Did you know?! At Del Taco, all menu items are prepared to order using fresh ingredients including cheddar cheese grated from 40-pound blocks, hand-made pico de gallo salsa featuring ripe tomatoes, diced onions and fresh cilantro, lard-free beans slow cooked from scratch with Del Taco’s signature flavor, and marinated chicken grilled in the restaurants.

On May 8th and 15th, Del Taco will introduce Free Food Wednesdays from 3 – 9 pm. One item from the Buck & Under menu free with any purchase!

The Buck & Under Menu features a variety of tacos, burritos and drinks totaling 11 items for 50¢, 75¢ and $1. This includes a Mini Cheddar, Mini Bacon Quesadilla and a Crunchy Chipotle Beef Taco – all new products. Other menu items include a Value Bean & Cheese Burrito, Jacked Up Value Bean, Rice & Cheese Burrito, Grilled Chicken Taco, ½-Pound Bean & Cheese Burrito, Double Beef Classic Taco, Strawberry Lemonade with real strawberry slices and Medium Size Brewed Iced Tea.

“Our new menu has given our current fans a new reason to believe in all that we have to offer at Del Taco,” said John Cappasola, Chief Brand Officer at Del Taco. “And, we’re seeing new customers giving us a try and finding out how positively different Del Taco is from everything else that is out there.”

Giveaway:

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I absolutely LOVE it when companies step in and do good.

A friend and I co- lead a Girl Scout Troop locally. Their last year of Brownies is coming to an end and we really wanted to commemorate all the awesome things the girls have done over the years. Unfortunately our budget to fulfill this wish just wasn’t there. I contacted Shutterfly about possibly doing a review of some photo books- and they granted our wish! Not one, but 10 awesome photo books designed and personalized beautifully!

We received ten hardcover 8×8 books which normally start at $29.99. A great deal for a special way to capture memories. We had so many pictures of the girls from over the years, it was truly hard to choose. Luckily there were so many great layouts for the pages, that choosing was made easy. If I wanted to place 1 picture on a page or 10, I could.

Here are some other details about the Shutterfly photo book process that I LOVED:

• The photo editing is all done online– no downloading a program!
• There were 100′s of backgrounds and fun little images to use to make the book extra special and more scrapbook like. Some were included in the basic photo book cost, others were more exclusive and cost a little bit more.
• Loved being able to write a note to the girls on the last page! Not only can you insert page layouts with pictures, but text layouts as well!
• You could get your photo book in Matte or Glossy– Your choice!
• Each book comes with 20 pages– more than enough for our memory book! You can purchase more pages for a great additional price too!

I truly hope the girls love their books and cherish them for years to come!

Right now on Shutterfly.com there is a special offers page– check them out! There are sooo many great gifts on there– think Mother’s Day people!

Follow Shutterfly on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest! Don’t forget Mama Must Have It too!

Disclaimer: A HUGE THANK YOU to Shutterfly for the 10 photo books– it was awesome! All opinions expressed are exclusively mine. I received this product for free from Shutterfly. 

Right before Easter, my daughters had the great thrill to pick out some Spring time favorites from Gymboree. It was a long afternoon…. they have soooo many cute things!

I always turn to Gymboree for my daughters due to a couple facts:

• Quality and Durability- you can’t beat being able to purchase something from Gymboree, wash it a couple hundred times, then be able to pass it along to a younger sibling. The clothes wash beautifully, hold their colors, do not pill, stay the right size (no shrinkage)… can’t beat that!
• Appropriate for their ages– I don’t know if you have looked at the girl clothing sections in most stores lately, but it’s frightening. Low rise this and low cut that– they are making our young children into sexual objects at younger and younger ages. I do not find this at all with Gymboree. Their clothes are modest, yet still cute and stylish where my 8-going-on-16-year-old still likes to wear them.

My daughters picked out two dresses and matching headbands, and I picked out a sweet little number for my newborn that matched.

The three dresses, a bathing suit, the two headbands and tights all came in under $100. I think that is pretty darn good for quality and cuteness!

You can follow Gymboree on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for all the up and coming kids fashion trends! Plus win win win– here here here!

Giveaway:

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Juicing and smoothies are all the rage lately. They are all over Pinterest. Recipes using veggies, super fruits, exotic bugs from the jungle… okay maybe not bugs… but there are sooo many different recipes and brands out there that claim to be “the best ever” — what’s a girl to do?!

Enter Sambazon! I was thrilled to try out the newest juices and smoothies from Sambazon (through #momsmeet) Found at your local grocery store and made with “premium quality whole food Amazon plants and fruits that deliver the highest bio-available nutrition.”

I tried three different Sambazon Juices. The Acai’ (the original superfood juice), Acai’ with Strawberry and Banana Supefood Smoothie, and lastly Acai’ with Blueberry and Pomegranate Superfood juice blend. All were easy to drink, definitely sweet (I drank them over the course of a few hours due to the sweetness), smooth, and tasted like it was good for you.

I like that the juices and smoothies are packed with antioxidants and healthy Omega 3′s, 6′s and 9′s. Omega’s are hard to find in smoothies and juices- especially ones you purchase and do not make yourself.

I LOVE that Sambazon are NON-GMO, USDA organic, Vegan,  and gluten free.

Sambazon retails for $2.99– a pretty good deal for a healthy snack or breakfast on the go! You can find Samabazon online at Sambazon.com or through Facebook.

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Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Mom’s Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media LLC or the manufacturer. 

With their sweet actions, reactions, mannerisms, and overall presence in our lives – little ones color our world BEAUTIFUL each and every day – and Pampers aims to celebrate that with their upcoming 30-day Facebook promotion.  Starting on Monday, April 29th, Pampers is kicking off the season of Spring with a celebration of the ways babies color our lives! Look for the special “Spring into Color” tab on Pampers Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pampers) for chances to win daily prizes– including Pampers wipes and diapers– And it doesn’t stop there; each entry will also enter you into the grand prize giveaway — a $5,000 gift card. Be sure to enter before the sweepstakes ends on May 28^th.

How about a little giveaway?
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Graduates have worked long and hard for their accomplishments, sometimes with very little help– they deserve a heart-felt gift that says “we see what you have done over the last four years and it’s amazing!” Graduates are facing a very difficult economy once they graduate; high school or college. Lighten their hearts and minds with a little token of “congratulations” by making a personalized gift through Shutterfly. They seriously make THE BEST gifts. Who doesn’t like a travel mug with their favorite picture on it?! Or perhaps a fleece photo blanket? Wait– can you imagine sending your loved one off to college with a warm fleece photo blanket? Ahhh super cute idea!

Here are the top 10 of the Shutterfly BEST GIFTS EVER:

1. Photo Books- personalized and beautiful– a great gift for anyone really. Teacher, grad, mom or dad!
2. Personalized iPhone Cases- awesome for that high school grad!
3. Canvas Prints- LOVE this idea for Mother’s and Father’s Day
4. Mugs– need I say more? Love me a mug with faces on it!
5. Picture magnets- decorate their fridge with a cute personalized magnet!
6. Photo Cubes– wonderful for a new mom or dad
7. Acrylic Photo Block– Hello? Grandma needs a gift too!
8. Stainless Steel Travel Mug– Those grads will need a hefty travel mug going to and from all those interviews! Make is fun by adding your face to it!
9. Fleece Photo Blanket– again, high school grads going off to college NEED this!
10. Desktop plaque- Perfect for dads and grandpa’s!

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I have been compensated with product in exchange for posting this campaign. A big thank you to Shutterfly.

Recently I read a baby book and reviewed it here at Mama Must Have It. It was very helpful to read a quick, to the point book about good baby sleep. One of the great points of the book was to make sure your new baby is properly swaddled. A proper baby swaddle can be a tough trick to learn when you are a new parent. The nurses in the hospital seem to make our babies into little baby burritos with such ease- so effortlessly, but when you get that baby home with you and it’s the middle of the night and you are standing there in tears trying to get your little one swaddled like the nurses did it– it can be a heart wrenching, tiresome event.

The Woombie takes the tears out of the equation! You place your baby in the Woombie, zipper her up, and voila– Perfect little baby burrito!

My daughter sleeping as a baby burrito in her Woombie Air

My daughter received the Woombie Air in Pink Giraffe. Super cute, soft and flexible. I like the mesh panel at the front– it allows more air flow for the warmer months ahead. The Woombie Air retails for $26.00 on Woombie.com , it comes in a variety of different colors and sizes.  It’s a heck of a deal for sleep.

• Perfect for ALL SEASONS!
• Allows for proper ventilation
• Excess heat easily escapes, allowing proper regulation of body temperature.
• Safer than over wrapping with blanket
• Easy to use!
• Dress/undress baby underneath as needed

Here is a quick video on how to use the Woombie:

You can follow Woombie on Twitter, Facebook and You Tube. Plus- Like Woombie Swaddle on Facebook and enter fan-only monthly swaddle giveaways!

 Giveaway:

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In a moms supporting moms initiative, 29 mom entrepreneurs who have invented unique, must have baby and mom products have collectively donated over $1000 worth of products for the first annual Babee and Me Spring Giveaway event. Springtime is here and to celebrate mom business owners and families, one lucky winner will receive over 30 baby and mom products! The giveaway begins April 2nd and will end on Tuesday, April 30th. Entering is easy and can be done here…the more points you earn the better chance you have to win!

See all the mom-made products and enter here:  http://babeecovee.com/blog/babee-me-spring-giveaway-event/

The basics to this book are easy to grasp and understand. Perfect for sleep deprived parents! I took away 5 easy points (The 5S’s) that really make a ton of sense. I actually had been using them here and there, but not together in unison.

1. Swaddling to at least 4  months old. I swaddled my second, and now my third daughter. I have always felt that it helps them calm and stop fighting sleep. According to the wise doctor, I was right! =)
2. Side or Stomach- But never to sleep. This one was the one point I didn’t quite understand. It’s supposed to be a guide to great sleep, but you put them to sleep on their backs (always- due to the SIDS risk). The doctor says to put them on their sides/stomachs when fussy. He explains that putting them on their backs makes them feel insecure, like they are falling. Due to the SIDS risk though, back is best for sleeping. I guess he includes this step to calm your baby down, so he or she is able to sleep and give in to it.
3. Shushing- The doctor explains that a baby’s sense of serenity and calmness is a loud shushing sound. To us, it may seem opposite of what we may feel is serene, but when you think about what goes on in the womb, it makes a lot of sense! In the womb, babies here a deep, thunderous rumble. So the sound of a sound machine’s white noise or ocean, or even perhaps a vacuum, is calming. One of my main concerns was how loud a sound machine should be to still be effective, but yet not hurt little one’a ears. Dr. Karp answers this question, as well as others. He says that shower intensity of white noise is not shown to do harm to a baby’s hearing. Good to know!
4. Swinging- Many parents revert to a car ride to get their babies to sleep. This makes sense when you think about it– babies in the womb are constantly being swung around by mama’s everyday routine. There is actually studies that show babies get most of their sleep in utero while mom is awake and doing her everyday routine. Then when nighttime hits, it’s party time. This explains why sometimes baby’s days and nights are mixed up. The doctor suggests swinging in a swing with full recline for young babies with no neck strength yet. He also suggests fast speed and promises that it is totally safe. I thought this was an interesting point– He said the low speed is just to “blah” to get the baby calm.
5.  Sucking- Lastly he suggests breastfeeding and a pacifier, once the baby is nursing well- usually one to four weeks.

The book starts out with newborn sleep, and ends with sleep for preschoolers. There is even a chapter for nap time. The nap time chapter explains when to transition from two naps per day to one and why, and how to make it easier for mom and child.

I enjoyed reading The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep. It truly made sense.

I am participating in a book review campaign with One2One Network. I received this book from Harper Collins for the purposes of reviewing it. I have not received compensation. My participation in the campaign enters me into a drawing for a gift card. All opinions stated are my own.

It seems nowadays there are a plethora of new products that are supposed to be geared towards being healthy for children’s skin, as well as being friendly towards our environment. But how do you truly know that they are good for one’s skin?

Live Clean Baby is raising the bar when it comes to the skin care of our babies here in the US.

Using only natural, non-irritating, supremely gentle plant based ingredients, Live Clean Baby performs efficiently and gently to keep baby looking, feeling – and smelling – their very best. “The criteria we’ve developed for the Live Clean brand begins with an ecologically responsible point of view,” says Executive Vice President, Michelle Sparrock, referring to the common, eco-damaging ingredients you won’t find in Live Clean. “As resilient as babies are, we know that their developing systems are also extremely sensitive. We wanted to create baby products with nothing extraneous, nothing unnecessary. Everything from the natural surfactants to the fragrance is both minimal and mild.”

“Sustainable…renewable… replenishable,” Live Clean Baby is based on the premise that all products are both environmentally responsible and highly efficacious. Formulated without many of the commonly used chemicals that are damaging to the environment and, some believe, our well-being, Live Clean is free of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), a common chemical surfactant used in most shampoos, as well as Diethanolamine (DEA), a common ingredient used for rich lather and viscosity building. Live Clean is also free of parabens (preservatives used to extend the shelf life of personal care products) and other harsh preservatives, as well as phthalates (chemicals commonly used to make fragrances last longer).
Live Clean Baby is vegan with no animal ingredients used in the formulations. The collection is also cruelty-free; none of the products or their ingredients has been tested on animals. In its sensitivity to the environment, Live Clean is also free of phosphates, known contributors to water pollution.
Packaging has been carefully created to be as earth-friendly as possible. The Live Clean containers are recyclable; they are made from “virgin” materials, making them far easier to recycle than many plastics. Shipping cartons are made from recycled materials and even the inks used on shipping cartons are safe for the environment. Local vendors are used to the maximum which cuts down on gas consumption and emissions thus reducing their overall carbon footprint.

I am loving Live Clean Baby. My two month old daughter has a touch of excema– when using the Live Clean products, I don’t feel as though she will wake up with a breakout after bath time. The products get her clean but without the over abundance of fragrance.

My favorite product from the Live Clean collection– exclusively at Walgreens for $6.99, is the Diaper Ointment. It smells divine. seriously. Lavender oil, Jojoba , beeswax all makes for a diaper cream I can stand by– no medicinal smell on my baby! It’s also heavy duty– meaning it wipes out any rash that begins super quickly. I have to attribute that to the natural ingredients. Sometimes Mother Nature knows best!

If you would like to try out the collection– I highly recommend it– and for $6.99, you can’t beat it!!

Melissa d’Arabian, host of the Food Network’s Ten Dollar Dinners, calls Jennifer Perillo’s HOMEMADE WITH LOVE: Simple Scratch Cooking from In Jennie’s Kitchen “more than a cookbook.  It’s a love song; an ode to family and life on life’s terms, and the nourishing and healing power of food prepared with joy in the heart.”

After reading through Homemade With Love, I couldn’t agree more! Jennifer Perillo takes you straight to the heart of cooking. No molecular gastronomy here, but rather the book is like cooking along side your grandma. Beautifully written recipes that a mom or dad would be happy to cook for their family.

Jennifer Perillo is a fellow blogger– she has been “dishing out culinary advice for the busy working parent and time-strapped cook on her food blog since 2006, extolling the pleasures of cooking from scratch, buying local, and eating at home, and after the sudden death of her young husband, Mikey, in 2011, cooking would come to play an even bigger role in her life, aiding in her recovery and healing process. As she’ll tell you, “Cooking became my savior, and offered not only nourishment, but a sense of control in a world that seemed to no longer make sense.” 

The book has thirteen main components of recipes. Everything from “Hot Breakfasts” to “Sweet Treats,” and everything in between– hello– Steel Cut Oats with Creme Fraiche, Raisins, and Pistachios! How heavenly does that sound?! What’s more, is that the book also has little icons you will see throughout showing you if a certain recipe is dairy free, freezer friendly (perfect for moms that are trying to stock up on freezer meals), vegan, 30 minutes or less, egg free (nice to know for people with allergies), gluten free adaptable (awesome), among many others!

Another little “morsel” that I love about the book is the little bits of information that are super helpful. For example, on page 189 there is a DIY Brown Sugar recipe. WHO knew you can make homemade brown sugar in a pinch?! There is even a DIY for baking powder! I can’t tell you how many times I think I have something in the pantry, when in reality– it’s gone.

About the Book:

HOMEMADE WITH LOVE: Simple Scratch Cooking from In Jennie’s Kitchen

by Jennifer Perillo

Running Press; Hardcover; $27.50 US/$30.50 CAN

240 pages; 8 x 10; ISBN: 978-0-7624-4723-7

E-book ISBN: 978-0-7624-4834-0

Full-Color Photographs throughout

Publication Month: April 2013

Homemade with Love can be purchased online at Amazon.com

All Tied Up In Bows is a super fun shops that specializes in bows! All sorts of personalized bows– from your daughters favorite Disney princess or cartoon, to a personalized letter bow.

Perfect for birthday favors, a cute inexpensive birthday gift or even a fun Easter basket trinket! My daughter received some bows for all her girl guests thanks to All Tied Up In Bows.  The princesses loved the Tangled bows– a definite hit! Since the party, my daughter has worn the bow to school almost everyday. Obsessed? yes.

The bows retail for $5 each or 5 for $20. A heck of a deal for handmade bows!

Would you like to purchase some for your little princess? Just for Mama readers, take 10% off using coupon code: SPRINGFLING

Here are some other faves from All Tied Up in Bows:

Inspired by my daughter, both myself (I’m Mom) and my mother (Moni) design unique and stylish clothes for children. 

We’ve pulled together our creative resources and magical minds to create ‘My Moni My Mom‘. Our items are designed for comfort and versatility…for fashion and for fun.

For Emma’s Tangled party, we received one of the cutest handmade dresses! Such a cute style of knot dress, and the fabric is cute as well! Rapunzel complete with flowers, vines, butterflies and the tower! Any little Tangled fan would love it! And at $33.00 plus shipping, you cannot beat it!

I love that the dress is comfortable, yet not too casual. Not dressy, but still looks nice enough for a special occasion. I also love that the dress is for a little girl and looks like it. So many times you go to the big named department stores and the girls clothes look like they are made for women in their twenties. Low cut, sequins, short skirts– it’s disgraceful. This dress, and the others at My Moni My Mom, are perfect for young girls!

Discount Alert: Use discount code, Mama 13 at check out to receive 10% off your next order! Thank you My Moni My Mom!

Here are some of my other faves from My Moni My Mom:

For over 90 years See’s Candies has been dedicated to making candy Mary See’s way. Only the finest, freshest ingredients are used in making each recipe. We add no preservatives to our candy. Ever. It’s quality you can taste in every piece. American made, famous for deliciousness, with the friendliest customer service – since 1921. 

Today, you can choose from over 100 different candies and chocolates, whether you are shopping with us online or visiting one of our iconic black-and-white checkered shops (where every customer still gets a free sample). 

Founded and headquartered in sunny California, See’s Candies has expanded from one candy shop to over 200 shops across America, and a flourishing online store. Our growth happily continues. Our commitment to taste, quality, tradition and service steadfastly remains. 

Mary would be proud.

With Easter right around the corner, who doesn’t need some See’s Candies?! Easter candies such as special Easter baskets and chocolate eggs. All delicious, all extra cute for Easter!

I was beyond excited to try out some different varieties of See’s Candy. I chose Dark Nuts and Chews for my self– a 1 pound box… and Toffee-ettes for my husband. He is a toffee taste tester (so he believes), so needless to say he was thrilled!

My nuts and chews were delicious. Freshly made dark chocolate, chewy  centers of all kinds. LOVE!

The Toffee-ettes were yummy as well. Fresh nuts, delicious toffee, gorgeous chocolate= yum.

The toffee sells for $17.50 for a 1 pound can and the box of nuts and chews sell for $21.10. Both make wonderful gifts for any occasion!

Did you know See’s also does fundraising? That’s right– you can earn money for your organization or special need through the See’s fundraising website!

Let me just preface this post with– these Rapunzel Hair clips cannot be any cuter. Phew done.

Dream Sea Designs does the Rapunzel thing well. Think favors, inexpensive birthday gifts, stocking stuffers, Easter Basket gifts… the gift options are endless really. They are hand made, super cute and my girls have had a ball playing with them pretending they are Rapunzel. Plus they come is beautiful bags perfect for gift giving– no gift wrapping necessary! The Rapunzel Hair Acessories sell for $10 for the hair clips and $12 for the pony tail holders. Your choice at a great deal!

Dream Sea Designs also sell cool and unique tee’s and notebooks. If you are a Disney fan, you must check them out!

You can put food in them, place favors in them for parties, use them as desk organizers… if you can think it, wooden berry boxes can hold it!

I received some wooden berry boxes from Shoppe 3130 and I am thrilled to have them in my house! I used them for the Tangled party two ways. The first is to hold delicious Pirate’s Booty and the second was to hold the party favors.

They were sturdy, super cute and the perfect addition! LOVE THEM!!

Your one stop party supply and photo booth prop store! Featuring mustache and lips on a stick and straw. Also featuring high quality wool felt sheets in over 80 colors! Bow ties – tutus and well, just downright fun stuff!

I also received some photo prop straws with cute lips and mustaches on them… how did they know I was making a Flynn Rider photo prop?! Shop owner Jennifer must have been reading my mind! THANK YOU– they were a hit!

Take a look at the other party goods Shoppe 3130 has to offer:

At The Pirdie Birdie, you will find charming, handmade party supplies such as: banners, favor bags, cupcake/cake toppers, favor tags, themed party games, and more.

The banner can be personalized for your child with their name, or just Happy Birthday– completely up to you! And for $18 dollars, it’s a steal! Try to purchase a custom banner at any big named store and you will be charged an arm and a leg!

Here are some other favorites from The Pirdie Birdie:

Krown Kreations and Celebrations cannot be any lovelier of a shop. They take the basic party anyone can do and make it extra-ordinary with over the top decor and embellishments. Take a look at the Tangled labels– can’t be cuter! The labels I received came to me through PDF. Easy to print, cut out and back to a colored card stock of your choice– AND for $3.99 for the pdf, it’s a steal for parties on a budget! (for the Rapunzel Paints recipe– see below).

Here are some of my faves from the shop:

Rapunzel Paints Recipe:

• Rice Krispy Treats recipe
• Popsicle sticks
• gel food coloring
• candy melts (white)

Follow the directions for Rice Krispie Treats. Shape the treats onto a Popsicle stick, in the way of a paint brush. It’s easier to mold the treats when still warm. Let the treat cool to the stick. Melt the candy melts in a double boiler. Add in the coloring of your choice. Do not use liquid food coloring– the candy melts will seize and make it hard to dip…. trust me.

I used purple and yellow coloring– beautiful Tangled colors! ENJOY!

I received Tangled inspired wooden utensils with the cutest Tangled pictures adorned on the stem. My guests loved the added touch and loved that the utensils could be used by kids and adults easily. Eco-friendly too– can’t beat that!

I received 30 purple striped paper straws from Paper Straws Party or www.cutetape.com. A great shop with all things cute and colorful! Make your party fabulous with a little something extra and a colorful touch of flair. Perfect for the DIY-ers and party planners, and extra special for kids birthday parties. Easy and affordable making this little extra bit of fun perfect for anyone on a budget.

Now for the plastic mason jars- aren’t they cute?! LOVE THEM! I searched and searched and found them on Etsy from The Pink Picker. A super cute shop with everything party related. Do you need milk bottles for a milk and cookies themed baby shower? They have those! Do you need popcorn boxes for a special family movie night? They have those too! From vintage to everything in between, they have something for everyone when it comes to themed parties! Check it out!