October 29, 2015

SHINE Blog Hop #71


When I started blogging, my intentions were pretty simple: to document my adventures as a first time mom. I didn’t like keeping a baby book, and though photography was a glorified hobby of mine, the thought of arranging pictures chronologically in an album was too daunting of a task for me to undertake. 

So, I blogged. I put my words onto paper, hit publish and hoped that someone out there felt the same way I did—was as unsure and scared as I was (and still am), who ran into the same road blocks and challenges I did as a mother. 

Time passed, and as my daughter grew, and so did this blog. I learned so much, not only about blogging, but about parenting in general. And what astounds me is that my most treasured parenting knowledge came from the very people that I wished for when I started—moms who were just as scared, just as unsure. Moms who were going through the same journey I was. 

I can’t say it enough, but I love the community that I quite literary fell into. I’ve grown so much while being in it.And aside from my chronicled memories of motherhood with my daughter, what I value most through this blog is the people I’ve met. What they’ve taught me and how they’ve helped me grow. 
So to say that I’m honored to be co-hosting Shine Blog hop for the very first time this week is an understatement. I was no more than a participant a little over a year ago. Jennifer commented on a post I’d shared and within a few clicks I discovered SHINE. I was an avid blog hopper, but I knew instantly this was something special. The content was valuable, helpful, encouraging, and the people that I’ve met, especially Jennifer and Tiffany, were so encouraging and supportive. This fact alone made me come back week after week, after week. I was (and still am) proud to belong to this community that was so carefully honed and crafted by these two lovely ladies. They quite literally, with no pun intended, made me SHINE as a blogger, as a writer, and as a mother. And I owe them a debt of gratitude for that. 

I know it’s customary for the host to say “welcome” to a blog hop, but seeing as how much SHINE impacted me, I want to take my first time up here to say thank you to Jennifer and Tiffany for allowing  me to spread their this wonderful message they’ve crafted. I know no one’s perfect, but I’ll try my hardest to contribute the best to this community that so graciously embraced me. 

And to the SHINE participants, old and new, I express my gratitude as well. For your kind words, support and contributions to this blog hop. It is due, in part, to you that I’ve learned so much, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you, and hopefully make you SHINE brighter as well...

Now let's SHINE!

The SHINE Blog Hop is a weekly link up of family friendly posts that have been posted on different websites around the internet. You can add your links (if you’re a blogger). If you’re a non-blogger, then please feel free to visit the featured posts and/or visit any of the links that are of interest to you. Comments on this or any posts are always welcome!
SHINE Blog Hop #71

We would love to connect with you on social media!

Hosts for the SHINE Blog Hop

Tiffany | A Touch of Grace can be found on:


Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom can be found on:


Maria | Collecting Moments can be found on:

   {Facebook}  {Pinterest}  {Instagram}  {Google+}  {Twitter}

Feel free to grab one of our fancy buttons too!
<div align="center"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://thedeliberatemom.com" title="The Deliberate Mom" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j452/deliberatemom/SHINE225.jpg" alt="The SHINE Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>


October 20, 2015

Idea Box Link Party: Week #34 (Guest Co-Host-October)


Happy last week of October, everyone! Since it's my last week of guest co-hosting Idea Box, I just wanted to take this time and thank Mila, Carole, Christy, Danielle, and Cyndee for allowing me to join in on the fun this month. It's been such a blast and I loved every minute of it. I hope you did as well. Thanks so much for partying with me through this blog hop.  Hope to see you again soon :)

"The hosts of Idea Box are happy to announce that we have two guest hosts for October! Please help us welcome our new blogging pals Gabby and Maria!"





Meet October's other guest host:

Gabby is a lover of all thing cute, cuddly, sweet and colorful. She prefers to be in the kitchen but loves to take adventures! Gabby is a free lance social media director around Hickory, NC and also runs a store called Mattie’s Pantry with her mom. Gabby does various jobs but loves every minute of
it! She loves to talk and her mind constantly runs a mile a minute. Welcome, Gabby!




About Idea Box Link Party:
Idea Box is a new weekly link party for bloggers to share all of their creative posts---recipes, home decor, DIY projects, gardening tips, good advice... Whatever your creative heart desires. The link party is now open from Thursday at 6am until Monday at 6am---plenty of time to party!



October 15, 2015

Idea Box Link Party: Week #33 (Guest Co-Host-October)


Hello everyone! So excited to be joining these lovely ladies in co-hosting the Idea Box Linky for the month of October! As a fellow participant on the Idea Box, I'm beyond elated to be on this side of the table! I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to this week :) Have a great Thursday and a wonderful rest of the week :)

"The hosts of Idea Box are happy to announce that we have two guest hosts for October! Please help us welcome our new blogging pals Gabby and Maria!"





Meet October's other guest host:

Gabby is a lover of all thing cute, cuddly, sweet and colorful. She prefers to be in the kitchen but loves to take adventures! Gabby is a free lance social media director around Hickory, NC and also runs a store called Mattie’s Pantry with her mom. Gabby does various jobs but loves every minute of
it! She loves to talk and her mind constantly runs a mile a minute. Welcome, Gabby!




About Idea Box Link Party:
Idea Box is a new weekly link party for bloggers to share all of their creative posts---recipes, home decor, DIY projects, gardening tips, good advice... Whatever your creative heart desires. The link party is now open from Thursday at 6am until Monday at 6am---plenty of time to party!



Idea Box Link Party: Week #32 (Guest Co-Host-October)


Hello everyone! So excited to be joining these lovely ladies in co-hosting the Idea Box Linky for the month of October! As a fellow participant on the Idea Box, I'm beyond elated to be on this side of the table! I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to this week :) Have a great Thursday and a wonderful rest of the week :)

"The hosts of Idea Box are happy to announce that we have two guest hosts for October! Please help us welcome our new blogging pals Gabby and Maria!"





Meet October's other guest host:

Gabby is a lover of all thing cute, cuddly, sweet and colorful. She prefers to be in the kitchen but loves to take adventures! Gabby is a free lance social media director around Hickory, NC and also runs a store called Mattie’s Pantry with her mom. Gabby does various jobs but loves every minute of
it! She loves to talk and her mind constantly runs a mile a minute. Welcome, Gabby!




About Idea Box Link Party:
Idea Box is a new weekly link party for bloggers to share all of their creative posts---recipes, home decor, DIY projects, gardening tips, good advice... Whatever your creative heart desires. The link party is now open from Thursday at 6am until Monday at 6am---plenty of time to party!



October 11, 2015

4 Things to Consider About Toddler Dinnerware {Re-play Product Review}



Re-play products have been a staple at our home since my daughter started eating solid foods exclusively. I stumbled upon them because of my mother-in-law, and since then, I’ve never looked back. There’s plenty to love about their merchandise—they’re practical, functional, and even lovely to use. 
So, when Re-play contacted me for a product review of their set, I was more than willing to oblige. However, I also wanted to share how these plates fit into our criteria when we were searching for the perfect dinnerware for our daughter.  As new parents, we considered these 4 things in our quest to find the best toddler dinnerware for our Little Lady:


Toddlers may be tiny, but they can accumulate dishes pretty quickly. Between mealtimes and snack times, your sink will often be filled with little bowls and plates than you what to do with, and with even less time to wash them. That’s why we wanted to purchase plates that were dishwasher safe. We figured: it will save us plenty of time and sanity, especially with a demanding toddler in tow. If by chance, we couldn’t find any that suited our needs, purchasing a set that will scrub clean and easily is the next best thing. In a world where trial and error with food occurs almost daily, we wanted to make sure that whatever you’re putting on your child’s plate will be easily cleaned, either in the sink or in the dishwasher.

That’s why we were lucky with our Re-play plates. Not only are they top rack dishwasher safe, but , they’re #2 plastic grade material as well,  making them easier to scrub. Whether it’s chicken parmesan,  or spaghetti and meatballs, these plates and bowls have not met a stain they can’t repel. In fact, I’ve been using my set of plates for a few months now, and they still look good as new, without a chip or stain in sight.

In addition, Replay products are also environmentally friendly. In fact, all their products are made from re-purposed milk jugs, making each plate, bowl, cup, and utensil BPA free, Phthalate Free, PVC free choice, a feature we were conscious about when purchasing any type of eating or drinking gear for our little one.

Keep in mind that the BPA compound is present in some plastic materials, and can, in turn, be seeped into anything it comes in contact with—including food. This compound can cause possible health issues for you and your little one, so be sure to read labels carefully. 

Form and function is also an important factor when choosing the best toddler dinnerware. No matter what product you pick, make sure that it works for you and your family’s overall routine and lifestyle.
In my family’s case, Re-play's functionality and practicality fits in perfectly. Their divided plates was a helpful tool for us to ensure that our daughter was eating a balance meal and her portions were just right. Their snack stacks are another favorite. Though they look small, these containers hold necessary food items without taking up too much room in a bag, stroller or car seat. In fact,  I’ve used them to take snacks to the park, and even lunch on an afternoon outing. It’s convenient enough to stash in a diaper bag, and even more so when you stack it with another. Their utensils are also a great stepping stone for toddlers who are just getting familiar with using them. Their spoons and forks are lightweight, and their size is optimal for little hands trying to scoop and prod food into their mouths.

This was by far our biggest criteria to fill. It’s important to keep in mind the longevity of the product that you’re purchasing, especially when food and mealtimes are concerned. A child’s needs with food changes so rapidly, it’s sometimes difficult to keep up, not to mention expensive as well. So, when considering meal time sets, we wanted to make sure what we were purchasing something that had options—a product that can grow with the our daughter This way, our time, effort and money will be well spent it in the end.

 In the case of Re-play, these options are readily available. Their colors alone are optimal—from the simplicity of their whites to the vibrancy of their reds and blues, you can mix and match various colors to suit your needs.   Their plates are also practical at every stage. They offer a divided set for little toddlers, and also flat plates for those who are slightly older. Their cups are also multifunctional. Their no spill spout is removable when its time to move up to the next step, all the while keeping the same cup handy.

Sharing my post here



Disclaimer: Re-play provided me a set of plates, bowls, cups and utensils to review. All opinions are my own.

October 8, 2015

Idea Box Link Party: Week #31 (Guest Co-Host-October)


Hello everyone! So excited to be joining these lovely ladies in co-hosting the Idea Box Linky for the month of October! As a fellow participant on the Idea Box, I'm beyond elated to be on this side of the table! I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to this week :) Have a great Thursday and a wonderful rest of the week :)

"The hosts of Idea Box are happy to announce that we have two guest hosts for October! Please help us welcome our new blogging pals Gabby and Maria!"





Meet October's other guest host:

Gabby is a lover of all thing cute, cuddly, sweet and colorful. She prefers to be in the kitchen but loves to take adventures! Gabby is a free lance social media director around Hickory, NC and also runs a store called Mattie’s Pantry with her mom. Gabby does various jobs but loves every minute of
it! She loves to talk and her mind constantly runs a mile a minute. Welcome, Gabby!




About Idea Box Link Party:
Idea Box is a new weekly link party for bloggers to share all of their creative posts---recipes, home decor, DIY projects, gardening tips, good advice... Whatever your creative heart desires. The link party is now open from Thursday at 6am until Monday at 6am---plenty of time to party!



Make sure you check out the hostess' blogs to see what they've been up to!

Now for the party features!



Everyday Happiness:
10 Errands That Are Impossible with a Toddler

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/537bbde7e4b00937bd27ca52/t/55ff0469e4b0bdeb0bf314d2/1442776198248/impossibletoddler.jpg?format=750w

Chemistry Cachet: 
Six Cozy Mysteries for Fall
http://i1.wp.com/www.chemistrycachet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Six-cozy-mysteries-perfect-for-a-crisp-autumn-day-.jpg?resize=734%2C939

INSERT LINK HERE
INSERT IMAGE LINK HERE
ADD DESCRIPTION HERE

Make sure you follow your hosts! You may be one of their features.




Cyndee @ MyCreativeHome *new blog link!*
Google+ || Twitter || Pinterest || Instagram

+ Idea Box October Guest Hosts:

Gabby @ NotTooShabbyGabby
Facebook  ||  Twitter  ||  Pinterest  ||  Instagram

Maria @ CollectingMoments
Google+  ||  Twitter  ||  Pinterest  ||  Instagram


Congratulations to our featured guests! Go ahead and grab yourself a fancy featurebutton:




Features are also pinned to our Idea Box board on Pinterest:

Now, onto this week's party!

Simple Party Rules:
1. Please follow your hosts.
2. Only link up personal content-- there are no rules about the content, as long as it's family friendly!
3. Please visit at least three other links and leave comments/make new friends. It isn't a party if you link and run!!
4. Please link back to one of our blogs or grab our button below.
5. You can add up to three *new* links each week---please don't link up posts you've shared with us before.

Remember that by linking up, you are giving the hosts permission to use your images/content on our blogs and/or social media. Proper credit and links will always be given. The link up starts every Thursday at 6am EST, and closes the following Tuesday.


Party button:

Idea Box Link Party





Add your links:






Idea Box is a weekly Link Party that opens Thursdays at 6am ET and ends Mondays at 6am. Idea Box is hosted by:
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...