Sunshine and Sippy Cups

Win the ConservingNow Great Green Giveaway! {$50 Value}

Enter to win in the ConservingNow Great Green Giveaway! {$50 Value}

Check out the super amazing Ultra-Sturdy Oversized Cotton Tote bag from ConservingNow that one lucky Sunshine and Sippy Cups fan is going to win…

AND, this awesome bag will be filled to up with a ton of great “Green” goodies…

Here are all of the awesome products that the winner will get to try out:

The simply amazing Ultra-Sturdy Oversized Cotton Tote from ConservingNow, plus a fun window cling to remind you to “Bring Your Own Bag”!
Baby products and coupon from Earth’s Best including a cute baby bib, whole grain rice cereal, feeding guide, diaper and wipe coupons, and 2 FREE baby cereal coupons!
The adorable Baby Banana Brush Combo Pack with Spry Training Tooth Gel. {Not pictured, click the link to see it!}
Natural cleaning products from Ecover including two trial packages of dishwashing tabs, and a mini Grapefruit and Green Tea Dishwashing Liquid, plus coupons!
Freebies from Nasoya! Coupons for one FREE Nasoya Super Hummus, and one FREE product of your choice.
A sample of Sprout Baby Food in my little girls very favorite flavor, Roasted Bananas!
Samples of the natural snack, Chocolate Covered Strawberry thinkThin bars from Think Products!

One lucky fan will win it all, a package of green goodies worth over $50!! What a great way to try out a ton of new natural product companies, right? These are all brands that I use and love, and I’m excited to share them with you.

Now…. How do you enter??

Remember, to be eligible to win any of my giveaways, you MUST be a blog follower. You can subscribe by email, or follow with GFC.

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment letting me know how you follow Sunshine and Sippy Cups. Make sure to include your email, so I can contact you if you’re the lucky winner!

Bonus Entries:

1. “Like” ConservingNow on Facebook and leave me a comment letting you know that you are a fan! And if you’re feeling friendly, stop and say hello and show some love from the Sunshine and Sippy Cups fans!
2. Follow ConservingNow on Twitter, and leave me another new comment letting me know that you did this, and what your Twitter name is.
3. Visit ConservingNow and let me know which bag is your favorite! {So many good ones, I don’t know how you’ll choose!}
4. “Like” Sunshine and Sippy Cups on Facebook, and leave a comment letting me know that you’re a fan!
5. Follow Sunshine and Sippy Cups on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know!
6. One bonus entry EVERY DAY for sharing this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter! {You can share very easily by using the share buttons under each post!} Leave me a comment here EACH DAY that you share the giveaway, to get your daily bonus entry!

Rules:

Contest ends on Sunday, April 30th, 2011 at midnight PST. Winner will be chosen on May 1st, 2011. Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only, 18 and over. Winner will be contacted at the email they provide here, and will have 48 hours to respond before an alternate winner will be drawn.

Woooooo!!!! Let the fun begin!! Check out the ConservingNow site, learn lots of new info, and browse their great products. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and share the giveaway. And leave a NEW comment for EVERY action you complete, for lots of entries!

Also, make sure you join the fun during the Natural Parenting Blog Party, and read more about ConservingNow in my review here!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 19, 2011 Filed Under: Green Living, Contests | 150 Comments

Welcome to the Natural Parenting Blog Party!

I am joining the fun in the Natural Parenting Blog Party hosted by The Peaceful Housewife. Make sure to stop by and say thanks for hosting an awesome party, check out her uh-MAY-zing line of natural products, and go party it up with some of the other blogs too!

I’m a little late to the party {it seems that ever since I had the baby, I’m ALWAYS late to EVERYTHING, lol} but now that I’m here, lets get rockin’.

To start, I’ll answer some “get to know you” questions posted by our host, The Peaceful Housewife….

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

I’m a new mommy to this little cupcake-cheeked cutie pie, Abigail Piper. I had never planned to become a mother. I had two nephews that I adored, and was perfectly happy just being “Auntie Meagan”. But this little girl somehow knew that I needed her, and I got pregnant not long before my 30th birthday. Thank goodness I did. Being a mommy is the greatest thing in my life, and I can’t believe that I almost missed out on this. Raising her is an ovewhelmingly wonderful process.

Do you have a partner, or are you a single parent?

Hmmm…. Relationship status = Complicated. But Abby’s daddy is the a WONDERFUL dad, and I’m very happy that she has him as a big part of her life!

What are your “hot button” parenting issues?

My only concern is the way that so many women are extremely judgemental towards other mothers. Every baby is different, every family is unique, and every mom has different values and priorities. So what works best in one household will not always be whats best for someone else. Sharing tips on what works for you is wonderful. Telling someone that they’re parenting their child “the wrong way” because they do things differently than you is not ok. We’re all moms, all trying to do the best we can. We should be more supportive of each other.

Have you made any parenting choices that you didn’t think you would make before you were a parent, i.e. cloth diapering a child when you had previously thought it was disgusting?

I never thought that I would BE a parent, so I had never given much thought to what type of choices I would make! But I have made lifestyle choices to live cleaner, greener, and healthier. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to give her the best that I can!

Is there one book or person in particular that’s heavily influenced your parenting choices?

It’s not a parenting book, but “Made from Scratch, Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life” by Jenna Woginrich, made me appreciate a more simple lifestyle. Love it.

If you had to describe each of your children using only one word, what word would you use?

Sunshine. Thats what she brings to my world every single day.

Is there one parenting decision that you regret more than others and wish you could change?

I wish that I had learned more about breastfeeding before having my daughter. My water broke 3 weeks early, so I was kind of unprepared still! She had some problems at first, and spent a few days in NICU, and then a few more in the Pediatrics section. I wasn’t even allowed to hold her until very late on the second day at the hospital, and it was the third day before I was able to get a pump in my room. My lack of knowledge led to me not getting a good start… I started pumping milk late the 3rd day. I allowed the nurses to bottle feed the baby, and give her pacifiers. I tried to breastfeed but was clueless. So I tried desperately to breastfeed her for over a month, but I never got a good milk supply, and she never learned to latch. I really regret not knowing more, and giving us a more successful start. I tried my best, but this was a huge disappointment for me.

Is there an area of your parenting you wish you were better at?

Um, everything?! I always feel like, “When is the REAL mom going to show up and take care of this baby??” It can’t be POSSIBLE that I am a parent??!! But SHE doesn’t know that I don’t know :) So together, we learn a little more every day.

Now for the fun questions – is there one particular food or type of food that you could eat every day?

Cupcakes. With sprinkles.

Vanilla ice cream or chocolate?

Rainbow Sherbet.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I don’t seem to have much time for those anymore! But if I do get the chance for a few minutes to do something I want to do, you can bet I don’t feel guilty!! :)

If you could be part of any television show, which show would it be?

I hardly watch any tv at all, so this is tough. But I’d love to be on the Colbert Report! I love shows that are funny, but smart. There is so much hypocrisy and negativity in the media, and he does a great job of exposing that, and showing how silly and irrelevant much of it is. Love him.

Now that you guys know more about me, and what type of parent I am, share some of your own answers to these questions in the comments, so I can get to know you guys too! Plus, stay tuned for more this week… Enter to win the ConservingNow Great Green Giveaway {$50 Value} by reading the post here, plus I’ll be sharing a bunch of fun up-cycling craft projects for Easter, some fun Earth Day freebies, and more! So check back, and check out the fun at all of the other blogs this week too!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 19, 2011 Filed Under: Green Living | 4 Comments

And the winner of the {Yumm-tastic} Philly giveaway is…

…. Congratulations to Emma Horton!!!

She was the lucky winner drawn by Random.org for the {Yumm-tastic} Philly Cooking Creme Cooking Set giveaway!!

To see what she won, see the contest post here.

Bummed that you weren’t the winner?? Well, you’ll have a chance to win again in a NEW giveaway coming up in a couple of hours!! It’s a super cool giveaway of natural products for momma and baby…. Stay tuned :)

While you’re waiting to enter this new giveaway, check out the awesome new deal site, Tippr!! I’m a new fan of this site, lovin’ it.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 19, 2011 Filed Under: Winners!, Contests | No Comments

Spring Cleaning for New Mommys

I love Planning Family!! If you’re not signed up with them yet, you should check them out. They have links to lots of free offers for moms and babies, and so many helpful articles.

I wanted to share this one that came in todays daily email. Love it. Great tips!

The following article is from Planning Family, not written by me:

Spring cleaning! It’s the time of year when as everything starts to blossom and grow again many of us feel the urge to also tidy up. As a new mama, the thought of cleaning may be far down on the list. The first priorities are your baby, and of course you. Those two things can take up much of the day!

With a newborn in the home, you may feel like there is more clutter than ever. Did you ever think one little being could utilize so much gear?

If you are feeling the urge to get organized, but are feeling low on time and energy, there are still some things you can do. Remember, it all doesn’t have to be done today. It may take you more than one (or two) days to even figure out where to start. Baby steps are a good thing!

So, where to start? To get a jump on getting organized for spring, start with the basics:

Make a list. You have to start somewhere. Where will it be? What will be your priority? Your tasks can be as simple as cleaning off the kitchen counter, a basket by the couch, or the utility closet that hasn’t been touched since you moved in.
Conquer one task at a time. Although you may have great ambitions, start and succeed small. Remember, you may get limited amounts of time to work on a task and may have to start and stop working at a moment’s (or your newborn’s) notice. Go into a task remembering that even a small area may take you several times attempts (possibly over multiple days) to complete.
When you do work in an area, clear everything out. Make piles, sort items, and de-clutter!
Be prepared to downsize. Do you really need something? Consider donating unused items or put them away for a garage or yard sale to come (a big undertaking – don’t plan on tackling that one alone, especially as a new mama!).
Ask for and get help when you need it. Most folks are more than happy to help out a new mama. Your need may simply be for someone to hold your baby for a few minutes so that you have a little time to take on a task. Or, you may need a professional who can help tackle a task (there are even such things out there as professional organizers, if your budget allows!).
Celebrate your success. With each step you take, enjoy a moment to savor your accomplishment. A little step each day will equal a major spring-cleaning success in no time.

I know that all moms feel super busy, and it can be hard to find time to get spring cleaning tasks done. ESPECIALLY if you have a baby at home. But I also know that if you just MAKE the time to get things cleaned up and cleared out, it makes your days so much easier to manage! I hope these tips help you guys out too….

And for more, check out the Planning Family website here:

Formula Samples, Baby Magazines, Daipers Coupons and more! Click Here to sign up and check them out!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 19, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies | No Comments

Spin to Win! Daily $50 Prize!!

Survey Spot Spin to Win Daily Prizes!!

There is still time to SPIN TO WIN!! Read details:

Participate until April 26th
for your chance to WIN!!
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Are you a member of Survey Spot yet?? One of my new VERY favorite Survey Sites! They have so many fun promotions all the time…. I’m loving them. Get signed up today so you can do the daily Spin to Win too!

Join SurveySpot and participate in online research studies that match your interests and demographics. Earn prize draw entries every time you participate in a survey, with a chance to win up to $12,000 in our quarterly prize draw. Click Here!

And if you LOVE survey sites, making extra FREE money, and WINNING fun prizes, make sure to read my post about Survey Sites here to learn more about how they work, and how to get started!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 19, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Contests | No Comments

$35 for $100 Worth of Product from Picaboo!

Check out this awesome deal today from Groupon!

Get $100 worth of product from Picaboo for only $35!! Read the details here:

Expires Oct 20, 2011
Limit 1 per person. Redeem starting 4/21. Valid toward tax and shipping. Valid for photo books, cards, and calendars. Not valid with other offers. May redeem across multiple orders.

225 of these deals have already been purchased, and you only have today to get in on this great deal! To get it, go to Groupon…

And sign up to buy this deal!! And if you haven’t used Picaboo before, trust me, it is soooo easy. I am a HUGE fan of photo gifts, and I have made many photo books before, with all of the different companies.

This is one of the easiest to use! The quality is amazing, and everyone that I have ever given a photo book to has been so amazed and loved it. They rock. This would be a great deal to use for Mothers Day gifts!

And if you love deal sites, here is another new one to check out…

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 19, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Deals and Coupon Codes | No Comments

Free Coupon E-Course Available Now!

Check out the new FREE Coupon E-Course!

I signed up for this last week, and am really happy with it so far. Great information for beginners, and some new tips that I didn’t know yet. Plus, they have tons of other great resources that you use on their site too.

Read more:

This FREE couponing e-course will teach you to get hundreds of dollars a month in free household items, food, and toiletries. Click Here to sign up today and start saving!

They’re not saying that you will get all of your products for free, but that you could have savings of hundreds of dollars a month. At first that sounded really unreasonable to me, but then I thought about my own savings already… I go grocery shopping once every week and a half usually, and save around $30-$40 per trip.

So I guess that these coupon savings really do add up quickly! I’d never thought about it as saving “hundreds of dollars”, but I do save around $100 bucks a month. That realization made me pretty proud of myself! :)

I know that if I take the time to learn a little more, and start using more of the store match-ups, I can save even more. So I am excited to be a part of this e-course. Check it out, and let me know if it helps you out with your savings too!

And for more coupon savings, check out my Super Coupon Sunday resource in this post. Plus, I’m looking for people who would be interested in doing a guest post on couponing tips for a new series I’d like to start in a couple of weeks. Let me know in the comments of via email if you are intersted!