Monthly Archives: July 2015

Trying To Conceive? This May Help. #BabyStory

Regarding fertility, I guess one could say, I’ve been lucky. I was able to conceive easily and usually on the first try. I however knew many friends and family that struggled trying to get pregnant. Month after month of disappointment instead of a positive pregnancy test can make stress levels rise. Couples are told to relax when that seems to be impossible. For some couples time is a factor and they don’t have the time to just wait and see. Many couples want to be proactive and increase their chances to conceive.

After our fourth child was born, we were shocked to find out we were pregnant again when he was just 3 months old. It was quite a shocker since we were not trying. We knew we wanted another baby just were not planning to try for another few months. Sadly about 2 months later we lost that baby. Our OB advised us to wait 3 months before attempting to conceive again. As soon as we had the green light we tried and 2 pink lines made us super excited but a few days later, out excitement turned to sadness as we lost that pregnancy.

I made an appointment to see a specialist as I was very concerned. My first babies were conceived on the first try and were successfully carried to term without any complications. Now here I was, albeit only 7 months after our 4th babies birth with two losses. The doctor told me the second loss was most likely a chemical pregnancy and that given the sensitivity of pregnancy test today they were seeing them more and more. In the past these chemical pregnancies would go unnoticed and a woman would just think she was 2-3 days late.

He told us that there was no reason to think anything was wrong and that there was no intervention that needed to be taken at that time. He told us just to try again and that very attempt ended in a live birth! I know that compared to couples struggling for months and years with difficulty conceiving this may seem trivial but when you are trying to achieve that desired pregnancy even a month or two of disappointment can be heartbreaking. When you add in the loss of a pregnancy, it kicks the fears up more than a notch.

For me the reassurance of that specialist really worked to reduce my stress. I am an anxious person and had thousands of thoughts running through my head. Some may say they cannot believe I would jump the gun and see a specialist so soon but for my stress it worked so well. I left the office feeling reassured and confident. When we conceived that month, I attributed much of it to that peace of mind he gave me. I think if anyone is concerned that something is not right they should go to see a doctor and not think they have to wait 6 months or a year before pursuing that. I truly believe the simple reassurance can reduce stress which has been shown to negatively affect the ability to conceive.

Many times the stress of trying to conceive can lead to vaginal dryness and discomfort. The tendency to reach for a lubricant may seem logical but all lubricants are not equal. Some lubricants can actually impede sperm which is certainly the opposite of what any couple trying to achieve pregnancy wants.

Astroglide TTC Trying to Conceive™ is a specially formulated for couples who are trying to conceive. Astroglide TTC supports fertility with adjusted pH levels, compatible osmolality and a consistency similar to your body’s cervical mucus. Providing the optimal environment for sperm survival is paramount when trying to conceive. Specially formulated with adjusted pH levels that are compatible with sperm Astroglide TTC™ is more like your own cervical mucus.

Astroglide TTC™ also contains galactose which is naturally found in semen and fructose which is the main source of energy for sperm, giving them a better chance of survival and ability to move freely when compared to traditional lubricants. Astroglide TTC™ is priced at only $12.99 and is the best value on the market in comparison to competitive lubricants. Click HERE to see where you can buy Astroglide TTC™. You can connect with Astroglide TTC™ on Facebook and Pinterest.

Did you have any difficulties conceiving? If so were there any tips or advice you want to share with those reading who may be going through something similar? If so, I would love for you to share them HERE!.

“Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine”

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Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine


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Filed under Baby, Life, Life Stages

How I Created A Nursery That’s A Jungle Of Fun-#MagicBabyMoments

 

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#MagicBabyMoments #CollectiveBias

#MagicBabyMoments Collage

Living on a lake in a resort town, we do a lot of entertaining, especially in the summer. When you factor that we have 2 large homes on this lake, we get our share of company. Having five kids, we have loads of baby and kid gear,  so if someone forgets any baby gear or accessories, we have extras.  We decided it would be a good idea to help our guests out and make things as easy as possible when traveling with baby. We have a large home with many bedrooms so we thought about creating a nursery in one of the guest spaces.

The youngest 2 of our five kids were super close in age and both in cribs at the same time, so we had all the major pieces.  We decided to set up a crib and create a nursery space that will be a welcome relief to our visiting family with babies and toddlers.  We think it will be a huge relief to them  not having to stuff more oversized baby gear in their car or van when visiting.

I was in Walmart the other day and saw their Disney Baby bedding collection.  It was literally flying off the shelves it was so popular.  I spoke with an associate who told me that was why it seemed sparse.  I was lucky to find an adorable Disney Baby Lion King Jungle Fun, 3 Piece Bedding Set that would look great and was unisex. The set has accents of tan, aqua, ivory, green and brown that give me lots of decorating and painting options.

lion king in store aisle

I also picked up a coordinating super soft plush Disney Baby Lion King Jungle Fun Plush Blanket and Knit Beanie. The 3 piece crib set includes a dust ruffle, crib sheet and comforter.  Everything is affordably priced and perfect for a brand new nursery or as an easy way to update an existing one.

lion king collage in store

Heading home I could not wait to deck out the crib with the new bedding.  I was impressed with the quality of the set. For such a small price, I didn’t expect it to be so nice. What a pleasant surprise to unpack the items and find the great quality. The darling appliqued comforter is a large 42″ by 33″, the fabric is a 100% polyester microfiber that feels great. The three pieces are easy to care for and are machine washable and dryable. The comforter is so nice and has one cub with a velvety feel that little ones will just love.

lion king crib idea

Lion King Bedding

lion king bedding back

The coordinating Lion King plush blanket is super soft and comes with a knit beanie with cute playful ears in a golden shade of yellow great for boys or girls.  The blanket is 30″ by 40″ and is machine washable and dryable for easy care which I love.  It will be easy to freshen the bedding between our little guests.

Lion King blanket cap

Lion king crib

Lion King Dust Ruffle

Lion King blanket Sheet Crib Bedding Disney

Lion King Nursery 3

I am in the process of going through and adding all the Lion King accents we have like the Pumba and Timon.  I have all of the characters in plush, even figurines. I am going to add to a cute little shelf I just painted aqua and will hang on the wall.  I still have a lot I want to do like paint the walls a shade of green and bring the changing table in too! I am a perfectionist so I want everything perfect but decided to just get going and get the biggest piece in and work around that.  I will update when it’s all finished.

Lion King Nursery

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Lion King Nursery 1

 I think the Disney Baby Lion King Jungle Fun 3 Piece Crib Bedding  Set and blanket with cap make an adorable theme for this new guest nursery.  What do you think?  Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments


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Filed under Baby, Baby Gear, Disney, DIY, Family, Family Fun, Home, Home & Garden, Home Improvement, Shoppertunity

3 Of My Must Have Products To Use With Essential Oils

3 Must Have Essential Oil ProductsI am really getting into essential oils and am learning a great deal about them I want to show you some great things I have found to make using my essential oils easier and more effective.  I wanted to mix some of my oils with carrier oils, create blends or just put neat oils in roller bottles and I found a great deal on roller bottles on Amazon.  I got 24 clear glass 1/3 oz  roll on bottles for only $8.88 (keep in mind prices/products change rapidly on Amazon) and it was eligible for my Prime free shipping.  Amazingly also included were 3 large transfer pipettes which are really nice for my carrier oil bottles.

roller bottles glass

If you want colored glass rollers they are available too in a variety of shades like cobalt, green, amber,pink, black even multi color packs.  See the selection HERE.

rose roll on oil bottles

multicolor roller bottlesblack roll on bottlescobalt roller bottles

Another super deal I got was 12 Amber 15 ml bottles with dropper tops that are awesome for storage, mixing and sharing your oils.  The handy dropper top is perfect for dispensing and mixing.  Best of all $6.99 with free Prime shipping!

amber bottles with dropper

amber bottles with droppers box

 

Diffusing oils is a great way to benefit from the health and healing these oils are known for.  The Riverrock Diffuser from Deneve is whisper quiet and so easy to use.

Riverrock difuser 1

riverrock diffuser 1

Deneve Essential Oil Diffuser

Riverrock Essential Oil Diffuser 1

Eseential Oil RiverRock Diffuser Humidifier

You just fill the chamber with water you can easily measure and pour using the included plastic beaker. You use room temperature water, that is very important.  Then add 3-5 drops of you favorite oil or oils and replace the cover.

Riverrock oil diffuser Deneve water in

 

Turn the unit on and immediately the unit’s LED light band starts changing colors and dispensing the aromatic The diffuser is whisper quiet and has the faint sound of a distant, babbling brook to relax you.  Without oil the unit functions as a humidifier. This diffuser covers about 250 square feet for best results.

Riverrock diffuser in action

 

Riverrock diffuser for essential oils #review #relax #essentialoils #mommyramblings #peace #blog

A video posted by Mommy Ramblings (@mommyramblingsblog) on

The diffuser purifies, sterilizes, moisturizes and ionizes by producing the finest, lightest droplets of water and essential oils without degrading the true essence of the oils, allowing micro droplets to disperse more widely.  Using your essential oils in a diffuser like his can help with relieving tension, relaxation, coughs, colds and skin conditions. The changing LED light band is a mood enhancer and accent light but if you want totally darkness, you can turn it off. The river rock sleek shape of the diffuser compliments nearly any decor in the home, office or spa.

Free Essential Oil Books

There are so many free ebooks on using Essential Oils HERE!

Share Your Experience, Recipes, Uses and More!

Please let me know if you have tried these products or are going to.  I would love to hear your thoughts, just leave them in the comments.

 


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Filed under Beauty, Fitness, Health, Life, Natural, Nature

The Secret of Great Fried Food Without the Fat or Calories

Do you love the taste of homemade thick cut french fried potatoes, fried chicken, mozzarella sticks, friend zucchini and more but don’t like the fat, greasy mess and calories?  If so, you are going to love the Avalon Bay AB-Airfryer100.  This sleek Airfryer uses Rapid Air Circulation Technology which circulates hot air with speed and precision for perfect results. Fry, Bake, Grill or Roast your food for you and your family. Its time you experienced this revolutionary way to cook your food. Dont Fry Your Food, AirFry Your Food. ab-airfryer100r-ls1-l

This appliance is like a Mini Convection Oven. AirFryers work the same way as convection ovens, but better. The fan technology removes the fats & oils from the food, by allowing it to drip through the drip basket. It then AirFrys the food by lifting the oil and making your food airborne by coating it. It does this continuously throughout the cooking process. The result is, you don’t need to use oil. Meaning less waste, fewer calories and less guilt.

airfryer red counter

The Air Fryer uses a combination of high-speed circulation, which makes the hot air rapidly circulate within the AirFryer. All the ingredients within the non-stick food basket will be heated at once, as the heat will come in through all sides. This guarantees that with the Avalon Bay Airfryer your food will be cooked evenly due to the optimal heat distribution. The 30 minute timer lets you customize the settings to cook your favorite foods the way you want.  The AirFryer turns itself off when your food is cooked and the timer dings. The AirFryer has a fully adjustable temperature range from  200-400°F.

Avalon Bay Airfryer

Features:

  • Rapid Air Circulation Technology which circulates hot air with speed and precision for perfect results
  • Mesh metal basket helps provide extra crispy results.
  • Safety Element: 30 minute timer
  • Hassle free clean up with dishwasher safe parts
  • Stainless steel 304 heating element

Avalon Bay Red AirFryer
With the Avalon Bay AB-AIRFRYER100 you have so many choices when it comes to cooking or reheating food for your family. The 3.2L mesh metal basket has a quick release allowing you to easily remove it. This striking red shaded AirFryer from Avalon Bay has a compact design and a stainless steel 304 heating element. The non slip feet, you can be rest assured that it will stay in place and not slip off your bench top. A unique feature on this appliance, is its top handle, which is great for carrying and storing away conveniently. For a quick clean-up this Air Fryer does come with some dishwasher safe parts.airfryer 100 red

What We Love:

We love this AirFryer because it is so sleek and secure, it does not move when cooking and with kids we do not have a safety issue.  When you fry in the conventional way, it is messy and dangerous. You can not leave the frying foods unattended and there is always the risk of splattering oil burning the person preparing the food or someone nearby. Oh and you know what is amazing, you can even bake a cake in it! It’s great to have the food we love without the calories of conventional frying.  If you want to try eating healthier the Avalon AirFryer is a great way to get the taste you love without the mess or calories you hate.

French Fries Avalon Bay

See our video review below to see how we made the thick cut fries pictured above:

Thick Cut Fries:

Five or Six Large Potatoes

1.5 Tbs of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt/Pepper To Taste

This is such and easy recipe, just peel the potatoes and cut into thick homestyle fries. Put the fries in the basket and coat with extra virgin olive oil. Cook in the AirFryer for 10 minutes. Take out basket shake and return to fryer to cook 10 more minutes.  Remove fries to plate and season to taste with sea salt and pepper.

 

Do you have an AirFryer?  If so let me know in the comments. If you have any questions feel free to post them in the comments as well.  I look forward to reading your comments and questions.  Follow Avalon Bay on Facebook.

 


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Filed under Cooking, Kitchen, Recipes, Review