Thumbuddy to Love Review and Giveaway

Thumbuddy to Love Review and Giveaway

Before my daughter was born my husband and I made the decision that we would lot use a pacifier. Apparently she made the same decision in the womb because in just about all of her ultrasound pictures she was sucking her thumb.

At first I thought that this would work out great because I heard horror stories from other parents about losing the pacifier and the crisis that ensued afterwards.  At the beginning it was so adorable to see my tiny baby with thumb in mouth, happily content sucking away while she snoozed.

I had read about how thumb sucking could affect her teeth, how she chews, swallows and even talks.  So I knew that I would eventually have to curtail the thumb sucking but I held out hope that she would grow out of it on her own.  I also noticed how she seemed to easily get cold after cold and it seemed to be linked to her thumb sucking since she was continually touching things then putting her thumb in her mouth.

After her third birthday and seeing no change in her thumb sucking habits, I started researching different methods to assist with breaking the habit.  It took no time to rule out the "no bite" nail polish and other gross chemical products that you put on your child's hand.  I then moved on the researching thumb guards but wanted those devices to be a last resort.  They came across as more of a punishment than a positive motivating way to stop thumb sucking.  They also seemed like they would shame her and be embarrassing to have to wear to school.  

Then I found Thumbuddy to love, a fun and gentle way of encouraging your child to stop sucking their thumb by way of positive reinforcement.

About Thumbuddy
Thumbuddy to Love™ was created by Andrea Van Ness, a former thumb sucker. After her mom tried everything, including bitter tasting thumb polish, it was her grandmother that made her a thumb puppet. It was the positive experience of the thumb puppet and her kind words that encouraged Andrea to stop thumb sucking.
When researching the available thumb sucking products for her son, she was surprised by the lack of friendly, positive teaching tools on the market. She created Thumbuddy to Love™ with the intention of providing a fun, positive learning tool for children . . . then took it one step further and wrote the Thumbududdy to Love™ books (Fireman Fred and Ballerina Sue) along with matching character thumb puppets and created the first positive teaching tool of its kind.

Thumbuddy To Love® is a positive tool that teaches children how to stop thumb sucking.
Thumbuddy to Love™ is a storybook and thumb puppet available in 2 different characters, Fireman Fred for boys and Ballerina Sue for girls. The storybook is read often by parents to teach children to stop sucking their thumbs or fingers. The thumb puppet is worn anytime, including bed time. Each book comes with a weekly success calendar and stickers.

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts
My daughter fell in love with her Ballerina Sue Thumbuddy from the moment it arrive.  She carried it around with her and even took it to school for share day.  We read the book numerous times and we are to the point where she knows the book by memory so now she "reads" it to us.  Because she is a habitual thumb sucker and sucks practically non stop all day every day, I knew this would not be an easy habit to break and not something that would happen overnight but we were prepared for the long haul.  While she loved her ballerina sue, she was hesitant to put it on and keep it on her thumb but she was connecting with her and knew what she was for.  To aid in the process, we have started using one of the suggested tips, provided to us with our Thumbuddy kit, and added a band aid to her thumb.  The combination of Ballerina Sue Thumbuddy and a band aid appear to be our perfect combination.  We have been working with the Thumbuddy for a couple weeks and while she has not broken her habit yet we have seen some improvement and I am looking forward to continued success with Ballerina Sue and the Thumbuddy to love program.

Win It: Thumbuddy To Love has offered a Thumbuddy for one lucky Over Thirty Mommy reader! Thanks Thumbuddy To Love!

Saving Money On Diapers Is Possible

Saving Money On Diapers Is Possible

Babies are a joy surpassed by no other. However, this joy can be very expensive, particularly when it comes to diapers. With a new baby in the home, shopping bills add up greatly and regularly. Couples who were previously living easily on their income often find themselves needing to stretch their dollars as much as possible to keep up with the demands of a new baby.


There are many ways new parents can meet the cost demands of an infant. Some may turn to friends and family to offer financial support during trying times. However, if you shop carefully, you might find you're able to make ends meet on your own. One of the best places to save is on diapers, since they're one of the largest expenses.

Test Drive Multiple Products

There is no one brand of diaper that works best for each family or each child. For some, the store brand diapers are found to be leaky and inefficient. For others, they not only work well, but cost far less than name brand. 


Most supermarkets and large retailers carry their own version of diapers. Try out the least expensive ones to find if your baby can get a good fit. Buy the smallest packages first, as stores will not accept returns of opened diapers.

Buy in Bulk And Save

Babies, especially newborns, can go through up to eight diapers each day. If you find a great deal on a diaper you know and trust, buy as many as you can afford and have room to store. Be sure to save the receipt in case your child outgrows the diapers before you can use them. Most stores accept returns as long as the package has not been opened.


Wholesale clubs can also be an excellent way to find great deals on diapers. These bulk items often save parents enough over the course of a year to more than pay for the membership dues. Your savings will be increased if you can visit wholesale clubs on their "free membership" days. Just remember to buy enough to last you until their next open house.

Graciously Accept Gift Cards

When a new baby arrives, friends and family often want to shower parents and child with gifts of all sizes. Families can politely ask for gift cards in lieu of presents so that they may be able to provide the necessities to their child. Most gift givers will happily oblige.



Load Up on Coupons

Diaper manufacturers know how expensive their products are, which is why they offer significant savings in the form of coupons. New parents generally receive mailers with coupons for diapers, but if you are not on a mailing list, look online. Many sites offer printable diaper coupons that you can use practically anywhere.



Choose Cloth

Some moms decide to avoid disposable diapers completely, deciding instead to use cloth. Though parents will likely spend more on detergent, water, and energy to wash the cloth diapers, over the long run the savings does add up. Because cloth diapers are reusable, there are not last minute trips to the supermarket and no scrounging to pay for a package of expensive diapers.


Cloth diapers are an excellent choice for those on a budget. However, there are many daycare providers that will not allow children to be diapered in cloth. If you decide to go this route, check with your care giver to learn what their rules are about cloth diapers.
The birth of a child should be a time of happiness, not one of financial stress. Ease your burden as much as possible by following one of the budget saving tips offered above. All too soon, the child will grow and diaper woes will be but a distant memory.

Alison Greene is a mother freelance writer and blogs for nowaitpaydayloans.co.uk where you can get quick payday loans in the uk.

Kick Your Cough and Cold to the Curb

Kick Your Cough and Cold to the Curb 

With Maty's Natural Cough Syrup and Cold-EEZE

COUGH:
Don't you hate that time of year where it seems like every other day someone new is coughing around the office.  You know that sooner or later that some is going to be you. 

Now there is a natural cough syrup available that will help ease the tickle and quiet the office. 

Maty's All Natural Cough Syrup

This syrup begins with real antioxidant rich buckwheat honey **Many of Mother Nature’s most powerful immune and support ingredients are then added. Unlike traditional over-the-counter cold medicines and homeopathic remedies, this product is food based; there are no harmful side effects. You can have peace of mind as well as a peaceful night’s sleep!**

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts:  We are partial to natural products in our home so Maty's Natural Cough Syrup was a welcome addition to our medicine cabinet.   The taste was much more tolerable to me that the standard fake grape flavor you usually get.  I like that it is all natural and not chemical based.  

COLD:
Nobody wants to get a cold but just because you do not want one doesn't mean you are not going to get one!  As we all know mom's both stay at home and working, can not afford to be taken down by a pesky cold.  When you find yourself with that first tell tale sign of a cold (mine is an itch in my ear) try Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Oral Spray

Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Oral Spray

The new Cold-EEZE^® Cold Remedy Oral Spray is formulated with zinc gluconate, the same effective active ingredient found in the best-selling, clinically proven and #1 pharmacist recommended Cold-EEZE^® lozenges. The effective proprietary formula reduces the duration of the common cold.

Other key facts include:

• Each bottle contains 90 sprays, that’s 45 doses of Cold-EEZE!  Not only is our new Oral Spray convenient, it’s a great value too!
• The recommended two sprays per usage offer 13.3 mg of zinc gluconate, the same amount of cold remedy as in one Cold-EEZE^® lozenge.
• The new offering is available in a convenient, easy to carry spray bottle.
• Shortens your cold, works fast.
• #1 Pharmacist Recommended.
• Take at the first sign of a cold.

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts: I count my lucky stars and knock on wood but I have not had a full on cold in a few years.  I have not had a chance to try this product first hand but it is waiting in a prominent spot of my medicine cabinet for the unavoidable (especially now that I mentioned my lack of recent colds!) cold that I will be soon getting. 

**Disclaimer: I received a free product in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. Other people may have different experiences with the products.**

Maggies Direct $25 Giveaway

Maggies Direct $25 Giveaway

Maggie's Direct is a Social Networking Shopping website that allows you to earn "social bucks" for your purchases, referrals, and more that can be later exchanged for discounts or even free items. Each social buck is equivalent to $1 product credit for anything on Maggies site including clearance and sale items (they have a big clearance event coming up with up to 75% off).

Their best deal right now is on their hotel collection. Right now you can earn 50% back in social bucks for every purchase made through this exclusive event!  Plus, if you tell people about the event you will earn 10% off any order now and in the future as Social Bucks if they make a purchase.

So, if you have been wanting a down comforter, now if the time to buy! All of their comforters (synthetic and down) are hypo allergenic and the ticking on the down comforters keeps the feathers inside! An example of a deal you can achiev: Their Queen Warmer level comforter has a normal MSRP of $239 plus shipping. Maggie's Direct retail this comforter for $149.  Then you get 50% back in Social bucks or $74. This is like getting a $239 comforter for $75! 

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS (lower 48 states) 

NO MINIMUM PURCHASE!!

Maggies provides you a wonderfully unique shopping experience. They combine an amazing selection (always changing) of high quality products at fantastic prices, with the fun and power of social network shopping (learn more about this here). If you like saving money on high quality items  you’ll love Maggie’s. Their product mix is always growing. Right now you can find fantastic deals on the finest products for you and your home, some of which we manufacture ourselves. They make wonderfully cozy comforters, pillows, and featherbeds, in our own factory in Maine. Check out their bath category for amazing towels, our sleepwear section for super soft pjs, and our new gift & decore area.

Win It:
To celebrate the huge sale, Maggies Direct is giving one lucky Seventeen Sirens reader $25 Social Bucks credit! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, and be sure to come back every day for your daily entries too. Good Luck!

Maggie's Direct $5000 Shopping Spree Announcement

$5,000 GRAND PRIZE!!!!!

 

Every friend you invite to Maggies and who creates a login will count as an entry for you.You can have unlimited entries (if you have that many friends!). No purchase is necessary.

Drawing Date	Last Day to Enter	Prizes
March 31st	March 30th, 11:59pm	$500 Spending Spree $500 for the person who referred the winner
April 30th	April 29th, 11:50pm	$500 Spending Spree $500 for the person who referred the winner
May 31st	May 30th, 11:59pm	$500 Spending Spree $500 for the person who referred the winner
June 30th	June 29th, 11:59pm;	$5,000 Grand Prize Spending Spree $500 for the person who referred the winner

Click here for the official rules.

**Disclosure: I am a pro blogger for Maggie's Direct and am given opportunities to review products in exchange for posts. A review will be coming soon! No other compensation was received and the views expressed are my own.**