Archive of ‘SoCalSavvyMom’ category

Why we LOVE the Munchkin LATCH bottle

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Tracking PixelMunkchkin has done it again, they have come up with an amazing new product every new mother must have!  As most of you know when you are exclusively breastfeeding, one of the biggest worries is finding the perfect bottle to feed your baby milk that is pumped.  Babies are used to their mother’s breast and when you offer anything else they usually are not happy.  We all know it is frustrating when we know our child is hungry but won’t eat.  Why child, whyyyyy? If you are hungry won’t you just take any bottle?  No, babies are very particular and they won’t take just anything.  With so many choices out there it is often hard to find out which bottle your baby will take.  If you are anything like me, you have bought a plethora of baby bottles hoping your baby will like at least one. My prayers have been answered because Munchkin has sent over the new LATCH bottle for us to use and go over everything we like about it in this sponsored post.

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The Munchkin LATCH bottle seems to have completely figured it out for us!  This bottle, is specially designed for breastfeeding babies, which makes it easier to go from breast to bottle and back to breast without skipping a beat.  When nursing, it is all about the latch, making sure the nipple is reaching the back of the baby’s mouth. LATCH has a unique accordion style nipple to move with baby’s mouth.  This nipple flexes, stretches, and moves just like a mothers breast would.  Since the nipple moves when baby moves her head, the nipple moves with her so she will not lose her latch and ingest air.  She has complete control of milk flow by applying pressure to the base of the nipple. The LATCH bottle also has a one-way, anti colic valve at the bottom which allows air flow to enter without causing bubbles reducing colic, as seen below.

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Something terrific about this bottle is how easy it is to assemble. The nipple, the collar, the anti-colic valve, and the bottle!  That is it, 4 easy parts and you are done!  It is an exciting thing when you don’t have to search high and low around the kitchen looking for small pieces that some bottles require. I love that this bottle offers colic reduction with just four easy parts.  It is a blessing for mother and baby!

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The very first time using this bottle my son took to it right away.  No hesitation whatsoever. No air, no gas, no fuss! It made for a good nights sleep for this mama and baby.

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As a special offer to SoCal Savvy Mom’s readers Munchkin is offering free shipping at Munchkin.com with the purchase of any LATCH bottle or pacifier using the code LOVELATCH, the code is valid now until 12/31/14 (one per customer; U.S. residents only please).

This amazing LATCH bottle system is also available both in stores and online at Babies R’ Us.

This Express Yourself post is brought to you by Munchkin LATCH as part of the #LoveLatch campaign.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Beautiful Holiday Cards at Minted

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Holiday cards are the beginning of the holiday season for our family, every year we send cards to our friends and family around the globe. It is one of my favorite things to do, it helps get me into the holiday spirit.  Living in Southern California it doesn’t often seem like Christmas time when it is 75 outside so starting my holiday card shopping early helps.  What is great about getting your holiday card shopping done early may be not having to worry about it in December or maybe the extra money you can save!  For us it is both, and my main problem is which card to choose?  Minted is fantastic because there are so many options, do you want your cards printed on 100% recycled paper?  No problem!  Minted will even pre-print all of your addresses FREE of charge for a limited time only.  Take advantage of this great free option most online retailers will charge you at least $20 extra for this option.

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This card is a picture of my husband and I on our annual vacation in San Jose del Cabo at a farm to table restaurant called Flora Farms. It was our favorite restaurant while on vacation this summer and one of the highlights of our trip, as you can probably tell by the huge smiles on our faces.  My favorite feature on the Deco Lines Foil-Pressed is the real foil which sparkles!  A card that shines is my kind of card.

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The Family Snap Shots card is in the top spot for me!  One of the reasons I love this card is you can incorporate lots of pictures from throughout the year. I included a surfing contest where my son won first price during his surf camp.  A family picture from earlier in the year, a picture of our son on a beach on our vacation and I even included our wedding picture which was ten years ago this December!  Being able to add little captions under each picture is another reason I really love this card.

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The card above the Southern Accent Holiday Card, is a fun card with great holiday cheer.  The picture with santa and the ho ho ho matched perfectly for this holiday card!

Minted has all types of cards from holiday, Christmas, New Years, and corporate cards, there are of course photo cards as you see above but also a wide variety of non-photo cards.  There are a few different designs that say “Happy Everything” which I believe is so clever sometimes you are sending a card and you don’t know what someone is celebrating.  All of the cards are made by designers and Minted has really done something incredible for the art and design communities around the country.  Choose your Minted Holiday Cards this season!  For a limited time Minted is offering 15% OFF HOLIDAY ORDERS $150+, 10% OFF $100+. USE JOY14 | THE FREE FOIL EVENT: 20% OFF FOIL-PRESSED CARDS. USE FOIL2014.

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Coaster Holiday Express! Ride the train with Santa!

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For tickets for the 2017 Coaster Holiday Express click here

 

To find the updated link for 2016 please click here.

See the 2015 post on the Coaster Holiday Express by clicking here.

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Families can take a ride on a magical holiday train with Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends on Saturday, December 6. North County Transit District’s Coaster Holiday Express is a specially decorated train ride that features photo opportunities with Santa and classic carol singing for children of all ages. Each 65-minute Holiday COASTER Express ride travels non-stop and roundtrip from Oceanside to Solana Beach. The ride is recommended for families with children between the ages of 3 and 10.

Last year we had so much fun taking our son on the Coaster Holiday Express!  It is only $8 per person this year with departure times of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. from the Oceanside transit center.  Please note tickets are not available day of and it will SELL OUT AND FAST!  Tickets may be purchased on Wednesday, November 12th in person at a transit center or online here.

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A Caring Conversation

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Whether we like it or not there may be a time when someone we love will not be able to care for themselves.  Having Care Conversations to prepare for a loved one or spouse is just as important as their medical treatment.  Have any of these care conversations happened to you?

  • I have two sisters, but I feel like I’m alone in caring for our aging parents?
  • My husband says he doesn’t want to talk about the future, and gets angry whenever I bring it up.  What can I do?
  • I talked to my father but he said not to worry about it…
  • When should I have a care conversation with my family?
  • My family can’t agree on a care plan for my grandmother.  Conversations are becoming very unproductive.

These conversations are difficult and with the help of Care Conversations it will turn an unproductive conversation into a positive and productive conversation that every family needs to have.  Care Conversations connects us with advice from long-term care professionals (doctors, nurses, home care, skilled nursing facilities) to give the best options for our loved ones.

My family had this discussion with my grandmother after my grandfather passed away.  At the time we didn’t know what to ask or where to go, but after using Advance Directives we found what was the perfect fit for her and for us.  My son and I visited her often, usually a couple of times a week just to stop in and visit with her.  I loved that she was just a few miles down the street from us and she was able to see my little boy (her only great-grandchild) often.

Another main concern when choosing a facility is the cost!  WOW, some can be pretty pricy but there are actually a few payment options many people don’t know about.  Many insurance companies (depending on the plan) will help with the cost, and Medicare and Medicaid are usually a good place to start.  When deciding on what you need be sure and ask how long the benefits will last?  If you are in the beginning stages of Planning and Preparing please watch the video below.  I know it will be helpful for not only you but your loved one as well.

This is a sponsored post by care converstations, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and stories are true. 

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Bates Nut Farm – Christmas on the Farm

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This Saturday, November 8, 2014 and Sunday, November 9, 2014 Bates Nut Farm will host “Christmas on the Farm”   

The fun day starts with a pancake breakfast actually an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast!   Provided by the Valley Center Lions Club. $6 adults/$5 children and it runs from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.   Enjoy pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee and orange juice. Proceeds benefit local charities.

From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the event will run.  If you want to start your holiday shopping early, Bates Nut Farm’s “Christmas on the Farm” Arts ‘n Crafts Fair is the place for you!  With over 80 artisans selling a variety of handmade crafts and fine art, the hardest decision will be what not to purchase!  Take a break from the shopping and enjoy some great BBQ and listen to Calico Ridge on the Bates stage from 12:00 -3:00. Pony rides and the Bates Petting Zoo are sure to be popular with the kids. Admission and parking are free.  For more information click here.

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Home for the holidays collection with Febreze

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Febreze has just introduced the new line of home for the holidays scents and we can’t get enough.  The true smell of the holiday season in our house is the smell of a Christmas tree, what better scent is there than that?  Although it is still November I already have the frosted pine scent filling our home.  Walking inside from the cold and being welcomed by the scent of fresh pine is what being home for the holiday’s is all about.

There are limited edition scents this year including apple tart and frosted pine both may be found at Walmart.  Get inspired with delicious cocoa-dusted almonds.  The recipe is now one of my favorites!  All the things I love are included in this recipe, almonds, coconut oil, cocoa powder and I added a touch of cinnamon to mine.  BE AWARE making these will make your entire house smell like heaven.  To see all of the new limited edition Febreze holiday collection click here.

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Walmart is offering a gift card to one of our readers!  Simply leave a comment on this blog post on what is your favorite holiday scent.  SheSpeaks is also hosting a giveaway for a $50 gift card to Walmart, to enter their giveaway click here.  For the SoCal Savvy Mom giveaway to Walmart just leave a comment below what scent reminds you most of the holiday season.

This is a sponsored post by SheSpeaks, and Febreze, products were supplied for review, all opinions are my own.

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