Reviews

Managing SPD and PGP in Pregnancy

Published on December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 by R2 Comments

If you’ve ever had the feeling of a steel toed boot kicking you in your pubic bone and been told “it’s because your baby is low”…

If you’ve ever tried to get out of bed in the morning only to feel like your pelvis is about to snap in half and been told “oh that’s just because you need to do prenatal yoga”…

If you’ve ever had pain radiating from your SI points down your legs, like electric shocks and firey needles and been told “that’s just normal pregnancy back pain!”…

I’m here to tell you honey, that ain’t normal. And I hereby give you permission to tell your Aunt Barbara, Dr. Know-it-All, and Queen Earth Mother Yogi where to hang it.

I can’t tell you how many times I have read posts like these in mom groups, only for “veteran” moms to tell other moms that it’s normal. Can back pain in pregnancy be normal? Sure. Should normal pregnancy back pain debilitate you? No. Do women experience round ligament pain? Even though that concept seems like a made up term to push mothers out of OB and Midwife appointments quickly, sure, it exists. But is it normal to feel like your pubic bone is about to snap in half? No, ma’am, it is not.

Let’s talk a little about Symphysis pubis dysfunction aka SPD and PGP— that’s pelvic girdle pain. (I’m not a medical professional, so this is in super laymen’s terms… laymoms? That sounds weird. Laymen’s.) SPD is what occurs when your body produces too much relaxin and your joints get all mushy. Your ligaments stretch out, and become useless, because your body thinks it’s time to push a baby out. Except, for most is us with SPD, this hits long before it’s baby time, and often lasts for some time after baby has left. With your joints and ligaments in an uber relaxed state, your pelvis becomes unstable. Nerves get stuck between bones, your ability to balance becomes iffy, and your pubic bone and SI points click and grind. In a nutshell, it’s a little taste of torture, often with no real end date in sight. This can lead to depression, agoraphobia, PPD, PPA, and a whole lot of frustration.

This is my 5th pregnancy, with SPD and PGP. I am taking several proactive measures to (hopefully!) help make for a smoother journey with my SPD this time around!

Here’s what’s worked in the past that I’ll be continuing:

Physical Therapy: I actually didn’t have success with PT during my previous pregnancies. I had PTs who didn’t know what to do with me, handed me a cane or a walker and said “Sorry, we don’t know what to do with you.” However, after Peachy was almost a year, I connected with a great PT who took me seriously and got me strong again! I’ll be working with him this pregnancy, and I look forward to seeing how that will help in the midst of pregnancy!

Acupuncture: I was so hesitant to try acupuncture, partially because I thought it was fake and partially because I had given up on anything working. But at the urging of a physical medicine doctor, who assured me there was science behind it, I gave it a go! I had tremendous results! Now, mind you, tremendous results for me meant 2-10 hours worth relief or maybe 24 hours without a walker, but when you are living in constant pain, those breaks are what keep you going! The acupuncturist I saw, focused on needling and massage, not on herbs. We were a good fit, and I look forward to connecting with her sooner than last time.

Quality medical equipment: I have a wonderful and trusty cane at my ready! I started out with a walker that was for a much shorter person last time, and I was crouched too low. This time, I’m planning on getting a walker that suits my height better! And in time, hopefully I can snag a great wheelchair (my last one was a little rickety!)

Here’s what didn’t work in the past, that I will be doing without:

Chiropractor: I have been to MANY chiropractors. 2 certified in the Webster technique. What I got was really high quotes for treatment, cockiness (two chiropractors told me they were going to hang my cane on their walls for a trophy once they “fixed” me— which neither accomplished!), worse pain that before each adjustment, and no relief whatsoever. Because this is an issue of your ligaments and joints constantly failing you, even if I found a chiropractor who could set me straight, I would be out of alignment within an hour with how loose my pelvis is. Some have found relief, but overall, the ladies I’ve talked to with SPD, there are many of us who have not had success with chiropractic care.

Ill-fitting, poorly made supports: I have 6 or 7 belts, braces, and harnesses in my collection from my last 4 pregnancies. Some given to me my bewildered physical therapists that aren’t even made for pregnant people. Some from amazon, some hand me downs. Some are full over and under the belly braces, others just under the belly belts that cut off blood flow. None of them have worked, but I’ve held on to each one, maybe hoping it might work one of these pregnancies. None of those are made for people with SPD, so none of them address the problems caused by SPD! So, the crappy, useless braces have got to go!

Here’s what I haven’t done before, but am doing this time:

When I was pregnant with Peachy, I read an article about a man in England who had a wife with SPD and had fashioned a brace specifically made for women with SPD and PGP. I told Milkman about it, and he said “if you ever get pregnant again, we are getting that thing!” Well, I got pregnant again, and so guess what? I got “that thing”. The brace is called the Harness Gravidarum Maternity Support Belt. The first time I put it on, I was 10 weeks pregnant, and as I fastened the last strap I let out an audible “ahhhhhhhhh!” The relief was immediate. I’m going to be talking a lot more about this harness and it’s creators in posts to come, but I gotta tell you, I’m already impressed with it! I have high hopes for a better quality of life in this pregnancy!

So! That’s what’s going on with me and SPD this pregnancy! And the next time someone brushes your SPD or PGP off as “normal pregnancy back pain”, you send ‘em to me, and I’ll set them straight!

Have you struggled with SPD and PGP? What helped you find little bits of relief and sanity?

GIVEAWAY! Era Organics Baby Line

Published on June 15, 2017June 14, 2017 by RLeave a comment

Look at this tub. Is this the most amazing tub?! I know people in other parts of the country are more familiar with having clawfoot tubs in their homes, but it is a SUPER rare thing in California, since most of our housing just isn’t that old.

However! Recently we moved to a century old Farmhouse, and for the first time in my life, I get to call one of these bad boys my own. Of course, my kids think it is the coolest thing ever! They like to pretend it’s a boat, and they call it the Walking Bathtub (Lock, Shock, and Barrel, the 3 trick or treaters from Nightmare Before Christmas, have a walking clawfoot tub that they use when they are about to kidnap Sandy Claws!) Bath time has become a total blast here having such a big tub.

If you’ve been hanging around the blog for the last year and a half or so, you know, I LOOOOVE my Era Organics skin care products, and they just sent me some fresh goodies from their baby line (previously known as HoneyBuns, but is now just branded under their general Era Organics label!) We have begun bathing our kids more frequently since living here, since we live in dirt– literally. We live on a dirt road off another dirt road! The kids spend so much more time outside, and Peachy, my crazy toddler, gets the filthiest out of everyone! Having a soap that is delicate enough for frequent use, while still packing a cleaning punch is essential for us.

The rest of the products in their baby line are outstanding as well, and their diaper balm is cloth diaper friendly! Their products are organic, cruelty free, talc free, fragrance free, and gluten free (which is a big deal for me lately since I’ve just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease!)

The folks at Era Organics have generously offered to give one of our readers a bundle of products from their baby line! Head over to my Facebook page for a chance to win a bottle of their baby wash, healing ointment, diaper balm, and baby powder!

Want some for yourself? Head over to their Amazon storefront and use the code: 20ROCKIN to get 20% off of Era Organic products! (And if you have prime, you’ll be getting FREE shipping! Woot!)

**This post has been sponsored by Era Organics, but all opinions in this post are my own!**

5 Things I Learned While Living Without Netflix

Published on April 18, 2017 by RLeave a comment

So, we moved!

We were living in a 1,000sqft duplex in a nice 1970’s neighborhood. We loved where we lived, it was just the right size for our family, and had a nice big backyard. We had hoped to continue renting there until we could afford to buy, but when we got notice of a sizable rent increase, we had to start looking elsewhere. We looked at scores upon scores of homes. Everything was so expensive or in a bad area, and nothing seemed to be falling into place.

Just as I was despairing and hope seemed lost, we saw an ad for an old Farmhouse that was renting for less money than our current duplex. It was 2,500sqft, and sat amidst acres upon acres (upon ACRES) of farmland. We went to look at it and found out there were 75 people who wanted it. Somehow (oh you know, probably God! Haha) we got the place.

While nearly the perfect home, there is one huge drawback to living in the middle of nowhere: Crappy internet options. We went 3 entire weeks without internet. And you know what that means? No Netflix. For 3 weeks. Can you say #firstworldproblems? Well, anyways, it seemed like a big deal at the time.

Here’s what I learned living without Netflix for 3 weeks:

1. I always thought it was the fault of Netflix that Milkman and I were up so late. Totally not. When you watch sitcoms before bed (we love Frasier! On our 4th time through, because I’m a creature of habit!) your evening post kids bedtime is broken up into 23 minute increments. If we turn on Frazier at 8:45pm, I know we can watch about 3 episodes and then we need to go to bed.

Without Netflix to tell time by, Milkman and I either would watch a movie on DVD that was too long and stay up late, or we would just stare at the ceiling til 11:45, look at the time and say “Woah. We should go to bed. How is it almost midnight??”

Clearly my late bedtimes have very little to do with Netflix and everything to do with poor self-control!

2. My kids actually CAN entertain themselves for longer periods of time without TV. Without a steady stream of Beat Bugs, Sarah & Duck, or Zootopia, my kids had to find other ways to stay busy. They spent more time outside, looking at books, and playing pretend. I feel like my children were more content since they knew they couldn’t just ask for a show and one would appear.

3. You don’t always need background noise. I’ll admit part of the reason Netflix is often playing in our home has 75% to do with needing to fill the house with some sort of non-kid voice noise. Being a stay at home mom can be lonely with no other adult interaction. Having Andy Griffith or the Great British Baking show on loop during the day with us seldom watching is how I can hear adult voices, and indeed, break up the time my husband is at work into episode sized chunks.

With no background noise, I got to appreciate the sound of the neighbors’ chickens clucking, the sound of wind brushing through the leaves in the trees, and birds singing on my porch. I got to live in the moment a bit more, rather than just waiting or the next best thing to happen (that means Milkman pulling up the the house and me getting a break!)

4. I have a lot of CDs I don’t listen to anymore, with some really good music on them! This is kind of a result of no Pandora or Spotify rather than just no Netflix, but since the Netflix is usually running on the TV, and when we do listen to music, it’s streaming, I forgot about how much music I have! Captain learned how to work the CD player and would just throw random CDs on to listen to from my old collection. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Jars of Clay, Ace of Base, Nightwish, Funker Vogt… so many good tunes. We enjoyed a lot of dance parties!

5. While we reluctantly enjoyed the lack of Netflix, because of the extra family time it brought us, the thing I learned the most, is I really freakin’ love Netflix. You could go broke renting from Redbox constantly, and even more broke buying DVDs of your favorite shows or movies, but Netflix is one heck of a sweet deal. For $8 a month with Netflix, you get more than what you pay for. Unlimited access to documentaries, kids shows, and Frasier? You don’t realize just how great it is, til it’s gone!

Our internet is still super lousy, and sometimes it’s so slow that Netflix can’t stream, but I gotta say, after 3 weeks with no internet and no Netflix, I wouldn’t willingly cancel my subscription any time soon.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Lockup: Women Behind Bars to go binge on.

Introducing HoneyBuns Baby Lotion! (And a GIVEAWAY!)

Published on August 25, 2016August 25, 2016 by RLeave a comment

I know, I know… I’m just a little obsessed with Era Organics. I can’t help it. The products are great quality– and they work! I mean, that’s the combo we look for in any great skincare product.

You’ve heard me talk about their HoneyBuns line for babies before. I love it, you guys. It smells like a dream, it’s gentle, and a little goes a long way.

I’ve been hoping they would formulate a baby lotion since I first tried their baby body wash. I use the healing balm for really rough spots on my children’s skin, but I wanted something for daily after bath use. My dreams have come true! Tyler and Nikki from Era Organics reached out to me and asked if I would like to try their new baby lotion, and of course I obliged. Any chance I get to test some Era Organics products, and I’m jumping on that!

We’ve been using it on all 5 of the children after baths for a couple of weeks, and Milkman and I are loving it. Our younger foster child, Cheekies, has really sensitive skin. It’s been a long process to try and get her skin healed and soft. The HoneyBuns healing and diaper balms have helped on the super bad patches she had, but now that those are healed up, the HoneyBuns baby lotion is keeping her skin from being itchy and her sweet little pudgy arms and legs are deliciously soft.

I have been stealing a pump here and there after shaving my legs, and my skin is loving it, too! Oh and the fact that it’s a pump? What parent doesn’t love a pump cap body wash or lotion? One handed, easy peasy, done! And when you have 5 children to get ready for bed, you appreciate every little time saving feature you can get.

I like this lotion so much, that I’m joining up with Era Organics once again to give one of our lucky readers a HoneyBuns skincare bundle including HoneyBuns baby wash, HoneyBuns Diaper Balm, and HoneyBuns NEW baby lotion!

Head over to my Facebook page to enter the contest!

Don’t wanna wait? Here’s where to order! HoneyBuns is on Prime! 2 days and it’s on your doorstep! Use the code CRADLE25 to get 25% off!

GIVEAWAY! Era Organics Facial Line

Published on July 29, 2016July 29, 2016 by RLeave a comment

Skincare. I’m really bad at it. I was blessed with really nice skin for a lot of years. I never had serious acne problems in my teen years, never needed face makeup, and I needed very little to keep up on my skin. People would say “I love your skin! Whats your facial routine?” and I would say, “Target brand face wash and a pump of store brand lotion for moisturizer.” But in the last year, my skin has aged noticeably. I guess turning 30 really does make you an oldie. I’ve begun wearing face makeup, and the store brand face wash and lotion, just hasn’t been cutting it.

If you’ve been around here a while, you know how much I love Era Organics. I featured their baby line, Honeybuns, a while back. Its a fantastic brand with amazing products that mix organic, natural ingredients with science backed formulas that WORK. After becoming totally sold on their baby products, I decided to try out their Cleanse + Restore face wash. Instantly sold. It was in the shower, so Milkman started using it too, and even he was impressed by how much better his skin felt after using it compared to the Neutrogena face wash we had been using. I mentioned to Tyler at Era Organics how much I loved the Cleanse + Restore and he had me try out their Revive+ scrub/mask and Complete moisturizer.

Now, I already told you, I suck at taking care of my skin. Both my sisters have kept to skin care routines with makeup removers, washes, scrubs, moisturizers, wrinkle cream, eye cream, and who knows what else. I am notoriously lazy, so less products in the regimen means I’m more likely to use it. Plus, between my biological kiddos and foster children, I have FIVE little ones in the house right now. I don’t have a whole lot of time to myself. Three products was pushing it, but I saw that the Revive+ scrub (that doubles as a mask) was a few times a week, rather than a daily requirement. This seemed doable for me.

The first time I used the full line in succession, it was love at first wash. The Cleanse + Restore face wash is the best because it takes off my makeup– and I wear A LOT of makeup. I wear long wear eyeliner and mascara, and I wear bright red lip stain that doesn’t kiss off or wipe off. When I have makeup on, my face is jackhammer proof. I have used coconut oil in the past to take off my makeup and its a many cotton pad and gobs of oil process. One wash with Cleanse + Restore and it is OFF. I swear the stuff is magical. As for the Revive scrub, I LOVE me a good exfoliant. In fact, the face washes I have used in the past have been daily scrubs normally, because I love the way it feels. This microdermabrasion scrub is made with walnut shells, and manuka honey (you’ll find manuka honey in a lot of Era Organics’ products!) and it smells like orange heaven once it’s on your face. There is something that puts you in an instantly good mood when you mix that scrubby feeling with the fresh citrus scent. Really wakes you up, and well… REVIVES you! Its true to it’s name. Lastly, Complete. Holy cow, guys. You need like the TINIEST little smidgen, and it covers your whole face with a satiny, light (yet substantial) moisturizer. It doesn’t make your skin feel greasy, but it feels hydrated. I do my skin care routine at night, and the next morning when I wake up after having used these 3 products, my skin feels dreamy, and it’s ready for my to destroy with loads of makeup again!

So, because I love you, and because I wanted to show that this line really freakin’ works, I had Milkman take pictures of me doing my skincare routine, including me, makeup-free, which is something I really don’t show to many people, because it’s scary, y’all. But I’m doing this for you, and for science, and for… I don’t know, I’ll shut up now, enjoy the awful lighting in my bathroom, and my paint-free face.

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So! There ya have it, that’s how I use these products. You should, too, because they are freaking rad. Best of all, you can find them on Amazon, and they are on Prime, baby! Click of a button, and the show up on your doorstep 2 days later. Here’s a coupon code to use on Amazon to get 25% off Era Organics products in your shopping cart: ERA15OFF #TeamNeverLeaveTheHouseAgain

But WAIT! There’s more! Head over to my Facebook page for a chance to win this line for FREE.

GIVEAWAY! Our Fun Day at Simi Valley Saplings!

Published on July 7, 2016July 6, 2016 by RLeave a comment

Summer is in FULL swing. I put out the word locally and asked if there were any mom-owned businesses that catered to families. One of the first invitations to visit her business was Leah of Saplings in Simi Valley. I hadn’t heard of Saplings, but after a quick perusal of her website, I knew I had to come visit.

Simi Saplings is an indoor play area unlike anything we have in Ventura county. Most of us think of an indoor play place as being focused on gross motor skill play, and while those places are awesome, Saplings is on a different scale.

From the moment you walk in (entrance is on the side of the building!), you are transported into a calm and cool (hello! Escape the Summer heat!) atmosphere. The theme of Saplings is woodsy and outdoorsy! Leah told me that her family loves to be outdoors, to hike, and go camping. Since she knew she would be spending a considerable amount of time indoors at Saplings, she brought the outdoors inside. Calming sky blue walls with painted trees (and a SUPER cool tree Leah constructed!) give the place a sweet and charming woodland vibe.

There are LOADS of imaginative play stations around the room. Your little one can be a Doctor, Vet, Store Keeper, or Hair Stylist. For the little performer there is a band and music area (complete with a drum set, which Captain LOVED) and a Puppet Show stage. Your child can race their cars with a friend, have a camp out next to the felt campfire and roast pretend marshmallows while they sit on a cushiony tree stump. If your little one wants to climb and slide, there is a playground right in the center of the room. It’s just the right size for your preschooler! There is a reading corner, complete with a soft rug, fluffy pillows, and kid-sized lounge furniture next to a window with lots of natural light pouring in, which Mamitas liked especially since there was a book with her hero (Minnie Mouse!) to be read!

The Seedling Meadow is a safe and cozy play area for little ones from 0-2. It has a half-wall protecting it from the rest of the main play areas and from older playmates who may not see little ones underfoot. Peach had such a blast crawling, playing, and sitting on the little riding toys in the enclosed area.

Have a budding artist? The art area is INSANE. Fully stocked with various artistic mediums, easels, tables, and a chalk wall. In fact, Leah goes the extra mile and on Tuesdays and Fridays, at no extra cost but your general admission, there is a special craft lined up for your child to do, and bring their craft home with them! Saplings also occasionally teams up with Color Me Vino for the kid and alcohol-free version of a wine painting party for a Paint N Play party! Your little one can come in, and for $25 they can create a work of art taught by an instructor on a canvas, and then play all day!

Which brings me to my next favorite feature: ALL DAY PLAY. It really means all day. That means ins and outs for the whole day once you pay your admission! You can come first thing, play with your little one, eat your packed lunch in the food area, go home for naps, and come right back after naps until closing without paying any extra. That is SUCH a plus if you have littles who need to get their midday siesta in!

Another great thing is you only pay for your kiddos to play. So while parents are encouraged to play with their little ones (and the space is made to facilitate just that!), adults do not pay admission costs. For those of us with multiple children, Saplings offers a sibling discount! Leah has 3 little ones herself and appreciates that it costs families with multiple children more to do fun things.

They also offer two different party packages for birthday parties. One is semi-private and the other is offered on Sunday’s and it totally private. You can either do all the decorating yourself, or talk to Leah about having her plan your fuss-free party with the various add-on items. Just show up with your party after booking and she’ll do all the shopping and decorating for you.

While I loved how much my 3 kiddos enjoyed playing at Saplings, I also really enjoyed getting to talk with Leah and hear about her life and her passion for bringing parents and children together to play. Her husband has been a huge support to her as she has seen her dream realized since she hung up her teacher hat and went into mom and business owner mode. She made a place where she could bring her children to work with her, and invites you to come and play with yours there, too!

Head over to my Facebook page for a chance to win a day of play!

GIVEAWAY! Cheeky Tummy Diaper Bag!

Published on June 29, 2016June 28, 2016 by RLeave a comment

I love me a good bag. Once I had kids, I had to give up my giant purses that I loved so much, because carrying a diaper bag AND a big ol’ purse is just not practical. I had seen some designer diaper bags here and there, but I couldn’t believe the price tags on them. I really hate spending loads of money on something that is going to be hit with serious wear and tear and ~~possibly~~ WILL end up with some sort of bodily fluids on it.

When Captain was a baby and my only child, other moms would see me lugging my huge diaper bag around and say, “Oh, just wait til he’s older, you’ll go back to a purse and just carry one lone diaper and a few wipes in a baggy in it.” Four years later, and I’m still carrying a huge diaper bag with my entire world in it. Clearly these mothers didn’t know me before kids, when I would carry a purse large enough to cart multiple crochet projects, one-eighth of the historical fiction section of the library, a Costco-sized tub of Advil, and many tubes of red lipstick. I plan for disaster at all times. I ALWAYS carry an extra change of clothes for each of my 3 children, enough diapers to last us a couple of days, snacks, activities, and wipes galore. (You can never have too many wipes on hand!)

What’s In My Bag: iPad mini, journal, Amazon Wipes, 8 diapers, muslin blanket, nursing cover, Cheeky Tummy changing mat, toy, sun screen, Era Organics Honeybuns balm and powder, diaper cream, Contigo water cup, snacks, pacifier wipes, sunglasses, change of clothing for Peach, Mamitas, and Captain, and Captain and Mamitas’ note pads and pens! Whew!*

I came across this bright, playful bag from Cheeky Tummy and I thought, “It’s been too long since I had a cute bag. It’s time to carry something cute again!” and I am SO glad I did. This bag is not only adorable, it is HUGE inside. It holds everything I need to have with me without being stuffed to the zipper. Oh! And it comes with a matching changing mat! I feel so fancy whipping our my pretty little mat (its cushion-y, too you guys) to change a booty and folding it and fastening it to go back into its spot in my bag.

Another feature I love is that it is incredibly versatile. Prefer handle straps? It comes with those. Like a shoulder strap instead? Oh, yeah, comes with that, too. What about a bag that attaches to your stroller? Um, yeah! Also included. (PSA: never put an overloaded bag onto the back of your stroller handle without a firm grip on your stroller, we don’t want any babies tipping backwards!) I threw this on the back of my Uppababy Vista, and it looked super purdy. I’m telling you, I feel fancy.

Here’s the deal, it is a great bag all around while still being affordable. After talking with Diana at Cheeky Tummy, I was able to really see the heart behind her company. As a new mom she felt overwhelmed by the amount of bags and price points on the market, and out of that frustration Cheeky Tummy was born. I liked her bag so well, that I asked Diana if we could give one of these gorgeous orange and white chevron bags to one of my lucky readers and she agreed! So, head over to She Rocks the Cradle on Facebook, and enter the giveaway!

Want one of your own right now? Head to Cheeky Tummy’s store and grab a bag for yourself. If you use the code CRADLE10, you get 10% off your first order!

See you on Facebook at the Giveaway! Its over on July 3rd, so hurry to enter!

Giveaway! Era Organics Baby Care Line

Published on April 20, 2016 by R2 Comments

As a mom, I am always looking for healthy, safe, natural products to use on my little ones. With 3 very young children, I try to research the heck out of anything I put on their skin and in their bodies. I’m sure you’ve seen the news stories that have popped up within the last year about Johnson & Johnson having cancer causing chemicals in their products, and also Jessica Alba’s company Honest Baby and their mini-scandal of using a chemical in their products that they tell consumers to avoid!

With those being two top contenders in the baby care world, you may be wondering what other options are out there. I am really excited to share about my new favorite baby care line from Era Organics! I’ve always used natural skincare products on my children, but haven’t ever been blown away by the products I’ve used, so I thought I would take a break from our usual Babyganics and try something new for Peach’s sensitive skin. Queue a middle of the night nursing and Amazon perusal and Honeybuns baby wash showed up 2 days later on my doorstep. (Thank you Amazon Prime!) That night we gave it a test run for bath time and I was an immediate fan. The texture of the baby wash was concentrated, and a little went a really long way. The scent was calming and pleasant. I really dislike heavily scented skincare products (so I’ve never been able to stomach the scent of products like Burt’s Bees for babies). The scent of the Honeybuns wash is very mild, but appealing and calming.

I started talking with the folks at Era Organics because after trying out a lot of other brands like California Baby, Mustela, Babyganics, and Aveeno (which is owned by Johnson & Johnson!), I was so glad to be using a product that was natural AND effective, a combo really lacking in the natural product world. They informed me that they had just released an entire Honeybuns baby care line, and I knew I had to try the rest!

One of the great things about the Honeybuns line is that it cares not only for baby but for MAMA! YAY! It’s really telling when a company chooses to care for moms, too! Their baby and mama line includes Honeybuns Baby Body Wash, Healing Balm (incredible for dry skin and also works on cradle cap!), diaper balm, and Baby Powder (talc-free! Uses organic cornstarch and arrowroot as its base). The mommy components of the line are Mommy Balm for sore nursing breasts (I’m past the ouchie newborn latch stage, but I love this for when I am tender nursing during my period), and Belly Oil for stretch marks and dry irritated skin on your tummy and thighs– this stuff smells like HEAVEN, it’s like a mini-spa treatment every time i put it on! Each of the products are organic, cruelty-free, and non-GMO. There are NO PARABENS! This is a big deal to me, and the reason why I switched to all natural products as a new mother 4 years ago.

As I mentioned earlier, I feel like there’s a great divide between products that are natural and safe, and products that pack a powerful punch but are full of stuff I don’t want on my baby’s skin. You can tell that the formulas that Era Organics uses are thoughtful and science based, not just thrown together willy nilly. These products have made a difference on my skin and on Peach’s skin (and its been great on my toddler and preschooler’s skin, too!)

I truly believe in these products and I am SUPER excited to share with you that Era Organics has offered a set of their ENTIRE Honeybuns skin care line for one lucky winner on our Facebook page, so head over to She Rocks the Cradle on Facebook to enter through April 24th! Era Organics has also offered a 25% off discount for She Rocks the Cradle readers using the code CRADLE25 through the end of May in their Amazon storefront! I am so thankful for their generosity, and I can’t wait for you to try out their products. You’ll have to let me know how you like it once you try their products out– you wont be disappointed.

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Here are the quick links to the Honeybuns products on Amazon! Don’t forget to use our CRADLE25 coupon code for 25% off, and be sure to share your purchase through the social share buttons on Amazon when you add these items to your cart!

Honeybuns Baby Wash

Honeybuns Healing Balm

Honeybuns Diaper Balm

Honeybuns Baby Powder

Belly Oil for Mama

Mommy Balm

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GIVEAWAY! Boost Your Morning Brew, with Lifeboost!

Published on March 30, 2016 by RLeave a comment

Successful parenting can be chalked up to several things. Patience, love, creativity, flexibility, and coffee. Let’s be real, coffee should be at the top of that list. I don’t think ours is the only household for which coffee is a near-sacred ritual. It goes beyond the caffeine in our home. For some reason 3 weeks after Captain was born, I developed a serious intolerance to caffeine in coffee. We aren’t quite sure why, but when I’m pregnant I can tolerate half-caf, but by 2 weeks postpartum, I get hugely jittery, nervous, and sick while drinking caffeinated coffee. I am pretty much sure this strange reaction will last for my breastfeeding years! So, when I say I am a coffee nut it’s true– because I’m willing to drink caffeine-free just to get the taste every morning.

I’ve loved coffee my entire life. I have super vivid memories of sipping the cold leftovers of my dad’s black coffee with sweet ‘n’ low in it. My mother is hispanic, and in many Mexican cultures, children start on coffee very young with a high milk to coffee ratio. I remember Saturday mornings, headed to church with my mom for meetings and her packing me a travel mug of hot cocoa with coffee in it. In fact, my kids and nieces enjoy “Nana Coffee” when they stay at my mom’s house overnight. Mornings always come with a cup of milk, coffee, chocolate, and lots of whipped cream! Needless to say, just because I had to stop drinking caffeinated coffee, didn’t mean I was going to give up coffee altogether– coffee is in my blood.

In the last 4 years since becoming a nursing mother, I have tried a lot of decaf coffees. Everything from light roast store brand to extra dark espresso beans from Starbucks. I love trying new coffees, and just because I can’t have caffeine doesn’t mean I had to give up on finding some good beans! But, I’ve found a new favorite in the last month with Lifeboost Coffee.

Lifeboost is single-sourced. It is from a 6-acre farm in the highlands of Nicaragua. The farm is surrounded by one of Nicaragua’s National Protected Areas, so the land is totally clean and pesticide free. Did I mention it’s organic and Fair Trade? Because it is! The Arabica beans are grown, harvested, cleaned, and roasted all on site. Unlike other coffees, this is free of mycotoxic presence. Myco-what? Mycotoxins are produced by molds which are not great for your health and show up in other lower-quality beans. This coffee is pure, unadulterated, Arabica goodness.

So how does Lifeboost Coffee taste? We have enjoyed a few different brewing methods with both the decaf medium roast and also regular roasts. (Milkman is reveling in having some good, fully-leaded beans in the house!) I didn’t think I could enjoy it much more than I did with a coarse grind in the French Press, but over the weekend, Milkman used a slightly finer grind and made it using the pour-over. This was ridiculously satisfying. Maybe pour-overs and presses aren’t for you, maybe you just like to have a down and dirty machine-drip first thing in the morning, and guess what? Still good like that.

This is the kind of coffee where, if you are used to drinking coffee with cream added, you don’t have to. It’s not bitter. Delightfully mild without tasting weak. Nutty and heady while still being delicate on the palate. You can taste the quality, and as an added bonus to your caffeine (or DECAF as the case may be) fix, you can rest assured that the coffee you are drinking is 100% Certified Organic and Fair Trade.

I enjoyed this coffee so much that after drinking it for just a few days I contacted Dr. Charles Livingston at Lifeboost and asked him if he would be willing to share some Lifeboost coffee with my readers! We agreed that no one needs a coffee pick-me-up more than parents, and because they offer both regular and decaf coffee, this is suitable for the parents of toddlers who need all the caffeine they can get or the pregnant or nursing mama who wants the flavor and comfort of coffee without the caffeine!

Huge thanks to Dr. Charles at Lifeboost for supplying us with the coffee for the giveaway! Make sure you check out Lifeboost on Facebook, on Instagram @lifeboostcoffee, and go to their website or their Amazon store to try out their coffee (it’s on Amazon Prime! HELLO! No shipping charge and delivered to your door? That’s how I like my coffee!)

So, head to She Rocks the Cradle on Facebook, and check out our giveaway for Lifeboost and enter for a chance to win the roast of your choosing absolutely FREE!
Find me on Facebook, Follow me on Instagram!

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