Soaps and More- Review and Giveaway!!

About Soaps and More:
Melissa is the WAHM behind Soaps and More. She has been married for 10 years and has six wonderful children ranging in age from 11 years old to 10 months old. To say the very least she keeps a busy schedule! Melissa started making soaps about 8 years ago for friends and family. She loves making soaps as it leaves her house smelling amazing!

Melissa began making soaps because she was not happy with the store bought options. They always left her skin feeling dry and icky, and never had a good variety of scents. Melissa hand crafts each of her bases and offers Olive Oil, Goats Milk, Shea Butter, and Glycerin bases. She also offers a huge selection of scents to be combined with these bases. The options are virtually endless! And best of all- If you want a scent you do not see on her scent list she will order it for you!

To order from Melissa you can request to be a member of the group Soaps and More.

Pick a base:
Olive Oil
Goats Milk
Shea Butter
Glycerin

Pick a scent:
Coco mango
Chamomile
Creme brulee
Cucumber melon
Dreamsickle
French vanilla
Honeysuckle
Lavender vanill
Lick me all over
Mango
Melon
Monkey farts
Orange
Orange blossom
Papaya mango
Peppermint
Pink grapefruit
Pina Colada
Pineapple
Raspberry
Ruby red grapefruit
Sage & chamomile
Sensual warming
Sex on the beach
Strawberry
Birds of paradise
Black cherry
Butt naked
Cantalope
Caramel
Amaretto
Apple
Baby powder
Chamomile
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Lavender
Vanilla
Banana
Bay rum
Blueberry
Bubble gum
Chai tea
Champagne
Cherry almond
Chocolate raspberry
Coconut
Coolwater men type
Country spice
Dark kiss BBW type
Dark temptations
Dolce & Gabanna light blue men type
Dragons blood
Dream angels halo type
Dream angels heavenly type
English ivy
Summer sorbet
Sunflower
Tahitian vanilla
Tangerine
Tranquility
Tutti fruity
Very sexy for him
Warm vanilla sugar
Watermelon

Each bar is only $3.50 shipped!!

What I thought:
I reviewed two bars of soaps- One for myself, and one for Zoey. I reviewed the Sex On The Beach scent, and it smells.... sexy:) It was an Olive Oil Base with added Almond Oil and Vitamin E (for my sensitive and dry skin) My husband said it smelled like passion fruit and everything yummy. I don't mind smelling yummy one bit!! I used it in the shower for one week, and then switched to the sink for hand washing. The soap worked wonderfully and the bathroom smelled fabulous after every shower!
I loved washing my hands with this and smelling them all day long. Yummy!

Zoey reviewed the Baby Powder scent with the Olive Oil Base with Almond Oil and Vitamin E added. Zoey seems to have developed Eczema so we have been working on finding the perfect soap and natural way to soothe her skin. This is the first soap that has not made her skin worse in a long time. She has not had any additional flare ups of dry splotches while we have been using this soap- and I did not have to give up the yummy baby smell! I am an addict of all things yummy smelling- perfume, soap, lotion- you name it. Finding a soap that does not irritate her skin while still leaving her smelling amazingly baby like is so great!

Up For Giveaway:
Melissa is giving away two soaps of the winners choice!

Pay it Forward Giveaway!!

Paying it forward... what does this mean to you?
A small good deed? Something to change someones morning? Day? Life?

A small good deed can go such a long way. Whether that be letting someone with less items in front of you at the grocery store, or giving shelter to someone less fortunate- they can have an equal effect. Something very small can change a life.... or better, save a life!

What are good deeds to you?
They can be millions of things! Holding a door, buying lunch for a coworker or someone less fortunate than yourself, helping someone get groceries into their car, mowing your neighbors yard when you finish with yours, offer to help a neighbor in need, fix dinner for a friend, offer to babysit, the list could go on and on and on. There will never be a shortage of things we can do for each other. We just have to remember to take a little bit of time each day to do something for someone else. Big, or small- Simple or complex.

Share this with our children!
Our children are never too young to learn to be kind. Let your kids participate! Even if they do not understand what you are saying- get into a practice of showing them how simple it is to be a helping hand! The earlier we work on things like this the more it becomes second nature for them. Your sons may begin to hold the door open for an elderly couple, your daughter may help a new mom pick up something she dropped... this is when you will know- You have changed the world. Not only in the deeds you are doing, but in the deeds your child will do, and their children, and on and on.

I would love to see what kind of a difference our group of Moms can make. I truly believe that we can change the world- One good deed at a time!!

Some good deeds that made a big difference shared by some of our Mommys:
“I was coming home from the store with formula for my daughter and the roads had flash frozen while I was out. I hit a patch of black ice and skidded off the road and took out a "No Parking" sign. A guy pulled up behind me, asked if I needed help. I couldn't find my phone (black phone, black case in the dark... not a good combo) so he called my husband and told him what happened and that he helped me and he was following me home to make sure I was ok. I was fine, shaken but fine. The car was fine... But he made me feel so much better by calling my husband. Until he got there 3 people had passed me by... one a cop!”

“I get doughnuts and cookies for my daughter to give to the nurses at the children's hospital. I want to teach her to be charitable.... “


“My sister in law will ask that donations be made instead of gifts... I think by giving one of her gifts away, she gets more out of it”

“Last year for Christmas, I did 25 days of Random acts of kindness! Some of the things I did were: giving hot cocoa to the man who directs traffic at the school zone I pass through, brought cookies to the fireman, post office, and library! I also brought in flowers to the assisted living and asked them to deliver to someone they thought needed them most. I also donated a teddy bear to the hospital for anyone who needed their arms filled if they couldn't take their baby home, and left money taped to vending machines.”

“I try to give baby items to other Mommy's in need!”

“ I bought the neighbor boy a pair of shoes when I noticed how full of holes his were, because his mom had more important things to spend her $ on :/ . I try to always let people with less items in their cart go before me at the store. Always hold the doors open and try to be polite. I donate the kids clothes rather then sell them.”

“Holding open a door for people... especially the elderly or mamas with a baby! This is my #1 rule for my kiddos when we go out “

“I've given a ride to a woman to her job when she missed the bus and bought a homeless man lunch/dinner”

“My family is doing the walk for ALS in June - and more than the sponsorship, I'm really hoping that people will just read about it for the awareness...It's in June and I'll be doing some fundraising through my page as well”

I have gotten some AMAZING WAHM's together to do a massive giveaway with three awesome prize packages. To enter please see the Rafflecopter entry form below. All you need to do is "like" the amazing sponsors, and share your good deeds. You can do up to 4 a day every day!
*The winners of this giveaway will need to have done at least one good deed. Liking the pages alone will not enter you for the giveaway. The winner's entries will be verified for at least one good deed*

Prize Package 1:
Beaded By Me For You is giving away one set of earrings (18 gauge Square Wires Hand Spiraled & Twisted Wire, 6mm two-toned Yellow & Green Round Beads, Hanging from Sterling Silver French Hooks)

MJ's Custom Creations has is giving away one Infinity Scarf and one Adult hat.

Bitty Boo Creations is giving away a hat of the winners choice! You can choose between childrens ruffled brim sun hat, straight brim sunhat or a floppy hat. Winner's choice of fabric.

Soaps and More is giving away 3 handmade soaps!

Prize Package 2:
JT Sky Designs is giving away one 6" skinny custom cuff!

Princess Ladybug Crafts and Stuff is giving away one Gender neutral diaper, and 6 cloth wipes (pictures below are examples of her work)

WeloveUsborneBooks is giving away an Activity Card Pack.

Baby Bear BOWtique is giving away one bow, or a set of bows of the winners choice! (below are examples of her bows)

And the Third Prize Package:
Fluff n Stuff Bowtique is giving away a crocheted v stitch hat, in any color combination and any size with a matching flower clip.

SnowBabies Boutique is giving away a knot dress with ruffled capri pants for sizes 1 to 8 or romper for boys or girls sizes newborn to 12 months.

Pooky Packs is giving away (1) ABC sandwich wrap, and (1) Makeup bag!

Fluff Planet is giving away 5 bamboo and cotton face scrubbies!

Teething Bling- Review and Giveaway!!!

About Teething Bling:
Normally I write a bio on each company I review, but in this case the bio I have found on Teething Blings website is something I think is best read directly from Amy's mouth! She is the mother that started Smart Mom LLC, and it has grown to be an amazing Mother friendly company that has one of our daily MUST HAVE items.... Our Teething Bling! I will continue to proudly support this company in their every move, as they continue to support Moms through their work environment, and their products!

“Smart Mom LLC is a truly unique company. Staffed entirely by Moms, everything is handled in our Maryland offices. That means if you have a question or concern, you'll reach one of us.  And because we’re all Moms, we understand what it’s like to have little ones underfoot. That’s why we make it so easy for you to contact us – email, Facebook, tweet, blog or call, we’ll answer right away. And we don’t mind crying babies in the background!
 
A lot of companies say they’re ‘family friendly.’ We are actually walking the walk. We give our team members their assignments and let them go, allowing them to work around their family schedules. We welcome children in our offices (you may hear crying babies in the background here, too!) and are always looking for ways to help other Moms.  For us, family truly does come first. 

My name is Amy Maurer Creel and I am the proud founder of Smart Mom (I'm also the proud mother of two wonderful girls!)  I decided to start this company after my sister-in-law died suddenly of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.  Maria Janowski Maurer left behind Emma, who was just 8 days old.  Maria was an accomplished artist and clothing designer and inspired me to pursue the dream of owning my own company. 

Maria continues to inspire me daily - as do all mothers -- and I am grateful beyond words to have my beautiful niece in my life.”

*All of the following pictures where provided by www.smartmomjewelery.com*

Teething Bling Prices:
Necklaces range from $19.99- $24.99 depending on color, pattern and shape
Bangles are $12.99
Ties for Dads (they squeak and rattle!!) are $19.99
There are also a variety of gift sets (bangles and necklaces) and Smart Mom t-shirts to choose from!


You can find Teething Bling's website HERE.
You can find their FB page HERE.

Safety Information:
*All of their products are made of FDA approved materials.
*non-toxic
*Phthalate free
*BPA free
*PVC free
*Latex free
*Lead free
*All pendants come with a breakaway clasp
*Teething Bling is CPSIA compliant, and carry the CE mark (meaning they meet the strict European safety standards as well)

What I thought:
I reviewed a Jade pendant, and I already have a Smart Mom T shirt and a Moonstone pendant. These Pendants are a must have for every day in our home. I wear one of them every single day... whether I am spending the day at home, or a day out! We do not dare go without one. Zoey loves them so so much! They save me from getting my other necklaces pulled at or chewed on, and save her poor little gums when she is teething. Poor Zoey is a long teether- She takes months to cut one tooth, and she chews on anything and everything she can get her hands on. When we are having a rough day I let her wear one of mine so that it is there whenever she wants it. She also wear one whenever Daddy is babywearing so that she has something to chew on.
Not only are they extremely functional, but they are gorgeous too! People have no idea that they are made for teething. I get compliments on mine all the time from people that think it is a regular necklace. Whenever they find out that it is Teething Bling they are either asking where they can get one for their little on, or asking why that was not around when their LO was teething.

I have plans to get more in other colors so that I can match every outfit! I also really want to try the bangles.