Notice: spl_autoload_register(): Argument #2 ($do_throw) has been ignored, spl_autoload_register() will always throw in /var/www/wp-content/plugins/google-publisher/ClassAutoloader.php on line 27
Luv Saving Money – Page 751 – Life on a Budget

October is SIDS Awareness Month Raise Awareness with HALO

**I received a sample of the below mentioned product in order to complete this post.  No other compensation has been received**

Having a baby is such a blessing.  A baby can bring so much joy.  With a baby comes a lot of questions and some worries too.  One question that a new parent may have is, “What is the safest way for baby to sleep?” When going through parenting classes and talking to pediatricians the subject of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) will inevitably come up.  It’s a scary thing to think about.  There are ways to give your baby the safest sleep you can give them.  October is SIDS Awareness Month so it’s a great time to talk about a safe sleep for baby.

HALO’s website offers tips for safe sleep for baby.  You can also download and print a sleep safety check off list:

ALWAYS
  • Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.
  • Use a crib that meets current safety standards with a firm mattress that fits snuggly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.
  • Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and positioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
  • Offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.
  • Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in his or her separate safe sleep area alongside your bed.
NEVER
  • Never put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (adult beds, sofas, chairs, water beds, quilts, sheep skins etc.)
  • Never dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby or take your baby into a room or car where someone has recently smoked.
This is something I worried about with all four of my kids and still do with my daughter.  I remember the first few nights that each of them started sleeping for a few hours at a clip.  I should have been enjoying the blocks of sleep but instead I just had to get up and check on them to make sure they were alright.  
Here’s a scary statistic, Did you know that 80-90% of SIDS cases are due to unsafe sleep practices? 
 
HALO sleep sacks are a comfy and adorable way to keep baby comfortable at night and not have to worry about baby getting a blanket over their head or getting tangled in a blanket.  I love the HALO sleep sacks.  They’re easy to take off and on and come in lots of cute designs.  They offer exclusive microfleece designs at buybuybaby.com 
 
I got to try one of the exclusive designs from buybuybaby.com, the pink zigzag bird HALO sleepsack. 
 
Another thing I had always heard about safe sleep practices for baby is not to have toys and other loose objects in the crib.  I occasionally put a couple in with her when she’s awake to keep her busy until I can get her but that’s about it.  I do have that little monkey pull toy on the bar of her crib.  
HALO sleepsack SIDS
 
 I love that you can easily wash the sleep sack.  I also like that it’s loose enough to allow baby to kick and move a bit but not so loose I’d have to worry about her wiggling out of it.  HALO Sleep Sack is something I always consider as a gift for new moms, especially first time moms who might not know about the Sleep Sacks.  They also have HALO Sleep Sacks for Early Walkers and Big Kids too!
Autumn close up HALO
I’m going to urge you to like HALO on facebook during the month of October.  For every new like they get in October they will donate $1 to SIDS awareness. 
 

GIVEAWAY

 
1 Luv Saving Money readers will win a 
HALO Sleep Sack of their choice
US and Canada 

Check Out Novica.com’s New Design and Help Artisans From Around the World

**I received a gc to use on NOVICA.com for this post.  No other compensation has been received**

I have been a fan of NOVICA for a long time. Before I ever did my first post for NOVICA my husband had bought me a necklace from the site. It was beautiful, unique, and was made so well.  He had also bought a necklace for his mother from the site.  As I explored NOVICA more I saw beautiful hand blown glass pieces I just had to have as well as expertly crafted wooden piece, baskets, and more.  I really could spend a lot of money on the site if I had it to spend.

I love adding unique home decor to my  house that can tell as story.  It’s nice to know that the wooden mirror hanging in my foyer was crafted by an artisan in Peru. The hand blown glass pitcher and matching glasses I use for sun tea came from a skilled artisan in Mexico.  NOVICA works with artisans from around the world giving them fair wages, no binding contracts, and allowing them a way to sell their goods to support their families.

NOVICA.com
NOVICA has recently relaunched their site.  You can easily find what you’re looking for through categories like “gifts for mom” for instance. They have many new arrivals and they’re easy to find in the “new arrival” section.  I was given a gift code to be able to choose an item from Novica myself and try out the new design.  
I needed some new coasters for my living room.  Strike that I needed real coasters for my living room.  The ones I have are the disposable ones you get when you go to a restaurant or something like that lol.  Seriously.  As many times as I’ve been on NOVICA I’ve eyeballed the coasters and loved the beautiful handcrafted selection.  Everything from beaded to glass to marble and more.  
My living room has dark wood accents and a red carpet.  After searching the site and looking at my budget I ended up opting for these coasters:
I actually bought the last set they had left.  I’m so excited to get them. They are coming from India.  I love when the products come and they tell you who the artisan is, a little about his life/family, and what region your product comes from.  
I like the new design of the site.  It’s brighter and seems less cluttered. The ordering process was a quick as it was before though I think the checkout was easier to read and figure out where the coupon codes and things go. 
NOVICA’s site redesign comes just in time for convenient holiday shopping.  You should definitely check out their holiday decor too: stockings, tree skirts, nativities, and more.  Beautiful stuff.
You can find NOVICA on the following social networks:
Twitter: @NOVICA
GIVEAWAY

1 Luv Saving Money reader will win a
$25 gc to NOVICA
US Only
Sign up for Free Stuff, Fun Sites, Contest and More feed

Where Can You Get Any Gorgeous Bouquet on the Site for $40 Shipped? The Bouqs

**I received the below mentioned Bouq in order to complete an honest review.  No other compensation has been received**

Move over online florists you have some competition.  There are plenty of online florists you can go to to order a bouquet for a special person for whatever reason you like.  I don’t know any like The Bouqs though.

One of several unique things about The Bouqs, the flowers aren’t sitting in a warehouse somewhere waiting for you to order them. They are shipped straight from a sustainable farm in South America, cutting only what they sell.  Eco-friendly florists, love it!

The bouqs logo
They have a selection of curated Bouqs so you are sure to get something wonderful for the person you want. All Bouqs on the site are $40 and that includes shipping.  This is an amazing price considering the size of some of the Bouqs on the site.  Take the Daybreak Bouq for instance: $40 for a single but a single includes 40 roses!!  Oh and I just so happened to receive this one as a review piece (lucky me).
They arrived in a slim black box like this, they arrived via fedex.
bouqs shipping box
Someone brought my box in for me (either hubby or one of my boys) no one told me that I received the box or that they had brought it in the house and actually stuffed it behind the microwave stand for whatever reason.  I didn’t know it was there until I was straightening up and found it that night around 10 o’clock that night.  I was a bit worried.  All I could think is that they’ve been sitting there, what if they are wilted?!  So I carefully opened the box.
bouqs in box
Still not really able to see the flowers but could see they were very secure in the box.  I cut the plastic binding in the middle and starting pulling away the packaging and pulled these two beauties out of the packaging.
bouqs out of box
Sitting in the box for who knows how long didn’t even phase them.  Look at that gorgeous color.  It’s kind of a light orange that fades into a darker orange at the top. I’ve personally never seen roses this color up close before.  The color was so vibrant. They had a light rose scent but not overpowering.  Sometimes I open up flowers and it smells like a floral shop in  my house but these just said “Hey I’m here aren’t I pretty?”  I had to take another picture just to show you the beautiful color of these roses.  Every rose looked healthy, the leaves, a beautiful green.  I couldn’t find one spot on any of the roses that looked less than perfect.
Blog 010
Aren’t they gorgeous?  Even my husband commented on how nice they looked and he usually doesn’t say much about flowers.  I was interested to see which Bouq from the site I was sent.  I discovered that this one is the Daybreak Bouq and they say this one is for “starting a new relationship” which seems fitting to me since this is my first time working with The Bouqs.  (Hopefully not my last).
bouqs daybreak sideview
Yes this Bouq is only $40, can you believe it?  I’m gonna do you one better though.  I have a referral link that is gonna get you $10 off your first Bouq, https://www.thebouqs.com/en/?sal=5246325720486&spop=1
You can also find The Bouqs on these social media sites:
Twitter: @TheBouqs
Instagram: @TheBouqs
With the holidays coming, wouldn’t this be an affordable way to send a gorgeous Bouq to someone you care about without breaking the bank?

Looking for an Affiliate Working with Coupons.com? How about 42 cents per print +!

**This post does contain my referral link**

You may or may not have heard that Coupons.com decided to end it’s partnership with some affiliate sites on September 30.  They chose select affiliate sites to keep running with.  One of those is Escalate Network.  I’ve been a member of their site for a couple years now.  They really have a nice selection of quality offers.

If you’re looking for an affiliate network that still offers coupons from coupons.com. Escalate Network does.  They offer 42 cents per print as well as 18 cents additional for new users.  Escalate Networks is very responsive and on top of their offers.  I also highly recommend liking Escalate Network on facebook if you are signed up with them.  They offer tips and ideas of how to best promote some offers as well.  They are also very professional which I like.
Escalate Network has other offers as well.  I have actually been paid by them and always get my payments once I hit threshold.  
Sign up for Free Stuff, Fun Sites, Contest and More feed