the last thirty minutes. Seeing him learn and develop is such a joy. What happened to my newborn?

It's the simple joys and life that keep you going. Appreciate the moments you have, no matter how simple they may be.