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Drinking My Way To a Healthier Holiday (& Giveaways!)

November 28, 2011 By kate 38 Comments

Congratulations to our juicer winners: Diana, Cindy, Melissa, Suzy, Korie, Jim, Jen, Dianne, Carlos and Susan. The winners have already been notified via email. Enjoy!

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I had two cups of kale, a carrot, an apple and half a cucumber for breakfast this morning. And I drank every last drop.

I’ve been on a juicing kick lately. It started after watching the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead that chronicles the journey of Joe Cross as he attempts to improve his health through juicing. But I’ve found it’s been a great way to up my veggie intake (breakfast is a hard meal to have a salad), another way to use all the greens that have been coming in my CSA bin and a fabulously sneaky way to get my kids to consume all sorts of veggies they normally wouldn’t.

Juicing has come a long way in recent years. One of the current trends is slow juicing, a process of slowly squeezing the nutrient-rich juice out of fruits and veggies instead of quickly spinning the heck out of them which some claim breaks up the nutrient molecules.

I had the chance to check out three recently-released slow juicers plus have a great giveaway for those of you who want to get started.

The first juicer I tried was the Healthy Juicer Electric from Lexen Products. This juicer is a masticating style juicer with what looks like a long single drill bit. The juicer slowly presses, squeezes and crushes fruits and veggies to release their juices. Unlike a blender or a traditional juicer, since the juice extraction is slow, it doesn’t heat the juice  and destroy any of the natural live enzymes.

The Lexen Healthy Juicer has an external pulp screen which means you can choose to leave it on (completely smooth juice, no pulp) or take it off if you like a little pulp in your juice. I also liked the beyond juice, the Lexen Healthy Jucier can be used to make pasta (3 pasta attachments included), wheatgrass (separate auger included), babyfood, soy milk, nut butters and frozen desserts (put in frozen fruit, get delicious sorbet!)

I was pretty impressed with the versatility of the product and how when you use the external pulp screen, the juice truly is completely smooth. Like most juicers, the Lexen has a fair number of parts, but the Lexen juicer was also very easy to clean. One drawback – since the Lexen Healthy Juicer is longer than it is taller, you’re going to have to sacrifice some counter space.

Next I tried two very similar juicers – the Hurom Slow Juicer and the new Omega 350 VERT. Both of these juicers have a compact vertical design. Even with all the pieces on, I can easily store it on my counter under my upper cabinets. Both juicers are slow masticating juicers which crush and press the fruits and veggies (instead of grinding, blending or chopping) to extract the most juice possible without damaging the nutrients.

Compared to the Lexen, I found both the Hurom and Omega VRT 350 to be faster, easier to add fruits and veggies one-handed without much tamping, and able to extract more juice. But the juice is not completely smooth like with the Lexen. The Hurom and Omega are also a little trickier to clean. Both come with a two-headed toothbrush/pick and yes, you need to use it.

The differences between the Hurom and Omega VRT 350? The Omega comes with 2 juicing screens (a fine and a course for more or less pulp) and is $10-$20 more expensive. The Hurom has a handle on the back which can be useful for tipping the machine to get the last bit of juice out. Overall, both are stellar machines and a great way to up to your veggie intake.

**GIVEAWAY** The kind folks over at Omega are hosting a 10 juicer giveaway of their new Omega VRT 350. A perfect way to counteract all those holiday cookies and cocktails or a great gift for someone in your life. To enter, leave us a comment below answering this: What is your biggest holiday temptation? Is it the eggnog or the appetizers? Candy canes or Starbuck’s yummy holiday coffee drinks? Leave us a comment below and hopefully you’ll be on your way to a healthy and happier holiday season!

One entry per person. US residents only. No PO boxes. Entries must be received by Dec. 2, 2011, 11:59 pm. Winners chosen by random.org and notified via email. If winners do not reply with their shipping details within 2 days of notification, a new winner will be chosen.
Filed Under: Cooking, Feeding & Mealtime, For the Home, Giveaways Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Taking My Whirlpool Duet For a Whirl

November 26, 2011 By kate 3 Comments

Recently I told you about my experience with Lowe’s Appliance Selector Tool, but what I didn’t tell you much about was the appliance it led me too – the Whirlpool Duet Front-Loader Washer and Dryer with steam.

Is it legal to marry an appliance?

This washer/dryer set had more features than I knew what to do with when it arrived, but over the last month, I’ve come to appreciate the variety of options it offers. It doesn’t just wash and dry clothes. It steam-cleans my son’s stinky soccer uniform, soaks my husband’s white shirts, de-allergenates (?) my baby’s sheets and delicately hand-washes my “Hand wash only” wool sweater.

So without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to my new favorite duo.

Meet The Washer.

Big. I have three young boys which means we go through a lot of grass-stained, food-spilled, dirt-caked clothes in a week. This washer has a 4.3 cu. ft. drum which means I can wash a week’s worth of all three of my boys’ clothes IN ONE LOAD. Unfortunately, I still have to fold them all.

Serious choice of cycles. Normal, Bulky, Allergen, Heavy Duty, Whites, Jeans, Quick, Delicate, Hand wash, Rinse/Drain/Spin – whatever you’re washing, there’s a cycle to meet your washing needs. This week I used Normal (my clothes), Bulky (our down comforter), Whites (husband’s dress shirts), Hand wash (wool sweaters) and Allergen (boys’ clothes after stomach flu was going around school).

Personalize your wash. Beyond the cycles, you can adjust the water temperature (5 choices), spin speed (5 choices) and degree of dirtiness (3 levels). Plus you can add on a presoak, OXI dispense, extra rinse, deep clean with steam or EcoBoost. My favorites are the presoak option (an option I thought was lost with a front-loader), EcoBoost and Steam Clean.

No rush. Want to start a load of laundry before you hit the hay or head out for the day? No worries about your damp laundry sitting for hours with Whirlpool’s FanFresh button which periodically tumbles the load and circulates air through the washer which keeps the clothes fresh and ready for the dryer when you are ready.

Energy-efficient. The washer is ENERGY STAR® qualified, but beyond that it meets Tier III requirements from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, the highest level of water and energy savings.

Meet The Dryer.

Fast! This was the first thing I noticed about the dryer. My last dryer took twice as long as my washer to finish a load. This Whirlpool dries an entire load in about 30 minutes – and that’s on the Medium Heat/Less Dry setting. Impressive!

Personalize your drying. Six cycles to choose from (Delicate, Casual, Normal, Bulky, Jeans, Heavy Duty, Towels) plus two timed settings – Enhanced Touch-up and Quick Refresh which use steam to relax wrinkles and refresh clothes.

My favorite feature. I iron my husband’s dress shirts every other week, but frankly I don’t enjoy it. However I’m also fairly thrifty which means I’d rather iron than pay for dry-cleaning. Fortunately, the Whirpool dryer has a two features to make my life easier – a Wrinkle Shield add-on which periodically tumbles and steams the clothes to prevent wrinkling for up to 120 minutes after the load finishes and the Enhanced Touch-Up cycle which quickly tumbles and steams clothes to de-wrinkle them thereby making my ironing job a bit easier.

LED Drum Light. I have to admit I thought this was a silly feature at first. Until I had to find my yoga pants in the back of the dryer for a 6 AM class at my fitness club. Or my son’s soccer socks right before we have to run out the door. Since the 4.3 cu. ft. drum is so large, it’s nice to have a light to see what the heck is back there.

If you’re in the market for a new washer or dryer, give Whirlpool a visit or check out Lowe’s Appliance Selector Tool to help you find the perfect appliance for your lifestyle, space and budget.

Mommies With Style was not paid for this review. Lowes provided a product sample for this review. The reviews expressed here are my own.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and will be ironing tonight. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Eco-friendly, For the Home Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hot Holiday Toys: LeapFrog’s My Own Story Time Pad & #Giveaway

November 23, 2011 By kate 110 Comments

WINNER ANNOUNCED! Congrats to Ada Miller who won the LeapFrog My Own Story Time Pad! Thanks to all who entered!

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Giveaway #3 is here! This time it’s LeapFrog’s new My Own Story Time Pad – an easy-to-use tablet for little LeapFroggers. Perfect for kids 2+ years (though fun for younger kids too), the Story Time Pad is a lightweight tablet that includes stories, songs and activities that can be personalized for your child! Scout, Violet and the other LeapFrog friends educate and entertain as your child learns about letters, phonics, storytelling, music and more.

One of the coolest features of the My Own Story Tim Pad is the ability to personalize a number of the activities. Using LeapFrog’s Connect Application, you can have Scout or Violet say your child’s name, customize parts of stories and songs, and create pretend emails and messages from friends or family members. Toddlers will get a kick out of hearing Scout call them by name, mention their friends and talk about their favorite places.

My Own Story Time Pad comes pre-loaded with 1 story, 1 email, and 3 songs, but by connecting to the LeapFrog Connect Application you can download additional stories and songs (up to 5 stories, 10 songs and 3 emails at a time).

Some of my favorite feature:

- No tablet envy. I love that the tablet looks and feels similar to LeapFrog’s LeapPad tablet and other adult tablets but is geared for younger learners. No more arguing over who gets to use the tablet! With the My Own Story Time Pad, my 3 year old can have a tablet geared just for him.

- No wrong buttons. Whenever I give my kids my phone to play a game, I inevitably find stuff rearrange, reprogrammed or downright missing. One of the great things about the Story Time Pad is that there are no wrong buttons! Kids can press buttons is any order, at any time and the tablet will not delete content, harm the activities or self-destruct. Plus any button they push will likely make a sound, start a new activity or provide some kind of giggle-inducing feedback.

- Durable. LeapFrog makes stuff for kids. Kids that drop stuff. So they’ve made the My Story Time Pad out of durable plastic that can handle the bangs and bumps of life.

- Lightweight. The tablet weighs in at just over 1 lb. and is easy for a child to hold in the car or fit on his lap.

- Multiple volume settings. The Story Time Pad features two volume settings which is nice, but unfortunately no headphone jack which I wish it had.

Visit Leapfrog.com to learn more and purchase a My Own Story Time Pad – available in white or purple for $29.99 (Be sure to sign up for LeapFrog’s emails to hear about great holiday deals and sales too.)

** GIVEAWAY ** Win a My Story Time Pad of your very own! To enter, leave a comment below telling us what tech gadget is on your holiday wishlist. (And be sure to check out Whitney and the other Gift Guide Girls‘ post on innovative, adorable and drool-worthy tech gifts here!) You can earn additional entries by doing any of the following – be sure leave us separate comments to tell us you did! 1) Like LeapFrog or Mommies With Style on Facebook, 2) Follow LeapFrog or MWS on Twitter, 3) Follow me on Twitter, or 4) Tweet about the giveaway with the hashtag #MWSgiveaway. Entries must be received by Monday, December 5th 11:59pm, PST. One winner will be picked via random.org and notified via email. Sorry, no P.O. boxes. US residents only.

MWS was not paid for this review. LeapFrog provided a sample of the product for review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and is hoping Santa brings her a tablet. She has been very good this year. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Coupons & Freebies, Electronics, Giveaways, Kids, Play Time Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hot Holiday Toys: LeapFrog Tag Solar System & #Giveaway! (Winner Announced)

November 17, 2011 By kate

GIVEAWAY WINNER – Congrats to Autumn who won our LeapFrog giveaway of the Solar System Adventure Pack. Thanks to all who entered!

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Back again with another hot new holiday toy (and a giveaway!) from LeapFrog. I’ve already written about my love of LeapFrog’s Tag Reading System here and here, and one of the great things about the system is that they keep expanding and adding new products like this – the Tag Solar System Adventure Pack.

Available as a bundle with a Tag pen ($53.98, but on sale for $49.99) or on its own ($13.99), the Solar System Adventure Pack extends your child’s learning to the stars! Literally! Much like the Tag World Map and United States Map, the dual-sided, interactive Solar System Map offers over 40 different out-of-the-world learning activities on the planets, sun, orbits, moon phases, seasons, asteroids and more! It contains the “basics” but also goes beyond to talk about things like the deposed Pluto and other dwarf planets plus a section called “How Do We Know” that tackles questions like life on other planets, and how we know how far away stars are.

In addition to the map itself, the Solar System Adventure Pack also comes with a “Passport to the Stars” sticker book that helps reinforce the learning and is just plain fun for sticker-loving kids. Plus, the stickers interact with the Tag pen!

Some of my favorite features:

- Size: While we own the World and USA Maps as well, the Solar System map folds down to the same size as a traditional Tag book which means it’s easier to bring along and to store with our other Tag books.

- Multiple levels: LeapFrog does such a good job at creating toys that offer multiple levels of play. The Solar System Map offer two levels of content so both my older boys can use it and be challenged.

- Information variety: The entire Tag series does a great job of packing in the information. From facts and data to games and activities, the Solar System map teaches and reinforces the learning through a variety of methods.

GIVEAWAY! LeapFrog is giving away a Solar System Adventure Pack that comes with their latest Tag Reader! To enter, leave a comment below telling us why this would be a hit with your kids. You can earn additional entries by doing any of the following – be sure leave us separate comments to tell us you did! 1) Like LeapFrog or Mommies With Style on Facebook, 2) Follow LeapFrog or MWS on Twitter, 3) Follow me on Twitter! Entries must be received by Saturday, November 26th 11:59pm, PST. One winner will be picked via random.org and notified via email. Sorry, no P.O. boxes. US residents only.

Filed Under: Coupons & Freebies, Electronics, Games, Giveaways, Kids Tagged With: , , , ,

Hot Holiday Toys: LeapPad by Leapfrog & Giveaway (Winner Announced)

October 26, 2011 By kate

AND THE WINNER IS….Congratulations to our lucky winner of the LeapFrog LeapPad giveaway – Marcia Campbell.  Thanks to all who entered and check back soon on Mommies With Style for additional holiday products from LeapFrog! More giveaways of new LeapFrog products coming soon!

* CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED *

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I am thrilled to be working again with LeapFrog this holiday season to bring you some sneak peaks and great giveaways of LeapFrog’s latest releases. Today we’re starting with their hottest new item for the holidays: the LeapPad.

Just like you want an iPad, your kids are going to want to get their hands on a LeapPad. Even better, I have one to giveaway to one lucky MWS reader! Read on…

The LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet is the newest all-in-one device from LeapFrog. You can play games, draw pictures, read books, hear stories, watch videos and even take your own pictures or movies! My boys have been fans of the Tag Readers and the Leapster Explorer, but the new LeapPad offers the best variety of activities. Here are just a few of the reasons you’ll love the LeapPad.

Variety. Numbers, letters, shapes, words, adding, subtracting, comparing, problem-solving, time, coloring, drawing, measuring, logic, reasoning, patterns, charts, phonics, geography, foreign languages. What can’t you learn on the LeapPad? With a library of over 100 games, ebooks, apps, videos and flashcards, the LeapPad provides an endless supply of learning opportunities.

Durable. LeapFrog makes stuff for kids, and they know how kids treat things. Keep teaching your kids to be careful, but know that the LeapPad comes with a sturdy, yet sleek, outer shell, a scratch resistant screen and 2 stylus pens (though you can use your finger too).

Compatible. One of the big complaints about LeapFrog products in the past is that they kept coming out with great products! Well, that wasn’t the problem as much (Apple seems to have survived this flaw), but that the games you’d buy for one game couldn’t transfer to the new device LeapFrog was coming out with. They heard the complaints and adjusted, and the new LeapPad is compatible with all the Leapster Explorer games – and vice versa. Already own Leapster Explorer games? They’ll work on the new LeapPad. And if you buy games of the LeapPad, you can load them on your Explorer too.

Adaptable. My oldest boys are close enough in age that we have few toys that are clearly for one child or the other, but they are not at the same level academically. With the LeapPad (and many of the the LeapFrog products), you can create different log-ins for each child and set the games for each child’s level. So both my boys can help WALL-E sort trash or explore the ocean floor with Dory on the Pixar Pals game, but can answer questions and do activities set to their specific level.

Snap & Record. While previous LeapFrog products had cameras as an add-on device, the LeapPad comes with a camera and a video recorder built-in. These are fun just by themselves, but add in a few apps like Story Studio which allows you to create your own story and record it or Photo Studio where a simple photo can be stamped or drawn on to create unique final products and the fun is endless. Parents can even share their kid’s creations via Facebook or email.

Follow. I think a lot of parents may not utilize LeapFrog’s Learning Path software, but I highly recommend it. You download it onto your computer and then whenever you plug in your child’s LeapPad to update it, download new games, etc, it will track your child’s progress. Learning Path can show you which activities your child spends the most time on and which they never play, which kinds of questions they get right and which they struggle with, which skills they are learning and which they need work on. I love that while my son is enjoying playing games, reading books and doing activities on the LeapPad, I can get an individual look at different academic skills he’s developing or struggling with.

What’s in the box?

LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet (with 2GB Storage)

Built-in Camera & Video Recorder

Pet Writing App

Story Studio App*

Art Studio App*

Free App Download*

USB Cable

LeapFrog Connect CD & Quickstart Guide

Extra stylus with tether

2 App Center Download Cards (value of $40 total)

1-year limited warranty

*To download these apps you must install the LeapFrog Connect Application and complete registration.

LeapFrog also sent along two of their new games – Disney Pixar Pals and Pet Pals 2. Pixar Pals has games with the characters of WALL-E, Toy Story and Finding Nemo. My 5-year-old has been loving learning about recycling and the environment with WALL-E while my 3.5-year-old is more enamored with washing, feeding and caring for his pet dog on Pet Pals 2. He thinks he’s playing with a cute computerized puppy; I know he’s learning how to count, add and subtract.

The Less Than Great. I’ve always been impressed with LeapFrog’s products, but the LeapPad truly is my favorite to-date. The two things I’m less than thrilled about are  the battery life and the price of the game cartridges. The LeapPad requires 4 AA batteries and it eats through them pretty fast. You can purchase a separate AC adapter if you know you’ll be using it at home a lot, but since we always bring these in the car on long trips, the battery life can become an issue. As for buying additional content, most of the apps you can download about $5-$10, but the game cartridges are $24.99. My kids aren’t into true video games yet, so maybe this is cheap in comparison, but this was higher than I was hoping for.

The LeapPad retails for $99 and you can buy it individually at places like Amazon, but I recommend buying one of the bundles through LeapFrog.com. You’re going to want additional games and activities and the LeapFrog’s Store offers a number of different money-saving bundles to suit your needs – Reading & Writing, Reading & Math, Ultimate Boys Bundle, and bundles with $40 in app downloads. Definitely worth it.

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WIN! Here’s your chance to win a brand new LeapFrog LeapPad of your very own along with Disney Pixar Pals, Pet Pals 2 and $20 in download credits. To enter, tell us in a comment below what feature you’re looking forward to the most on the LeapPad. You can earn one additional entry for each of the following – leave a comment below to let us know you did: (1) follow LeapFrog on Facebook or (2)  Twitter, (3) tweet about the contest using the hashtag #LeapPad, (4) follow MWS on Facebook or (5) follow me on Twitter. Entries must be received by Saturday, November 5th, 11:59pm PST. One winner will be picked via random.org and notified via email. Sorry, no P.O. boxes. US residents only.

Filed Under: Electronics, Games, Giveaways, Movies & Music, Play Time, Toys Tagged With: , , , , ,

Keeping Warm With Sierra Designs’ Flex Hoody Vest

October 25, 2011 By kate Leave a Comment

It’s cold. Usually fall is the nicest time of year where I live – yes, even nicer than summer which can be marred by fog.  After all the tourists have left, fall usually has unusually warm days, afternoons best spent at the beach and long evenings just begging you to come have dinner out on the deck. Except for this fall, which for some reason has been filled with more fog, cold and general fall-ness than normal.

But not to worry. The tea basket has found its place out on the counter, the crockpot is working overtime and my Sierra Designs Flex Hoody Vest has been keeping me warm on our  morning school drop-offs and post-dinner walks.  When Sierra Designs first sent this for me to test out a month or so ago, I honestly didn’t think I’d have a reason to test it for a few months at least – but the weather gods had different plans. So I’ve been giving the Flex Hoody Vest some serious playtime the last few weeks, and I’ve come to find out, there’s lots to love about it.

Warmth – with 650 fill goose down, the Flex Hoody Vest keeps your torso toasty without adding bulk to your arms or decreasing mobility.

Hood – I’ve owned three vests in my lifetime, but none of them has had a hood, a feature I’ve loved for keeping head and ears warm on crisp walks and even when not worn, providing additional neck warmth and wind coverage.

Pockets – like most moms, I always travel with my “stuff” even if I’m just going around the block – my phone, cash, gloss, tissue – so I love the 2 zippered hand pockets and 3 interior pockets (1 zippered) for all the things I need when I’m out with the kids.

Color – I know a warm, down vest should be all about practical things, but it doesn’t hurt that Sierra Designs has some nice color options too. From Fern, Magenta and Sky to Eggplant, Agate and Black, you’ll find a subdued, natural or vibrant color to match your style and personality.

Visit Sierra Designs to learn more about the Flex Hoody Vest and their entire line of outer wear, active wear and gear for all your family’s outdoor adventures.

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MWS was not paid for this review. Sierra Designs provided a sample for the review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and will have a warm torso this fall thanks to Sierra Designs’ new Flex Hoody Vest. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Women’s Fashion Tagged With: , , , ,

Wine: The Perfect Gift (Plus a Giveaway!)

October 19, 2011 By kate

****** CONTEST NOW CLOSED *************

CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER JANICE!

Gifts, parties, and the holiday season are just around the corner which has me thinking a lot about….wine. Wine really is the perfect gift. It’s easy to give, received with a smile, and it’s good for your health! But picking out just the right bottles can be tedious which is why I love the idea of giving (and receiving!) wine club memberships. I recently had the chance to sample one of the California Wine Club‘s  3-month Premier Club wine memberships.

Let me first say that it’s pretty awesome to get wine delivered straight to your doorstep. And good wine at that. Errands (otherwise known as “adventures”) are hard enough with kids without trying to navigate the glass bottle displays of the wine aisle. This month’s California Wine Club delivery included two bottles from Perry Creek Winery, a mid-sized winery in the Sierra Foothills, located just east of Sacramento, CA. Though the original shipment also included a bottle of the 2009 El Dorado Chardonnay, since I opted for the red-only packaged, I received two bottles of Perry Creek’s ZinMan Zinfandel.

For the record, I like zins. Wine with kick. Wine with umph. But this was smoother than many others, only showing a subtle spiciness that hit you on the tail-end of the sip. It wasn’t super bold or spicy, but that made ZinMan very easy on the palate, yet still holding a complexity and depth that I enjoy in the varietal. In a word, it was good. I’ve had both bottles since they’ve arrived, one with a marinara pasta dinner and the other with pork chops though I could imagine ZinMan complimenting salmon, burgers or a number of cheeses as well.

Another benefit of joining the California Wine Club is that once you’re a member of one of their wine clubs, you can also stock up on your favorite past deliveries. They offer great discounts on buying additional bottles of that month’s wine as well as previous months.

So as you’re thinking about the upcoming holiday parties you’re throwing or attending, the holiday gifts you need to give or one’s you’d like to receive, or heck, if you’re thinking about how nice it would be to find WINE in your mailbox, check out the California Wine Club. For MWS readers, they are offering 10% off any gift order you place (use code: mommieswithstyle-11), PLUS, drumroll please……..You can WIN a 1-month subscription to the California Wine Club right here! That’s right. Wine in your mailbox. For being a loyal MWS reader. Want to win? Leave a comment below with why you’d love to find wine in your mailbox. You can earn additional entries for each of the following – leave a comment telling us you did each one.

Follow @cawineclub or @boringwineguy

Like The California Wine Club or The Boring Wine Guy on Facebook  (FYI – The owners’ last name is Boring. The wine is not.)

Follow @katebayless.

Like Mommies With Style on Facebook

Contest open to U.S. residents 21 years and older. Entries must be received by Wednesday, October 26th 2011 at 11:59pm PST. Sorry, no P.O. boxes.

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Mommies With Style was not paid for this review. A sample of the wine club shipment was  provided for the review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and lover of big, bold reds being delivered to her door. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Coupon Codes & Sales, Giveaways, Misc Tagged With: , , ,

Best Travel Beds For Babies

October 14, 2011 By kate Leave a Comment

Though ghouls, goblins and gobs of candy may be the next holiday on your mind, the holiday travel season is just around the corner. You know the one where you brave packed plane flights or hours in the car to visit great-aunt so-and-so or cousins so numerous you can’t even count. Some of you may have the luxury of having ample space for your family to spread out at your travel destination, but if you’re like me, our family of 5 often gets packed into a single room with a queen bed and some floor space.

Travel beds – especially space-saving one – become imperative when the holidays roll around. Get a jump on your holiday travel planning now with our top picks for the best travel beds for babies.

KidCo PeaPod

The PeaPod is a pop-out, pop-up tent. Available in two sizes, the PeaPod comes with an inflated sleeping pad (self-inflating in some models) and a ventilated, enclosed space for your child to sleep. The PeaPod is one of my favorite travel beds and here’s why: 1) It’s portable. The PeaPod folds up similar to your car sunshade into a compact size that easily fits into suitcases, trunks and overhead compartments. It also opens in mere seconds. 2) It’s enclosed. When the entire family is sleeping in the same room, it’s a little hard when my 1-year-old can pop his head out of the travel crib and check out his surroundings at any hour of the day or night. The zippered panels of the PeaPod keep him from being distracted by his new surroundings which make it easier for him (and us!) to sleep. 3) It’s versatile. I recently took the PeaPod with me on a trip to Yosemite and was amazed at its versatility. My son slept in it every night in our VW van, used it as a play tent on the grass at the Ahwahnee while we picniced and took an afternoon nap on the sandy bank of the Merced while we lounged by the river. Visit www.kidco.com to see the different sizes, colors and mattress options.

BabyBjorn Travel Light

Travel crib, pack-n-play, portacrib – whatever you call it, many parents are used to lugging one around when traveling with baby. BabyBjorn made this easier. Their Travel Crib Light took the basic pack-n-play and made it lighter (only 11 lbs compared to the 25-35 lbs of traditional pack-n-plays), more compact (19″ x 24″ x 6″), and much easier to set-up and take down (no locking sides to battle with). The frame sets up in just ONE step (well, two if you count pushing the mattress down) and in about 30 seconds.  The mattress is not bulky, but is plush enough to provide a comfortable cushion which is good since the mattress does rest directly on the floor. The wider base keeps the Bjorn Travel Crib Light steady and sturdy despite being lightweight, and the mesh sides allow for easy airflow. The Travel Crib Light can be used from newborns up to about a 3-year-old depending on the size of your child (the mattress size is 24″ x 41″ x 4″). Visit Bjorn at www.babybjorn.com to learn more and purchase.

philandteds Nest

I’ve written about the Nest here before. For the right age baby and travel circumstances, the Nest is in incredible 2-in-1 bassinet and suitcase. The pop-up bassinet is easy to assemble in seconds and provides a safe and soft sleeping area for babies up to 9 months or 20 lbs. When you’re ready to travel, fold down the bassinet and slip it into the included travel bag that has a second compartment on the other side to hold clothes, diapers, blankets and more. Especially for overnight trips, the Nest allows you to save space, forgo the diaper bag and make do with just one bag for all your baby’s needs. Unpacked, the Nest is also lightweight weighing in at 5.5 lbs. The bag will undoubtedly get heavier if you’re loading the other side with clothes, toys and other necessities, but the total weigh will still likely beat the heft required to lug most traditional pack-n-plays. Visit philandteds.com to learn more and purchase.

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Mommies With Style was not paid for this review. Samples were provided by the companies to facilitate the review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and one day dreams of traveling without baby gear. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Babies, Baby Bedding, Family Travel, On The Go Tagged With: , , , , ,

Lowe’s Helps Me Do My Laundry

October 9, 2011 By kate 1 Comment

There are a few things that can truly upset the working order of our house and bring things to a standstill – when the water has to be shut off (no showers! no flushing!), when the laundry isn’t working and when we are out of milk. It’s this middle dilemma that I was recently faced with – a 10+ year old washing machine that went from being semi-effective albeit noisily to quiet and smoking. Yes, literally smoking.

Once we discovered it was no easy fix our washer needed, I did what everyone does these days when they need information – I went online. The searching was endless, the option mind-boggling – what did I really need in a washer? What did I really want? Did I have time to worry about features when my laundry pile was starting to look like Mt Everest?!? And then I ended up in an unlikely place (for me anyways) – the Lowe’s website. I’m familiar with Lowe’s – we have one less than a mile away from us and I know that my husband frequents there often. But me? Not so much.

Lowe’s however had something called an Appliance Selector Tool which drew me in. You select your appliance (washer) and it asks you a handful of questions about your specifications, needs and desires (in my case, load size, energy efficiency, features like steam, pretreating, allergy cycles, etc.) Then, as you answer, it narrows down the appliance options to only show those that meet your criteria. When I was done answering all of the questions, the Appliance Selector Tool narrowed down Lowe’s 140 washing machines to just one – this Whirpool front-loader. It really did have everything I needed – a large capacity (4.3 cu. ft. for my family of 5), quiet (the washer is practically in our kitchen) and energy efficient, both Energy Star certified and CEE Tier III (the most efficient at saving water and energy). I was so impressed I got a bit ahead of myself and even used the Appliance Selector Tool to pick out a new refrigerator (for my dreams).

But the more I spent time on the Lowe’s website, the more I realized that Lowe’s can indeed be a place for the the whole family. From outdoor fall projects like fire pits, winter garden and homemade backyard games to kid-sized garden tools and kid’s Build And Grow building sets, Lowe’s offers much more than lumber and tools.

I even ventured down to our local Lowe’s on my own one afternoon to check out the Whirpool washing machine in person and was inspired to start pondering half a dozen different redecorating/DIY/organizing projects from the things I saw there. Plus I learned that Lowe’s offers Saturday morning Build and Grow clinics where I can take my three boys and help them construct all sorts of cool wood crafts like monster trucks, airplanes and pirate ships. Yep, put a tally mark in the cool mom category.

The next time the hubs needs to run down to Lowe’s for “just a few things” I think I might just tag along. And get my own cart.

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Mommies With Style was not paid for this review. I am working with Lowe’s to provide information about their site and services in exchange for product. The reviews expressed here are my own.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and after her recent visit to Lowe’s, is now considering remodeling nearly ever room in her house. Send help. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.
Filed Under: For the Home, Housewares Tagged With: , , , ,

Wine Pairing Made Easy with the CA Wine Club App

October 4, 2011 By kate 1 Comment

Red wine with red meat and white wine with fish and chicken, right? Or is it full-bodied wines with heavier meals and white wines with lighter meals? And what wines do you serve with soup, salads or desserts? Usually I tend to buy one type of wine – big, bold reds – because it’s what I like to drink best, but sometimes, I admit, I notice that my food and my wine aren’t playing nicely together.

So I’ve been having fun playing around with a new app from the California Wine Club – the CWC Food and Wine Pairing Wheel. The app provides seven different categories to choose from – Meat, Poultry, Fish, Pasta, Cheese, Starters and Desserts – and within those categories a number of specific flavors, meals or ingredients to choose from. For example, under Meat I can choose from suggestions for Roast Pork, Pork Chops, Pork Tenderloin, BBQ Pork Ribs which I love since not all pork cuts or dishes are the same. Just the same for Poultry I can choose between Cordon Bleu, Chicken Marsala, Roasted Chicken and BBQ Chicken just to name a few in the category.

For each dish, the app provides 3 different wine pairings – often both red AND white options. Welcomed news for a girl who doesn’t drink much white.  The app is a breeze to use, helps you think beyond the “red meat-red wine” paradigm and currently is free! I snuck a peak at it last weekend when the husband and I went out for dinner to find a good match for his rack of lamb (Cab, Syrah or Merlot), and used it yesterday at Trader Joe’s when I received a text for an impromptu wine and dessert get together from a girlfriend. For the record, the tawny port the app recommended was stellar with the homemade créme brulée.

I’m not very knowledgeable about the world of cheese, but with the help of the CWC Food and Wine Pairing Wheel, I just might attempt that wine and cheese party I’ve been thinking about.

The CWC Food and Wine Pairing Wheel is available for both the iPhone and iPad. Visit the California Wine Club for more information or the Apple  iTunes App store to download.

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MWS was not paid for this post. We did receive an early release of the app to review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and happy to attend any and all wine tasting parties you want to invite her to. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage, Momtrends and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Cooking Tagged With: , , , , , ,

D-Link Wireless Camera: Baby Monitor and More

October 1, 2011 By kate Leave a Comment

My one beef with baby gear is often how short of a time it actually gets used. So I have a special place in my heart for gear that grows with your child or that is multipurpose. One of my latest finds is the mydlink-enabled Wireless N Network Camera (DCS-930L) from D-Link.

When you’re shopping for a baby monitor, you’re more likely to end up at Babies R’ Us than at Best Buy, but here’s why you might want to consider this wireless network camera for your nursery.

Multi-purpose. Yes, it can work as a baby video monitor, but it can also function as a nanny cam, a homework time checker, a cat-better-stay-off-the-couch watcher, a who-really-is-eating-cookies-at-night viewer, a grandparents-in-Florida-can-watch-Junior’s-birthday-party device and a security camera. Plus with the built-in microphone, you can see and hear everything that’s going on.

Plug and play. D-Link makes set-up simple with their plug-n-play technology which only requires 3 easy steps to set the camera up. No configuring routers, no complicated wires. Simple, easy and done in minutes.

View from anywhere with internet access. Your living room, your neighbor’s house, across the ocean or on your smart phone (yes, there’s an app for that). Anywhere you can access the internet, you can log on to mydlink.com, enter your username and password and view the camera’s contents. This means you can check in on your baby while doing email in the living room, watch your house while you’re on vacation, or allow faraway relatives to get a glimpse of daily life or a special event.

Wireless. No need for wires draped across the room. The camera connects wirelessly to your network so the power cord is the only one you’ll have to deal with. (It can be plugged in too if your house isn’t wired for WiFi.)

Camera Management Software. While the camera is simple and easy to use, advanced users can access some of the product’s fancier features with the included D-ViewCam management software. With this software, users can set up trigger motion detection, record directly from the camera to a local hard drive, create recording schedules or e-mail alert notifications, and add additional cameras. (Software for for Windows PCs only.)

The mydlink-enabled Wireless N Network Camera ($79) definitely costs more than a basic audio baby monitor, but it’s comparable to some of the more expensive video and audio baby monitors on the market. And it can do a whole lot more.

Visit D-Link to learn more and find an online or local retailer.

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Note: D-Link sent a sample of this product for review.

Filed Under: Child Safety, Electronics, Entertainment, For the Home, Nursery, Parents Tagged With: , , ,

Great Getaways: Mommy Goes to Vegas

September 27, 2011 By kate 3 Comments

I know what you think of when you think of Vegas – smoking, gambling, strippers, 24-hr all-you-can-eat buffets – not exactly many moms’ idea of a great getaway. But then again, you probably have not heard of the Vdara.

Not quite two years old, the Vdara is one of the newcomers to the Vegas strip that offers a perfect setting for moms to relax, renew, refresh and, if you want, kick up your heels a bit. Here’s why it should be on your radar.

Play your own game. Obviously, lots of people go to to Vegas for the gaming. From blackjack and roulette to war and penny slots, there is no shortage of gambling options. I love a good game of poker now and then, but for a girls’ weekend away, it’s not at the top of my list for fun. The Vdara is one of only a handful of non-gaming hotels that keeps you in proximity to the restaurants, shopping and activities of the Strip without hearing the ring, buzz, bells and cheers of the casino hall ALL. THE. TIME. But if and when you are ready to deal yourself in, the Vdara is just a short walk away from the Aria, Bellagio and other gaming hotels.

Cook up a fun evening. The Vdara is an all-suite hotel which means every room comes with a kitchenette that include a stovetop, fridge, dining table and often amenities like a microwave, coffee maker and stemware. In a town nicknamed “Lost Wages,” it is wonderful to have the option and ability to eat some meals in.

During my recent visit to the Vdara for a friend’s 40th birthday, we were able to serve drinks and appetizers in the room before heading out to see a show and even cooked up breakfast the next morning thereby avoiding a) having to leave the suite and b) spending $27/person for all-you-can-eat breakfast some restaurants offer. A serious money savings and for this group of foodies, nice to enjoy.

Stay together. The point of a girls’ weekend away is to spend time together, right? The Vdara makes this easy with their penthouses. With one- and two-bedroom penthouses, you can easily sleep up to six and actually spend your hours hanging out together instead of traveling back and forth between separate rooms. The penthouses are also located on the top floors (54-56) of the Vdara giving you spectacular views of the Strip and the nearby Bellagio water show.

Lounge in luxury. Any good getaway needs to include some relaxing, and the Vdara does it right. From made-to-order cocktails and an innovative lunch menu to private cabanas and plunge pools, the Vdara pool offers everything you need for an afternoon of lounging. The staff goes above and beyond to meet patron requests, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a reason to leave your lounge chair. Except perhaps for a cooling dip in the pool. If you’re looking for some additional pampering, the Vdara Spa offers single treatment and package deals to soothe, relax, rejuvenate and reinvent yourself from head to toe (Try the Snakeskin pedicure for a truly Vegas look.)

Other bonuses? The Vdara is non-smoking and eco-friendly, two extras that made me – and the Earth – breathe easier.

Want to visit? Check out www.vdara.com for current special and deals and to learn more about the property, services and amenities.

Mommies With Style was not paid for this review. Vdara did provide a complimentary one-night stay at the hotel to facilitate this review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and after seeing Viva Elvis, is now considering joining Cirque du Soleil. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Mommy Time, On The Go Tagged With: , , , ,

Beautisol: Self-Tanner That Smells As Good As It Looks!

September 7, 2011 By kate Leave a Comment

For me, there are three elements that can make or break a self-tanner: streaks, orange cast, and stink. I’ve tried ones that have great color, but are a pain to apply. I’ve used ones that are a breeze to apply, but whose aroma announce to the world, “HEY EVERYONE! I JUST SELF-TANNED!” But then I discovered Beautisol. And it just might be my holy grail of self-tanners.

The first thing you’ll notice is Beauitsol self-tanner smells great. Not just ok. Not just cloaked with a stronger fragrance to cover the self-tanner smell. Granted smell is a very person thing, but this stuff actually smells really good. Good enough for my husband to comment that I smelled nice when I got into bed wearing the stuff.  It’s not sweet, not flowery. More like a mild musky smell. (Musky in a good, perfume-language kind of way, not B.O.)

Beautisol is also really easy to apply. The lotion-like formula didn’t seem that different from others I’ve tried, but it definitely rubbed in easier and didn’t leave any streaks.

Finally, and of course most importantly, the color is fabulous. Natural. Realistic. Golden without an orange hue. Check out their before and after photos. I tried the Dark Tan which made me look golden. Not like I’d been whisked away to the Bahamas for the weekend because seriously, who are we kidding.  But Beautisol also comes in Medium Tan which fair-skinned folks might like better.

Beautisol also makes self-tanners specially geared for the face. They offer formulas for both oily/problematic skin as well as dry/normal skin.

Want more info? Visit www.beautisol.com. The site has a ton of information, handy how-to videos, tips and tricks and product ingredients.

Summer may be over, but your summer tan doesn’t have to be.

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Note: Beautisol sent a product sample to facilitate this review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and mom of three boys under 5. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage, Momtrends and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

Filed Under: Bath & Body, Make-up & Beauty Products, Mommy Time Tagged With: ,

Eco-Friendly Lunch Boxes for Back to School

August 29, 2011 By kate Leave a Comment

My oldest starts kindergarten in a few days which has a few significant changes from preschool last year.

1) He’ll be going to school every day.

2) The school day is 2 hours longer than preschool.

3) He’ll need to bring a lunch.

It’s this last one I’ve been thinking about recently. Though we have a few random lunch bags that we use for park picnics and lunch playdates, my son doesn’t have a good lunch box. I especially was interested in one that wouldn’t require 5+ plastic bags every day to wrap up the assortment of snacks and nibbles inside. I wanted it to be compact, be able to hold a variety of types of foods and be good for the Earth.  And turns out, there are a number of good options. I’d like to introduce you to a few of them (plus give you some discounts!): Easy Lunch Box, Lunchopolis, and Goodbyn.

Easy Lunch Box

The name really says it all for the Easy Lunch Box. Each set comes with a four BPA-free plastic storage containers that each have three compartments – one large, one medium and one small. I love the simplicity of not having to worry about separate containers for packing, washing or storing. Just load the different compartments up, press on the lid and throw it in the included cooler bag. You can even fit up to three containers in one bag making it ideal for bringing lunch for multiple children. If you’re just using it for one child, a single container leaves plenty of room in the cooler for a drink, ice pack, silverware and a piece of fruit. The lids are not leakproof (though they do have a handy trick for carrying foods like yogurt), but they are easy for small fingers to open – important when choosing what containers you send with your child to school. The set is also pretty darn affordable.

Love: Simplicity of packing, clean-up, storage; cooler bag has room to allow for other things beyond containers; vivid color selection; also love their slideshow of great lunch ideas

Price: 4-pack of containers $13.95, cooler bag $7.95 at www.easylunchboxes.com (free shipping on orders over $25 when you order them through this link)

Lunchopolis by New Wave Enviro

Lunchopolis keeps it simple – one lead-free cooler, 4 color-tinted BPA-free modular containers (p.s. they nest inside themselves for storage), and one color-tinted drink bottle. I really like how compact Lunchopolis is. It fits well into my son’s backpack and is easy for his little hands to hold.

Knowing how much running and playing my son tends to do during the day, I like that the drink container holds 15 oz (compared to Goodbyn’s 8 oz). The insulated interior of the bag keeps the food cool with the help of an ice pack (not included) slipped into the inner pocket and even with the 4 containers and drink container, there is still room to hold an apple or kiwi.

Love: compact; larger included drink container; color-coded containers keep lunches for multiple kids separate;

Price: $29.99 for the whole set; get 10% off Lunchopolis at www.healthylifewater.com with the code “MWS10″ (also currently offering free shipping!)

Goodbyn

Goodbyn‘s lunch containers are like an eco-friendly, compartmentalized, sturdy Tupperware and lunch bag in one. The molded plastic unit comes in two sizes (Bynto and Original) and each has multiple compartments, a drink container and a built-in handle so you don’t need an additional bag to carry the lunch box. One less thing to get dirty or lose! Goodbyns come in 6 colors and each includes a collection of dishwasher-safe stickers to turn your Goodbyn into an animal, alien or just a personalized design.

My 5-year-old had no problem opening the lid (though on the larger Original Goodbyn, it took some practice to get him to effectively reseal the lid all the way around when he was finished). He was thrilled with discovering what surprises filled each compartment and loved being able to decorate the outside as he saw fit. And these aren’t just for kids – Goodbyn are a great option for bringing your lunch to work too.

Love: all-in-oneness; included stickers to decorate and personalize; one-piece lid effectively separates food; durable plastic; internal space to hold drink container

Price: Original $25.95; Bynto $16.95 but special for MWS readers get 15% off your order when you use the code “MWS2011″ at checkout. Good through September 30, 2011.

I’ve got the lunch box. Now to figure what to pack in it everyday….

What’s your favorite lunch box?

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Disclaimer: Companies provided product samples to facilitate this review.

Filed Under: Cooking, Feeding & Mealtime, Kids, School gear Tagged With: , ,

Relaxing (Kid-less!) at Rancho Las Palmas

August 20, 2011 By kate Leave a Comment

Summer offers all sorts of opportunities with my three boys. Trips with my boys, adventures with my boys, afternoon ice cream with my boys, summer evening bike rides with my boys. And this is all wonderful. But there also happens to be another boy I like to spend time with – my husband. And as wonderful as it is to spend time together as a family, it’s pretty wonderful to get time with just the two of us too.

So a few weeks ago, after a summer of family adventures, my husband and I slipped off for a midweek getaway to Palm Springs at the lovely Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (which technically is in Rancho Mirage).

Palm Springs? In the summer??! you ask.

And yes, it was crazy hot. I think it topped out at 108°F during our stay. But compared to sleeping in late, lounging by the pool, quiet, uninterrupted dinners with my husband and midday mojitos? I could definitely handle the heat for all this.

Rancho Las Palmas is a nice place to bring your whole family (more on this later), but they have some nice features if you’re looking to get away for some adult time too. Here were some of our highlights:

Tranquility Pool: Far away from the screams and splashes of Splashtopia lies the Tranquility Pool, an adults-only oasis with lushly padded teak furniture, relaxing music and very attentive poolside service. We spent a lot of time here.

The Rooms: There are over 444 guest rooms (and 22 suites) to choose from at Rancho Las Palmas, but we scored a second-level Plaza room overlooking a lagoon. The resorts has just finished a $35 million transformation and it shows. The rooms are impeccably decorated, filled with useful amenities and provide an abundance of comfort.

The Food: We sampled a number of quite enjoyable sips and snacks from two of the four restaurants on the premises, bluEmber and Palms Cafe. When it finally gets under 80°F in the late evening, bluEmber also has a great outdoor lounging area with comfortable seating, music and firepits.

While the food at Rancho was lovely, I have to recommend a few other places we ventured out to in downtown Palm Springs – El Marisol, Las Casuelas Terraza and the Chop House. Each of these places had incredible food, great ambiance and noteworthy service. Highly recommended. (C’mon – how good does this look?)

It was so warm when we were there that we weren’t up for much physical activity, but Rancho Las Palmas also boasts 25 tennis courts, a 27-hole Ted Robinson-designed golf course and the award-winning Spa Las Palmas which includes indulgences like the Salty Mango Body Scrub and the Ice Cream Pedicure!

But if the kids happen to be along….

Rancho Las Palmas is perfectly suited for families too. Splashtopia lives up to its name with 100-ft. water slides, water sprayers, a lazy river, sandy beach and more. There are a collection of Poolside Rooms for those people who want to be right next to the action, a Splash Grill for convenient meals and family friendly events like “Dive In” movies and water slide races.

Kids or no kids, summer, winter, spring or fall, Rancho Las Palmas is a great place to getaway, relax and unwind or enjoy some fun in the sun. Visit their website for the latest specials and to see more of the resort.

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Disclaimer: Rancho Las Palmas provided a 2-night stay to facilitate this review.

Filed Under: On The Go, Parents Tagged With: , , ,

Living Well At La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, C A

August 10, 2011 By kate 1 Comment

On a recent trip to Legoland, I had the chance to stay at the La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA. I initially was researching the hotel as a good place to take some girlfriends for a getaway. I also pondered just getting away with my husband. But as circumstances would have it, I ended up visiting with my entire family. And here’s what I found:

La Costa Resort & Spa is a great place to bring any of those people.

La Costa is in the process of completing a $50 million re-design project that is updating everything from the guest rooms and spa to the new adult pool and outdoor events spaces. The property is simply gorgeous. And there are amenities and activities that make La Costa the perfect place to bring your family, your friends, your special someone, or heck, even just yourself.

Great for families.

Though the serene ambiance of the place might suggest otherwise, La Costa is indeed set up for families. My kids were immediately won over the minute we checked in and they received a goody bag from the front desk. Nothing puts a toddler at ease like a granola bar, juice and mini beach ball. We were put up in a Family Suite – 2 rooms (1 king bed room and 1 double queen room) joined together by a common sitting area. Granted it was a little overkill for my 5 and 3.5YO who were nearly swallowed up in a queen bed and decided to sleep together spooning on a corner of the bed, but the space and separate rooms were nice, especially when bedtime rolled around.

The kids spent little time in the room though as most of the day was enjoyed at Splash Landing, La Costa’s central pool area that consists of 3 waterslides, a resort pool and a toddler pool. La Costa also offer Kidtopia, a kid camp and childcare facility in case you decide to enjoy a spa treatment or an adult dinner. We ate dinner at the resort’s in-house restaurant, Legends Bistro, the first night, and I was immediately put at ease about having the kids in the dining room when they told us about the special kid’s buffet. Despite its polished exterior, La Costa knows how to keep kids happy.

Great for getting away with the girls.

Families are great, but sometime you need a night away with the girls. La Costa is the perfect place to plan your getaway.  I’m already talking with my girlfriends to plan a weekend excursion. On the agenda? Facials and massage at the newly renovated La Costa Spa. A lunch of Veggie Thai Wraps at the Spa Cafe. Lounging by the Spa Pool. Specialty cocktails from Chef Gregory Frey at the Bluefire Grill. In the morning, a slow walk through the new Reflexology Path which has carefully placed stones to stimulate pressure points in the feet and an invigorating Spinning or Pilates class at the newly remodeled Fitness Club. Then smoothies at the pool. However there is some bad news. At some point, we’ll have to leave.

Great for couples.

While La Costa is great for families, it would also be a luxurious getaway for you and your other half. Although it wasn’t finished when we were there, the adult-only pool and lounge is set to be finished in Fall 2011. The sophisticated settings will include a cafe, infinity-edge Jacuzzis, panoramic views and cozy seating around fire pits. Yes please!

If you find a reason to leave your room and are looking for something to do, there is the spa with its myriad of services, the fitness center, 17 tennis courts, a 36-hole golf course (opening October), boutiques for shopping and a Chopra Center. And that’s just on the premises!

And…

I know I’m not alone when I say that sometimes mommy needs a night away – ALONE. It’s good for the mind, the body, the soul, the psyche. Yep, you guessed it. La Costa is good for that too.

Granted my kids and husband where in the next room, but I snuck in my own mini-getaway too.

Visit www.lacosta.com for more information or to plan your own getaway.

Disclaimer: Thanks to La Costa for providing a 2-night stay for my family to facilitate this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Family Travel, Mommy Time, On The Go Tagged With: , , ,
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