Spring Fever Sponsor Spotlight #1 - Tru Kid

Our 1st amazing sponsor for the Spring Fever Giveaway Event is Tru Kid! I am sooo excited to be able to share this awesome company with you. Their products are amazing!!!

I received the Sunny Days Sport Sunscreen (SPF 30) and the Sunny Days Face & Body Stick (SPF 30). Both are water resistant for fun play in the sun! That's great for us, since we live in Florida, and spend most of our summer at the river or beach.

Here's some great info from their site about their company.

Our Mission

By providing quality products and education to our consumers, as well as a fun and exciting work environment to our staff, TruKid™ is what a company and its products should be: safe, fun and effective. The goal of TruKid™ is to encourage a healthy, well rounded lifestyle. TruKid: Our product is skincare, our business is healthy living™

Our Philosophy

We encourage kids to form healthy habits that last a lifetime. By combining all natural skincare with fun and education, TruKid™ cultivates a relationship between healthy habits and being a kid. In turn, our goal is that kids will grow up taking care of themselves, each other and their environment. From our Friendly Face Wash™ to our Funny Foot Cream™, families receive only the best in ingredients, attention and dedication to their well being.

What makes us different?

Differences are what make everyone special and stand out from the crowd. TruKid™ believes in being proud of who you are. We are a different sort of company and of course, proud of it! For starters, our products are uniquely created just for kids of all ages (there simply weren't enough healthy skincare products out there just for kids). Second, we are all natural and completely chemical free. But what sets us apart even more than our products, is our philosophy. TruKid™ strives to impact the world one healthy habit at a time. Through rhymes, songs, facts and more, we provide the tools your family can use to start forming healthy habits the fun way.

Why use TruKid™?

Well, besides the fact that we only use ingredients that are good for you, we spent a lot of time making our products just right! We encourage kids and their families alike to use our product line everyday. Everything from the lighter textures for quick and easy application to the great, cheerful scents that kids love; we made sure everything was kid approved. You have enough to worry about, let us help you teach your kids healthy skin care habits to last their lifetime.

 I was able to use both of these amazing products on myself and my son during our last river trip, and I really LOVE them!

The tube of sunscreen is nice and thick, but still goes on smooth and easy. I really like the face and body stick. When you have a squirmy toddler, they don't want to sit still while you rub sunscreen on their face. The stick is great for that... easy application, and you don't have to worry about it getting in their precious little eyes. Plus, there's no color like a zink stick. It glides on clear. I was very happy with how these worked. We were out in the sun by the river for 2 days straight, and neither of us got burned... not even close. We had great protection with these items! 

Another thing that's very important to me is the fact that this sunscreen is mineral based, with no chemicals! I'm so particular about what goes in and on my little guys body. We don't use mainstream sunscreens, nope, nope, nope. I'm glad to have found a safe sunscreen that is also water resistant too! We do re-apply through the day, but we are constantly playing in the water, so having something that will last a while, and not rinse right off is another major plus for me. As a tip, you are supposed to re-apply this sunscreen every 80 min, but if you're swimming a lot like us, you should re-apply every 40 min.

I would def recommend this brand to anyone! I think their products are fantastic, and their business practices are awesome too. What more could you ask for?

 

Here's my little man in action...

I guess he liked it huh? ;-)

Here's some info on the Tru Kid Sunny Days Sport Sunscreen from their web site...

New All Natural TruKid Sunny Days SPORT SPF30+ Water Resistant & Unscented Lotion Tube.. The perfect lotion for Water Safe Fun in the Sun. Safe and non toxic, TruKid provides all natural SunCare products that are good for the whole family! We are always FREE of toxins, parabens, phthalates, SLS, gluten, BPA and 1-4 dioxane. Only the best for your kids. Our sunscreens contain no Vit. A and are also Non-Nano. We want our customers to have a positive experience with our products, but also know that we are all individuals with individual skin types and needs so we recommend for any new product you try:  to first do a Patch Test. A Patch Test is a method used to determine if a specific substance causes allergic inflammation of the skin. Apply the product to a small patch of skin on your forearm. Wait 24 hours to see if there is any reaction to any of the ingredients. We highly recommend doing this if you or your children already have skin sensitivities or are pregnant. If you develop any inflammations, discontinue use.    INGREDIENTS: Active: Zinc Oxide 20% Inactive: Purified Water, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, caprylic/capric triglyceride (coconut) , sorbitan stearate (vegetable), polyglyceryl-4 isostearate (plant derived), hexyl laurate (plant derived), hydrogenated methyl abietate (pine wood resin), cetyl dimethicone (sand), dimethicone (sand), castor oil, magnesium sulfate (epsom salt), helianthus annus (sunflower) oil, simmondsia chinesis (jojoba) oil, cucnis satvus (cucumber) fruit extract, camellia sinesis leaf (green tea oil), tocopherols (soy), punica grantum (pomegranate juice), hyaluronic acid (potato), ethylhexlglycerin (Vegetable derived preservative) , *polyaminopropyl biguanide.  ( paraben free, extremely mild anti-microbial , no formaldehyde / donors, non-solvent & non-genotoxic) BOLD= ORGANIC *UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum *Water Resistant And some info on the awesome Tru Kid Sunny Days face and body stick, which is also reef safe!!! Going Scuba Diving or Surfing? TruKid Sunscreens are Gentle on the Earth and are safe for our oceans. This Sunscreen is Reef Safe!!! Highly Rated for safety on SkinDeep/EWG/Cosmetic Database. For those on the go days. TruKid's Sunny Days SPF 30+ water resistant is a great way to enjoy the outdoors safely. Easy to apply and non-greasy, your kids will actually have fun using this sunscreen! Truly all natural, this mineral-based sunscreen protects from both UVA/UVB rays. Please reapply every 40 minutes for best protection. TruKid Sunny Days Face & Body Stick SPF 30 Water Resistant    So, if you're looking for a safe effective way to protect your little ones from the sun this summer, Tru Kid is def the answer for you! Want to grab your own? Use code dancingmom to get a FREE Dancing Detangler with any order of $30 or more! Be sure to enter to win your own Tru Kid Sunny Days Sport sunscreen and Sunny Days face & body stick! That's a $25 value!!! Enter in the Spring Fever giveaway event here... http://alifeofpeaceloveanddiapers.blogspot.com/2012/04/its-finally-here-spring-fever-giveaway.html

Wordless Wednesday 3/28

My friend is prego... her shower was this past weekend. I snapped some shots of her outside afterwards b/c I loved the balloons she had at the shower. Hooray for babies!!! :)

Booty Buns Go Green * Give Charity GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Welcome to the Go Green ♥ Give Charity Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event sponsored by Booty Buns Cloth Diapers! Over 175 blogs have teamed up to present this amazing cloth diaper giveaway hosted by Daily Mothering.

Here's your chance to win an entire stash of one-size cloth diapers!

This amazing cloth diaper prize pack includes:

20 Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers

(these true one-size cloth diapers fit 3-45 lbs!)

20 matching flannel/terry cloth wipes

40 microfiber inserts

20 cotton flannel liners

(picture does not show inserts or liners also included)

First, a little about Booty Buns...

In case you haven't heard about them, Booty Buns Cloth Diapers are incredible one-size cloth diapers that truly fit from birth to potty training! They feature a snap-down rise with 5 different snap settings (most one-size diapers only have 3!) and a waist with 10 regular snap settings plus 2 crossover snap settings. The diapers have hip snaps to prevent wing droop on smaller sizes. The incredible size range of this diaper fits from 3-45 lbs!

Booty Buns Cloth Diapers are pocket diapers and each diaper includes 2 snap-on microfiber inserts that can be stuffed into the diaper or laid on top with the included cotton flannel liner against your child's skin. The diapers have a waterproof PUL outer and a soft suedecloth inner with dual gussets on the inner lining to ensure everything stays IN the diaper! Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers come in an assortment of bright colors and each diaper includes a matching handmade flannel/terry wipe. You can find out more about the diapers at Booty Buns, or check out the detailed Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diaper Review at Daily Mothering!

Booty Buns is dedicated to encouraging others to "go green" and "give charity." Shannon, the owner of Booty Buns Cloth Diapers, leads by example. For every diaper that Booty Buns sells, she donates one Booty Buns Cloth Diaper to a child in need in the US and third-world countries. Booty Buns is the exclusive cloth diapers donator for Operation Showers Of Appreciation, and they are also donating diapers to babies that have severe medical issues here in the US. Shannon hopes to donate a lifetime supply of cloth diapers {20 diapers} to every baby in need around the globe. You can join in this effort by purchasing your own set of Booty Buns Cloth Diapers and telling your friends about Booty Buns!

Make sure to stop by and follow Booty Buns via Facebook, Twitter and Blog for news and giveaways!

And now for the giveaway!!

ONE WINNER will receive this gigantic cloth diaper prize pack valued at $546!

And, the winner will get to select their choice of diaper colors!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

Sign in using your Facebook account OR your name and email address.

Click "Do It" for instructions on how to complete each entry.

There is no mandatory entry. Complete as many entries as you wish.

The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!

Wordless Wednesday! 3/14

Photo session today with an amazing family! Here's my fav shot. :)

Wordless Wednesday! 3/7 KONY 2012

This weeks Wordless Wednesday is going to be a little different. Today I'm going to share a video. One that every single person in the entire world should watch. PLEASE SHARE!!!!

If you are seeing this, you have eyes and a soul... if you are seeing this, make time to watch it. Use your eyes. Use your soul. Be alive. CARE.

Make a difference. Become active in this movement.

Wordless Wednesday! 2/29

It's been raining here every day this week, and I'm so ready for some dang sunshine! That's why I'm posting a couple old summer pictures of Sasha... from his 1st summer. 2009

Enjoy!

~Amanda

My love of Photography...

So, something you've probably noticed about my blog is that it always has a lot of pictures. There are multiple reason for that. I'm a visual learner... pictures interest me. Not that words don't, but I like to have a picture to associate with them. (Unless of course I'm reading a novel, which I love to do. I've graduated out of picture books.) However, with magazine articles, other blogs, etc, I want the visual stimulation. Another reason for all of my photos? 

I'm a photographer.

I have a small photography business. I focus mainly on family and child portraits... though on a personal level, I photograph just about anything. It's ALWAYS been an obsession for me.

I got my first camera when I was 4. It was out of a Kellogg's cereal box, and it took, excuse me, takes I-10 film. Yes, I still have that camera, with the little Kellogg's rooster. It's stored away at the moment, but I'll make it a point to find it, and photograph it, so you can see. It takes the grainiest of grainy pictures, but oh how I loved that thing. When I was in 3rd grade I upgraded to a point and shoot 35mm camera. Simple. No zoom. But it took clearer pictures than my cereal box find. It was all I asked for, and I was in heaven! I shot photos of everything, everywhere, and then used my small amount of chore money to develop the film. 

When I was in 6th grade, I upgraded again to a 35mm point and shoot... with a ZOOM!!! Oh. My. Gosh. It was, like, the coolest thing, like, EVER! haha By this time I had a new baby niece to photograph. She was my star. I fell in love taking pictures of children then. I also started taking tons of shots of the babies in the nursery at church, which the parents liked and appreciated. That camera lasted me until high school. 9th grade hit, and suddenly I was yearning for an SLR. I was in the yearbook class at school, so my dad bought me a Nikon N55. Half the photos in the yearbook that year were taken by me. I took so much pride in that. I wasn't overly popular in school. Just kind of average. I played soccer, was a member of FCA, an officer in the art club, etc. I was just the girl next door. For once, I felt like I got to shine. I loved that everyone saw my photos, and remembered me taking them. They were fun memories, and I'm glad I have them. That camera, which I still have, was my primary camera up until 2 years ago. I bought a few other 35mm SLR's. One off ebay, and from a boss. They're much older, and I love the way hey add that natural vignette look to the pictures I shoot with them. 

What changed 2 years ago? I was married, and had my 1st child. I couldn't afford to spend so much money developing film all the time, and I was taking TONS of pictures. Of course! (I still have a bag full of film that need to be developed... it's been collected over the course of the last decade. Something that will take me hundreds of dollars to finally get all done.) So, for my 1st Mother's Day, my wonderful husband bought me my first, and hopefully not my last, digital SLR. I got the Nikon D5000, with 2 lenses... one of them is a micro, which I love and have so much fun with. That's what I still shoot with today. It's a great camera, and it does what I need it too. I hope to eventually upgrade again, but I won't be adding that chapter of my story for a another few years. 

Now, it's funny that I've typed this entire story without posting the 1st picture... you know, me being a visual person and everything.I just had to type and get it all out. Below I've included some black and whites... all of them were shot at least 5 years ago. I wanted to include some older photography to incorporate with this story about my photo history. I hope you enjoy my story and my pictures. Go out now, and shoot some of your own! ;-)

~Amanda