There are few things that I honestly love more than a great massage, and a FREE massage is even better. We’re giving away a prenatal massage to one lucky pregnant person near Evansville. If you are currently pregnant and living within driving distance of Evansville, IN, this giveaway is for you! The other awesome point of this giveaway is to help expecting parents in and around Evansville connect via social media. We want to help put the social back in social media & to help expecting parents feel less lonely too. Sound interesting? Read below for the rules to enter!
Why Massage?
Self-care is incredibly important all the time, but especially when you are pregnant. Growing another human is hard on your body, and not just because of the kicks to the internal organs. Massage is an excellent way to not only care for your body, but also to help turn your mind away from your worries and the demands of your life. Massage can help you connect with your body and the present moment too. The benefits of a massage with a skilled practitioner for a pregnant body are honestly phenomenal. We’re giving away one 60 minute prenatal massage with the marvelous Christina Renock (who also happens to be one of our amazing postpartum doulas). Christina has been practicing massage therapy for 10 years! This massage is an $80 value & you could get it for FREE just by entering our giveaway!
***This post contains affiliate links, and we will get a small fee if you click through & make a purchase. This is not our plan for getting rich, rather a small reward for referring you to awesome products that we love and highly recommend.***
Restless legs syndrome might sound like some annoying made-up thing for selling drugs, but it is actually a common problem in pregnancy. So what is it exactly? How many pregnant people does it actually effect? Is there anything you can do about it? I’m here to tell you that there’s hope for help, even if this is just a transient pregnancy annoyance.
Restless Leg Syndrome
Up to 34% of pregnant people get it! People describe it as feeling like their legs are itchy, creepy-crawly, or even burning and the only way to make it go away is to move them. It often happens in the middle of the night, waking you from sleep, which is why it really stinks in pregnancy. The reason it happens is not entirely clear, with theories ranging from deficiencies in iron or folic acid to imbalances of dopamine or estrogen. Whatever reason it happens, it is honestly just not fun.
Personal Perspective
My husband gets restless legs, especially after he has a soccer game! His legs jerk so hard that it shakes the bed, and I honestly have contemplated getting twin beds like 50s sitcoms sometimes or making him sleep somewhere else on nights that he has had soccer games. After doing a little research about things that can help RLS, I FINALLY convinced him to start using this unscented lotion on his legs before bed. It has made such a difference! I am a much nicer person when I get my sleep, and my husband is happy because we still get to keep our Queen sized bed (for now).
8 Sheep Organics
Beyond just lotion, 8 Sheep products like their sleepy lotion, “unwind” pillow mist, & organic bedtime tea all can help your bedtime routine for settling down at the end of a long day. There truly is something about a routine that trains our minds that it is time for calm and rest, and your olfactory senses are the most effective triggers of memories. These smells can trigger your brain to relax and know that it is time to chill.
If you aren’t pregnant, but are looking for a sweet gift for that pregnant person in your life, they also have this Sweet Slumber Gift Set that includes all of the above 3 products at a discounted price. This is a sweet reminder for the pregnant people in your life that they are also important!
So if you or someone you know is having symptoms of restless leg syndrome, trying out some of this lotion might be a great help. I have 3 samples of this lavender scented lotion to giveaway if you want to try it out, so please message me if you are interested! Send us a message and we’ll get you a sample! It smells great and might just help you get a little more rest.
March is Women’s Small Business Month, and what better way
to continue the celebration than by promoting another amazing woman owned small
business? I don’t even want to get in the way of Ashley the fabulous owner, so
here she is in her own words:
My name is Ashley Scheller and I’m the owner of Fox Tot
Trends. I have two adorable kids under the age of 3 and a loving husband that
is my biggest supporter. Between attempting to leave on time and getting two
kids in and out of the car, I decided to stop wrestling with coats and make car
seat ponchos. I dusted off my sewing machine and soon discovered an underlying
passion – making trendy, yet practical apparel for little ones. I opened shop
in November of 2018 and have now sold all across the country. It has become a
refreshing creative outlet in the midst of crazy mom life.
There are so many things I love about my job! I had never
thought of myself as the business type, but it is so much fun being creative
and thinking like an entrepreneur. I love coming up with new designs and
bringing them to fruition. The best part of my job, though, is when I hear that
the kids love their new clothes as much as their parents do. It seriously makes
my day!
I wish people knew that I sincerely strive to deliver
products that are high quality. A lot of thought goes into each item before
it’s even made. It’s important to me to study, know, and follow all the rules
and regulations concerning making products for children. Many people are
unaware, but everything I make from clothes to toys to even burp cloths has to
be tested for things like lead, flammability, phthalates, and other hazards.
Before anything leaves my shop, I make sure it is top-notch so that customers
are fully satisfied.
Managing a family is always tough, but now that I have added
a business to the mix I find time management to be even more of a challenge. It
can be difficult when I get a big rush of orders, but then it is also rewarding
when I accomplish more than I thought I could! I do my best to prioritize the
things that are most important without neglecting my responsibilities.
Thankfully, I have a great support-network.
My favorite thing about living in the tri-state area is all
the delicious food that is available to us! My husband and I enjoy trying new
restaurants and supporting local eateries. We like to pretend we are foodies.
Fox Tot Trends can be found on Facebook and Instagram (@foxtottrends). We have our own business page where you can reach me directly as well as get sneak peeks of new merchandise and exclusive offers. You can also visit our shop directly at https://foxtottrends.etsy.com
What you could win:
Hedgehog Baby Gift Set – Who can resist these adorable hedgehogs? This set makes a perfect gender-neutral gift for a mother to be or a new baby! The set comes with a soft, high quality cotton layette gown (0-3m), a crinkle toy, and two absorbent burp cloths. The layette gown has an elastic band at the bottom making those late-night diaper changes quick and easy. The crinkle toy keeps baby engaged through the senses and is great for development. The burp cloths feature a flannel print on the top and a terry cloth backing, absorbing messes easily and keeping baby and mom clean. This set is valued at $46.
Rules for entry:
You must like both Doula Group of Evansville and Fox Tot Trends on Facebook or Instagram to be eligible to win.
You will receive one entry for a comment on each post about the giveaway with a maximum of 5 entries per participant. One comment per post per participant will qualify you for one entry. (Gosh I hope that makes sense.)
The prize must be picked up in person by the winner, so you should probably be fairly local to the Evansville area or at least willing to drive here to pick it up. If you aren’t local, you can still shop at Fox Trot Trends online store!
Must be 18 to enter & a Facebook/Instagram user, as winner will be notified via social media.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored by, associated with, or run by Facebook or Instagram or any other entity other than Fox Tot Trends & Doula Group of Evansville.
The deadline to enter this giveaway is NOON Saturday March 30th.
We will do a live drawing for the giveaway on the Doula Group
of Evansville Instagram page at 4pm Saturday March 30th, so get to entering!
As a doula, I get asked all the time about places to shop while preparing for the arrival of a new baby, and the first place I always like to send clients is Little Ants! Not only is the owner Katie Field an amazingly knowledgeable person about breastfeeding and baby wearing, but she also has some really awesome products that you can’t find anywhere else in the tri-state. I love to support local businesses whenever possible, and Katie makes it easy with all kinds of great products and excellent customer service professionals who know what they are talking about because they have actually used the products.
Are you thinking about baby wearing but worried about which carrier might work best for you?
Go to Little Ants and they will help you try on different carrier
to find which one works for you, your baby, and your budget. You can even rent
them for a trip, and if you decide to purchase it later, they will apply your
rental payment toward your purchase. How cool is that??
Curious about cloth diapering, but don’t know where to start?
Little Ants has you and your baby’s butt covered! Can we mention that Katie also owns and operates the Happy Heiny cloth diaper company?? She might be magic you guys!
From the Owner:
I was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Evansville via Urbana, IL in 2008. I began Little Ants in 2000 six months after my oldest was born. As I began raising my first child, I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of mother baby togetherness. The store grew out of that love. I longed to create a work environment that allowed moms to work alongside their children all while emphasizing items that were made with just wages and dignity of the worker in mind.
Katie & 2 of her adorable kids!
What is your favorite thing about your job?
I really love being able to help families in their journey
through parenthood. From the early days
of helping finding the perfect baby carrier to later days of finding the
perfect toy that inspires the child to learn and grow while preserving their
creativity and maintaining interest through the childs growth. I also love seeing how much my children have
learned by being a part of this business from day 1.
What
do you wish people knew about your business?
The importance of play in childhood is a major emphasis of
our store. I wish more people
appreciated how developmentally important play is, how important open ended
toys are to creativity, and how much further money stretches when you buy
quality toys made to be played with for years. That being a small local boutique doesn’t mean
you pay premium prices, it means you get premium service at the same price as
elsewhere. We are here to serve our
customers.
What
is the most stressful thing about your job?
The struggle to stay afloat.
In the day and age of tablets for two year olds and internet purchases
for moms, it can be tough to keep paying the bills.
What
is your favorite thing about living in the tri-state area?
I love how welcome children are in Evansville. It was the first thing that struck me when I
moved here and I still appreciate it today.
This is becoming less true throughout many areas of country. I love how many places my kids are treated with
respect.
Where
can people find you if they want to learn more about Little Ants?
Our address is 2820 Lincoln Ave Evansville, IN 47714 or
online at www.littleants.com
Want to win a super cool basket of stuff from Little Ants??
Here’s what you could win:
Sweet Baby Callum (only 7 days old) & his boppy are not included in the giveaway, but everything else in this picture is!!!
Here’s what you can win: S’well bottle, the cuddliest pig ever from The Manhattan Toy Company, a hand-dyed swaddling blanket made from bamboo by the Austin tie-dye company, Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit, Sweet tooth baby teether shaped like an ice cream cone, and a beautiful chewable necklace…
And the BIG thing that will probably get most of you excited is a:
TULA FREE TO GROW!!!!
Thank you so much Ellen for allowing me to come take pictures of you only 1 week postpartum!!! You are so beautiful & such a wonderful advocate for birth, babywearing, and breastfeeding in our community! You can read more about the TULA Free to Grow here at this link.
The Tula Free to Grow is an amazing carrier that is fully adjustable, ergonomic, and has variable width and height settings to customize its fit to your growing baby. This innovative, no fuss design does not require an infant insert and can be used beginning at 7lbs, and it is soo very cool that I almost wish I was going to have another baby!!
This carrier is so versatile that she could have used it for her newborn OR her 2 year old OR her 4 year old!! The 6 year old might be a little big for it though. (BTW: Ellen IS actually magical in case you were wondering!)
3 Steps to enter to win:
1. Like Doula Group of Evansville and Little Ants, Inc on Facebook 2. Like Little Ants, Inc and Doula Group of Evansville on Instagram. 3. Comment on this post with which item in the basket you are most excited to win!
I’ll put all the names in a bowl and have a live drawing on Sunday March 3rd on the Doula Group of Evansville Instagram page, so be on the lookout for the announcement. Don’t worry though, I will contact you via messenger if you win too. I promise I don’t need this stuff and am really excited to give it away!!
Rules:
-Basket full of stuff must be picked up in person by the winner, so you should probably be fairly local to the Evansville area or at least willing to drive here to Little Ants to pick it up from me. If you aren’t local, you can still shop at their online store!
-Must be 18 to enter & a Facebook user, as winner will
be notified via Facebook.
-This giveaway is in no way sponsored by, associated with, or run by Facebook or Instagram or any other entity other than Little Ants & Doula Group of Evansville
-DEADLINE to enter is Saturday March 2nd by noon!
Can we also mention that starting tomorrow there is a SALE at Little Ants????
Seriously, go check out these deals!!
I am SOOO excited to give away this basket of hand-picked stuff! Special thanks also goes out to Chrystal Mehringer who helped me pick out all these lovely things that we both agreed we would want if we were expecting. She’s just one of the super knowledgeable staff members are Little Ants, and a friend of mine too.
