Abby Evans Photography Session - discount available!

"I love to watch people interact and I love to capture relationships with photography." 

---abby evans

If you're my friend on facebook, you've probably seen my newest album.  We finally got professional pictures of B taken ... at 19 months! We had newborn shots taken when B was about a week & a half old & really didn't like the experience... we then tried 3 month shots & really hated that experience.  That's when Mike bought me a Canon Rebel XS & told me to get to work, because we weren't putting B through this anymore.  What changed his mind?

Perhaps you remember when I introduced my dear friend, Abby, who is starting a photography business?  Well, she recently relocated from Phoenix, where she started her business & she now lives in Chicago! Yay for us, right?  So we ventured out a couple weeks ago & she got to work.  B was comfortable with her, of course, but even if he hadn't known her, I know it would've gone just as well.

Abby was fantastic with him, chasing him around & just letting him do his own thing, while snapping shots. (In the past, each photographer just sat there waiting for B to do something picture worthy & then tried to set up the shot. Ummm.... not happening people - you've gotta be ready or you'll never get that picture worthy pose!)

These pictures definitely capture the little boy that is my B. 

Take a minute & check out Abby's website & her blog, where she writes about everything from photography to wine to family.  Are you in the Chicago area & you want to book her for your next photo shoot? Mention you read about her on Big City! Baby & she'll give you a discounted rate of $50.00 a session.  This includes 5 fully retouched photos AND full rights to print them or use them however they want (this is super important to me!).   Not in Chicago, but still pretty local (Illinois, Iowa, Omaha area)? Shoot her an email & chat with her about traveling - abby@abbyevansphotography.com

I can't wait to have these photos hanging in my house! 

Aren't they fantastic? 

EcoMom Sampler Review/Giveaway & Discount Code!

This giveaway is now closed. The discount remains until June 30th. Thanks for participating!

I was recently introduced to this fabulous company called EcoMom. I'm currently obsessing over their website- it literally has everything I could ever want. I was generously given a sampler to try out on B & I was so excited. I'm always looking for healthy, fun, yummy choices for B for snacking & meals, & these products pretty much fit the bill.

I received a sampler that included 3 types of Revolution Foods Squeezable Fruit- Berry, Tropical, & Strawberry Banana' Peach & Strawberry Banana Mish Mash by Plum Organics, Apple Carrot Fiddlesticks by Plum, a Honey Graham & Strawberry Yogurt Grammy Sammy, & two Jammy Sammys- Strawberry Jam & Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly & Peanut Butter.  I was so excited for B to try all these foods & I can honestly say, it's been less than one week since we received them & they're almost all gone.

I first threw a couple snacks in my bag while Mike & I went to an eye doctor appointment.  In between exams, we broke out some snacks for B.  I was a little skeptical of how the squeezables would work (both brands are very similar products), but Mike just started squeezing it into B's mouth.  Instant success! He loved it! So I swiped it & tried a little... it was pretty tasty!  Later, B tried a Grammy Sammy & he loved it as well.  I, of course, stole a bite & thought that it was delicious!

I especially love how well the squeeze fruits travel.  We're bike riders & they are great to throw in the chariot, along with our snacks.  We took them along with us on all our bike rides last week & I am planning to order more today!

EcoMom offers a lot of other great products, as well as the food.  Check out their site for toys & books, countertop composters (I want one so bad!), & numerous other baby & family eco-friendly products.  They have just released a new program to help you save money as well, on all of these products.  Join EcoPass & you'll receive a 15% discount on every purchase, plus FREE SHIPPING!

Want to try a sampler? Go to EcoMom & use this code: SBBL330 to get 15% off your first order, through the 30th of June.  You can also win a Plum Organics Sampler &/or Revolution Foods Sampler worth $20.00 right here! Awesome, right?!

Here's how to enter:

mandatory entry: go to EcoMom & tell me about a product you want or something you learned from the site.

1. Subscribe via email to my blog. Be sure to confirm it; this will be verified (worth 2 entries- comment separately for each).

2. Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.

3. Grab my button; let me know where it is.

4. Like EcoMom on Facebook.

5. Join EcoMom's Newsletter.

6. Follow @mandyw526 & @EcoMomCEO on twitter. Leave your twitter name on the comment. 

7.  Tweet this twice daily (minimum 4 hours apart)- Treat your kids with a Plum Organics/Revolution Food Sampler from @EcoMomCEO & @mandyw526: http://bit.ly/9LSz9G : Ends 6/23

8. Blog about this giveaway; let me know where the post is.

9. Make a purchase through EcoMom.  Let me know what you bought- worth 15 extra entries!

10. Sign up for Swagbucks, using this link. Swagbucks is a google powered search engine that rewards you for searching the internet! Easy Peasy! You can get giftcards and more.  Let me know that you signed up, with that link, and this is worth 8 extra entries! 

Giveaway ends June 23rd at 9pm CST. Winner will be drawn via random number generator & will be contacted via email/twitter/text.  Winner has 24 hours to a respond before I will draw another winner.  I received the Sampler free of charge, but the opinions expressed in this post are strictly mine & not influenced by the company in any way. Thanks for participating & Thanks to EcoMom for sponsoring!!!  

How Kushie is it?

Ahh, Kushies Ultra-Lite washable diapers, how fantastic are you?

It's an All-in-One diaper with 6 layers of 100% cotton flannel (oh so soft!).  It's a one size form fitting diaper with an adjustable hook & loop closure.  They fit from 10-22 pounds, although I'm certain these will fit B for quite awhile (he weighs 18 pounds right now & has plenty of room to go).  Best of all, the prints are spectacular!

I received the Ultra-Lite Infant Trial pack in blue (B is a boy, afterall).

The pack includes 2 Ultra-Lite diapers, 2 washable liners, 2 washcloths, & a 10 pack of biodegradable diaper liners.  I immediately prepped the diapers & got to reviewing!  At first glance, I was pretty sure that the diapers would be too big for B's tinyness, but they actually fit him very well.  The flushable diaper liners are great too. Makes for super easy cleanup! The washable liners are nice to give extra absorbancy for heavy wetters or nighttime use, or even to pad the diaper a little for smaller babies.

So, what would I change, if I had that kind of power in Kushie land? Of course, I'd have snaps as an option for closure.  However, that said, even with hook & loop closures, these diapers are so easy to use.  They're trim, absorbant, & soft.  I love that they truly are a wash, dry, & wear diaper!

Kushies are a Canadian company that has more than just cloth diapers.  They also have (award winning) toys, bedding, clothes, bibs & diaper accessories, just to name a few.  You can truly do a little one stop shopping at Kushiesonline.com.

Want to buy some Kushies products? Take advantage of this 10% discount that they'll give you, if you use the code: bwal10 at kushiesonline.com