Ashley Butler - Blog Editor and Product Reviewer
Hi! My name is Ashley. I could sit here and list out generic facts about my life but instead I will give you this....
I married the love of my life in 2007. Shortly after getting married we moved to Germany because he is in the Air Force. I couldn't have asked for a better first 3 years of marriage. We traveled, made lifelong friends, ate too much food and grew closer than I ever could have imagined.
I'm a new mommy to the most beautiful little girl (I may be biased, but wait until you see her!). I'm also a desperate housewife, pretend "chef", designer and a from-the-bottle-blonde. I suffer from mommy brain but wonder if that actually exists. I love smelling and kissing my sweet baby girl. My hubby thinks that I have an inappropriate crush on BG (baby girl), but I think he's just jealous ;-) I love a clean house, traveling, crisp white sheets, q-tips, God, skinny lattes, and chocolate milk when I'm sad. Some say I'm quirky but my favorite thing I've ever heard was from my husband - "you're a wonderful mama." I love my little family...
So, that's me in a nutshell! I hope you enjoy reading this blog. We have fun picking products to review so let me know if there is something you're curious about. Nice to meet you :)
My favorite mommy products are....
Miracle Blankets ~ I have three...we had blowouts every morning until I started to cloth diaper so I needed spares! BG is happiest when she is swaddled at bedtime; the tighter the better! It will be a sad sad day when I have to wean her from the swaddle.
Sleep Sheep ~ "Ocean waves" not only helps BG sleep, but it helps us sleep too because we hear it playing through the baby monitor. I'm a fan of all Cloud B products!
Aden + Anais Muslin Blankets ~ These blankets are so versatile. They have a little stretch to them so they're great to swaddle with. Plus, I've used them as burp cloths. Aden + Anais blankets are also great because they can spread out to be a thin blanket to cover baby up or you can fold them so that they will keep baby warmer on a cooler day.
Binky Clips ~ Binky, paci, sucky...it doesn't even matter what you call it; these clips are a must! Never chase after a binky again!
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Jaime Freeborn - Product Reviewer
Jaime here...I’m a busy mother of three that has newly relocated to Las Vegas, NV after more than 7 years abroad. Originally from the Midwest, I have spent the last 10 years travelling around the world with my husband and the United States Air Force. My oldest son, a five year old smarty pants, was born in Japan. My three year old daughter, the drama queen, was born in South Korea. And my one year old, the darling daredevil, was born in the US by way of Germany. I am a teacher by trade and am currently pursuing a Masters in counseling.
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Katie Nikolai - Product Reviewer
Hey everyone – I’m Katie, mom to 4 kids ages ranging from 1 – 8 years, a boy and three girls. I married the man of my dreams and the Air Force 10 years ago and have lived everywhere from Alaska to Germany, Vegas to Japan. After many moves, 4 babies, numerous deployments, I think less is more. When I buy I want things that last, have a function and not take up too much space in our move (heaven forbid we leave a kid behind)!
I took me a long time to transition into being a mom. When my son was born, in my mind I was “just a mom,” as I adjusted to leaving the work force. In my past life I was a motivational speaker, advertising executive, flight attendant, manager for a masters program and that gal who always got birthday cards to people on time and had my eye brows waxed regularly. Now… I am a mom, and proud of it. Cards are late, I wear velour track suits everyday, and I sport the occasional uni-brow, as I can’t always make it in for Katie maintenance on a regular basis. I know that nothing I do in my lifetime with be more worthwhile, important and challenging then raising my kids. Someday I will be paid for the "work" I do, but for now I realize that I am priceless to 4 little souls and one guy that makes it all worthwhile.
In my spare time, I love to decorate/rearrange (redo furniture), thus I like things for kids that are stylish and don’t create clutter. I love a good work out, a great coffee, and a good book.
In my best Sound of Music voice, these are a few of my favorite things...
Mud Pie Kids clothes really don't get much cuter than this!
Baby Chronicles Baby Book There are so many baby books to choose from. After looking at a bunch, I fell in love with this one. It is simple and won't overwhelm you when documenting your childs first year.
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Lauren Young - Travel Expert and Product Reviewer
I'm Lauren, and you might call me a late bloomer...it took me 30 years to realize that all I want in this life is to be my Baby's Momma (and my Hubby's Wifey too - okay, I figured that one out a long time ago). I am just a travelin' Mum... my German-born babe hit the road at just under 4 weeks for her first Oktoberfest in Munich (no, I didn't take her into the tent - but I did bring my Medela hand-pump!)
I love my sweet baby girl's babbles and giggles, and how she turns her Daddy to mush in a matter of seconds! :) I also love my BOB Revolution - it folds up quick for road trips and the ride is smooth for jogging, even on the bumpiest of cobblestone streets. Can't say enough great things about BOB!
The JJ Cole Bundle Me is awesome for the winter when you don't want to deal with shoving those uncooperative baby limbs into little baby outerwear.
Moby Wrap is great for plane trips, since you have to check your stroller at the gate... or better yet, leave the stroller at home and walk freely around the airport and your destination city with baby strapped to you comfortably in a variety of holds! And it doesn't take up alot of room in your carry-on or weight in your luggage.I am now that annoying girl who loves to talk about all things baby, especially baby products! I would LOVE to try something out for you, just name it! Thanks for checking us out. :)
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Megan Glynn - Childbirth Educator and Doula
Hey there…my name is Megan! I’m a Mommy to two boys with another baby due this May. After teaching high school for a few years, I knew there was a better career fit for me. In 2004, I channeled my love for teaching into becoming a childbirth educator, doula and massage therapist for expecting Mommies. I couldn’t think of a more rewarding opportunity (or a more captive audience) than to work with expecting couples. While stationed in Germany, I had the pleasure of teaching hundreds of couples as they prepared for the birth of their first child. During this time, I was also able to assist a number of couples during labor as a doula. Each labor left me more and more in awe of the strength of women during childbirth and humbled by the sweet and attentive nature of the Dads-to-be as they witnessed this incredible event in their lives.
The Wife/Mommy/Friend side of me loves chasing after my two young, energetic boys, escaping with my hubby for date nights, traveling the world with my family, cooking, running, enjoying a nice glass of wine with my girlfriends and learning (I know, it sounds cheesy, but I really do)! I was that nerdy girl in college that would sit in on other lectures “just because”. I love a challenge and look forward to all the adventures that are still to come in the years ahead!
If you ever have a question regarding your pregnancy, upcoming labor/delivery or this tiny little one that is now officially yours – please send them my way! I love working with families as they navigate pregnancy, childbirth, bringing the baby home and all the fun “firsts” that come with this little bundle of joy!
As a young Mom, I feel as if half my day is spent in the kitchen – prepping, feeding and cleaning for the kids to eat. A few of my faves are what I call my meal-time trifecta: Less Mess Toddler Spoon, Stay-put Suction Bowls, and the BabyBjorn Soft Bib.
I also love the Cloud B Sea Turtle for my sons. They love that our turtle “Sally” (named by my son) lights up their room at night. And now, she even stays up all night making sure the monsters do not come in the room. It’s priceless!
I must admit, I have a slight addiction for strollers. We bought the phil&teds Vibe Double Stroller when my second son was born. Even though it isn’t marketed as a “jogging” stroller, I have gotten many miles out of it with both sons in tow! The comments we receive from strangers are priceless too! For the day-to-day errands when I only have my younger son, I love the Quinny Zapp. It is super-easy to maneuver and folds up very small, making it the perfect on-the-go stroller for our family.
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Meg Kawan - Pediatrician
Hey everyone – I’m Meg, a mom of two very fun and energetic little boys. I am also a general pediatrician, currently working part-time, and an Air Force spouse, so I’ve been able to practice pediatrics all over the globe. On most days, that means I get to enjoy the best of both worlds – spending time with my family, and working in a field that I love.As a pediatrician, and a mother of two children, I am passionate about promoting child health, and strongly believe in developing healthy habits early in life. One of my biggest professional interests is promoting breastfeeding, and I get great satisfaction in helping new moms overcome challenging breastfeeding issues. Two years ago, I became certified as an international board-certified lactation consultant to further my knowledge of the exciting field of breastfeeding medicine, and most recently, I completed my masters in public health.
"My Brest Friend" nursing pillow, which I know has a totally cheesy name, but is SO much better than the boppy for breastfeeding a newborn.
Baby Bjorn ~ We also love to travel, and nothing beats this baby carrier. We like the “active” version that has a higher weight limit and provides more back support
Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother’s Milk Tea ~ an herbal tea that enhances breast milk production using natural herbs.
Medela quick clean breastpump & accessory wipes and quick clean micro-steam bag ~ a must in my opinion, for moms that need to pump on the job.
The Fresh Start Cworkbook, by Joan Ahlers and Cheryl Tallman. This straightforward guide provides simple instructions for making baby food at home.
Some of my hobbies include watching sports – (I’m a huge Philadelphia sports fan!), reading, cooking, yoga and running. A perfect night for me involves cooking a gourmet meal with my husband after the kids are asleep.
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Molly Luke - Dentist
Hi there... I'm Molly, a General Dentist and Mom. I've been practicing dentistry since 2002, but am currently a stay at home Mom. My husband, also a dentist, and I have been married since 2002. We fell in love over incisors and molars the first week of dental school :) Being a dentist is one of the most rewarding careers; there is something so wonderful about making someone want to smile more or calming a phobic patient. After getting married my husband and I joined the Air Force and moved to England, then to Charleston, SC where we had a beautiful baby girl named Kensie. She's our little princess and we couldn't imagine our life without her. We are so blessed to have her. My husband is still active duty and we are currently living in Germany. We absolutely love traveling, learning about new cultures, trying new foods, photography, flea markets, running, and spending time with our daughter.
We've lived abroad for 5 out of our 8 years of marriage, so we've done our fair share of traveling. We love to travel even though we are finding it a bit more challenging this time overseas with a 3 year old. Most of my favorite baby products are ones that make traveling easier. Here are some of my favs: The Gogo Babyz Kidz Travelmate Car Seat Stroller, pacifier clips, any of the water WOW activity books (it uses water to color the magic pages..no mess!), Hooter hiders nursing cover, Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags, and Melissa and Doug triangle shaped crayons (won't roll off of airplane tray tables!).
I completed an AEGD residency after dental school in which I had extended studies in pediatrics and other specialties of dentistry. I would be happy to answer any dental questions that you may have.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
