Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System review and giveaway

Not sure if I've written about this before but I am a breastfeeding mom. My little guy is 4 months old, so I'm exclusively breastfeeding right now. I also pump occasionally, although not as much as I'd like to. Pumping more and getting my son more comfortable with taking a bottle would no doubt give me more freedom. But it means I have to remember to pump and I'm bad at that.


Anyway, I was contacted to review the new Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System and decided to give it a go.

I currently use a Medela pump and bottles so it made sense to check out their new offering. The idea is that the storage system helps you to quickly and easily see what milk is freshest -- and what milk is oldest -- to avoid waste. This is very appealing because if you've ever pumped breast milk, you know that having to toss some out is an awful feeling. Not only are you wasting milk but you are wasting milk that you produced. 


Here's some information on the system from the Medela web site:

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• Makes it easy to protect, organize and locate breastmilk bottles in fridge or freezer.
• Holds up to 6 Medela breastmilk bottles.
• Lids are compatible with all Medela polypropylene breastmilk bottles.
• Also compatible with Medela Pump & Save breastmilk bags (sold seperately).

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• 1 tray
• 2 labeling lids
• 2 - 5 oz breastmilk bottles

I found that the tray and the bottles were easy to use. But, because I have a side-by-side refrigerator the tray took up a little more room than I would have liked. Also, since I don't pump regularly, I often only have two bottles of milk in my refrigerator at any one time. The tray seemed to almost require at least four bottles in order for it to be useful.


I could see that this tray would be great for someone who pumps a lot, especially someone who pumps bottles for their baby who goes to daycare or some other babysitter situation. For them, the tray would keep their milk obviously separate and it would make it easy for the care takers to know what milk to use first. 


You can buy the Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System at many retail outlets including Babies R Us, which has it listed for $16.99 and Amazon.com, which has the Medela Breastmilk Storage Systemfor sale for $15.99.


The giveaway


You can also win one Medela Breastmilk Labeling and Storage System by entering my giveaway!


To enter


Leave me a comment and tell me whether you would use this for yourself or give it to another nursing mom.

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):

• Follow this blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
• Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
• Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
• Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment  each time)
• Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)

This giveaway will run through Thursday, February 24th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Friday.

Good luck!


Review/giveaway disclosure: I received one Medela system from Medela/MomSelect. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Shrinkx Hips review

The first change that I noticed when I was pregnant was that my hips had expanded. Seriously. My hips widened a lot right away, making my pre-pregnancy pants too small before I was even sporting much of a belly. It's one of the annoying parts of pregnancy, in my opinion. Sure, you expect to lose your waist -- you're carrying a baby after all -- but you don't expect to expand your hips. At least I didn't.

But, it's what happens and it is also the thing that new moms would like to fix after giving birth.

Enter Shrinkx Hips.

No, that's not a picture of me. Although, that would be nice . . .

Shrinkx Hips is a hip belt that, when worn in the first 8 weeks after giving birth, helps narrow your hips. Here's a little information on the belt from the web site:

The Shrinkx Hips belt works thanks to the hormone Relaxin, which loosens pelvic joints & ligaments for childbirth. Relaxin then stays in your system up to 8 weeks before joints and ligaments harden in place. Wearing the Shrinkx Hips belt during this time gives you the opportunity to permanently narrow your hips. Shrinkx Hips

• Provides constant, even pressure to gently guide your hips back to their pre-pregnancy position
• Must be worn in the first 8 weeks after delivery
• Easily worn under or over your clothing
• Comfortable and made of soft Nylon & Spandex materials

Shrinkx Hips is exclusively designed with multiple levels of compression so you can control the amount of pressure on your hips & work towards the best possible results. 

I was sent a belt to use after I had my second son. I started using it about 2 weeks after giving birth and used it until I reached the 8 week mark. To determine how well Shrinkx Hips works, I measured my hips before I started using it and then again afterward.

The belt was surprisingly easy and comfortable to wear. I admit that I felt self-conscious wearing it out in public, so I only wore it at home. But, I could easily wear it under jeans or any regular pants and it wasn't really noticeable. And, it didn't slip around, which was something I worried about. So, if I hadn't been so self-conscious I could have worn it all the time and no one would have been the wiser, I'm sure.

Since I only wore it when I was at home and forgot to put it on some days, I wondered if I would see results.

The answer: I did!

When I measured my hips at the end of the 8 weeks, they were TWO inches narrower. Woo hoo! That's pretty significant, no?

Now, that's great and proof that Shrinkx Hips works. BUT -- and this is a definite but, here -- you don't see full results just by using the belt. I'm very active (started running two weeks after my son was born) and I have been fairly good about eating well. To date, I've lost about 25 of the 34 pounds I gained while pregnant. So, some of my smaller size is due to my weight loss. Because I still have some weight to lose, though, I can see the extra padding around the midsection, right above where Shrinkx Hips has narrowed my hips. So, for the full effect of the product to be realized you need to lose all the extra weight.

However, I like that my hips are back to where they should be. I can get rid of the extra padding (I hope!) and then I'll be all set.

Right now, you can purchase Shrinkx Hips from Upspring Baby for $43.99. That's 20% off the regular price. You can find other online retailers HERE. If you're pregnant, I recommend this for after you give birth. If you're not, it would make a good gift for a friend -- just be sure you don't make her feel like you've noticed her wider hips!

Review disclosure: I received one free Shrinkx Hips belt for review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Genesis Today review and contest.

I had never heard of Genesis Today until I was contacted to review this new "superfruit" juice. Superfruit? Yup, superfruit. Genesis Today makes superfruit juices, which are, according to founder and CEO Dr. Lindsey Duncan, "beverages with purpose -- juices created with more antioxidants and vitamins than ever before and made with unique fruits and natural compounds like Acai, Goji berry and Resveratrol."

(Learn more about superfruits on the Genesis Today site.)

Here's a little bit about Dr. Lindsey and Genesis Today:

Dr. Lindsey Duncan is a Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Nutritionist, who has been a trusted leader in the natural health products industry since 1983. After leading a successful nutrition practice in Santa Monica and logging over 40,000 hours of clinical experience, Dr. Lindsey wanted to do more. Dr. Lindsey has brought the superior, customized nutrition he had given his celebrity clients to everyone in America because he believes that no matter what your financial situation or your exercise routine, you deserve to be healthier, now.


ANTI-OXIDANTS. PRO-NUTRIENTS. Every Genesis Today product is packed with so many nutrients, minerals and antioxidants that just one serving a day is all you need to start meeting your health goals. Genesis Today’s Superfruit juices are available in three flavors: Acai Berry, Cranberry Goji, and Pomegranate & Berries with Resveratrol. Genesis Today wants you to switch out your morning glass of orange juice for a healthier option. Try it now and feel the difference.

Sounds pretty interesting, yes? I thought so. I mean, I'm all about the healthier option. I tried the Cranberry Goji juice, actually my son and I tried it. If there is juice around, my 3 year old wants in. So, I shared the taste test with him.

I have to be honest -- I don't think I like the flavor of goji. Cranberry is one of my favorites but, for some reason, the Cranberry Goji juice tasted a little odd to me. I blame the gojis!

My son, on the other hand, loved it. His take: "It's delicious! It's sour just like cranberry juice!"

And he was right. It had a distinct cranberry flavor, but it was marred (to me) by the goji. Now, having said that, I decided to drink the rest of the bottle of juice after a tempo run and really enjoyed it. It tasted refreshingly tart and it was . . . well, it was refreshing. So, maybe for me this would be more of a recovery/post-run type of drink.


The juice contains tons of vitamins including 200% of the daily value of vitamin C, 100% DV of vitamin B6 and 1000% DV of vitamin B12 per serving. It also contains 100mg of sea minerals, 10,000mg of goji. So, it packs a healthy punch!

Genesis Today juices are available at Walmart, Sam's Club and on Amazon.

Genesis Today Contest

If you'd like to try out the supefruit juices, you can enter to win a 3-month supply of Genesis Today products, along with a personal health consultation from Dr. Lindsey Duncan. Yeah, I know. Pretty cool! Here are the details:

ENTER TODAY FOR A HEALTHIER TOMORROW!

Genesis Today will choose one lucky Grand Prize winner to receive the “Ask Dr. Lindsey – Prize Pack.” This will include a personal health consultation from Dr. Lindsey Duncan himself suited to your specific health and nutritional needs and will include a three (3) month supply of Genesis Today products – a $600 value. Second Place will receive a three (3) month supply of Genesis Today Superfruit juices, and 25 Runners up will receive a free bottle of Genesis Today Superfruit juices.

Enter now at: http://genesistoday.emgpromotions.com/

The contest ends December 20th so go now! Enter away. And good luck!

Review disclosure: I was sent one bottle of juice for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are my own.