Top 5 Posts from 2014! Happy New Year! #2015

Tomorrow starts a new calendar year for the world, and a brand new year for our blog.  I saw posted on Facebook today, the phrase "Tomorrow is the first blank page in a 365 page book."  As we head towards that first "page" of 2015, I just want to take a few moments and thank you for following my blog.  Whether you are a silent reader or a frequent comment"er", you me a lot to me and this blog.  I do this because I want to share advice, experience, important information and my random thoughts with all of you, but also because I believe in a sense of community, whether it be in person or online. Here is my list of Top 5 Posts from this year. I look forward to sharing much more with you in 2015! Happy New Year!

  1. Wake Up People - Facebook Messenger Isn't Reinventing the Wheel!
  2. Easy Homemade Meatballs & Gravy
  3. Dear Fox News, Do a Little Research Before You Publish Parenting Advice!
  4. One Mother's Guide to Exclusively Pumping Breastmilk for Baby
  5. Witnessing a Miracle: Our Lives will Never be the Same (Part One)

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Want to see your product(s) featured on my blog? E-mail me at savymommymoments@gmail.com to get started! I look forward to working together!

A New Year is Upon Us! Sharing My Goals for 2015! #newyearsresolutions #2015

As Christmas is just a few days away, many of us are taking the time to think about the upcoming New Year and what goals we have in mind as January 1st, 2015 rolls around.  Many people refer to to these as resolutions, but personally, I like to call them goals.  I feel like they are better described this way as they aren't all necessarily a "resolution" but are more so a goal I would like to achieve in the coming year.  

Bamboo Infinity Scarf Nursing Cover and $25 PayPal #Giveaway!


Welcome to the Curasanas Infinity Nursing Scarf + $25 PayPal Giveaway, 
hosted by Housewife on a Mission and sponsored by Curasanas!

I am a huge suppoter of nursing in public and believe that some mommas need the right "tools" to help them be successful in this.  One of those tools is anursing conver. With this cold winter weather, we have a really great giveaway of a silver bamboo infinity scarf from Curasanas, that one of our readers are going to love winning, especially if they are a breastfeeding mama! Not only is this scarf great with almost any outfit, it is also perfect for wrapping and hiding your little one while breastfeeding-- all while comfortably cuddling in a cashmere-soft material close to mom!

Parenting Adventures: The Specialists #FPIES #FoodAllergies #MomLife

*This series focuses on our adventures in parenting and all the ups and downs along the way*
Welcome back to another "Parenting Adventures" post, here on Savy Mommy Moments.  As you may recall, our last post talked about our sweet baby girl, Savy Baby, and the struggles we encountered when introducing her to solid foods.  This post will be focusing on the next steps for determining the cause of her food and growth issues.  This step includes several specialists, a pediatric GI, a nutritionist and a pediatric allergist. 
First stop, was the Pediatric Gastroenterologist (GI).  At this appointment, they took all her vitals, height and weight and talked about her issues with food and lack of growth. She agreed it sounded like a case of FPIES, but also agreed with our pediatrician that there could be an underlying issue affecting her growth.  So, she ordered a full blood panel looking for anything abnormal with her liver, kidneys, thyroid, heart, vitamin/iron levels and much more.
We immediately left the GI's office and got her blood drawn (not my favorite part).  She was an absolute champ and only cried for a second when the needle went in and then just watched them draw the blood. What an amazing little girl (and daddy for holding her). I stood in the corner stifling my cries.
Savy Baby after her blood draw

#Disney #Frozen Toddler Bed & Chair #Giveaway! @darcibean @DeltaChildren

I think we all can agree that anything Frozen is a must have this holiday season!  My kids,  especially Savy Toddler,  just love this movie and anything that goes with it.  Admittedly,  I even love it and find myself singing the songs frequently.  
Everything Mommyhood has teamed up with a handful of bloggers to bring you this fabulous giveaway just in time for the Holidays! Special thanks to our co-hosts Our Piece of Earth, Bayou City Mamas, Metro Detroit Mommy, The Stuff of Success, and Found Frolicking.
Sponsored by Delta Children!
Everything Mommyhood received both Disney's Frozen Upholstered Chair & Canopy Toddler Bed, make sure to check out her review! Disney's Frozen Upholstered Chair Review Disney's Frozen Canopy Toddler Bed Review

Citrus Lane November & December 2014 Unboxing! @CitrusLane - Day 7: Holiday Gift Guide #holidaygiftguide


Photo credit: Citruslane.com
*Disclosure: I did not receive any type of compensation for this post. However, it may contain affiliate links which help us run this blog.

A few months ago, I was passed along a special promo code to try out Citrus Lane's subscription box service.  I had been dying to try it out for a while, so I decided to give it go! If you don't know anything about this service, here is a little bit of information directly from their website:

Kid' Sleep Moon Sleep Trainer - Day 6: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! #ClaessensKids #HolidayGiftGuide


*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own. This post may also contain affiliate links which help us run this site.

When your child is a baby, all you want is for them to sleep! And then when they finally start sleeping through the night, they get too big for their crib and it's time for a big kid bed.  You know, the one they can get in and out of on their own, which is fantastic when they need to go to the bathroom or you don't have the energy to lift them into the bed, but not so when all you want is for them to STAY IN BED!

Daniel Tiger's Happy Holidays Gift Set! Day 5: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! @PBSKids #holidaygiftguide


*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links which help us run this blog.


As I have shared in the past, our family absolutely loves Daniel Tiger! This year, we were so excited to receive Daniel Tiger's Happy Holidays Gift Set! The gift set includes a really fun holiday themed Daniel Tiger DVD, as well as a Daniel Tiger figurine with movable head and arms! This is going to be a really fun gift for Savy Toddler to unwrap under the Christmas tree this year!

Chomping Plush Toys - Day 4: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! @jordanop #holidaygiftguide

source: TheFluffyFriends.com
*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own.
Looking for a fun unique gift for that person on your list that seems to have everything?  Check out Fluffy Friends Chomping Plush Toys! These toys caught my eye at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair and I just had to learn more about them.  They are a cross between cute and fluffy and mean and ferocious.  They have a fun chomping action that is controlled by your index finger and thumb on the back of the Fluffy Friend.  They just love to chomp on anything durable like shoes, pencils, and even your fingers (not recommended). Perfect for the coworker you actually like or your significant other who loves unique gifts. It would even be fun to “chomp” a giftcard into one’s mouth and give both as a gift to someone! 
source: TheFluffyFriends.com
Check out the video below to learn more about these Fluffy Friends!

Snapo Building Blocks - Day 3: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! @SnapoToyBlocks #holidaygiftguide

source: snapo.com
*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own.
In our house, building blocks are the one toy that all of the kids play with frequently.  They love to use their imagination to build everything and anything.  That’s why I am really excited to come across the Snapo booth at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.  Snapo Build & Go Blocks are a really cool new way to build not only up, but side to side.  The blocks feature a 3-D building feature that allow your kids to attach them on any side.  There are also two sizes, Big Blocks and Standard Blocks, so that you can buy them for any child, even those under 3!  These blocks are a really cool design and I love that they are made right here in the U.S.A.  Also, they are compatible with most major blocks on the market, so you can add these to your favorite block sets and instantly expand the building possibilities. 
source:snapo.com

Check out the video below to see them in action!

The Presidential Game - Day 2: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! @presboardgame #holidaygiftguide

Day 2 of my 2014 Holiday Gift Guide features a fun family game that puts you in a race to become the next President of the United States!

*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links which help us fund the operation of this blog.

Admit it. At one point in your life, you dreamed of what it would be like to run for President. You imagined yourself campaigning the country working towards gaining those much needed 270 electoral votes.  Okay, maybe you did or maybe you didn't dream of being President of the United States of America.  Either way, this is one of my favorite board games of the holiday season: The Presidential Game



Mabel's Labels Cyber Monday Sale! Day 1: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! @mabelhood #cybermonday

Welcome to Day 1 of my 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! Today I am introducing you to a extremely useful and helpful gift for every parent or caretaker in your life! 

*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own.

Every year, I spend countless hours trying to figure out what to get the young parents in my life who have everything! Earlier this year, I met Mabel's Labels at a blogger conference and fell in LOVE with their labels! As a mom of three with kids who have or currently attend daycare/preschool, I know how important it is to keep my kids stuff properly labeled. I'm also a mom to a child with FPIES, which means that her stuff must be properly labeled so that there is zero risk of her getting ahold of a cup or bottle that is filled with something that could make her sick.  

Black Thursday/Friday 2014 Ads! #blackfriday #holidayshopping

*Disclosure: Below are links to numerous Black Friday ads! This post is not sponsored in any way at all! Enjoy!


Target (Doors Open 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving)


Walmart (Doors Open 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving)


Best Buy (Doors Open 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving)


ToysRUs (Doors Open 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving)


Kmart (Doors Open 5 a.m. on Thanksgiving)


Kohls (Doors Open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving)

Bumblebean Holiday #Giveaway! 3 Prize Bundles! 35+ Prizes!


*Disclosure: I was not provided any compensation to post and promote this giveaway. Savy Mommy Moment is not responsible for prize delivery or winner selection*
This year we're participating in an awesome Bumblebean Holiday Giveaway that we'd love to share with you all! Bumblebean is the destination for unique brands for moms and kids. They've put together a special holiday giveaway and scavenger hunt for parents to learn more about these great brands. You will have the chance to win one of three Bumblebean bundles with up to 35 prizes in each prize pack! They'll be giving away over $5,000 worth of top baby and kids items. You're invited to be part of this amazing holiday giveaway and join in the Bumblebean fun!

How it Works

Savy Mommy's Product Recall List: October 15th through November 15, 2014! #productrecalls #childsafety

*Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.  I am just wanting to provide parents and caregivers a list of some of the latest recalls that I feel could affect your family. Please share with others you know would benefit from this list. The recalls on this list were obtained from CPSC.gov. You can visit this link to see a full list of product recalls. 

Leatherman Recalls Children’s Multi-Tool Due to Laceration Hazard

Graco Recalls 11 Models of Strollers Due to Fingertip Amputation Hazard

Hoppe’s Recalls Semi-Auto Bore Cleaner Due to Failure to Meet Child-Resistant Closure Requirement

Mohawk Recalls Rugs Due To Fire Hazard; Sold Exclusively at The Home Depot

CoScentrix Expands Recall of DD Brand Candles Due to Fire Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Hobby Lobby

McDonald’s Recalls Hello Kitty Themed Whistles Due to Choking and Aspiration Hazards

Meijer Recalls Halloween Projector Flashlight Due to Burn Hazard

Stay up to date on all product recalls at: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/

Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory
Want to see your product(s) or topic(s) featured on my blog? E-mail me at savymommymoments@gmail.com to get started! I look forward to working together!

Parenting Adventures: What is Wrong with Our Sweet Baby?! #FPIES #FoodAllergies #MomLife

*This series focuses on our adventures in parenting and all the ups and downs along the way*

It was a typical bedtime in our home and I was carefully rocking and nursing Savy Baby (6.5 months old).  I then tried to put her into her crib for the night.  In an instant, she rolled towards me and started violently vomiting (exorcist like) through the crib rails and all over her room. Over the course of the next hour she would vomit or gag on and off.  I called our pediatrician and they said likely a stomach flu. They told me the warning signs for dehydration and what to do.  Eventually she drifted off to sleep and I was able to nurse her without issue 3 hours later. No fever, no other symptoms.  The only thing we could think is the avocado she had for dinner didn't sit well or it was in fact a stomach virus.

We decided to not give her another avocado and cut out solid foods for a few days to help her body "reset" from the incident. Day 3 after the incident, we gave her squash with no issues.  Then 10 days after the incident, we gave her sweet potatoes (which she has had before) and oatmeal baby cereal (a new food) for dinner.  Three hours later, at bedtime, cue the exorcist! This time it was slightly more violent and I was starting to worry about her little body seemingly passing out between sessions.  It again lasted only an hour and she went out.  Again, I nursed her 3 hours later with no problem.

When I called the pediatrician, he thought "maybe a food allergy, maybe not". He said to stay away from avocados, sweet potatoes and oatmeal for now.  If it happens again, he will send us to an allergist for testing.

I have a blogger friend over at Courtney's Sweets who I immediately thought of when the second incident occurred.  I thought of her because her sweet daughter has been diagnosed with a condition called FPIES ( Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome).

2014 Chicago Toy & Game Fair at Navy Pier! Win a Family Pass! #giveaway #toyfair #Chitag

*Disclosure: I am being provided admission free of charge in exchange for this post. The opinions are 100% my own.

Okay, let's be honest, one of the best things about having kids is you get to play with TOYS again! And what is more fun than a weekend filled with the latest and greatest toys of the year?! I am super excited to be attending the Chicago Toy & Game Fair at Navy Pier for the very first time.  

Not only will there be tons of fun toys and games, but family focused events as well! There is something for everyone in your family! 

Event Schedule:

Hyland’s Stay Well Strategies 4 Kids Twitter Chat! #Kidswellness @HylandsHealth

Disclaimer: I am a Hyland’s Homeopathy Ambassador and receive various products and gift cards from Hyland’s and promotional partners at no cost to me. All views and opinions expressed on this blog post and corresponding social network mentions are my own and are not to be interpreted as medical advice.

If you are a parent, you know you are always on the hunt for ways to keep your kids healthy. And with cold & flu season here, it's even more a priority than ever! Hyland's Health is bringing you the chance to learn about important strategies for keeping your kids healthy in a fun Twitter chat! 

The Stay Well Strategies 4 Kids Twitter Chat is on Thursday, November 13th at 7pm EST.  There will be five family-friendly sponsors discussing tips and tricks for keeping your family healthy! 

Savy Mommy's Favorite Smartphone and Tablet Apps: October 2014

*Disclosure: This post is not sponsored in any way. These are simply the apps I personally love to use on my Android smartphone and iPad this month.  Use at your own risk :-)

Photo Editing: Photo Grid - Collage Maker
Platform: Android
Cost: Free or $1.99 for ad-free version.
I have tried a ton of apps, and this is by far my favorite on my Android smartphone.  In fact, a lot of the images you see on my review and blog posts have been edited using this app.  Some of my favorite features include:
-Single Photo Editing
-Collage Creation - Grid and Free Layouts
-Custom cropping
-Custom fonts for text overlays
-Photo editing settings for Instagram posting
-Tons of editing options

Get Your Flu Vaccine at CVS MinuteClinic & 20% Off CVS Shopping Pass! #flushot #minuteclinic

*Disclosure:I have received promotional consideration from MinuteClinic to write this post.

It's that time of year again, Cold & Flu Season, and with these things comes a whole host of "fun" for your family!  If you are someone who protects your family with the flu vaccine, they I recommend you check out your local CVS Pharmacy/Minute Clinic.  It's easy & convenient to get it.  Also, you will receive a 20% off CVS shopping pass to use on your in-store purchases.  

Here is some more information from my partners at CVS about the flu and the vaccinations they provide. 

What is the “flu”, anyways? The flu is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. It
can develop very quickly and with flu, you always have a fever. Other common
symptoms include headache, sore throat, dry cough, stuffy or runny nose and
muscle aches (ugh).

VTech Holiday Toy #Giveaway! $130+ ARV!


Welcome to the VTECH
Holiday Toy Giveaway
Hosted by: We're Parents!?
Sponsored by: VTech

The holidays are upon us and with them comes the time to buy fun gifts like TOYS! Personally, I love to buy toys that are safe, fun, and easy to use for the little ones in my life but when trying to pick them out there are tons to choose from!
We're here to make your Holiday Shopping a little easier this year by offering ONE lucky reader a chance to win these FOUR fabulous toys from VTECH! Valued at over $130, it's the perfect way to get your shopping started (or finished if your an early bird!).  All four of these toys are recommended for 12 months to 36 months and are perfect learning and educational toys with VTECH's high quality!

Here's what one person will win:

33 Parenting Tests: Children Are Life's Smallest Professors #momlife #parentinghumor

When you become a parent, you are put through a series of tests like no other.  These are not your ordinary question/answer tests, but rather real-life, previously unimaginable tests given to you by your child(ren).  From the moment they are born, through the many years ahead, these beautiful little miracles test your ability to do many things, including how to....

  • Change a diaper in complete darkness.

Americans and Parenting Religion: I'm a Worshiper! Are You? #poweroftheinternet #WTF #parentingreligion

This is the latest article making it's way around the "let's tell American moms their doing it wrong by making them feel bad" circuit: How American Parenting is Killing the American Marriage.  I read the article. A few times.  And well....it's annoying and I just can't see any value in it. 

Why? Because it's a ridiculous article that is generalizing the way some people handle their children and marriage to all American parents, more notably American moms. It's just another stone thrown in the direction of parents to make us all feel like failures as husbands and wives.
The entire article is focused on this idea of a "parenting religion".  I mean, I guess I understand the similarities between parenting and religion.  If the comparison (or term) means that parenting involves unwavering devotion to giving our all in the name of a single (or multiple) being while surrounding ourselves with like-minded parents to support our journey and devotion, then I guess you can call it a religion of sorts.
This statement near the beginning "Nothing in life is allowed to be more important than our children, and we must never speak a disloyal word about our relationships with our offspring." makes me want to scream.

Get Your "Soup On" & Give Back to the Community at the Naperville Rotary Club's Charity Event - October 19, 2014 #SoupsOn14

*Disclosure: Images provided by The Rotary Club of Naperville. This post has been compensated by The Rotary Club of Naperville and its advertisers. All opinions are my own.

Can you imagine waking up every day worrying about where your next bite of food for you and your family will come from? There are hundreds of families in DuPage county each day that face this fear. Thankfully, there are resources out there to help, such as shelters and food pantries. These types of services rely on the kindness of the community to give to those in need.


On Sunday, October 19th, the Rotary Club of Naperville will be hosting “Soup’s On!”, a fun, family focused fundraiser featuring great entertainment and plenty of delicious food.

Savy Family Adventures in the Joovy Caboose VaryLight Tandem Stand-On Stroller! #momlife #doublestroller

*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own.

As a parent, when you go from one child to two, one of the first things on your mind is “How am I going to push two little ones around?” You begin your hunt for the stroller that can tote your baby and your older child. There are tons of options out there.  Each one with plenty of features that meet can meet your needs.  Personally, I had always gravitated towards side by side strollers.  They just seemed easier to maneuver as well as lighter and easier to fold.  That was until I met the Joovy Caboose VaryLight Stand-On Tandem Stroller!  You may have previously read my review of the Joovy Boob and know how much we love that product.  Well, this is another wonderful product by the same company!

I was introduced to this stroller at an amazing local parenting conference MommyCon.

Finding Mary Poppins: Tips and Tricks for Hiring a Nanny #momlife #childcare

Disclosure: This post is based purely on our personal experiences.  It may contain affiliate links which help us run this blog.

Picture this.  You are three weeks from returning to work and you have a preschooler, toddler and infant that you will need full-time childcare.  You have a family friend all lined up and suddenly they can no longer help you out.  This is exactly where we were just 9 months ago. And for the 3 months prior to that point, I had always known we needed to hire someone, but I was terrified at the idea Here are some tips and tricks to finding your Mary Poppins. 

Where do you look?

Backstage Pass: Behind the Review & Givewaway Posts #BloggerBackstage


Hi everyone! I appreciate all of you and wanted to give you a little sneak peak into what occurs backstage (aka behind the scenes) of a typical review and giveaway post.  I admit, before I got into blogging, I thought "What could be so hard about that?! It looks like it's quick and easy and you get free stuff!"  Now that I've been doing this for nearly two years I realize it's just not the case.  So, I wanted to give you a little peak into the typical process of posting a high-quality review and giveaway on a blog.

Nizo Wear Nursing Bra! Supportive, Comfortable & Affordable! #nursingmom #breastfeeding

*Disclosure: I was sent the product(s) featured in this post in exchange for this review. The opinions are 100% my own.

When I first became a mom, I had no idea how much I would rely on a good nursing bra.  With Savy Preschooler and Savy Toddler, I struggled to find one that was supportive, yet comfortable and more importantly affordable! It's like the companies that make them know nothing about being a nursing mother, except that we NEED them. Savy Baby is the first baby I have that I haven't had to exclusively pump for and I am really loving our nursing relationship.  However, all of those nursing bras that "worked" for exclusively pumping do not work as well for actual nursing. I was desperate, until recently when I was provided the Nizo Wear Serenity Nursing Bra for review.
photo credit: www.nizowear.com
I chose the Serenity model because I wanted something that was comfortable and supportive that I could wear every day.

My Experience at MommyCon Chicago! Coming to a City Near You! Save 10% Now! #judgementfreeparenting #mommycon #mommyconchicago

*Disclosure: I was provided attendance to this conference in exchange for this review.  
Are you a mom to little ones or expecting a baby?  If so, I urge you to check out MommyCon! In March, I attended the MommyCon Chicago event and it was so much more than I expected.  I'm a bit of an introvert, so to say I was nervous is an understatement.  Not to mention the fact that I was just getting into the nursing groove with our youngest, Savy Baby and not a nursing in public expert by any means.  MommyCon promised to be a nursing and baby wearing friendly environment so I decided it just might be a great experience after all. Savy Baby and I set off around eight o'clock on a Sunday morning for our very first adventure together. Of course, my Boba 4G came along too!
I can tell you it was a very cold March day but inside MommyCon is was so warm and welcoming. From the moment I arrived and walked through the door through every single interaction, I felt accepted, appreciated and loved by so many moms walking along similar paths of my own.  There were moms of all walks of life.  Moms who were breastfeeding, pumping exclusively, bottlefeeding, and moms of baby's who were past that point. There were moms with crazy colored hair and moms who looked plain Jane.  Mom's who were super green and extra-crunchy and those that weren't.  All of us together as a group, uniting as  moms  all with the same goal and desire: To give our children the very best.  No judgement allowed.
The day was amazing.  It was filled with tons of expert led sessions, such as The Badass Breastfeeder, The Leaky Boob, The Baby Guy NYC, Honest Toddler, and many more!

All NEW Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers! #MC #sponsored

“I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies & Target. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

As soon as you find out you are having a baby, one of the first things that comes to mind is diapers.  I mean, every baby needs them and so you start researching. Every single parent has their opinion of the best ones out there. Some parents love the affordability of one diaper but not it's ability to stop leaks, while others have found a more expensive diaper that works, but it's a budget-buster.  

What every parent wants is a diaper that's easy to find, affordable, gentle on their baby's skin and effective at preventing leaks.  If it's cute, that's an added bonus. I'm here to introduce you to Huggies NEW Little Snugglers Diapers
Are they easy to find?  Absolutely!  I just sent Savy Daddy to the local Target store where they were stocked in variety of sizes (Preemies - Size 3).  Also the packaging was nice and bright, so he didn't have any trouble locating them on the shelves! That's a bonus in my mind.  Also, you can easily add these to your Target Baby Registry

Rockin' School Year #Giveaway! Win 39 Back to School Prizes

The Rockin’ School Year Giveaway is here! We’re shining the spotlight on some amazing US & Canadian baby and kids brands that are perfect for heading back to school. Plus, Wee Urban organic baby & kids apparel is about to reach 15k fans on Facebook so we wanted to celebrate with a special giveaway!
39 amazing brands have come together to give you a chance to win these awesome products!
  • ONE LUCKY WINNER will receive a grand prize package of 39 prizes!
  • Open to U.S. and Canadian residents.
  • Everyone who enters the giveaway will receive something special after the giveaway as a thank you.
  • The giveaway will run from September 19th to October 3rd.
  • Entering is easy and can be done below via our Rafflecopter.
Below the entry widget are all the prizes! Check them out! We also encourage you to check out our sponsors who have amazing blogs you should follow.

REMEMBER…

Food Spoils: Get Over It! Why I'm Fed Up with Spoiled Food Viral Outrage on #Facebook!

We've all seen it.  The photo of the applesauce squeeze pouch that was already spoiled when someone's kid ate it.  Honestly, it's not these photos and/or stories that shock or bother me.  I mean, it's FOOD, it SPOILS, and sometimes you don't find out until you open it. What shocks me is the absolute ignorance that thousands of people all over social media display when they post and comment on this stuff.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for educating others through social media and I never like to hear that a child got sick.  I think that it's absolutely harmless and definitely helpful to let people everywhere know what happened so that they know to look for it and test out the applesauce before feeding it to their kids.  Also, I believe that retailers and manufacturers should know about these instances so that they can investigate and improve on their packaging, manufacturing and distribution practices to further avoid these instances.
Even if they do all of this, there are cases where this packaged food WILL spoil before it's expiration date. Is it because the manufacturer did something wrong?  Maybe, maybe not.  Is it because some retailer or distributor left the products in a less than ideal climate?  Possibly.  Is it because one package may have gotten a small, unnoticeable air-leak and randomly spoiled? Probably.
Are any of these reasons to completely BASH the manufacturer or retailer all over social media and start campaigns boycotting their products?  I think not.  I mean, do you honestly expect that there won't be instances where the food, that is so convenient for you to give to your family on the fly, will spoil before the expiration date? I hope not.
Let's take a look at the standard manufacturing process: