I feel awful when my kids are sick. The hacking coughs, runny noses, fevers...

Whenever a cold strikes one of them, I try to let it run its course, however, sometimes it ends up being an ear infection or sinus infection, in which case the pediatrician usually prescribes antibiotics.

I try to avoid giving my kids antibiotics, or any kind of prescription or OTC medicines, whenever possible, and instead try to ease their illnesses with natural or homeopathic remedies.

I recently read an article in a magazine about some products to try, some of which I already had used, others which I used for the first time.

For instance, using honey or a humidifier to help soothe coughs is something I did often, but the article mentioned products such as Boiron Children's Chestal and Sambucol (elderberry syrup) for coughs and colds--products I never thought to try before.

I actually tried the Children's Chestal and Nature's Way Sambucus on Musician recently, and it really seemed to help.

As I write this, I'm trying the products on Smiley (since of course, the germs easily pass from one of the kids to the other).

I know germs can be "good for you" and whenever kids get colds it just builds their immune system, but if I can find safe products to help shorten the duration of the colds, or lessen the severity, I'd be happy to try them.

Do you have any natural/homeopathic remedies you tend to turn to whenever you or someone in your family gets sick?

• To enter, comment on a "Happily Ever After" moment in your life.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and He Is We (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is April 12, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about April 13, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Quiet Bunny's Many Colors by Lisa McCue
The brilliantly colorful follow-up to Lisa McCue's best-selling Quiet Bunny! Quiet Bunny loves the bright colors of spring: the yellow ducks, green frogs, and blue jays-everything but his own brown, wintry white fur. It takes the help of a wise old owl for Bunny to realize that it's the rainbow of colors-including his own-that makes the world so beautiful.

Smiley really enjoyed this book because of all the colors throughout it. He got excited as he named colors of flowers, insects, plants, and other creatures (although when he saw Quiet Bunny in the red clay, he kept saying it was "brown").

Quiet Bunny was not only a colorful book, but one that told a very important lesson--about how every being is a different color and that's what makes us all beautiful, and in turn makes the world a beautiful place as well.

Shop: You can purchase Quiet Bunny's Many Colors at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $14.95).

It's always heartbreaking to see people who are in need. But it's always so uplifting and inspirational to see people give, especially when those who give are kids. One way kids can give to those in need is through Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks' Win One Give One promotion. Did you know that 83 percent of kids believe that they can help children in other countries in addition to people in their own communities? That’s according to the "Kids' Altruism Indicator" conducted in partnership with Parenting magazine. Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks wants to make it easy for kids to give back locally and globally.
Now through May kids in the U.S. have an opportunity to instantly win a laptop from specially-marked packages of Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks. For each laptop won, Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks will donate a laptop to a child in Africa. It’s that simple.

I think the Win One Give One program is great, as it shows how kids can help others around the world.

The website also has a quiz to help you find out your giving style (my giving style is Neighborhood Helper), and you can get helpful tips on many ways you and your child can give back.

To find out how the laptops positively impact the lives of the children and to learn ways parents can talk to their kids about giving back, visit http://www.winonegiveone.com/.

Savvy Savings: Click here to print a coupon for Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks (for every coupon printed, Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks will donate $1 to One Laptop Per Child toward laptops for Kids in Africa, up to $4000 through 5/31/11).

Win: One lucky winner will receive an XO Laptop and a variety pack of Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks.

• To enter, leave a comment detailing how you give back (you may simply leave a write-up of how you give back in your comment, or you may leave a link in the comment to a video or post detailing how you give back).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”): 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Win One Give One (leave the link in your comment) 2)Subscribe to my feed 3)Add my button to your sidebar 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment) 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is April 10, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about April 11, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways. Good luck!

As Musician gets older, I'm realizing that there are certain behaviors he excels at (e.g. being polite), but others he needs work on (e.g. sharing).

Thanks to MomSelect, I found out about a website, Goalforit.com, which allows me to create Behavior Charts to help Musician thrive and flourish in different areas.


About Goalforit.com:

• Take life to the next level with effective Goal Setting
• Teach kids responsibility using our fun Chore Chart and watch them do their chores on time, every time
• Help kids build essential behavior skills and positive daily routines using our Behavior Charts
• Get organized the fast & easy way using a To Do List

Creating a behavior chart was simple. I set up my profile, provided information about Musician, picked a theme (Wheels), and selected various behavior tiles for my chart, such as Be Polite, Go Potty By Yourself, and Listen.

I do wish there were more chart themes, but I do like how you can create your own custom tiles to add to the behavior chart, and even after it's finalized, you can go back and edit the chart as needed (change themes, add/remove behavior tiles, etc.).



The images and stickers are colorful and the chart is simple to use, and you can print it out at the end of the week for a more tangible display.

I can't wait to try out the Chore Chart once Musician gets older and can do chores around the house!

*SIGH*

My due date has come and gone.

With Musician I was late also.

When I was pregnant with Musician, people told me all kinds of things to try to naturally induce labor, such as walking on sand and eating spicy foods.

I tried those things, along with a few others, but nothing worked. I had to get induced.

I'm hoping I will still go into labor naturally, otherwise I will have to get induced again.

I was really hoping DS3 would be here by now, but I guess he's too comfy where he is!

Have you ever tried any natural labor-inducing techniques? Did they work?

I recently posted about bareMinerals Skincare line, which includes a variety of cleansers, moisturizers, and treatments.

Introducing bareMinerals Skincare. A transformative new way of caring for your skin that’s simple, super-effective and incredibly easy to use. Powered by 100% pure RareMinerals Active Soil Complex, enjoy increased cell turnover, fewer fine lines and wrinkles and the famous bareMinerals Naturally Luminous glow. If that’s something you’re looking for, then this might be the revolution for you.

Here are two products in the bareMinerals Skincare line:



PURELY NOURISHING MOISTURIZER for combination skin: This universal moisturizer effectively hydrates skin while improving firmness, elasticity, radiance and overall skin texture. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex with its unique electrolyte delivery system, it’s formulated to perfectly moisturize combination skin. It also includes a powerful blend of antioxidants that help protect against environmental stressors. Price: $28, 50mL/1.7Fl.Oz. Click here to buy.


DEEP CLEANSING FOAM: This, luxuriously rich cleanser deep cleans pores and lifts away impurities. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this non-drying formula bursts into a rich lather when activated with water to clean and instantly refresh skin for a soft, smooth complexion. Sulfate free. Price: $20, 119g/4.2 Oz. Click here to buy.

For more information on these and other products in the bareMinerals Skincare line, visit the Bare Escentuals website.

Win: Two lucky winners will each receive a bareMinerals Skincare Prize Pack which includes the Deep Cleansing Foam and Purely Nourishing Moisturizer!

• To enter, visit bareMinerals Skincare and comment on which product you're most eager to try (excluding the giveaway products).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and bareMinerals Skincare(leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is April 5, 2011 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about April 6, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!: Tales About Tails (Release Date Apr. 5, 2011):

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• 6)Follow NCircleEntertainment on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 7)Visit www.theyarelearning.com and comment on which coloring page you like the best.
• The deadline for entries is April 3, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about April 4, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for all (worldwide) addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

March is National Nutrition Month®, a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

This year's National Nutrition Month theme, “Eat right with Color,” encourages everyone to remember to include a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy on their plates every day. A healthy diet is important to us all, just as it was to Dinosaurs many years ago.

With the month of March focusing on nutrition, it’s the perfect time to look at some great ideas and resources provided by The American Dietetic Association to eat a healthy diet! And, we invite you to to teach your child how to prepare a vegetarian (herbivore) picnic filled with great food and fun by visiting Dinosaur Train on the PBS parent’s site.

To help parents, the American Dietetic Association provides many resources available at www.eatright.org/nnm. They even have a downloadable PDF listing 25 healthy snacks for kids, including these five great ideas:

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on a log.”
3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy sandwich.

Next, Buddy can help you and your child prepare a vegetarian (herbivore) picnic. The Have A Brachiosaurus Picnic activity helps young children to learn what foods fit into an herbivore's diet (fruits and vegetables); reminds children about the importance of hand washing before eating; and also creates an opportunity to discuss why all animals need to eliminate waste from their bodies (a.k.a. “poop”). The downloadable PDF file provides the ingredients to prepare Brachiosaurus Picnic, with fun food items on the menu, including:

o Brachiosaurus Super Salad: The kids will have fun tearing up green leafy veggies into bite-size pieces and mixing ranch dressing with green coloring to make a tasty topping.
o Sauropod Sandwich: With a plastic knife, cut pieces of whole wheat bread in the shape of a favorite dinosaur and spread with cheese spread or peanut butter.
o Herbivore Herb and Spinach Spread: Mix frozen spinach, dried onion soup mix, sour cream, celery sticks and crackers
o Green Juice – fill a child’s plastic cup with apple juice and add green food color to make a green beverage fit for an herbivore.

And as we all know, digestion is a very important part of keeping healthy for both humans…and dinosaurs back in the day! Watch the video clip of the song “Every Dinosaur Poops” and talk about why every animal needs to go, and what would happen if the animal didn’t poop out the parts of the food its body didn’t need.

Another fun way to explore “poop” is with Uncle Milton’s new Dinosaur Train Dino Poop Kit, just one of a range of new science themed toys geared to make science more interesting, engaging and accessible for children. With the Dino Poop kit, kids can discover what the dinosaur had for lunch! Did he have fish or did he eat a plant? Once kids find pieces of what he ate, they can put them together to create their own fossil imprint to figure it out! It’s OK parents, it's not real poop…it's soft, pliable dino dough!

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of the DVD Dinosaur Train: Pteranodon Family World Tour Adventure DVD. Synopsis: Get on board the Dinosaur Train with Buddy, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his adoptive family of Pteranodons as they embark on a roaring, exploring world tour adventure to discover a variety of dinosaurs inhabiting the globe as they journey to Asia, Europe and Africa. 

• To enter, comment on a healthy snack your child loves to eat.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Dinosaur Train (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
6)Follow The Jim Henson Company on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is April 2, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about April 3, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

For the past several months, there have been many times where I accidentally called my boys the wrong name simply by mixing up their names. For example, I'd call for my oldest, but I'd say my youngest son's name, or vice versa.

I attribute it to my ever-increasing absent-minded mommyness (especially since being pregnant).

And DH always teases me about it.

Then one day, while trying to get the boys upstairs, DH calls for our youngest, and says "Come on, Elmo!"

I couldn't believe it.

He wasn't trying to be funny, he just accidentally said "Elmo."

As soon as I heard that, I could not stop laughing.

ELMO???

Yes, I mix up my sons' names at times, but I have never called one of them a Muppet's name!

DH's excuse was that he was talking about an Elmo chair earlier and "Elmo" just stuck in his head.

Every time I think about it I still laugh. And of course I tease him...

Do you ever mix up your children's names? Or have you called a child something funny like "Elmo" by accident before?

Barney: Mother Goose Collection:
Everyone’s favorite purple T-rex Barney and all his friends are bringing beloved nursery rhymes to life in the new Barney: Mother Goose Collection...Perfect for Easter baskets, this super-dee-duper rhyming adventure provides a full length DVD movie fully-loaded with five special features, a bonus music CD and lots of learning fun with the accompanying 64-page activity book. The movie features over 35 classic rhymes such as Humpty Dumpty, Little Miss Muffet, London Bridge, There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and more! So join in as Barney, Baby Bop™, BJ™ and their playground pals take you on a magical, music-filled journey into the world of Mother Goose.

SYNOPSIS
Come along with Barney, Baby Bop and BJ on a magical and music-filled journey in the land of Mother Goose. Join the fun and sing along as classic nursery rhymes like Hickory Dickory Dock, Humpty Dumpty, London Bridge and more come to life.

DVD BONUS FEATURES
· Behind the Scenes with Cast and Crew
· “What Can It Be” Read-Along
· 15 Sing-Alongs
· 17 Mother Goose Rhyme-Alongs
· Mother Goose Live on Stage

It just so happened that Musician's preschool recently had a two-week nursery rhyme thematic, so I knew he would have fun watching the Mother Goose Collection DVD!

There were many of his favorite nursery rhymes being sung and performed, such as Humpty Dumpty, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and London Bridge. There were also several that he had for the first time, but he really enjoyed the entire DVD, especially since he could sing along to the nursery rhymes he knew!

Smiley's favorite part of the DVD was when there was a little show of the nursery rhyme This is the House that Jack Built. He had never heard that nursery rhyme before, and he was glued to the screen as he watched the cat, mouse, and all the other characters in the little show perform the nursery rhyme.

The DVD also came with a music CD and a fun activity book!

The Mother Goose Collection DVD is great fun for kids who love Barney, nursery rhymes, or simply just singing and dancing!

Shop: You can purcahse Barney: Mother Goose Collection at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $14.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Barney: Mother Goose Collection.

• To enter, comment on your favorite nursery rhyme.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Barney (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 31, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about April 1, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

bareMinerals recently introduced a new line of skincare, bareMinerals Skincare, which includes a variety of cleansers, moisturizers, and treatments!


Introducing bareMinerals Skincare. A transformative new way of caring for your skin that’s simple, super-effective and incredibly easy to use. Powered by 100% pure RareMinerals Active Soil Complex, enjoy increased cell turnover, fewer fine lines and wrinkles and the famous bareMinerals Naturally Luminous glow. If that’s something you’re looking for, then this might be the revolution for you.

Here are a few of the new products in the bareMinerals Skincare line:

PURELY NOURISHING MOISTURIZER for combination skin: This universal moisturizer effectively hydrates skin while improving firmness, elasticity, radiance and overall skin texture. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex with its unique electrolyte delivery system, it’s formulated to perfectly moisturize combination skin. It also includes a powerful blend of antioxidants that help protect against environmental stressors. Price: $28, 50mL/1.7Fl.Oz. Click here to buy.

PURELY NOURISHING CREAM for dry skin: Specially formulated for dry skin, this luxuriously rich cream deeply nourishes skin. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex with its unique electrolyte delivery system, it’s formulated to provide the ultimate amount of moisture for dry skin while potent antioxidants help protect skin from environmental stressors. The result is soft, smooth and incredibly luminous skin. Price: $28, 50mL/1.7Fl.Oz. Click here to buy.

DEEP CLEANSING FOAM: This, luxuriously rich cleanser deep cleans pores and lifts away impurities. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this non-drying formula bursts into a rich lather when activated with water to clean and instantly refresh skin for a soft, smooth complexion. Sulfate free. Price: $20, 119g/4.2 Oz. Click here to buy.

For more information on these and other products in the bareMinerals Skincare line, visit the Bare Escentuals website.

A couple of weeks ago I was very fortunate to participate in a webinar with Dr. Jim Sears, board-certified pediatrician and co-host of the The Doctors TV show, to discuss childhood nutrition and get more information on products in the Dr. Sears Family Essentials line.

Dr. Sears Family Essentials is a group of individuals dedicated to a big cause - combating the national epidemic of childhood obesity and NDD (Nutritional Deficit Disorder). Ever since the inception of the Dr. Sears children's nutrition and snack line (formerly known as Dr. Sears Family Approved) in late 2007, the team at Dr. Sears Family Essentials has worked to take the teachings of Dr. Bill Sears, Dr. Jim Sears (son), Dr. Bob Sears (son) and Martha Sears (wife) that combines over a century of medical knowledge and apply them to a line of products for kids that are second to none in nutrition and consumer value.

Dr. Sears Family Essentials offers a doctor-formulated, kid-approved line of 100 percent all-natural drinks, snacks and supplements that provide essential daily nutrients to help children grow healthy, strong and smart.
POPUMZ™ are 100 percent all-natural popped whole grain crisps that are packed with protein to help build strong muscles, fiber for healthy digestion and Omega-3 DHA – an essential component for the growth and development of young minds and bodies
Cool Fuel is a delicious, fortified and ready-to-drink shake that delivers the nutrition kids need to perform their best – in and out of the classroom. Made from 100 percent all-natural ingredients, the gluten- and lactose-free shakes contain no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and 60 percent less sugar than competitive brands
Dr. Sears Family Essentials Supplement Fruit Chews are 100 percent all-natural and fruit-based, and provide kids with optimal levels of Omega-3 DHA and essential daily nutrients to nourish their minds and bodies.
The webinar provided so much helpful information. Not only did we learn more about the products, but we also learned such things as how to integrate (sneak) veggies into foods for picky eaters, how to handle self-image/weight issues with youngsters, and so much more.
With obesity on the rise, it's important to help our children get the vitamins and nutrients they need in healthy, wholesome foods, and it's great that the Dr. Sears Family Essentials line offers many products that parents can offer their kids.
I think The Cool-Fuel would be perfect for my youngest, who's a very picky eater, the POPUMZ would be a healthier alternative to some of the snacks my boys crave, and the Fruit Chews would be a lot tastier than the supplements their taking now!
I can't wait for my boys to try some of the Dr. Sears Family Essentials products!
For more information, visit http://www.drsearsfamilyessentials.com/

Win: One lucky winner will receive a one-month supply of samples of Dr. Sears Family Essentials drinks, snacks and supplements.

• To enter, visit Dr. Sears Family Essentials and comment on which product you think your child would enjoy the most.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Dr. Sears Family Essentials (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 30, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 31, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

It's no secret that I LOVE ERGObaby. I was fortunate to review one of their baby carriers before, and I recently had a change to review another baby carrier!

I received the Organic Twill Dark Chocolate with Kona Coffee Lining ERGObaby Carrier, which has the following features:

• Ergonomic design
• 100% organic cotton twill with 100% organic cotton sateen lining and hood
• 100% cotton organic batting in body of carrier to soften edges
• One inch, high density foam in shoulder straps
• Quarter inch high density neoprene foam in waist belt
• High Quality buckles tested by SGS
• Waist belt circumference from 25" to 43"
• Fits from 5' to 6.5' body height with adjustable shoulder and chest straps
• Sleeping hood with elastic, adjusts in length for growth of baby
• High quality webbing, matched to carrier color
• Reinforced stitching used at all fabric intersections
• Interior rip-stop reinforcements at critical intersections
• Durability/strength tested up to 90 pounds
• Machine washable - cold, gentle cycles, mild detergent, no bleach. Dry in low heat

The carrier can be worn in three different positions (back, hip, front), and it is comfortable not only for baby to be carried in, but mom and dad will feel comfortable wearing it!

Of all the carriers I've tried, the ERGObaby carrier is the most comfortable to wear, and also seems to be the most comfortable for Smiley to be carried in.

Smiley LOVED being in the carrier. The carrier can hold little ones up to 40 lbs., and he's almost at the 30 pound mark, but it was no problem carrying him in the carrier. He looked so comfortable, and once we took him out, he wanted to go back in.

We actually had to hide the ERGObaby carrier because whenever he saw it he wanted to go in it!

I used to carry him in an ERGObaby carrier a lot while he was an infant, but once he started walking around, there just didn't seem to be a need to carry him in a carrier, because all he wanted to do was walk, and I simply assumed that when he was too cranky or tired to walk he'd just want to be in the stroller or be carried.

Well, now I know the ERGObaby carrier will come in handy for those times he's too tired to walk.

And once DS3 gets here, hopefully Smiley won't be too jealous whenever he sees him in the carrier!

Shop: You can purchase ERGObaby Carriers on the ERGObaby website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

I've dealt with it, and so have many of my friends--the slipping bra strap.

Oh, how annoying!

But not anymore, thanks to the StrapDoctor!

• Simply conceals under your bra strap
• Narrow or regular sizes attach under any strap
• Reusable
• So comfortable, it seems barely there!
• Easy care - wash with bra or by hand
• Transferable from bra to bra or leave a pair on each of your favorites

It's so simple to use the StrapDoctor. Simply slip it under your bra strap (smooth side against your shoulder), and that's it!

The StrapDoctor is unobtrusive, inconspicuous, and comfortable. In fact, it didn't even feel like there was anything there other than the strap!

And my straps did indeed stay put. Even when I tugged on them a little just to see if they would remain in place, they did.

What's great about the StrapDoctor is that you can even use it on other types of clothing, such as tank tops or dresses!

If you're tired of dealing with the slipping strap, you should definitely try StrapDoctor!

Shop: You can purchase the StrapDoctor on the StrapDoctor website.

Win: Six winners will each receive a Twin Package of StrapDoctor, containing one pair each of Regular and Narrow straps.

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and StrapDoctor (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 28, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 29, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

I guess what they say about the Terrible Twos is right (at least in our family), as Smiley has been throwing some MAJOR tantrums lately.

Sometimes it's because he wants something and I don't understand what he wants and then he starts throwing a fit.

Other times it's because he wants to do something and I won't let him (e.g. eat dessert when he should eat his meal first).

And then there are times I just don't know why he throws a tantrum.

And each time he does, I sometimes feel like the worst mom, because a lot of times I don't know how to calm him down.

Sometimes I just let him cry it out, other times I try to comfort him and ask him what's wrong, and yet other times I try to distract him with something else (e.g. a toy).

Usually he'll calm down pretty quickly, but there have been a few instances where he just would scream uncontrollably for at least half an hour (fortunately all of the tantrums are at home).

If your child throws tantrums, how do you handle your child/dealing with the tantrum?

What's the most embarrassing place your child has ever thrown a tantrum?

As most of you are well aware, Hawaii, like many other parts of the world, was under a tsunami warning early Friday morning because of the devastating earthquake in Japan.

Thursday night, right after the boys went to sleep, I thought I'd go to sleep early too, but I decided to check Twitter for some reason.

I started to see all these tweets about the earthquake in Japan, and when I turned on CNN, the images were just unbelievable.

And sure enough, Hawaii eventually was under a tsunami warning.

At 10pm the first siren went off, and people were already filling up their gas tanks and stocking up on necessities.

Just about everyone who wanted or tweeted updates on the tsunami warning was using the #HItsunami hashtag (as was used during the last tsunami scare), and I kept checking Twitter more than I would check the news.

It was quite scary.

I kept hoping that I didn't go into labor.

And DH was also working at the time. His company is just above an evacuation zone, and the company heads were taking a "wait and see" approach, which really got me both worried and angry.

And AT&T was not working well at all too (we both have AT&T), so it was very difficult to get any sleep as I kept worrying about DH and all of Hawaii.

And the sirens kept me up too.

But fortunately for Hawaii, although we did have some surges, we avoided the worst.

I thought Twitter was instrumental in keeping us posted, and I sincerely appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers that were tweeted to us and all of Hawaii.

Thankfully it was only a scare, with very minimal damage.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Japan and anyone who has friends and family there that has been affected by the tsunami and earthquake.

Musician LOVES yogurt, and thanks to MyBlogSpark, we received a Yoplait Kids prize pack that included a coupon for free Yoplait Kids yogurt!

It has a smooth texture and yummy fruit flavors your child will love, plus the calcium, vitamins and protein they need. With 25% less sugar than the leading kids yogurt, there’s a lot to love in every cup of Yoplait® Kids.

Since Musician loves Cars, we knew we had to pick up Vroom Vroom Vanilla Yoplait Kids yogurt.

As soon as I gave him the cup of yogurt, I thought it was cute because he said "McQueen is happy!" (referring to the picture of McQueen on the cup).


Well, of course he ate the yogurt all up in no time.

The Yoplait Kids yogurt is nicely-sized, and is perfect for an after school snack or dessert! And it's a delicious way for Musician to get the calcium and Vitamin D his growing body needs!

Shop: You can purchase Yoplait Kids yogurt at various grocers nationwide (SRP $2.00/4-pack)

Savvy Savings: Click here to get a printable coupon for $0.50 off the purchase of one (1) four-pack of Yoplait Kids yogurt today!

• To enter, comment on how you try and get your child(ren) to eat wholesome snacks.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Yoplait Kids (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
6)Follow Yoplait on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 25, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 26, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Helping Hand Books: Michael and His New Baby Brother Sarah, Duchess of York; illustrated by Ian Cunliffe Hard
Who needs a new baby? Not Michael! As his parents help him understand what it means to be a big brother, however, Michael begins to look forward to baby Daniel's arrival. Young readers will realize the positive aspects of having a younger sibling, and parents will get smart ideas to prepare their child for a new family member.

Win: Three lucky winners will each receive a poster and a signed copy of Bells!

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Laura Jansen (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 22, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 23, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Lately, when it comes to salad dressings, I've been opting for vinaigrettes, so I couldn't wait to try out Wish-Bone's new salad dressings!

Introducing four sophisticated new dressing flavors from Wish-Bone: Greek Vinaigrette, Bruschetta Italian, Superfruit Berry Vinaigrette and Mediterranean Italian.

“As the new year kicks into gear, the trend toward eating well-balanced meals bursting with fruits and vegetables is gaining a greater foothold among Americans,” said Sandra Woodruff, MS, RD, LD/N, nationally known dietitian and best-selling author of many books on nutrition. “With flavorful dressings tossed into the mix, eating greens and vegetables becomes a pleasure, not a chore.”

The four new Wish-Bone dressings are great on greens, but they also go beyond the salad bowl, as marinades for meats, vegetables and fruits:

· Greek Vinaigrette, made with feta cheese and ripe black olives
· Bruschetta Italian, inspired by the classic appetizer and made with sun-ripened tomatoes and sweet basil
· Superfruit Berry Vinaigrette, with berry and pomegranate juices
· Mediterranean Italian, made with feta cheese and a refreshing squeeze of lemon

Not only has Wish-Bone enhanced its dressing offerings, it has also changed the bottles they come in. The new bottle has up to 20 percent less plastic than the previous one, so there is less impact on the environment while delivering the same amount of delicious taste.

I was fortunate to receive a box of goodies from Wish-Bone which included the Bruschetta Italian, Superfruit Berry Vinaigrette, and Mediterranean Italian dressings.

They are indeed great on salads, but are so versatile that they can be used in other dishes too!

I decided to try the Bruschetta Italian on chicken.

I simply put some chicken tenders in a crock pot and poured the entire bottle of Bruschetta Italian dressing in.

I made some angel hair pasta to accompany the chicken, and after several hours in the crock pot, the chicken was done!
It was very flavorful and tender. The Bruschetta Italian dressing really gave the chicken a nice flavor. I poured it over the pasta too!
If you want to liven up your salad with new flavors, or create some mouth-watering dishes, try one of Wish-Bones new salad dressings!

Shop: You can purchase the new flavors of Wish-Bone at various grocers nationwide (SRP $2.89 for 16 oz size).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Wish-Bone Prize Pack which includes Wish-Bone dressings, a salad spinner, a $25 AMEX GC to buy all of the salad fixings, and a salad container!

• To enter, comment on which of the new dressing flavors is your favorite or you're most eager to try.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Wish-Bone (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 21, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 22, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

As my due date approaches, I'm getting more and more nervous about labor and delivery. My previous two deliveries were so different, and I just don't know what to expect for DS3.

With Musician, I was ten days late and had to be induced. I immediately got the epidural, which gave me the shakes the entire time I was in labor (11 hours). It didn't work very well since I could still feel a lot of pain on my right side, but once I pressed that "special button" to get more, the pain went away.

I also had major heartburn which made me feel even worse.

I had to get oxygen and had to stay on my left side since baby's heartbeat would often slow down (it turned out his umbilical cord was wrapped around his tummy).

The doctor had to break my water, but then they had to pump me back up again (I don't remember why).

After about 10 hours of shaking and acid reflux, the pain started to come back, so I pressed the epidural button again. A few minutes later, the doctor came in and said, "okay, ready to start pushing?"

And then I started to throw up. A lot. It was because of the acid reflux.

And when it was time to push, I couldn't feel anything at all, so doctor turned off the epidural, and said we'd try pushing again in an hour.

During that one hour wait, I was more nervous about throwing up again than pushing.

Finally, after about an hour of pushing, Musician arrived...

With Smiley, I went into labor 6 days early. When I got to the hospital I was only 4 cm dilated so my doctor decided I should get induced.

I got the epidural again, but despite the anesthesiologist coming back two times to give me more, a third time to reposition the catheter, and me pushing the button twice, I could still feel a lot of pain.

About four hours later and the doctor breaking my water, I was ready to push. I also started to have the shakes again and was afraid I'd start throwing up, but I didn't.

In literally a couple of sets of pushes, Smiley was out.

And then DH was down (yes, he fainted!).

Now all I can do is wonder when and how it will happen for DS3 and hope for a rather uncomplicated delivery.

And hopefully DH won't faint again...

I know I'm fortunate, since I personally know people who have suffered from far worse things during labor/delivery, but I also know others who went without the epidural and were walking around in no time with no pain like it was no big deal.

How were your deliveries?

And if you didn't get the epidural (whether by choice or not), how painful was it? And how did you cope with the pain?

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Timmy Steals the Show!

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Timmy Time (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 19, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 20, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

As an Infantino Test Drive Mom, I recently received the Savvy Bag Baby Changing Clutch to review.

The Savvy Bag's slim & smart design has an ingenious removable pad that gives baby a clean & comfy changing or sitting area - wherever you go. Parks, picnics, cruising around town or big travels - you'll be ready to roam.

I have a few other diaper clutches, but what sets this diaper clutch apart is the removable pad.

I think it's great that you can easily snap the pad on or off, and that the pad is really easy to clean. The pad is also nice, big, and a bit cushion-y.

The clutch itself can hold a lot of items--diapers, wipes, and even my personal essentials (phone, keys, etc.). It can even act as an additional cushion to help prop baby's head up while changing.

Although the Infantino Savvy Bag is too big to fit in my purse, it does have it's own strap to hang on my shoulder.

The Savvy Bag is perfect for when I'm on the go and don't want to carry a huge diaper bag!


Shop: You can purchase the Savvy Bag at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $22.99).

Did you know if you use Bing to search online, you could earn credits towards gift certificates, airline miles, and more? All you need to do is join Bing Rewards!

Search, discover, and explore with Bing and earn great rewards! Sign up for Bing Rewards today for free and get 250 credits.

How does it work?
Sign up for the Bing Rewards Preview, take advantage of offers to earn credits and then redeem those credits for rewards. Offers may include searching on Bing, setting your homepage to Bing or trying out new features of Bing. Once you have enough credits to redeem for a reward, access the Redemption Center to select from a wide variety of rewards. Shipping is free!

How easy it is to sign up?
It's simple. Download the Bing Bar, sign in using your Windows Live ID (or get one if you don't already have one) and complete the easy registration process. No forms — you'll give us your shipping info later when you order your rewards.

Do I need to buy anything to join the Bing Rewards Preview?
No. When it's time to redeem your credits, your reward merchandise will be shipped at no charge. However, we can only ship to addresses within the 50 United States (includes D.C.). We cannot ship to P.O. boxes or military APO or FPO addresses.

I just signed up, and you can too at Bing Rewards.

Last year I was fortunate to review Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips. They're so convenient to have on hand to make quick and easy meals, and will be even more so once baby #3 gets here and I'll have even less time to make meals for the family!


Tyson® Grilled & Ready™ Frozen Chicken Breast Fillets and Grilled & Ready Frozen and Refrigerated Chicken Breast Strips are fully cooked and perfectly portioned for your favorite recipes, hot or cold. They're a delicious, healthy addition to salads, sauces, and soups.

These tender and juicy fillets and strips make it easy to add variety to party appetizers or dinner. They're everything you love about fresh chicken, ready in half the time.

Tyson Grilled & Ready Frozen and Refrigerated Chicken Breast Strips:
* Perfectly-cooked grilled chicken ready in just minutes
* 98 Percent fat free with no preservatives
* Tender and juicy right out of the microwave

Here is an excerpt from my review:

It takes just 30 seconds to heat up in the microwave, and I have chicken ready for pizzas, nachos, wraps, and more!

In fact, we've already used the chicken for pizzas, nachos, and wraps!

Although I can tell the difference in taste between the Grilled & Ready chicken and chicken that I cook myself, the chicken still tastes fine, and I absolutely love that the strips are ready to eat in less than a minute, which makes meal prep so much faster!

Here's a recipe for Southwestern Chicken Salad that I can't wait to try!

Ingredients
2 , 6 oz. packages Tyson® Grilled & Ready Southwestern Chicken Breast Strips (refrigerated)
4 cups lettuce, shredded
1/2 cup corn, canned kernel; drained
2 tablespoons black olives, sliced
1/4 cup kidney beans, canned red; drained
2 tablespoons green onion, chopped
Cooking Instructions
Divide lettuce between 4 plates.
Top lettuce with corn, olives, onion, beans and chicken.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with salsa or salad dressing and crispy tortilla chips on the side. Refrigerate leftovers.

Shop: You can purchase Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken at grocers nationwide.

Win: Four lucky winners will each receive a coupon good for a free Tyson Grilled & Ready product (max. value may apply)!

• To enter, comment on a dish you'd use Tyson Grilled & Ready chicken in.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Tyson (leave the link in your comment)
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is March 17, 2011 11:59pm HST.
  If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 18, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept. Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!