And so, here we are, two and half months later, and I am still wearing my maternity pants.  Don’t get me wrong, they are meant for rockin’ postpartum as well, and they’re soo comfortable. I love them! (Secret Fit Belly – Destination Maternity brands) 

But… it’s either shape up (or down, as it is) or go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.  There are only so many outfit combinations you can create from 3 pairs of maternity slacks and the handful of shirts that don’t make me look like I’m still pregnant that are also appropriate for the workplace.  Plus, frequently washing those same clothes over and over and over again definitely takes a toll.

Yeah… too bad business casual doesn’t include jeans or sweatpants and that nice, roomy slogan-ized t-shirt you got free from the chicken joint in town.  Oh, I’m kidding.  I’m not that silly.

The only option is the healthy option, which is to get my butt into gear.  Being that I’m a slight cheapskate and will probably never, ever pay for a gym membership, I’m currently getting my cardio fix on ExerciseTV.TV.  We have the computer hooked up to the 47” LCD in the living room, and I can also use the hubby’s PS3 to get to the website.  All in all: awesome website.  The free exercise videos they feature are great, and it was quite a surprise to me that the selection is pretty darn plentiful, and is apparently added to every month.

I’m going to be hounding the hubby to finally get me the Wii and Wii Fit .  You know how some wives get jewelry from their husbands after giving birth?  Well I didn’t, and so I think I deserve a Wii.  Now it’s just a matter of convincing him that my reasoning there is sound.

Next step: Set up an appointment with a nutritionist. Normally I’d brush off such a notion as a waste of my precious co-pay dollars (hey, I don’t contribute to a health savings account!), but my parents both saw one a few years back when they were trying to lose a few, and the advice, guidance and direction provided by their nutritionist really helped them get healthier and shave off the love handles.

You’ve got to want it.  Oh, I do.

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Whether you’re going to be vacationing or stay-cationing this summer, it’s important to have a fully-stocked first aid kit on hand and easily accessible at all times.  The wonderful Mompreneur inventor at Me4Kidz provided me with my very own Medibag 4 Kidz First Aid Kit.  I’ve already made good use of the wonderfully kid-friendly First Aid kit when littleQ scraped his knee on the sidewalk a few days ago.

The Medibag 4 Kidz is filled with essentials, such as sterile gloves and guaze, antiseptic wipes, a cold pack, a first aid guide and much, much more.  The entire pack has a totally kid-friendly twist, with its awesomely colorful crayon bandages that my son loves and fun stickers.  It’s all packed up in a bright red plastic medical bag that your child will love toting around.  (littleQ sure does.) 

But don’t worry, due to its design, even if your child were to get a hold of it, the Medibag 4 Kidz isn’t easily opened by a child.  I’ve read that others have a hard time opening it, but to be honest, while I do acknowledge that it may not click open with the flip of a finger, I had no problem opening it.  I think it’s just a matter of getting used to locking mechanism, but hey, people also say the have issues opening up child-safe aspirin bottles and drawer locks.  The kit does not include any medications such as antihistamines or aspirin, so you won’t have to worry about your child ingesting any meds, either.

Ooh, and the Medibag 4 Kidz even comes with a coupon for a free refill pack of supplies, which I think is an AWESOME plus, definitely giving you more bang for your buck.

The Medibag is too bulky to easily tote around in your stroller, and so it’s more suited to being stored in the trunk of your car or in your home.  That’s where the Medibuddy comes in.  The Medibuddy is a tubular container that’s filled with first aid essentials.  It’s compact and completely portable, and about the length of a checkbook.  It tucks away neatly into your diaper bag, or, if you’re like me and absolutely HATE dragging around giant diaper bags, it’ll tuck neatly into your handbag, no problem.

Thanks to Me4Kidz, the creator of the Medibag 4 Kidz and the Medibuddy, one lucky winner will receive a Medibuddy first aid kit.  To enter, send me an email using the contact form with “Medibuddy Giveaway” in the subject line.

The randomly selected winner will be chosen and notified via email by July 1, 2009.

The Medibag 4 Kidz and the Medibuddy can be purchased at Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby and other retailers, as well as online at Amazon.com.

:: Buy the Medibag 4 Kidz First Aid Kit or the Medibuddy First Aid Kit on Amazon ::

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King Fu Panda: Just in time for the holidays, the Kung Fu Panda DVD is available for sale wrapped and ready to go at retail stores!  Enter for a chance to win your very own copy of Kung Fu Panda (for your own enjoyment or to give as a present!).  Just fill out the following entry form: Kung Fu Panda DVD giveaway entry form and leave a comment on this post telling me you’ve done so.  US and Canada residents only, please.

Have you got a ninja lovin’, Power Rangers fan in your home?  If so, then you should think about adding Power Rangers: Jungle Fury to your home DVD collection.  There are two volumes: Into the Jungle and Way of the Master, and both are filled with nonstop Power Ranger ninja fightin’ action!  The DVDs come out on Dec. 16, 2008, and you can win one of THREE prize packs that include both DVDs right here on MamaDivas.com!  Just fill out the following entry form: Power Rangers DVD giveaway and comment on this post telling me you’ve done so.  US residents only, please.

If you use twitter and tweet the prize(s) you’d like to win and include a link to this giveaway, you’ll earn an extra entry for each prize you mention.  Make sure you let me know by leaving me a comment with a link to your tweet(s)!

General giveaway rules apply, plus the following:

• You must have a US shipping address to be eligible
• For these and all Countdown to Christmas giveaways, due to time constraints a shipping address must be provided at the time of entry, however this will only be used if and only if you are the winner, and will not be used for any other purpose.

The last day to enter this giveaway is December 14, 2008, so enter today!  Winners will be notified via email and will also be announced via PRIZEYwinners.

Technorati Tags: DVD, giveaway, contest, holiday, Christmas, Power Rangers, Jungle Fury, Kung Fu Panda, Hannah Montana, First Season, Hannah Montana on DVD, Miley Cyrus

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Night lights have been a childhood bedroom staple to help children fall asleep for such a long time, but I do think this is one of the best nightlights I’ve ever seen. 

The Twilight Sea Turtle Constellation Night Light from Cloud B doesn’t just give you some faint yellowish light on the wall, it provides a soothing blue and green constellation star show on your child’s ceiling that’ll help him fall asleep faster because he’ll be more calmed and comfortable!  Its predecessors, The Twilight Lady Bug and the Twilight Turtle also provide the stimulating yet soothing light show, but the Twilight Sea Turtle is even better.  Not only is it a cuddly bedtime buddy for infants and babies, a portion of the proceeds from every Twilight Sea Turtle that’s purchased goes directly to wildlife conservation organizations to help save the Sea Turtles and other sea creatures that are endangered.  The Twilight Sea Turtle has even won the Creative Child Top Choice of the Year Award.

 

The Twilight Sea Turtle’s shell features pictures of five other endangered sea creatures, including the Blue Whale and the California Sea Otter.  The included Twilight Storybook is very informative for older children and includes facts about the Blue Whale, Sea Otters, Leatherback Turtles, Knysna Seahorses and Vaquita Dolphins.  There are also fun references for finding some star constellations and tips on how to help keep the ocean creatures and our world healthy!  The turtle’s shell is made of lightweight plastic, while its body is soft and very plush!

I think the Cloud B Twilight Sea Turtle Constellation Night Light is a wonderful present for new or expectant mothers and for children from infants to toddlers 3 or 4 years old.  For infants, the night light is wonderfully soothing, and for toddlers, it’s a fun interactive toy and they’ll be able to enjoy learning about the different animals pictured on the sea turtle’s shell.  The 3 required AAA batteries are included, which is always a plus when purchasing a present.

The Cloud B Twilight Sea Turtle retails for $34-$36, but you can get it for cheaper at many online retailers.  You can find the Cloud B Twilight Sea Turtle Night Light and its sister products, the Cloud B Twilight Ladybug and Turtle at Amazon ($29.84 + free shipping) and theBabyCenter Store ($34.99 + free shipping).

Technorati Tags: Cloud B, night light, nightlight, sea turtle, turtle, endangered animals, sleep, baby, toddler, infant, toy, Cloud B Twilight Sea Turtle

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Il Divo

The Promise

If you opt to purchase this album, either for yourself or the music lover in your holiday shopping list, I’d recommend going for the Luxury Edition , as it includes a small poster of the Il Divo hunks, as well as a DVD with music videos of their performances of The Power of Love and Hallelujah and an in depth look at the singers with interview of the operatic quartet.

For your Christmas gatherings, I have to highly recommend making sure Il Divo’s album, The Christmas Collection , is part of your holiday music library.  Their version of Silent Night nearly brought tears to my eyes, and Ave Maria was beautiful.  The Christmas Collection, with ten moving renditions of classic Christmas songs we all know and love, is perfect for Christmas Eve gatherings, when everyone is together, drinking eggnog and laughing the night away!  The beautiful voices of Il Divo are the perfect vehicles through which anyone should hear these Christmas songs.

You can purchase The Promise, The Christmas Collection as well as their other available albums and individual MP3s at the Il Divo store on Amazon.

For a chance to win your very own copies of the the Il Divo albums The Promise (luxury edition, or course!) and The Christmas Collection, please leave a comment on this post.  The last day to leave a comment is December 15, 2008 at 11:59pm EST.

Tweet this contest on Twitter, and earn an extra entry!  Mention this giveaway on your blog, and earn TWO extra entries!  Just make sure to leave me a comment with a link to your tweet and/or post letting me know you’ve done so.  Winners will be notified via email and announced by the evening of December 16, 2008.

General giveaway rules apply, plus the following:

1. US residents only please
2. You have 48 hours from the time I send my email to respond with a mailing address, or else you forfeit the prize

Technorati Tags: Il Divo, opera, quartet, music, The Promise, The Christmas Collection, Christmas music, operatic, giveaway, contest, CD, MP3, album

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