Thinking about Using a Postpartum Body Shaper?

by Leave a Comment

Thinking about using a Postpartum Body Shaper?

Shopping for post pregnancy shapewear? Then you’ve likely realized that you have plenty of options. But if you’ve just given birth, those everyday shapewear products might fall short of what you actually need.

Here’s why.

First,   let’s look at the difference between regular shapewear and postpartum shapewear

  • Shapewear only provides a single level of temporary shaping support
  • Shapewear can feature scratchy, uncomfortable fabric
  • Shapewear often pulls on areas that are sensitive after traditional birth or c-section

Shapewear only provides a single level of temporary shaping support

From celebrities to brides, shapewear has become the go-to undergarment for women who want to look and feel their best. These body shapers are designed for temporary all-over compression to slim the appearance of the waist, hips, thighs, and buttocks. Whereas our post pregnancy shapewear retains its stretch memory, allowing for consistent support. And while shapewear is perfect for slipping into that little black dress, it’s not ideal for the post pregnancy body recovering from labor and delivery. In fact, all-over compression can be downright uncomfortable, especially with sore muscles, swelling, and incisions.

Shapewear can feature scratchy, uncomfortable fabric

Shapewear is design to make you look thinner, but they often feature fabric that doesn’t breathe well, hampering the healing of a post pregnancy incision site and overall comfort for long periods of wear. It might also feature material that is scratchy and irritates the skin, or worse yet, a c-section scar. You may be feeling enough discomfort post- pregnancy so you don’t need your shapewear product to add to that.

Shapewear often pulls on areas that are sensitive

One of the biggest problems with ordinary shapewear is that it’s typically pulled on over the abdomen, making it potentially painful for a woman recovering from a c-section to put on or take off.

Bottom line:

Postpartum Shapewear is designed support the area’s that a new mom needs the extra support, without irriatating those areas.  They also have more of a shaping feature to help moms take advantage of that post-baby period where the hips and body are shifting back into place.

Not sure whether or not an investment in a post-baby body shaper is worth it?

Yes, postpartum shapewear can be a bit pricey.  Is it worth it though?

If you are going to invest in shapewear for postpartum, your best bet is to go with a product that won’t prolong your recovery or irritate scars or incisions and for that, postpartum shapewear for postpartum recovery is the better choice.

While most shapewear, especially post-partum shapewear can be pricey, Snagshout a review website that gives you deep discounts on items in return for product reviews, is offering the Leilani Post-Baby Body Shaper, for 50% off retail in exchange for providing a product review through Snagshout.

C-Section Mom?  Click Here for this Product Which is Geared Toward C-Section Recovery

Benefits of a Postpartum Bodyleilanibenefits Shaper

 

  • Shapes, Tones, and Firms skin and muscle to help regain pre-pregnancy form
  • Starts working immediately to improve your figure
  • Provides enhanced slimming effect
  • Assists in losing those final inches
  • Discreet and hidden under clothing

Comfort-Focused Design Supports an Active Lifestyle 

  • Unique lightweight and breathable MicroNet soft-touch fabric is free of harsh chemicals and dyes to eliminate sensitive skin irritations.
  • Split-crotch design for all day wear convenience and trips to the bathroom
  • Silicone leg gripper keeps the garment from “riding up”
  • Adjustable shoulder straps

Use this link to get all the details…

 

Summer Beach Style Guide

by Leave a Comment

PicMonkey Collage

Preparing for a beach vacation?

Check out our Summer Beach Style Guide

 

 

 

 

IMG_5480

 

First off, no beach expterience is complete without a great beach tote.  This beach tote is fully lined and the cute tassels are removeable.

 

 

 

IMG_5482Next is this super luxe beach towel… super soft, thick and measures 40×70 so its perfect to lay out on or wrap up in.  Lemons are super on trend this season and it adds a bit of whimsy to a day by the local pool or exotic coast.

 

This wrap can be worn so many ways.  It is ideal as a cover-up or shoulder wrap.

IMG_5481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more great options for beach accessories.  The straw hat is so well made and to take the lemon trend even further, you can purchase the oversized lemon watch with interchangable straps, phone case or wrap bracelet.  The hair ties are available in two different color sets and are a fab deal for just $10.  The oversized canvas tote is also a great way to carry all those beach essentials.  Select from three different styles of sunglasses available for just $75 each and come with a lifetme guarentee. IMG_5486

 

Shop the entire summer style collections.  Click on any of the images to shop the boutique!

IMG_5490

IMG_5491

IMG_5492

IMG_5493

IMG_5488
IMG_5485
IMG_5489IMG_5495 IMG_5496 IMG_5497 IMG_5498

 

Happy Shopping!

val blog sig

Idlewild Family Fun, Storybook Forest Surprises and How to Save on Your Own Trip

by Leave a Comment

Plan your next Idlewild family adventure and save up to $13 per ticket!

IMG_6266Our summer is never complete without a visit to Idlewild and Soakzone, located in Southwest Pennsylvannia.  It’s an easy drive for us from Northeast Ohio and so worth it.   They have been voted best Kids Park in the World  times and deservingly so.  This year was a little differentt as we only spent one day (usually we spend two, one for storybook forest and rides and one day for waterpark and rides)  and after trying to fit it all in in one day, I definately reccomend making this a two day venture.  While the park isn’t huge like some parks, there is more to do for the little ones than most parks.  Its really one of the best things about Idlewild.

 

Here is a reccomended itinerary:

Day 1:

Storybook Forest usually opens before the rest of the park so if you get there early you won’t only get a great parking space, but will get a jump start on the day.

Storybook Forest is also a little more crowded at this time, but not so much that it is unpleasant and you can go at your own pace which helps.

IMG_6257 (2)

Fun at Jumpin Jungle

After Storybook Forest the rest of the park is open and we will hit up Jumpin Jungle for a little bit, then head on over to the small kids rides where we catch a show with Daniel Tiger and of course a Trolley Ride through Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

We then spend the rest of the day riding rides in the Racoon Lagoon area, with breaks for naps, pottybreaks and lunch.

Often I will pack peanut butter and jelly that I make from the breakfast supplies at our hotel as well as a couple small yogurts.

(Travel Hint:  Always, Always, Bring Ziploc bags, Everywhere. Always. Really.)

IMG_6310

We also will usually go over to the Hootin Holler food area and get some of their loaded cheese fries (Travel tip:  to indulge in serious PA culture, get the Gravy Fries… let me know how they are, I love em but can’t get the kids to split with me… and I haven’t had the heart to try to devour an entire order by myself…someday though…)

 

IMG_6343

We Won at Wac-a-mole !

Usually the Racoon Lagoon closes a little earlier than the rest of the part (about an hour before).  So we will make our way over to the main area and play games as well as ride some of the rides in that area.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2:
First part of the day we walk over to the Soakzone area to select our pre-booked Cabana (Hint:  You can do this online) but we go over early to select our exact Cabana… if this isn’t as important to you, then you could probably skip this step, but if you do want to rent one, make sure to reserve one in the morning when you arrive if you didn’t do so prior online.
Once we get that out of the way we usually head back to Racoon Lagoon to ride rides until about 12:30/1 or whenever its warm enough to swim.  (Hint:  This is a great day to use the peanut butter/jelly trick because you can make them in the shade of your cabana and minimal waiting on food during swim time).

View of Soakzone's Lazy River

View of Soakzone’s Lazy River

The waterpark usually closes at 6p and the rest of the park close at about 8-9.  Racoon Lagoon of course closes an hour before the main part of the park so after swimming we usually go and hit a few more rides in Racoon Lagoon.

IMG_6338 (2)

Depending on how the kids are, we may stay until the park closes or head back to our hotel early to catch up on rest of a couple of busy and very fun-filled days. IMG_6331 (1)

Sometimes if we get out of the park early enough we hit our favorite place for food in the area, Ruthie’s Diner, which is about 5 minutes down the Lincoln Highway from Idlewild park.  Everything is good a Ruthie’s, but their haddock sandwich and fried chicken are out of this world.  Lots of local folks are always at Ruthie’s and that is a good sign for any place when you travel.

Storybook Forest 60th Anniversary!

Princess Lilly Meet and Greet

Princess Lilly Meet and Greet

Idlewild & SoakZone is celebrating the 60thAnniversary of Story Book Forest and they have built an entire Enchanted
Castle! During our visit we got to meet the beautiful Princess Lily and Duke the
Dragon.

In the castle courtyard, they have the famed sword in the stone, Excalibur.  It is really neat to see Storybook Forest get a refresh so that another generation can enjoy this childhood gem.  While we were there in early June they were still finishing up the castle, due to so much rain througout spring.  But what we did see looked great and we look forward to the full experience next year.  From what I understand though it is finally finished so if you make it this summer you will get to be one of the first to enjoy this addition to Storybook Forest in honor of it’s 60th anniversary.
IMG_6272 (1) Ready for the coupon discount code for your own Idlewild Adventure?

Save up to $13.00 on 7 day advance day ticket purchase!
• Gate price: $42.99
• Discounted price: $29.99

(Ticket valid beginning 7 days from date of purchase through September 5, 2016)

CLICK THIS LINK TO GET YOUR DISCOUNTED IDLEWILD TICKETS

 

 

Happy Travels!

val blog sig

 

Blood Cord Banking with Maze Laboratories

by Leave a Comment

To bank or not to bank your babies blood cord….

It is a REALLY tough decision. I literally made my decision and received my the kit to take to the hospital just 3 days before my daughter was born.
I research many options. Some were really expensive and then some had courier fees and some did not, some included other services or free tissue banking.
For some reason it all seemed so overwhelming that I just wanted to me done with everything and forget it.
Until…
I came across M.A.Z.E.
When you call you talk to a real person at the company and they work with you to make sure that all your questions get answered and help you to get your kit as quickly as possible (especially if you are about ready to pop, just like I was!)

Plan your Midwest Island Getaway!

by Leave a Comment

We were recently invited to climb aboard Miller Ferry Lineto travel to Put-in-Bay. It had been several years since I had been to the island and only ever as a day tripper, so I was looking forward to the opportunity to have two whole days to explore the island. My husband and I thought it would also be a great way to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

While there though I came across lots of ideas for a return trip with our kids for an awesome family vacation as well as an adults weekend away and my top 5 suggestions for both trip itineraries are below!

There is truly more than enough to keep you busy all through the weekend! (Tip: If you want to avoid the crowds and save some money during their peak season of June-August.. try to go mid-week!)
Get Directions & Island Coupons Here!

Here are my top 5 picks for your Put-In-Bay family island getaway and for a great weekend with friends or your significant other for an adults only getaway !
Family Vacation Island Getaway:
There is so much to do on a family vacation to PIB!
1. Golf cart and bicycle travel is fun for adults and kids alike. Once you get off the Miller Ferry you will find golf cart rentals from Island Bike and Cart Rental. They were really nice and able to get me started out on my Put-In-Bay journey!
2. A visit to Put-In-Bay is not complete without a trip to Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, which was established to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie, during the War of 1812, and to celebrate the long-lasting peace between Britain, Canada and the U.S. The incredible view at the top also gives you a view of Canada!
3. Check out the Family Fun Center at Perry’s Cave! They have mini-golf, rock-climbing, gemstone mining, a serene butterfly house, Fort-AMAZE’N and of course Perry’s Cave, which is a wonder of rock formations and a very old ancient spring and new this year is Gotcha Laser Tag.
Underground in Perry’s Cave

My prize for finishing the maze!

4. The Put-In-Bay Tour Train is a great way to see the island, especially if you did not rent a golf cart and would like to see the island through a more formal guided tour! If your kids are older, check out the Segway tours offered on the island a unique way to get around such a unique place.


5. Number 5 is sort of a mish/mash of several fun things to do with kids downtown.. DeRivera Park is a waterfront park in the center of town with a great playground, across the street is the Candy Bar candy store and Kimberly’s carousel is a lot of fun.

For lunch or dinner, check out the Chicken Patio, which is a family-friendly, classic institution on PIB.
**If you are staying overnight and looking for additional activities for the kids, check out Adventure Bay


Adult Weekend Getaway…
1. During the day, grab some super-duper, make-your-mouth-water, Lobster Bisque from the Boardwalk – you may think its a bit pricy for soup, but trust me – splurge while your on the island and enjoy – you will thank me later 😉

View from Put-In-Bay Winery

2. Close by the Boardwalk is the Put-In-Bay winery, with a great selection of wines and great service! The view is amazing. Purchase a glass and enjoy the lake view from their porch.

Full moon and a cozy fire at The Keys

3. Check out dinner at the Keys, where you can find the Nagoya Sushi restaurant and they have a wonderful lakeside location with some welcoming adirondack chairs and cozy fire at night . If you are looking for a place to cool off during the day, this is also a great spot to be. They have mist fans and lots of frozen libations at their Fat Tuesday bar downstairs to help all your cares wane away (at least while you’re on the island 😉 )

4. Pub crawling at PIB is tradition, ney, an institution. Even if you aren’t much of a wine or beer enthusiast, the atmosphere is light-hearted and each tavern has its own theme and entertainment throughout the week. You can go from Blues to Rock to Country Bands to Dueling Piano’s to DJs and even Bag Pipes or find a spot at an outdoor bar with the sand under your feet and swings instead of barstools!

TIP: There are several taxi’s that operate late into the night to make sure all guest return to their lodging safely, so please be safe and use a taxi to get into town if you plan on making a long night of it.

Click here for a list of local restaurant and watering holes

5. For a post-pub crawl (or should I say PIB crawl? ) treat, grab a pizza at the Put-In-Bay Brewing Company (which has some great beers to try if you like craft brews!)
TIP: These are just the top 5 I discovered on my weekend there…there is so much more to do, see, enjoy and savour which I hope to discover on my next trip there!

Why we love Miller Ferry…
  • Friendly staff, on-time service
  • Free day & overnight parking
  • Low, Affordable Fairs (just $7 for adults and $15 to bring your car!)
  • Trip to Put-in-Bay in under 20 minutes
  • Children 5 years & younger ride Free
Boarding the Miller Ferry

Bon Voyage!

Check out the Miller Ferry Blog !
Follow them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

Try some Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes this weekend!

by Leave a Comment

My newest love when it comes to pancakes may not be new to everyone else, but it is to me.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I love banana and [dark] chocolate chip pancakes. Here is why:

Balance of sweet of the chocolate, (and if you use dark chocolate chips, it will also be more bitter and a better compliment to the flavor of the banana, if you ask me.

Make the pancake batter as you normally would.

Slice a Banana into 4 long quarters and slice width-wise.

Add dark chocolate chips. Stir until banas and chocolate chips are distributed in the pancake batter

Test a griddle by using a few drops of water. If the water sizzles… the griddle is hot enough…test a small bit of batter to see if its too hot. (Usually Med-Med/High is the way to go)

Use with REAL warmed maple syrup and add a few banana slices on top.

Voila! Enjoy!

What’s the best nursing cover to buy?

by Leave a Comment

I have had the chance to test out many different nursing covers during my 2 years of nursing and finally took some time to write down what I have learned to save you from making the same mistakes I did.

My best advice when it comes to selecting the best nursing cover? Spend more now… save more later.

The first one tested was the The First Years Nursing Wrap. This one features a couple standard patterns to choose from and is made of a polyester material which gets very warm for mom and baby inside. What really turned me off from this one is the coverage it provided. a It has a price point about $15. Don’t count on using the First Years cover in the summer – the fabric can make it pretty stuffy for your little one (note: the fabric isn’t actually a health hazard, just not very comfortable when the weather is warm).

The second one we tested was from Udder Covers and this one was slightly better in both design and allowed plenty of air for baby. Unfortunately if you are larger than a petite size 8 to 10 or nursing an older baby, the coverage may not be adequate.

The total price on Udder Covers for their “free” cover was $11.95 (which they say is for shipping), This price is probably equivalent to the quality of the product, so it’s not necessarily overpriced, but if coverage and keeping your modesty are important then I suggest you invest a little bit more. I was disappointed in the quality of fabric – which was very thin and will NOT work if your nurser is a wiggler. You will likely find yourself getting frustrated, especially as a child gets older and wants to wiggle even more. Would this work great as a cover for pumping milk? Absolutely!

If you are looking for well-made, quality nursing cover, then my pick is The Peanut Shell Nursing Cover from Farallon brands. The fabric is great and holds it shape well. The clasp is actually like a buckle you would find on overalls, making it easy to latch and much more likely to stay in place instead of the loops you find on covers.

One of my favorite features of The Peanut Shell Nursing Cover are the pockets inside the cover extra storage for teethers, phone, burp cloth, etc. Best of all – it does what a cover should do…keeps your business, well… your business and makes nursing while out and about a lot less stressful. The Peanut Shell Nursing Cover will run you about $21-$35 depending on where you purchase it.

Brands that were looked at in the store, but not tested…

While comparable in price, we cannot offer a full-review of the Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover or Hooter Hiders Nursing Covers. We did look at both in person and the fabric and quality for Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover seems to be similar to the The Peanut Shell, however the Hooter Hiders version seems to be lacking in at somewhat in fabric quality when compared to the previous two, but does feature storage pockets and overall seems to be close to par of the other higher end covers.

What are your thought? Are there other covers that you have tried – what did or didn’t you like about them? Any other thoughts on the brands in this review?

Happy Nursing!

Disclaimer: I was given the Peanut Shell cover to try at cost for this review. No other brands were provided free or at a discount and the research for this article was all my own.

Reuse Baby Food Containers for Toddler Snacks

by Leave a Comment

Plastic Gerber baby food containers are the perfect size portions for toddler snacks and save you from buying special reusable small containers from the store. Make ahead to have on hand for preschool lunches or a snack basket that will let your independent toddler get their own snack for snack time! What other uses do you have for these containers?

Remembering Sandy Hook Victim: Daniel Barden, 7

by 1 Comment

As my fellow mom bloggers divided up dates to acknowledge the victims of the December Sandy Hook shootings, we each signed up for 1-2 days each to post ways to share kindness as a rememberence to those who lost their lives.

My day was the 5th and I apologize for posting this at the last minute. You see, today I spent alot of time with my children. Since December 14th, I have been holding my children, ages 3 and 10 months, alot more.

The dishes don’t get done as quickly, toys are often layng around house and I think about them and wonder if they are okay more often while they are at the sitter on the days I work.

Sandy Hook didn’t just take the lives of a mother, innocent children and brave educators, it took away our sense of security that our children will be safe when we send them out in the world to learn and grow.

If there is some good that we can find in this tradegy, it is that the words “I love you” are getting said alot more often and there are alot more hugs in the world. But unfortnately, all those hugs will not return 20 children and 7 adults to their families. And because of this, it is important for us to remember those and make the world a better place in their memory.

And in memory of Daniel Barden, age 7, I encourage you to share the gift of laughter with others.

Learn a good (clean) joke you can share with a stranger having a bad day.

Tickle your kids till their silly when tensions mount up at home.

Be the first to find joy in the company of others.

Smile. Often.

More about Daniel…
According to Daniel Barden’s family, he “embodied everything that is wholesome and innocent in the world,” CNN reports. He loved adventure and pursued happiness fearlessly. He enjoyed soccer, swimming and music — even forming a band with his siblings. Daniel was “always smiling, unfailingly polite, incredibly affectionate, fair and so thoughtful toward others, imaginative in play, both intelligent and articulate in conversation: in all, a constant source of laughter and joy,” his parents said in a statement.

We are now a Moms Connect Member !

by Leave a Comment

Look for some great posts coming up about children’s events in your area.
In partnership with: