Minnesota Mama's Must Haves

aden + anais Burpy Bibs & Snap Bibs Review!

2012-02-15T15:05:00.005-06:00

Carson is getting bigger and lately he is quite the little drool monster. Between drooling and spitting up he is always getting the front of his shirts wet. In an effort to save his outfits and reduce the number of outfit changes a day I figured I better find him some great bibs to wear. Of course my absolute favorite baby products come from aden + anais so I had to check out their selection. I LOVE the Little Man Burpy Bibs. They are the coolest product ever. They can be used either as a burp cloth or a bib. They have a snap on them so you can fasten them around your child to function as a bib or leave it unsnapped to function as a burp cloth. I've been using these both ways and I absolutely love them.

The great thing about the double duty function of them is that you can use them from the newborn stage all the way up to when they are eating and need a bib. These will last a long time and get a ton of use.

As with all aden + anais products they are made of a cotton muslin material that gets softer and softer every time you wash it. These Burpy Bibs are a definite must have baby product!

We also gave the new snap bibs a try and I really like them as well. They function as a traditional bib does and of course they come in all the great prints that aden + anais is known for. They are adorable and are perfect for wearing throughout the day to keep all that drool off his outfits. My favorite features include:

+ Practical: absorbent and easy to care for

+ Comfortable: soft, gentle 100% cotton muslin

+ Accessible: the front-side-snaps simplify fastening

+ Adjustable: three snaps ensure a perfect fit as baby grows

+ Machine washable: making clean up quick and easy

Unlike many bibs on the market the aden + anais burpy bibs and snap bibs are made out of a soft AND absorbent material. I love the softness of some fabrics but have found them to be impractical as bibs because they just aren't absorbent. These get the job done and they look and feel great while doing it. Yet another product from aden + anais that I am in love with! They sure know how to make great baby products :) I may have a slight addiction to them...

Win! One reader will win your choice set of bibs from aden + anais!

Here is how to enter to win:

Tell me which set is your favorite! Would you choose the snap bibs or the burpy bibs and which print did you fall in love with?
*Remember to include your email address in your comment if it is not visible on your profile or you will be disqualified.

After you have completed the above mandatory entry you are eligible for additional entries. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this please see my post here. Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry and include your email address in at least one entry. Each bullet is one entry unless otherwise stated.

Subscribe to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves by Email (not feed)-remember to activate your subscription! Current subscribers count too. (1 entry)
Follow my blog publicly-Current followers count too! (1 entry)
Follow me on Pinterest (if you need an invite to join then email me sarah (at) minnesotamamasmusthaves (dot) com and I'll send you one!)
Enter any of my other giveaways- Leave a comment saying which giveaway you entered-you may leave a separate comment for each extra giveaway you enter. (1 entry for each giveaway entered)
Blog about my giveaway and link back to my site-must link to this specific giveaway and include a picture of the prize-Leave the URL where you blogged-(3 extra entries)
Grab my button-leave the URL where it is posted (1 entry)
Follow Me AND aden + anais on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway-You may Tweet daily and gain an extra entry each day that you tweet-limit 1 per day. Leave the URL where you Tweeted. Copy/Paste this tweet:

Win your choice set of bibs from aden + anais! #giveaway #mnmamamusthave Enter here: http://tinyurl.com/7ptosrg ends 2/29 @adenandanais
Like Minnesota Mama's Must Haves on Facebook-leave your facebook name with your comment.
Like aden + anais on Facebook
Update your facebook status with a link to this giveaway. You may update it daily for an extra entry per day that you do it. Leave me the link to your update and make sure it links to both me and the sponsor (you can do this by following both and selecting us from the list when you type in @) You can copy and paste the following into your status:

Win your choice set of bibs from @adenandanais and @Minnesota Mama's Must Haves! Ends 2/29 http://tinyurl.com/7ptosrg
Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway post (review only posts are great). One entry per comment left.

Open to US only. Giveaway ends February 29th at 11:59pm. Winner will be drawn by random.org and announced on this blog as well as emailed. Products reviewed were provided to me free of charge. No compensation was given in exchange for this review. My opinion is my own and is an honest view of my experience with the product. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. Email address must be in at least one comment or visible on your profile to win. Good Luck!

2 Giveaways Ending Tonight Boppy, Bosch + Bonus Entries!

2012-02-15T10:00:00.000-06:00

Here are thegiveaways ending tonight! Enter before midnight for your chance to win!! Youmay have two extra entries into any of these giveaways if you leave (or havealready left) a relevant comment on the following posts (2 extra entries perrelevant comment left!): DIY Smoothie Kits, Johnson's Natural products, Playdate Planet, Gallery Direct, & Free Chemo Hat Pattern.

$195 Prize Pack From Bosch!

New Travel Boppy Pillow!

Chicken Bacon Alfredo Bake Recipe!!

2012-02-15T09:30:00.000-06:00

If you like alfredo then you will love this spin on the classic. It's easy to make and tastes great! My family loved it. First you'll need to boil your pasta and cook your chopped chicken breast at the same time. Drain pasta and toss with alfredo sauce until coated. Place half of mixture into bottom of greased baking dish.

Chop up some fresh parsley and mix with either ricotta or cottage cheese (whichever you prefer), egg and Parmesan. Spread mixture over your noodles.

Add chicken to the top of your layers.

As well as your chopped up bacon.

Then add the remaining noodles to the top and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes!

Chicken Bacon Alfredo Bake

Serves 8

16 oz pkg penne pasta
2-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (depending on size)
2 - 10 oz jars of prepared Alfredo sauce
1 - 15 oz ricotta or cottage cheese (whichever you prefer)
2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 package of bacon or about 6 slices
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Boil penne pasta. While pasta is boiling brown chicken in pan until no longer pink. Drain pasta once cooked and return to pot. Toss with alfredo sauce until coated. Spray 9 x 13 pan with nonstick cooking spray and place half of noodle mixture on the bottom of the pan. Mix together ricotta or cottage cheese, parsley, egg and Parmesan. Spread over the pasta. Add chicken and bacon as the next layer pushing them down into the cheese mixture. Add remaining noodle mixture and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Enjoy!!

Turn Your Photos Into Quality Gallery Wrap Canvas Artwork! 50% Off Photo Uploads At Gallery Direct!!

2012-02-14T22:58:00.001-06:00

I just ordered this amazing gallery wrap canvas artwork of Carson. I love this picture of him. The sunlight is hitting him and he is just happy. I LOVE Gallery Direct and I've been so pleased with all of the artwork I've received from them. Until now I had never tried out their photo uploads option. You can upload your own photo to create stunning artwork like this one. I am SO pleased with the results. It turned out fabulous and now I can display this beautiful baby picture of Carson on our wall for years to come!

Right now Gallery Direct is offering up 50% off Photo Upload Canvas Gallery Wraps, 30% off everything else + FREE SHIPPING! Sale ends Thursday so hurry and order yours! With their amazing customer service, fast shipping and great prices you won't be disappointed.

Also check out the Love Your Home Facebook Giveaway - The Gallery Direct Valentine's Day giveaway is up and running on Facebook right now. It’s a giveaway for $500 to Gallery Direct with 2 winners but ENDS 2/15!!

In the interest of full disclosure you should know that I am an ambassador for Gallery Direct but I received nothing in exchange for this post and I purchased the artwork above with my own money because I love Gallery Direct that much! :)

Wordless Wednesday! Babies & Hair Bows

2012-02-14T22:15:00.001-06:00

I don't know how it happened but Carson is getting SO BIG! Time goes by way to fast and it breaks my heart how quickly they get big. Who can resist that amazing smile?! Boy do I love him :)

I've been making good on my goals for the year and one of them is to learn how to make hair bows for Danika. I've been meaning to do this for a good two years now and I am finally sitting down and taking the time to make them. I figured I better before she decides she doesn't want to wear them anymore :)

Here is my Valentine's Day bow I made for her :) I thought these turned out great for my first few bows I've ever made. Now I am a ribbon buying addict lol. So that's what I've been up to this week, how about you?!

Taking baby steps to living a more natural lifestyle with Johnson's Natural Baby Products!

2012-02-14T14:58:00.000-06:00

In a world where there are chemicals all around us I find myself trying to slowly take baby steps to a more natural lifestyle. Ever since we moved out to the country we find that we are more interested in doing things like composting and growing our own vegetables. It feels great and I love knowing that what we are putting in our bodies, and our children's bodies is healthy and chemical free.

One area that we need to take baby steps to improve upon is our bath products and lotions. Johnson's Natural line recently won the 2012 Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product Award and I thought they deserved a try. Johnson's Natural is a line of baby products that naturally and gently care for baby’s skin and hair with a combination of plant and fruit-derived ingredients and over 100 years of baby care experience.

With Aiden's sensitive skin I was excited to try a natural product that was not only affordable but also widely available at mass retailers unlike many of the other products I've tried on him in the past. We've been using the Johnson's natural line on him now for a couple of weeks and it's going great. All three of my kids have been using it and we haven't had any rashes or sensitivities to it.

I love the easy to use dispensers on the foaming baby wash and lotion too. It's easy to put it on a squirmy baby without having to take both hands off of them to dispense it.

JOHNSON'S® NATURAL® product line is formulated with a unique combination of 98% natural ingredients, our NO MORE TEARS® Formula and proprietary ALLERFREE™, an allergen-free fragrance consisting of a clean, natural scent rooted in our ingredients. Natural oils gently cleanse and hydrate, while helping to nourish baby’s skin. The core product line consists of three products: JOHNSON'S® NATURAL® HEAD-TO-TOE® Baby Wash, JOHNSON'S® NATURAL® Baby Shampoo and JOHNSON'S® NATURAL® Baby Lotion. The products are designed to be gentle enough for newborns, contain no essential oils, and are paraben-free, dye-free, allergen-free and dermatologist tested.

After sudsing, scrubbing and slathering up Carson with the Johnson's Natural line of products he looked pretty happy and smelled great too :) With Jonson's new lineup of Natural products we are on our way to living a more natural, healthy lifestyle while staying within budget and not sacrificing quality.

You can visit http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/natural for more information about the products and ingredients, receive coupons and view a series of videos that offer tips on how to affordably incorporate natural living into everyday family life.

Johnson's Natural baby products are available nationwide at mass retailers near you!

In what ways are you taking steps to live more naturally? Any great tips or ideas to share with us?

*I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Johnson’s Natural and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

What to do with your over ripe fruit! Do It Yourself Smoothie Kits!

2012-02-14T11:21:00.001-06:00

Last week berries were on sale at the grocery store. I bought a bunch and made our favorite fruit dip recipe and we ate a ton. Well today I looked in the fridge and realized we forgot about the rest of the fruit and it was too ripe to eat. So what to do with my over ripe fruit? Make do it yourself smoothie kits of course!

All you need to do to fill up your freezer with ready to make smoothie kits is to wash and clean your fruit. I cut up my strawberries too since our blender isn't the greatest.

Once you've cleaned and cut your fruit divvy it up into sandwich bags and freeze flat in the freezer. You want to make sure and separate the fruit and lay it flat until it is frozen or you will end up with one big clump of frozen fruit for your blender to try and get through. I add a cup of apple juice to ours and blend. You can also use other kinds of juice like pineapple. These are a cheap, easy way to have smoothies readily available in your freezer. They are also the perfect use for your over ripe fruit! Enjoy!

Knitting Chemo Hats for Charity - Free Chemo Hat Pattern

2012-02-13T22:06:00.001-06:00

Several months ago my Mother in law shared with me that she was going to start knitting chemo hats for charity. I thought it was a great idea and never imagined that in just a few months time I would know 2 people that would need them. When undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer it is hard to avoid hair loss in women. It often occurs as a side effect to the chemotherapy and is certainly an unwelcome side effect. To make women feel better my Mother in law started knitting these chemo caps in bright jewel tone colors so they could have a little pick me up in their day.

A good friend of mine that I grew up with and went to school with throughout our elementary, high school and college years was recently diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 27. It didn't run in her family at all and was a complete shock. Thanks to her persistence and her own self exam which lead to her diagnosis (just days after a yearly exam at her docs office left it undetected) she has received the treatment she needs to beat the breast cancer. She had to undergo a double mastectomy and subsequent chemotherapy treatment. Without revealing many details all I would like to get across is her amazing good attitude throughout this whole ordeal. The diagnosis and treatment came quickly and she met it with a can do attitude that hasn't wavered. She has inspired me to be a better person. You never know when something absolutely life changing can happen to you. Grab hold of each and every day and make the most of them!

I only hope that I can look at life with the same zest and happiness that my good friend does. She is amazing :) If you are a knitter consider knitting some chemo hats and donating them to a cancer center near you. I know they are so appreciated and a welcome pick me up in a woman's life who is dealing with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. You can find free chemo hat knitting patterns at the resources listed below!

Rolled Brim Chemo Hat (pictured above)

Ridged Chemo Hat

Head Hugger

A couple of tips that my mother in law passed on to me were that you need to use a very soft yarn so it won't be scratchy on bare skin and you need to try and avoid seams as they can be irritating to the skin. She also likes to use bright colors to bring happiness :)

Do you have anyone in your life dealing with cancer? Have you ever donated chemo hats??

Playdate Planet! Schedule Playdates Effortlessly! + 2 $50 Amazon Gift Cards Giveaway!

2012-02-13T16:28:00.001-06:00

I am completely guilty of having good intentions. I have great intentions to do a lot of things that never get done. One of those things is scheduling more playdates with my friends and their kids. I really have great intentions to have them over and I just never seem to pin down a date and do it. Thanks to Playdate Planet, it doesn't have to be difficult to set a date for everyone to get together anymore. They've made it easy and quick to schedule a playdate and invite friends.

Playdate Planet is a free website that allows you to easily set up playdates and invite friends. Simply pick a date and time, fill in the details and invite your friends. You can invite friends via email or connect with Facebook. It is such a nice, easy way to say "Hey, let's get together!" while providing everyone with all the necessary details. I love the ease of use and how it lets me off the hook as far as following up with people and calling to make plans. It's kind of like an invite service doing the work of contacting everyone for you. It then allows you to set the number of available spots (so that you don't end up with more people/kids than your house can accomodate) so you are free to invite as many people as you wish.

I love all of the details they allow you to include. You can create a profile for each of your children and I'm able to select Aiden's peanut allergy and add a note as to where his epi pen is located. You can also state whether their will be food provided during the playdate.

So now you have no excuse! Sign up for Playdate Planet and invite your friends. Schedule your first playdate and I bet your friends will be inspired to schedule playdates as well. This creates a great rotational playdate schedule so you can all take turns hosting. You can also follow Playdate Planet on Facebook and Twitter!

Enter the giveaway below hosted by Playdate Planet via Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Giveaway hosted by Playdate Planet. Winners will be chosen by Playdate Planet. I received a promotional item thanking me for taking the time to experience Playdate Planet and share with you. My opinions are my own.

2 Giveaways Ending Tonight + Bonus Entries!

2012-02-13T15:27:00.000-06:00

Here are thegiveaways ending tonight! Enter before midnight for your chance to win!! Youmay have two extra entries into any of these giveaways if you leave (or havealready left) a relevant comment on the following posts (2 extra entries perrelevant comment left!): The Rebound DVD, DIY Bath Foam Recipe, I heart Minnie, Free children's boutique sewing patterns.

Kidde Kitchen Fire Extinguisher

$40 Gift Card to Milk Nursingwear

Good Luck!

Sunday Sweeps! 2/12/12 Edition!

2012-02-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

It is Sunday again! Link up all of your family friendly giveaways below. Please leave them in the following format:

Blog Name-Prize-End Date

The link MUST go to your giveaway page and not your home page. No spamming or affiliate links! Don’t forget to check out my giveaways while you are here and grab my blog button!

Once you’ve linked up here head on over to Sugar Pop Ribbons to link your giveaways there too!

Nickelodeon Favorites Make Great Valentine's Day Gifts For Your Kids! + Nick DVD Bundle Valentine's Day Giveaway!!

2012-02-11T18:22:00.000-06:00

Looking for the perfect thing to surprise your little ones with on Valentine's Day? Check out the Nickelodeon favorites titles below! They make the perfect gift for your little ones :)

Celebrate the love of friends with Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; The Wonder Pets!; Blue’s Clues; Yo Gabba Gabba! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan.

Nothing beats the love of family so celebrate it with Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; The Wonder Pets!; Blue’s Clues; Yo Gabba Gabba! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan.

This DVD from SpongeBob SquarePants celebrates SpongeBob’s love for the Krabby Patty. Included is the title episode and six other fun, fantastical episodes. In “To Love a Patty,” SpongeBob has trouble saying Goodbye to the most perfect Krabby Patty he has ever cooked.

Buy It! You can buy these great Nickelodeon titles wherever DVDs are sold!

Win! One reader will win a Bundle of Nickelodeon DVDs including all of the titles mentioned above!

This giveaway has ended.Congrats to the winner:

Addison K.A.T.

Open to US only. Giveaway ends February 14th at 11:59pm. Winner will be drawn by random.org and announced on this blog as well as emailed. Products reviewed were provided to me free of charge. No compensation was given in exchange for this review. My opinion is my own and is an honest view of my experience with the product. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. Email address must be in at least one comment or visible on your profile to win. Good Luck!

Let Your Beauty Shine Through This Valentine's Day! Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set Review & Giveaway!!

2012-02-10T16:27:00.001-06:00

I love using mineral makeup and I need some nice brushes in order to get nice, even coverage and make me look great. The kabuki has impressive multi-tasking capabilities, and a short handle that helps create custom coverage. Made of recycled aluminum and cruelty-free bristles, the brushes not only enhance inner beauty, but also add a sprinkle of earth-friendly style.

Love is in the air, and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s time to get your glam on and show off your glow! Let your true colors shine through for a night on the town with your loved one (or your girlfriends!) using EcoTools’ Limited Edition Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set. The set gives four times the love, allowing you to create custom coverage using four different kabuki heads. Whether you are looking to conceal imperfections, bronze for a sun-kissed look, contour cheeks or buff on the perfect powder, each brush is designed to make you look flawless this February 14…and every other day of the year.

These brushes are soft, easy to hold and work great. I love having a different brush for each task, conceal, bronze, contour & buff!

Buy It! EcoTools’ Limited Edition Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Sets are available at Walmart and Target stores. Check out www.ecotools.com for information on the whole collection.

Win! One reader will win a Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set!

Here is how to enter to win:

Tell me how you plan to Kabuki using these brushes if you win.
*Remember to include your email address in your comment if it is not visible on your profile or you will be disqualified.

Subscribe to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves by Email (not feed)-remember to activate your subscription! Current subscribers count too. (1 entry)
Follow my blog publicly-Current followers count too! (1 entry)
Follow me on Pinterest (if you need an invite to join then email me sarah (at) minnesotamamasmusthaves (dot) com and I'll send you one!)
Enter any of my other giveaways- Leave a comment saying which giveaway you entered-you may leave a separate comment for each extra giveaway you enter. (1 entry for each giveaway entered)
Blog about my giveaway and link back to my site-must link to this specific giveaway and include a picture of the prize-Leave the URL where you blogged-(3 extra entries)
Grab my button-leave the URL where it is posted (1 entry)
Follow Me AND Eco Tools on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway-You may Tweet daily and gain an extra entry each day that you tweet-limit 1 per day. Leave the URL where you Tweeted. Copy/Paste this tweet:

Win a Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set from @EcoTools! #giveaway #mnmamamusthave Enter here: http://tinyurl.com/7dfqbhj ends 2/29
Like Minnesota Mama's Must Haves on Facebook-leave your facebook name with your comment.
Like Eco Tools on Facebook
Update your facebook status with a link to this giveaway. You may update it daily for an extra entry per day that you do it. Leave me the link to your update and make sure it links to both me and the sponsor (you can do this by following both and selecting us from the list when you type in @) You can copy and paste the following into your status:

Win a Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set from @Eco Tools and @Minnesota Mama's Must Haves! Ends 2/29 http://tinyurl.com/7dfqbhj
Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway post (review only posts are great). One entry per comment left.

It's Not Like I'm Asking Much...

2012-02-10T09:35:00.002-06:00

Grrrr!!! Frustration! I have a Kodak Printer and while I really have liked it (and love the cheap ink cartridges) and it has generally performed really well I have such issues with the wireless printing option! Unless it is plugged in to the computer via the usb cable it will not work. I've installed the software more than once and it takes forever just to install the software but for the life of me I can't get it to print wirelessly off my computer. I just want to be able to sit at my laptop and click print and enjoy the benefits of remote desktop printing. Is that too much to ask?

We also bought my Dad this printer for Christmas and it took me a whopping 3 hours to install it on his computer!! Isn't that insane? I finally got it working and thankfully he didn't need wireless printing or I'd be up the creek. I'd also love if I could figure out how to get it to print things off my iPhone like they advertised it does. Why can't things just work as easily as they make them look on the commercial??

On a lighter note my kids are feeling much better and tonight is date night! Wahoo!! I guess I can't get too bent out of shape over this printer when date night is coming up tonight right? :)

What is frustrating you today??

Aloha Friday! Valentine's Day Plans

2012-02-10T08:41:00.003-06:00

Time for Aloha Friday again! Have you heard of it? It's a fun little thing called Aloha Friday and it started over at An Island Life. Here's how it works. I'll ask a question and give you my answer and then YOU answer the question too!

Sound fun? Okay here is the question:

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

My Answer: We are going on a date tonight! My Mother in law and Father in law offered to come over and watch the kids so we can go to dinner and a movie. We are planning on seeing The Vow!

Your turn!

Have A Date Night At Home for Valentine's Day with The Rebound Out on DVD Now!!

2012-02-09T16:38:00.002-06:00

If you are a parent to small children like me then you probably love having date night in as much as I do. We put the kids to bed, pop in a movie and eat popcorn and candy. It's cheap, we don't need a sitter and it's a surefire way to squeeze in date night. This year we will be celebrating Valentine's Day tomorrow as my Mother and Father in law have offered to take the kids for us. That means on Valentine's Day we will be having a date night in! Need a great movie for your date night in this year?

The Rebound is out on DVD now and would make an excellent date night in movie to watch! Upon discovering her husband’s infidelity, Sandy (Zeta-Jones) and her two kids move from the suburbs to pursue a new life in the big city. There she meets Aram (Bartha), a local coffee shop employee whose wife only married him as a means to getting her green card. The two strike up a friendship which eventually evolves into something more. But it isn’t long before they’re faced with the big question - “Is this real or just a rebound?”

Arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day and featuring electrifying chemistry between Zeta-Jones and Bartha, The Rebound also features fantastic supporting performances from Lynn Whitfield (The Women, Madea’s Family Reunion), John Schneider (“The Dukes of Hazzard,” Lake Placid 2) and music legend Art Garfunkel.

So pick up The Rebound now (available anywhere dvds are sold) and be all set for Valentine's Day! Don't forget the popcorn and theater candy too!!

*I was provided product for review purposes onlyand was not compensated for this review.

Leading Lady Nursing Bras Review & Giveaway! Nursing Bras Can Be Sexy Too!

2012-02-09T15:05:00.000-06:00

When you think of a nursing bra the first thing that pops in your mind probably isn't how cute they are. Nursing bras are traditionally made to serve their purpose and the focus is not to be sexy. Leading Lady wants to change your perception and let nursing mamas everywhere know that just because you are nursing doesn't mean you can't wear a sexy bra that makes you look and feel great this Valentine's Day!

This nursing bralette may not be the sexiest of styles but I LOVE how the hint of lace at the top can be shown under your top so your bra doubles as both a bra and a cami.

No matter what your style Leading Lady has a great selection of stylish, comfortable and even sexy nursing bras to choose from. Just in time for Valentine's Day go ahead and buy one of these fun styles and surprise your hubby :)

Buy It! You can buy Leading Lady Bras on their website and they are surprisingly very affordably priced!

Win! One reader will win your choice bra from Leading Lady!

Here is how to enter to win:

Visit Leading Lady and tell me what you'd pick if you won.
*Remember to include your email address in your comment if it is not visible on your profile or you will be disqualified.

Subscribe to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves by Email (not feed)-remember to activate your subscription! Current subscribers count too. (1 entry)
Follow my blog publicly-Current followers count too! (1 entry)
Follow me on Pinterest (if you need an invite to join then email me sarah (at) minnesotamamasmusthaves (dot) com and I'll send you one!)
Enter any of my other giveaways- Leave a comment saying which giveaway you entered-you may leave a separate comment for each extra giveaway you enter. (1 entry for each giveaway entered)
Blog about my giveaway and link back to my site-must link to this specific giveaway and include a picture of the prize-Leave the URL where you blogged-(3 extra entries)
Grab my button-leave the URL where it is posted (1 entry)
Follow Me AND Leading Lady on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway-You may Tweet daily and gain an extra entry each day that you tweet-limit 1 per day. Leave the URL where you Tweeted. Copy/Paste this tweet:

Win your choice nursing bra from @LeadingLadyBras! #giveaway #mnmamamusthave Enter here: http://tinyurl.com/7samlpr ends 2/22
Like Minnesota Mama's Must Haves on Facebook-leave your facebook name with your comment.
Like Leading Lady on Facebook
Update your facebook status with a link to this giveaway. You may update it daily for an extra entry per day that you do it. Leave me the link to your update and make sure it links to both me and the sponsor (you can do this by following both and selecting us from the list when you type in @) You can copy and paste the following into your status:

Win your choice nursing bra from @Leading Lady Bras and @Minnesota Mama's Must Haves! Ends 2/22 http://tinyurl.com/7samlpr
Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway post (review only posts are great). One entry per comment left.

Open to US only. Giveaway ends February 22nd at 11:59pm. Winner will be drawn by random.org and announced on this blog as well as emailed. Products reviewed were provided to me free of charge. No compensation was given in exchange for this review. My opinion is my own and is an honest view of my experience with the product. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. Email address must be in at least one comment or visible on your profile to win. Good Luck!

Cottonelle Roll Cover & $25 Gift Card Giveaway + Cub Store Event!

2012-02-09T14:22:00.000-06:00

Cottonelle is my favorite brand of toilet paper. I've tried many brands and it's the one I prefer. I can usually get a great deal on it too which is an added bonus.

Since toilet paper was invented more than 100 years, it has been taken for granted. Tossed into a cabinet or shoved into a closet, the same bath tissue that has taken care of your bum has been downright disrespected – until now. Innovative and chic interior designer Jonathan Adler and the Cottonelle brand have teamed up to explore a space that doesn’t often get adorned with the latest style: toilet paper. Cottonelle brand toilet paper roll covers give people a stylish, new way to store extra rolls of toilet paper and a new way to respect the roll.

Not to mention, Cottonelle Clean Care is the same Cottonelle toilet paper people have loved, but now better. Now with extra-absorbent ripples, Cottonelle Clean Care is 30% stronger when wet and still provides the softness you have come to expect. Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper is our most care-worthy roll yet and toilet paper this good deserves to be respected.

Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper is now available at your local SuperValu store. When you buy Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper, 18-pack at participating ACME stores, you’ll receive a FREE Jonathan Adler Roll Cover [while supplies last]!

You can buy your Cottonelle locally at Cub Foods and cash in on this FREE Jonathan Adler Roll Cover promotion now! OR you can order the roll covers on Cottonelle.com ($3.99 including shipping and handling).

Win! One reader will win a $25 Gift Card & Jonathan Adler Roll Cover!

Here is how to enter to win:

Tell me what you currently do with your extra rolls of toilet paper.
*Remember to include your email address in your comment if it is not visible on your profile or you will be disqualified.

Subscribe to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves by Email (not feed)-remember to activate your subscription! Current subscribers count too. (1 entry)
Follow my blog publicly-Current followers count too! (1 entry)
Follow me on Pinterest (if you need an invite to join then email me sarah (at) minnesotamamasmusthaves (dot) com and I'll send you one!)
Enter any of my other giveaways- Leave a comment saying which giveaway you entered-you may leave a separate comment for each extra giveaway you enter. (1 entry for each giveaway entered)
Blog about my giveaway and link back to my site-must link to this specific giveaway and include a picture of the prize-Leave the URL where you blogged-(3 extra entries)
Grab my button-leave the URL where it is posted (1 entry)
Follow Me AND Cottonelle on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway-You may Tweet daily and gain an extra entry each day that you tweet-limit 1 per day. Leave the URL where you Tweeted. Copy/Paste this tweet:

Win $25 Gift Card & Roll Cover from @Cottonelle! #giveaway #mnmamamusthave Enter here: http://tinyurl.com/7bt5qcz ends 2/22
Like Minnesota Mama's Must Haves on Facebook-leave your facebook name with your comment.
Like Cottonelle on Facebook
Update your facebook status with a link to this giveaway. You may update it daily for an extra entry per day that you do it. Leave me the link to your update and make sure it links to both me and the sponsor (you can do this by following both and selecting us from the list when you type in @) You can copy and paste the following into your status:

Win $25 Gift Card & Roll Cover from @Cottonelle and @Minnesota Mama's Must Haves! Ends 2/22 http://tinyurl.com/7bt5qcz
Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway post (review only posts are great). One entry per comment left.

Diono Radian Car Seat Giveaway Winner & Many More To Announce!! Did You Win This Time??

2012-02-08T23:35:00.003-06:00

I know you have all been anxiously awaiting this announcement. Thanks for bearing with me as I snuggled my sick kids and fell behind on my blogging duties. Without further ado here is the list of winners that have been drawn and the winner of the Diono Radian Car Seat is....

Diono RadianRXT Car Seat Valued at $339! -Vanessa Coker

$25 Gift Card to Posh Little Tutus -itsme

No Name Steaks & Chicken Prize PackWorth $40! - Coriwestphal

Entenmann's Big Book of Baking Cookbook -Jill

$50 Gift Card to The Corner Stork BabyGifts! - Ashley

$10 Gift Card to Build A Bear Workshop -3 Giggly Monsters

Shutterfly Photo Book and free shipping -Vanessa

$25 Gift Certificate to My Baby Clothes -Christine Jessamine

Little Tikes 3 in 1 Trike valued at $120 -orangefukurou

Centrum ProNutrients product of choice! -karenmed409

Congrats to all!! Some of these winners were drawn awhile ago and I never announced them. Now I am all caught up on winners!!

DIY Make Your Own Bath Foam! Cheap Fun In The Tub!

2012-02-08T14:10:00.000-06:00

Danika has always loved that bath foam in a can that you can buy at the store but thanks to it's price tag it is a special treat. Another problem with it is that she always needed help squeezing it out of the can since she couldn't manage pushing down the button hard enough. Well, for about $1 you can make your own! I picked up a can of Barbasol but any shaving cream will work. You'll also need food coloring and some paint brushes and something to put your foam in. The first time I made this I used a silicone brownie pop pan because it floats in the water but since my kids were fighting over it the second time around I made them in plastic snack cups which also float and hold a lot more than the brownie pop pan did.

To make your foam simply fill each cup with shaving cream and add your desired food coloring to each cup. Mix it up with a spoon and that's it! Easy peasy and your kids are ready to have fun in the tub!

It doesn't stain and washes off easily. Your kids can lather it on themselves, paint the walls, put it on their rubber ducks, etc.

My kids love this stuff and ask for it every time they take a bath!

Wordless Wednesday! Sick Kiddos

2012-02-08T11:28:00.001-06:00

I had sick kiddos for the past week and a half. I feel like I'm still playing catch up now because I spent a lot of time away from the computer and cuddling my sick little ones. I'll be drawing winners during nap time today and I'm sorry they weren't up sooner :) I'm happy to say my kids are feeling much better now. Carson likely had a case of RSV and our sweet Aiden needed to do a few nebulizer treatments which Danika was happy to help him out by putting on a dragon mask too :) What a great big sister.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie out on DVD Today! Makes the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift For Your Little Girl!

2012-02-07T13:18:00.001-06:00

Get the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your little girl! Out on DVD today is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie! We are big Minnie Mouse fans here and Danika was over the moon to get her hands on the new Minnie movie!

Disney's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie is packed with five fun-filled episodes as well as an all new bonus feature “You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party!” Two Best Friend necklaces are also included with this DVD, a great gift to give to that special someone on Valentine's Day!

The five classic episodes include:

· Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower (All-New, Never-Before-Seen) - The botanical highlight of the year is in trouble, unless Minnie and Daisy can get their flowers to bloom! Together, they board the glove balloon to help coax the clouds to sprinkle much needed rain.

· Daisy’s Dance -Clap your hands and tap your feet! Join Daisy, as she gets ready for one of the most important events of her life––performing in the big talent show!

· Daisy’s Pet Project - The Pet Parade is almost here and Daisy needs to find the perfect animal for which she can love and care. But it’s not as easy as she thinks and soon she has three new friends: an elephant named Bubbles, a giraffe called Longfellow and a bunny called Captain Jumps-a-lot!

· Minnie’s Rainbow - After a brightly colored rainbow appears over the clubhouse, Minnie searches for the pot of gold that’s supposed to be at its end. Along the way, she meets a leprechaun and discovers that not all treasure turns out to be as she expected!

· Minnie’s Birthday – Today is Minnie’s birthday, but the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse friends need to set up her birthday party.

Get in on the fun with the FREE printables by clicking on the picture above!

Buy It! You can buy Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie wherever DVDs are sold and it is available starting today!

*I was provided product for review purposes onlyand was not compensated for this review.

Sam´s Club P&G baby essentials $10 Gift Card Offer + $25 Gift Card Giveaway!!

2012-02-07T08:52:00.003-06:00

Babies. We all love and adore them but providing for them can get costly so when I can find deals on the name brand baby products I adore then that's always a bonus! Now until February 29th you can head over to Sam's Club for their P&G baby essentials special offer they have going on.

Pick up any two of the following baby products to receive a $10 Sam´s Club Gift Card toward your purchase made between Feb 1st and Feb 29th:

Pampers® Swaddlers® or Pampers Cruisers® Diapers
Pampers SoftCareTM Scented Baby Wipes
Similac® Advance® Powder or Similac Sensitive® Powder
Dreft® Liquid Laundry Detergent

Register for your Gift Card at SamsClub.com/giftcardoffer by March 14, 2012

Carson was in need of some size 2 diapers so I was happy to scoop up a 186 count box of Pampers Swaddlers and a 720 count box of Pampers soft care wipes. These both qualify for the $10 Gift Card offer so now all I have to do is claim my gift card online and it will be on it's way!

Win! One reader will win a $25 Gift Card to Sam's Club!

Here is how to enter to win:

Tell me which 2 baby items you'd like to stock up on for this great gift card offer.
*Remember to include your email address in your comment if it is not visible on your profile or you will be disqualified.

Subscribe to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves by Email (not feed)-remember to activate your subscription! Current subscribers count too. (1 entry)
Follow my blog publicly-Current followers count too! (1 entry)
Follow me on Pinterest (if you need an invite to join then email me sarah (at) minnesotamamasmusthaves (dot) com and I'll send you one!)
Enter any of my other giveaways- Leave a comment saying which giveaway you entered-you may leave a separate comment for each extra giveaway you enter. (1 entry for each giveaway entered)
Blog about my giveaway and link back to my site-must link to this specific giveaway and include a picture of the prize-Leave the URL where you blogged-(3 extra entries)
Grab my button-leave the URL where it is posted (1 entry)
Follow Me AND Sam's Club on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway-You may Tweet daily and gain an extra entry each day that you tweet-limit 1 per day. Leave the URL where you Tweeted. Copy/Paste this tweet:

Win $25 Gift Card to Sam's Club! #giveaway #mnmamamusthave Enter here: http://tinyurl.com/6mcuxu8 ends 2/22 @SamsClub
Like Minnesota Mama's Must Haves on Facebook-leave your facebook name with your comment.
Like Sam's Club on Facebook
Update your facebook status with a link to this giveaway. You may update it daily for an extra entry per day that you do it. Leave me the link to your update and make sure it links to both me and the sponsor (you can do this by following both and selecting us from the list when you type in @) You can copy and paste the following into your status:

Win $25 Gift Card from @Sam's Club and @Minnesota Mama's Must Haves! http://tinyurl.com/6mcuxu8 Ends 2/22
Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway post (review only posts are great). One entry per comment left.

Open to US only. Giveaway ends February 22nd at 11:59pm. Winner will be drawn by random.org and announced on this blog as well as emailed. The Sam´s Club Gift Card and information have been provided by Sam´s Club and P&G through MyBlogSpark. No compensation was given in exchange for this review. My opinion is my own and is an honest view of my experience with the product. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. Email address must be in at least one comment or visible on your profile to win. Good Luck!

Free Children's Boutique Sewing Patterns!

2012-02-06T15:08:00.001-06:00

Learning how to sew was one of my 2012 New Year's Resolutions and I'm following through on it. I've signed up for a sewing class and had my first session last week! I'm excited to go to class again tomorrow and learn some more :) It's a lot of fun and my ultimate goal is to be able to make clothes for Danika. I just love boutique style children's clothes but for how much they cost it would be so much better if I could make them myself. Here is a roundup of some of my favorite FREE children's boutique sewing patterns. I intend on eventually making them all!

Adorable Peasant Dress

Easy Bubble Dress

Ruffled Pants Tutorial

Apron Dress

Pillowcase Dress

Ruffle Shirt

Now go sew! If you have any links to great, FREE boutique patterns please leave them in the comments!

Sunday Sweeps! 2/5/12 Edition!

2012-02-04T20:00:00.000-06:00

Minnesota Mama's Must Haves

aden + anais Burpy Bibs & Snap Bibs Review!

2 Giveaways Ending Tonight Boppy, Bosch + Bonus Entries!

Chicken Bacon Alfredo Bake Recipe!!

Turn Your Photos Into Quality Gallery Wrap Canvas Artwork! 50% Off Photo Uploads At Gallery Direct!!

Wordless Wednesday! Babies & Hair Bows

Taking baby steps to living a more natural lifestyle with Johnson's Natural Baby Products!

What to do with your over ripe fruit! Do It Yourself Smoothie Kits!

Knitting Chemo Hats for Charity - Free Chemo Hat Pattern

Playdate Planet! Schedule Playdates Effortlessly! + 2 $50 Amazon Gift Cards Giveaway!

2 Giveaways Ending Tonight + Bonus Entries!

Sunday Sweeps! 2/12/12 Edition!

Nickelodeon Favorites Make Great Valentine's Day Gifts For Your Kids! + Nick DVD Bundle Valentine's Day Giveaway!!

Let Your Beauty Shine Through This Valentine'​s Day! Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set Review & Giveaway!!

It's Not Like I'm Asking Much...

Aloha Friday! Valentine's Day Plans

Have A Date Night At Home for Valentine's Day with The Rebound Out on DVD Now!!

Leading Lady Nursing Bras Review & Giveaway! Nursing Bras Can Be Sexy Too!

Cottonelle Roll Cover & $25 Gift Card Giveaway + Cub Store Event!

Diono Radian Car Seat Giveaway Winner & Many More To Announce!! Did You Win This Time??

DIY Make Your Own Bath Foam! Cheap Fun In The Tub!

Wordless Wednesday! Sick Kiddos

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie out on DVD Today! Makes the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift For Your Little Girl!

Sam´s Club P&G baby essentials $10 Gift Card Offer + $25 Gift Card Giveaway!!

Free Children's Boutique Sewing Patterns!

Sunday Sweeps! 2/5/12 Edition!

Let Your Beauty Shine Through This Valentine's Day! Beautiful Expressions Kabuki Set Review & Giveaway!!