Super Cute Gifts Every New Mom Needs #HolidayGifts

The festive season is the perfect time to show people how much you care about them. If you have a friend, who has recently become a mommy, you might want to do something a little special. We all know how intense the first few months of motherhood can be. Your friend needs your support now more than ever. With Christmas just around the corner, why not treat your friend? Here are some super cute gift ideas for new moms.

1. A Spa Day 

Everyone needs to relax when they have a newborn. It is likely that your friend isn't get all that much sleep these days. Has she had a day off yet? If not, she needs one. Why not treat her by booking her and her partner a spa day? You can offer to look after their baby so that the couple can spend some quality time together. Having relaxing massages and treatments will rejuvenate your friend's energy levels. It will also give her and her partner a chance to celebrate being parents for a moment.

2. A Baby Keepsake Box

In the first year of a baby's life, so many things happen. A great way to make memories is to create a keepsake box for your baby. If your friend doesn't have a cute keepsake box, yet, you might want to consider getting her one. That way, she can remember all the big moments in her baby's life. You can get keepsake boxes online at sites like My 1st Years. Explain to your friend what she has to do with the box.

3. Cute Slippers

As a new mommy, your friend will be spending a lot of her time around the house. Since it is winter, you should get her some cozy, cute slippers. Comfort will be your friend's top priority. That means that she will need to be comfortable all the time. Getting some slippers that she will adore is the perfect present. You should look for slippers that have a fluffy lining inside them so that they are super warm throughout the winter.

4. Jewelry

New mothers need a lot of stuff for their baby, but sometimes, they need things for themselves too. It is nice to treat your friend with a gift that has nothing to do with her child. After all, she is a person too. She doesn't stop being an individual the moment she has a baby. You should consider getting your friend a lovely friendship bracelet or necklace. Getting your friend something just for her shows her how much you care.

5. A Cover-Up Top

We all know it. After women have babies, they struggle to get back into shape. Your friend is likely self-conscious about her current body shape. Get your friend a fashionable cover-up top so that she can cover her lumps and bumps. Tops with extra material that are floaty work well to hide parts of the body. Choose a top that comes in just below the bust, but flows out from there. That way, it will make your friend look like she has a tiny waist.

6. Relaxation Candles

Everybody needs some time to relax after they have given birth. You can pick up some cute, aromatherapy candles in any home store or online. Make sure you choose scents that your friend will like so that the candles suit her. Ask her what her favorite scents are and choose candles accordingly. You might even want to get some incense and body oils so that your friend can create a spa experience at home. There are loads of books on massage and treatments that might also be perfect.

Green Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags

It’s easy to think of your coffee grounds and tea bags as mere tools with which to brew a little pick-me-up. However, they can both be much more. Once your cup is empty of your favorite hot beverage, you can reuse the grounds and leaves in an environmentally friendly manner. Here are 10 ways to give them a second life.

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Remove Odors From Skin
Cooking foods with strong odors doesn’t mean you’re destined to wear them afterwards. Rub your hands with leaves or grounds to freshen your skin before rinsing them with soap and water

Brighten Up Wood
Boil 2 to 3 tea bags in a quart of water to create a green cleaning product for your wood floors and furniture, which will also brighten and leave a shine. Traditional teas (as opposed to the herbal variety) are best to ensure tannins are present. Be sure the wood is darker than the tea to avoid staining.

Deter Uninvited Garden Guests
Your coffeemaker grounds can keep your garden free of ants and other pests. They can also be extremely helpful in keeping the neighborhood cats from turning your beloved oasis into a litter box. Sprinkling only a few tablespoons of grounds near each plant will deter felines.

Deep Clean Dishes
Your pots and pans can be cleaned without the use of harsh abrasives or synthetic chemicals. Instead, use the natural abrasion offered by grounds. If the dish needs to soak, place a tea bag or two into the warm water to allow tannins to break down stubborn residue.

Compost for Plants
Both types of grounds offer nourishment to plants that live indoors as well as those outside. For plants such as roses, strawberries and tomatoes that prefer a more acidic fertilizer, use the remnants from your coffeemaker. For less acidic-loving plants such as lilacs, succulents and geraniums, use the tea.

Pedi Pleaser
Take a few of your used tea bags and steep them in warm water for a good foot soak the next time you give yourself a pedicure. The antibacterial properties of the tea assist in removing odors while cleaning and brightening up the skin.

Fridge Freshener
Place grounds in an open container and place in your refrigerator to add an aromatic scent while deodorizing and freshening the area.

DIY Dye
Whether you are looking to dye eggs, paper, clothing or even your hair, you can steep grounds in hot water to create an earth-friendly dye. Strain the liquid when you have achieved the desired color and leave to cool.

Home Facial
For a light exfoliator and skin brightener, create a facial scrub by mixing grounds with honey or avocado. Reduce puffy eyes by placing two cooled, used tea bags over your eyes for about 10 minutes.

Eco-Friendly Shoe Shine
Once you’ve steeped your brew, rub the damp tea bag over the surface of your dark-colored dress shoes to clean and moisturize.

A Milestone with a Twist

My little one has been asking me since kindergarten when I think he will lose a tooth. All of his friends have already lost a few and he was getting impatient. He went for a dental cleaning and check up at the beginning of the school year and the dentist told him he had two loose teeth. That shocked us since his teeth seemed extremely rooted and did not budge if we attempted to wiggle them. About a week ago, I noticed he had two tiny teeth emerging from the bottom (the same ones the dentist said he would lose soon). I got so nervous because neither teeth were loose. I went ahead and jiggled and wiggled with a bit of force-- It was either that or call the dentist's office. That did the trick and within a few days, he finally lost his first tooth! He was super happy that the Tooth Fairy left him a dollar under his pillow. 

By the way, in case you didn't know, the string on the tooth attached to the door trick really works. My husband was determined to get the tooth out since it looked like it was hanging by a string. Sadly, I did not get to experience what William looks like with his first tooth missing. The new tooth is halfway in already. We are working on the second one and hope to have it out in the next week.

Have you ever had the experience of your child losing a tooth after the adult tooth started growing in?

Try U-Konserve for healthier lunches and snacks for kids #ad

Ever since my kids were in kindergarten, they have taken lunch to school from home. I have had my challenges when it comes to variety because after a while, it seems like you are repeating the same things over and over. I prefer to send fresh foods whenever possible and like safer options when it comes to keeping food fresh. U-Konserve containers are a great choice since they are tested BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free and lead-free. 

The Large Round Container in neon green is made from stainless steel which means it's non-toxic and non-leaching like plastic containers. The lid is leak-proof so you can worry a little less about a messy lunch box coming home. 

It is perfect to store fresh fruit, veggies, salads, pasta, cheese and more. The Large Round Container is the perfect size; 10 ounces. You can wash the container in the dishwasher, but they recommend the lids be hand-washed to prolong the life and seal it provides. 

This container will last for a very long time and the best part is there is no waste that ends up in landfills. How can you go wrong? The Large Round Container retails for $8.95. I have my eye on the matching insulated food jar. It keeps food warm or cold for hours. This is perfect since my son takes hot food to school daily.  

Check out the entire line of food storage products from U-Konserve/ Kids-Konserve and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for product promotions and updates. 

VTech Learning Cartridges Review for InnoTab Tablets #spon

Disclosure: The VTech product, gift card and information have been provided by VTech.

We recently got the opportunity to review the InnoTab MAX from VTech and it has been a great learning tool for my son. He has been enjoying the many apps the tablet offers. We were super lucky to receive two learning cartridges from VTech that work with the InnoTab tablets including the new InnoTab MAX.

We received Pixar Play and I Spy learning cartridges and my little guy could not wait to check them out.

InnoTab Pixar Play Learning Cartridge
(Ages 4-7 years; MSRP: $24.99)

·  The Pixar Store is open, and it’s time to play! In Pixar Play for VTech's InnoTab Learning Tablets, explore fun games and activities featuring your favorite characters from Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Monsters University and The Incredibles!
·  This InnoTab Learning Cartridge includes a variety of features such as five learning games that introduce spelling, letters, vocabulary, reading, phonics and creativity, an e-Book that retells the story of the movie "The Incredibles," and allows you to take photos with your favorite Pixar characters.

Our thoughts on the InnoTab Pixar Play learning cartridge: 

• They featured many of his favorite characters that are very age-appropriate. 
• You can choose your level; easy or difficult.
• The instructions are very easy to follow. 
• It is a great way to encourage spelling, phonics and vocabulary. 
• Your child will feel like they are playing a fun game without realizing they are LEARNING!
• This is an excellent aid for early readers. 

InnoTab I Spy Adventure Learning Cartridge 
(Ages 4-7 years; MSRP: $24.99)

·  I spy a fun-filled problem-solving adventure in this title for VTech's InnoTab Learning Tablets!
·  Kids can practice early reading skills as they read and solve I SPY riddles and play games to unlock 50 levels of play – each more challenging than the next.
·  Find, match and sore a variety of photo-realistic objects across four action-packed thinking games that build logic, vocabulary and visual discrimination skills.

Our thoughts on the InnoTab I Spy Adventure Learning Cartridge

• It's very simple to understand.
• Kids have the option of receiving a hint if they get stumped. This helps reduce frustration when they are trying hard to make a match. 
• My child feels accomplished when he sees how many levels he has moved up in. 
• We don't have traditional video games in our home (by choice) so this is a great alternative. 

Both learning cartridges are easy to load on the InnoTab and provide hours of wholesome fun. We are comfortable and know our child is playing something safe that he does not require any monitoring with. Be sure to check out VTech on Facebook and Twitter for product promotions and updates.