Features | Momma Go Round

Blogging Around The Christmas Tree

December 7, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 3 Comments

Christmas time, while undoubtedly the most stressful time of year, it’s totally my favorite. I’m not a huge holiday decorations, festivities, hoopla kinda person, so Christmas is the one time I actually haul out the decorations and get festive!

We finally busted out our awesomely fake tree, shatter proof ornaments, and Fisher Price nativity set the other night and set up Christmas. The occasion totally called for dressing up, or something like that.

I even busted out the boots I bought last year and haven’t worn much since. I was still too afraid of skinnier pants to wear them much, and this year I’ve been too obsessed with my new ones. I forgot how much I like these, though I have zero idea what website I got them from. The brand is Annie and they are wide shaft if you are looking

Dress: Anthropologie, Sweater: Fourth & Towne (no longer exists), Tank: Shade Clothing, Necklace: Gift, Boots: Annie

Speaking of Christmas trees (you know you love that cheesy transition!), I’m so excited to share that I’m taking part in Blogging Around the Christmas Tree hosted by the awesome Abbie of Five Days, Five Ways!

Each day has a fabulous post and linky party that you can share your post on too! I’ve been sick and MIA for the last few days, so I didn’t get a chance to announce the beautiful Christmas Card party going on over at 36th Avenue yesterday!

Learn to make this adorable Christmas card, link up your Christmas cards, and be sure to check out Desiree’s amazing post today showing off her beautiful decorations!

Up TODAY is my girl Cori from La Vie Petite teaching us how to accessorize for the holidays!!!

Could she be any more amazing? Go check out these amazing posts, link up yours, and join us in getting ready for Christmas!!!

Filed Under: Features, Fun, Outfits, Style

Smurftastic!

December 2, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round Leave a Comment

La, la, la la, la la

Stuck in your head now too? hehe

The Smurfs….my childhood favorite. Ranking right up there with Rainbow Bright and Strawberry Shortcake, The Smurfs were a can’t miss show for me as a kid. Of course Smurfette was always my favorite, but Papa Smurf was a close second

A few days ago, I got to share my favorite with my little favorite when LJ and I were invited down to the Sony Pictures lot to celebrate the release of The Smurfs on DVD and BluRay TODAY!

LJ wasn’t doing so well sitting for long periods when The Smurfs were in theaters, so this was really his first exposure to the loveable little blue guys. I think he likes them…

These guys certainly earned their Smurfberries with how many hugs they had to give that day!

When LJ wasn’t busy being borderline creepo obsessed with The Smurfs, he had a total blast playing with the new Smurf-O-Vision!

Smurf-O-Vision is an amazing free app for the iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch that syncs with the movie for a second screen experience. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like it, and it was awesome! Smurfs appear to sing and dance along with the movie, but LJ’s favorite was all the fun activities like zapping Gargamel, popping popcorn, and stacking Smurfs into a huge dog pile. He had such a blast!

My favorite part of the day was getting to watch the all new The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol. Take the classic Christmas Carol story, smurf-ify it, and you end up with an adorable tale that everyone will love. You even get to relive the glory days with some classic Smurf animation

And then, there’s all The Smurf products….my 6 year old self is super jealous!

All kinds of amazing stocking stuffers! LJ’s favorites are the coloring book and the water bottle (cause it’s just like Daddy’s, only Smurf-ier), but we both agree on one thing…

SMURF SMELL ROCKS!!! Ok, it’s not really called Smurf Smell, but how else do you explain it to a 2 year old?

There’s six Smurfs Fragrances that come in these adorable milk cartons for each of your favorite Smurfs: Papa, Smurfette, Grouch, Guts, Clumsy, and Brainy (he’s a Smurf hunk in my eyes ). Brillantly, these eau de toilets are not super strong, so when your kid goes a little Smurf-crazy, you don’t want to pass out.

Judging by the kiddo watching The Smurfs, eating Smurf animal cookies, snuggling his Smurf, with water in his Smurf water bottle, I think it’s safe to say The Smurfs are no longer just my favorite, they’ve become our favorite!

You can make The Smurfs your family’s favorite with the release of The Smurfs on DVD and BluRay TODAY!

Filed Under: Adventures, Features, Fun, Life

Nourish Your Body

November 21, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 73 Comments

Looking back, I used to take horrible care of myself. I’d stay up way too late, eat whatever I felt like, rarely wear sunscreen, burn the candle at both ends….just go, go go!

I think I’m only now understanding how quickly life goes, and how important it is to take care of ourselves and our bodies. We only get one, so we better be good to it! Even as a crazy busy mom, I’m trying to fit in time to nourish myself. Long walks, read more books, eat more salad, get more sleep, and my favorite guilty pleasure, Chinese foot massage.

While these all are great, they aren’t all possible each day. But one thing is: a long, hot, quiet shower with Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Wash.

I’ve mentioned before that I have rather dry skin…and that I’m pretty bad at taking care of it. Most body washes leave me walking, if not running, for a bottle of lotion as soon as I get out of the shower. Just what a busy momma needs, another step. From the first shower, Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Wash proved to be king of the shower, and left the others in the dry dust!

Seriously, my search for the perfect body wash is over. It’s rich lather makes it so I don’t have to use shaving cream, and it’s hydrating enough to let me eliminate lotion altogether. Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Washis nourishing for my body, time, and my wallet!

Beautiful Winter Hair {With Head & Shoulders

November 21, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 86 Comments

During the winter, if you could call it that here in LA, I have a not-so-glamorous secret…itchy scalp. The cold, windy weather wreaks havoc on my scalp. It’s not exactly a stylish look to be itching my head as I walk down the street. It makes me miss my soft, hydrated, itch-free hair of the summer months!

When I heard about new Head & Shoulders Eucalyptus Itchy Scalp Care, I was cautiously optimistic. While I would love to find a solution to winter dryness, could Head & Shoulders, a drug store brand, actually be the solution?

I’d never really thought of using Head & Shoulders because it’s a dandruff shampoo, and I don’t really have dandruff. But the itch, oh the itch, I have that! So a shampoo and conditioner made just to take care of my itchy winter scalp, now that is something I can get excited about!

At first I will admit, I was a little concerned. Thick, creamy, white shampoo came pouring out of the bottle that first shower. While I have an itchy scalp, I have oily hair (how that makes sense I will never know.) I was afraid that this thick formula was going to leave my scalp better, but my hair looking like more of an oily mess. Then, to pile on conditioner after…was I crazy?

I couldn’t have been more wrong! The rich, thick shampoo lathered like a dream, while the conditioner left my scalp feeling hydrated and gloriously un-itchy! But the best surprise…soft, hydrated, fluffy hair. No sign of an oily mess or being weighed down from too much hydration. These two are the perfect combo.

Bring it on winter!

The only thing I didn’t love was the smell. It definitely isn’t a medicated or chemical smell, but it’s something I’m unfamiliar with and not sure I love. Not good, not bad, just different. Whatever it is, it didn’t linger on my hair once washed out, and it was totally worth it for the fabulous hair and scalp I was left with. This winter I’m saying “so long” to expensive shampoos and conditioners. Adios itch. See ya later dry scalp! New Head & Shoulders Eucalyptus Itchy Scalp Care is here to stay!

How do you change your beauty routine in the colder winter season from the warmer seasons? Leave me a comment to be entered for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card, courtesy of BlogHer!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 11/21/11 – 12/22/11

Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Want more great tips for winter hair care? Check out the newest “Looking Your Best” post in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com.

Filed Under: Features, Fun, Giveaways

Well What Do I Do With This Now??? {Summer to Fall Fashion Week}

August 30, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 4 Comments

Fall….aaaaahhhh. Just the name makes me all giddy.

Sweaters. Boots. Pants. Temperatures that only have 2 digits. Glorious!

One slight problemo. What do I do with all the awesome summer clothes I’ve collected this year?

I’ve never really had this issue. Frankly, I never really gave a hoot what I looked like during the summer. My goal was to simply survive the heat with as little thigh chub rub as possible. I was pretty darn happy to chuck anything that resembled summer wear into the back of my closet and pray that summer would come more slowly next year.

No more my friends! It’s time we take our summer wardrobe and bring it into fall. That’s why next week is…

A few fabulous ladies will be helping all of us transition our summer staples into great fall fashions! Love, Ramsey, The Hotness Your Momma Warned You About, The House of Shoes, Sunday Crossbow, and Peace, Love & Applesauce will be here. I may get a little too excited everyday to read these ladies awesome posts, and I can’t wait to share them with you!

All this fall fashion fun starts Monday with a special edition of Real Momma, Real Style

***The PSA Essentials custom peel and stick stamp giveaway ends tomorrow! Don’t miss out!***

Filed Under: Features, Fun, Style, Tips

True Talent

May 4, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 6 Comments

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Whatever IT is, this girl’s got it!

via

Amanda Ply will rock your world!

Last night the hubs braved the Dodger game with LJ on his own so I could catch Amanda’s show at The Mint! It was the first time since her release party last summer that I’ve been able to get away to see one of her shows.

Please excuse the killer photo. Cell phone pic in a dark club with my parentals attempting to work my phone…nuff said.

AND IT WAS PURE AWESOMNESS!

Her new songs are amazing! Think Carrie Underwood meets Kelly Clarkson meets kicks the trash out of all of them! Not to mention she played the keyboard standing up in 4 inch hot momma heels. Really? I would have eaten it trying to walk, let alone play.

If you haven’t heard Amanda yet, you have to check out her video for what she calls “her anthem”…I Will Love Who I Want To. I swear LJ will be singing this song on the way to pre-school.

You can grab seven of Amanda’s songs on iTunes now! Trust me, you want to jump on her bandwagon

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Filed Under: Features, Fun

Old Navy Wants YOU!!!!

April 21, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 7 Comments

SO many of you have asked me how you can get in on all the awesome Old Navy freebies that I’ve gotten!

Ankle Jeans

Spring Maxi Dress

Well now YOU can too!!! OLD NAVY WANTS YOU!!!

Click on the button above to sign up to host an Old Navy Spring Accessory Party with your friends! What could be better than awesome Old Navy accessories and your best girl friends???

Um, NOTHING!

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Filed Under: Features, Fun

A Meal In The Mail

January 26, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 5 Comments

In my church, the women’s organization is ALWAY there when someone is in need. One of the most helpful services we provide is meals. Sick, just gave birth, death in the family, fallen upon hard times….meals are arranged.

My girl, Big Fat Mama from Cooking Up Faith, has come up with a wonderful idea to bring this concept to families in need….no matter where they are or what they believe.

Big Fat Mama shares on her blog the beautiful story of how A Meal In The Mail began: “A Meal in the Mail Ministry started when I decided to find a way to use my blog to help others.”

He has given you the whole world to use, and life and even death are your servants. He has given you all of the present and all of the future. All are yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ is God’s.

1 Corinthians 3:22,23

This month, two deserving families are highlighted for us to send some love to.

This is Joanne. On January 11th Joanne, 38, suffered a major stroke. She is in the hospital now in a coma. She has a husband, Toben, and two daughters Audrey and Emma.

This is Joel. Nine months ago Joel had a Medulloblasta cancerous tumor removed.

If you would like to help by sending gift cards for restaurants, grocery stores, or simply cash, or to learn how to become or nominate a featured family, please visit Cooking Up Faith with Big Fat Mama.

Because sometimes a good meal is just what’s needed.

Filed Under: Features

Do YOU Have a Secret?

January 4, 2011 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 4 Comments

Is there something you haven’t told anyone?

Scared.
Afraid.
Ashamed.
Embarassed.

You AREN’T alone!

After the FLOOD of secrets that Ashley from Little Miss Momma received during her secrets week, she realized how many of us have them. Something that we are hiding that we are dying to get off our chest.

Her new blog, Sisterhood of Secrets, is just that place. Share your story, get support, or find others who understand.

Share your name or be annonymous. Tell it all, or just what you need to. Sisterhood of Secrets is a safe place for us girls to find help, find support, and find our voice.

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Filed Under: Features, Fun

Candles for a Chemo

December 10, 2010 By Nina @ Momma Go Round 3 Comments

I wish with all my heart I didn’t have to write this post.

I wish that these candles never had to be made.

I wish that my bloggy girl Tay didn’t need chemo.

But when life stinks, Tay decides to make it smell pretty.

Tay is selling these awesome homemade soy candles in literally a million scents to help pay for her chemo. 8oz and 22oz candles are now available on her blog The Undomestic Momma and in her Etsy shop. Next week she’ll have Scentsy bricks available too!

I can’t wait to get creme brulee since it’s BSB’s favorite dessert ever!

As we celebrate this holiday season, let’s take a moment to remember what’s important.

Family

Friends

Health

Let’s get together and help Tay know that she has friends who care and wish her nothing but health!