In honor and recognition of The Heart Truth, the national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, we're joining in and reminding all women to wear red tomorrow. Your risk of Heart Disease, women's number one killer, begins to increase between the ages of 40 and 60. You're never to young to become aware and recognize this danger. Heart disease can begin as young as the teenage years, so its time we all start to act towards better heart health. Here are some things you can do:
-Don't smoke. If you do, make it a priority to quit.
-Eat heart healthy: A diet low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
-Aim for a healthy weight, and work to keep it there.
-Get moving. Get to the gym, go for a walk, run up and down the stairs--what ever it takes, get that heart pumping.
-Visit your doctor. If its been a while since you had your tests run, make an appointment for a good ol' check-up and have your numbers run: Cholesterol, blood pressure and gluclose are all key numbers to know and understand. Work with your doctor to either keep these numbers healthy, or make them healthier.
If you're a Facebook member, make sure you become a fan of The Heart Truth by clicking here.
Here's a cute, hand-designed shop. Violet Gumdrop is a place to check out when looking for personalized gifts for baby, mom and bride.
Wesley's new lightswitch plate celebrates his love of football with his name on it as well. The design was been decoupaged onto the switch, allowing for total room ownership.
Also at Violet Gumdrop, we're loving the generously-sized bibs. Our 2-year-old uses bibs while spilling (err... eating) his cereal each morning. But as he ages, its harder and harder to find bib necks to fit his 2-year-old neck, usually forcing an early pull-off, much before the spilling is over. The bibs at Violet Gumdrop weren't tight enough to bother him. These actually stay on. And how cute that his announces "BREAKFAST"--he knows its now his special breakfast bib.
Use code violet to save 10% off your entire purchase at Violet Gumdrop.
Innovative Infant Play Solutions from Baby AngelBug
What happens when a Child Psychiatrist & Developmental Specialist designs products for her own children? Inspiration apparently! Displeased with the way that other play mats on the market failed to support her son during tummy time, Dr. Amy Fairchild set out to design the perfect infant play mat. Her wedge shaped Baby AngelBug Kick and Grow Tummy Zone Developmental Mat is unique, ergonomic and a huge hit with infants. What makes the design special is the way the wedge safely supports baby's core and prevents back arching, while the bolster at baby's feet encourages baby's need to kick and push off. Baby's emotional needs and curiosity are also addressed. The slight incline gives them a better view of their surroundings without the need to strain and the attached toys that squeak, rattle and crinkle, encourage exploration. The entire toy is extremely well made and sure to provide hours of entertainment for your developing baby. It even adjusts to your baby's size, so you'll be able to use this toy for a while.
Dr Fairchild could have rested on her laurels with the playmat, but when her daughter came along, she found herself faced with another parenting dilemma. One we are all probably too familiar with. How do you keep baby's hands from wandering into a mess while you are changing their diapers? It's amazing how fast and how frequently those little fingers fly down into the danger zone.
So Dr. Fairchild came up with the Baby AngelBug Protect and Play Changing Mat. This patent pending mat is really a self contained changing station that has generous pockets which can be packed with up to four diapers, wipes, creams and even a change of clothes. It can be taken on outings in place of tradtional diaper bags and is perfect for use in the car or public restrooms as the generous size covers an entire changing table. But It is really unique from other systems in that it has an attached tray style belt with loops for toys. The belt forms a barrier and distraction that keeps baby entertained and keeps her hands clean! The entire mat is washable but there is an included chic cheeks cloth that helps contain big messes and keeps the main unit from becoming soiled.
I'm so impressed with these thoughtful products. They make a perfect shower gift and will have your friends talking about where you found such clever goods. Purchase the Changing Mat and Tummy Play Zone directly fom Baby AngelBug.
Mommies With Style save 10% on your AngelBug products when you use coupon code MWS10.
So I got used the coolest little web tool the other day. I went on Imagekind, and I created a pictured "Story Frame" for my walls. Specifically, a frame with four photos. I chose a frame, matte and uploaded my photos into their system. I was able to resize and move the photos around until I was happy with the layout.
It was that easy. It was great timing for me too, as I had recently started a product with photos from our latest session of photos from the local photographer we use. We've been calling it "the Boys wall," and I printed out tons of black and white photos, matted and framed them myself with items I got at Michael's.
So I was interested to try out Imagekind's service, which ended up costing about the same price-wise compared to Michael's, and was much easier. I love it. They have a wide array of frames and mattes available so there's something for everyone here.
Use coupon code StoryFrame10 for 10% off all frame orders through February 29, 2008.
To clear room for new styles, Little Capers (which I reviewed last March) is having a fabulous sale! They are offering savings of up to 35% on the following styles while supplies last: Flower Hero, Purple Star Hero, Green Earth Hero, Pink Earth Hero, Peace Hero and all Infant Styles. Enter secret code SSS35 for each sale style you wish to purchase in the promotional code box located on each individual item’s page. The sale runs through February 14th. A great opportunity to stock up on gifts for the year ahead!
Astrocutie Gives you a Glimpse of What's in the Stars for your Star
Every mom will tell you that her babies arrived here on earth with a personality. Distinct from their siblings, different from their parents. And then again, in some ways so similar. From day one as we watch our children's traits emerge, it's like watching a mystery unfold. Always thrilling, but at times somewhat baffling or challenging.
At the moment of your own birth, as well as at the moment of your child's, a very unique thing happened. The stars all aligned and for that instant, the universe configured itself into a completely unique arrangement. Never before and never since, was it exactly the same. So is it any wonder that you and your children are such unique beings?
Even if you don't regularly check your horoscope, you probably know the "sun" sign for yourself and your child. This is their sign based on their month of birth. But this is only a small piece of the picture. A proper star chart tells you where the moon, sun and all the planets were at that moment. It's fascinating, it's frameable, and interpreted by Dabney Oliver of Astrocutie, it can also be extremely enlightening! Having a personal star chart reading done is definitely a treat. It's also makes for an extremely thoughtful shower gift for the mom who already has everything, and the mom who is curious about who this little bundle of joy might become. Which pretty much sums up all of us, doesn't it? If Dabney's name sounds familiar to you, you may have seen her horoscopes in Parents magazine or Working Mother magazine.
I recently had star charts done for myself and two of my kids by Astrocutie. I did my very best to tell Dabney little about myself or my offspring prior to the reading, and also to remain open-minded to whatever she was about to tell me. I expected the reading to be somewhat vague and general but found myself just blown away by how specific, non generic and dead-on the interpretations were. She pretty much nailed my kids unique personalities while I sat silent and stunned on the other end of the line. What she said about me had me cracking up with self recognition as well. She could have been my sister going over all sorts of interesting, and true, stuff about my personality that not everyone knows about me.
I should back up and say, when Dabney Oliver of Astrocutie reads your star chart she is not giving you a stellar road map to the future. She is not a psychic, she is just gifted at identifying the cosmic patterns indicating the sort of life challenges you and your kids are likely to face. And she also identifies the well of strengths that will help you best achieve your goals.
In addition to revealing a part of who your kids are and the personality traits and quirks that fuel them, Dabney examines how you may encounter challenges in your relationship with your child. Perhaps you are a shy Pisces but your child is a very outgoing Leo. Or you are a social Gemini and your child is a Virgo loner who is prone to temper tantrums. Dabney has useful suggestions about how you can deal with the issues that may come up in the future.
Some of the advice is basic, but it was astonishing how right it was for my children (and me) in particular. Dabney had suggestions for both of my children that made perfect sense.
I came away from my Astrocutie reading feeling empowered and energized. It was honestly a thrill and a privilege to spend the time talking with Dabney about myself and my kids, and have that peek at what was going on with the universe at the moment we all came to be. We had the shorter readings done, but I am definitely going to pursue a more in depth reading in the future.
Mommies With Style save 20% on your personalized reading when you enter coupon code MWS20.
Looking for a more fashionable and edgy maternity tee? Bump babies (Baby under manufacturing process) Maroc tees are crafted from a luxurious and high quality cotton and have definite fashionista attitude. They cost a bit more than your average tees but the fit and style, as well as the materials are worth the splurge. Side ruching, v necks, and bell shaped tees give these tees a distinctive and flattering look.
I love my super soft ringspun cotton "WigglyBump" tee and lately it is especially appropriate. There are times when my belly wiggles so much it actually gets startled looks from passerby.
BumpBabies has a cute tee on sale for Valentines Day as well. Check out the LoveBump!
When my daughter was an infant, she had colic. Real bad colic. And my husband had a great butt. The greatest butt he has ever had in our over-a-decade long relationship in fact. This was no mere cooincidence. Because the only thing that would soothe my daughter, was walking up and down the stairs. Sometimes for hours. And being the awesome dad that he is, he would do this in the wee small hours. I praised both him and his bum!
Much as I enjoyed the side effects of this particular soothing method, it was exhausting and difficult for us sleep-deprived folks to routinely stairwalk at 4am. We really could have used a more stationary way to soothe our daughter with some gentle bouncing. Perhaps one we could have done with our eyes closed on occasion. We could have used the Bounce-a-Bye Baby ball from Luna Lullaby.
These big bouncy balls (similar to an exercise ball) sit in a stationary base and are designed to blend in with nursery decor. To soothe baby you simply take a seat and bounce. It's quite amazing how quickly the motion soothes a fussy infant. They may also be used to ease labor as a birthing ball, and for exercising with after baby arrives. They come in three nursery friendly colors/designs.
My poor husband once again has a trim bum, thanks to our current baby, due in about a month's time. I've been on bedrest and he's been running up and down the stairs frequently, once again. But as much as he enjoys staying fit, I'm sure my husband is going to love bouncing in place, even more. We can't wait to use our Bounce-a-Bye!
I can’t even describe how cute the Cambodian anklets from Baby Emi Jewelry look on my daughter, Mia. The dainty little piece of silver jewelry hanging on her chubby little ankle - so cute. Not to mention the little jingle bell sound when she walks. I love it. And not only is it adorable, it’s practical. The little jingling help me keep track of where she is waddling off.
The jewelry from Baby Emi is beautiful. They offer adorable Mommy and Me bracelets, name bracelets, birthstone bracelets and many more. But I am particularly fond of their Cambodian Jingle Bells Jewelry. There’s even a story behind the traditional Cambodian jewelry. Read all about it on www.babyemijewelry.com.
Use coupon code MWS10 to receive 10% off your order.
The Game Plan
High-living Boston Rebels quarterback Joe Kingman finds his world turned upside-down when seven-year-old Peyton Kelly shows up at his door and announces she is his child from a brief early marriage and needs a place to stay while her mother is away on business. Joe never knew about Peyton, and her mom doesn't know that Peyton has gone to find Joe. For the next month, Joe is suddenly burdened with unfamiliar parental responsibilities like ballet class and homework, while also getting to know his daughter. As he tries to lead his team to a championship season, Joe tries navigating between macho man and girly-girl customs. Plenty of bonus features are included in this hilarious and heartwarming family comedy!
Hannah Montana: One In A Million
If your child is anything like mine, then they will be thrilled to watch their favorite pop princess in this movie that was just released today. Hannah Montana finds herself in some hilariously unexpected situations that offer her once in a lifetime opportunities. The movie features four episodes from the Disney original series. In addition, there is a special episode starring the Jonas Brothers! Included are special bonus features and behind the scenes footage. Join Hannah and her wonderfully funny family and friends for laughs, (mis)adventures and cool, hip music. Makes a great Valentine’s Day gift!
Twitches Too
The sequel to Twitches where twins, who were separated at birth, were kept unaware of each other and their magical powers until their 21st birthday when they first meet. The girls focus on harnessing their magical powers, getting to know each other and reuniting with their birth mother, who is a powerful witch. When a shadowy underworld presence seeks to destroy them, their family and their world, Alex and Camryn have to learn to combine their strengths to ward off complete disaster. A great movie that has plenty of fun, magic and suspense!
I thought these chairs would be an awesome addition to a Superbowl party for the guys to sit in. These Crazy Creek Leisure Swivel chairs provide a swivel table that can be set into many different positions (he can set his beer to the side... to the front...you get the picture.)
Of course I think the intent is actually outdoors use after a hike or by the side of a mountain or something. Either way, this chair has many uses.
Crazy Creek also makes comfy stadium chairs too, so those folks lucky enough to actually attend the Superbowl could use one of these.
I reviewed The Diaper Clutch last year. Its been such a great product for me to have in my bag. The Diaper Clutch is a diaper holder with a built-in wipes holder. I love it because its compact all-in-one design which is particularly key for me. Since I no longer carry a diaper bag, just an over-sized purse, it fits nicely inside with plenty of room to spare. I can easily fit 2 diapers and a disposable changing pad along with the wipes. And, as an added bonus, it comes in pretty fabrics.
It’s a great time to try it out. They have added so many new styles and currently their limited edition styles are being offered at a reduced price. If thats not enough reason to check them out, The Diaper Clutch is offering MWS readers an additional 15% off just use code MWS. The limited editions are only available while supplies last.
33 Weeks Pregnant - Belli Pregnancy Eases the Home Stretch
I'm in the home stretch now! And my belly is stretching faster than it has the entire pregnany. It amazes me how fast it has grown the past few weeks. My skin is itchy all over and I am finding myself cranky.
But I am also finding that high quality skincare products from Belli Pregnancy go a long way to ease the itchies, stretchies and crankies.
Made from pure and natural ingredients, Belli products are the only pregnancy skincare products on the market that are thoroughly researched to contain no ingredients that are potentially harmful to your developing baby. See the site for a list of potentially dangerous common skincare ingredients that can cross the placenta.They are proud to be the #1 recommended skincare solution by ob/gyns.
I received the Belli Pregnancy Gift Box ($42) and have been loving every product that came with. The gift set comes with 4 oz. sizes of Pampered Pregnancy Body Wash and All Day Moisture Body Lotion as well as 2 oz. sizes of Elasticity Belly Oil, Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator and Foot Relief Cream. My favorites are the Belly oil and Foot Relief creams. The scent of the products are soothing and calming, with a hint of mint and lavender. The scent was designed with nauseated moms needs in mind and is sure not to upset even the most delicate senses.
One more product that I cannot rave enough about Belli's Eye Brightening Cream($28). I'm using it now due to sleepless third trimester nights and I can see it becoming a staple in my bag of mommy tricks. It really helps me fake a rested look. Not sure how it works, but it is magic!
Pamper yourself and protect your baby. Shop for Belli Products on the Belli site.
Baby Nest - Super Comfy and Easy to Use Wrap Carriers
Have you always wanted to try a wrap carrier but been scared off by what looked like an entire bolt of fabric? Well then perhaps you need to try out Baby Nest Carriers. These unique carriers offer all the benefits and comfort of the wrap carriers, without all of the wrapping.
When I first started out in my journey to learn about babywearing, many people recommended wrap carriers to me. They swore that nothing was comfier for mom and baby. I was determined to give it a try but looking at the yards and yards of fabric that many wrap carrier systems were comprised of, I was a little unsure of how exactly I would manage. I did eventually try and love wrap carriers, but never loved the work involved in getting the baby in and out of the carrier. There had to be an easier way!
Apparently there is. I only wish I'd found Baby Nest Carriers sooner. Popular with celebs, these carriers were recently selected to be part of the Jewels and Pinstripes 2008 Celebrity BUMP bag and will be received by Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba and Cate Blanchett.
This system is super easy to use and lives up to the comfort promised. The learning curve is anything but steep. If you can put on a t-shirt and fasten a belt, you can do this! Putting the carrier on is as simple as putting the two loops over your head and then sticking your arms between them so they form an x across your chest. Next you position your baby in front of you (for the basic position) and put on a wide belt to secure him/her in place. Viola! Instant bonding. Your hands are free and your baby is soothed by the closeness. And you can pat yourself on back for having mastered the art of baby wearing in mere moments. Go mommy!
Once you have mastered this basic position, you can all five variations - all are easy to accomplish. Click through to see photos of the Baby Nest worn with baby riding on the hip, back and more. No matter how you wear the baby, spreading the fabric out across your back and shoulders allows you to comfortably distribute the baby's weight across your body. This is the magical secret that makes wrap style carriers so comfortable and earns them all the positive press.
Rest assured that your baby will also be comfortable too in this carrier, thanks to the soft, stretchy, high-quality European fabric. I should also note that the fabric washes well and wears extremely well. It is suitable for infants from birth to 35 lbs. Baby Nest carriers are particularly useful to wear when nursing a newborn as they provides extra support and ease of positioning. The Baby Nest folds up into it's own pouch when you are not using it, so it is easy to bring along in your diaper bag.
Choose from five colors when you buy your Baby Nest Carrier on the company's site. Mommies With Style enter Coupon code MWS12008 to save 10% off your order. Please note your order will be adjusted after checkout.
Sacrificing fashion for function. It's what all mothers have to do, right?
Well fortunately, not always. Boob Maternity helped break those stereotypes during my pregnancy with their fabulously fashionable (and comfortable) maternity line and they're doing it again with their flattering collection of Boob Nursing Wear.
All of their nursing dresses and tops have an innovative design using a double layer of fabric across the bust line. This enables you to nurse comfortably and discreetly at the same time. The opening is easily accessed with just one hand and there are no clips, clasps, bottons or clumsy ties to deal with. Ahh, sweet simplicity! Because if there is anything I could use more of these days it's simplicity (and an extra pair of hands.)
If you are nursing right now, or know someone who is, you really must try their Warmer Nursing Top. It is fabulous! So comfortable, so simple, so warm, so perfect... and did I mention slimming! It is a black, long-sleeved top with a grey, fleece-lined front panel to keep 'the girls' nice and warm. It has been my most worn post-pregnancy shirt. When I wore it out with some black sweatpants people actually thought I'd already lost the baby weight (ha ha ha.) Good thing for that front panel, because if I'd had to lift up the shirt and bare my tummy to breastfeed, they would have plainly seen that that is definitely NOT the case.
Next, I'm hoping to try one of the nursing dresses so that maybe I can actually wear a dress to church and not have to get completely undressed to breastfeed. That tends to make people a bit uncomfortable. Go figure.
Check out Boob today to view their Spring '08 collection of maternity and nursing wear and to find stores near you.
I am sure you've heard of the Cooshee Booster Seats(now called the Cooshee Booster Classic) -- my neighbor downstairs has owned one for years and swears by it! Babysmart, USA, the company behind them, recently came out with a changing pad called the Cooshee Changer ($59.99). Headed up by mom of three, Diane Zissu, this company keeps coming out with terrific baby and toddler-friendly products.
Since my toddler was always so ... um ... messy in the diaper department, keeping those terry cloth covers on his contoured changing pad was useless. I was washing them everyday; I would rather have just wiped something down. So I used the vinyl pad underneath, but after a year of using this pad, it's kind of destroyed and ripped. Our own Ciaran tipped me off to how cool the Cooshee Changer looked. I loved it immediately because it didn't need to be used with a cover and is easily cleanable (and non-toxic). We tested out the new dark blue "bluebird" color.
Testing it with a 2 year old: Yes, it was a little smaller than my currently changing pad, but the high sides and built in pillow easily contained my tall 2 year old. It was soft and did not get cold like our other changing pad. It easily fit on our changing table. My toddler stayed put on it, because the high sides really contained him -- which was not the case with the vinyl pad we had been using. Ben usually tries to bolt as soon as I get him on the changing table. The Cooshee Changer was comfortable and nicely padded (and it wasn't cold like the vinyl pad is in the middle of the night). I think the word I would use is cushy!! It's made of a micro-cell foam with an anti-bacterial surface. I loved that it was lightweight and waterproof. Also, it's non-allergenic and not made with latex. You can use a baby wipe to quickly clean it off. And it is a cool as it looks!!
Testing it with a newborn: I had planned to use it primarily with our new baby girl and I am happy to report that it worked even better than with my two year old. My twp year old child is still sleeping in the nursery, and the baby is sleeping in our room, while the Cooshee Changer is currently in our den. Since I also had a C-Section, you can bring this changer anywhere in your house (like on the bed) and easily change your baby without fear of making a mess. It elevates my baby's head and I was also really pleased that the raised sides all around the changer contain the baby's diaper mishaps (even the middle of the night diaper blowouts). It is also so easy to clean up afterwards. I also liked that it did not skid on the wicker trunk we use as coffee table (but I would still keep one hand on the baby if you have to turn away). I highly recommend adding this to your registry or gifting- it's a highly useful baby gift (and super cute too). I absolutely love using this changing pad!
It's something that every new parent worries about. Is my baby breathing normally? How would I know if they stopped breathing, even for an instant? This constant worry can lead to sleepless nights and a lot of anxiety. But the reality is that as parents, we need to sleep as well. And staying awake to watch the baby sleep, is not such a reasonable option long term. And no, smacking your spouse to make him go check (and possibly wake up) the baby all night long is not acceptable either. Just because he's not breastfeeding and can drink the full-test at Starbucks does not mean sleep deprivation is ok for him either.
Fortunately for me, and other nervous moms and dads out there, we can now get a much better night's rest thanks to the BabySense V monitor from BabySafe.
This monitor is easy to set up and simple to use. It slips under the mattress of your bassinet or crib and monitors the even the slightest movements your baby makes while breathing during sleep. It will sound a loud alarm if your baby does not move for 20 seconds, or if the unit detects less than 10 micro-movements per minute. You can learn more about how the monitor works by watching this video about the BabySense V.
I like that this unit is separate from the video/sound monitors that we plan on using. It's not affected by interference and does it's dedicated job without needing to be connected to a wall outlet or plug. The unit is compact and can come with us when we travel - it works in porta cribs as well as standard cribs and bassinets.
So we took Nate skiing for the first time last weekend. Hubby's an expert skier; he's been all over the place to ski from Whistler to Taos to skiing all over Europe. My skills can get me down the mountain most of the time. (I almost divorced hubby when we got to the top of a blue in Tahoe and he hadn't told me that a blue on the east coast is a little bit different on the west coast. But I survived, and had fun doing it.)
Given the enjoyment we both get out of skiing, we've always known we'd take our boys as soon as we could. Last year it wasn't happening with a newborn, but this year the grandparents watched Cole while we headed an hour away to take Nate to an intro mountain here in PA. We had a blast. I was nervous beforehand about how he'd do but he did great and we can't wait to go again.
All that said, when I went to open up (and dust off) our "ski stuff" box, I realized everyone was in need of some gear. I ran over to Sears to check out the Lands End winter gear and what you can't see in this photo is that I ended up with an awesome fleece that's underneath my ski jacket that kept me more than warm that day. And had I gone (or ordered) sooner, I could have saved myself some serious money because they also sell ski/snow pants for kids that are affordable.
Also, Lands End does a "temperature rating" on each of their cold weather items - from warm to warmer to warmest. (I was kind of amazed to see some of the "warm" items - which seemed lighter than I would wear in the kind of temp they listed but they obviously know what they are doing.) It's helpful because you can pick an item based on your climate off this chart.
Lands End has easy access too since they sell in Sears, if you have one near you. I'm seeing spring produout all over the place but it's still January, people, and it's cold!
I See Monkeys - Paul Frank Wall Spots and Furniture from 10Grain Kids
I've said it before and I will say it again - we're total Paul Frank freaks around here. Which is why we were beyond excited about the 10Grain Kids Small Paul by Paul Frank collection that brings our favorite monkey and some fabulous kids furniture together in a perfect mod marriage.
10Grain Kids is known for their simple, clean lined, practical pieces. The collection is well rounded with chairs, tables, a small desk, ride on scooter, and a step stool. But my two favorite pieces are the Log Rocker ($215) which accommodates one to two children on a trip to the moon or treasure island, and the Julius Pad ($199) which is part nightstand and part dollhouse. All of the the pieces in the 10Grain collection are multifunctional and sure to stir the imagination.
We're also super excited about these removable, repositionable Vinyl Wall Spots ($68). They promise to fill any room with plenty monkey business, and without damaging the surfaces. My son is getting some of these monkeys jumping on his bed, as well as on his walls.
Mommies with Style save 10% when you enter the coupon code mws10.
I love this product. Just love. Charity Charms makes totally gorgeous jewelry that serves a purpose - purchasing from them gives to one of many charities.
Here's the deal: pick a bracelet or necklace and then add on charms. Each charm selected represents a specific charity. They have a list of charities and charity charms you can select from.
25% of each purchase price of jewelry and 75% of each charm purchase is given back to charity. And I just love that you can pick the charity that is close to your heart with this - view their entire list of charities (and charms) and I can't imagine anyone not finding a charity they find important here. Many of the charities are local to Arizona and all have important places in the world.
They have all shapes and sizes of jewelry. Check out the Affirmation bracelet too, each ring has an different affirmation written on it. These are so Mommy-perfect: Peace, Courage, Strength, Passion, Harmony, Love & Balance.
Each piece comes in a signature box, wrapped in ribbon inside of a tulle bag. Dads, get one for your woman for Valentine's Day - she'll love it. Spend more than $150 and you get free shipping.
What is it about a pregnancy bump that invites conversation?
Get the discussion going with these playful tees from BellyFlirt. They have a bunch of fun quotes on their super soft and stretchy tees, sure to keep you smiling. I like "Sugar Mommy" and "I used to be a Size 0." (Umm...I wish. But hey, if I can blame the baby for my belly, why not blame him for my butt too?)
Of course my favorite for a soon to be mom of 4 such as myself is their "Breeder" tee.
We had such boring bedding for my son when he was an infant. White sheet, white bumper. No frills, nothing special. For my second baby, I wanted something a little fun (plus his bumper and sheets were so grimy and didn't hold up very well anyway). I came across crib bedding from Picci and fell in love.
We chose theHippy Balls Bedding Set ($350), from Picci's Contemporary Collection (pictured to the left). I went with this playful 100% cotton soothing swirly palate of aqua, green, tan and white with chenille accents because it perfectly matched the colors in our Sea and Sky themed nursery. The set contains a fitted sheet, bumpers, dust ruffle and comforter. I liked the fine quality of the bedding (and most likely the bumpers and the comforter will be used as our baby girl gets a little bit older).
From the elegant Cotton Collection, you can choose from 13 different styles. If I was going to go for pink, I'd check out the Hippy Flowers ($350) -- a fun modern floral collection of hot pink, pale pink and white, or the Scarlet ($300) -- a classic pink with tiny white ruffles or the Taormina ($300) -- a sweet pink and white set with organdie trim. They have several blue and neutral color bedding sets, also. If you want to go really luxe, choose from Picci's silk collection - absolutely stunning! Choose from Champagne, Caterina, Grace or Aspin.
Founded nearly 40 years ago in Florence, Italy by Paola Cherubini, Picci's gorgeous collections are handmade in Italy from 100% Egyptian cotton and 100% silk. Picci also uses hypoallergenic padding and non-toxic paints in all bedding and accessory products.
Celebrities such as Marcia Cross, Heidi Klum, Usher, Nancy O'Dell, Ming-Na, Tony Hale and Casey Affleck are fans. Picci's Petra bedding set was featured on the season opener of ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition on September 30, 2007.
Exclusive for MWS Readers: Shop Barebabies.com and use coupon code MWS10. This will entitle you to 10% discount for anything from Picci plus free shipping for any Picci order over $99.
Someone to do it all (well, almost) for you: The Baby Planners
I can't tell you how many people come to us on a regular basis asking for recommendations on baby products. When you're first pregnant, it's like you've landed on a foreign world. Strollers, diaper bags... say what?
I was totally confused my first time. I took my friend Susan (who at the time had three kids with a fourth on the way) to Babies R Us with me when hubby and I registered. We walked around with the gun and she told us what was what and gave us the low-down. It was so helpful, and I remember having a massive headache and having one of those "get me out of here NOW" moments because I was so overwhelmed.
Who hasn't been there? Having a baby is work, on so many different levels, so how nice would it be to have a baby planner to do so much of the preparation for you and tell you where to start? We've seen a growing number of baby planning business cropping up in the past few years and I definitely think it's a great niche.
One such company is The Baby Planners. Based out of LA, they're a two-woman consulting business who counsels and consults expecting and new parents. They've been featured on iVillage, in Pregnancy Magazine and appeared on the Rachael Ray show.
Check them out - you don't have to be local to LA as they can help you over the phone. Think of all that saved time! Too bad they can't push the baby out for you too. Now that would be something.
Dora Saves the Mermaids -- currently $16.99 on Amazon. I have to say, I think our Dora days are numbered (for Nate, age 4, anyway) but for now she's still entertaining to us and little brother loves her.
Undercover Dora -- currently $9.99 on Amazon. I just noticed that they categorize Dora as age appropriate for ages 3-6. (!) They should try telling that to my 14-month-old when Dora comes on.
Springtime Fun -- will release next week on January 29, 2008. These movies from HIT entertainment are great. Those of you with the PBS Sprout channel will recognize most of these shows (Including Fireman Sam, which is currently the favorite in our house). This movie is a collective of several shows, some of which include Barney, Angelina Ballerina and Thomas. I like these movies for road trips as it always seems to hold their interest more than two hour long movie. Plus, all the HIT Entertainment shows are great for differing kids' ages - the shows are a good mix for preschool aged kids.
Pingu on the Ice -- will release next week on January 29, 2008. We love Pingu here - it's an odd show and they don't speak but the kids laugh for this show more than any others. It's silly and cute and currently $9.99 on Amazon for this winter-related movie they're releasing next week.
In honor and recognition of The Heart Truth, the national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, we're joining in and reminding all women to wear red tomorrow. Your risk of Heart Disease, women's number one killer, begins to increase between the ages of 40 and 60. You're never to young to become aware and recognize this danger. Heart disease can begin as young as the teenage years, so its time we all start to act towards better heart health. Here are some things you can do:
Here's a cute, hand-designed shop. 
I can’t even describe how cute the Cambodian anklets from 
I reviewed 
So we took Nate skiing for the first time last weekend. Hubby's an expert skier; he's been all over the place to ski from Whistler to Taos to skiing all over Europe. My skills can get me down the mountain most of the time. (I almost divorced hubby when we got to the top of a blue in Tahoe and he hadn't told me that a blue on the east coast is a little bit different on the west coast. But I survived, and had fun doing it.)
Dora Saves the Mermaids
Springtime Fun
Pingu on the Ice