**The products for this review/giveaway were provided by Safety 1st. All opinions are my own.

Whether it's a family trip or a typical school day, there are times when we need an easier way for Kaelyn to to ride in the car. We want to keep her safe in a high quality car seat, but also need for it to be something that's convenient when she's going to school in one vehicle and riding home in another. Thankfully, Safety 1st has come to our rescue with the Safety 1st BoostAPak!

Features/Benefits: 

• Backless Booster: 40-80 pounds and 43" -  52"
• Moves easily from car to car – great for car pools
• Travel friendly: fits easily into an overhead bin
• Unique, patented fold-out seat belt guides
• Durable plastic shell
• High visibility reflective trim
• Removable cover for easy spot cleaning
• ID tag

I was thrilled to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review such an innovative booster carseat, and had a feeling it would be perfect for our busy lifestyle. I was right!

When the Safety 1st BoostAPak Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat arrived, I was immediately impressed with it's compact design. I could also tell the quality is top-notch! It has a durable plastic shell and the cover removes for easy spot cleaning as well!

There are some booster seats that are not very comfortable for Kaelyn to ride in, but she has not complained once about this one. In fact, she likes it quite well and says it's comfortable to sit in. This backless Booster is made for children 40-80 lbs and 43"-57" so it's just right for her. 

Not only is it great for times we're running errands, taking her to school, etc...but it's perfect for car pools too. One of the neatest things about this seat is that it's not only a travel car seat, but doubles as a back pack! It's easy for Kaelyn to take with her if she's getting a ride from someone else, and even has an ID Tag so she doesn't lose it.

The design makes it easy to convert from a Belt-Positioning Booster to a backpack, and to my surprise actually offers a lot of space! 

The fact that it's convenient to move from one car to another makes it easy for my husband and I on a daily basis when he takes her to school in his vehicle and I pick her up in mine (or someone else is taking or picking her up). It would also be great for travel, as it's made to even fit into an overhead aircraft bin! 

As I said, we've been using this with Kaelyn and appreciate the quality it provides. I love the fold-out seat belt guides that make it easy to ensure Kaelyn is buckled in properly and safe (or top priority when it comes to any car seat or booster seat!). There's also collapsible armrests as well.

This portable and convenient carseat is lightweight (at just 3.4 lbs) and is truly something both parents and kids will love. Now that we have it, I don't know how we went so long without it! In fact, once Kaden is in school, I foresee us getting one for him as well. 

We've been very happy and recommend it to other families we know as well. If you're looking for a great travel booster seat, I would definitely recommend checking out the BoostAPak by Safety 1st. It gives kids the convenience of a travel bag as well as the ability to stay safe when switching from one car pool to a different one. 

The following are also some helpful car seat safety tips from Consumer Safety Expert, Julie Vallese:

• The safest place to install a car seat is typically in the center of the rear seat.
• Check in with a local Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure your child's seat is installed correctly. You can visit a local police station, fire station, AAA office, or Safe Kids Chapter for guidance. 
• Car seats expire and CarSeat.org recommends that car seats be replaced every 5-8 years. This tip is so important because more than 40% of the car seats checked during a Safety 1st car seat check at the Indy 500 Community Day were replaced due to expiration or a recall. 

Buy It: You can purchase the BoostAPak from BuyBuyBaby for $69.99.

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a Safety 1st BoostAPak of their own! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Only and will end January 24th.

**The product for this review/giveaway was provided by Libby's. All opinions are my own.

Whether it's for the holidays or any other time during the year, family get-togethers are something that takes planning. If you're like me, you like to have a variety of appetizers and desserts to serve...but don't always plan much in advance. Thankfully, Libby's Fruits and Vegetables can help even the biggest procrastinators (ahem...me!) create a gorgeous meal at a minimal cost!

Not only does Libby's give you a greater bang for your buck when preparing meals, but it also gives a convenient way to add nutritious ingredients to your dishes! As I looked at their website, I found tons of recipes, including delicious desserts like Pear Gingerbread Squares and Southwestern Chicken Quesadillas! 

The variety of recipes offered makes it easy to plan family get-togethers now, and any time during the year. You can find even more recipes on Libby's Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages as well. 

I was sent a few Libby's Fruits and Vegetables products and tried the Sweet and Spicy Peachy BBQ Pork Sliders. YUM!

Ingredients: 

2	lb	pork loin (in two pieces)
2	t	cumin
1	t	salt
1⁄2	t	Black pepper
		Sauce:
1	T	canola oil
2		Garlic cloves, minced
1	c	ketchup
1⁄4	c	Worcestershire sauce
1		chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped
1⁄2	t	cumin
1⁄2	t	cider vinegar (or substitute white vinegar)
12	oz	Libby’s® Peach Slices, diced
24		slider buns

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 375o F. Line a roasting pan with parchment paper and set aside. Rub the pork loins evenly with cumin, salt, and pepper. Place in prepared roasting pan and cook for 20 minutes. While pork is cooking, heat canola oil in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30-45 seconds. Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, chipotle pepper, cumin, vinegar, and peaches. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until just boiling. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Pour mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Baste pork loin with 2-3 Tablespoons of the sauce and return to oven for 8 more minutes, or until an instant read thermometer registers 160 degrees. Let rest 3 minutes. Slice pork loins thinly across the grain. Place a few slices on each slider bun. Spoon sauce over the pork before adding the top portion of the bun. Serve immediately.

WIN IT: To make entertaining easier and more fun, Libby's has offered a lucky reader a festive serving platter from Crate & Barrel (retail value of $55)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**The product for this review was provided at no cost to me. However, all opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Although I wouldn't consider myself a "clean freak", having my floors spotless is one thing I'm particular about. With three little ones playing and laying on the floors on a daily basis, it's important to me that I keep my floors free of dirt. I am always looking for ways to make this job, and other cleaning tasks, easier. As a busy mom I want to spend less time cleaning and more time with my family. Thankfully, I have found the answer with the H20 Mop X5 5-in-1 Steam Cleaner!

If you're not familiar with it, the H20 Mop X5 5-in-1 Steamer is designed to clean and make all the surfaces in your home sparkle without the use of harsh chemicals. In seconds, the powerful H20 Mop X5 steamer converts ordinary water into steam to clean everything from the floors and carpets to counters, toilets and even windows! 

When I first learned about this product, I was impressed with the fact that it was a 5-in-1 cleaning machine. I love when products make my cleaning jobs easier and more convenient, as well as allow me to clean without harsh chemicals. The H20 Mop X5 makes all of that possible, and I couldn't have been happier to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review one!

Features/Benefits:

• Variable steam
• Filter free design
• Lightweight (less than 5 lbs)
• Comes with window cleaning tool, jet nozzle, extension hose, round nylon brush x2, glider, window cleaning coral cloth x2, microfiber cloth for mop head x2, elite short steam lazer, coral cloth for mop head, strap for hand held steamer
• Works as a floor cleaner, hand held steamer, window cleaner, carpet cleaner, and garment cleaner

When our H20 Mop X5 arrived, I was excited to test it out. Our floors were due for a good cleaning, as they are by the end of every week...so we got everything out of the box. I was impressed with all the different accessories that came with it! I love that it's one product made to do several different jobs, making this busy momma's life a lot easier!

The steam mop did require some minor assembly, but thankfully came with a very user-friendly manual that made the process of getting it put together quick and easy!

The handle and mop head snap onto the main body. Once we had everything in place, we simply turned the water tank cap to the open position and added the water with a cup. 

We then selected one of the steam regulator positions. There are four of them: Low Steam, Medium Steam, High Steam and Hot Spray. The low steam is for sensitive surfaces like garments and sealed hardwood/laminate. The medium steam is for light cleaning of plastics, granite, tiles, windows/mirrors, etc. The high steam is used for tougher stains on carpets, door mats and stainless steel. And, the hot spray is for scrubbing of concrete, toilets, sinks, and more! 

We use the Medium Steam and Hot Spray most often. I appreciate that there are different levels to choose from depending what surface and type of cleaning job we're doing. Just another feature that makes this steam mop so versatile! 

Before getting started we also attached the Microfiber Cloth to the mop head. It has fastening strips which grip right to the bottom of the mop head. 

In no time we were set up and ready to clean the floors. The super hot steam helps to loosen dirt and grime, while the microfiber pad lifts and locks the mess in. In using it on our hard floors, we have found that it does a very good job of getting things cleaned. Not only do the floors look great, but the pad is dirty and gross looking after using it so I know it's cleaning well! 

When we use this steam mop, we use it on a large space as we have a lot of hard floors on our main level. Given the large space, we find that the cord is a bit short to reach everywhere we need it to without having to be unplugged and plugged back in. This really hasn't bothered us though, as it's easy to do and doesn't take much time to find a closer outlet.  

The mop is very easy to use and maneuver. It's lightweight weighing under 5 lbs, even when full! It's powerful and makes the job of cleaning floors not as dreaded as it once was! It goes quickly and in no time our floors are sparkling clean!

We've also used this on our carpet with good results! We simply put the carpet glider on the mop head and glide over our carpets. It helps to remove stains and spot cleans when necessary. With this, I don't think we'll ever have to rent a carpet cleaner again. It has worked great on some stubborn dirty spots we had on our carpet! 

Of course, a floor cleaner is just one use for this H20 Mop X5! With the click of two buttons, the H20 Mop X5 steamer transforms into a handheld steamer. It comes with the jet nozzle and nylon brush which attach where the mop head goes. Now I can be more green in my cleaning by using steam and not chemical products. I can use it to clean the sinks, toilets, and hard to reach spaces!

We've also used the Elite Short Steam Lazer which blasts away dirt in hard-to-reach areas with precision laser focus. I especially like this for under our kitchen cupboards where dirt and dust hide. It's not always easy to get this area clean, but now it's a piece of cake!

I love that this product is also a window cleaner. This is a job I do not care for, but the H20 Mop X5 makes it easy! I simply attach the extra long extension hose that came with it as well as the window cleaning tool and window cleaning cloth and we're ready to go! It's great for windows, glass and mirrors and doesn't seem to leave streaks like traditional cleaners do!

The fifth use for this steamer was the one that really impressed me! This steam mop can be transformed into a garment steamer! There's a garment steaming cloth that goes over the window cleaning tool. I think this will especially come in handy for curtains and draperies! 

Overall we've been very impressed with the H20 Mop X5! It's incredibly easy to use and very versatile. I love that it helps me get many jobs done easily, without having to have five different products to do them! The H20 Mop has worked with great results for us and gives me peace of mind knowing that I'm cleaning with steam and not harsh chemicals!

I would recommend checking the H20 Mop X5 out to anyone looking to make cleaning tasks easier. It would make a fantastic gift idea as well!

For more information on the steamer and where to buy, you can visit the H20 Mop X5 website!

You can also connect on their blog and Facebook. 

**The product for this review was provided by PinkBlush. All opinions are my own.


Each time I was pregnant, I dreaded shopping for maternity clothes. Not only are many of them boxy and boring, but they are also expensive. For clothing that you only wear for a matter of months, I never felt comfortable with spending so much! That's why I'm happy there are companies like PinkBlush Maternity for expecting moms!

PinkBlush Maternity is dedicated to bringing customers cute and trendy maternity clothes at low, low prices! They pride themselves on having a wide selection of unique maternity styles that suit all tastes and needs. 

As I browsed the PinkBlush Maternity website, I enjoyed looking through their adorable selection of stylish maternity clothing! I also love their great prices. By selling exclusively on the internet, they are able to maintain very low operating costs which are passed to customers by offering 15-30% off many of competitors. 

I also noticed that many of their cute clothes could easily be worn both during pregnancy and afterward! I love this because getting the most use out of clothing is something I appreciate. 

I was excited when given the opportunity to review an item from PinkBlush Maternity and share about their quality selection with all of you. I was sent the Navy Blue White Striped Cardigan.

When it arrived, I was first impressed with the fact that it appeared just as it does online. There were no surprises and it was just as cute as I expected. The quality is also great. It's a nice lightweight material that is great for layering. 

Like anyone, I like to be stylish when I'm pregnant, and I thought this was a very cute top that didn't look like a boxy maternity shirt at all! Although I am not currently pregnant, I can see where it would be perfect for a growing belly or worn after pregnancy as well. It is even noted on the website that this is an item good for after pregnancy. YAY!

I really like how this fits too. I got the size I typically wear in clothing and would say that it is very true to size. I love that it's not fitted, but still flattering. It's also something that versatile and can be worn with many different outfits and easily dressed up or down.

Whether I'm pregnant or not, I can see this being a shirt that is worn a lot! 

If you're looking for cute and trendy maternity clothes that you can feel great wearing both during pregnancy and even after, I would definitely recommend checking out PinkBlush Maternity. It would also make a great gift idea!

Buy It: You can purchase the Navy Blue White Striped Cardigan for $28.99.

You can also connect with PinkBlush Maternity on Facebook and Twitter