I can’t believe it’s been a year already since I launched Motherhood on the Rocks. When I started this blog, it was more of a journal to get my frustrations out before I imploded. You know…when you’re already frazzled and your kids are having a fit because you won’t let them ride the dog like a horse.
The secondary reason was to have a creative outlet. I spent 10 years in public relations and spent a lot of time writing, planning campaigns and jetting off to fun cities for events. Now as a stay at home mom, I’m lucky to shower and get out of my jammies. And let’s face it, toddlers are full of creative ideas, but there are only so many times each day that you can eat fake ice cream and dance to the hot dog song.
So here we are, exactly one year later and Motherhood on the Rocks has far exceeded my expectations. I’ve met some great people, people I consider friends now, and learned a lot – like just because you can write and just because you spent a decade promoting brands, doesn’t mean you can blog and doesn’t really help you when promoting a mommy blog in a sea of other incredible bloggers. In other words, I knew squat about blogging. Thankfully I met some of those incredible bloggers who were gracious enough to show me the ropes.
One year, 277 blog entries, more than 3,500 comments, and many laughs (and tears) later, I’m incredibly thankful to all of my readers and those who supported me through this amazing journey. So I rallied together some of my favorite companies, who were kind enough to give away some birthday gifts to my fans. Check out what they so generously offered to give below.
A big thank you to the following for their support!
Pro Home Stores – I had the pleasure of working with Pro Home Stores on a review of their bean bag chairs what seems like a million years ago. Ever since, I’ve been a huge fan! Their products are unique and of great quality. Our bean bag chair has not only survived months with a rambunctious 2 year old, but it still looks brand new. I should note that Bean Bag Chair Pros is just one of several sites in the Pro Home Stores network, which includes specialty sites like Ventless Fireplace Pros, Water Fountain Pros, and others – all very unique products at decent prices.
Pretzel Crisps – I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, (MUCH? I can put away candy like nobody’s business!), but rather a “salty tooth.” I crave crunchy, salty snacks, especially pretzels and chips. Open a bag on Pretzel Crisps and you know you have the best of both worlds. Plus there’s a flavor for every palate. From Original to Buffalo Wing to Tuscan Three Cheese, these tasty treats are lighter and healthier than your average chip. But sweet tooths, don’t despair. You can also find Pretzel Crisps in Cinnamon Toast and special holiday editions, including Dark Chocolate & Peppermint and White Chocolate & Peppermint.
Scary Mommy – Scary Mommy like many bloggers started her own blog as a way to document her new role as a mom. But she is no ordinary mommy blogger. Her blog attracts hundreds of thousands of harried mommies and dads who just need a laugh, feel compelled to confess a mommy sin or want to talk with other mothers about the banalities of life. She even finds time to give back with Scary Mommy Nation – a non-profit that takes donations to give needy families. Whether you follow her blog or not, you have to read her book Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood. When you’ve finally dried your tears from laughing, go pre-order her newest masterpiece Motherhood Comes Naturally (and Other Vicious Lies).
Herr’s – Like I said earlier, I’m crave crunchy and salty snacks and Herr’s chips fit the bill. When I want to indulge, you can’t get much better than their line of delicious snacks. Aside from a huge line of unique chip flavors (Kansas City Prime Steak, Fireman’s BBQ Chicken and Baby Back Ribs, just to name a few), Herr’s also broke the mold with their Popped Chips and Snack Friez. Not to be outdone, you can also find various styles of pretzels, including Peanut Butter Filled, popcorn, cheese curls, tortilla chips, pork rinds and onion rings. Oh yeah! They make onion rings! You can find their complete product line up on their website! But first you might want to wipe the drool off your keyboard!
Copy-Kids – You know how you want your kids to eat their vegetables, but they turn their nose up at anything with a little bit of color? Copy-Kids to the rescue! Copy-Kids’ unique and innovative content, including DVDs, TV and online programs, encourages kids to build healthy habits by copying other kids. Their first DVD, launched in 2012, focuses on the importance of fruits and vegetables and features kids from 9 months to 4 years. It’s a simple and fun way to teach children about healthy eating.
Shrinking on a Budget – You know how you’re living on a budget (yeah, you know), yet you want to feed your family healthy meals. Seems impossible right? Well Shrinking on a Budget found a way to make that dream a reality. Shrinking on a Budget has you covered with delicious, picky-eater approved, figure-friendly meals you’ll have on the table faster than you can grab take-out. On a budget. Could she make your life any easier? Why yes, yes she does. The weekly meal plans not only details healthy and inexpensive meals, but also recipes and shopping lists saving you time, money and a whole lot of stress for only $1 a month. Tell her I sent you to get the special discount!
Pampered Chef – I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but my first experience with Pampered Chef wasn’t until I got married three years ago. One of our gifts was a basket from Pampered Chef filled with all kinds of goodies that make life in the kitchen a little easier and lot tastier. Needless to say I’m a huge fan! Check out Maribeth’s Pampered Chef page to see what they’ve got cooking!
ChicoBag – When you first have children, you happily carry around a purse and diaper bag. But then those cute little cooing babies turn into raging toddlers, and since the diaper bag days are long gone, you end up with a purse bursting at the seams with books, trucks, partially eaten lollipops, tissues…the list goes on and on. This is the reason I love ChicoBag so much. Their oversized, yet stylish bags help to alleviate some of the burden your purse’s zipper feels on a daily basis. It’s cute enough to use as your regular purse or for overnight stays at grammy’s house. Check them out. I know you’ll love them, too!
Tree Hut – When I was pregnant, I had a rather serious obsession with shea butter. I originally started to use it because the smell of cocoa butter made me nauseous, yet my skin was so itchy from all the stretching. I’ve always loved shea butter, but never truly appreciated how soft and smooth it made my skin feel until then. Tree Hut’s products, including lotions, washes and scrubs, all contain shea butter and come in a variety of yummy scents. My favorite is the tropical mango, which is infused with mango puree!
BetterBody Foods – Better Body Foods provides families with healthier yet more delicious meals with a line of products that includes Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Cold-Pressed Canola Oil, and Pure Organic Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla (from the island of Bourbon). The company’s main product is a natural sweetener called Xagave, which is a premier blend of blue and white agave nectar.
Funky Monkey Snacks – Funky Monkey Snacks are a line of freeze-dried fruit that are 100% natural, 100% real fruit, and 100% delicious – with 3 servings of fruit in each 1oz bag! Their snacks have no added colors, flavors, sugars, or preservatives and manufactured from fresh fruit, not frozen fruit. Plus they’re gluten-free and certified Kosher!
Boogie Wipes – As Boogie Wipes says, they’re “snot your average wipe!” Boogie Wipes are actually made with saline to help dissolve boogies. Plus they’re extra soft and come in scent kids will love, including Great Grape, Fresh Scent, Minty Menthol and Simply Unscented. Moms will love that they’re alcohol, phthalate and paraben free!
Pampers Kandoo – Kandoo offers a line of kid-friendly products, including hand soap, shampoo, body wash and hand sanitizer for kids. Fun and easy to use, Kandoo products are free of sulfates, parabens or phthalates and best of all, they smell great! Plus, the wipes are easy for little kids to open and flushable! No mess, no fuss, no worries!
Use the Rafflecopter (below) to be entered to win one of these 3 prize packs:
Prize Pack #1
Jaxx Club Jr. Chair (shown above)
Coupons for 2 Free Mrs. Smith’s Deep Dish Pies
Better Body Foods Gift Pack
Prize Pack #2
Tropical Mango Tree Hut Products, Including Body Wash, Lotion, Sugar Scrub and Body butter
A Variety Box of Herr’s Products
Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood
Copy-Kids DVD about Healthy Eating
Funky Monkey Snacks
Prize Pack#3
Pampered Chef’s 29 Minutes to Dinner Cookbook
7 Flavors of Deli Style Pretzel Crisps
One Year Subscription to Shrinking on a Budget’s Meal Plan
Timeless Daisy Chain Bag from ChicoBag (shown above)
2 Packs of Boogie Wipes and 1 pack of Kandoo Wipes, plus 1 Kandoo Hand Soap or Sanitizer
Cingrats! And thanks so much for the great giveaway!
Oh congrats on making it a year! According to statistics, many mommy blogs start and die out before that first year mark, so congrats on your big milestone!! It really is due to many amazing bloggers that I’ve been able to make it past my year mark too. Their help has been invaluable. It’s such a great feeling to reach 1 year isn’t it?
It really is! I also heard that many don’t make it past a year. It’s not an easy job, that’s for sure.
Happy Birthday and Congrats on 1 year!!!!!! I LOVE your blog and I am so lucky to network with you! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Congratulations on the year!!!
Congrats on the year! So excited for u! These r awesome prizes. Hope I win one!
Congratulations!!
Happy Bloggy Birthday!
Happy 1 year! That’s so cool 🙂 I so enjoy you and your blog and thanks for putting so much work into creating such a great giveaway. Go celebrate one year of Motherhood on the Rocks!
Thanks for the awesome giveaways! Congrats on your 1st anniversary! <3
Thanks for all the warm bloggy birthday wishes! I’m so blessed to have such great readers!
Congrats!!
Thank you!