Twister!

Announcing!!!!

Kerr Baby #5 

We are very excited that we will be welcoming baby G into our home in June 2014! This pregnancy has been hard thus far so I feel like I've been MIA around here but I'm starting to feel better and  that means that you should stay tuned for lots of fun things to happen around here in the near future.



Here's a little sneak peak at what we have in the works!

February 2014 - Valentine Extravaganza

March 2014 - Spring Fashionista
April 2014 - New Beginnings Baby!

Watch for great reviews, giveaways, and more during these awesome events!

The Christmas Quilt by Vannetta Chapman

One thing I love about Christmas break is that it gives me a chance to do lots of reading. This Christmas I had the chance to read The Christmas Quilt by Vannetta Chapman, an amazing novel that spoke to my mother's heart!
The Christmas Quilt begins as Annie, a young Amish woman and midwife, begins a baby quilt for her best friend's twins. She is determined to finish it before their Christmas arrival but God has other plans as the babies try to make an early appearance. As Annie travels to the English hospital with her friend she finds the quilt she has started becomes even more significant for both women and the babies.
I found The Christmas Quilt to be not only an amazingly inspirational story but one that touched me personally. As a mom of babies who decide to arrive early, I know all to well the pain, hope, fear, and many other emotions that go through a mother's heart during this time. I too found great hope in Annie's quilt and highly recommend this book to any expectant mother or any mother at all who needs to find a little hope in their life. What a great read!

Become a Dining Daredevil in 2014!

Restaurant.com releases their Hot Food Trends for the New Year 

Break free from the same-old dining routine in 2014 and try something new with the help of Restaurant.com. To help you start your own dining adventures, Restaurant.com has compiled the 3 hottest trends to conquer at local restaurants near you. Resident trend-guru, Restaurant.com President and Chief Marketing Officer Christopher Krohn provided his predictions that will grace our plate in 2014. With these trends, you're sure to have a spicy year, but only if you dare! 

Egg-cellent Adventures:   While it's hard to determine when this trend ignited, it's definitely picked up pace and could reach its peak of popularity in 2014. The "breakfast for dinner" craze and increasing popularity of regional specialties, like Korean Bibimbap and Mexican Huevos Rancheros, will only grow the trend of egg-y fusions. Plus, there's an emerging sense from the scientific crowd that eggs are healthier than perhaps you previously thought, which will feed consumer interest in this farm-fresh favorite. All in all, 2014 will be the year of the egg, so you might as well get cracking! We dare you: Next time you order a burger or stir fry, ask them to top it off with a fried egg or two. The added protein will help boost your metabolism and satisfy your hunger! 

Farm to Fork Diners: growing eco-awareness and their desire for the wholesome simplicity of home-style cooking and minimally- processed foods is on the rise. Riding this wave, restaurants are returning to their predecessors' roots, sourcing fresh produce and natural ingredients and cooking them up in a style that more closely resembles the authentic recipes that graced Grandma's kitchen table rather than modern, industrial food products. We dare you: When people hear "farm to fork," they immediately think of steamed vegetables, but this trend encompasses more than just radishes and such. Tender meat alternatives and locally produced cheeses are two items to look for on the menu. Don't be afraid to order something with a beet or two for an added super food bonus! 

Tea Time: All the Time Once confined primarily to Asian restaurants, tea is an increasingly popular beverage. In 2014, you'll find tea used for novel and surprising purposes. For example, ground teas like matcha and chai can be used as dry rubs and marinades for beef, chicken or veggies. Tea-smoked salmon and pork will both make headway in the new year, and English-style tea-time gatherings at local cafes will also be big. We dare you: To find these tea-fusion meals, take a trip to an Asian fusion restaurant near you and keep an eye out for tea-smoked pork, ribs, or stir fry. For an added bonus, try one of our other favorite food trends of 2014, a hot sauce like sriracha. 

Feeling brave? Why not tackle the rest of our top food trend list on the Restaurant.com blog. Your tummy will thank you!

Babywearing Works for Our Family

Most of you know that my kids are really close in age. This isn't a bad thing at our house, just a fact, but every time I have taken them out recently (which has been happening more than usual as we got ready for the holidays) I have gotten the same question: "How do you do it." Today I am here to share one tip with you about how I manage having four kids within four years and still get things done.

Babywearing has been a life safer for me and is something I do continually with my children. It's good for me and good for them which is wonderful! I was first introduced to babywearing by chance when B was only about a week old. I attended a breastfeeding event just days after he was born and was gifted my very first sling from a vendor that was there. I don't have a photo of me with this sling but It was a simple fleece sized sling that I used for a very long time and loved it! From there my love of babywearing began.

Once C was born my babywearing really turned into being a full time adventure. When C was born B was just learning to walk and I was always carrying at least one child so I almost always had one in my sling. Not long after that I began to investigate other types of carriers and trying them out. There hasn't been one that I don't enjoy.

The second carrier I got was my Boba wrap. It is perfect for carrying my little babies up until about six months. My favorite feature about this carrier was that E or I could easily wear it with the baby and they were safe. This has been my go to way to carry my babies with three kids now. My current favorite feature is that when I take my kids out in public I can put my baby in my wrap and not have to worry about them being the correct temperature or people touching them because the wrap takes care of both of those problems for me.

My current go to carrier is my Boba carrier. I love it because I can carry all of my kids in it. This carrier goes with me everywhere (literally). I use my carrier when I'm doing dishes, when we go for a walk, at the store, and even at church. Again, a big bonus to this carrier is that it is safe for children, meaning that it is supportive of their hips, back and neck. We also love this carrier because E and I can share without hardly any adjusting. It is easy to get on and off and keeps everyone comfortable while it's in use.

I highly encourage every mom to check out all the amazing options available for babywearing! It is something that really does work, when done correctly with proper leg and back support, and can help simplify your busy life.

Follow Kerrific's board Babywearing for Families on Pinterest.

I am a Boba Ambassador. Please feel free to ask if you have questions about safe babywearing practices.

Lunch Time

DidyTai + Giveaway

The Didymos Didy Tai is a wonderful marriage between a woven wrap and a Buckle carrier. It's Super fast (and easy to learn) like the buckle carrier and snugly like a wrap. The DidyTai (or wrap-tai) has a criss-cross back for weight support. This is the only Mei Tai style carrier that Caribou Baby recommends for newborns because of the tremendous back support - and the ability to carry the baby legs out in a deep squat - from day 1.

The DidyTai is versatile. Its toggle base allows for a great newborn hold and for the mobility of an older baby.

 

Other features of the Didy Tai include:

• Reversible two-color carrier
• Anatomically correct squat-spread-position
• Special, diagonally stretchable cloth
• Lightweight and handy
• Free from any toxic materials
• Pure organic cotton
• Non-toxic dyes
• Made in Germany
• Machine washable
• Long-lasting and resistant

     

 Please enter the Giveaway below for your chance to win a Didymos Didy Tai From Caribou Baby RV $190. Good Luck!

 US and CAN residents only.      

Entry-Form

       

 Kerrific is only hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for prize distribution.

Sponsored by Adriane of Caribou Baby

Hosted by: The Squishable Baby

Co-hosted by:

Our Piece of Earth	According to Jenny	Zephyr Hill Blog
The Median Mommy	Life as a Wife, Mummy and Nurse	I Thought I Knew Mama
Mommy's Favorite Things	Kerrific online	Living Peacefully with Children
Hobo Mama	Momma Lew

   

Merry Fluffy Christmas + Giveaway

Welcome to the annual Merry Fluffy Christmas Giveaway Event!! There are 56 blogs that are giving away cloth diapering prize packages $50+! Make sure you enter here at Kerrific and then hop to all the others!! There are thousands in fluffy prizes to be won! This year, there are also two HUGE Grand Prize packages, on both of the host blogs, And Then There Were 5 and Mommy’s Favorite Things! So make sure you enter to win those as well! Good luck!

Here at Kerrific We are offering an amazing prize package including:

• 1 Glow Bug Diaper - Review
• 1 Bag Rockin Green - Review
• 1 FuzziBunz Elite Diaper from Thanks Mama - Review
• and a $10 gift card to Kerrific's diaper shop

This amazing package has a retail value of $57 and will be a perfect addition to your diaper stash. 

To enter, please use the form below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Jackson Hole Souvenirs

With our recent trip to Jackson Hole of course one of the things we had to do was get some fun souvenirs for the kids. Here are a few of our favorite shopping places we found.

Jackson Hole Marketplace:
I actually found this store before we left and ordered a few things to pick up while we were there. Our favorite was a animal tracks handkerchief for the boys. They do have lots of other interesting items as well including everything from clothing to food. If you're a fan of Jackson and want to share the Jackson love with someone without visiting the town itself than Jackson Hole Marketplace is where you should go!

Teton Toys:
Of course we couldn't visit town square without stopping at the local toy store. This is a hidden treasure found in the basement of some other stores but it was a hit. They have lots of traditional toys including some well known names like Melissa & Doug but they also have some amazing Jackson unique finds that you'll want to check out!

Jackson Trading:
If you're looking for an everything shop right on the square than Jackson Trading is a great place to start. They have a little bit of everything Jackson Hole plus we found out they also have some great sales throughout the year and I found some fun things for me at an amazing price!

Something About Mom's Bed

Black Friday With Lovable Labels

Wayback Memories + $100 Country Outfitters Giveaway

Ok, so most of you know me as a mom and blogger but today I want to share a little bit about my growing up years. Here are a few photos to get us started.

As you can see I used to spend my days in a slightly different way then I spend them now. I had lots of fun with the animals and if you've checked out our about us page you know that we still keep a few furry friends around out house.

Although I have become a bit more of a city girl then I used to be there is one part of me that hasn't changed and that is my love of boots. As far as I am concerned there are two options for footwear, barefoot or boots. E thinks I'm crazy but I wear my boots almost everywhere. They really are the perfect go to shoes because I can wear them with jeans, dresses, and I've even been known to match them with my shorts. Boots are so easy because it doesn't take any effort to just slip them on and you can do that without any open hands. Yes, I am partial to my boots both the cowgirl and the fashion styles.

This year I want to make sure that everyone has a chance to have an amazing pair of boots that are perfect for all occasions. Thanks to Country Outfitters everyone can have the boots they want this year. You'll want to make sure to check out their sales this weekend where the more you spend, the more you will save and you'll get free gifts with your purchase.

Country Outfitters is also giving away Boots for a Year to one lucky subscriber. Make sure you head on over to enter today to get a new pair of boots, your choice, each month of 2014.

And, before you go, make sure you enter below for a chance to win a $100 Country Outfitters gift card to get your holiday outfit finished up. You'll love the great selection over at Country Outfitters! Good luck!

Entry-Form

Bentwood Inn Couples Retreat - Jackson Hole, WY

 Most of the things I write about here are for kids and their families but today I have a special treat just for mom an dad thanks to Bentwood Inn.

At the first of the month, E and I had the opportunity to leave the kids home and head for an amazing couples retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Thanks to some amazing friends who took the kids for the weekend we got a way just the two of us which is something I highly suggest to any parents once in a while!

If you are not familiar with the Jackson area, it's amazingly beautiful and is a very popular tourist town both summer and winter. We were there the beginning of November which made our visit during the off season and very relaxing and enjoyable for us even though some of the large attractions were closed.

Probably our favorite part of our stay in Jackson was the wonderful Bentwood Inn where we were able to stay. As you can see, this beautiful Inn is uniquely beautiful. It is made from 200 year old logs brought in from Yellowstone National Park and the outside is only the beginning.

E and I had the privilege to stay in the Indian Paintbrush Room. The room was beautifully decorated and the perfect size for a couple. My favorite feature was the in-room fireplace that was perfect for spending cold evenings by. The room also included a bathroom with a jetted tub and shower plus a balcony with an amazing view.

One fun thing the Bentwood Inn does for their guests is have social hour each night. They provide appetizers that are amazing and you get the chance to meet the other guests and relax in their beautiful great room in front of a warm fire. E and I were very amazed by the food in the evenings and by the great company as we were able to talk to the other guests and the Innkeepers.

One thing I learned more about during this social hour was Bentwood Inn's Green Initiative. The Inn itself is doing all that it can to be as green as possible. Some of the big things that I heard about were that they buy produce and meat from local suppliers, provide natural and local soaps in their rooms, compost their yard waste, and are members of the 1% for the Tetons Society.  For me this was just one more great reason to stay at the Bentwood Inn!

After an amazing night of sleep (heck, there weren't any kids to wake us up and that bed was super comfy), we went downstairs and were treated to an amazing breakfast. I haven't eaten that much first thing in the morning probably ever but it was so good you just didn't want to stop. The meal started with fresh fruit and a yogurt dip with your choice of drink (we're hot chocolate fans). After that came an amazing dish of eggs, sausage, and potatoes. Can I just say again how amazing this was! Besides the food we ate we also had choices of fresh baked breads, granola, and other wonderful breakfast foods. There was no way you could go wrong.

From there we had an amazing time during the day. The innkeepers were very helpful in helping us to find great places to spend the day and fun places to eat our other meals. The Bentwood Inn is just six miles from the Jackson Hole Ski Area at Teton Village and Grand Teton National Park in one direction and six miles from down town Jackson in the other. They are also located directly on a 200 mile paved trail that can take you to many of the local attractions. We didn't try out the trail this time but next time we head that way we will be sure to bring our bikes because it looked like lots of fun. We did get to visit both Teton Village and downtown Jackson and had lots of fun visiting the shops and eating way too much.

The Bentwood Inn was an amazing place to stay! E and I had a wonderful time and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a getaway for a couple or a family. There was so much to do, the Innkeepers were amazing, and the stay was unforgettable! Thanks for a great weekend Bentwood Inn!

Cyber Monday Sales + $500 Amazon Giveaway

This Kerrific post is a Fashionista Event. I was provided a promotional item by Coupons.com to inform you of their crazy insane Cyber Monday Sales, Coupons.com Cyber Monday giveaway and our Cyber Monday $500 giveaway.

It's that time of year again. Time for Christmas shopping to be just about done! Thankfully, at our house that is just about the case and I'm looking forward to finishing up during the Cyber Monday Sales.

Cyber Monday is a great opportunity for me to finish my Christmas shopping. Not only will I find some amazing deals but it also saves me the disaster of taking my kids out and trying to hide what I'm doing which with E at school and working plus my work schedule that is my only other option.

This year I am excited to replace my sticky faced, grumpy toddlers at the mall with my snuggle bug on the couch that likes to help me get all my final gifts ordered and never tells a soul.

To start things off I'll be following my favorite stores this week on Facebook, twitter, and through email so I can see all of their Cyber Monday Sales and know exactly where I want to go first. Once I know where I'm going it's easy to get everything ready so all I have to do is add things to my shopping cart and get in and out as quickly as possible.

As part of the fun, you'll want to make sure your Cyber Monday plan includes entering the Coupons.com Cyber Monday Sweepstakes. They are giving away a $500 Amazon gift card and you can enter now through December 2nd HERE.

Along with this amazing giveaway the Fashionistas are giving you a second chance at one of two $250 Amazon Gift Cards. Use the form below to enter. Good Luck and Happy Shopping!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sophia Style For Your Little Girl

One of my very favorite things to do for my kids for the holidays is to get them festive clothing (if you haven't seen my suspenders in my etsy shop yet then you have no idea how much I enjoy this). This year I am excited to be getting F's Holiday outfits from Sophias Style. They have an amazing line of boutique clothing that is just perfect for the little girl in your life.

This year I chose the Bonnie Jean Pink Snowman Dress Outfit and the Bonnie Jean Pink Green Fleece Owl 3pc Dress Legging Outfit for my little girl. I know she's going to look adorable and I just can't wait until she opens her gifts on Christmas morning! If you love playing dress up with your little girl then this is a shop you should check out today!

Fun at the Fair

Zipfy Your Holidays Today!

It's time for the holidays again. This year, my family will be home for the holidays and are excited to be spending our time together doing fun family activities. One thing I am excited to test our is our new Zipfy Freestyle Mini Luge sleds. The boys haven't seen these yet but it's going to be great fun and since we live close to some amazing sledding hills it's going to be an awesome time! These sleds are going to be perfect for my family because they are easy to use and light to carry up the hills with their convenient handle.


Are you ready to be home for the holidays? If not, here's your chance. Zipfy is giving away a set of mini luges to one Kerrific reader. Make sure you use the form below to enter today!

Entry-Form

Nature's Sleep carries a variety of products to help you get a blissful night's sleep from memory foam pillows to memory foam mattresses. You can wake up to a whole new you. Say goodnight to aches and pains while you sleep in sublime comfort and awake feeling refreshed. One lucky continental US winner will be chosen to receive a memory foam mattress from Nature's Sleep at a max value of $4000 by entering the code word from the blog they entered the sweepstakes on in the Giveaway Tools form below. My code word is: NICE

Entry-Form

Thanks for eventering! Now see all of the great prizes all the other blogs are offering!

Dohmie for Serious Sleep!

It has been a very long fall at our house and this mom is ready for some serious sleep. E thinks I'm funny when he asks what I want for Christmas and I tell him all I really want is a nap but with him, B and C all at school and D and F home with me all day this mom needs a good nap!
In an attempt to find some better sleep patterns Marpac sent us some help, for the last two weeks we have been trying out Dohmie by Marpac in the baby's room in hopes that she would sleep through the night. In case you haven't heard, the Dohmie is a sound conditioner, meaning that is is a machine that plays white noise to help you go to sleep and stay asleep longer.
I can vouch for the fact that the Dohmie's white noise is very relaxing. The first day we had our machine I turned it on in the family room while I worked and it wasn't very long at all before I was ready for a nap. Since then the machine has been in baby sister's room and I turn it on during nap and nighttime. I can't say that we've seen a huge improvement as she is still waking up about once a night asking for food (not sure this has anything to do with the noise either) but she does fall asleep faster when we lay her down which is wonderful!
The downside of this machine for me is that it is white. All the furnishings in F's room are either dark brown or black so I'd love to see some other colors available so this machine can blend in a little better. Other than that I love the Dohmie and look forward to it continuing to help regulate the sleep patterns at the Kerr house!

This is a compensated opportunity from Marpac and the Mom it Forward Blogger Network.

Gift Ideas for Mom

Sometimes buying for mom can be the hardest task of the season. I know often the things mom wants are things you can't wrap in a box, I always ask for a day without any fighting, and that makes it hard to buy for her. This year I am excited to have a great suggestion for mom, Ageless Derma.

Ageless Derma has a great selection of products for mom including their most popular Anti Wrinkle Cream with Stem Cells. If this isn't the right choice for your mom then their Masques or Mineral Makeup would also be great choices for that special woman in your life.

This year get mom something that will truly spoil her for years to come by checking out Ageless Derma today!

The Perfect Gift

I finally found the perfect gift for my little brother. I'm never quite sure what to do for all my crazy, somewhat loveable student brother. He's married to his car, which I think is very funny, and works a million jobs so he can pay to keep it running. I just love this fun shirt and know he'll love it!
Merry Christmas!

Fitting ... Don't you think?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.