Did you know that some body washes can be harsh? {Contest}

Last year I attended the Blissdom conference in Toronto. Dove® was a sponsor and I sat in on a presentation about Dove® Body Wash. 

At the end we were all given bottles of Dove® Body Wash to try for ourselves. I took my bottle home and put it in my shower. I'm a pretty busy mom so I didn't notice right away what The Dove® Body Wash was doing for my skin. It must have been the second or third week that I didn't need to slather on moisturizer after my shower before I realized I'd been "forgetting" that step... I was amazed, I wasn't dry or itchy! I've been using other Dove® products all my life but that bottle of body wash changed how I shower.


And now I'm pleased to help Introduce a new breakthrough body wash from Dove®. 


Some body washes can be harsh, washing away more of skin’s essential nutrients* than Dove. New improved Dove® Deep Moisture cleanses gently and nourishes deep down with NutriumMoisture®. This is Dove’s proven best care in the shower.


Watch the demo here and see for yourself why the new breakthrough formula from Dove® is different. Then, let them know why you would make the switch to Dove® for a chance to win FREE Dove® Deep Moisture Body Wash for you and a friend for a year! So fun!

Three Easy Steps for Entry    
    •    Watch the demo to see the proof for yourself
    •    Tell us why you would switch to Dove®
    •    You and a friend could WIN Free Dove Body Wash for a year!*
 
Prize: 50 prizes available to be won, consisting of gift basket with (8) eight, 354 mL Dove® Deep Moisture Body Wash bottles
In addition, the 50 winners will select a friend to also receive a year’s supply (gift basket consisting of (8) eight, 354 mL Dove® Deep Moisture Body Wash bottles). 
 

Haven’t tried the new Dove Deep Moisture Body wash yet? Visit the Dove Facebook Page
to get a coupon for $2 off! (who doesn't like coupons?!)


Check it out, enter the contest, and enjoy soft, moisturized skin.



*versus some body washes.

** Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Dove®. I have been compensated with product and money for it, however, I would never recommend a product I wasn't already using nor one I didn't like.

Breast feeding vs. Formula... just let it die already!!

Announce that you're pregnant and somewhere in the first 5 questions you get asked you'll hear "Are you planning on breastfeeding?" It's a huge pet peeve of mine. Why do people feel the need to ask this? How is this anyone's business? But sure enough, you will get asked. Here's the thing, no matter what you say, SOMEONE will be against it.

It's ridiculous.

I had a friend who decided not to breastfeed pretty much as soon as she got pregnant. She told me it just made her and her husband uncomfortable. Her doctor went on a 37 week campaign to change her mind. As did most people she told. She didn't breastfeed and amazingly her children are healthy, happy, well adjusted kids. Shocking right? (I am totally rolling my eyes right now)

I had another friend who was very excited about exclusively breastfeeding. It was something she really wanted to do. But her mother-in-law was so adamant that it was important that everyone got to feed the baby so that it bonded with the ENTIRE family (because that's the ONLY way a baby bonds with the people in it's life, obviously), that she tried a few times to sneak the baby a formula bottle when my friend had her back turned. Imagine having your fundamental parenting decisions completely undermined while you were taking a shower.

I breastfed my kids. My first for seven months, my second for six months, my third for five months and my fourth for four months. (notice the pattern there?) They all self-weaned. I tried pumping to keep up with their demand but each time I eventually conceded to what they wanted. When I was going through the process of trying to decide what to do I would occasionally post about my struggles on twitter. Most often I was told to do what was right for me and my baby. Occasionally though I got told the long list of my options for increasing my supply. I appreciated the info and considered it all. And then when I'd decide to give myself a break and make the switch to formula I'd always get hit with the "No! Don't give up! Breast is best!" comments. Sigh.

I really hate the "Breast is Best" slogan. It needs to be changed. Perhaps to "breast is nutritionally best" or something like that, because when it's 2:00am and you haven't had more than 15 hours sleep total all week because your baby is always hungry and you're both crying from the frustration and exhaustion (and bleeding, cracked nipples), maybe breast isn't best. And in those desperate hours when you reach out to the other moms that are still up for support or a sympathetic ear the last thing you need to hear is that "breast is best" and switching to formula is wrong.

There is no right. There is no wrong. There's what works for you, and your baby, and your life, and your baby's needs. It's not up for public debate. Or at least it shouldn't be. Why can't the facts just be presented when they're asked for and judgements reserved? We need to stop second guessing each other and we really need to stop shaming each other no matter what side of the feeding fence you're on. You want to breastfeed? Great, I'll be cheering you on! You want to formula feed? Great, I'll be cheering you on! Because that's what we should be doing as fellow mothers and women.

Oh Monkey, where art thou?!

Yesterday I had to take my two year old to see our family doctor. Over the course of two weeks he came down with Fifth Disease, Roseola, a cold and a 24 hour gastrointestinal bug. It was brutal.

We brought his stuffed monkey (who is named Monkey because we're not a creative bunch apparently) and his blankie for comfort. We saw the doctor who sent us across the parking lot from the clinic to the hospital for blood tests. My little man was a rock star by the way, he never cried and barely even noticed the needle!

We left the hospital, monkey, blankie and lollipop in hand and I loaded my brave boy into our van and handed him his friend. As we were driving away he said "uh oh, I dropped Monkey on da foor!" So I said "It's okay, I'll get him when we get to school." and off we went to preschool.

When we got to his school I opened the van door and there was no monkey. I checked everywhere in the van. I checked under the van in case it fell out. I said "Did you drop it on the GROUND at the hospital?!" and he looked at me and said "Yes". So I jumped back in the van and raced back to the hospital.

When I got there my stomach sank when I didn't see the monkey. So I went into the clinic and asked if anyone had turned it in. The receptionist told me no but took my name and number in case it turned up.

I started to feel panicked as I ran back across the parking lot to the hospital to see if anyone had turned it in there. Nothing. I went back to the van and searched it again. I drove the same route back to his preschool hoping to spot it on the road, all the while listening to a sad two year old ask me where his monkey was.

My stomach was churning. Ridiculous right? Why was I getting so upset over a stuffed monkey?

When I bought it I had cut the tags off so I couldn't remember who made it and I've never seen one like it again. It was irreplaceable.

We got home and I told my husband what had happened. I started getting teary and worried about what bed time would be like. I jumped on Facebook and started putting messages up on all my community's pages hoping someone picked him up and took him home for safe-keeping. My husband took a more pro-active approach and left to go check the parking lot again.

I waited, feeling sad and guilty that I hadn't listened to my son when he said he dropped it.

When my husband got home he came in empty-handed and my heart sank. He came into the family room and said "Hey Jack, come here." and he pulled Monkey out from behind his back.

My sweet boy ran over and scooped up his friend and thanked his dad. I wrapped my arms around our hero and thanked him too. Apparently someone had found him and put him on another car's windshield, I had been looking down, not up.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by MY reaction as a similar thing happened when my oldest was a year old, but it amazes me how attached I become to their special toys.

Has your child ever lost their lovey? How did you react?