A Quick Family Update

Just a quick post to update on what we've been up to lately as I haven't been able to post as often as I'd like to lately!  Here's what's been going on with us lately:

GiggleBuzz is in overdrive, and I've been super busy bow making and running around to craft shows lately.  I unfortunately find that I can't really "create" more time, and so, as business picks up there, things slow down a bit here.  Good news is, in just a few short weeks - I'll be shutting down until after the holidays and will be able to snuggle in to more active blogging!

Brayden and Julie are doing so very well.  I can't believe that they'll be two in just about a month!  We're planning on a small family party for family on the day of or day before their birthday, and then a party for our playdate friends the next month.  I guess I need to start browsing Pinterst for some ideas!

They've both been making great progress working on speech with Early Intervention.  Our new words list includes the following:

Brayden - All animal sounds (including dogs, cats, dinosaurs, bees and pirates), Up, Dada, Mama, Blue ("bwew"), duck, Pap, Yum, "ahhh" (after drinking), Thank You, Uh-Oh, Bye and can sign "all done" and "more"

Julie - Dada, Mama, Square, Dog, Pap, Nana, Up, Car, Uh-Oh, Oh-No, Bye, Please, Cheese, some attempts at Hello (which really sound like "How"), Why, something that sounds like Bubble, Hair, Eyes, Nose, Ear, Cold.  She's doing super really...

We've been doing a little traveling - to Baltimore to see my gorgeous little niece, and Dan and I will be heading to Puerto Rico next week for a friend's wedding.  It's a bittersweet trip - thrilling to have a tropical vacation despite the Pittsburgh snow, but sad to leave the kids for a special holiday.

I have yet to begin holiday shopping, so this is really going to be the time to hussle up with three family birthday's and Chistmas in the same month!  So thankful for online shopping because I'd speculate 90% of our gifts will be purchased this way!

Also, just a quick note of thanks for your patience and understanding for the more frequent occurrence of sponsored posts lately.  I love that I'm able so be a stay at home mom, and DO love blogging just to record our everyday experiences.  It is so nice though to occasionally partner with a brand (that I do truly love and respect) and earn a few dollars for the time I spend writing, photographing and promoting their post and giveaway.  I know you don't come here for a commercial, but hope you occasionally do learn of a new product you love from my reviews!

I think that's the "quick and dirty" hello - I'm looking forward to posting some new and interesting holiday content very soon!

We're ready for Christmas with WOW Antlers

I can hardly believe we have less than 35 days before Christmas.  How did fall fly past me so quickly!

So we're planning to decorate the house this weekend, but my van is already fully ready in this super cute pair set of WOW Antlers.  They were super easy to install, and really make me feel like I'm in the holiday spirit!

These festive antlers include multiple LED lights and a battery pack to really light up your holiday driving!  

Attaching securely to the side window, it was super simple to install.  Simply roll down your window, clip over the side, and roll up!  It literally took me five minutes to get everything out of the box and onto the car.

One QUICK word of caution.  If you have these weather gaurds on your front windows as I do (above) - I'd recommend choosing another window to install.  I hadn't considered it and the result wasn't so great.

Adding the peppermint plush nose in the front with a wire into the grill decoration was the finishing touch to make my van ready to pull Santa's sleigh (or load full of toddlers) The kids really got a kick out of them and I can't wait to drive around with them all lit up as we checkout Christmas lights this year!

There's still plenty of time to order a set for your favorite vehicle.  They even have antler sets for bikes!  To order, visit their site at WOW Car Antlers or pick up a set at Pep Boys or Autozone!  Be sure to connect with Wow Antlers  on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest on social media! Want a set for yourself or a friend?  You'll be excited to know we're giving one away!  Enter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway

An App for Families in our Scary World - React Mobile Review

There were lots of anticipated life changes when I first had the babies - less sleep, fewer nights out, lots and lots of love.  One of the biggest surprises to me was the sense of total and utter vulnerability - suddenly the world was a scarier place than it had ever been before.

Just a few years ago here in Pittsburgh, a woman and her 16 month old daughter were abducted from the parking lot of a poplar shopping center in one of the most elite neighborhoods.  Her story of terror and sexual assault are horrifying.

Our vulnerabilities come from such a deep realization that despite our best intentions - our attempts at high tech car seats, the best preventative medicine, and our most over protective 6th sense -we can never fully protect ourselves or our children from all the dangers in this world. I too have carefully packed my children into my car in that very same shopping center.  It could be be me tragically sharing my story.  If you let it, the fear can be almost paralyzing.

When I was introduced to React Mobile, I knew it would become an invaluable resource for our family.  React Mobile is a free safety app that allows iPhone and Android smartphone users to turn their phone into a powerful security device.  Just the peace of mind that I get from knowing this technology is here to support me, is tremendous in easing my motherly anxiety.

There are two major ways to utilize the app - the Follow Me function for times when you simply want to be tracked "just in case" - and the SOS Alert function for when you feel the need to alert your chosen contacts, social media and authorities that you are in danger.

The Follow Me function is one that sets React Mobile apart and is perfect for every day use of anyone who  might be a potentially unsafe or uncomfortable situation.  Fellow users (of your designation) can track you in real time, making sure that you are on your way to reaching your destination safely.  This would be perfect for parents tracking children, family tracking college students walking home from the library, anyone leaving work after hours in a parking garage or personally, for coming home after late night Moms Night Out events.  As someone can become "hyper-vigilant" in potentially dangerous situations, this setting eases my fears in knowing that my mom or husband can virtually walk me to my car and ensure that I make it safely.

We all hope we'll never have to use it - but another important feature of React Mobile is the SOS Alert feature, which with a push of the button, you can silently send a silent alert that you are in danger with GPS coordinates to where you can be found.  Prior to needing to send this alert, you will designate the contacts to which it would be sent.  The system can email and text family members, post to your social networks to broaden your reach, and will prompt a call to 911.  This can happen within seconds and all with the touch of a button.  And don't worry if you accidentally set off the alert - it can be disabled with a security code if need be.

For institutions like businesses, schools and universities, React Mobile even offers the opportunity to add private labeling to help you customize the app to ensure the protection of your staff and students.

Watch this short video to see how simple React Mobile is for anyone to use.  International travelers can even rest assured that React Mobile is there with them where ever they go - with coverage in 39 countries.  While you can never fully prevent scary things from happening to you or your children, a good offense is the best defense and being prepared with React Mobile is a great step towards protection.

To download this amazing free gps safety app, follow the links below:

- Apple iTunes Download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/react-standard-edition/id522851588?mt=8

- Google Play Download (available on select smartphones): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.reactmobile.lite 

We're so thankful to have found React Mobile and share this potentially life saving technology with you - our readers.  Think about the loved ones in your life -with whom should you share this app?  At the very bottom of this post (under the suggested posts) there are links to help you share to facebook or by email.  Take a moment and spread the word.  Your quick share might make all the difference in protecting the life of someone you love.

To help us spread the word about this fantastic app, React Mobile is offering a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one of our readers!  Enter using the Rafflecopter Form below.

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Sweet and Simple Redecorating with CozyWallArt

This fall has been a BUSY time in my little studio, making hair bows until my finger prints wear burn off.  I've found the white walled room a little stark though, isolating and uninspiring as I worked at my table facing the blank wall.  Small improvements were made - a candle, more lights, my tablet occasionally propped on the table streaming netflix for some company.

I knew there were many improvements to make, but I simply didn't have the time for a DIY creative solution and needed something simple but somewhat large to fill the empty wall space.

I was thrilled then, to be offered the opportunity to try a beautiful piece of wall art from CozyWallArt.com!  When browsing the site, I came across an image I absolutely fell in love with the Birds Resting on Ribbon Wall Decal.

With three birds sitting together, it reminded me of my own two little "birds" and me - smiling together with hearts full of love.  It also is a reminder of one of my favorite songs to sing to my kids - Way Up High by DidiPop which tells the tale of love birds who meet in the trees and start a happy family together.  So this wall decal was just perfect for us!

I thought installing the piece would be more of a challenge - but it was really SO simple!  It came with great instructions that made the process super simple.

The decal is backed with two sheets of paper backing on both sides. So first, (after lightly washing the wall with a wet rag) we lined tacked the decal to the wall using painters tape.  Using a level, we made sure that our image was straight and right where we wanted it to be.

With a larger piece of tape in the center, we removed the thicker backing between the decal and the wall on one half of our wall art.  Starting from the center and working outward, we used a credit card to press out all the bubbles and ensure the graphic stuck to the wall.  Next,we did the other half.

Finally, we removed the protective thin paper backing on the other side of the image - and that was it!  The whole process took us about 20 minutes and went off without a hitch.

I absolutely adore the end result.  While we could have chosen any color for our image, I think the red on white just looks perfect for this project.  While I think it was much easier with two people, this project could even be done alone in a pinch.  We chose the large (47" x 20") size since we had such a large open space, but with a variety of sizes, theirs bound to be the perfect size for your project!

Isn't this just adorable?  We even decided that the bird on the left must be Julie, is just excited about life with her hands in the air.  I just know this image will offer me the warmth of family and a sweet source of inspiration as I sit crafting away in my studio.

CozyWallArt.com is offering a special coupon offer for our readers.  Enter the code TakeswithTwo20 during checkout and receive 20% off all products.  What a special idea for a Christmas gift or for someone decorating a new baby's nursery!  Act fast though, the coupon code expires December 30, 2013.

Thanks so much to Cozy Wall Art for allowing us to review such a beautiful piece of wall art!  We are so excited to share that they're offering one of our readers the chance to win a $75 gift code to choose their own piece of wall art!

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Don't forget to vote for us every day using the links below.  Your vote helps us offer more great content and giveaways!

Happy Halloween!

It's officially Halloween and we've been having a blast celebrating the season already.  Just wanted to share a quick glimpse of some of the ways we've celebrated!

We celebrated with our awesome playdate group for a super fun Halloween Party!

We painted pumpkins (and ourselves) to add a little color to our day.

We visited Triple B Farms and LOVED sliding on their slides, visiting the animals and the pumpkin scarecrows.

We baked and decorated and ate Halloween Cupcakes!

We rode through our neighborhood to participate in the community Halloween Parade.

We visited Simons Farm and went Apple Picking.

And of COURSE - we went to the pumpkin farm!  Check back from pictures from that too - as soon as I locate the memory card.  oops!