Carriwell Seamless Nursing Bra Review and Giveaway

All mothers know from experience that the choice of baby, nursing, and pregnancy products out there can be overwhelming. But that is why I am excited to introduce a great company to you today: Earthy Crunchy Mama because they personally test and hand-select all of their products to make it easier to for busy, tired, and stressed out mothers to know what is out there and what works!

Unlike many other stores, they weed through the countless products on the market and select only the ones they believe to be the best. From there, they provide detailed reviews to reduce the choice down to just what you find most important in plain terms.

I generously received the Carriwell Seamless Nursing Bra.

Imagine a bra that fulfills your every need - comfort, support, style, quality, fit and then add function & convenience. These are all critical elements that will make the difference between a good and a "great" nursing bra. The silky soft breathable microfiber fabric molds to your changing body, whilst skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby is maximized during nursing due to the unique non-inner, cup design. This bares your entire breast when the front cup is lowered providing total skin-to-skin contact, thus enhancing and adding to your joyous nursing experience!

•  No irritating seams or stiff under-wire.
• Suitable for everyday wear and as a sleep bra.
• Simple one-handed release clasp for easy nursing.
• Complimentary bra extender adding to adjustability.
• 3 hook and eye on the back for added comfort and support.
• Soft cup style nursing bras are highly recommended by lactation consultants.
• Perfect to wear under t-shirts due to the seamless, smooth & invisible design.
• The wide under band substitutes under wire i.e. extra support & "lifting"of the breasts.

My Opinion

I have really been stocking up on comfortable nursing bras this time around! I want to make sure I am ready with the best comfort, support and accessibility I can to nurse my daughter!

This Carriwell Seamless Nursing Bra may rank up on the top of my selection of nursing bras for comfort! I love the stretchy material that really will grow (or shrink) with my changing bust size! It is really comfortable to put on and I love the one-handed clasp for easy feeding! I love that you get to choose from Small, Medium, Large, etc sizing instead of actual bra size - that makes it so much easier to get the right fit!

However, this bra is not as supportive as I thought it would be. If you are a larger breast size, this might not be the most comfortable bra for you. If you are smaller, then you will probably love the comfort and you don't have to worry about support as much!

I also wish there was some sort of pad built it or that it was made of a little thicker material. It is REALLY thin material and wouldn't be good to wear under tight shirts unless you wear nursing pads.

Overall, this bra is made for comfort, ease of feeding, and growing and adapting to your changing breast size. I would recommend this bra as a sleeping bra or to wear when you are just being lazy around the house.

Buy It: You can purchase Carriwell Seamless Nursing Bra for $30.95 on the Earthy Crunchy Mama website. 

Win It: Earthy Crunchy Mama is generously offering (1) Carriwell Seamless Nursing Bra to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Carriwell Seamless Nursing Bra
(worth $30.95!!)

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* Thank you to Earthy Crunchy Mama for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Why Gas Prices Go Up and Down

Are you as alarmed by the rising gas prices as I am? Ever wonder what causes gas prices to fluctuate up and down so much? 

Thanks to this great guest post from Check 'n Go, you can find out how the price of gas is determined and what you can do to save money at the pump!

Thanks to Check 'n Go for this great guest post!

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First they're up, and then they're down. And in what seems like moments, they're back up again. Why do gas prices fluctuate so much, who is making all the money, and what is the best way to find the cheapest gas?

How price is determined

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA), “the price of crude oil (is) the main contributor to the large changes in gasoline prices the U.S. has experienced in recent years.”[1]The USEIA website further explains that crude oil prices are greatly affected by supply levels versus immediate and predicted future demand for products made from crude oil.

Crude estimates

Crude oil accounts for 69% of gasoline prices, while refining costs and profits make up 16%, distribution and marketing 5%, and state and federal taxes account for 10%/.[2] Several things can affect the price of crude oil, such as political instability in oil producing nations and natural disasters near production facilities. For example, the threat by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel, is one reason crude oil prices started creeping upwards at the end of 2011.[3]

However you may have noticed that when crude oil prices fall, the price at the pump fails to follow suit, or at least fails to fall as rapidly. Shouldn’t market forces take over, and competing gas stations offer lower prices? The short answer is they can’t.

The cost breakdown of gas

The price for fuel at your local gas station is determined by the oil company whose name is on the sign, and they take several factors into consideration. Individual gas stations make between 10 and 15 cents on a gallon of gas.[4]That’s about a 4% profit margin. A 50% profit margin is what most other retailers strive for, though the word profit is a bit misleading in the term. Before any true profit is realized, overhead has to be taken out, and that includes everything from the cost of the goods and labor, to rent on the store property and utilities. This may explain why so many oil companies got out of the gas station business a few years ago and instead opted to license them to individual owners and regional operators. For the oil companies, the money is all in the black gold, not soda pop and snack treats.

The rise and fall of gas prices at the pump

As to why gas prices don’t fall with the same speed as they rise, no one is quite sure. For years no one could really prove that this was the case, but recent studies by economists show that this is indeed what happens. [5] One economist suggested that the difference in the speed at which gas prices rise and fall has less to do with collusion and price-fixing, and more to with human nature. When gas prices start to fall a few cents, people think they’re suddenly getting a good deal, and don’t shop around. Shopping around is what tends to lower the price of other goods and commodities.[5]

Supply and demand

Economists point out that it’s a simple matter of supply and demand.[6] However, in the past few years oil production in the United States has increased, while demand has gone down.[7] Prices at the pump though, have continued to climb. It really comes down to a combination of factors that, unfortunately, consumers have little control over, even the obvious solution of using less gas. The only workable solution involves doing a little homework.

You better shop around

Shopping around for low gas prices is what you should be doing, even if prices are headed down. The easiest way to do that is to check the Internet. Gasbuddy.com seems to be the easiest site to use. Simply enter your zip code, click, and a list of stations pops up. You’ll then see the price, location and time of the most recent report. To make it even handier, Gasbuddy now offers a mobile app for your smart phone. Mapquest and the Microsoft Network (MSN) also offer gas price location services, but they don’t seem to be as easy to use as Gasbuddy.

Another option is to join the shopper’s club of your local grocery store. Many chains are now offering a per gallon discount on gas either through their own fuel centers, or through a partnering gas station group. In some cases it’s both. You’ll still want to use the gas price websites to shop around though, as occasionally the grocery store fuel centers can run a few cents higher than surrounding stations. Getting in the habit of comparison shopping now will pay off soon as some experts are predicting oil shortages through 2012, which will no doubt drive up the price of fuel.[8]

About the Author:

Check 'n Go has been a leader in online payday loans and check cashing services for over 15 years, helping to build legitimacy to the consumer lending industry through their work with the Consumer Financial Services Association. Check 'n Go sets high standards for responsible and ethical lending in a rapidly expanding cash advance and payday loan business. Check 'n Go works tirelessly to provide consumers with auto title loans, check cashing, payday loans, and other financial needs.

References

[1]“What do I pay for in a gallon of gasoline?” US Energy Information Administration

Web. 31 July 2011 <http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=22&t=10>

[2] “What determines the price of gasoline?” U.S. Department of Energy. Web. 09 August 2011. <http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/faq.shtml>

[3] Tugmen, Lindsey. “The 'dire' Straits of Hormuz for lower gas prices.” TodaysTHV.com. Web. 29 February 2012. http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/198666/288/The-dire-Straits-of-Hormuz-for-lower-gas-prices

[4]Rendon, Jim. “10 Things Gas Stations Won't Tell.” Smart Money. Web. 31 July 2011

<http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/rip-offs/what-gas-stations-wont-tell-you-19750/>

[5] Sullivan, Bob. “Why gas prices go up much faster than they come down.” MSNBC website. 25 April 2011 <http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/25/6527434-why-gas-prices-go-up-much-faster-than-they-come-down>

[6] “Gasoline Price Changes: The Dynamic of Supply, Demand, and Competition.” FTC.gov. Web. 29 February 2012. http://www.ftc.gov/reports/gasprices05/050705gaspricesrpt.pdf

[7] Raz, Guy and Baughman, Brent. “Rancher’s Land Becomes Ground Zero In Energy Fight.” NPR.org. Web 29 February 2012. http://www.npr.org/2012/02/25/147413520/ranchers-land-becomes-ground-zero-in-energy-fight

[8] Schiffman, Betsy. “U.S. Military Warns of Oil Shortage as Early as 2015.” Daily Finance. Web. 31 July 2011. <http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/04/16/u-s-military-warns-of-oil-shortage-as-early-as-2015/> Report PDF: <http://www.jfcom.mil/newslink/storyarchive/2010/JOE_2010_o.pdf >

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* This is a sponsored post brought to you by Check 'n Go. *

Shoplet Duck Tape Review

Shoplet.com has come through for my family again - especially my husband this time - who seems to go through packaging tape like it's nobody's business!!

They have EVERYTHING you need for your business from hand sanitizers and hand soaps to office chairs and office desks and, of course, a huge supply of office supplies. This time they are showing off their great array of packaging tape!

They recently sent me three great items: Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape, Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape w/ Dispenser, and Zebra Printed Duck Tape.

The Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape is frustration-free adhesive that eliminates splitting and tearing when restarting the roll. There are two great features about this packaging tape: the innovative roll-on tape dispenser unrolls quietly and smoothly & and it is easy to apply with one hand. I love how it includes two rolls each and two dispensers plus bonus roll for big jobs. This should last my husband a good long time and it is super easy to use with one hand while you try to hold a box shut with the other!

The Duck E-Z Start Premium Packaging Tape w/Dispenser is also a frustration-free adhesive that eliminates splitting and tearing when restarting the roll. It has the same qualities as the packaging tape I talked about above with an easy start and stop without losing the end of the tape and unrolling quietly! You don't ever have to worry about that annoying splitting or tearing that happens with other packaging tape! I love that!

The Zebra Printed Duck Tape is a printed duct tape which makes it excellent for repairs, color-coding, fashion, crafting and imaginative projects. This tape is so fun and different and can not only be used for taping boxes or projects, but for other craft projects or specially marking items! It is not only fun looking but works too! It offers high-performance strength and adhesion characteristics. The tape tears easily by hand without curling and conforms to uneven surfaces. If you want to change up your boring old packaging tape, then definitely turn to the Zebra Printed Duck Tape!

So as you can see, Shoplet.com has a great selection of different types of packaging type - one for every occasion and amount of taping you need done!

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* Thank you to Shoplet.com for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Ava Anderson Body Care Products Review

I not only love the products from Ava Anderson, but I love the story behind the super safe and chemical-free products she makes!

Ava, discovered at the age of 14, the issue of chemicals in personal care products and their hazardous health effects. The more Ava researched, the more concerned she became. She started a blog to talk about where to find safer products. The market is flooded with “organic”, “natural”, “safe” and “pure”, yet there were almost always toxic ingredients included as well. After throwing out most of her products, her mothers’ and grandmothers’ too, she still had nothing “Ava Approved” to replace them with, or to recommend.

After months of research, Ava realized that she needed to create her own products. Through a family friend, she located a manufacturer with research facilities that could develop and produce products to her standards. It was a great challenge to develop these revolutionary formulas, but with her vision and persistence she succeeded. Ava’s personal care company was launched in December 2009.

Here is a list of Ava's current lines:

avaBODY – hand & body lotion - hand sanitizer - lip balm - hand soap - shower gel - body scrub

avaSKIN –cleanser – toner –moisturizer – exfoliator – eye makeup remover pads – eye cream - lip scrub

avaFACE – lip glosses – lipsticks – mascara - foundation – blush - brushes

avaSUN – sunscreen – lip balm with spf – moisturizer with spf

avaHAIR – shampoo – conditioner – style cream – deep conditioning treatment

My Opinion

I generously received some great products from Ava Anderson! My favorites were the Shower Gel and Hand Soap.

The Shower Gel is packed with organic oils and butters to leave your skin clean, soft and smooth. The consistency is indulgent, the lather abundant, the citrus aroma is organic and the results will exceed your expectations. I love that there are no harmful ingredients that will be absorbed into my skin and I love the lather!

The Hand Soap contains the perfect combination of ingredients to eliminate bacteria while providing the moisture retaining ingredients that skin needs to stay healthy, hydrated and beautifully soft. I feel great using this soap on my hands and my son's little sensitive skin and hands several times a day! I never have to worry about icky ingredients that will be absorbed into his skin!

If you never want to worry about the ingredients in your skin, body, face or sun products again, make sure to check out the safe and effective Ava Anderson products!

Buy It: You can purchase all Ava Anderson products online from the Ava Anderson website. 

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* Thank you to Ava Anderson for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Knock Knock Products Review and Giveaway

I have one of the most fun companies to share with you today - Knock Knock! I could spend hours on their site looking through all their fun, humorous and, most importantly, helpful products!

Knock Knock was founded in 2002 by Jen Bilik with the mission of creating witty, design-driven gift products and books, along with anything else that might strike the Knock Knock fancy.

Their products aspire to bring humor, function, organization, and aesthetics to everyday life. They believe that people are intelligent enough to appreciate wit, wordplay, and conceptual thought. Whether they're producing sticky notes or a volume of thoroughly researched nonfiction, they strive not to dumb down as they create.

My Opinion

I received some very helpful products from Knock Knock: the ALL OUT OF PAD, THE TAKEOUT MENU ORGANIZER and the WHAT TO EAT PAD.

The All Out Of Pad is SO helpful for me when I go grocery shopping! Throughout the week, whenever I run out of something, I can simply just check mark it on the list and that way I don't forget it at the grocery store! It is really helpful for any busy person, especially mothers that have children in tow and other things on their mind!

The What To Eat Pad is so great for me because I usually try to plan our meals out at the beginning of the week. This helps me to stay organized and write down what I need for the week and helps me get prepared ahead of time. This will be so helpful for me when I have my second child because it help definitely help me stay organized and motivated to make meals when all I want to do is sleep! :)

My favorite part about these two pads is that they have magnets that allow you to stick them to the fridge for easy access (or any metal surface).

The Takeout Menu Organizer is so great for de-cluttering our fridge from the many take out menus we had hanging on there! It organizes them so easily by type of food (Italian, Chinese, American, etc) and has little folders for the menus! It also includes a nice May I Order pad that can help write down any orders to help the person making the take-out order! Our kitchen is so much more organized now that we have our Takeout Menu Organizer!

I love the amazing selection of products on Knock Knock's website! My husband and I spent a long time looking through all their fun notes, helpful pads, and humorous products! Knock Knock products could definitely add fun and humor to any office, business, or home!

Buy It: You can purchase all Knock Knock products on the Knock Knock website.

Win It: Knock Knock is generously offering (1) Takeout Menu Organizer and a Pad of Choice to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Takeout Menu Organizer & A Pad of Your Choice 
from Knock Knock 

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* Thank you to Knock Knock for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*