Friday, July 29, 2011

Action Baby Carriers

***CLOSED***
I have been a baby wearer since Madilyne was little. I fell in love with baby wearing, so much that I wore her til she was 4! Back then I had a pouch sling that I made, I made me several actually I LOVED them! Madilyne however was just a peanut, she weighed 16lbs at a year old! So when she was 4 she was only 30lbs. Ansel on the other hand, I had a moby wrap, a pouch sling, and he outgrew both of those really quickly, he's 19 months and tips the scales at 30lbs 5oz. I couldn't get the moby to fit me, and he just wasn't comfortable in the pouch sling like Madilyne was.

Being fluffy, as I like to affectionately call it, means that everything that is made for a standard womens size 7 just doesn't work for me. My moby never wrapped around twice, I couldn't find the right fabric with enough stretch to it without the support  giving to make a new pouch sling. I was feeling rather defeated, and I felt like Ansel was being shafted. 

When I came accross Action Baby Carriers  I really liked the look of them but of course I was skeptical that they would even  work for me. And if it worked for me how could it work for anyone significantly smaller then me without buying a new carrier.

 Alas I emailed ABC and got in touch with Angela, who was more then ecstatic to let me do a review.  I was able to choose from the new prints, and everything was in order. I waited patiently, ok not really patiently but I did try! When it FINALLY came I was over the moon with excitement. 

I have never used a carrier of this type, ok well 10 years ago I used the snuggli carrier or what ever it was by evenflo but this is not even close to that! So I was confused, I struggled a bit to hike my baby moose on my back. I couldn't fit him in front with the straps crossed in the back. I was defeated. But I didn't give up, I asked for help and help I got. I got additional ways for a front carry, and even a video that showed me other ways to put him on my back. I was back in business and ready to try again.

Front carry you will cross the straps in the back for smaller babies or if you are smaller framed you can get away with it. I am not small, nor do I have a small baby, so I buckle the straps and put them on like a back pack in the front and back, use the chest clip to secure in the back. 
Then even the chunkiest of babies are happy. 
Also pre-buckling the straps when doing the back carry makes it SO much easier for me. I still need to work out the hip carry but even if I can't, this is a dream carrier!
Here she had just pulled the straps on and is now adjusting the slack out.
He was very happy!
Just chillin while she helps me get Ansel ready for the pool. 
With it pulled all the way up and buckled, it goes up pretty high, now if he were really asleep you'd leave the side his face is pointing uncovered...

I wore Ansel for over an hour in Walmart and it was sooo easy, my back didn't feel like it was going to break or anything. Ansel is 19 mo. 30lbs 5oz and 36 and 3/4 inches tall at last check a month ago. He's not a small baby by any means. I was able to get the waist extended enough to be comfortable fit for me, and still have room to go. Even better I was able to have my nuthin' muffin of a friend and her baby give it a try as well.  Fits her just as well as it does me.With a hip belt that goes all the way up to 56" you should be set but in the event that you aren't, Action Baby Carrier does do custom carriers!

This is my friend and fat baby. We love fat baby, he's cute, cuddly, squishy and well fat but in a good way. He wears the same size clothes and diapers as Ansel. He's just as cute as can be snuggling in with his mama. Nikole I am convinced wears a size -8 but she doesn't think so.. any way. It's a very versatile carrier as is. 

Overall this is a great carrier; it's sturdy, comfortable, an amazing choice of fabrics including and organic line!
 My only draw backs: It was a little hard to figure out with just the picture directions, you will for sure want to view this video to help you out. (unless I'm just a dork and couldn't figure it out, then I fully retract that statement.)  It is on the pricier side, it certainly isn't something you could easily make at home yourself like a pouch sling or moby wrap style carrier. However out of similar type carriers it is the most cost effective and it is well worth the cost, I can see this lasting through many babies. 

Now the FANTASTICAL part...one very lucky reader is going to get to choose an Action Baby Carrier all for themselves!

To enter complete the Mandatory entry below, contest ends August 6, 2011 11 pm est.

Each entry should be entered as a separate comment, a winner will be chosen at random via random.org. The winner will be emailed and posted on Mama Digs It facebook page . Winner will have 48 hrs to contact me before I draw a new winner. DO NOT contact the sponsor directly, I will be the facilitator. To be contacted via email please leave your email address in each comment.

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Action Baby Carriers and tell me what print you'd choose- 1 entry

Additional Entries:
Become a fan of Action Baby Carriers on facebook- 1 entry
Become a fan of Mama Digs It on facebook- 1 entry
Follow my blog publicly- 1 entry
Follow Mama Digs It on twitter- 1 entry
Share this give away limited to twice a day-1 entry

Purchase a carrier from a retailer for Action Baby Carriers, email me the invoice and receive one extra entry for every .50 spent excluding taxes and shipping. MUST be dated during the give away.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Winner is....

#3 Jen Nadzan you are the lucky ducky winner! Email me to claim your prize!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Suga Momma At The Gourmet Cupboard

YAY back to bloggin...I've missed you! My internet has been less than desirable lately. They FINALLY replaced the drop line and fixed the line issues and internet seems to be doing what it should!

Bridgette has been so super wonderful to me! I've had this review waiting for a while! I ordered several things from Bridgette. I ordered a minestrone soup mix, a taco soup mix, a cucumber dip, a Mexican fiesta dip, a chocolate cheesecake pie and the DIVINE peanut butter pie. Everything as been sooo yummy. I bought the first set of stuff and over time made everything. It was all wonderful, but after we ate all the wonderfulness I realized we ate it all so fast that we didn't take any pictures of anything! So I ordered two more peanut butter pie mixes and was sure we'd get pictures of the beautifulness that is known as peanut butter pie.We ate the first one before I could even THINK about taking pictures. No worries...had another one in reserve.
 HAHAHAHAHA the next pie was gone the following day! so all I have left to show you is this. 
For the mix itself it's super easy. You only add cream cheese, whipped cream and vanilla if you wanna. I never did cause I was out of it and I didn't miss it. I also added in mini chocolate chips and it was oh so yummy! Then put it all into a graham cracker crust or a shortbread crust would be yum too! Chill it and watch it walk away!


Everything comes packaged though super cutely and very giftable!  I did find some yummy looking pictures on Bridgette's site,I will for sure try the peanut butter cups next time. 
 Peanut Butter Pie
 Cucumber Dip
Taco Soupreme Soup

Everything is reasonably priced and ships super fast. I also had the pleasure of ordering  a gift basket at Christmas time and the recipient was more then happy with it. Overall it's a great place to get some yummy goods and fantastic gifts!

One super duper lucky person is going to win their very own peanut butter pie mix...oh so yum!

To enter complete the Mandatory entry below, contest ends July 9, 2011 11 pm est.

Each entry should be entered as a separate comment, a winner will be chosen at random via random.org. The winner will be posted on Mama Digs It facebook page as well as in the winner’s circle. Winner will have 48 hrs to contact me before I draw a new winner. If you would like to be contacted via email please leave your email address in each comment.

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Suga Momma At The Gourmet Cupboard and tell me what you'd buy if money were no object- 1 entry

Additional Entries:
Become a fan of Suga Momma At The Gourmet Cupboard on facebook- 1 entry
Become a fan of Mama Digs It on facebook- 1 entry
Follow my blog publicly- 1 entry
Follow Mama Digs It on twitter- 1 entry
Share this give away limited to twice a day-1 entry

Purchase something from Suga Momma At The Gourmet Cupboard, email me the invoice and receive one extra entry for every .50 spent excluding taxes and shipping. MUST be dated during the give away.