May 21, 2012

Kelly Moore Bags…the only camera bag you need!

Most of my family and friends know that I am somewhat of a paparazzi when it comes to taking pictures. Since I have gotten my digital SLR a couple of years ago, I have been carrying it around to every family function, kids school show and sporting event, vacation, and more.

My biggest issue, though, since getting my camera is lugging it around. As a mom, I of course need my bag of “stuff” including my wallet, phone, some wipes, snacks, etc. Add my traditional bulky camera bag (which needs to be big enough for a second lens, just in case!) and I am lugging around WAY too  much. I thought to myself, “there has to be a better way.”

Then I discovered Kelly Moore Bags! These gorgeous, amazing high-end bags combine the functionality of a padded, secure camera bag with the look and feel (and extra space!) of a designer handbag. My bag has room for my Nikon D60, an extra zoom lens, and all of the handbag necessities like my wallet, phone, etc. Which  means that when I carry my Kelly Moore camera bag, it’s the ONLY bag I need!

Kelly Moore has a number of gorgeous bags, both for men and women. There are styles and colors to suit anyone’s taste, and the features of each bag are awesome:

  • lots of pockets
  • a durable, waterproof exterior material
  • fully adjustable straps
  • inside the bag: removable velcro dividers
  • Lots of padding to protect your equipment
  • fast and easy magnetic snaps to reach your items quickly and easily

Numerous people have stopped to comment on my bag when I am out, and when I tell them it is actually my camera bag, they are shocked and have to see the inside. I love that I finally have a functional and fashionable bag for all of the times when I need my camera!

Kelly Moore Bag Promo Film 2010 from Joshua Smith on Vimeo.

buti-bag: 40% off sale with coupon code – Diaper Bags & Organization for Moms!

A couple of years ago I did a review on the awesome buti-bag company. They make gorgeous organizational products for mom’s with little ones. Check out my review to learn more.

Starting today until July 15th, they are hosting their first site-wide sale, and MWS blog followers are invited to the sale! They are offering 40% off all orders for 4 days only in celebration of their newest addition, born in January; the online code is ilovebuti and is good through July 15th. Stock up now as this is an amazing sale!! Enjoy!

Safe outside no matter the weather with Sport-Brella!

My family and I have been vacationing at our shore house for the past few weeks. Recently, we were at the beach when my very fair, red-headed son wanted to take a nap under our umbrella. Later that night, I realized that while sleeping under the shaded umbrella, he had gotten burnt. (Yes, he had sunscreen on, too. He is that fair!) I was horrified and shocked. Everything I do to try to protect him and my family from the sun was ruined by a not-so-safe umbrella.

After this eye-opening experience I decided to try out a product called the Sport-Brella. The initial thing that attracted me to the Sport-Brella is that is has UPF 50+ protection, so I could feel safe having my kids (or me!) rest under it. After using it a few times, I feel like I could be the new Sport-Brella spokesperson. I love this awesome, portable sun and weather shelter and I think every family should have one!

Here is why it is so great:

-The Sport-Brella takes literally less than a minute to set up (it opens like a regular umbrella) and it’s much easier to set up than your normal beach umbrella

-It’s  lightweight and portable and very easy to carry (you can sling it over your shoulder or carry it by the handle)

-It is nice and spacious inside (opens to 8 feet), accommodating a couple of chairs or about 4 people sitting on a blanket

-It doesn’t blow away like your typical umbrella…the wind gust release vents plus the tie-down cords give the Sport-Brella added stability in high wind conditions

- There are some nice features like two side zip-down breeze windows, and two inside storage pockets

-It’s not only great for the beach, but the perfect item to take along camping or to sporting events (all of those cool, rainy days watching t-ball and soccer will be much more comfortable next time!)

-You can use Sport-Brella not only as a ground shelter but also as a telescoping umbrella

- And as I mentioned before, the Sport-Brella is UPF 50+, blocking over 99.5% UVA/UVB rays

The Sport-Brella was an instant hit on the beach. The kids all gravitated to it, wanting to seek some cool shelter from the sun, and the adults loved it, wondering what it was and where to get one. I am so happy I discovered the Sport-Brella and I plan to use it all summer, and into the fall when I go to my kids soccer games. I know the Sport-Brella will protect my family from the sun, wind, cold and all of the elements.

The Sport-Brella retails online for $59.99, but use code “MWS” site-wide and save 15%!

Potty training with the Inflatable Potty Seat!

My little one just became potty-trained in the past 2 weeks! During our little potty boot camp (during the crazy blizzard on the East Coast) we used a variety of potty training products. One of them was the On-the-go Inflatable Potty Seat, a soft, comfortable sturdy seat for my son.

You may be wondering why I used a travel potty seat while I was potty training in my house. Well, first of all, this potty seat fit nicely on a toilet that is a bit odd-shaped and was hard to use with other potty seats. Secondly, it was very easy to use and comfortable for my son. The inflatable seat with backrest support and handles made the large toilet seat nice and snug for my son. He felt safe and secure and it definitely helped him gain confidence as he learned to use the toilet. The seat was also very easy to clean. I just rinsed it under some warm water and it was clean in seconds.

This is a great product to take with you in your car, with you on a trip, or wherever you may venture to outside of your home. Since it is inflatable, it folds down to almost nothing, so it’s easy to pack and take along. The stabilization ring fits in the toilet seat opening and prevents the seat from slipping, which is a problem that I find with many of these types of seats.

Best of all, it is very inexpensive, at $7.99. Available in both blue and pink, this is a great product to have on hand for your potty-training or potty-trained child. Learn more about the inflatable potty seat with an interactive video or purchase online!

Couldn’t go to Jamaica without our Joovy Caboose Ultralight!

My family and I just returned from Jamaica on Friday. We had an awesome and smooth trip, and a large reason why is due to the Joovy Caboose Ultralight that we brought along.

A little background first…

My boys are 5 and 2 1/2. We rarely use strollers anymore, however, I knew I would need to bring something on a trip involving airports, lots of walking, and general travel. When I learned that I had the chance to try out the Joovy, I figured, “why not!,” not truly realizing how fabulous this stroller is and how perfect it was for us and for our trip.

Now a bit on why this stroller is so amazing!

Our Joovy Caboose Ultralight allowed our two boys to comfortably sit throughout our travels. My younger son Jonah (2 1/2) sat in the two-position front seat and my older son Jacob (5) alternated between sitting in the padded, adjustable rear seat and standing. Jacob, who is a very tall child, had no problem using the back seat/standing. (The stroller accommodates kids 6 months through 45 lbs.) Jonah, who never really napped in a stroller previously, enjoyed the Joovy so much that every day around 2pm he asked to get in and take a walk to take a nap. Every single day of our trip Jonah napped in tjamaica-2010-004he Joovy for over 2 hours! (See why the Joovy was so important to the success of our trip?!) He also enjoyed keeping his cup and snack in the child tray and cup holder.

I also really loved using this stroller:

  • First of all, it was a pleasure to steer. I am not going to slam any other stroller manufacturers, but I have been using another tandem stroller for 2 years and will not be using it again after my experience with the Joovy. My now-former not-to-be-named stroller was too hard to push with both kids in it, and much heavier and more cumbersome than the Joovy. The Joovy, however, has these amazing swivel “smooth-glide” wheels which make it a pleasure to push.
  • It also has a large, awesome basket (which sometimes you lose on a double) and comes with a neoprene parent organizer! (How awesome is THAT?!) The parent organizer holds water bottles, cell phones, keys, iPods, credit cards and money, and more. We stuffed our sunscreen, room key, and some water bottles in it each day and were off!
  • I also loved that it was extremely easy to fold up and was very light weight. We were able to easily store it in our hotel room (which was not huge) and even got compliments throughout our trip from other parents on how nice and compact the Joovy folded.
  • A huge bonus for me and my family was the large sun visor/canopy. With a red-headed fair-skinned child in the Caribbean, we were definitely concerned about burning. But the Joovy’s huge canopy easily covered him and also covered part of my older son in the rear seat.
  • Finally, the Joovy is a really nice looking stroller. Not that I am vain or anything ;) but as far as the typical Sit and Stand goes, I think the Joovy is really attractive. And I love that it comes in a ton of great color choices. We had the bright and fun Sunset color, but also available are Sage, Black, Brownie, Blueberry, Orangetree, and Greenie.

One feature thjamaica-2010-006at I did not use but that is fabulous should you have a little one in an infant carrier is the universal car seat adapter. This easy-to-install adapter accepts most major brands and allows you to safely and easily tote around your newborn or infant along with your older child.

Really, I could go on and on about this stroller. It is my new favorite must-have for parents of two little ones. I’m not sure why it took me so long to experience the Joovy Caboose Ultralight, but I will certainly be using it all of the time now… and I highly recommend it to you if you have (or are expecting) 2 young children.

Thanks to Joovy for donating the Caboose Ultralight!

Wear your love with Belladorn Jewelry

As a writer for Mommies with Style, I have been fortunate to get to see and try many different types of “mom” necklaces. Though all special because they feature my children’s names, my most recent necklace, by Belladorn, is uniquely special and amazing.

This beautiful, classic necklace features a photo of my two children, encased in an antique-looking, oxidized sterling silver photo charm with deep-set glass. Two simple, sweet “J” charms dangle along with the photo charm to complete the look. (You can also choose larger initial charms, birthstone crystals, and more to customize it to your taste.) It hangs on a sterling silver ball chain.

The first day I wore my necklace, I must have gotten a dozen or so compliments. People were drawn to the necklace, loving the photo and the way Jody, the owner of Belladorn, created it so beautifully.

This is a truly special piece that you will adore wearing. Every mom I know loves to show off her most precious gift — her children — and there is no better way to do it than to wear their sweet faces around your neck, by your heart, all day long (in a classic and stylish way!)

Treat yourself with one of these amazing pieces today! You deserve it! (Or gift one as a unique and special piece for grandmom for Valentines Day!)

Thanks to Belladorn for providing an Antiqued Deep Set Glass Photo Charm and Necklace for review.

Preserve your 2009 memories with gorgeous Rag and Bone Bindery albums (and a Giveaway!)

One of my major New Year’s resolutions is to really get organized with my photos and scrapbooking. And one of the major tools to help me do this is Rag & Bone Bindery and their amazing, gorgeous, handmade albums.

Rag & Bone offers a full range of sophisticated products, from baby books, photo albums, address books, and day planners, to wedding and shower albums, guestbooks, binders, growth charts, and more. There are countless stylish cover options from whimsical designs to classic to sweet and simple looks.

One of their newest products is the 4×6 slip-in photo frame album. The cream colored paper pages are 100% acid-free and lay flat when opened. Photos may be removed & rearranged by simply sliding them out of the frame pages. These albums hold twenty 4 x 6 standard sized photos and make great brag-books or coffee-table books featuring your favorite holiday pictures or pictures from 2009.

Rag & Bone albums, made in Rhode Island, are made extremely well by skilled artisans. They are archival quality and are not only well constructed throughout, but are simply beautiful. You will definitely enjoy preserving your family’s memories in one of these classic albums!

Want a chance to win a 12×12 Paper page Album in Dogwood design (value: $98.00) and a Photo Frame album (value: $29.00)? Please comment and tell us your scrapbooking/photo goal for 2010 and you will be entered to win! Winner will be drawn on January 14th and will have 24 hours to respond to claim this special Rag & Bone prize.

Thanks to Rag & Bone Bindery for a sample of their new 4×6 frame album for this review.

A wonderful family destination: Great Wolf Lodge

Last weekend my family and I took a trip to the Poconos to visit the awesome Great Wolf Lodge resort. This family-friendly waterpark resort, with a number of locations around the US, is the perfect little getaway for families looking for fun!

When we arrived at Great Wolf, it was snowing, both inside and out! During the month of December, Great Wolf Lodge hosts their Snowland, with twinkling lights all over, festive trees and great-wolf-071glittering snowflakes, holiday music, and snow that falls throughout the day. As part of Snowland, they also had Santa’s Workshop (where kids could make and mail letters to Santa), North Pole University for Elves, Story Time with Rowdy the Reindeer, cookie decorating, horse and wagon rides, visiting with Santa, and more.

Of course, the true star of any Great Wolf Lodge resort is their fabulous indoor waterpark. great-wolf-040With 11 slides, 6 pools (including a wave pool), a giant waterfort, a lazy river and more, it’s a great time for the whole family. Both of my boys (ages 5 and 2) had a wonderful time. There were slides and water attractions perfect for their ages, as well as more daring slides and attractions for older kids, teens and adults. (After my kids went to bed, I ventured to the slides for some mom fun. It was awesome!)

When we were ready to take a break from our waterpark fun, there were a number of other things to do inside Great Wolf that my kids loved. We visited the Cub Club, where kids can play games, read stories, do craft activities, and more.  There is also the Northern Lights Arcade, which is a huge arcade with games, skee-ball, and a ticket-redemption area for prizes. One of the most popular features of the Great Wolf Lodge is MagiQuest, an interactive action adventure that immerses children of all ages into a world of Renaissance-style fantasy. Throughout the hotel we saw kids with their interactive wands completing quests and great-wolf-075accumulating powers. It was exciting! Also available is a kids spa, called Scoops, which is a bright and pretty space for kids to get “ice cream pedicures” and other treatments. (Of course, there is the Element’s Spa for adults should you want to pamper yourself too!)

Great Wolf Lodge makes it easy for families by providing everything you need within the hotel. With a Starbucks,Pizza Hut, gift shop, snack shop inside the waterpark, and restaurant/buffet, it’s easy for everyone to find something they like, in a friendly, fun, family environment. Our family enjoyed eating at the various restaurants throughout the hotel and noticed that the food was consistently very good.

We also really enjoyed our spacious Wolf Den Suite. Inside our well-appointed room was a couch, outdoor balcony, and separate kid-themed sleeping area with bunk beds and their own TV and Nintendo. My kids LOVED this space and great-wolf-023had so much fun in “their own room” within our room. It was perfect! All of the rooms at Great Wolf Lodge are spacious allowing families (even families with more than 3 kids) to share a room together. Some rooms had sleeping areas that were partitioned off, others had semi-private living areas, and some had kids cabins within the rooms! With so many room types there is definitely a style to fit your family’s needs.

As someone who tries to be as environmentally conscious as possible, I was very pleased to learn that Great Wolf  is the first, and only national hotel chain to have all of its U.S. properties Green Seal-Certified. They recently unveiled their own environmental sustainability program, called Project Green Wolf, which touches every part of operations, including waste minimization and recycling, energy efficiency, management of fresh water resources, environmentally & socially sensitive purchasing, and a guest education program.

We had such a great time visiting Great Wolf Lodge, and we will certainly be planning a trip back soon. Check out the locations to see if there is one near you, and treat your family this holiday season to some special family time together at the Great Wolf.

Thanks to Great Wolf Lodge for providing a discounted room rate for this review.

For Red Headed Children (and Families) Everywhere: Little Redheads Across America Book!

When my younger son Jonah was born, the first thing the nurse said was “We have a redhead!” I didn’t believe her, and when I saw my little baby with flaming orange hair, I couldn’t get over it.

Two and a half years later, you could say I am still shocked that I have a redhead with blue eyes (both my husband and I are brunette with dark eyes, as well as our older son), and every day I enjoy the fun comments and feedback that we get on my son’s hair. I realized that my son (and I, as his mom) are now part of this exclusive “club” of redheads. When we see one another, we smile. We love to chat about our kids and their unique features. It’s really fun!

So when I learned about a new book written by a mom with a similar story to mine, I had to check it out. Little Redheads Across America, written by Nicole Giladi, is a fabulous book for special redheaded children and their families. It features tons of beautiful pictures of redheaded children from all over the country with all different shades of redheaded hair. Also peppered throughout the book are fun facts about redheads, like “Which Shade of Red Are You?”, “How did you get your red hair?”, “Myths and Superstitions,” and more, including information on sunburns and skin care, freckles, teasing and name calling.

My son (to the right) loves looking through the book, seeing other kids like him and looking at their pictures. And I love learning more about redheads, something I never thought about before my son came along.

If you have a redheaded child or know one, this unique, beautiful, hard-covered book makes a perfect (and very special and thoughtful) gift! Check out the book’s website with fun facts, pictures, games, and an online store, where you can order the book.

Need a pedicure? Don’t forget your Flexflops!

No matter the time of year, I am always up for a pedicure. The chance to sit back and relax (especially during this hectic time of the year!) while my toe nails are painted and become pretty is the best!

Now that it is cold out and I’m not walking around in flip-flops all day, I risk ruining my new pedicure by slipping on my shoes. But this is no longer a problem, thanks to my recent experience with Flexflops, the first emergency flip-flop that folds in half and stays in it’s own matching pouch.

Simply throw your Flexflop pouch in your purse or leave them in your car, and you are always ready for a pedicure! Unzip the adorable blinged-up pouch, unfold your Flexflops, and off you go! The Flexflop is extremely comfortable and made of a terry material. It’s available in a number of different stylish colors and styles (check out the great holiday selection). Some of my favorites include “Chic Feet,” “Pedi, Please,” and “Paint, Primp, Polish” with adorable heart bling. At around $20 each, they make great gifts for girlfriends, a trip, bridal party, maternity, and more!

Many of the Flexflops are on sale right now for 20% and more. Plus use code TWITTER for an additional 10% off your order.  Shop the adorable selection and enjoy!

My new favorite necklace from Tiny Tag Designs (20% off coupon, and a giveaway!)

My new favorite necklace, which I have been wearing almost every day since I got it, is my custom, hand stamped original Tiny Tags necklace. Featuring my three favorite people — my two boys and my husband — their names are each stamped on a small, classy, sterling silver disc.

I have reviewed many personalized necklaces and pieces of jewelry over the years, and one of the reasons I especially love my Tiny Tag necklace is its classic simplicity. I wear it every day with my jeans, work out clothes, or when I get “dressed” at night. It always seems to work and look great with whatever I wear! And I love the simple yet elegant looking ball chain (which is 16″ — I like mine short — but you can get it at 18″ or 20″ too.)

This is your staple mom necklace and every mom should have one! It’s at a great price, so put one on your holiday list or treat yourself! And while you are shopping, please check out all of the other great pieces that Tiny Tags offers. From jewelry for little girls to special items for Grandmom, sister, and more, there is something perfect for every woman on your gift list. For moms, I love the original Tiny Tag, or  this simple twist on the original Tiny Tag, which has a fun font alternative. Other gift ideas include the grandchildren bracelet for Grandmom, the initial necklace for teens or friends, sister necklace for your sis, or the Flower necklace for little girls. Use code “Mommies” for 20% off your purchase.

Tiny Tag’s have been recently reviewed in Us Weekly, Tot Trendy Weekly, and recently gifted to Ali Landry who loves hers!

Want a chance to win an original tag necklace with or without a Swarovski crystal (with your favorite color or child’s birthstone!)?  Tell us what you want for the holidays this year and you are automatically entered to win! Winner will be selected on December 8th and will be given 24 hours to respond. Good luck!

Timeless, classic apparel for kids at Olive Juice

I love to play around with all types of clothing styles on my boys. I find they look super-cute in traditional clothing, especially around holiday time. Olive Juice, a website filled with adorable yet classic, traditional, high-quality clothing styles for boys and girls, has some great options for my kids.

From outerwear, to loungewear, to tops, pants, dresses, and skirts, Olive Juice has a ton of great styles in lots of colors and sizes. They have a nice holiday selection, as well as shoes, and classic toys and books, too.

Olive Juice is definitely a nice site to check out if you like traditional styles but want something beyond your everyday mall type clothing… something that not everyone has. Their clothing sort of reminds me of clothes that kids would have worn long ago when attention to detail was much finer and time was much slower. Their pieces have a great attention to detail and many special elements.

Now through the end of November, make any purchase on Olive Juice and save 10%. Use code MWSNOV. (Good on everything except gift cards.) And make sure you sign up for their catalog (which is great, I have to say) on their site to stay on top of their lines.

Customizable, personalized and very affordable clothes and gifts at Inktastic

allies-shower-084I recently got to try out a variety of products from Inktastic, a great website that allows you to create your own customized clothing and products for you and your kids. From tee-shirts, to bibs, to aprons, mousepads, hats, gifts, and more, Inktastic has a great product selection at awesome prices.

Some of the fun products I got to create include matching long-sleeved tee shirts for my boys that say “He Did it” with an arrow pointing at each other (love it! See pic to the right), a mouse pad of my kids (great quality with a nice bright glossy picture), and an apron with my son’s picture and naallies-shower-083me on it, which he loves and is the perfect size for him. It was easy to create the products online, and I got them within a matter of days. The best part is the extremely affordable pricing of all of these items.

My other favorite items include these adorable baby camo caps (I love the green with the name in orange!) and youth baseball tee shirts. But there are so many items to choose from… you can select images from their online database or upload your own. Add a name or saying on the front, back, or both. The options are endless!

Enjoy the sale prices Inktastic is offering right now and create some special holiday gifts for friends and family.

Creating Shutterfly Albums is my new favorite pasttime

I am obsessed with photos, albums, archiving it all, and figuring out the best ways to organize it all. I have scrapbooked both traditionally and digitally, have created your good-old regular photo books, and have made online photo books. But recently, I got to try out Shutterfly’s new Simple Path — an amazing and simple way to make a beautiful, organized photo book in minutes. (Literally!)

When I first saw this on Shutterfly’s website, I thought to myself, “how are they going to know how to order my photos and which ones are most important?” But somehow, the site knew, and it organized my photos in the right order (by date) and grouped together (with like photos). The whole process literally took about 10 minutes. I uploaded my photos (about 4 minutes), allowed the program to place them in the book (30 seconds or less), decided on the style of pages (1 minute), and then swapped around a couple pictures and added captions (5 minutes). How simple is that?! The book was ordered and received in record time (a couple of days) and we were all super impressed! High quality photos with bright, vivid colors, a hard, glossy cover customized to my liking (as well as the spine)… it all came together easily to create an awesome product that my whole family is enjoying.

Please, take a few minutes and check out the new Simple Path feature and quickly finish up all of those albums you have been meaning to do for years. You will feel so good when you are done! (One less thing to do, and a beautiful new photo book on your shelf to admire!)

Check out Shutterfly’s special offers, which currently includes a buy one, get one 50% off on photo books. (Offers change all the time, though, so jump when you see a good one!)

Incredible hats that will turn heads with Zooni with 15% off coupon code

This week I had a friend over for dinner, and our discussion turned to the colder weather and the need for winter hats for our kids. When my friend told me about this adorable pink jacket she got for her daughter, and how she wanted a warm, cozy, and cute hat to match, I immediately thought of Zooni hats and off to my laptop we went!

I logged on to the Zooni website and I started hearing ooohs and ahhhhs from my friend at the amazing, beautiful, funky and fun Mop Top hats and accessories offered by Zooni. My younger son Jonah was lucky to get to try a Zooni hat last year (the Puppy Love hat) and I can’t tell you how pleased I was with this hat, and how many compliments we got on it as well. The hat is super soft and warm with a great fleece lining inside. The look of the hat is fresh and unique and so much fun for young kids.

This winter my older son (who is turning 5) will also sport a Zooni hat. The Skull and Crossbones is perfect for my “cool” guy, but will keep him warm all winter long. (Check back on the Zooni site soon for their new line of hats including the Skull and Crossbones!)

Also available and adorable from Zooni – M’uppet Mittens and funky and fun socks (some to match the hats!)

If you want something unique and fun, that will turn heads from both kids and adults, and will keep your kids comfy and warm, Zooni is for you. Take 15% off with your purchase by using code LUVZOONI.

Playdate N.Y.C.: Hand-made clothing for kids that is fresh and fun

I love finding original, fun, uncomplicated clothing for my kids. It’s even better with it’s handmade. And Playdate N.Y.C has exactly this type of fun and unique clothing.

Featuring great designs with felt appliques and contrast stitching for baby girls and boys and big boys and girls, you are sure to find something on this site that fits your child’s personality. I love the cool Guitar tee on a 100% cotton thermal American Apparel shirt. Customizable with your choice of color applique and stitching, these items are fun and unique. I love the shirts customized with your child’s name or age.

Moms of girls: check out the adorable designs, especially the girls capes! Also available for girls: dresses, matching pants, and more. There are also lots of styles for baby girls that are super cute and sweet! Many of Playdate N.Y.C.’s baby items (well, actually any of their items) would make a great gift! (and all shirts are gift wrapped in a clear cellophane party bag with beautiful ribbon!)

If you make a purchase in the next few days (in Sept) you can take 20% off with coupon code “Moms.” In October, 20% of all pink and purple sales go to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness. So go ahead and buy — you’ll love your kids new shirts and you’ll be supporting a great cause at the same time!