Decorating the Tree #1

I just pulled out the 6ft tree from last year and I even snagged a 4ft White tree already pre-lit from Wal-Mart! My plan is to decorate our 6ft tree for Gabriel and the 4ft tree for Helana.

Here are some pictures of what progress I've made in decorating soo far! We have started with the lights, I plan on putting the ornaments on tonight when the children are both sleeping! I'm even thinking of wrapping some boxes (no gifts inside) spruce up the setting!

If you have small children who would like to help out I suggest starting off with the lights, he had such fun watching me walk around the tree with the lights.. I was making myself dizzy and him giggly!

I'll leave you with my lil' Santa goofing off.. He's soo cute!
Tonight is Decorating the Tree Part 2, the ornaments! I'll have a post and pictures coming soon!



Smiles,

~Kristinia/Loving Heart Mommy~

Hip Mama's Place Christmas Giveaway Event!

Oh what fun it is to find... Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, fa la la la la, walking in a Winter Wonderland... I am soo ready for Christmas and the giveaways around the Blogosphere just keep getting better and better!


Just check out the sweet holiday giveaways from Hip Mama's Place:



- A set of Glacier necklace and a pair of earrings, vaued @ $120 from Twisted Silver

- Lighthouse Wheeled Duffel Bag of your choice (size and color) from Land's End, Valued from $149.50- $199.50

- Supermama Kit from Mama Mio, Valued @ $99 (2 Kits Available, 2 Winners)

- 2 Kids' Tees or 2 Onesies (your choice) from BabyRockApparel.com

- Smart-e-Bear (Bear, Cat, or Dog) from Smartebear.com, Valued @ $80

- PopATot Baby Activity Center, Valued @ $60

- $50 Gift Certificate to The Pashmina Store

- $50 Gift Certificate to Mother Earth and Baby

- $50 Gift Certificate to TrendyRemedy.com

- $50 Gift Certificate to GrowInStyle.com

- $40 Gift Certificate to Custom Made for Kids (good to use for personalized book purchase at $32.95 plus shipping to U.S. only)

- Motherhood Essentials Kit from Belli Skincare, Valued @ $39 (3 Sets, 3 Winners)

- Super Soft Minky Blanket of your choice from My Carseat Blankie, Valued @ $35

- Poingo Children's Interactive Storybook Starter Set, Valued @ $35

- Cheekeyes Wooden Animal Set (your choice)from Oompa.com, Valued @ $30

- Eleven Shoes for Kids from the Fall/Winter 2008 Collection (your choice)

- Pineapple Cove Baby Diaper Wallet (your choice of color) from Baby Brown's, Valued @ $28

So get to checking your lists and checking them twice cause these are a lot of really "Nice" gifts for the holiday if you were to win! Good luck and I hope everyone has a Thankful Thanksgiving!


Smiles,

~Kristinia/Loving Heart Mommy~

Stocking Stuffer:Child Safety with the SeatSnug®

I recieved this little lifesaver to review and it was just in the knick of time I believe too. My son has a booster seat and it doesn't seem to sit in my car and feel secure enough, even with the Latch system and the 5 point harness it still seems to have some sort of slack to it.. now I'm wanting my child's seat to be secure and not tilting even slightly, basically I don't want my child's seat to even budge! Do you have this issue? If so the SeatSnug® would be the best investment you will ever make for your childs life and safety.

The current 3-point seatbelt system in today’s vehicles represents a compromise between safety and comfort allowing “slack” in the lap belt portion while riding in a vehicle. SeatSnug solves this issue and features the newest CG-Lock technology product that simply clips onto an existing seatbelt to keep kids safe. SeatSnug® allows a child to be safely secured in a booster/car seat, without the ability for slack to develop and will reduce the number of children severely injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents. http://www.seatsnug.com


From SeatSnug:
Why Do We Need SeatSnug®?
Children in booster seats are at risk of injury and death due to seatbelt slack (looseness). The three-point seatbelt commonly used in motor vehicles, represents a compromise between safety and comfort. A three-point seatbelt allows slack to develop in the lap belt portion while children (or adults!) are riding in a vehicle. Seatbelt slack is acknowledged in the auto industry as a major contributor to injuries and deaths in vehicular accidents.

A loose seatbelt allows a child in a booster seat to bounce around, rock, tip, slide, and even fall over during normal vehicle maneuvering, which can result in injuries, such as a child’s head being thrown against the side of the vehicle, as well as leading to child discomfort, including motion sickness. In frontal impact accidents or during panic stops, a loose seatbelt can further lead to a child submarining under the lap belt. Loose lap belts are also contributors to children, whether in a booster seat or riding without a booster seat, ejecting out of the seatbelt in rollover accidents, allowing children to “fly around” the vehicle, resulting in the potential for severe injuries and even death—even though the seatbelt was buckled!

What’s the Solution?
The brand new SeatSnug® allows the lap belt to be lightly tightened around a child’s hips while riding in a vehicle, preventing seatbelt slack or looseness from developing.

By gently securing a child while riding in a booster seat, SeatSnug® substantially eliminates bouncing, rocking, tipping, falling over, submarining, and ejection, thus reducing the potential for injuries and death in vehicular accidents. At the same time, SeatSnug® improves child stability and comfort.

How Does SeatSnug® Work?
SeatSnug® can be easily and quickly clipped onto a vehicle’s existing factory installed seatbelt. Once a child in a booster seat is buckled up, the lap belt may be lightly tightened around the child’s hips by pulling up on the shoulder strap to more safely secure the child, without affecting the normal operation of the shoulder strap. The child continues to have the comfort of free upper body movement. Thus, SeatSnug® enhances child safety while maintaining and enhancing comfort.

SeatSnug® incorporates the unique race track proven, crash tested, and patented CG-Lock® Technology (visit www.CG-Lock.com for more insights about the CG-Lock).

The CG-Lock technology received The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval as a unique car safety device that stabilizes children in booster seats to increase child safety and comfort. SeatSnug® is a CG-Lock technology product designed specifically for children, to provide peace of mind to Moms and Grandmoms, while they drive children around.



Be sure to watch the comparison booster seat video, HERE, which dramatically demonstrates the merit and benefit of SeatSnug® and the CG-Lock technology in safely and more comfortably securing a child in a booster seat. The differences are amazing—yet the video was done at ONLY parking lot speeds. Imagine the safety difference at much higher speeds or if an accident should occur.

How do you get your hands on this little lifesaver? Check out SeatSnug where you can purchase the single pack ($34.95) or the 2-pack (on sale now for $59.95).



Smiles,

~Kristinia/Loving Heart Mommy~

Featuring Handmade/Giveaway: Connected 2 Christ

A bit about Connected2Christ:

First off if you didn't know, Erin Lowmaster the very creative digital graphics artist is my younger sister! I wish I had her amazing talent! I'm better at other things, like blogging and photography...

She has designed everything from t-shirts, tote bags, stickers, coffee cups, aprons, ties, cards, and much much more! Believe it or not you can even buy shoes with her designs from Keds for children and adults! She has the cutest designs, all very colorful and vibrant.

The extra cool thing about having a store with Zazzle is that you can custom make just about anything with the designs by the artist. Say for example you'd like a tote bag with her design of the Merry Christmas Baby in a Box, you can then choose the design, choose the color of the tote, and even add your own text!

She also is one of the hit designers over at Christian T-shirts.Net

Why she started her business:
I started my business because I wanted to share my art with the world.

Her favorite part of the holidays:
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends!


The giveaway: A mousepad of your choice from her Zazzle store.
View the selections of Mousepads here.

What you need to do is check out her Zazzle store and come back letting me know your favorite product(s) and design! Don't forget to enter her contests as well! Deadline to enter: December 1st

Extra! Extra! : Connected2Christ's Blog is also having TWO giveaways:
Think Green Tote Bag - ends December 7th, view it HERE.
Christian Christmas T-Shirt - ends December 5th





Smiles,

~Kristinia/Loving Heart Mommy~

Featuring Handmade: Athena's Olive Tree

A big thanks to Rachel Timmerman for taking the time for this interview and sending me some soaps to sample! They all smell very lovely and are very refreshing!


A bit about Athena's Olive Tree

Newlyweds Rachel and Matthew Timmerman from Rockville, Maryland launch Athena’s Olive Tree, a company featuring a wide range of beautifully handcrafted, natural bath and body products.

You can read more of their story HERE.





They have a large variety of beautiful handcrafted soaps, bath bombs, bath salts, bath cookies, lotion bars, shaving creams, body butter, moisturizers, scrubs and much much more!

Her favorite part of the holidays: The food! That's why I base so many of my products on food!

From peppermint, to butterscotch, and even oatmeal cookie scented soaps and more!

They were just feautured in Daily Candy and Modern Magazine!

Extra Extra!!
Yes! I'd like to point out that I offer free shipping on domestic orders over $50.00!! I will also throw in a free surprise soap for all orders over $50.00!

I've also put many items on sale - huge discounts!

Special for my readers:
Yes! Free shipping and a free surprise soap on orders over $50.00! Mention "Lovin' the Holidays" in order for this to apply!


More specials:
Spend $25 or more and get 5% off the entire purchase!
Spend $50 or more and get 10% off the entire purchase!
Orders under $100 are eligible for flat rate shipping at only $6.49!*
Shipping options available for as low as $1.17!*

Be sure to visit Athena's Olive Tree and their Etsy store for more great items for all your bath and beauty needs! These make great stocking stuffers for your family and friends. Need a gift basket? They have many to choose from! Who doesn't love to be pampered?

Smiles,


~Kristinia/Loving Heart Mommy~

How to make your own Advent Calendar

WOW, I was very impressed with "We are THAT Family"! She has the cutest idea for your own advent calendar for this holiday season!
Click HERE to check it out and she also has a giveaway that is included!

Check out all of her DIYP (Do it Yourself Projects!)






Smiles,

~Kristinia/Loving Heart Mommy~

Giving Thanks Giveaways

Check out the great giveaways at Mommy Blog Reviews! Hurry deadline to enter is November 24th!!!

What is up for grabs?


Chex Mix Spa Packages (Package of Chex Mix bars and cool spa stuff.)
Glide 2 Ride Bike (Your choice of pink or blue)
RK Knudsen Sensible Sippers (free juice boxes and a t-shirt)
Crayola Digital Camera
Precious Girls Club (book and online access card)
BabbaCover infant seat covers (super cute and really functional!)

Would you like to subscribe to my E-mail newsletter?
Click Here and thanks for reading!




Smiles,

~Kristinia/Loving Heart Mommy~