Murder for Choir by Joelle Charbonneau

I have always been a fan of a good mystery. I don't mean the freak you out horror kind, I mean the good clean, stop the bad guy kind. These seem to be getting harder and harder to find so I was super excited when I recently read Murder for Choir by Joelle Charbonneau. I loved this book and it was just the thing to keep me on the edge of my seat and occupy the hours during a recent day.

The book begins as Paige, a struggling opera singer, begins a new job as choir director of Prospect Glen High School's show choir. Her first job is to get the kids to accept her as their new coach during choir camp. This becomes a difficult task as her top male singer is accused of killing a rival choir director during camp. As Paige works to clear his name everything seems to be working against her including the police officer in charge of the case. Will a little romance and a lot of threatening notes keep Paige off the killer's trail?

This is a wonderful story that you won't want to miss. It is appropriate for anyone teen and up. I highly recommend this great mystery!

Go Mama Go Designs Review

With my boys I have tried a variety of different crib bumpers. We've tired different styles and going without and I still didn't find a solution I really love. With this baby I was super excited to be able to try Wonder Bumpers. When my package arrived I was so excited to try them out and was thrilled with the result.
I love the cute Tickled Pink crib set I was sent to review.

The pink and green polka dots look great with our nursery theme and are so fun for a little girl! The bumpers themselves are awesome. They did take a little time to put on, and involved E climbing in the crib as our nursery is small and the crib sits in the corner, but once we got going it was simple to do.

The sheet is super soft and fits the crib really well. I love the light pink as it will hide stains better than white would. The blanket that came with this set is also really soft. I love the minky fabric and I'm sure the baby will too. The finishing touch for me was the crib skirt. I've never actually had one of these, the one I started with B is still sitting here cut but not sewn. It really helps finish out our nursery and I love the way it looks on the crib.

I am so pleased with this set and can't wait to show off my nursery with it's Wonder Bumpers to everyone when they come visit next week. If only D's crib were as fashionable as the baby's. Maybe I'll have to finish that crib skirt so he can have one too. Other than that all I need are some Teething Guards to hide the chew marks from my boys. 

Fun on the 4th - Wordless Wednesday

Baby Babu Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway

With so many kids in diapers I am always in search of a perfect fit. I haven't found a perfect diaper yet, someone would have to invent a self-cleaning diaper for that to happen, but I have found some that I really like using and my Baby Babu diapers are some of these.

The first thing I noticed about Baby Babu diapers is that they have double gussets. This is something I love simply because my boys are all very good at making messes and this is extra protection against them escaping.
Now that we have been using Baby Babu diapers for a while, I have seen that they are an all around great diaper. There are certain diapers I reach for when we go places I don't want to worry, like church and  the store, and the Baby Babu is one of those diapers I know I can depend on. Because it is a one-size diaper it adjusts to fit any of the kids fairly well making it a convenient choice. It is also super easy to adjust, an added bonus.
Baby Babu inserts snap in the diapers and tend to stay snapped through the wash cycles so it is super easy to find the correct insert when they're done. Baby Babu also has great customer service and they want to give a diaper to two Kerrific readers. Please use the form below to enter. Good Luck!


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Valco Baby Seat Pad Review

When B was a newborn I remember thinking how awkward he looked in his car seat. To fix this I did what I had seen my mother do, I rolled up a towel and placed it next to him to help hold his head up. This worked ok but I was always re-rolling the towel and it didn't work at all in the stroller making it impossible to keep him from falling over there.
Thanks to our new seat pad from Valco baby we now have the ability to keep baby upright in both the car seat and the stroller. It not only looks better than my towel, it works better too! Valco Baby has given parents a great choice with these seat pads. Not only do they come in lots of bright colors that you can mix and match but they are also well designed and made to last.

This seat pad is designed in two parts allowing it to grow with your baby, and you to mix and match colors. It has a simple Velcro fastener so installation is super easy. I recommend getting two, one for the car seat and one for the stroller, as these seat pads double as a seat liner and will help make clean up easier when your child decides to make one of the specialty messes.
I can't wait to use our new seat pad with the baby because I'm sure she's going to love it as much as I do. Thanks Valco Baby!

Exederm Review

One thing I didn't think much about when I had my first baby was things like lotion and baby wash. It seems like it should be common sense but I didn't even think about stocking up on these items. I have since learned that this is something I need to have ready when the new baby arrives. When you pick out products to use with your special little one you want to make sure they are the very best for them. One product line that works really well on my boys sensitive skin is Exederm.

Recently Exederm sent us some samples from their product line to review and we still love them! Probably our very favorite part of this line is the baby bath. I love the bottle it comes in because it makes it super easy to use even when you only have one hand! The lotion is great for after baths and we love that we have never had a problem with allergic reactions thanks to the fact that there are no fragrances, colors or dyes.

Although Exederm does have an adult line I love using the baby line on myself too. It always works well and leaves my skin feeling nice. Because I also have sensitive skin this is a wonderful benefit at our house and I love not having to keep two separate lotions around. If you have sensitive skin I highly suggest you try Exederms product line and see if it works for you!

Itzbeen Timer Review & Giveaway

If there is one thing I loose track of when I have a new baby it is the time. We all know that babies take a lot of time and it seems like the more kids I have the less hours there are in a day. Keeping track of the time can be super frustrating and many times thinks like laundry will get away from me simply because I don't realize that it's time to change it.
Recently I have been using my new Itzbeen to help me keep track of what I need to do. This handy timer is designed for moms with new babies but I have discovered that even without a new baby it is a terribly handy thing to have around.

The Itzbeen is a small device that has 4 count up timers and a clock. To start the timer all you need to do is push the corresponding button and it will keep track of how long it has been since you did that task. It also has a timer associated with each count up button so you can have it alert you if it's been more than a certain amount of time since you did a task. The timers all feature both noise and light alarms and there is a handy nightlight so your timer is ready any time of day or night.
As I mentioned earlier, I have really enjoyed this. The buttons are labeled diaper, bottle, sleep, other but I have essentially ignored those labels and use them for things like laundry, potty time, water intake, snacks, moving the sprinkler, and many other things. There are a few things that I would change. The first is that the timer alerts have to be set in half hour increments. This is not a big deal, just know it won't work great in the kitchen. The other thing is that there is no way to turn a timer off once you have started using it. This means that the Itzbeen is always counting and never stops.
Even with these few quirks this is a super handy little tool. It is an awesome size and with the clip on the back I can easily wear it on my belt or set it on the table. We love this and I'm getting so much more done simply because I remember the time. Thank you Itzbeen!

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A Good Week

I have to say that I had a blast shopping this week. I found some fun things and enjoyed the air conditioning, something we lack at the Kerr house. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. I shopped Walgreens, Target, Macys, Hancock Fabrics, and JoAnn Fabrics.

Total Spent: $47.24

Total Saved: $295.62 (86%)

Rewards Earned: $45.00

Woolino Review & Giveaway

Because the new baby is due in October one of the things we worry about is keeping her the correct temperature.With C (also an October due date) this was a huge deal because he was early and our house wan't the best at holding in heat.

This time I have a little less to worry about thanks to Woolino, and a new(er) house. Woolino makes a beautiful sleeping bag that I can't wait to use with the new baby. When the sleep bag arrived E was home and he couldn't believe I planned to let our kids sleep in a wool blanket but after feeling it he quickly changed his mind.


This wool sleep bag is perfect! Not only is it super soft but wool also has many other wonderful benefits including that it is all natural, allergy-safe, breathable, works to regulate body temperature (as opposed to only warming), absorbs moisture, resists odors, and is naturally flame retardant. With all of that said, I'm not sure I want my babies to sleep in anything else.
We have let D use this sleep bag a few times and he seems to enjoy it. As you can tell there is plenty of room for him to keep growing. The bag unsnaps at the shoulders and unzips around the bottom and one size making putting the bag on and diaper changes super easy! I love this sleeping bag by Woolino and I am super excited that they have agreed to give a sleeping bag to one Kerrific reader. Please use the form below to enter and don't forget to check out all our other great giveaways when you're done!

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Mommy MD Guides Review & Giveaway

It seems like something every mom does when she finds out she is expecting, especially the first time, is go find a book about pregnancy they can follow week by week. I am no exception and have actually tried a few of these type books. Even with baby #4 I still like to see how big the baby is each week and what new developments are being made.

With this pregnancy I have had the opportunity to be reading The Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth. The book is really well written and I am enjoying it. Probably my favorite part is the stories from the moms. It's nice to know that even pregnant doctors have many of the same emotions and uncertainties about pregnancy as the rest of us. Other highlights include tips for products you may want to try and special notes on when to call your doctor or midwife. Overall I have found it to be a very useful guide on what to expect during pregnancy with some fun stories to read along the way.

After you finish the Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth you should check out The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby's First Year. I have enjoyed what I have read of this book even more than the one on pregnancy.  Here the Mommy MDs discuss everything from bringing your baby home and introducing siblings to treating diaper rash, planning playmates, clipping fingernails, keeping toys under control, vacationing and talking about the next baby. I have found this to be a great resource of tips and tricks. My favorite doctors and therapists have always been the ones that don't give me a horrified look when I ask them, "what would you do if this was your child?" and I am super excited to have this awesome "what would you do" resource available to me in my home at any time day or night, it is being put to good use!

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Tiny Tush from Greenie Beanie Bottoms Review & Giveaway

When Greenie Beanie Bottoms sent me this Tiny Tush diaper to review I knew I would have to post it on the 4th. I have never really gotten into buying special diapers for holidays but I really liked this diaper and as far as I am concerned there is never a bad time to celebrate independence.

So far I really like this Tiny Tush diaper. The only thing I've noticed is that it is slightly more bulky than some we have used. I do really like that this came with two inserts, one small and one large, because that gives me the opportunity to change the absorbency, and bulk, as needed. This diaper has worked well on both C and D. C has picked this diaper out as one of his favorites and will regularly bring the "ars" diaper to us when we as him to get ready for a change.
The Tiny Tush has washed up fairly well. We are dealing with a few minor stains like we do with most any diaper with microfiber inserts.
We also want to note that Greenie Beanie Bottoms has been wonderful to work wtih. We are super excited that they have offered to give a Tiny Tush 1.1 diaper to one Kerrific reader! To enter please us the form below. Good Luck and don't forget to enter all the other Ready for Baby giveaways this month!

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Playin Baby - Wordless Wednesday

Naturepedic Mattress Protector Review & Giveaway

One product I didn't realize was really helpful when having a new baby was a mattress protector. My boys have always had a really bad habit of wetting out at night, in both cloth and disposables, and this is something we have learned to rely on.

Naturepedic recently sent us a mattress protector to review and we have enjoyed it. As you can see, it is a little big on our mattress (it's older and most sheets fit about like this too). It does however work very well at containing whatever may leak so we have a smaller mess to clean up in the morning.

As you can see, this is a fitted mattress protector although they also come in a flat version. This protector is made of organic cotton and is designed to breathe so your baby doesn't get sweaty, two features we very much like! These protectors also come in waterproof and non-waterproof varieties so you can find exactly what you want to fit your needs.

If you haven't yet thought about a mattress protector for your child's bed I highly recommend it. There are so many benefits and they are super simple to use. I know I wouldn't want to go without them now that I've seen all the great reasons they help.


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Legoland Sweepstakes and Atlantic Luggage

This post brought to you by Atlantic Luggage. All opinions are 100% mine.

There is nothing better than a free vacation and now is the time to enter to win exactly that from Atlantic Luggage and Legoland Sweepstakes. The prize is a two day vacation for two adults and two children to Legoland in Florida. It includes two nights hotel accommodation, a car voucher, a meet and greet with a Logoland master model builder and a free set of of Atlantic luggage to help you get there.

Atlantic luggage is a durable, lightweight luggage perfect for you kids to help you carry at a super affordable price. For me this is a super fun addition to this already great package because luggage is something you will use again and again. I know for our house we always need new/more luggage.

While you are in Florida with you awesome new luggage you are going to want to check out Legoland's new waterpark. It has something for the whole family including a wave pool, tube slides, body slides, and a chance to build your own Lego boat to float on the lazy river. What a fun way to cool off while enjoying this amazing summertime adventure!

Make sure you head on over to enter today so you can share the Lego fun with your family!

Baby Bindle Review & Giveaway

Every mom searches to find the perfect diaper bag. But what do you do when you don't want to carry the full diaper bag inside but still need a few essentials? Some moms I know will put what they need in their purse. Honestly, I don't even own a purse so that has never been an option for me. This is where the Baby Bindle comes in. This miniature diaper bag easily holds two diapers and a bottle, or those few other things you don't ever want to be without.

One of the benefits of this bag is that it easily fastens to the handle of your ear seat or stroller. I really like this because then I don't have to worry about one more thing to carry or forgetting to grab my diaper bag as we are out and about. The Baby Bindle comes in two colors, brown or black, so you can choose whichever goes best with your baby gear. I do hope that they get more colors soon because I'd love to have a fun bright colored bag that I always know is mine.

Baby Bindle is excited to be giving one of you your very own bag. Please use the form below to enter. Good Luck!

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Zookiescrafts Review & Giveaway

We have been cloth diapering for quite a while now and I have learned a few tricks that have helped it be less stressful to use cloth in our family. One of those, much to E's dislike, is to keep a wet bag in the car with a diaper cover for each child, a few inserts, and some wipes. This has been very helpful because my boys insist on making messes at the worst possible moments. I can almost always find water and everything else I need is in my magic bag.
Recently I received a cover that has quickly become my favorite to keep in my emergency bag. It is a one size cover from Zookiescrafts. I have fallen in love with the cover and I don't use anything else unless I have to, as far as covers go. I began using this cover frequently simply because it is one size and I can put it on any of my boys. After using it for a while I have to say that I love it for lots of other reasons too.

I love my Zookiescrafts diaper cover because it's bright and adorable but I also haven't had any leaks with it yet, knock on wood. I know that eventually someone will have a blow out but I'm super impressed with what it has held in thus far. This cover seems to be just the right size for each of my boys and we're all super thankful to have it around.

Zookiescrafts has generously offered to give one Kerrific reader a one size diaper cover like I received in their choice of available prints. Use the form below to enter. Good luck!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sewing Machine Repair

When you learn to sew you have to do lots more than just learn how to read a pattern and care for fabric. One of the hardest things to learn is how to use and care for your sewing machine. This is a difficult thing because no to machines are alike and chances are, the person who is teaching you to sew will have a different machine than you do. I like to compare a sewing machine to a car, even if you have the same make and model chances are they will each have their own little quirks that you have to learn how to function with and each time you get a new machine you must learn about it all over again.

There are many great resources for the beginning seamstress to help them better understand and care for their machine. One item that I feel would be a very worthwhile purchase for anyone who is learning about a new machine is Sewing Machine Repair for the Home Sewer by Reuben O. Doyle. It is an easy to read book that tells you about some common problems you might face with your machine and simple ways you can go about trying to solve them. It is a great reference guide for anyone who uses a sewing machine, especially those who are new to sewing. I know I have enjoyed having this book available! It is a great addition to the crafter's collection!