Sustainable and Upcycled Giveaway Coming Soon!

 
In celebration for 1 full year of blogging at Squishablebaby.com, Lauren at The Median Mommy and Lisa at The Squishable Baby are hosting a sustainable and upcycled giveaway hop. We have put together an amazing grand prize featuring bamboo diapers, wool, dryer balls, bamboo, and more - valued at over $150. We are looking for participants who want to giveaway sustainable and upcycled prizes valued at $15+. Since this is a sustainable or upcycled hop, please sign-up only if you have a sustainable or upcycled item to giveaway. The item can definitely be homemade - and we welcome creativity!  

If you want to participate...

1. Please sign-up in the linky below. At the end of your blog name, please place (US, US/CAN, WW) for delivery options.

 2. Fill out the Google Doc form which is located here.

 3. Post the HTML and linky (contained in the google doc) on your own blog.  

 A week before the hop, we will email you a bit of HTML, which you can put anywhere in your post. If you have any questions, please email Lisa (before signing-up) at lisa {at} squishablebaby {dot} com Thank you for helping us make this planet a better place - one blog at a time!

Ruth Reid’s “A Miracle of Hope” Kindle HDX Giveaway - A Perfect Valentine Gift!

A Miracle of Hope is the first book in Ruth Reid's new series, Amish Wonders, and she is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX Giveaway and an Author Chat Facebook Party! That means it's time to go enter to win the perfect Valentines gift for yourself!

One lucky winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Miracle of Hope by Ruth Reid

Enter today and hurry, the giveaway ends on February 11th. Winner will be announced at the A Miracle of Hope Facebook Party on February 11th. Connect with Ruth for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, prizes, and more!

A Miracle of Hope is an enchanting story of a young girl, Lindie, who is unwed and pregnant. Her main concern is to protect herself and her child and so she decides that an arranged marriage is her hope to survive. Lindie is soon married to Josiah, a widower with a young special needs daughter. The story as these two families are brought together is amazing! It was so fun to read about how these two individuals learned to work together and became a true family. This is a great story of love and hope perfect for Valentines Day, or any other day of the year!

So grab your copy of A Miracle of Hope and join Ruth and friends on the evening of February 11th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

Share Some Love With Spot this Valentines

Sharing our love with our family is super important during the Valentines season. This year, as you share the love don't forget your furry friends. We have five of the four footed family members at the Kerr house and we love them all! If you haven't read about us recently you may not know that each of the Kerr pets was adopted from a local rescue. We are so happy with the help we have received finding the perfect pets for our home!

If you're looking for the perfect pet for your family one place you should check out is Power of the Paw. They are an amazing rescue organization that, although small, does amazing things for the animals. The founder is a wonderful woman who will always do anything in her power to help you find the perfect pet for your family. The easiest way to find Power of the Paw is to follow their Facebook page where you can find all the latest updates on the available animals and any other projects the organization is working on.

Right now one of the animals Power of the Paw is working with is Spot. Spot is an orange tabby who was hit by a car. He had surgery to fix a broken leg and currently has a fixator on his leg. He's currently healing and getting some TLC with Power of the Paw. Spot is very grateful for the two individuals that paid for his surgery and for everyone else involved.... the good Samaritan that brought him into the Emergency clinic, those at the clinic who gave him a chance, the staff at River City Animal Hospital who performed and were involved in his surgery, Heath's Haven for posting that he needed a foster and all those who shared in hope of finding his family and those who called in donations.

If you're interested in helping Spot and other animals in need of some TLC make sure you check out the Power of the Paw page today!

A Boogie-Woogie Valentines + Giveaway

If you haven't figured out already I'm a big fan of unique Valentines. This year some of my friends, the Boogie Bugle Girls, and I wanted to give you a little preview of the fun Valentines we have planned for the special people in our life.

This year for Valentines I am excited to be able to gift some fun Boogie Wipes packages to my children's schoolmates, teachers, and other friends and family. I know the sugar high will already be great so I'm thrilled to be able to share something just as fun without the sugar content, especially at school where I know the sugar will be much to high for learning to occur.

The best part of this Boogie challenge is that we get to invite you to participate in the fun. Each of our Boogie Bugle Girls has created a Valentine idea for you. Your job is simply to pick your favorite for your chance to win an amazing Boogie Valentine basket of your very own! Good luck!

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She's Getting Away!

The Perfect Little Gifts

Now I know some people spend a ton of money on Valentines Day. For my family that just isn't an option but I still like to get a special gift for each of the kids and share the love with everyone else I possibly can too.

This year I am gifting to all the little ones I love thanks to Oriental Trading. If you haven't checked out Oriental Trading yet then you should. They have a ton of novelty items at amazing prices. My favorite part, you get items that are nice enough to gift to those you love most.

In fact, this Valentines we are putting together gift baskets for some local moms in need and came up with some great baskets plus some fillers like journals and some adorable toys for their kids without breaking my bank at Oriental Trading.

I order all my party items, stocking stuffers, and other small gifts from Oriental Trading. As a practical mom I've found there isn't a better way to go!

Dressing Up for Valentines

At the Kerr house one of our favorite things to do is dress up for the holidays. My kids are still little and their sense of time can be a little off (everything either happened last week or will happen tomorrow) so we have found that getting them ready for the holidays early can be lots of fun! One way we do this is with fun church outfits. For my boys that means that each month they get a novelty pair of suspenders to help celebrate the season.

For February we had a hard time finding a print that wasn't too girly but these Conversation Heart Suspenders turned out awesome. For church the boys wear them with a bright solid color tie but they have fun wearing them around the house with their jeans and t-shirts too!

Do you want to get in on the fun? We are having such a blast with our suspender collection that we want to share the love! You can now purchase these, and soon some of our other fun suspenders, at our Etsy Shop. Orders placed through Wednesday (the 5th) are guaranteed for arrival by Valentines day so you'll want to head over and check it out soon. And if you like these make sure you stick around because I will have some fabulous lucky suspenders ready for March next week!

Gifting for Valentines

Gifting seems to be part of most peoples' routines for Valentines Day. In fact, CNN says that they expect $18.6 million to be spent before Valentines Day. That is a whole lot of money!

This year our family is working on a special donation for Valentines Day and want to invite you to help us. As a family we are getting ready to participate in our local March of Dimes event. March of Dimes is a special organization who's mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality

The Kerr Babies

As you may know, at the Kerr house we have three children that were born prematurely. This can make a huge difference in the start of a child's life but we know from experience that this rough start can be ok when your child has the right help and we want every child to have that chance. 

This Valentines we would like to invite you to join us in our march to help babies. If you are local you can join our team and walk with us on May 31, 2014. If you are not local, or can't walk that day, we would invite you to support this amazing cause with a donation. This year our goal is to raise $5,000 for the cause so head on over and help get us going today!

Getting Your Family In The Mood For Valentines with FlattenMe Books

It's time to get in the mood for Valentines (YIKES, where has the year gone?). This year, we are helping our children understand the word love with the amazing new book Owl Always Love You by FlattenMe.

FlattenMe makes unique books using your favorite person's name and/or photo. The Owl Always Love You was perfect for Baby F because it has amazing pictures and the story is a sweet lullaby.

The next book on my list from FlattenMe is the My Super Someone book. I can just see this being awesome for a father, uncle, or even a child. My kids are way into superheros so I think it would make a great gift from them!

If you want the perfect valentine for your special someone this year make sure you check out FlattenMe. You have until 2/4/14 to order for Valentine's delivery so there is still time and you will love whatever book you choose!

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.      

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 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!

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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