Graco Babies R US Event

I am totally having flashbacks to college. Since I do not have internet in our camper I am sitting at McDonalds using their free wifi at 10 at night...would so totally stay up til the last night back when I was in college to finish a paper! *Sigh I guess that is the life of a working mom and blogger!* Anyways on to the fun post!

Last weekend I have the pleasure of attending and assisting with the Graco car seat event at Babies R Us. This event was used to highlight Graco car seat called the 

Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40. First let me tell you this car seat is awesome...wish I had one! Our event in Little Rock was a little small but that is how it goes in small town America. But I am just as happy for the people that won. We had a first time mom who was in the store picking out things for her registry so I felt good knowing that she won an awesome car seat and how safe it was too! Our other winner this was a blessing in disguise for them. Grandma was also there and she was beyond thrilled since the baby was only 3 weeks old and they needed another car seat. So like I said I am so glad we had the event even if it was small.

It is a car seat designed to use for your baby up to age 2 and 40 lbs. This car seat is the only infant car seat that is designed for rear facing protection up to age 2. This is important because it allows your baby to sit rear facing longer and that is proven to be the safest thing for your baby as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are so many cool features on this car seat that I don't know where to start first. 

The base has 8 adjustable recline positions to allow for leg room as your baby grows. This is the most of any car seat available. The car seat also has the Simply Safe Adjust harness system that lets you adjust the harness with one hand as your baby grows so you don't have to re-harness it every time you need to move it up. How convenient is that!!! Then it is has the click connect which makes it an easy transition to and from the base to the stroller. One of the other cute features is a foot pad for the baby so they don't put their feet on the back of your seat. It even has footprints on it!  So cute! It comes in two designs one that is more girly called Mena and one that is for gender neutral called Moonstruck. 

Of course I know that I am just one review of this car seat and like always I believe that every mom should also do her own research so I encourage you to check out the site and see for yourself the best car seat around! Graco Safety

Love to all and go check out this wonderful car seat!

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.

Frugal Christmas 2012

This holiday season I have decided will be "Frugal Christmas 2012." It's not because we are tight on cash but because it seems like every year the amount of gift giving gets more and more excessive and farther away from the true meaning of Christmas.

So this year that all changes. No more scouring stores trying to find a gift, any gift really for someone who already has everything.

So here's our plan this year for presents.

1. Instead of individual presents for family members we are doing family presents. Thankfully my husband is a master at woodworking so we are making nice cutting boards. I am going to be doing gifts in a jar. There are so many food ideas for that and you can even do small non food gifts in a jar as well.

2. My oldest and I have talked answer have decided to do the angel tree or something similar for the community to help with Christmas for a family that might not get a Christmas at all without help. I told her that if we do this that she won't get as many gifts this year and thankfully she was ok with that. Makes me a proud mom that I have raised a good kid to be so selfless.

3. I still have to look around but I would like to go help serve food at a homeless shelter. My parents took my brother and I a few times when we were younger and it really enlightens you to people who are struggling for one reason or another and it is important to lend a hand when you can.

So this year instead of splurging all my money on nonsense or half hearted gifts I really hope all that above will make Christmas feel that much more special and realize that Christmas isn't just about the gifts but something much more than that!

Wait...It's already Friday?

This past week has been such a rush! We have moved out of the rental home and are crammed liked sardines into our camper until we can move into our new home on the 1st! I can't wait! So I sit here at Starbucks quietly enjoying my drink and being thankful for a few minutes without kiddos asking for anything and everything! 

So very excited to say that Army Wife, Mommy Life as won the Mia Mariu giveaway! Once I get over to the post office and mail her the items then we can see her review on their makeup line! 

The BEST thing about today by far is that my baby i 1!!! I can't believe it has been a year already since I was waking up and driving to the hospital to bring her into this world. It is crazy how fast time goes? In honor of her birthday I'll update you on a few things about her. 

1. Little Miss Priss knows how to snap her fingers...yes I know I am in trouble! I get snapped at all the time when she wants something.

2. She has 11 teeth. Her nickname (other than Miss Priss) is Jaws because of them all.

3. She is almost walking...She will walk like crazy around the furniture and occasionally let go of the furniture only to realize she is standing alone and then grabs the furniture quickly.

4. She does NOT like to be told no. Obviously no kid likes that but seriously I get a face and she quickly lets me know she is not pleased.

5. She loves to terrorize the dogs. Our little dog can get away from her and will come near her every once in a while but for the most part keeps her distance in order to keep her fur. Our older dog doesn't care either way really.

Also I want to put a plug in for a fun exciting event that is happening nationwide tomorrow! Graco and Babies R Us have teamed up and are hosting an event to learn all about the Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 Car Seat, play some fun party games, and mingle with other bloggers. 

Check out this link and see if there is one going on in your area- Graco/Babies R Us Store Event

But I Want to Craft!

So I am in a dilemma...
Well there isn't really much choice I have so I will just pout instead. We close on our home on the 1st of November (yay!) but we have to be out of the rental on the 15th. So...that leaves me two weeks in limbo where I can't really craft because we are going to be crammed with two kids and two dogs. And I know my crafting is the last thing that the hubby wants scattered everywhere!
I do have one more craft to do before we move and it is for a prop for Olivia's 1 year pictures.
This pin I found on pinterest to do looks easy enough...well unless my OCD kicks in and I don't get it just right...then it will not be so fun.

Birthday Photo Shoot Idea

So until I move this is the last craft to do :(

Mia Mariu Review....AND GIVEAWAY!

Before I delve into this fun review I must say that life is finally settled back down now that my plus one is back from deployment! It is wonderful to have someone to help chase the baby around since she is into everything!

A few weeks ago I received a package from Mia Mariu to test some of their products and let me just say...I LOVE!

I am one of those people that doesn't like to feel like I have 20 layers of makeup/moisturizer, cream, etc on my face because then it is just scarier when you take it off! But seriously I think a more natural look fits me. So one of my products to test was their Mineral Foundation Primer.

You put it on after your moisturizer but before the foundation. It is so light and smooth and very easy to apply. It is rich in all things healthy for your skin and antioxidants. Antioxidants are extremely important to me because it reduces environmental effects on your skin and also lessens the effects of wrinkles too! While (thankfully at times) I am often told I look a lot younger than my age; at some point I am sure it will catch up with me so it is nice to treat my skin to these antioxidants now and help it out a little. 

Another important facial product is moisturizer. I think of moisturizer as a nice tall glass of water for my face. It is important to keep your skin hydrated so it looks revitalized and healthy. AND moisturizer helps fight the aging process on your skin! I'm sold! This moisturizer goes on so flawlessly and I don't feel like it is sitting on my face all day. I feel like my face looks fresh and healthy and that is something that I look for in a moisturizer.
The last product I tested was the RestauraCel Thermal Microdermabrasion Set. I like microdermabrasion because it isn't as invasive as a chemical peel (I think of the episode from SATC where Samantha got one EVERY TIME I think of a chemical peel!). It works wonders for clearing up acne, shrink those pores and what else but aging! I think of a microdermabrasion as a vacuum picking up all the dirt on my face by taking off a few tops layers of dead skin cells to rejuvenate my skin. You want to do this because then it will help your skin soak in your moisturizer or foundation primer better. One of best things about Mia Mariu Microdermabrasion Set is that I don't feel like I am peeling off my whole face, it is quick and easy and I just feel so fresh afterwards!
I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed doing this review because who doesn't like trying out new facial products AND it turns out great!

So here is where the giveaway begins...
I have TWO other products that I am giving away; Hydrating Stick Gloss (Caricia) and Anti-Aging Brightening Serum.
But like any giveaway there is a catch:
1. Go like Mia Mariu on FB and tell them Reporting for Duty sent you. Then let me know you did it by commenting below.
2. By winning this giveaway you are agreeing to write a review of the products and I will post it on here for the rest of us to hear about!
Hurry because this giveaway ends on the 10 of October!

I am so very excited because I really like their products and hope you will too!