Sunday, March 24, 2013

Dry Idea Advanced Dry Fresh Giveaway WINNERS!

Jenna W., Pamela H., Donna C., Elis B., and Mami2jcn were the five RANDOM winners chosen for the Dry Idea Advanced Dry Fresh giveaway! 

All winners have been notified via email and have 48 hours to reply to my email and claim their prize, or I will be forced to choose a different winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and for following my blog! :)

20 Mule Team Borax Giveaway WINNERS!

Donna C., Wild Orchid, and Elis B. were the three RANDOM winners chosen for the 20 Mule Team Borax giveaway! 

All winner have been notified and have 48 hours to reply to my email and claim their prize or I will be forced to choose a different winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered and for following my blog!

Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends Giveaway WINNERS!

Jessica, Elis B., and Danielle T. were the three RANDOM winners chosen for the Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends giveaway!

All 3 winners have been notified via email and have 48 hours to reply to my email to claim their prize or I will be forced to choose a different winner. 

Thank you to everyone who entered and for following my blog!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Mason's 2nd Birthday Party!

This past weekend, we celebrated Mason's 2nd birthday! 

We had his party at the same place we had the twins' birthday party back in January, at a local town hall-type place near where we live. It's a great space and they have a bounce house and other kid friendly indoor toys, so it's great for a winter get together or birthday party!




Mason's birthday theme this year was Mickey Mouse because he is absolutely in love with Mickey Mouse and Mickey's friends!




I went that morning to set things up and decorate. We had snack food, like veggies, fruit, chips, and dip. We also had juice, and I got an idea from Pinterest to do a Hot Diggity Dog Hot Dog Bar, which I thought was super cute and creative!



I also found another cute idea from Pinterest, for people to leave special notes for Mason, similar to a guestbook:



I got an awesome deal on decorations from an online website. For only about $50 I got Mickey Mouse themed tablecloths, a centerpiece, streamers, balloons, napkins, plates, cups, plastic tableware, balloon ribbon, thank you cards, party hats, and even a personalized banner!


We had a small gathering of people, which is just the way we wanted it. He's not yet old enough to tell me what friends from daycare he wants at his party, so there were no little buddies like there were at the twins' birthday party. But he had his aunts, some cousins, and a couple close friends and their little ones, so it was plenty to celebrate his special day! We had a small catastrophe when our friend's 18 month old took a nasty fall, split his lip, and knocked his tooth inward. Frank took them to the ER to get him seen, and all was well, thankfully! 

Everyone had a bite to eat, the little ones played in and out of the bounce house, and then it was time for Mason to open his gifts!








He got some super cool beach and sand toys from his aunts. He was SO excited over them and was asking to go to the beach! We have a sandbox at home too, so they will get lots and lots of use, for sure! He got a little Mickey Mouse wagon, Curious George t shirt, and Mickey Mouse big boy cup from our friends, a Mickey Mouse couch from our other good friend, and from us he got a Mickey Mouse toddler tent bed, Mickey Mouse toddler bedding set, extra Mickey Mouse bed sheet and pillow case, Mickey Mouse potty, and Mickey Mouse toy box! Needless to say, he was very, very happy with everything he received!

After gifts were done, it was time for CAKE!



A local bakery made his cake, and there was NO drama with the cake this time around, like there was with the twin's birthday cake! The Mickey ears and feet of the clubhouse were made from rice crispies, but the rest was chocolate cake. It was soooooooo delicious!






All in all, it was a great birthday party for our little man, and we are so thankful to have been able to do this party for him and make it so special for him. I love going all out for parties for my babies, because they deserve only the best of the best!










Thursday, March 14, 2013

Knot genie Giveaway WINNER!

Char W. is the winner!

Char has 48 hours to reply to my email and claim her prize, or I will be forced to choose a different winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered and for following my blog!

Key Wonder Giveaway WINNERS!

Heather is a WINNER!

Donna Cheatle is a WINNER!



Heather and Donna have 48 hours to reply to my email, or I will be forced to choose different winners. Thank you to everyone who entered, and for following my blog!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Mason is 2!!

On March 4, 2011, we were blessed with another beautiful, amazing miracle.....





Mason George Ryan arrived 3.4.11 at 3:51 p.m., and has never stopped amazing us from the second the midwife placed him on my chest.

I absolutely cannot believe my baby boy has gone from this......



To this................



I don't even know where to begin on these last 2 years with Mason! He adds more to our family than we could ever though possible! His sense of humor is amazing, his language is incredible and growing every minute, and his general personality just lights up a room!

Mason loves to run, jump, play, and be crazy! He is a typical 2 year old boy! He loves cars, trucks, and animals. He's in LOVE with Mickey Mouse. He looks up to his big brother more than we ever thought, and it's such a joy to see how much he loves his Connor, and how much Connor loves him. He looks so much like Connor did at this age, it's almost scary!

He knows all of his animals sounds, all of his colors, all of his numbers, some of his ABC's, and talks up a storm! I can't even keep track of everything he says now, because it's just way too much! 


He loves, loves, loves to sing and dance and has some slick moves for a little guy! ;)

He naps once a day, for 3-4 hours, and bedtime is 7:00 every night, and he sleeps soundly until 6:30 or 7:00 the next morning. There used to be a time that I thought this kid would never sleep, and then just as quickly as I thought that, he started sleeping beautifully all night, by himself.

Not many things upset Mason, but when he does get mad, he has a temper like no other! I'm guessing he gets that from his daddy....


We haven't started potty training quite yet, mostly because we got him a potty for his birthday, and plan on giving it to him at his party this coming weekend. He still has a pacifier, BUT...he's ONLY 2! We personally don't feel like there is any rush in taking it away. The twins were almost 2.5 when we took theirs away, due to Mason's arrival and the big adjustment that a new baby brings, and that was perfectly fine for us. There is just no reason to rush it. Mason is the baby of the family right now, and has been for 2 years. He doesn't understand the idea of a new baby joining the family, like Connor and Merasia can understand it. Connor and Merasia had each other to lean on, play together, etc. when Mason was born, so it wasn't as big a deal to them. Mason doesn't have a twin like they do, so it's definitely going to be a much bigger adjustment for him when a new little one is in the home and in our family. His paci is a big comfort for him right now, and he's going to need all the comfort from people he can get, and all of the comfort objects in the world (his paci, his blankie, etc.) to help him adjust. 

He still sleeps in a crib, and that's fine too. We did buy him a toddler bed for his birthday, he has seen it, but I can't wait for him to see it when it's all set up! We aren't rushing that either though. He is happy in his crib, has only gotten out of it by himself once (many months ago!) and never figured it out again, so we figure why ruin something good? I rushed it with the twins and regret it, so I will not be making that mistake again. Even if he were to sleep fine in the bed at first, problems always arise at some point down the road, and with the crib and him still being safe and happy in the crib, those problems are avoided until much later. 

I also just don't see the point in rushing Mason to grow up. He's only a baby once, and he's only a toddler once. Why rush him into all of these big kid things like using a toddler bed, taking his pacifier away, and so on? Let him be the toddler he is for as long as possible, because it goes by far too fast, and when it's gone for good, you will regret it. 

Because Mason's real birthday was this past Monday, we gave him a few of his presents then.








We got him lots of presents but the ones we gave him on his real birthday were his Mickey Mouse fleece blanket, his Mickey Mouse plate, bowl, fork, and spoon set, and his Mickey Mouse Collapsible Storage tote (to be used for toys, clothes, blankets, etc.). Our good friend and neighbor Ashley got him his very own Mickey Mouse couch which he looooooves!!

This weekend, we will have his party and I can't wait! Of course the whole theme is Mickey Mouse! I can't wait to see his cake and to see his reaction to the cake, decorations, and party in general! I can't believe my baby is really 2, but that also means the countdown is REALLY on for baby girl to make her arrival in just 3 short months.... ;-)






Dry Idea Advanced Dry Review & Giveaway!


If you were to ask me what my favorite and/or best working deodorant or antiperspirant was, I wouldn't be able to tell you. That's because I don't have a favorite, and I don't think any on the market today actually work well, or as good as they could! 

I have tried just about every brand out there, from cheap store brands, to the most expensive name brand, and have not stuck with an one brand, because I always find something unsatisfactory about them all. 

I am a very busy mama, constantly on the go! I am up at 6 a.m. every day, the kiddos are up at 6:30 or 7 every day, mornings are bustling with getting kiddos out of bed, dressed, hair brushed (and for Merasia, fixed in a ponytail, braid, etc.), milk and snack/quick breakfast given, teeth brushed, light cleaning done, two days a week we are out the door by 7:45 or 8:00 to get the twins to preschool, back home with Mason, then back out to get the twins and get them home...the other three days of the week we are out the door at the same time, to bring all 3 kiddos to daycare, and then I am off running all day, going to appointments, meetings, getting homework done, thorough house cleaning, and so on and so forth until it's time to pick everyone up, come home, do dinner, baths, and bed, and do it all over again the next day. As you can imagine, there's lots of sweat involved in all of that as well! Not only in the summer, warmer months, but being pregnant, I get overheated very easily and quickly, more so than normal. I need something STRONG and long lasting to help me feel and smell fresh!

Enter Dry Idea Advanced Dry fresh brand antiperspirant! 

"With enduring odor protection that lasts for 72 hours and Pulse Activated Wetness Protection, NEW Dry Idea AdvancedDry Fresh brand antiperspirant an deodorant keeps you feeling clean and confident all day long. It is also formulated with Vitamin E for silky smooth application. As the authority on dryness, Dry Idea brand guarantees to Never Let Them See You Sweat with their fabulous line of antiperspirant and deodorant products, now including Dry Idea AdvancedDry Fresh brand."

I was a little skeptical about trying this product out at first, because it was a roll on, and more liquidy than I expected, and my experiences with ore liquidy deodorant in the past have not proven satisfactory. I kept an open mind though and slathered it on anyway!

Imagine my surprise when hours later, and even that evening, I still FELT and SMELLED fresh and clean! Another favorite part of this antiperspirant was that there was NO white, cakey substance left over on my underarms or on my favorite shirts after using it! 

Dry Idea Advanced Dry Fresh gets a high five in this mommy's book! ;)


WIN IT: FIVE (!!!!) lucky readers of Mama 2 Multiples are going to WIN a coupon for a FREE Dry Idea Product! To enter, simply follow the instructions and fill out the giveaway form below!



20 Mule Team Borax Review & Giveaway!

There used to be a time when I never worried about the products I used to clean my home, and of course never had to worry about cleaning it as often as I do these days. With 3 (almost 4!) little ones running around, I'm constantly cleaning, and with that, worried about the products I use and how safe they are for small, sensitive noses and bodies. 

I was sent a big box of 20 Mule Team Borax to review, as a part of my being a Purex Insider. 

From the informational material I received:

"20 Mule Team Borax is 100% natural mineral from the earth. Once removed from the ground it is washed, dried, and boxed for consumers. Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate: a naturally occurring substance produced by the perpetual evaporation of seasonal lakes. Absolutely nothing is added. No phosphates, chlorine, or other additive chemicals."

Borax can be used for almost anything! It's a laundry booster and multi-purpose household cleaner. I decided to let my bathroom get a little more messy than normal (which doesn't take long in our home!) so I could try this out on my entire bathroom and see how well it cleaned.

Here are some before shots of my tub and sink:





Borax is very easy to use for cleaning purposes! Simply wet a sponge or cleaning cloth, and sprinkle some on the wet or damp cloth, then get to work scrubbing and cleaning!


The first thing I noticed was no scent. I like to have a little bit of a scent in my bathroom, or anywhere in my home, after cleaning, but with scents comes chemicals, and I try hard to avoid those as often as possible. The other thing I noticed about the Borax was how closely it resembles baking soda. The texture is similar and of course no scent. (To be honest though, I like the Borax better than baking soda!)

I sprinkled some in my toilet as well, to see how well it cleaned the toilet bowl. It wasn't too dirty to begin with, but I wanted to give it a whirl anyway!


I was very happy with the results of using 20 Mule Team Borax while cleaning my bathroom! It left everything not only clean, but sparkling and shiny too!




Not only am I happy with the results from cleaning with the Borax, but I can feel good knowing my family is safe from harmful chemicals and smells, and all germs that existed in the dirty bathroom, are long gone with 20 Mule Team Borax!

Purchase It: You can purchase a box of 20 Mule Team Borax at a local retailer near you. To find one, visit this link.

WIN IT: THREE lucky readers of Mama 2 Multiples are going to WIN a coupon for a FREE box of 20 Mule Team Borax of their very own! To enter, simply follow the instructions and fill out the giveaway form below!







Thursday, March 7, 2013

Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends Review & Giveaway!


I love trying new foods, and when I got the opportunity, as  Purex Insider, to review the NEW Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends cereal, I was excited! I love coconut flavors and this sounded SO yummy! 

I tried the cereal out a few days after receiving it. While I wasn't disappointed with it by any means, I think I just may not be a fan of the mango/coconut/tropical flavors combined together. I love all of those flavors separately, but combined, after trying this out, I have discovered I might not be a fan of them together. 

This doesn't change my opinion of the brand itself, or even this particular flavor! It's yummy, and my kiddos loved it, and they are the REAL hard ones to please! They usually are only fans of "kid friendly" cereal such as Trix, Cheerios, and Kix, but this is a new favorite for them! I was so glad to find something new that they can enjoy and that is healthy too! 

Along with this new cereal and some other new Tropical products from Purex, there is one AMAZING prize package giveaway trip for ONE lucky winner! 



The 2013 Tropical Trio Sweepstakes will send one winner on a tropical paradise vacation to Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach! Hopeful winners can enter for a chance to spend some time relaxing in gorgeous Hawaii, exploring all Waikiki has to offer! 



To enter this amazing sweepstakes, fill out the form HERE!

As for the cereal, don't waste any time trying that out, either! Even if you don't win the sweepstakes for this amazing trip to Waikiki, you can FEEL like you are there with a bowl of new Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends cereal!

WIN IT: THREE lucky readers of Mama 2 Multiples are going to WIN a box of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, whether it be the new Tropical Blends flavor, or another favorite of yours! To enter, simply follow the instructions and fill out the form below!