New Mom Survival Kit

A friend of mine recently had her first baby. I was so happy for her and of course couldn't wait to meet the little guy. However, being an OB nurse, I see firsthanded how exhausting those first few days with a newborn can be. I waited until the baby was a week old so they had time to adjust and settle into a routine, and coordinated a good time for her between feedings to stop by. 

The night before my visit to the new mama and baby, I went shopping for a congratulatory gift. As I looked through the baby section, the most obvious and most common purchases were all around me: onesies, adorable outfits that will only fit them for a month or two, cuddly blankets, and sleepers. I didn't want to get her something she likely already had too much of from her shower, so I continued searching and found myself wondering if I should call and ask her if there was anything she needed from the grocery store. I wondered if she had enough of the essentials for postpartum life.. pads, motrin, and so forth.

Then the idea came to me that she probably is, or will be, running low on essentials and may not have the time or energy to run to the store for simple things. I decided to create a Postpartum or New Mom Survival Kit. I threw things in my cart that I thought might be helpful for her:

• Dry Shampoo (she may be too tired to shower every day!)
• Maxi pads (That first couple of weeks postpartum can make a girl go through a lot!)
• Fresh Linen Candle (With a new baby, I don't know that dishes/laundry/vacuuming is a priority, but the smell of a clean house is comforting, in my opinion.)
•  Hair ties (Those little buggers are always getting lost and I'm sure they would be coming in handy right about now)
• Season-appropriate outfit for baby and pair of shoes
• Something funny.. I saw a super cute onesie with instructions for dad on where to put each limb ;-)
• A simple sign for baby's room for a little decor (click for the link)
• Baby Lips chapstick and nail polish for mom

Here's some other great ideas if you want to switch out or add some items to your New Mom Survival Kit:

• Motrin
• Baby Gas Drops to help fussy baby
• Protein bars
• SD card for when her camera memory fills up with new baby pictures
• Tinted moisturizer
• Breastfeeding reminder bra clips so she can remember which side baby left off on when feeding start to run together 

   

She loved it! I hope you found this useful and as a good gift idea. Please stop by my Etsy and take a look around at other cute (and inexpensive!) items for baby and mom: https://www.etsy.com/shop/juiceboxbaby

New hobby: Etsy!

Etsy.


I have purchased items from Etsy for many different events this past year: weddings, engagement parties, bridal showers, new baby, and even just for myself. What I love about this site is that it's full of sellers who are passionate about what they're selling- they have a hobby and a talent they want to share. It's much classier than ebay or some other online retail sites. It's honest people with lovely, unique items that you can't find anywhere else!

I decided to open my own Etsy shop! The name is JuiceBoxBaby and I feature things for new moms and babies. Here's the link! https://www.etsy.com/shop/JuiceBoxBaby 

I work in OB, so new moms, babies, pregnant bellies, and all things related are very familiar to me!
One thing that stood out to me while helping mothers breastfeed is how much feedings start to run together for them. They lose track of times, which side they nursed on and for how long. One thing I made to help with this, is a helpful bra clip reminder for breastfeeding mommies. 

I have a few different patterns and they are all soft ribbon with magnets so they are comfortable and cute. I had fun making these and hope that others find them useful. They make a good gift for new or expecting moms. 

I also have some cute, inexpensive items for nursery decor. It's baby room wall art, or it could also be pictures for a little girls room.

I had a fun time doing crafty things and starting my etsy shop but I'm having a hard time starting out. There's so many talented, wonderful sellers on that site and so much competition! I've heard it's difficult to make your first few sales. I don't want to pay to promote because my items aren't priced for much revenue anyways. I'm doing it more for a hobby as opposed to a side job. Anyone out there have any tips to help my shop to get more views and a few sales? I've tried Pinterest, sharing my link on facebook, and joined some Etsy teams. I'd love any input!

Kroger Private Selections Great American Summer Campaign

This was a big campaign! I got to try so many products made by Kroger's Private Selection line for free. I got coupons for these full-size products from my local Kroger:

• Panko Bread Crumbs (I selected Parmesan Herb flavor)
• all natural preserves (I chose Oregon Red Raspberry)
• dry rub (Got the cracked peppercorn seasoning)
• Dark Amber Maple Syrup (I chose the biggest size, which would have been almost $8!)
• Artisan bread (Whole clove garlic loaf, and also bought the sesame just to try)
• $3 off $10 of meat

What I really liked about this BzzCampaign was that instead of receiving all of these full-size products in flavors pre-selected for me, I got the coupons so I could just pick them out myself when I went grocery shopping. There were so many flavors to choose from, I don't remember them all, but I particularly thought the dry rub seasonings had a delicious selection.

I first brought both of the artisan bread loafs with me to a family get-together. I got positive reviews on both flavors. The only negative comment I received was from my 10-year-old nephew who said the bread seemed stale. My sister said she thinks that is how artisan bread is supposed to be- the slightly hardened outer crust and the softer middle. I enjoyed the bread, but didn't think they were anything special.. I've had better. They were also difficult to slice.

Here's an awesome recipe that I just tried last night using the Cracked Peppercorn dry rub. I purchased "steak for marinating" from Kroger , seasoned with the dry rub after tenderizing the meat, and placed into the crock pot with mushroom gravy on "low" for about 4.5 hours.  The result was de-lish! The steak had great flavor, and most importantly, it was husband approved!  He loved it and asked for seconds, which is the biggest compliment. I served it with homemade mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.. a fantastic home-cooked meal that filled us to the brim.

I also tried a recipe last week using the Parmesan Herb Panko bread crumbs. The recipe is right on the back of the box and it did not take long at all. I first coated the chicken breasts in flour, dredged in milk, rolled in the bread crumbs, and placed into a pan to fry just long enough to brown the outside to give it a crispy outside. Then you bake at 400 for 15 minutes and it's done! Here's a picture of the little assembly line I made for the chicken:

Next time I'd like to try this paired with spaghetti, I think the mixture with a hearty marinara sauce would make it much better. When we tried the chicken, I was expecting a little more flavor and seasoning to be in the mixture. Unfortunately there really wasn't much flavor to it. Next time I will know to add some seasoning into the bread crumb mix. The outside of the chicken did have a nice, crispy texture to it though, so I will give it another shot.

I also tried the Oregon Red Raspberry preserves, which taste amazing. I put a little bit into my bowl of Berry Parfait frozen yogurt and it was great!! I'd love to try another flavor.

Remember- I am not in any way selling or endorsing these products. My job is simply to provide honest feedback, tell others what I think, get others' opinions, and submit it to BzzAgent in exchange for receiving this product for free. So I am not going to sugarcoat anything or make commission if you decide to try one for yourself ;-)

So here's my honest, hype-free "Bzz" Review: I enjoyed all of these products, however, I think the Private Selections brand is a little overpriced. It is a store brand.. it's specifically Kroger's line of products. But since they try and push it as being a gourmet line of products, they're a little more expensive. They have "premium" ingredients and cost more than many of the other products around them on the shelf. So although I enjoyed these, I am not sure I would actually purchase the products during my regular grocery shopping trip. The dry rub I might make an exception for- I would love to try those other flavors.

Kroger's Strawberry Banana Yogurt Smoothie Bars

Kroger has a line of delicious frozen treats that are advertised as being "guilt-free"because they are healthier, lower fat, lower calorie alternatives.  I got my choice for one of these as a BzzCampaign and was surprised at how many choices I had. There were fudge bars, ice cream sandwiches, fruit bars, and 2 flavors of yogurt smoothie bars- strawberry banana and berry. I know my husband loves ice cream and he loves strawberry banana smoothies so I got the strawberry banana yogurt smoothie bars and couldn't way to go home and try them.

Remember- I am not in any way selling or endorsing these products. My job is simply to provide honest feedback, tell others what I think, get others' opinions, and submit it to BzzAgent in exchange for receiving this product for free. So I am not going to sugarcoat anything or make commission if you decide to try one for yourself ;-)

So here's my honest, hype-free "Bzz" Review: My husband and I enjoyed these for dessert after dinner and we both loved them! We are suckers when it comes to frozen treats but usually go for the ice cream that really isn't that healthy for you. So this alternative is really nice, and it's a great flavor for summer. We each had one.. said "I want another one!", enjoyed a second, and then.. yep, you guessed it.. a third. They were that good. I am definitely going to be buying these again in the future and may also try the berry flavor. They're available at Kroger in the frozen treats section and -everyone knows I'm a stickler- they're a good price. I'd call this a win for Kroger Brand.

<img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/krogerIndulge.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=6584360540&Campaign=7316548998&Uid=1107360&token=47190a11713892899e0ab0325d00da04" alt=""/>

Kroger's Private Selections Upside Down Cake

Has anyone heard of the Private Selections brand at Kroger? I've gotten multiple BzzCampaigns for this brand, and I get excited every time because they really do have some good food. If you have never heard of it, it is basically Kroger's "premium" line of products/food. This current BzzCampaign I am going to be discussing is Kroger's Private Selection upside-down cakes! They're found in the refrigerated portion of the bakery area.

Remember- I am not in any way selling or endorsing these products. My job is simply to provide honest feedback, tell others what I think, get others' opinions, and submit it to BzzAgent in exchange for receiving this product for free. So I am not going to sugarcoat anything or make commission if you decide to try one for yourself ;-)

I went to Kroger to buy one of these upside-down cakes for an anniversary dinner at my in-law's since I was designated to provide dessert. I really wanted to try the Amber Honey Apple Spice cake, but all my Kroger offered was the German Chocolate Fudge. I don't really care that much for chocolate cakes, but know other people enjoy them so got it anyway.

I brought it to their house and placed it in the refrigerator until dinner was over. Then, I simply heated the oven to the instructed temperature and put the cake in for about 15 minutes. Took it out, flipped it upside-down onto a plate and exclaimed, "Dessert is served!" It was literally that easy (which is great for me since I'm not that handy in the kitchen). All 3 of my sister-in-laws gave it a try, both parents, and my husband. All of them enjoyed it and cleared their plates. I had to quickly snap a picture before it was gone:

The cake was moist and the toppings were nice and glaze-y. So.. now you know they all said they enjoyed it but here is my honest, hype-free Bzz Review: I did not like it and wouldn't buy this flavor again. Yikes. So the purchase was easy, the preparation was easy, but I did not like the taste. Again, I am a picky eater so this does not go to say you would not enjoy it. However, I did not like the glaze on top with a mixture of caramel, coconut, and pecans- it just seemed to be too much to me paired with the rich chocolate cake.

I would, however, still like to try that amber honey apple spice pie and pair that with some vanilla bean ice cream... mmm!! I will keep that in mind for the next family get-together because it's so easy to make.. and hopefully available next time at Kroger.

<img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/upsideDownCakes.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=7238570407&Campaign=7070231598&Uid=1107360&token=f4b5e42f2922682441162ec3554ee4d5" alt=""/>

Neutrogena Hand Cream

Getting a manicure is one of my favorite simple ways to pamper myself. However, I am a nurse, so any regular manicure does not really stand a chance through a 12-hour shift. Washing in and out of rooms, I might wash my hands a hundred times in a matter of twelve hours. Combined with this dry, winter weather.. my hands, cuticles, and nails are not happy. One solution I had to this problem is Shellac by CND. These manicures are amazing. They literally last 2 weeks with NO chips which is completely unheard of with my job. Right now my current shellac manicure is 3 weeks old.. it is grown out, so it's not very attractive, but still- no chips! The other issue I have though is keeping that shellac moisturized so that it can last to its full potential. My cuticles, especially, get so dry and start peeling which is so not what I want to see. I especially hate how the hand sanitizer at work gets stuck under my wedding ring so my ring finger is always peeling/flaking from being so dried out.

So I invented a little express manicure at home to keep my shellac manicured hands looking nice between visits to the salon. First, I use a sugar scrub that I have from Bath & Body Works to exfoliate the dead, flaking skin. Next, I moisturize with Neutrogena hand cream for a deep moisture (and not one that just sits on the surface). Finally, I finish off with a dab of cuticle oil on each finger nail and massage it in. I also made a short video to demonstrate this for BzzAgent!

Let me tell you a little more about Step 2: This Neutrogena hand cream is a "hyper concentrated, glycerin-rich formula" that gives long-lasting moisture. I even use this on my lips when chapstick just isn't cutting it. Another nice tidbit is that it is fragrance-free. Sometimes that "unscented" scent lotions have is disgusting and completely deters me from using it. Not Neutrogena.. it literally is fragrance-free. Just pure moisture.

Thanks, BzzAgent, for the awesome free Neutrogena hand cream for me and my friends. It keeps my hands moisturized and feeling soft.

Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf8JvoFCPlw




<img src="http://img.bzzagent.com/image/neutrogena-hand-cream.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=2088085882&Campaign=1107899099&Uid=1107360&token=e568ab7ca723e5ef76c92feafead8b75" alt=""/>

Glade Expressions

I'm sure a lot of people have heard of Glade Expressions by now.. I have seen a lot of commercials, ads, and coupons for it in almost every Sunday paper. I got to do a BzzCampaign for these products, and this sure was one great campaign! I got a free air freshener and a free oil diffuser! I also used a Sunday paper coupon to get a second free air freshener, so I've got a different scent in each bathroom. Here are the different aromas this line offers:

• Cotton & Italian Mandarin (I have this scent in one bathroom- nice, but kind of a strange combination to put a fruity smell with a fresh linen scent)
• Fuji Apple & Cardamom spice (I almost bought this at the store for its "fall" scent, but I don't like the "spice" aspect of this smell.)
• Lavender & Juniper Berry (I usually like lavender, but this has a little bit of eucalyptus in it)
• Pineapple & Mangosteen (I have this one in my second bathroom, and I also got the oil diffuser in this scent... I love citrus and fruity scents!)

The air fresheners do the job, and the oil diffuser was nice. I like the aesthetics of it in that it is not something that people would really notice when walking by it on my decorative shelves. My mom has one of the air fresheners that spray as you walk by (first of all, scares the crap out of you when you're not expecting it, and second, it does not blend in with its surroundings, making it an eye sore).

See? It blends in, doesn't spray you as you walk by, and diffuses a nice scent in the room. My only complaint is that I should have gotten this in a different scent from the bathroom. Having this scent in the living room reminded me of the bathroom, which is not really what I wanted.

I also got lots of coupons to pass to friends, although no one took them. A few of my friends got the coupon from the Sunday paper and got theirs with that.

I enjoyed this campaign and the fresh scents that fill my home because of it.

<img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/gladeExpressions.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=9365102339&Campaign=5855213675&Uid=1107360&token=6ab8cf0358563182a4f14a1a7c13af1b" alt=""/>