Calling All Blog Owners!
Do you have a blog? Would you like to partner up with us in our “get a leg up” promotion? We are looking to partner with 20 blogs, offering each blogger a pair of BabyLegs in exchange for adding just 2 hyperlinks to their blog. It’s easy, it’s fast, it’s fun. Want in? Click here [...]
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Mom 4 Life Father’s Day Sale!
Everything in our Gifts 4 Dad category is marked down 10% or more through Father’s Day! Here is a peek at some of the great deals to be had: [bump] Daddy Tee’s $55.95 $50.36 Good Daddies are Hot! Tee by Preggers n’ Proud $30.00 $13.99 Pink Axle Edgy Soft Caps $19.99 $10.50 Baby K’tan Baby [...]
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Nokia Lumia 710 review and giveaway
I have spent the last few months using the new Nokia Lumia 710 cell phone. It was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review and the chance for you, my wonderful reader, to win one for yourself. Here are my thoughts and if you stick with me I will tell you how you can enter to win one at the end 
!
My first impression of this phone was that it felt light and easy to hold in my hand. I could easily talk on this phone for hours if needed (but trust me I don’t do that because I have four little ones that seem to sense mom’s distraction the moment I touch a phone and unpleasant things can happen in a short amount of time!).
The initial setup was very easy to go through and within a few minutes I was ready to make calls. I’ve never used a Windows phone before (my regular cell phone is an iphone) so it took a few minutes to learn where everything was located but Windows has done a great job of simplifying the user interface so you have quick and easy access to the apps you use the most.
I found the phone to be quick and I didn’t experience delays when navigating around. The touch sensitivity was sensitive enough that I didn’t find myself pushing hard on the screen or having to redo motions because it didn’t register. The phone has three main navigation buttons on the front; a back button, home button, and search button. I really like the back button as it works in all the apps and in navigating the Windows screens.
The Nokia comes with a HD lens for taking 5 Megapixel high quality photos and 720p video. In good light the photos and video come out great. The biggest problem is when working with limited light. The camera has a hard time focusing and figuring out the best saturation level to give you the best picture. It does have a built in flash which makes taking pictures in zero light still possible. Overall the camera is good enough for daily use.
The phone comes with some pre-installed apps. For example the social app called People is great because it organizes all your social media outlets (facebook, twitter, etc…) in one hub making it easy to get the latest information at the touch of a finger and without the need to browse different apps.
My favorite app is the Nokia Drive, which is exclusive to the Nokia phone. Its easy to use interface gives you turn by turn directions which are easy to understand. Even in rural areas like Northern Idaho, I found the maps to be detailed and up to date.
The only issue I had with the phone was with finding and installing apps. There is a section called App Highlights but it only gives you access to a few of the most popular apps available. In order to access all the rest of them you need to use a computer to log into Microsofts App website to find and purchase apps. From there they are sent to your phone. I don’t like the fact that a smartphone requires a separate computer in order to access all the available apps for it. UPDATE: I was contacted by the company and informed that “you can access and download apps directly on your device (without using a computer). Tap on the Marketplace icon – it has a shopping bag image. Or you can find it under the app list. From there, you can search and download apps.”
Overall the Nokia Lumia 710 is a well built and easy to use phone. Having a built in HD camera allows you to keep your purse/pockets free from having to carry around an additional device. Microsoft has done a good job with the Windows mobile OS giving users a great alternative to the iPhone.
What about you, what kind of phone do you have and do you like it?
Would you like to win a Nokia Lumia 710 for yourself (or a friend)? If so, simply follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below. We will choose the winner next Monday the 28th and you have several ways to enter (including a daily twitter option). Please note that you can only view the Rafflecopter form if you are on the blog so if you are reading this post via email you will need to click over to the live site). The winner must be a US resident and a T-mobile customer or be willing to switch over to T-mobile’s service. Good luck!
Belly Bandit Sale!
We are excited to announce two new products by Belly Bandit, and we are offering them at 15% off this week! Belly Bandit BFF $79.98 $67.98 Our new revolutionary band is being described by many women as their “BFF”. While it will become your very best friend for 6-8 weeks after you deliver, the B.F.F. [...]
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Embrace your season
Having three babies in under four years, meant that for quite a long while my season in life was steady, constant and well defined. Make babies. Give birth to babies. Take care of babies. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. When we set out on our parenting journey we were very set on the idea of 2 children. [...]
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Artwork worth framing!
I have been meaning to have my kids do some artwork that I could frame for quite sometime. I finally decided this would be the week, no more putting it off. My initial plan had been to let the kids use finger paint to create a painting on scrapbooking paper (or any paper that is [...]
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dusty
Yesterday Jackie beautifully reminded me that I am but dust. When I think about it, I can’t help but agree with her words. However, when I think about dust in my home, on my hands, in my nose, all I want to do is get rid of it, clean it up, blow it away. Yet [...]
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A dusty, dusty day.
I am a firm believer that we were all created uniquely and as such we have have a special story to share with others. Our newest contributing blogger, Jackie McCobb, is no exception. While she could easily be the mom that you connect to at your local MOPS group, her local group of moms is practically a [...]
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DIY: curtain rod art wall
Children’s art work is one of those things that most families with young children have plenty of. it is finding creative ways to display, preserve and not get buried under it that can be a challenge. A few years ago I created an art wall in our home to display the projects that my kids would bring [...]
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Smart Mom Teething Jewelry SALE
Do you live in the Northern Idaho area? Do you love a good deal? Are you busy this Saturday May 5th? Come see me! I will be attending the Dayspring Midwifery Natural Midwives Day Celebration this Saturday at Pilgrim’s Market from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM and I would love to see you there. I plan to [...]
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Decisions that don’t come easy
I remember it like yesterday. The moment when the gravity of being responsible for a tiny, little person hit me like a ton of bricks. Our first son Elliottt was 3 days old, I was adjusting to being a new mamma. The euphoric haze was beginning to wear off. It was nearing bedtime, and out [...]
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4 steps to creating an “art wall” in your home
Last week I shared 7 steps to organizing your child’s art. Now I want to share a fun way to display your child’s art. (Total cost for this project is less than $30.00) 1) Start with a magnetic strip from The Container Store. There are several sizes and styles but the exact one that I [...]
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Frubi Shades Children’s Sunglasses SALE
Our Frubi Shades Children’s Sunglasses are 33% off this week! Patented Frubi Shades with the Ultraguard lens comfortably fit kids 6 months to 6 years old and offer serious (maximum) protection for the eyes of the children you love! FRUBI stands for FRame coverage, Uv, Blue light and Infared. Frubi Shades have an EPF rating of 99.5 [...]
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Confessions of an Introverted Mother
I am so excited to introduce you to another new contributing blogger (can I get a woot, woot ?) Speaking candidly and from the heart is something I treasure in others and Elizabeth is no exception. Today she opens her heart in an honest reveal of self evaluation and as she does so I am challenged to do [...]
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7 steps to organizing your child’s art
Kid’s art work is a fun bonus of having kids. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some tips and ideas on how I keep my kid’s art work from taking over our home. Some of these tips have been shared in the past. However, last year when we switched from TypePad to WordPress for [...]
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…and then I became a mom.
Are you guys enjoying our new contributing bloggers? I feel like our conversation here has been broadened and enriched as these new mommy voices have chimed in and I am loving it. I hope you are too. Today I want to introduce you to Melody. I love that she is a homeschooling mother because I know that [...]
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A gift from God’s closet
Not too long ago you were introduced to Jami Nato, who is now one of our contributing bloggers. Through Jami’s blog I met another lovely woman named Jocelyn. Although Jocelyn is relatively new to our blog, her heart sings the same song as mine in many ways including her love of Jesus. I had the privilege of [...]
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Hooter Hiders and Bebe Au Laits on Sale!!
All of our Bebe Au Lait and Hooter Hider Nursing Covers are on sale! All of our Bebe Au Lait and Hooter Hider Nursing Covers are at least 20% off! All Bebe Au Lait and Hooter Hider Discontinued Fabric Patterns marked down 30%! All of our Organic Simple by Bebe Au Lait Nursing Covers are [...]
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reasons I want to keep my son
This kid is a keeper. Even if he didn’t put every-single-thing he finds on the floor in his mouth (including the floor dust bunnies he collects from under my kitchen stove). Even if he didn’t suck on my chin like a lollipop. Even if he didn’t smile all day long (except for when he is [...]
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MadeOn Skin Care Products: a giveaway and a special offer
As I mentioned previously, I would not typically disclose products that we decide not to offer on Mom 4 Life. However, I have decided to break the silence and make an exception for a few special companies. The first was Savvy Naturals which I spoke of here. The second was Milliwik games.
Today I want to introduce you to MadeOn Skin Care Products.
MadeOn is owned by Renee Harris a mom of–get this–EIGHT kids ages 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 10 (twins), 12 and 14 (isn’t that amazingly awesome)?!
Renee’s products were born in much the same way that many products invented by moms are–out of a need. Renee was in the kitchen a lot (surprise, surprise) and her hands were suffering. She says:
I had the worst pain from the tips of my fingers that were often covered in Band-aids from the cuts and splits from my daily activities and extremely dry skin. My hands were my most important tools, but they caused me intense suffering… until the lotion bar.
Renee discovered that three simple ingredients (coconut oil, beeswax and Shea butter) melted and mixed together to form “hard” lotion would change everything. She discovered that:
Not only did that first lotion bar heal up my skin within days, but we tried it with my son’s seasonal eczema, and I was ecstatic that his pain also ended with the lotion bar.
After this, her discovery took action.
Something that was so easy to make turned into a family business after my older boys and I took it to the farmer’s market for testing. I received great feedback from customers at the market, as well as several online groups who agreed to test it and fill out surveys.
Renee knows her stuff. Not only does she create some amazingly pure skin care products, but she goes above and beyond in extending a wealth of information on her website, blog, YouTube videos and newsletters. The products she makes are simple, so simple in fact that they can be done in your own kitchen and I love how she has taken the initiative to provide easy DIY kits for those who enjoy making things themselves. And for those of us who just want a quality product made from pure, safe ingredients, can simply order Renee’s finished products and enjoy the beautifully wrapped, finished product that comes right to your doorstep.
Around Christmas time a friend and I got together to mix up a large batch of homemade hard lotion bars for gifts using the three ingredients mentioned above. It was fun, but it certainly gave me a new sense of respect for what Renee does. There is a science to the measuring. At fist we used too much Shea butter and it was too sticky. Then it was re-melted and more coconut oil and beeswax was added and even though it wasn’t sticky, it was not as soft as I would like. Then I remembered I wanted to add some essential oil to the bars so I remelted it AGAIN and added some jasmine oil. In the end they turned out nice but I did include a little disclaimer on the gift tag mentioning how they were a little harder than they should be and might be best if used on feet:). In the end, I think it would have been much easier had we opted for the DIY kit that Renee offers. I LOVE her statement here:
I KNOW dry skin and the pain it brings. Because I’ve enjoyed the interaction that I get from my customers, I’ve created DIY videos for the lotion, as well as other products that we’ve developed based on customer request and our own family’s needs. Whether you purchase here, or create your own, give it a try and I believe you’ll be very happy with the results. Let me know how it works for you!
Isn’t that gracious and kind? It is true too, this stuff does work. As a delightful surprise, one friend who was gifted my homemade lotion bars reported back to me that her husband (whose hands suffer from Eczema) was loving my lotion bar and was seeing great results with it as compared to his steroid cream. Later her dog found it and apparently liked it too so let this be a warning to keep your lotion bars away from your pets !
I have tried a few of Renee’s products including her:
-Au Chocolat lotion bars These use cocoa butter instead of Shea butter and offer a lovely chocolate aroma that is simply delightful! I keep a small pocket size bar in my office and in my purse and a full size bar in my bathroom.
-Beesilk Junior lotion bars These are made for more delicate skin that doesn’t need the intensity of hardness and protection that the Beesilk hard lotion bar provides (perfect for babies, young children, or those dealing with extreme skin issues). Beesilk Jr feels more like a lanolin, but with easy application.) Click here to see Renee’s YouTube video of her Beesilk Junior lotion bar.
-Coffee soap which cleverly helps remove kitchen odor such as garlic or onions from your hands! It is made from Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Brewed Coffee, Coffee Grounds, Goat Milk, sodium hydroxide (lye). Click here to see Renee’s YouTube video of her coffee soap.
By now I have a feeling you are ready to get your hands on some of Renne’s products! Well I have good news for you, Renee has generously offered to give away TWO $20 gift certificates to her website AND is willing to offer all Mom 4 Life blog readers a special 10% discount (simply use the code “mom4life” on her website). The discount is good until April 30th.
To enter the giveaway: simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below (you need to be on the blog to see and use the form). There are several ways you can enter so have fun. We will choose our winner next Monday April 16th.
Ah Goo Baby Grab & Go Bag and Plush Pad Sale!
Congratulations to “momoftwins”, who won the Ah Goo Baby Graby & Go Bag from our giveaway last week! Ah Goo Baby Grab & Go Diaper Bag Retail Price: $33.99 $27.19 The Grab & Go Bag by Ah Goo Baby is the smart, compact diaper tote to carry all of your daily essentials. Magnetic closures, anti-microbial interior lining, [...]
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is today making a forever memory?
I remember a green felt dress, a moment that I farted and cried when others laughed at me, a ballon tied to my blanket at nap time. . . Isn’t it interesting to look back into your childhood and wonder at the snippets of memories that surface? They can seem so random (why do I remember the interior of [...]
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you have an important job to do.
an important aspect of mothering that often gets overlooked.
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Ah Goo Baby Grab & Go Bag – A Mom 4 Life Giveaway
This week we are giving away a brand new Mom 4 Life product. Ah Goo Baby is the proud maker of the Plush Pad, and now they’ve introduced a great new, economical diaper bag that will hold everything you need on the go. Enter the giveaway below and click here to learn more!