The First Years Ignite Stroller Review

I actually received The First Years Ignite Stroller by accident, but I am thinking now that it was fate. It is, no joke, the best lightweight stroller I have come across.

Not only is the design super cute, modern, and comfy, this stroller has some pretty thoughtful features to provide the ultimate ride without all the fuss of giant strollers.

We throw this stroller in the car for every outing. It works great for both of our children. Our 7 month old baby can recline back and be brought back up with an easy to use pull. Our toddler can ride with lots of spacious room and a foot rest that is appropriate for his height. My husband and I love it because the handle bars are extra tall, making it really comfortable for us to push, being that we are both tall and often have to slightly bend to push our other strollers.

Because this has become our go-to stroller, I actually got rid of our full size stroller and our umbrella stroller since they no longer get use now that we have our Ignite Stroller. I would 100% recommend this stroller to everyone! You will love it!

The Ignite stroller offers:

Durable frame, rated for use to 50lbs

Taller handles and multi-position recline

5-point harness for a safer ride

Large parent console and lower storage basket

Easy one-hand fold, and weighs only 14 lbs.

Dimensions: 34.5" L x 18.5" W x 39" H

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

myMonkeymoo Monkey Bucket Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

I was thrilled when myMonkeymoo introduced me to their new Monkey Buckets that go with their gorgeous stroller pad and blanket sets. Having moved away from beautiful Georgia, this is my first winter where I have to worry about my kids freezing every single time we go outside. I love the stroller pad because it shields my son's backside a little more from the wind and cold and the soft side even provides more warmth. The printed size can be used for summer time when you aren't looking for added heat.

The stroller blankets are the best size. They aren't too big so you don't have extra blanket falling off the stroller, dragging on the ground or getting caught in the wheels. The blanket has one side that is so soft and cushy. My son wants to cuddle with it all the time, even outside of the stroller. The blanket is super warm, but also light enough to use at night or however you would use any other blanket.

The new Monkey Buckets are so cool! They are soft, but totally stable. My son loads his bucket up with his favorite toys so he can take them wherever he goes. The bucket can attach to our stroller or he can just carry it around. It can also be used as a storage basket in a room, which I plan to do eventually in my daughter's nursery just because it is so cute! We chose the Eiffel Tower print with the black chenille backing/inside. It is so gorgeous. You can purchase a Monkey Bucket for $29 or the entire three piece set for $159.

WIN IT!!

myMonkeymoo has generously offered one of our very lucky readers a Monkey Bucket in their pattern choice.

Mandatory entry:

Visit myMonkeymoo and then come back here and let us know which pattern you love.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

2 Entries: If you like YMI Jeans on Facebook after becoming our friend.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to myMonkeymoo (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

Good luck! Contest ends on January 1st at midnight. Winner will be announced January 2nd.

Winner will be chosen through random.org. Open to U.S. only.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Kolcraft Contours Options II Tandem Stroller Review & SILENT AUCTION

Having two children is definitely harder than I ever imagined. Going anywhere is nearly impossible, but when I do decide to be brave, I want to make the adventure as easy as possible. Having a great double stroller has made me so happy and venturing out a little easier. I am in love with my Kolcraft Contours Options II Tandem Stroller and with all of its cool features, my husband and kids love it, too.
Check out some of its amazing features:

• Seats easily reverse to create 6 different stroller options: children can both face parent, face each other, face forward, back to back, with front seat only and the back for extra storage, or with an infant car seat.
• Infant car seat attachment fits most car seat brands on the market. Additional car seat attachment is sold separately to accommodate twins!
• Both seats recline for infant's comfort
• Easy-reach child swivel cup holders
• Removable iPod^® Dok with speaker plays baby’s music anywhere
• Steering with two 8" front single swivel & 10" rear never- flat wheels
• Easy-trigger fold and convenient Free-Stand™ allow the stroller to stand upright!
• New easy-reach tray is closer to the parent and more accessible, with an open-air compartment and deeper, ventilated cup holders
• Other children can walk & use the hold-on handles
• Infant head rest protects newborn's head
• Adjustable canopy can be raised or lowered to the height of your baby
• Large storage basket
• Height adjustable 5-point harness for safety and padded sleeves for comfort

Being able to switch the seats around is so fun! You can make your children face each other for entertainment, face away from each other when entertainment turns to fighting, face mommy while they want to chat, or face forward when they want to see the world. Even my toddler loves to ride around in this luxury vehicle.

We love the huge storage basket, especially when we are shopping. I love all the cup holders, how easy the stroller is to steer, how compact it is for a double stroller, the comfortable straps on the five point harness, and how easy it is to snap an infant car seat in and how secure you can make it.

My only complaint is that you have to take the seats off to collapse it small enough to fit into my trunk. Fortunately, this process of either setup or taking apart only takes about a minute or two.
One fun feature that I have never seen on any stroller is the included iPod Deck with speaker. You just plug you iPod in and your whole family can jam to music while strolling. This is absolutely my new favorite stroller and you can't beat the $279.99 price. That is, unless you purchase it during a silent auction to benefit K.I.D.S. :)

From the K.I.D.S website,

"K.I.D.S. pioneered a unique charity model more than 25 years ago that today aligns hundreds of companies with more than one thousand leading local agencies in the United States and Canada. 85% of our donations are distributed to agencies in the U.S. and the remaining 15% to countries abroad. This alliance donates children's clothes,books, toys, and juvenile products… and brings hope… to children and their families at risk."

All donations will need to be sent to http://www.kidsdonations.org/Make_Donation/help_money_form.cfm once the silent auction is over. The highest bidder will be asked to forward me their receipt and shipping address which will be passed to Kolcraft.

Thank you so much for participating!

The Contours Options II Tandem Stroller bid will begin at $50.00. Please bid in $5.00 increments. All bids will close January 1 at midnight. Please leave a comment with your bid.

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Kidorable Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

My son is such a boy. He loves to splash in the rain and in puddles, but we didn't have the proper rain gear for me to feel comfortable with him enjoying this. Thanks to Kidorable adorable options, both of my children are ready for wet weather. They offer great products in several different styles that will surely impress your little one. Check out a few things I love:
Children's backpacks.
Children's umbrellas. Don't you love the Space Hero theme?
The cutest children's rain boots ever.
I received the Ladybug Raincoat for review for my daughter. This is one of several styles that Kidorable offers the size 1T (My First), which fits 12-18 months. I know my daughter is going to want to do everything my son does because he is so cool so I figured she would be needing a rain coat, too. This style is so adorable. I love the big black dots and the cute ladybug pocket.
My son received the Frog Rain Coat. He loves to pretend he is a frog so this was perfect for him. He was so excited when he saw it and I think he looks so cute in it. Some things I love about both of the raincoats is that the hoods are slightly tightened around their faces to keep the hood from falling off and to keep them nice and dry. I love that water just slips right off the raincoats, that the sleeves are nice and long, and that the sizing makes them baggy enough that you can dress your child up in warm layers underneath.
Lastly, we received the Frog Rain Boots. My son has wanted to wear these every single day, including with shorts as you can see above. The fit is great, they are easy to slide on, and they stay on while he is running around. I love having a pair of cute rain boots that I am able to just rinse off after he has decided it would be fun to play in mud. I can't wait to buy my daughter a pair, too!

WIN IT!!

Kidorable has generously offered one of our lucky readers an umbrella of their choice.

Mandatory entry:

Visit Kidorable and then come back here and let us know a product you are dying to own.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Like Kidorable on Facebook.

1 Entry: Follow Kidorable on Twitter.

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Kidorable (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on October 29th at midnight. Winner will be announced October 30th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org. Open to U.S. only.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Baby Shower: Shannon Makes Stuff Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

I am so jealous of all of the talented people on Etsy. It is such a gift to be able to make things that people pay big money for. I love the Shannon Makes Stuff shop. She offers a wide range of products that are so cute, fun, and useful. Check out a few of my favorite things:
Have you guys figured out that I am obsessed with baby swaddle wraps yet? I love the fabric choices used in her unique design!
These flower hair clips would be so fun for mommy or baby.
I am so crazy about these Peacock Bobby Pins. They are gorgeous and would be super hip with a ponytail.
I received a pair of Ruffle Zip Shoes in black for review. I was really excited to receive these so I could have a comfortable pair of shoes that are still really cute while being pregnant and recovering from a c-section. I was just put on bed rest so I won't be wearing these for a while, but before these were my go to shoes. They are great for dressing down and the cute ruffles make these shoes awesome for dressing up, too. These shoes are made great! She actually sews on the zipper ruffle instead of using glue. I love them and at only $15, they are quite the bargain!
I also received a travel wipe case. She has a couple wipe case options up right now for only $5.00! I chose this case because my son is still in diapers so I wanted a case that was really cute, but not too girly. I love that this case has an opening on top instead of having to open the whole thing. It is also really well made and I love the cute detailing. The back has two elastic straps (see below picture) so you can pop a few diapers in and only carry your case for diaper changes. So convenient!

WIN IT!!

Shannon Makes Stuff has generously offered one of our lucky readers a $20 gift certificate.

Mandatory entry:

Visit Shannon Makes Stuff and then come back here and let us know another product you are dying to own.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow the Shannon Makes Stuff blog.

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Shannon Makes Stuff (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

2 Entries: Add our Baby Shower Event button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on October 10th at midnight. Winner will be announced October 11th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org. Open to U.S. only.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Baby Shower: Marshalls Review

I think most people would say money is tight right now. My family is no exception. Even though our budget is extra tight, I still have a pretty strong desire to buy cute things for our new addition, spoil our son, and pick up things for my husband and I. There aren't a lot of stores I will let myself step into anymore because sometimes those desires can't be controlled. Am I right? However, Marshalls is a store I feel confident I will find some amazing deals that won't break the bank.

Marshalls has options for the entire family. They offer shoes, bags, children's, women's, men's junior's, housewares, baby, and so much more. I, of course, wanted to do some shopping for our baby girl. My goal was to find a fancy church dress, but I found a couple of other goodies as well. Check out these amazing deals:

Ballet socks for $5.99. I had bought boy socks similar to these for my son and they had cost about $22 so I was pretty impressed with this bargain.
The perfect church dress! I love it so much! It came with the matching diaper cover for only $12.99.
I also have been searching for a backpack for my son that has a leash to keep some control over him while we are out. He actually loves it and tries to run really fast because he thinks it is hilarious when I pull him back. So although I am aware people have mixed feelings about putting your child on a leash, my wild child loves it and I feel like he can run kind of free while still being safe. The cheapest I have been able to find these were for $10 and I found mine at Marshalls for $6.99. Love it!

BUY IT!

I definitely recommend shopping at Marshalls for some serious bargains!!

We are not compensated for our reviews. I received a $25 GC for free so I could shop and provide my experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Baby Shower: Tweetlebug Boutique Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

My son had to be suctioned out at delivery. He looked like he had a head on top of his head. Wearing the hospital hat was a must for him. However, with a pink and blue striped hat and a white onesie, there were no clues to his gender. I actually thought he looked like a little girl just because the hat had pink in it. With my daughter, I don't want there to be any confusion and of course, I want her to have something extra girly and feminine in place of the typical given hospital hat. I am in love with Tweetlebug Boutique's 'I am Not a Girl/ I am Not a Boy' baby hats.
Their newborn hats have extra flair that may be the cutest things I have ever seen. They offer several flower choices, bows, and a doily option for girls.
For boys, they offer your baby's initial in a blue circle. Adorable!
I had the opportunity to receive two baby girl hats. The first being, 'The Harper.' This hat has a bow with a pink ribbon in the center. It is beyond precious. I plan on putting my daughter in this hat and sending her first pictures to our loved ones to share the cuteness. It is really well made which is a good thing because I imagine my son will yank it off of her head the second he sees her (he does this to everyone wearing a hat. Maybe he will make an exception because this one is so cute).
I also received 'The Maeve.' This hat has a 5 petal violet with a cute button-like center. This baby hat is so feminine and sweet. I can't wait to get my baby girl in it. The fabric is super soft and stretchy, just like the hospital hats, so you know that this hat will fit your newborn with comfort. Both of these hats can be purchased for $16.99 each. Such a good deal! Make sure to check out their hair bows, too!

WIN IT!!

Tweetlebug Boutique has generously offered one of our lucky readers a $30 gift certificate.

Mandatory entry:

Visit Tweetlebug Boutique and then come back here and let us know which hat you love.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to Tweetlebug Boutique (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

2 Entries: Add our Baby Shower Event button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on September 25th at midnight. Winner will be announced September 26th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org. Open to U.S. only.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Baby Shower: Bright Starts Fun on Safari Portable Swing Review

On my list of absolute baby essentials is diapers, wipes, blankets, onesies, and a portable swing. I am serious. I don't know what I would have done without the swing that my sister-in-law so generously let me borrow with my son. I used the swing during my meals, showers, or during my son's really fussy times. Since I have moved, I needed to find my own portable swing for the new baby. Bright Starts has great, affordable options.

I received the Bright Starts Fun on Safari Portable Swing. I know it will be absolutely perfect for my needs. This swing is really compact and lightweight which will be great for carrying around after my c-section. I love how bright and fun the colors and attached toys are to keep baby even more content. I am also impressed that a portable swing has 2 reclined positions, one for play and one for relaxing. This baby swing has 6 speeds, 6 melodies, and 3 timer settings: 15, 30, and 45 minutes. It swings smoothly and peacefully. One of the coolest features of this swing is that it recognizes your baby's weight and adjusts itself to maintain a consistent swing speed.
Storing the swing is really convenient. It folds almost flat. This is great for taking your swing along in the car wherever you go, storing in closets or tight places, and for carrying the swing around your home.

BUY IT!

You can purchase the Bright Starts Fun on Safari Portable Swing for $49.99.

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.

Baby Shower: BabySleepBags.com Cocooi Babywrap Newborn Swaddle Review & {GIVEAWAY!!}

I am so excited to swaddle my baby girl. I had no idea what I was doing with my son and failed to ever figure out the swaddling skill. Thanks to my new Cocooi Babywrap Newborn Baby Swaddle, swaddling should be much easier.
BabySleepBags.com has created such an awesome way to keep your baby nice and swaddled. With just a few steps, you're baby is perfectly secure in an ultra lightweight and luxurious material of merino wool.
I absolutely love the leg pouch. My son used to always kick out of his swaddle and this pouch makes kicking out of the swaddle impossible. Also, you can do diaper changes without having to undo your swaddle. You just release the baby's legs from the pouch. I imagine this would help keep your baby asleep, which sounds amazing particularly in those first few weeks.
After your baby's legs are in the pouch, you just tuck the sides around your baby.
I love how long the sides are to make sure the wrap actually goes all the way around your baby, unlike the receiving blankets I had used with my son.
One of my favorite features of this swaddling blanket is that you can use it in the car seat or stroller. It has an opening in the back that allows you to pull the safety buckle through, keeping your baby nice and swaddled even in the car or while strolling around. I love my Cocooi Babywrap and can't wait to use it! I'm planning on packing this for our trip home from the hospital.

WIN IT!!

BabySleepBags.com has generously offered one of our lucky readers a Cocooi Babywrap Newborn Swaddle in their color choice, subject to availability.

Mandatory entry:

Visit BabySleepBags.com and then come back here and let us know which Merino Kids product would be best for your baby.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1 Entry: Like BabySleepBags.com on Facebook.

2 Entries: Join BabySleepBags.com mailing list (found on left column of BabySleepBags.com)

1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).

1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.

1 Entry: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.

3 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to BabySleepBags.com (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).

1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. Please include @babysleepbags. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).

2 Entries: Add our button to your blog.

2 Entries: Add our Baby Shower Event button to your blog.

Good luck! Contest ends on September 17th at midnight. Winner will be announced September 18th.

Winner will be chosen through random.org. Open to US only.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

We are not compensated for our reviews. We receive product(s) for free so we can provide our experience. These are our honest opinions. Your experience may vary.