No Butts About It

Here are a couple of hard-and-fast truths I have discerned from my two sojourns down the potty training road. One: easy-on, easy-off pants are an absolute must. And two: once skinny-mini kids lose the ample padding of a diaper, easy-off usually translates into "always falling down." For those whose fashion sense is more Nick. Jr. and less MTV, this poses all kinds of problems.

But Myself Belts offers a solution, giving kids a welcome alternative to endless days of elastic-waist pants, or spending their tender years looking like a would-be rap star. With famous fans like Cindy Crawford and Sarah Jessica Parker, this award-winning product makes it easy for kids to independently (that's the key word!) dress and undress themselves. The ingenious design includes a snap that holds one end of the belt around your child's front belt loop, and Velcro that even young children can easily manage. Available in twelve fun designs (including prints for girls and boys and solid black and brown), Myself Belts fit kids from 28 to 48 pounds.

My son loves his sports-themed belt, and has no problem getting it on and off quickly. And since apparently, in four-year-old land, bathroom trips must be put off until the absolute LAST moment possible, that is worth its weight in gold. Myself Belts range between $12.50-$14.50. They can be found at retail stores across the country and on-line at myselfbelts.com. Buy two or more belts and receive free shipping. Mommies With Style readers can shop on-line with the code STYLE through April and receive 10% off their order.

This Little Piggy Got a Pedicure

Here's my little secret. Sometimes, during yoga, when I'm supposed to be focusing on my Ujjayi breathing and lifting my hips higher during downward facing dog, I am actually peeking down at my toenails, and thinking about how cute they look. I know, it's shallow. But I get a small rush joy from seeing my nicely painted, bright pink toes. So what if I can't hold tree pose for more than a few seconds without falling over? At least my feet look nice.

I like painting my toenails for the same reason I like shoes. It doesn't matter what time of the month it is, how many cookies I polished off after last night's dinner, or even that in general, age, pregnancies and motherhood have reared their ugly heads on my body. Unlike all of my other parts, my feet are very forgiving. All it takes is a small amount of time and effort and they are looking good and ready to go. And best of all, unlike a manicure (which tends to last about seven minutes on busy mommy hands!), pedicures have staying power. Once it's done, it's done for at least a couple of weeks. Don't you wish you could say that about everything on your list?

So for all these reasons and more, I love, love, love Dashing Diva. An NYC-based nail studio, they also have an on-line store full of pedicure (and manicure) treats. I especially adore the nail art kits -- smart little self-stick art that you place over your polished nail. Add a clear topcoat and Voila! You have perfectly pedicured nails that look like you just walked out of a salon. So, if you want to get those pretty little feet of yours ready for a season of flip-flops, kiddie pools and trips to the park, check out Dashing Diva . They have just about everything you might need to keep them looking sweet.

15% off at Timberland

Get comfy and save 15% off your purchase of Timberland's new Fells Collection, only at Timberland. Use code FELLSPR3 at checkout to receive the savings through March 15.

The shoes are available for the whole family.

Go Boho with Banana

Confession time, I'm wearing my first Banana Republic pants, ever! And I love them! So, I decided to take sometime and enjoy their site.

First, have you SEEN their new handbag collection? OMG!! Gorgeous--so many people are talking about them... its only a matter of time until I cave and grab one (or two) for me. But next, you have to check out their new Bohemian line--so fun and trendy! Love it!

Okay, enough shopping, for now. Here's the scoop. Save 15% and get free shipping on orders over $125 with code: BANANA15. Offer is good through March 15, 2006. Plus, get 30% off your t-shirts when you buy 2 or more.

Laurie Berkner fans... check out this DVD

Any of you out there with Noggin will recognize Laurie Berkner and her music, if you don't already ("Bumblebee/Buzz Buzz", "Pig on her Head", "We Are the Dinosaurs"). She's currently the top-rated children's music artist in the U.S. Her songs are fun and catchy -- fun as in, fun for the kids AND THE MOMMIES. You have to love that.

I had done a "shuffle songs" on my iPod recently and caught myself singing along to one of Laurie's songs, and my son was no where to be found. That's how I determine good kids' music - if it's good enough to me to listen to when I'm on my own, then bring it on.

Her latest release is We are... the Laurie Berkner Band, a DVD which is a collection of some of more popular songs' music videos, eleven songs in total.

$9.99 on Amazon.com, and it's eligible for free shipping when you spend $25. (Quick! Because when I wrote this yesterday it was $10.99 but it seems to have dropped in price today.)

By the way, for fans, Laurie will on the Today Show performing on Friday, March 10th.

Growing Cooks: Inspire creativity in the kitchen

Mommies, I have to tell you how much I love this site. Growing Cooks features child-sized cooking materials and cooking kits.

Why do I love it? When my older son was about to turn 2, we realized that the most difficult time of day for us was between nap and dinner. I was trying to cook, he needed attention, and Daddy couldn't get home fast enough. One day, we pulled the chair up to the counter, and invited our son to cook with us. He was hooked. And so were we!

Finally, I found Growing Cooks. Growing Cooks' philosophy is "Teaching children to indulge their culinary creativity" and the owner, Frank, explained to me that "one of my goals is to lessen children's and parents' dependence on prepackaged food by taking the mystique out of cooking and make it a way to get the family together." This is exactly what we needed at our home.

Growing Cooks offers cooking supplies, like utensil sets (made for boys or girls--make sure you state which you would like when you order) and great gift packages, such as the Chef's Hat Gift Package which includes a rolling pin, cookbook and more wrapped into a professional paper chef's hat. And at a great price!

Are you looking for a unique birthday party idea? Then you have to check out the pizza party kits (also available are tea party and cookie party). Each kit includes supplies like a rolling pin and pizza pan (in the case of the pizza party), a child-sized apron, chef hat, and recipe card. (Also included are tips for the parent for running a great cooking party.) No need to worry about what the kids will eat, do and take home as a favor--its all included in the kits!

Use the coupon code mommieswithstyle to save 10% off your purchase.

A belt for everyone on Preppy Potato

Recently featured in US Weekly, Preppy Potato makes some great trendy belts for women and kids. There are all sorts of styles and patterns available for purchase so anyone can find something to suit their taste. (I'm particularly drolling over the "Myers collection.")

All the belts come gift wrapped, so these make a good present if you aren't shopping for yourself. Also, they sell maternity belts - how cool is that! Click on the "Mommy 2 Be" collection and you can order a belt to size (you have to call to custom pick a fabric out and order it).

Buy any adult belt, and receive a child's belt half off (savings of $15.00), OR buy any adult belt and get the second at half price (savings of $22.00). At checkout, write "mommies with style" in the comments section and the money will be refunded via Paypal once the order has gone through. Or alternatively, call the number on the website (704-975-4550) and receive the discount when the credit card info is taken. Offer good until April 1, 2006.

Fashionable and one-of a-kind: on sale!

Lilywear combines rich color and playful design to create fashionable, wearable, t-shirts. Each piece is individually hand-printed.

The ladies of Miele Fresca are cleaning house to make room for great new 2006 styles. While supplies last, 2005 women's tees are on sale at prices ranging from $5-$35.

20% off one-of-a-kind jewelry at Prismera

Here's a site for cute hand-crafted jewelry: Prismera. She offers several collections, some of which are very colorful and fun, as she uses crystal prisms that reflect the light.

Use coupon code STYLETREAT for 20% off your order.

New Diego movie: hooray!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first ever Go, Diego, Go movie. (There's "Meet Diego," but it's a Dora episode)

Go Diego Go: The Great Dinosaur Rescue was released February 21, 2006, and I'm all over ordering it as I'm trying to encourage more Diego and less Dora (as my boy seems to have a crazy obsession with Dora and his favorite color is pink.)

It's $10.99 on Amazon and eligible for free shipping when you spend $25 or more.

A Place for Everything ...

Any mom with a"nuker baby" (as we call them at our house) knows that keeping track of a pacifier, not to mention keeping it clean, is a never-ending affair.

Enter the Essentials Pacifier Pod by J.J. Cole. This itsy-bitsy pouch, which looks like a mini-me version of your favorite diaper bag, is made just for your child's pacifier. It has a Velcro closure, and a handle that makes it easy to attach to nearly anything ... carseats, strollers, diaper bags and more. The Pacifier Pod retails for $8, comes in two cool color combinations and measures just 7.7 inches by 4.1 inches by 1.2 inches. How cute is that?

Pick up the Pacifier Pod on Babystyle through Sunday, February 26 and receive 20% off. The coupon code SPRING20 is valid store-wide. Use it on everything from clothes to strollers, and get FREE SHIPPING on all orders $100 or more.

I want a pair of these in Mommy size

So if you have hardwood or tile in your house, and have a crawling infant, this product's for you. Baby Legs look like something straight out of the 80's - mini leg-warmers for your little one, which I'm sure will amuse all you children of the 80's (I know it does me.).

They have several very practical functions: they protect your little one's knees from hard surfaces; not to mention that they keep them warm; and they make diaper changes easy! (No need for pants in the house with these - just a onesie and a pair of Baby Legs and your baby's well prepared for their day.)

A pair of Baby Legs is $12.00 and can be found on BeBeCandy.com. Use coupon code mommystyle15 for 15% off your order.

Bistro Box!

Did you know that most parents only reintroduce a food 3-5 times, while studies show it takes 8-15 times for new foods to get a green light from toddlers? Baby Bistro Brands introduces the Toddler Bistro Box and the Baby Bistro Box, which were conceived in response to moms who were finding it difficult to come up with ideas of how and what to feed their babies and toddlers! The Bistro Boxes come in a recipe card format which will allow you to have the useful information available at your finger tips! The Toddler Bistro Box covers from 1-3 years, and is cleverly designed to include the latest on food and environmental safety, easy yummy recipes, shopping tips, nutrient and supplement needs, toddler personality tendencies, and creative activities. The Toddler Bistro Box supports parents in their efforts to grow healthy, happy toddlers! The Box is full of useful information that will really get you thinking! Did you know that you need to wash and scrub produce that has rinds like cantaloupes and oranges because your cutting knife transfers pesticides and bacteria into the fruit? I was really surprised to find this out and more.

The Baby Bistro Box is similar in topics but covers from 0-12 months.

Mommies With Style readers can save 10% by using coupon code MWSC1 on the order page.

A fun toy that helps them learn their letters

So I stumbled across this while surfing around Amazon and I had to post it.

We've got the same wooden Alphabet letters, but they are "Alphabet Letters in a Box" that stick to the fridge. I like this better as it comes with a case that they can carry around. The letters are still magnetic and they stick to the inside of the briefcase-looking box. It has 81 pieces - which includes the letters of the alphabet, numbers and more.

It's made by Imaginarium and is $29.99 on Amazon.

15% off Karma Baby Slings

Last month I did a review on Karma Baby Slings and promised a coupon was soon to come. Well, here it is! Use coupon code "style" for 15% off your order.

Flannel Crib Sheets at QuickZip

One of my favorite products that I have written about before are Clouds and Starts QuickZip sheets. The QuickZip crib sheet can be changed without lifting or moving the crib mattress or bumpers... which makes changing the sheet at a moments notice (or just on a regular basis) quick and easy!

I recently tried the award-winning* flannel crib sheet in my son's crib. It is so warm and soft, my son loves to rub his cheek on it when he lays down. Of course it still offers the ease of the standard QuickZip sheet, but is perfect for wintertime.

Order a flannel sheet or anything from the Clouds and Stars website and receive 10% off your entire order. Please enter code CLO311205 in the COMMENTS box.

*Clouds and Stars QuickZip flannel sheet won the top product award from the Family Review Center.

Changing pad and diaper wallet from Pineapple Cove

Vintage fabrics make these diapering accessories something fun to have. Pineapple Cove Baby is the latest in trendy diaper bag accessories. They make an infant and toddler changing pad, and a diaper wallet.

I'm particularly fond of the diaper wallet, which is kind of like a Diapees and Wipees only a little thicker and plusher. (Seems to fit more too, so it really depends what you are looking for.)

So far, the only online retailer carrying Pineapple Cove is Peanut Butter and Lili. Check out what they have for sale and use coupon code Mommies for 10% off your order.

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails ...

Moms of boys, does this sound familiar? Your tot shopping trips go something like this. Your mommy girlfriends with daughters gleefully fill their shopping bags with miniature Juicy Couture outfits and teeny-tiny Uggs for their budding fashionistas. You however, are left with few pairs of carpenter jeans and yet another (yawn) navy and red striped rugby shirt for your darling bundle of boy. As someone in the possession of two such bundles myself, I feel your pain.

But don't dispair! Philadelphia-based Wonderboy has launched its line of funky, fashionable shirts that are just what the mommy ordered. With a wide selection of urban hip prints and fabulous details like customized buttons and grosgrain trim, your boy is sure to wow the playgroup with his pint-sized GQ style.

You'll find Wonderboy clothing on many on-line retailers including Totshop and Little Dudes and Divas. Both have Wonderboy shirts on sale, and Little Dudes and Divas offers free shipping on all orders $50 or more.

I am drooling over the October shirt in super cool earth-toned stripes. And I think I just might get it. Am I going to convince my four-year-old that it's really much cooler than his threadbare Spiderman T-shirt ...? That, my friend, remains to be seen.

A totally addictive children's CD

So here I am having breakfast with my daughter, listening to The Backyardigans CD for possibly the zillioneth time. And I don't mind it a bit.

The Backyardigans is a Nick Jr. cartoon featuring five animal characters (some resemble real animals, others are more fictional) who dream up adventures in their backyard. What makes this cartoon unique though is the music. Each episode features several original songs in different music genres such as disco, hip-hop, jazz, swing, mambo and many more.

I'm embarrassed to admit it but I put two tracks, "Questing, Questing" and "Yeti Stomp" on my iPod workout mix before coming to my senses and deleting them. But I do catch myself humming these songs several times a day, and it always seems to put me in a good mood.

The Backyardigans CD can be bought on Amazon.com for $10.99. It's eligible for free shipping when you spend $25 or more.

Have Potty Will Travel

You are driving down the road and uh-oh, it happens. “Mommy, I have to go potty!” The clock starts ticking. Frantically searching, you hope against hope that you’ll find a place that has a bathroom before it’s too late. “Why, oh why did I forget to pack an extra pair of clothes today?” you ask while silently preparing your worse-case-scenario plan.

Enter the Travel John! Jr. This disposable urinal is a must have in any glove box. Amazingly easy to use, it's a lifesaver in a multitude of situations. I bought a box thinking they might come in handy in an emergency. Well that emergency came this weekend. My daughter gladly used it and pride and dryness were once again preserved.

The Travel John! Jr. is now on my must-have list for anyone with kids. I will never leave the house without them again!

Trendy pacifier clips at 10% off

I can't express to you all how adorable these pacifier clips are in person. They're made with a series of beads - fiber optic beads, sterling silver beads, special beads for the "themed" clips (like the sports ones).

Of course with any infants' product, safety is the most important issue. The beads are strung with a top-of-the-line jewelry wire that is made to withstand up to 40 pounds. I yanked quite a bit on the chain to see how sturdy it was and nothing budged.

These make a cute fashion accessory and are fun as they are something different from the usual pacificer clip. Check them out on Snuggle Bug Baby and receive 10% off your purchase with coupon code MWSTEN.

Add a little bling to your baby's attire

It's fun to add a little sparkle to any girl's outfit, and a good place to find items to help you do so is on Bling Baby.

I've seen a lot of rhinestone-embellished clothes for girls but had yet to see embellished pacifiers. So cute! She also sells onesies, burp cloths, bibs, jeans and shirts in her girl collection.

Boys aren't left in the dust: Bling Baby offers onesies and hats, and a blingy-baseball pacifier. Cute!

A $5 shipping refund will be applied to your credit card if you mention "mommies with style" at checkout.

Fashionable Play Food for Trendy Tots

They say variety is the spice of life. Add a bit of it of it to your kids' play food collection with this adorable slicing sushi set by Melissa & Doug. Includes three kinds of sushi rolls for those discerning little palettes, and fun extras like chopsticks and a cleaver.

Gummy Lump has free shipping on all orders over $30. Plus, receive a free set of Melissa & Doug play food when you buy three others. A $19.95 value ... a great deal on these unique and high quality wooden toys!

The Envelope Please ...

I'm a sucker for a pretty piece of paper. And the designs at Push The Envelope fit that bill perfectly.

The designer, a mother of four, has a beautiful collection of stationary for both moms and kids. Her creations range from sweet, whimsical birth announcements to fun and sassy stationary. My hands-down favorites are the calling cards. No more scrounging around for scraps of paper and a pen to make a playdate. Keep these in your wallet or diaper bag and exchange information with mommy friends with ease and style! Mine are adorned with an adorable pink purse, and came with the cutest little brown envelopes you ever did see.

Mommies With Style readers can use the coupon code MWS01 through April 1 for 15% off and free shipping on any order of $20 or more. Even better, reorders and large quantities are always eligible for a discount.

Welcome our new reviewer Melissa!

You guys may have noticed some posts from Melissa, she's the latest to join our growing team of Mommy writers. Please join me in welcoming her! She has 3 children and hails from the Midwest - you can read more about her on our About Us page.

50% off Shilav on Cute Little Me, THIS WEEKEND ONLY

I've told you guys this before, but if I had a little girl I would have bought this coat ages ago! And it's currently 50% off!

All Shilav winter items on CuteLittleMe.com are 50% off this weekend through President's Day. Check it out.

Oh Baby! Free Shipping!

At our house, you can often hear the calls of "Stel-la! Stel-la!" ringing through the halls. No, we aren't watching A Streetcar Named Desire. We are searching for my daughter's most prized (and it seems most often wayward) possession ... her Baby Stella doll. She's practically a member of the family.

The award-winning Baby Stella Doll by Manhattan Toys is the perfect first baby doll for a little one. She is soft, perfectly-sized to fit a toddler's arms, and cute as all get up. Her sleeper and diaper are removable for hours of dressing and undressing fun, and her little mouth is magnetic, so that her pacifier (much to the delight of toddlers) sticks there.

Like every girl, Stella is even better with a little accessorizing. So you can buy additions including a diapering set, feeding set (with magnetic bottle) and lots of different outfits. Best of all, Stella comes in two different versions: beige (darker skinned) with brown hair and brown eyes, and peach (fairer skin) with blonde hair and blue eyes. Check out a limited selection of Baby Stella dolls and accesories at kidsurplus.com and get free shipping.

Makes a great first birthday or big-sister gift.

A Must Have for the Newly Potty Trained!

Well my daughter is finally potty trained and we couldn't be more excited! Thanks to the No More Diapers video which really helped and patience! We hadn't been in a public restroom until the other day when my girlfriend said I must use a Potty Topper. I had never heard of Potty Toppers, but I had an idea what it was once I heard the name, but didn't realize how necessary it would be to use when we were in a public restroom.

The disposable (not flushable) Potty Topper, has a quilted tissue that is very soft on the side you sit on and underneath is a plastic liner that blocks germs and wetness. There are also adhesive strips that you peel apart so that the topper will stay in place during use. The fabulous oversized dimensions keep little fingers on the sides and bottoms from touching germy surfaces! Those paper sheets that are commonly found in public restrooms are very thin, problematic to use properly and are too large and flimsy.

I have most recently seen the characters of Sponge Bob and Dora the Explorer on the toppers which come in packs of 10 or 40 counts. This product has won The National Parenting Center seal of approval as a winner in spring 2005.

The Potty Toppers are available at many different retailers. I found 40 count packs of Dora or Sponge Bob on sale at Target for $15.96. Until February 18th, you can save 10% off your order at Target by using code TCPDPTCD at checkout.

Kids' Travel Packs: free activity pack with purchase

These days, my son loves carrying or doing anything that he considers to be "adult." Carrying a bag or backpack is one of those things. Kids' Travel Packs is a site that sells toddler-sized backpacks that are stylish and fun. They're designed for ages 2+, and they have plain colors with animals on them, or patterned backpacks.

Add monogramming to any backpack to make it personalized.

Purchase a Kids Travel Pack and receive a free mini-activity pack with your purchase! Use coupon code HIPMOM with your purchase to receive the free gift.

It's all about you!

How often do we moms get to say that? Well now we can, with Design-her Gals, customized stationary. You'll kiss boring correspondence goodbye with fabulous paper products featuring the ultimate personalization ... you!

This innovative site lets you choose your own "gal type" (thin or curvy, little girls and even moms-to-be!) including hair, eyes and skin tone. Then pick from a huge selection of fabulous outfits and accessories ... from chic bags and knee-high boots, to yoga mats, cell phones and sleek strollers. Once you have designed your perfect alter image (mine is much cuter and thinner than I actually am, but isn't that the fun of it?), put her on anything from stickers, shower invites, recipe cards and more.

You can either order your completed project through their web site, or print at home. I paid a flat fee to get a "Greater Gal" membership, which means I can save up to six different gals and can print designs to my heart's content from the comfort of my own laptop. Warning: this can get addictive!

Mommies With Style readers can use the code GT3-PR26 for $10 off any purchase during the month of February. This offer is good through the end of the month -- you can use this code as many times as you want!

Note: Design-her Gals is a company with a conscience. They donate ten percent of all their profits to their own Gal to Gal Foundation, which benefits women with stage IV breast cancer.

Advertorial: Couture Candy

The following is an Advertorial sponsored by Couture Candy:


Feel comfortable and stylish in these Da-Nang Floral Print Sweat Pants.

Irresistibly soft, these casual sweatpants feature white floral print down the right right leg, drawsting and flared legs. With Floral Da-Nang Print Sweat Pants, you don't need to sacrifice style for comfort.

Da-nang is known for their loose fitting traditional chino/khaki fabrics with an emphasis on Asian-themed embroidery. Da-Nang Floral Print Sweat Pants are $128 at CoutureCandy.com and run in small, medium or large. This product is seasonal and limited.

Learning Geography: The Stylishly Fun Method

Remember those crummy old maps that Mrs. Jones used to pull down from the blackboard in Social Studies—pale pink, green and yellow? Ick! Aren’t we a more stylish nation than that? Well here’s a map that you and your studious little fashionista will embrace.

eeBoo’s This Land is Your Land was awarded The Oppenheim Best Toy Gold Seal Award. It’s no wonder why. Gorgeously illustrated, it also comes equipped with a set of stickers that are perfect for personalizing like, "My grandma lives here" and "I’ve Been Here." Plus, you'll find it highlights our country’s wildlife, industries and national treasures with its snappy illustrations all along the way.

What I love about this map is that it will not only help me teach my kids geography, but also create opportunities for me to show them how many great things there are to see in our country. Oooh, it’ll also give us a chance to plot our next vacation. Did someone say roadtrip?

Fighting frumpiness: MayaLena, making you stylish and comfortable

Once you have a baby, it's easy to sit around in a ratty tee and jeans. You no longer have to "dress" for work and it's easy to let your appearance slip. One of our goals at Mommies with Style is to help you find items that won't allow that to happen!

Here's something that's both comfortable and stylish, something you can easily slip on around the house and still feel trendy while wearing: the MayaLena Momono -- the "modern day housecoat."

It opens in the front for easy access to breastfeeding, and has a pocket for whatever you need (pacifier stash?). It's really light, and easy to care for. (Easy clean up from baby spit-up!)

Use coupon code ML001 for 15% off your order.

Serena & Lily: upscale baby bedding, Violet Affleck's bedding

Looking for classy baby bedding? Serena & Lily is a favorite of mine. They make simple, but elegant baby bedding lines that are popular among the celebrities.

Serena & Lily designed the bedding for Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's baby's room. The bedding was custom-made and according to Serena, the line was "earth tones, soft, and neutral." They were recently featured in People (Feb 13th issue), which included quotes from Jennifer Garner about the bedding: she says Serena and Lily "made the nursery feel comfortable, warm and welcoming."

A percentage of all the sales made by Serena and Lily goes to kid-related charities.

You can purchase Serena & Lily items on online boutique Peanut Butter & Lili for 10% off with the use of coupon code "mommies". Use the coupon at check out a 10% refund will be credited to your card.

20% off at Swell Baby

Here's a good coupon to use at a very cute boutique: MWS20 for 20% off your order on Swell Baby, valid through March.

They've got designer clothes, toys and more. They sell the Skip Hop Dash and the Diaper Dude, so if you were looking to purchase one, now's a good time to do it with the code.

Unique children's stories from Barefoot Books: big sale!

My son's become obsessed with books lately. Which is of course a good thing, as I love to read, and I want him to share my passion for it. So we've been focused on finding him great books lately. This site, Barefoot Books sells some great story books - full of gorgeous artwork that help to tell the stories.

We have this one, the Alligator Alphabet, which has an animal for every letter of the alphabet. We've been reading it in conjunction with the Alligator Alphabet Puzzle, which has also been helping him to learn his ABCs -- and putting the puzzle together has been a fun together project.

Barefoot Books is currently running a great winter sale which is worth checking out. Use coupon code BF48ZP35 and get free shipping on orders over $50.

More than a CUTE offer--15% off!

Oh How Cute is offering 15% off of Small Paul tees and Mia Bossi(!) Diaper Bags to MWS readers. Enter coupon code mommieswithstyle during check out to receive the discount.

Oh-How Cute also offers Free Shipping on all orders over $125--perfect when you buy this beautiful bag!

Beasty Baby, colorful and fun tees for kids at 20% off

Here's a fun line of tees for your baby or toddler. Beasty Baby makes an entire line of monster tees and rompers that are fun and happy. Pictured here is "Ray;" each monster has its own name.

Also check out their other lines: "sugar babies," and "people pants."

Write "mommies with style" in the special instructions box at check-out and 20% of your purchase will be credited back to you upon purchase.

25% off at Gymboree; baby sale

Got this one from Theresa in Maryland: she just shopped on Gymboree and used coupon code "SPRING1" for 25% of her purchase. Check it out - they are already having a good baby sale.

Expiration is unknown so shop quickly!

Plush baby blankets from Blue Blankie

These newly designed Dimple Velour and Satin Blanket blankets on Blue Blankie are cute and comfortable. They are made with a soft velour fabric (with dimples) on one side and on the other, champagne beige satin. Babies love to rub their blankets between their fingers and feel the different patterns, and this is a great blanket for your baby to do this.

Use coupon code MWS99BBX for 10% off your order through April 30, 2006. And FYI, the site is in Canada so be sure to look at the the US Dollars section (if you're in the US).

My child is a genius - he can count!

Several months ago, I did a review on Preschool Prep's "Meet the Numbers" DVD.

My son loves it: so much so that last week on a vacation, it's ALL he would watch while there. (Over, and over, and over again.) And I'm proud to report that after our marathon long week of watching it, he now counts to 10 and can read the numbers 1-10. (I love when I can justify our extended tv-watching habits.)

I was so impressed that the DVD helped to teach it to him in such a short time, that I quickly turned my attention to Meet the Letters.

Meet the Letters follows the same concept: repetition. Both the lower and upper case letters are taught, with fun themes to each letter. ("C" is in the clouds, "T" is a tree.) A study conducted by Preschool Prep of over 50 children who watched Meet the Letters regularly resulted in over 90% of the children having complete upper and lowercase letter recognition. Wow! I'm sold! We'll certainly be watching this DVD in the months to come and will report back when he's up to reading Moby Dick.

You can find it on Amazon for $14.95 and it's eligible for free shipping when you spend $25 on eligible products.

Even your fridge can be in style

Love is in the air... and on your fridge. Show off the adorable photo of your loved ones with a unique and stylish magnetic photo frame by Sticky Prints. Select from a large variety of frame designs--stylish, seasonal, or personalized. Recommended picture size is 4x6 and you can purchase frames in sets of 3 or individually.

Just in time for February 14, Valentine-themed designs are on sale for only $4.75. Plus you can use the MWS coupon code: mommieswithstyle to receive 10% off your total order. Additionally, all orders over $75 will receive free shipping.

Congrats to our Isabooties winners

Congratulations to our 4 Isabooties winners:

Hanssie T. from CA
Sally E. from NY
Michelle I. from DE
Jennie W. from MI

A special thanks to our sponsor, Isabooties. Check out their site to see all the shoes they sell. Type "mommies with style" in the Notes section for refunded shipping if you make a purchase.

Photo baby announcements from Metro Baby Cards at 15% off

You can find some gorgeous and unique designs for baby announcements on Metro Baby Cards. The designs are original and custom-made, so you know you're getting something unique.

Use coupon code "MetroMommies" for 15% off your order.

15% off at Petite Tresor

During the month of February, take 15% off ALL purchases at Petite Tresor when you enter "February15%Savings" in the Message on Gift Card area. Your discount will be applied after your purchase and then rebated back to you. The site has some adorable and unique items that I have not seen anywhere else!

Too cute to eat!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day.... Good Fortunes has some unique edible sweets! This site features the ultimate way to personalize a cookie! The Picture This Oreo cookie white chocolate box, lets you upload your own picture to the site and they'll print it on edible paper with edible ink! These delectable cookies are sprinkled with edible confetti or non-parielles to frame your delightfully delicious picture. They coordinate the sprinkle colors to the picture you upload. If you have a specific color preference, simply put it in the notes when you are placing your order. The cookies come in a gold box or collectors tin tied with ribbon to match your special occasion. These picture cookies are worth a thousand words! You can order them in a box of 3, 9 or 16!

They site also features some other amazing treats! George Clooney and Tobey Maguire are fans of the hand-dipped cookies with personalized fortunes available in regular or gigantic sizes. Another unique treat are the My Masterpiece cookie canvases. Be creative and use these as place-setting cards for your next dinner party! These white-chocolate-and-confetti-covered graham crackers come with three edible-ink pens to script the perfect note or have your child create some unique artwork to give to Mommie or Daddy. They’ll be sure to take your words or pictures to their hearts—and to their stomachs!

A Spa Experience at Home

Looking for that perfect relaxation bath after the kids go to bed? If you're like me, you don't have the time or the money to visit a real spa! Instead, try adding a Bizzy Fizz treat into your bath. I sampled the Fortune Fizzy, a sugar-scented treat which melts away to reveal your fortune. I dropped it in, turned on the iPod and lost myself in People Magazine! The Oatmeal, Milk and Honey bar is also great for dry winter skin (that I definitely have).

Bizzy Fizz also has cute products for kids of all ages. The Snakes & Snails bath "bomb" has a fresh cut grass, dirt and rain scent...and has a special treat inside that boys are sure to love (or in my case my daughter!). You'll also find unique shower gifts, like the "Welcome to the World" gift set.

Use code MOMSTYLE for a 15% discount!

Because your baby was Born Hip

Another line of trendy baby clothes can be found at LA-based Born Hip. Created by a Mom looking to make unique and trendy clothes for her 6-month-old, Born Hip sells onesies, tees, hats and pants adorned with cute designs for added flair and style.

Some of my particular favorites include the Classic Dice Pants, the Eightball Tee and "the King" tee.

Little Violet Affleck may be a fan of Born Hip, as Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck were recently gifted with some items from Born Hip.

Use coupon code MommiesWithStyle to receive free tulle gift wrap on your order. (Or if you prefer, splurge and get the lunch box wrap - certainly unique!)

Last chance to enter the Isabooties giveaway

I'm closing this contest at the end of the day, Sunday Feb. 5th. You have one more day to enter. Click here to enter, and check out the post and contest rules here.

Visit Isabooties to check out all the cool shoes you could win!

Belly Up!

The perfect CAMO for that preggie belly!

I LOVED wearing the Belly Sock! At first I was a little uncertain when I opened the Belly Sock because I’m one of those people who can’t stand things that go over my pregnant belly. I’d just rather things go underneath it. If you are like me, don’t let this stop you from getting this wonderful clothing accessory! Even though it goes over your belly it isn’t tight or uncomfortable in any way! It’s the perfect wardrobe extender! I so wish I had one of these during my first pregnancy! What a great idea this is!

You know when you are just craving to put on that old favorite pre-preggie shirt or sweater but you can’t because it just isn’t long enough? Well the Belly Sock is perfect for this situation! You just slide the Belly Sock on and it covers up that part of your preggie belly that always sticks out of your favorite pre-pregnancy clothes! Now you can wear your favorite clothes and not reach up for that item on the top shelf and end up w/your belly comi