Simple Wishes Giveaway!!!

Hey Mommas!

I recently purchased a Simple Wishes pumping bra and I cannot tell you how much I love this thing! As you all know I strictly pump every day at home and at work. I used to have to hold the shields up as I pumped and it was such a pain because I couldn’t use my hands for anything. I would reach for the remote and spill milk all over the place…annoying!
I just love this bra and I know you would too……
so I am giving away one Simple Wishes pumping bra!

Product Features:
1. Adjustable in size: Maintain a tight fit over time with 10″ adjustable velcro back panel.
2. Maintain a tight seal: Center panel allows 2″ of movement for proper positioning of breastpump flanges/bottles..
3. Four way layering support system: Secures and maintains a tight seal of breastpump flanges/bottles.
4. Designed to work with all major manufacturers electric breastpumps.

(Retail Price : $35.00)

HOW TO WIN

Do any of the following – leave one comment per entry

(1) FOLLOW MY MAIN BLOG @ THE BRANCHES

(2) BLOG ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY ON YOUR BLOG & LEAVE A COMMENT

(3) TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY

(4) FOLLOW SIMPLE WISHES ON TWITTER

GOOD LUCK!!!

(Giveaway ends Friday, July 23rd)

Simple wishes is also offering a 15% discount to all my readers.

Enter discount code “branches” at checkout on their site

Fun Weekend in Dallas

Connor & I met up with our friends Laura & Gooner at North Park mall in Dallas
Laura is one of the sweetest blogger friends I have met and is also one of the healthiest! She has gotten so skinny! Go check out her blog if you are looking for looking for tips & healthy ways to eat 🙂 I haven’t seen Laura since November of last year when I was still pregnant with Connor so it was nice they finally got to meet each other in person! We had a great time Laura and G! Thanks for coming to meet up with us and letting Terence tag along!
Here’s Laura & Connor
And here is Laura’s precious angel “Gooner“
She is SO beautiful!!!

This is Connor last night in an activity center at my mother in law’s house. He just LOOOOVES this thing and we have so got to get him one of these activity centers because he’s getting to the point where he doesn’t like to lay flat anymore. What kinds of toys/activity centers do you guys recommend?

We are starting rice/oatmeal cereal for the first time tonight! Wish us luck!

Connor meets Mr. Jonas

Mommy & Daddy took me to Dallas today to meet a friend and on the way home they stopped at Restoration Hardware to look around. Mom was wheeling my stroller by some people and they said “oh what a cute baby” I was.

Mommy turned to Daddy and said “I think that is a Jonas brother!”

Daddy said “No it wasn’t”

Mom said it was so Daddy went and asked Mr. Jonas for a picture. He was there with his wife and family and they were SO sweet! They shook our hands and introduced themselves. I had no idea they lived in Dallas. Kevin wanted to even hold Connor…it was so cute! They were the nicest people and genuinely as enthused to meet us too!

Thank you Mr. Jonas you made my Mommy’s day 🙂
(I just wish the picture wasn’t so blurry!)

It’s FRIDAY I’m in LOVE

THINGS I AM IN LOVE WITH RIGHT NOW :
(You can participate on Summer’s blog)

I rub this on my neck and shoulders all the time and it’s like a warm heating pad. I love it and instantly feel better. Right now they are running a special on their Facebook page. Just search “DROMEO” on Facebook and you can “like” them and look at their specials.
*25% OFF* … through Saturday night only!
You MUST use discount code 1776
Ginalli Clipless Iron
This is the best curling iron I have ever come across and it makes
those perfect Taylor Swift ringlets 🙂
Reese’s DARK peanut butter cups
Love..love..love these and they are soooooo good!
Shout Wipes
It seems like I can’t go anywhere without these now days because
I have constant drool all over me!
Zutano Children’s Clothing
I love this print at Zutano’s right now…I think it’s a little bit girlie for Connor though!
Sprinkler System 🙂
We are getting a sprinkler system installed next weekend so Terence won’t have to spend three hours watering the yard! Woohoo! I’m sure it will be very nice and we’ll have more free time together.

What are you in LOVE with this week?

Growing Boy

Connor –

Daddy took you to your 4 month doctor appointment today and he said you did so good! Mommy had to work, but you got an excellent report! You are 60th % for weight, 90th % for height, and 95% for head. Daddy said you didn’t cry when they first gave you your shots, but by the third one you were not too happy! I wish I was there to hold you all the times when you cry my sweet boy! You are so strong and LOOOOVE to try and stand up! You are growing so quickly right before our eyes and we are so blessed by your little life and couldn’t imagine our life without YOU in it! Love, Mommy

Photography Lesson 2

This is my camera : It’s a Nikon D80

I’ve had this camera for about 5 years now. I think the newer version of it is a Nikon D90. The best site I’ve found for camera reviews and lenses is at Ken Rockwell. You can look up whatever camera you want and it has excellent tips and reviews.

I personally would NOT buy a camera kit. If you are thinking of purchasing a nice camera I would buy the body and lens separately. Usually the lenses that come with camera kits are crappy. The key to a great photo is a great lens. One of my favorite lenses is the Tokina 11-16 mm lens

Here are some pictures I took with this wide angle lens :
Here I am standing right in FRONT of Connor, but you would never know because it gets the whole room in

I’m standing really close to the living room and I got the WHOLE thing in the frame

Here I am standing right in front of the doorway to the kitchen and I got the entire room in again
You get the point – Wide angle lenses are GREAT if you have a large area to cover or a whole lot of people to fit into a frame.
Another program I could not live without is LIGHTROOM. This program is not as fancy as Photoshop, but if you can’t afford the steep price of Photoshop then I would recommend Lightroom to anyone! It’s great because you can change the white balance, exposure, and enhance colors in your photos….as well as many other features.
I also own Photoshop and it’s a great program and you can do so many wonderful things to photos. I love using “actions” in photos, with the click of a button you can totally transform a photo! I may talk about that in my next photo post.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT LIGHTROOM CAN DO :
Here is the photo straight out of the camera
Here it is after I’ve enhanced it with Lightroom

As you can see it just gives you that little extra “sparkle”
I guess that is about all for todays photo lesson 🙂
If you have anymore questions just be sure to leave a comment and I’ll try my best to answer!