{Featured Friday Review & Giveaway} Britax Organic Baby Carrier

There are a few undeniable truths of motherhood. The baby will wake up the second you go to sleep. You actually should cry over spilt breast milk. Your children will only play with toys at other people’s home.

One I struggle with the most is babies like be carried ... a lot. I don’t blame them really. Why hang out on the ground if you can be adult height where all the action is? The only problem is mommy needs both hands to make bottles or do laundry or wipe the little butt of a sibling and then the constant carrying becomes an obstacle to every day life, if not your sanity.

Enter the baby carrier.

I’ve long been a fan of wraps and slings to solve the constant carrying conundrum. However, when Britax offered me one of their organic baby carriers to review in celebration of International Babywearing Week, I jumped at the chance.

Once my Britax Baby Carrier arrived, I was anxious to try it out. It took a few trips through the manual to get it figured out, especially since I added the seat extender insert - a necessity for a baby as big as Amos. However, once I got it on, it was smooth sailing. I loved that he could rest relatively safely in the seat of the carrier while I snapped on the top portion. I also like that there is no shoulder strap to fasten behind my back, which can be difficult to maneuver with a baby on board.

I tried it out at the mall that weekend and everything went great, but let’s be honest a quick jaunt around a mall is no real test. Instead, I decided to carry Amos when I flew across country with both children by myself. I figured pushing Griffin in a stroller between connecting flights was my best option and there was no way I was lugging our three million pound double stroller through security.

So, the carrier was my best option and I have to say...it worked beautifully. The only issue I had were Amos’s shoes getting stuck as I pulled him out, but nothing major. He sat comfortably in the carrier the entire trip, even falling asleep before our second flight (not that he stayed asleep on the plane of course!). The Britax Baby Carrier was also incredibly comfortable for me. He felt secure as I helped Griffin or lifted bags and luggage and the carrier made the entire trip much easier.

Britax Baby Carrier Giveaway

Britax is going to give one lucky Salt & Nectar Reader a Baby Carrier of their very own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on number of entries received (duplicate entries will be deleted and only one will be counted). This sweepstakes is only open to U.S. residents 18 years or older. Please note that we cannot ship product to a P.O. Box.

To learn more, visit Britax or follow it on Facebook or Twitter at @Britax.

~ Sarah Stewart Holland

{Featured Friday Review & Giveaway} Erin Condren The 2012-2013 Life Planner

Erin Condren is a force of nature. When I first met her at our mom entrepreneur event in June, I was completely taken in by her gorgeous products, sense of humor, and awesome drive. Of course, I wasn't the only one. When my dear friend Shannon found out I was going to meet Erin while in L.A., she started sending me a thousand text messages on how Erin was her hero and I better send her a text message and what was she LIKE!?!? 

So, when Erin generously suggested I try out her Life Planner after I was ohhing and ahhing over it at the event, I knew JUST the person to give me my first introductory lesson on the joys of an Erin Condren product - Shannon! Below is our chat about all things Erin Condren and all things Life Planner.

*Please note we talked about this product for TWENTY MINUTES but - for your sake - I edited it down to just under eight!

Erin Condren Giveaway

And because Erin Condren is SO awesome, she is giving away one $50 gift certificate (which you can just carry around for a memento if you're crazy like Shannon!) to one lucky Salt & Nectar reader! 

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling us what Erin Condren product you would buy with your $50.

As always, we will use Random.org to select the winners. The contest will run from today until next Friday, August 24th at 12PM PST.

No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on number of entries received (duplicate entries will be deleted and only one will be counted). This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older only. To learn more about Erin Condren and her products, check out her blog or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. 

Neither Sarahs nor Salt & Nectar were paid to host this giveaway.

Update on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 12:27PM by Salt & Nectar

Congratulations to Dawn Kirby (Comment #57) - our lucky winner!

{Featured Friday Review & Giveaway} Kicky Pants

I first stumbled upon Kicky Pants through one of the sample sale sites. I receive a ton of hand-me-downs from my close friends so I spend almost nothing on clothes for my boys. Therefore, I don't feel guilty when I add a few nicer items to their wardrobe. I bought a little collared shirt with a mushroom pattern on it and fell in love immediately. It was SO SOFT and I loved the idea of a more adult structure (the collar) with a kid-friendly pattern (the mushrooms). I proceeded to put Griffin in it every chance I got and it quickly became one of my favorites.

So, when Kicky Pants offered to send us some samples from their Spring line, I jumped at the chance. They sent a striped onesie for Amos and a pair of pajamas for Griffin. Again, I can't emphasize this enough. SO. SOFT. Literally, the softest thing either of them owns ... by about a mile. So soft Griffin started calling them his "soft pajamas" and began requesting them at nap time - something he has never ever done. All Kicky Pants clothing is made using eco-friendly, sustainable bamboo, which if I haven't mentioned is SO SOFT.

I also love the fit of the clothing. Our mushroom shirt has an adorable slim fit and the onesie was the same. And listen, if there is anything cuter than a fat baby in a slim fit onesie, I have yet to find it.

Even better than the wonderful products, Kicky Pants is a "family run, family oriented company."

We create all of our fabrications and styles based on the idea that children should feel unrestricted by their clothing, even when they are dressed up.

I couldn't agree more!

Kicky Pants Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. 

Congatulations to Erica!

Kicky Pants is going to give a Salt & Nectar reader a piece from the Spring/Summer 2012 collection!

To enter, leave a comment below telling us what you look for in children's clothing.

As always, we will use Random.org to select the winners. The contest will run from today until next Friday, June 15th at 12PM PST.

No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on number of entries received (duplicate entries will be deleted and only one will be counted). This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older only. To learn more about Kicky Pants, visit their Web site and follow them onFacebook and Twitter.

Neither Sarahs nor Salt & Nectar were paid to host this giveaway.

{Featured Friday Review & Giveaway} Open Sky Fitness Lunch Crunch Workout

Two years after having a baby and I'm still not 100% satisfied with the state (or shape) of my body. In fact, I've actually put on weight since my nursing days when I was (hooray!) back in my college-sized pants. But, damn, that was short-lived because my active days at the park were exchanged for sedentary hours in front of the computer when my son started preschool and I resumed work. And although I'm not eating poorly, the sit-and-sit-some-more lifestyle is killing my middle and energy. I feel squishy and sluggish.

So, to my own surprise, I took Rob Dionne up on his offer to attend his "Lunch Crunch" boot camp class at Opensky Fitness. I am not sure what compelled me to do so because I hate running when it's not part of a sports game, I hate people yelling at me as a form of motivation, and I generally dislike working outside when it's going to be hot (I'm a yogi, not a marathoner). But, and it must've been a big BUT, my body told me it needed to try something different. Thus, I found myself at the La Brea Tar Pits prepared to die from being out. of. shape. 

Well, I survived (thankfully) and lived to tell about it. First, my preconceived notions about Rob's boot camp classes were all VERY WRONG. The Lunch Crunch course was anything but intimidating. Sure it was very challenging and worked me to my core (and there were bits of that dreaded running), but never did I feel silly or out of place due to my fitness level and rustiness. Rob immediately put me at ease when he told me that it's his goal to help people build up or return to their optimal health by having them do what's comfortable while still getting a good work out. A lot like yoga, he encouraged me to listen to body and not overdo it. Phew! 

In addition to Rob's positive motivation, everyone in the class—which included men and women of all ages and abilities—proved really cool and supportive. People truly cheered me on and offered pointers when needed. There was no shaming, only teamwork.

At the end of the day, Rob's Lunch Crunch workout makes you sweat a lot and gets your blood pumping. But it's done in a lovely atmosphere and community. You enjoy shady park scenery, get to absorb the benefits of being outdoors with a fun group of people for an hour, and never have a moment to get bored or caught up in stressful snowball thinking due to a variety of exercises and reps that keep your mind focused.

This workout is at 1030 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and is the perfect time for stay-at-home or work-at-home parents to sneak in some time for themselves and conquer that remaining baby fat (if you're like me!) or muster up the energy to power through the your busy days (again, if you're like me!!).

Open Sky Fitness Giveaway

Open Sky Fitness would like to offer Salt & Nectar readers a free week of Lunch Crunch classes. If you're interested, please contact Rob at 323-2300-SKY (just share our name) and visit his Web site and Facebook for additional information and news on upcoming workouts and events.

Check it out. If I can do it, you certainly can!

~ The Other Sarah

Neither Sarah, nor Salt & Nectar were paid to write this review or offer this giveaway. Sarah recieved a complimentary class to try the Lunch Crunch Workout and she chose to write an experiential review on it.

{Featured Friday Review & Giveaway} Spot It!

  

When I first received Spot It!, I was a little worried. The tin instructions said for ages 7 to adult, and I thought 2-year-old Griffin might not be able to play. The premise is simple. The tin is filled with little circular cards containing a handful of graphic images—a water drop, an igloo, whatever. When you put two cards next to each other, the goal is to spot the image that appears on both cards. 

The manual gives several different instructions for mini-games based on this simple premise. Some involve timing the game or alloting points. However, Griffin loses interest in games very quickly and doesn't seem to care about winning so we just played simple Spot It! 

I was shocked at how quickly he caught on. I was fully prepared to throw the game in his favor and allow him to spot the picture first. Imagine my surprise when he would spot the matching image first! And then did it again and again. Nicholas was skeptical so we all three sat down to play. Again, Griffin would spot the matching image before either of the clueless adults.

Obviously, besting his parents was pretty much the best thing to happen in the history of the world and "Let's play the Spot It! game!" has become a refrain in our home.

Bonus: The game is easily portable in purses, diaper bags, kiddo backpacks and can make a good restaurant or travel game.

Spot It! Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.

Congrats to Liz (Comment #4) & Jen (Comment #7), you were selected as the winners!

Blue Orange Games is going to give two Salt & Nectar readers Spot It! to try out.

To enter, leave a comment below telling us your favorite game as a child.

As always, we will use Random.org to select the winners. The contest will run from today until next Friday, May 18th at 12PM PST.

No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on number of entries received (duplicate entries will be deleted and only one will be counted). This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older only.  

To learn more about Spot It!, follow it on Facebook and Twitter.

Neither Sarahs nor Salt & Nectar were paid for this review. It is our own opinion based on our use of the games, which were supplied by Blue Orange Games for the purpose of an experiential review.

~ The Sarahs