Tag Archives: giveaway

[Giveaway] Nebulizing Diffuser for Essential Oils

Posted on August 17, 2020 | 9 comments

Raise your hand if you have been trying to make your home as pleasant and comforting as possible this year. 2020, am I right? We have long been fans of essential oils and diffusers, so when Organic Aromas reached out to me to try one of their nebulizing diffusers, I was intrigued. A nebulizing diffuser uses no heat and no water. Plus, the glass and wood make it look like cool science laboratory equipment.

Organic Aromas Nebulizing Diffuser and Explorer Kit Giveaway

I’m kind of picky with sponsored posts and partners, and I let them know I would try out the diffuser and only recommend it if I liked it. They sent me the Magnificent Nebulizing Diffuser (that’s an Amazon affiliate link) along with a set of six organic essential oils. After playing around with it and seeing it in person, I do recommend it!

Organic Aromas Nebulizing Diffuser Giveaway

I like that there is no noise, no water vapor, and that it uses very little energy. There is an optional light, which is nice, as I prefer no light when sleeping. I especially like that it is made from glass and solid wood and has no plastic.

When I chatted a bit with Gayle from Organic Aromas, and she gave me this tip:

Do note one thing, that to get the wonderful, natural and powerful aromas from pure essential oils in a Nebulizing Diffuser does require you to give the glass reservoir regular rinses/cleanings with isopropyl alcohol. If you do not ever clean your glass reservoir, over time, the residual essential oil left inside will dry and harden potentially clogging the little tubes. So this is the only tiny bit of maintenance you will need to do. Just about once a week or so give the glass a quick rinse with isopropyl alcohol to keep it in top shape always… make sure you check out this important blog article with a very useful video inside instructing you regarding the best methods to maintain your beautiful purchase: 

organicaromas.com/blogs/aromatherapy-and-essential-oils/18151495-how-to-clean-your-organic-aromas-essential-oil-diffuser
Organic Aromas Nebulizing Diffuser Giveaway

Guess what? You could win this diffuser and oil kit, too!

Would you like to win this same Explorer Aromatherapy Diffuser Kit? It retails for $125, and includes the “Magnificent Diffuser”, plus a box set of six essential oils. Enter below! (Due to shipping restrictions, giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.)

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Organic Aromas nebulizing diffuser giveaway with six organic essential oils

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Posted in Contests, Giveaways and Promotions, Natural Remedies

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Giveaway: New Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier

Posted on September 10, 2017 | 2 comments

I am beyond excited. First, we giving away a brand new Ergobaby Omni 360 baby carrier. Second, I get to share these beautiful pictures by our friend and photographer, Alysha Rainwaters.

Ergobaby Onmi 360

Recently, Ergobaby asked if I wanted to review their newest baby carrier, just released last month. The Omni 360 combines the best of the 360 with the Adapt, which converts from newborn on up. The Ergo 360 (which you might remember from my video review with Baby Bird and from this guest article) is seriously the best forward facing baby carrier. Until now.

Compare Ergobaby Omni, Adapt and 360

The major improvement with these new, flexible baby carriers (the Omni and Adapt) is that they can be worn without an infant insert – even with brand new little bitties. Infant inserts are great but can be hot. We love this simplicity in hot San Diego.

Not sure how to wear them? Ergobaby has great videos on YouTube showing how to wear the different styles, like this one. For help in person, I always recommend finding a local Babywearing International group, too.

Ergobaby Omni 360

Reviewing the new Ergobaby Omni 360

I’m a fan of everything Ergo does. So I was thrilled by the offer to review the Omni. Only problem? My littlest Baby Bird is almost four! Luckily our friends Alysha and Matt Rainwaters have two beautiful girls, including the adorable Coco. Sadly they are in the midst of moving away from us in San Diego back to Austin, Texas. Alysha said that her cutie has been super clingy and she hadn’t been able to put her down to pack.

best front facing baby carrier

When I brought the carrier over to their house, little Coco intuitively gravitated towards it. She wanted her mom to wear her immediately! Her little smile once she was up was priceless.

favorite forward facing baby carrier

Here’s Alysha’s review of the Omni 360:

I had given up on wearing Coco and hadn’t put her in a carrier in a couple of months because she couldn’t get comfortable forward-facing in our previous carrier. I was so so excited to try the Ergo because I missed feeling close to her and kissing and smelling her little head. Sure enough, she loves the Ergobaby and actually sits still, which frees my hands to wrangle my older daughter. I’ve also noticed that my back never hurts while wearing her and I can hold her for longer! Yay!

Ergobaby Omni 360 Forward Facing

Babywearing is Good for Parents’ Mental Health

Obviously, I’m a big fan of babywearing. In my private practice, Burd Psychotherapy, specializing in postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, I often recommend babywearing to ease mom’s anxieties. You can multitask. More importantly, babywearing increases bonding, attachment, and attunement. In fact, I wrote a blog for Ergo on How to Prevent Postpartum Depression, which includes wearing baby close.

Ergobaby Omni 360

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Posted in Contests, Giveaways and Promotions, Parenting

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Three San Diego Date Night Ideas: Bracero, Caffe Calabria [Giveaway] or Cook with Specialty Produce

Posted on July 9, 2015 | 13 comments

Three cheers for date nights! Papa Bird and I have a professional Disney princess who babysits and sings. And with the Little Birds happily entertained, we are starting to venture out to more San Diego restaurants. Here are three of my top date night picks in San Diego for foodie couples — including a giveaway to one of them below.

Abby of Baby Birds FarmMany thanks to Jenny from Vintage Sugar Cube for the picture of Papa Bird and me.

Disclaimer: Specialty Produce invited us to a night of fresh Italian and Mexican dishes by chefs Javier Plascencia of Bracero and MJ Testa of Caffe Calabria in order to sample their Farmers’ Market Boxes. There was no obligation to write about them and my decision to post was based on my excitement to share them with you. Opinions are my own, as always.

shrimp and squash from specialty produce, made by chefs javier plascencia of bracero and mj testa of caffe calabria

1. Modern “Baja Med” Fusion at Bracero in Little Italy

Javier Plascencia’s restaurant empire in Tijuana ranges from the modern Misión 19 to Mediterranean/Mexican “BajaMed” fusion and often features fresh Baja California ingredients. Over the last decade, he has frequently outshone most San Diego chefs. Bracero Cocina de Raiz, named after a guest worker program that brought Mexican labor up to the U.S., is his second restaurant this side of the border (after Romesco in Bonita), opens tonight in Little Italy, and is at the very top of my list of San Diego restaurants I most want to visit. Check out a sneak peek of their modern Mexican fusion menu here, and see why I can’t wait.

Below is a sample of what to expect: Yucatan-style cochinita pibil sopes, made from heirloom corn masa, slow braised pork, heirloom beans and fermented pineapple. You can make a reservation for their upstairs dining room here, or try your luck walking in to the more casual downstairs and crudo bar. And if I haven’t convinced you to try Plascencia’s cuisine, maybe Jonathan Gold or Dana Goodyear can.

cochinita pibil sopes made by chef javier plascencia of bracero at a specialty produce event at caffe clabria

2. Neopolitan Pizza and Craft Cocktails at Caffe Calabria in North Park

When I was chipping away at my Masters of Social Work, I often studied at Caffe Calabria. I usually ordered a Viennese and brought home a bag of the beans they roast on site. Since then they have added a traditional wood-fire pizza oven from Naples, and brought in chef MJ Testa. Caffe Calabria has also started mixing craft cocktails with the same level of attention they bring to the coffee bar. Enter to win two free pizzas from Caffe Calabria at the bottom of this post.

My favorite dish of the night was chef Testa’s Grilled Prawns with farmer’s market box squash and peppers in a cream sauce, inspired by the Amalfi Coast of Italy. I was too busy chatting and the first dish she put out was inhaled by the crowd. For dessert, she roasted white donut peaches and served it with a honey marscapone crema.

As an aside, they have done a lot to renovate the upstairs and back patios. I would definitely look into Caffe Calabria for hosting a private event. The building was once a bank and has tons of character. North Park has changed a lot since I lived there, and there are a ton of bars and clubs to walk to after dinner. Want to be the lucky couple to win dinner there on me?

caffe calabria cappuccino with a roasted doughnut peach by chef mj testa

You can see more of our night in the gallery below.

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Posted in Contests, Giveaways and Promotions, Food, Restaurant Reviews and Features, San Diego Restaurants, Seasonal Recipes

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GIVEAWAY: Ergobaby Wrap Carrier

Posted on June 16, 2014 | 35 comments

I am very excited to host my biggest giveaway yet! In partnership with my psychotherapy business, Abigail Burd, LCSW, I am raffling off an Ergobaby Wrap. I believe firsthand in the benefit of keeping baby close and wearing a them in a hug.

win an ergobaby wrap

For the parents that already love babywearing, what makes this wrap unique is that it is a hybrid stretchy wrap, half way between a stretchy wrap (like a Moby) and a woven wrap. It is literally made of yoga pants material. So imagine the comfort and gentle compression of your favorite yoga pants. The wrap is perfect for newborns. Since it keeps it’s shape better than other stretchy wraps it will also last you longer and work for bigger babies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For those that can’t wait until the end of the contest, or if you don’t win and want to buy a wrap, now is a great time. I have a promo code for 20% off the Ergobaby Wrap and the Ergobaby Swaddler. Enter ocnewborn at checkout.

20% off ergo baby wrap discount code20% off ergobaby swaddler discount code

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Posted in Contests, Giveaways and Promotions, Green Parenting, Parenting

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