Huggies Little Snugglers~Share Your Wish and Win!

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies and Target. I received samples and a promotional item to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% my own!

Diapers are a staple in my house.  As much as milk or bread are.  Maybe moreso. 'Cause for real we couldn't get by without diapers for Violet!

I'm one who has stuck with disposable diapers for my babies and not jumped on the cloth diapering train and. Adding a fourth little one into my house, I simply do not have the time for anything else. They work for me and I like them! I'm not going to pretend that I'm not pretty brand specific for my babies when it comes to diapers. With  my oldest, who is now 14, I found what worked for him and just stuck with it for the others when they came along and it worked for them as well. There were some specific features that I loved about the diapers also which made me stick with them for the babies.

Huggies New Little Snugglers diapers reeled me in.  I was willing to give them a try because they seemed to have the qualities that I was looking for for my newest baby girl!

If your hug is the first thing your baby feels, making sure the second hug feels just as good which is what these Huggies Little Snugglers seem to do to my baby because they feature a new GentleAbsorb* Liner for a cushiony layer of protection with hundreds of tiny absorbent pillows to help draw mess away from the baby’s delicate newborn skin. Protecting my baby's skin is paramount!

The wetness indicator?  Yeah, that's awesome with a newbie! Letting a new baby continue to sleep because you can just glance at her diaper and know if she's wet is a priceless!

Let's get to the rest of the nitty gritty of these new diapers~
Product details:
• Cottony-soft inside and out to help keep new baby comfy
• Wetness indicator lets you know when it’s time to change
• Umbilical cord cut-out to help protect sensitive belly buttons
• Flexible, pocketed back waistband to help keep in mess
• Unique stretchy SnugFit* Waistband provides a gentle, secure fit

Pricing and availability:
• NEW! Huggies® Little Snugglers Diapers are in grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide
• Available in five sizes, from Preemie (up to 6 lbs) through Size 3 (16-28 lbs)
• Suggested retail price of $11.99 for a Jumbo Pack and $22.99 for a Big Pack (diaper count varies based on diaper size)

I'm a Target shopper. Period. Sometimes it's at Target.com because come on... FREE shipping with my RedCard? Heck, yes! Most of the time it's in store because I love being able to use my coupons and score great deals on diapers!  Most times I have a Target coupon AND a manufacturer coupon to maximize my savings on diapers.  You simply cannot beat it!

When I went in to pick up these new diapers for the first time, there were none to be found in the size that I needed. I asked a Target employee for help and they were out of them.  Good indicator to me! {Ahem. Frozen toys anyone?} I just did my other shopping and knew I'd be back in the next day anyway. When I went back the following day, sure enough the boxes were there and we were good to go!

Creating a baby registry with Target is also something I have done with all my babies simply because it's so easy plus there's usually some perks to go along with it!  This time is no different.  If you're expecting, be sure to include Huggies Little Snugglers diapers and Natural Care Wipes to your registry and then upload the link on the Huggies Register Your Wish website, you can be entered to win a year supply of free diapers! Could you imagine?!

Sticky Situations

With a 2 year old life is pretty much one big "sticky situation". :)

From learning to self-feed going into toddlerhood, exerting independence and potty training, there's not a day that goes by without at least one sticky situation! Enlisting the help of the toddler to clean up is part of my teaching process, even when it often creates more of a mess. Wet Ones are essential in helping. They've been in my life since my now 31 year old brother was a baby...thanks, Mom!

We definitely had a case of "The Mondays" this week when from the start of the day, the dog darted out the door to roam the neighborhood with no interest in coming home. After I gave up chasing her, I came inside to find the potty training 2 year old had pooped... on the floor. I knew this because she proudly declared, "A nugget, Mom!"...   before stepping in it!

Thank Goodness for Wet Ones and a bath!

What I've learned:
1. Always keep Wet Ones on hand--in the car, in the diaperbag, in your purse, you name it. You WILL need them.
2. LAUGH!  It's just a mess and it'll get cleaned up no matter how gross. ;)

Wet Ones is giving us the opportunity to share all of the "Sticky Situations" we have found ourselves in and tips on how to deal with them through their Facebook Contest!  Perfect for toddlers and kids of any size!

Log on and share your story and tips, and you can be entered to win an iPad Mini or Six Flags Tickets! 

I just entered, it doesn’t take long at all!

Here’s the link:

https://www.facebook.com/momcentral/app_248884015238315

 

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Wet Ones. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating

Mighty Fine: A Review

As an adult, I like millions of others, have reconnected with people from our childhood often through Facebook.  I wholeheartedly admit I lovelovelove looking through photos of people I know, so this forum is kind of a holy grail for me! 

A few years ago, I reconnected with someone I was very good friends with in elementary school.  The kind of friend who was part of a group of about 5 girls that every weekend spent the night at one house or another. Usually it was a couple of our houses more than others, but lots of playtime, outside time, and together time throughout those elementary years.

As I looked through this childhood friend's photographs, she had a folder specifically for her dad. Perusing the photos, I thought, "that's not the dad I knew."
Reading captions of her photos, it was clear that this man, her dad, was not always physically present in her life because he was involved in drugs and in jail.  The dad I knew was her stepdad. Only in the late 70s and early 80s that wasn't as common.  I had no idea.

I emailed her about all of the above and said that it's amazing to look back on our childhood this way and I wish I had known what she was going through with the knowledge I had now.  As an adult, the feelings of sadness I had that she may not have had the picture perfect childhood I was blessed to have and thought everyone else I knew did also, I cannot even explain. She was my friend and I had no idea.

Thirty years later, I have a child in my life who lives in much of the same secrecy. There is shame in this child's demeanor when she speaks of a home. Embarrassment of "how things are."  Recognition as she ages that many of the "how things are," elements, are not normal.  Constant fear, shame, embarrassment. 

She used to look at the ground when she was spoken to on any level.  She used to flap her hands and arms by her sides when any adult spoke to her.  She's witnessed adults who "love"one another screaming obscenities, punching walls, threatening each other, guns being pointed, being put outside because a parent didn't like the answer she gave to "teach her a lesson." And then she's supposed to believe in love and security.

Emotional abuse is so damaging.  And so, so difficult to prove. 

Recently, I was given the opportunity to preview a movie about this very subject. 
Set in the 70s, a prominent family, who from the outside, was picture perfect. Husband, wife, two daughters. Successful.  A charming man who behind closed doors unleashed emotional and mental turmoil within the safety of his home.

The movie stars Andie McDowell, Chazz Palminteri, Jodelle Ferland and {film debut of Andie's real-life daughter} Rainey Qualley. 

Chazz's performance as this dutiful husband, father and breadwinner who explodes at the drop of a hat was flawless.  He is believable without question.

Without giving much more of the film away, it was thought provoking, discussion inducing and very sobering.  My husband popped in periodically while I was watching {because he loves Chazz} to ask how it was and I just kept telling him it was so, so authentic.

The only thing I wish differently is that it were set more present. Only because I believe the presence of this type of emotional abuse is so prevalent right now in society that its value could be dismissed in "that was a long time ago" thinking. 

After the viewing, we also participated in a live chat with the actors which honestly was pretty amazing. I was available for the chat with Rainey, who played the eldest daughter and Chazz, the father.  As participants we were able to type in a question and the actors would answer or respond. This is what I love about technology!

Chazz's chat was very impactful. "Talking" with an accomplished actor who has been in 60 films about this movie was awesome!  He pointedly stated that his actions in the movie weren't talked about in the 70s. There was no definitive, "Oh he's bipolar," or the like, but rather something like "he has anger issues."  It was kept secret.   Much of it still is today, although there is more awareness today.

I think this film is a must-see ~especially for parents, teachers whose lives are intertwined with children. You just may never know whose life you may recognize is impacted in this way.

Mighty Fine is released in select theaters on May 25.  Check here to see if it's in a theater near you.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Mighty Fine and the distributor. I received access to an online showing of the film and a promotional item to thank me for participating”