Mrs. Patel's Milk Making Treats {Giveaway!}

This post features two things I'm pretty passionate about right now: breastfeeding and tasty treats. Mrs. Patel's is an innovative company that sells handmade treats and teas designed to assist with lactation, and to help with the postpartum healing process. When I heard about Mrs. Patel's products, I was intrigued and had to give them a try! For the purpose of this review, I received a combo pack of Fenugreek bars, two varieties of Milk Water Tea, and a bag of Munch Crunch.

Of course, the very first thing I had to try was the chocolate Fenugreek bar. Holy yum. The flavor is a very unique combination of sweet and savory, and the chocolate has a subtle spicy kick. I'll be honest, it was a little hard to pace myself and just eat one per day. 

Just like with Fenugreek supplements I have taken before, I noticed a slight increase in my milk production within a couple days. The most notable change, though, was that several days after starting the Fenugreek bars, my letdown happened sooner, and I could really feel it happening. Reid was thrilled. He can sometimes be a little impatient while waiting for that initial letdown, so he was a happy little nurser once my milk making treats started to work their magic.

Peanut Butter Fenugreek Bars | Milk Water Tea | Munch Crunch

Oh, and the tea. The tea is so yummy. The chai spice is awesome. Right now, it's the only chai lactaction tea on the market, and it really does work. My supply was already fine by the time I tried the tea, which might have been a mistake because I produced so much milk the day after drinking it that Reid spit up after a feeding, which he never does! Oops. Lesson learned. This stuff is pretty powerful!

Can you tell Reid likes his milk?!

A couple more cool things to point out about Mrs. Patel's: You can save 20% off with your first order using the discount code "MAKEMILK." Also, they have recently launched a line of gluten-free, vegan Fenugreek bars. There's something for everyone!

So, onto the fun part. Who wants to win some milk making treats?! Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck, and happy lactating!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Guest Post: Kendra's Travel Tips!

The sun is finally out, you guys, and that means it's vacation time! We actually have a couple trips coming up. At the end of the month we'll be heading to the beach for a weekend, and mid-June we will be taking a road trip to Michigan (yes, all four of us!) for my little brother's wedding. So, when Kendra Thornton, travel expert extraordinaire, contacted me, I was more than happy to let her share some family friendly travel tips with all of us! Here are Kendra's tips. Thanks for guesting, lovely lady!

Top Tips for Traveling with Children

Summer is steadily approaching and the hustle and bustle of the school year will come to a much needed summer break. For most families, this is the perfect opportunity to schedule some quality time with a family vacation. Taking time to plan for a summer vacation is crucial to ensure you’ll have fun later. Here are five must-know travel tips that can help when preparing for and enjoying this year's family vacation.

What to pack

Packing in layers can be a time saver for everyone on a family vacation. When traveling to a warm destination, the top layer of each suitcase should include swimsuits, to ensure the family can bolt for the pool upon arrival. This is a perfect way to occupy time when the room is not yet available for check in. Oftentimes, hotels will have the rooms ready for check-in after 3pm, which allows for some poolside fun while you wait.

Pool gear: check!

Choose toys wisely

If you are traveling with toddlers, it is important to pack toys for the duration of the trip. They will need multiple choices that can fit easily into carry on baggage and that are amenable to air and car travel. Technological devices that can serve many purposes such as an iPad can be a wise choice. iPads can really be a great traveling companion for all ages as they allow for surfing the web, reading books, watching movies and streaming television shows. There are also a host of educational apps you can download to ensure your children are still learning throughout the summer. 
 

Research your retreat

Your accommodations for vacation can really make or break a trip.  Everything from hotel room service to kid-friendly amenities are key features to consider before picking your palace.  Doing your research before booking a place will not only cut down on issues that could arise during your trip but also reduce your pre-vacation stress.  Knowing your family has a safe place to rest their heads after a long day is key to a wonderful trip.  The best part? If you have access to a computer, this step is free!  Use the Internet to read reviews and forums on the best places to stay in your destination city.  While planning a family trip to Oahu, I was able to read reviews for the best family friend hotels in Honolulu to determine which one met our needs best. The Internet is also the best place to find insider information, such as the best restaurants in the area or the best time to book.

Baggage claim

Choosing luggage that is easily distinguishable from others can be a good way to spot luggage quickly on a conveyor belt at the airport. This can also deter thieves from walking away with your luggage unnoticed. If you are one of the many millions of travelers with a black suitcase this summer, it can be easy to tie a neon ribbon around the handle to make for easy identification. If you have already had the dreaded experienced of losing luggage, you may want something with more security.  GoCodes offers GPS enabled luggage tags that allow you to reconnect with your luggage in the unfortunate event that it gets lost.

Vet your jet

Deciding which airline to use can be tricky with so much to consider: price, layovers, reliability, baggage fees.  When deciding on an airline, do your research.  Many airlines that appear cheaper at first glance, may in fact have hidden fees which hike up the price at checkout.  Look into deals and members options as these can help save.  Many credit cards can accumulate air miles or be shown upon check-in to receive free upgrades! Using the mobile check in features that many airlines offer can save time at the airport and allow more time to relax.  With kids, any extra time getting to the gate will be beneficial.

Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!  

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A Little Instagram Love

Let's be honest, I've been slacking a little in the blogging department. Between work and home, things are a little crazy right now. The kids have taken turns being sick, too, which has added to the craziness but I think (knock on wood) that we are finally on the up and up.

When I'm not blogging, you can usually find me on Instagram {username sbuxsweetie}. Come find me! I'll most likely follow you back. :) Here's a taste of what I've been up to lately, Instagram style.

Are you on Instagram? Please tell me I'm not the IG addict out there. :)

More to come soon, promise!

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iBaby: Kids and Technology

My children are going to be smarter than I am, and I'm okay with that. In fact, that's how I think it should be. Parents want the best for their kids, and in my mind, that means that we want them to do better than we did in our lifetimes. To learn more than we learned. To have better jobs than we had. And in this day and age, to understand technology.

My generation is steeped in technology, yes, but we weren't raised with it the way our children will be. At two years old, Colin can fully navigate our iPhones and "his" iPad Mini with ease. He can turn it on, find an app, adjust the volume, and even find a show to watch on Netflix. He gets upset when we're out of wifi range and Netflix doesn't work. Is it bad that I think it's funny when he hands me the iPad and says "it's broken" because Curious George won't play?

So yeah, my kid pretty much loves technology. And he's already a pro at it, which is either a testament to how smart he is, or how far technology has come. Probably a little of both. I feel like I should add a disclaimer and say that we do encourage imaginative play and outside time, of course, and he isn't glued to the iPad all day long. However, with a 4.5 month old little one to tend to, any good distraction can be helpful. And hey, it's educational, too! One of Colin's favorite apps is called "Endless Alphabet." That app alone has helped him big time with his letter recognition. The other day when a commercial came on TV, he pointed to the screen and named several letters in a row. I am constantly amazed by how quickly he is picking things up.

Basically, I'm a big proponent of encouraging the use of technology from a young age. As parents, we need to use our judgment to make sure our kids are getting involved in enough activities off the couch, but I do think it's really cool that my sons will grow up with these powerful tools at their fingertips. They have a world of knowledge available to them that I didn't have access to as a child. In a society as dynamic and fast-paced as ours is, they need to know how technology works in order to keep up. Just my two cents.

How do you feel about kids and technology? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

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Little Caesars DEEP!DEEP! Dish {Giveaway!}

Oh my gosh, you guys. You're gonna love this one. I've tried to limit sponsored posts lately, but whenever there's pizza involved, I know you won't mind. Am I right?

So, I was recently asked to try Little Caesars' new DEEP!DEEP! Dish Pizza and review it. Tough job, right? Uh, you guys? As soon as I tried it, I regretted eating some Crazy Bread in the car on the way home, because I wanted more pizza! Like any good deep dish pizza should be, it's thick and chewy, with perfectly crispy, caramelized edges and melty, ooey gooey cheese. I kind of want to eat it again, like really soon. Justin and Colin loved it, too!

And the best part? Between 4 and 8 pm, it's available HOT-N-READY, so there's no wait time for you and your hungry family. I picked mine up on the way home from daycare with the kids in the back seat, and was thankful for the fast and easy dinner that night.

So, who wants free pizza?! Little Caesars has generously offered to give a $10 gift card to one of my readers, so that one of you can try the new DEEP!DEEP! dish pizza for free! Not a bad deal! To enter, just use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclaimer: To try Little Caesars' DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza, I was given a $10 gift certificate. I was not compensated for this post in any other way, and my opinions in this review are my own.

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