Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

My husband surprised me last Christmas with a beautiful Hot Mama Designs “EMMA” necklace that is one of my most treasured things I own.

Well, truth be told, surprise might be a stretch.  I might have been looking online at mommy jewelry, and I might have happened to forward him the www.hotmamadesigns.com website, and I might have happened to mention my favorite piece, but he DID surprise me by ordering it and having it under the tree on Christmas morning!   Hee hee…  God bless him, he is the greatest husband and father I could ever ask for, but the man does need some direction in the gift arena.

He recently added a “MORGAN” charm to my necklace and I just love, love, love it!     They have both their birthstones attached -  Emma’s is Moonstone for June and Morgan’s is a Ruby for July.  I get more compliments on this necklace than any other piece of jewelry.  It always inspires an “awwwww…” response.   It is just so sentimental.  More than anything, I just love wearing my girls close to my heart.

This is the PERFECT gift for any mother (or grandmother) for this holiday (or anytime)!   They are fairly reasonable, too, a simple design starts as low as $65.    Shop their necklaces, charm bracelets, even cufflinks, and more at www.hotmamadesigns.com.

**Special offer alert! Place an order from now until 11/16 and receive a FREE heart disc (symbolizing love & compassion) or a FREE lotus disc (symbolizing growth & renewal).  Mention which you would like in the “Special Instructions” box at check out.  You can see pics of these designs on their blog.**

**Tiny Oranges coupon code alert!  Use Hot Mama Designs Coupon Code “tiny” upon checkout and receive 10% off your order!”**

Hooray!  It’s a TINY GIVEAWAY!

Hot Mama Designs is giving away $100 towards a purchase on their website to ONE lucky winner!!!!!!!!!!!

To enter, do the following:

1. Simply leave a comment on this post

2. Mention “add my email address” to the Hot Mama e-Newsletter and receive an extra entry (make sure to leave your email address)

3.  Mention that you are a Tiny Oranges Facebook fan and receive an extra entry!

You can enter all week, have your entries in before 5pm PST on Sunday, 11/8.  I will post the winner next Monday.   GOOD LUCK!!!!!

My friend Pam is my mothering guru.  As a mom to three (ages 7, 4 and 2) she has been through it all.   She is my sanity when I am having one of  THOSE days. I can always call her and say “you ever have one of those days/moments when…” and the answer is always “yes!”  Her advice has gotten me through many rough parenting times!

In her 7 years in the mommy trenches, she has been though many diaper bags. Out of all of them, her absolute favorite are the super functional (and pretty reasonable!) Skip Hop bags.   Pam was nice enough to get me one of these great diaper bags as a baby gift for Morgan and I absolutely love it.  That’s why it is my #4 pick on my list of “My Top 10 Most Used Baby Products!”

It has large pockets on the outside for easy to access items, a side mesh compartment for a bottle, a rear pocket with included changing pad, two top zipper compartments to secure your keys and wallet, and inside pockets too.   There is also a separate side compartment on the outside made for your cell phone.  This feature to me is key as it always seems like my cell phone can get lost in the abyss of my bag.

But my favorite feature is the strap.   You can wear it over the shoulder, or messenger style, and the design is made to be placed over the stroller bar.   You can even detach the big strap, and use the included stroller attachments, so that the bag hangs directly on the stroller.   Very easy to get in and out of your bag.  It can be used on single bar strollers or double handle ones like the pic on the left.  Brilliant!

You can buy it at the Land of Nod, it’s called  “Diaper Bag # 1 and # 2.”   Highly recommend it.  And, at $54, easy on the wallet too!  And, while you are there, make sure to check out their newly expanded baby section!

Happy Friday everyone!

{Tiny Oranges is a part of the Land of Nod Affiliate Program}

My number 3 pick in my “Top 10 Most Used Baby Products” is a mom product, not baby product, but I have used them so much, they deserve to be on the list!   If you are a nursing mom or mom-to-be, these tanks are a MUST!

The Glamourmom long nursing tanks are absolutely fabulous!  I have LIVED in them.  In fact, in the early days, I literally wore them every single day. 

In the beginning, when you are nursing around the clock the “easy access” design is just SO convenient.    They are also great when you are out in public so you don’t have to fumble around with the nursing cover, a top and a bra. 

Also, in those blurry sleep-deprived days, it is nice to not have to pick two clothing pieces (a nursing bra and separate top.)   Too much effort and too many decisions for a delirious mom!   So, it was great to throw on one of these tanks and be good to go.

I am tall, so I LOVE the long style, as they don’t ride up.   Plus, it has that nice little bunching effect around the mid-section, which is very forgiving post-partum!

They were awesome for the hot summer months as you can even wear them on their own because the material is thick enough.   But now that it has cooled off, I have been layering the tank with a blouse or sweatshirt over it. 

I have to tell a funny story about these tanks you moms will appreciate!

When I went to a Milkalicous event last spring they had a buy two Glamourmom tanks, get one free promotion.   The free one was a black one with the “Glamourmom” logo in glittery silver writing on it.

On one particularly bad day, Morgan was inconsolable. Cried and cried and cried.  I was at my wit’s end, exhausted, and looked like I had gotten hit by a train.    I had the logo one on that I normally saved for wearing around the house.  Since I was desperate to help her stop crying, I put her in the stroller and took her around the block.

There I was, shuffling around the block with a screaming baby, hair throw up in a tangled pony, no make-up, teeth un-brushed wearing a tank top that said “Glamourmom.”  For a moment I thought about what I must look like to those driving by.  Then I started laughing to myself so hard I started crying because I really couldn’t have been farther away from being described as “glamorous.”     However, it reminded me that I still had my sense of humor which ended up getting me through that day!

{If buying online, consider supporting two of my wonderful sponsors that sell these tanks!  La Dolce Mama & Milkalicious}

I was lucky enough to receive the darling Lombard Swirl Pull-String PishPosh Carryall as a gift.  It is such a BRILLIANT product, I had to share!

PishPosh Mommy was created by two moms dedicated to finding an organizational solution to the “getting out the door” scramble.   Instead of stuffing their diaper bags with a myriad of Ziplocs, they invented a product to compartmentalize all the “baby gear.” One you easily can grab and go! 

This product allows you to use your favorite purse as a diaper bag.  Or, you can still use your regular diaper bag, but it keeps all your essentials in one place…dipes, wipes, hand sanitizer, bottles, snacks, etc.  The best part is you can easily transport it from one purse to another or even to the stroller for quick jaunts to the park. 

They have multiple pockets both inside and out for not only baby gear, but pockets for your cell phone, keys, etc. as well.  Choose from super cute pull-string or quick zip styles.   This makes for a fabulous, unique, SUPER handy shower or new mom gift!

Enter coupon code TOOC10 for 10% off your PishPosh Mommy order!  Either enter it under “discount code” when you add something to “My Cart” or mention “Tiny Oranges” in the gift card section when checking out.