So you might have figured I'm into cooking. I've gotten lots of cool new tools, always find great recipes and love cookbooks. Besides a few foodie failures, the only real disappointment has been a few unnecessary spills... on my Mommy's so Stylish clothing. NOT good. So another kitchen product I'm beginning to collect is aprons. But, of course, this Mommy needs stylish aprons. And Earth-friendly is a huge bonus.
A few months ago, BaileyBea introduced an amazing assortment of aprons. With around 200 original and unique designs, they use gorgeous decorator fabric to create their assortment. Available in sizes for women and children, these aprons will make a spectacular surprise on Mothers' Day.
Wondering, though, just how they're Earth Friendly? I love this: the fabrics are salvaged. Nancy, the owner of BaileyBea, lives in Austin, not too far from the design district. She learned that a major furniture manufacturer in her area was tossing scraps. TOSSING them. Rather than letting them take up space in landfills, Nancy drove over several times and purchased the leftover fabric--sometimes reams of it. Of course, such gorgeous fabric needed to be put towards something gorgeous that we'd all enjoy.
And enjoy this! Nancy currently has the entire line of aprons on sale--up to 40% off. So these beautiful aprons are selling between $15 and $18, down from $25-30. And, perfect for Mother's Day, there are even a few that make a Mommy/Daughter pair. Cute!
Its not too long ago that the idea of me in an apron would cause a snicker. But in my recent years of domestification, not to mention the influence of Marcia Cross' Bree on Desparate Housewives, and an apron is suddenly desirable.
But an apron with style... up until recently that was still hard to find. So last night while cooking burgers on the grill, I surprised myself, the hus, and probably several neighbors by wearing a very stylin' Jessie Steele apron. Fitted for a woman's curves, the apron's stylish fabric drew attention (I have the top selling Audrey Cupcakes Apron), as did the, believe it or not, fit (so says the hus, not the neighbor.) The lightweight fabric ties around the neck and the waist and the 2 pockets in front were perfect for carrying small items to bring out to the grill, as well as a few spare tiny toys that don't need to be in the back yard. And how nice it was to wipe my hands not on my light-colored very spring capris, but on an apron!
Jessie Steele has several different styles available, with different fits and fabrics. Also available are half aprons--the skirted part only. And they now offer cooking accessories to match, like oven mitts and tea towels. Have a junior chef? Don't worry, she or he can look just as cute in a matching, or similar, kids' apron.
Really, I never thought I would need one, but with Passover this weekend, I'm so happy to have a chic new apron to protect my new outfit while I'm cooking and serving. A great gift for Mothers' Day or a perfect hostess gift--even better for yourself. Here's a Mothers' Day special: use code FORMOM08 for free shipping on orders over $35.
Neither of my kids like water poured over their heads at the end of a bath when I'm trying to rinse everything off (Is there any kid out there that does?) They suffer through it - luckily neither are big screamers, but I definitely get yelled at more often than not.
So when we recently tested out a Lil' Rinser hair/head product for the bath to help protect their eyes from the water, they were thrilled. Not only did it work to detour the water away from their eyes and down their backs, but they actually think it's funny and fun to do. Yay.
It's more or less a visor that you hold right at the hairline of your child's forehead, and it deflects the water from the front to down their back. (You can watch a little educational video on the site to see how it works.) Cole (17 months) actually giggles every time I do it.
It's $9.99 plus shipping to the US on the Lil' Rinser site but go through the link provided to receive 10% off and get the rinser for $8.99.
It was no sooner had I said that it was a light winter with little illnesses that we suddenly got hit with the plague. (Or what felt like the plague) The flu for me, the stomach bug for the kids, and a couple of runny noses that lasted weeks. It all hit in February - we had been doing so well until then.
I quickly tried to combat the germs with a couple of things, one of which I thought worth noting was with the Vicks Germ Free Humidifier. I was kind of lax running our old humidifier this winter - (Nate has the frog one from Target in his room but I have a bigger one I typically run out in the upstairs hallway). Anyway, it apparently uses ultraviolet light to ensure that 100% of the mist coming out of the humidifier is germ-free. Which is nice if it works as my filters get disgusting and God-knows-what's blowing out of the other ones. And unlike other humidifiers, the sound it makes is actually kind of soothing - the water boiling inside sounds kind of like a creek or stream.
So I don't know if it actually worked the cold thing. We're back from a recent trip to Florida, so that helped, but no one has runny noses at this point. Let's hope that now that the hint of spring is here, we stay that way.
You can find the Vicks Germ Free Humidifier at Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Target and various other retailers. It retails for $89.99.
Fall in love with one of the pieces at A is for Art (we have both Polka Dogs and Pirate Ship) and you won't find it hard to coordinate with a child's room. The colors are vibrant, the images full of life, and full of stories to be told. Finding an inspiration piece for your child's new room isn't hard when you're shopping at A is for Art. This online art gallery features sophisicated yet fun and child-friendly artwork as well as commissions. Its so easy to select a favorite from the variety, which can be purchased as canvases, murals or rugs.
Representing several children's artists, A is for Art is offering a Mommies with Style a special: receive 20% off with code MWS20.
I get very intimidated by decorating my home. Especially when it comes to hanging something on my walls. What if it doesn't look right? What if I hate it after a month or two? I'll be left with holes in the wall, not to mention my pockets.
That's not such a problem any longer. With Roommates, peel and stick the wallart onto nearly any hard surface, and, voila, you have art! Don't love it there? No problem, even a child can remove these appliques without ruining paint or a surface. We recently played with a few packs in our basement and our 4 year old's room. The kids put the stickers where they wanted them. Wesley, my 2-year-old, liked the idea of putting all of his in his own little area (he's our orderly child who likes things in a line and is very focused.) While Carson, our 4-year-old who doesn't sit still for long, stuck his appliques all over the room--we had soccer balls on chairs, a baseball on the basketball backboard, a collection on the kids' computer. After a while of decorating and redecorating, I left the room to take a phone call. Only to find the computer screen clear of all appliques with them now scattered across the walls.
Later that night, Carson found another package of Roommates. With these, he and his brother decorated his room--including his mirror, wall, windows and bedboard. And better than paper stickers, since they did this one their own, Roommates appliques don't rip! (Oh, and did I mention they don't pull off paint or leave a sticky residue? -- much to the chagrin of my father-in-law who has already been asked to repaint a few spots that were pulled off due to stickers before we knew about Roommates.)
For the price, this is more than a great decoration for your walls, its a toy that allows the kids to join in on making their spaces their own. The stickers show up better on lighter paint, as the appliques are not fully opaque, but that doesn't stop Carson's dark blue room from being covered in space Roommates. In addition to the stickers, also available are borders, wall murals and growth charts and they're inexpensive enough to select the alphabet today, Bratz in a few years and Penn State Nittany Lions in the future.
Sawyer is starting to be invited to the birthday parties of his preschool classmates. This is a bit nerve wracking for us. Will their be peanuts around? Will the cake be safe? Imagine how heartbroken your child would be if he wasn't able to have a big slice of birthday cake like all his friends - because something in it could potentially kill him.
At age 4, Sawyer understands eating anything with peanuts would make him sick. But at age 4, he also knows he's being left out.
That's how Bengamin Sandler felt. He not only had severe allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, but also to dairy products and eggs. He could only eat what his parents brought for him - and not the special treats everyone else was having. His parents, Mark and Lori Sandler, decided to help their son and children like him.
Their solution? Make their own. And that's how Divvies was born. The Sandlers researched and tested, then researched and tested some more. They wanted to make treats that could be shared - or 'divvied up' - and taste great to everyone, not just to those with allergies. But they also wanted them to be safe.
They created a bakery that is completely nut, dairy and egg free. They they made sure all the ingredients they use are also from places where they would not come into contact with allergens, and they regularly test these items to make sure they're completely allergen-free
We were very excited to receive our package. Because even though Sawyer can thankfully have dairy and eggs, it's a HUGE relief to give him a treat without triple-studying the label to make sure there's no peanuts in it or even a "manufactured on shared equipment with peanuts" label.
So the answer to the question I'm sure you all have: how did it all taste?
Our first test was the box of chocolate cupcakes and the accompanying vanilla frosting and sprinkles. The test panel consisted of Sawyer and Sage (age 2); two girls who are 9, and twin 3 year-old boys. There was more than enough frosting to liberally douse the cupcakes.
The kids - of all ages - loved them!
We also received yummy chocolate chip cookies that you'd never guess were dairy and egg free. But my favorite were the molasses ginger cookies - delish! Not sure if Sawyer got to try any of those!
The popcorn (kettle and caramel) had just the right sweetness. And Sawyer was VERY excited to try the jelly beans! He's never had gourmet-style beans before as those usually have peanut-flavored ones, so they were definitely exciting for him.
And for me, the peace of mind that Divvies provides was priceless.
To get your own Divvies, visit their website at www.divvies.com. Divvies ships around the country and you can even get cute gift boxes if you'd like to send them to your friends or family who have these allergies. MWS readers get 10 percent off their order by entering the code MWS10.
Both of my cats have the annoying habit of eating ribbon and bows. When they do actually manage to get a hold of some ribbon (I'm pretty good keeping it hidden), you can imagine what follows. It's pretty much a feline puke fest. How I got the two cats who both love to do this is beyond me as I grew up with plenty of cats who never did this. And I never realized how many items have ribbon, twine or bow on them until my two kitties came along.
That said, it's more of a nuisance than anything - but it's particularly annoying during the holidays or someone's birthday when I can't put a bow on anything. (I swear they zone in... they can be two stories away sleeping but bring in a present with a pretty bow on it and they're like bees to honey.)
So I know my cats aren't the only ones who do this - which is why I thought I'd share what I think is an ingenious solution to this problem: Gliza bows. They're flat, snazzy-looking paper bows and my cats have no interest in them. Yay! Of course these bows aren't really designed for people with cats, that's just an added bonus - the design and purpose of these bows is to avoid crinkling when you need to ship a present or travel with it in your purse or car. I actually really like the clean look of these too - it's something different.
Use coupon code ZZZA1 for 10% off your order on the Gliza Bow website.
Not only sweet, but blowing my diet! But who can resist with such great munchies? I got a box of cookies recently from the Harvard Sweet Boutique out of Boston.
The cookies were delish (they sent an assortment), the packaging adorable and I thought this feature would be good on Valentine's Day as a potential upcoming Easter purchase. A box of these makes an adorable, affordable and yummy hostess gift.
Select from an assortment of sweets - cookies, brownies, toffee bars and more.
So if you're concerned about freshness and shipping - I'm in Philly and they're in Boston, so it didn't take too long to get to me but it did take me a few days to let the family dig in and the cookies were as fresh as can be. (They come wrapped in cellophane tied with a ribbon, inside a cute box.)
Shop the Harvard Sweet Boutique and use coupon code MWS08 for 10% off your order by February 29, 2008.
This beautiful personalized dinnerware arrived Tuesday and I was just too excited to serve a special Valentine's breakfast on them this morning. (The breakfast food was a definite miss, but the plates and the Sok-O's were HUGE gifting hits. My 4-year old's only complaint? "They weren't real presents, Mommy. No one wrapped them in heart wrapping paper.")
Crafted on melamine, Mayfly and Junebug's dishes are dishwasher safe, but not microwaveable. The 10" size is perfect. Like many, my boys aren't keen on foods touching (apparently, that's ewwy), so I love how large these plates are. Most children's plates are too small for a spoonful of peas and a piece of chicken. But the generous size allows for peas, chicken, cranberry sauce and stuffing--all without touching! (Just don't let those peas roll). From nearly 50 colorful designs to choose, you're certain to find a plate perfect for that next birthday party gift or special occasion.
Its all about motivation, and if an adorable personalized plate can truly motivate a finished meal, then I'm more than happy to add that to my kitchen. Select yours at BaileyBea Designs and save 20% with code MWS20.
I'm not really a candle person. I mean, I like them and all and I have them burning in my house on occasion. But I'm certainly not someone who spends hours smelling the scents in Yankee Candle or can tell the difference between a cheap or nicer candle. Or so I thought, until I checked out a candle from PaddyWax.
I have the Bamboo and it's really soothing (and smells amazing), and I was surprised at how much I loved this candle. I've been lighting it in our upstairs hallway (which can sometimes get a little stinky with the Diaper Champ nearby even though we have a no poopy diapers in the Diaper Champ rule).
I just love the smell of this candle, it literally takes over and everything smells pretty and serene. So PaddyWax has several candle lines. This includes the Journey of the Bee, a line that was created as a tribute to the bee (the jar is adorned with a gold bee) and the Destinations Collection, creating smells to remind you of vacation destination spots.
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.
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 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.
Save yourself from going insane and needing a lobotome later in life with the products from LobotoME. (I know, that was bad, just stay with me here.)
LobotoME makes products to help you stay organized. They offer two weekly planners (one for Moms, one more generic), a "Save Me" pad (to do list), a "Feed Me" pad (Meal Planning 101), "Help Me" (Honey To Do list) and a Pack Me (On the Road Again) pad.
They've thought of just about everything. For example, on the Pack Me note pad, they provide you with a handy check list to make sure you don't forget anything. And the Help Me/Honey To Do List is great and gives a little section for today, tomorrow and someday items that hubby needs to get moving on.
We could all use a little more organization and a little less insanity in our lives. You know it.
We were recently at a friend's house playing in their basement playroom. My friend was telling me how one of the walls had gotten a bunch of nicks and marks on it. Rather than having to repaint the whole wall, she went out and got one of these FunToSee kits and used stickers to cover up the marks.
With a boy and a girl, she ended up getting the Winnie the Pooh one. Normally this isn't the type of thing I would consider all that tasteful, but you know what, it looked totally cute in their playroom basement. And we asked the kids what they thought about it (mine too) and they were very enthusiastic about how cute and fun it is.
They're large, vinyl stickers and they peel and stick very easily. Also key: the peel off easily and can be removed and placed somewhere else with no mess or damage to the walls.
They have several "generic" designs like Underwater Sea and Funky Flowers, or you can select from several character packs like Disney's Princesses, Cars and more.
Use coupon code FunToSee07 for free shipping through December 17th. (This is a good deal as they come from the UK.) This free delivery offer will apply to one Room Make-Over Kit only. Orders greater than one kit will incur the standard rate.
This weekend it really started to feel like winter in Southern California. I know the rest of you are laughing at our chattering teeth in 45 degree weather, but to us - that's COLD! My son needed a little more warmth at night and I was happy to wrap him in this unbelieveably soft and cozy organic cotton blanket from Litlle Merry Fellows, available from Ezoetic.
Although this blanket is cotton and super soft, it has the heft and warmth of an old fashioned wool blanket. And also the simple elegance. I love the bowl-of-oatmeal color and the matching toy pony is a perfect snuggle pal for those chilly (So Cal or colder!) nights.
Ezoetic has a lot of really cool organic items to check out. One other item of theirs that I tried that I really think is amazing are Maggie's Organic Soap Nuts. I would never have believed that something that looks like a withered berry, could actually work with my high efficiency washer to get my clothing clean, but they did! Soap nuts are an organic source of saponin. They are easy to use (put a few of the nuts in a little pouch and toss in the washer) and are extremely gentle and safe for even the most sensitive skin. And of course they are great for the environment. Want to try it yourself? Read more about Soap nuts and order the sample packet on the Ezoetic site.
Random gift thoughts from a recent trip to the mall.
So I was out at the mall yesterday trying to finish up most of my Christmas shopping. Lately, I've been thinking "that's worth a review" more often than not. A couple totally random items I noticed yesterday include:
Willow Tree Willow Tree figurines. I saw these at the Hallmark store - years ago, my sister in law got me one of these angels. I think they are so simple and beautiful looking. I love that they are so generic so the interpretation of the figure can be left up to the beholder. (whether they are angels to you, or just a pretty statue, or represent something deeper)
I have to say, I couldn't stop staring at this figure of the mother with two boys for obvious reasons. There's of course mother and daughter, grandmother and grandson and more. They definitely are a particular style to be sure of who you are gifting them to (one friend said their lack of facial features creeped her out but I think they are beautiful). The ones I was looking at ran anywhere from $18-24, so they are definitely affordable little gifts.
A store for everyone The Discovery Store has so many great toys for kids and adults of all ages. I really can't think of anyone of any age who wouldn't enjoy the Planet Earth set. We watch this show as a family pretty often and it's a great educational program for everyone. It's also one of Oprah's picks for the holiday season.
Along the same lines, you can get the Blue Planet DVD set or MeerKat Manor. (reality tv in nature!) Plus there are so many great educational type "toys" for all in that store. Thre's free shipping on orders over $75 if you buy online.
Yum. And I have yet to find a Peppermint Bark better than the one made by Williams-Sonoma. I seriously live for this stuff every holiday season. Last year, I was so bad that I went back after Christmas and bought a bunch on clearance. I was eating it into the spring. Maybe that explains those "last 10 pounds" I can't get rid of. It's not cheap but it's so worth it.
They also have amazing hot chocolate (you put the shavings right into the hot milk to melt) that you can make with their hot chocolate frother - the pair makes a great gift. You really just can't go wrong in that store.
Something for the PO guy. And what's everyone getting for their mailman? Mine goes above and beyond his call of duty with the amount of packages he has to lug up to my front steps. I ended up getting him a Starbucks gift card (last year was iTunes).
Filling those stockings Restoration Hardware has an awesome collection of "little" items perfect for stockings. Check them out because they have a ton of fun old-school items that aren't too pricey.
What could be better on a cold winter's night than a down comforter to keep you toasty warm? For those of us living in climates subject to the change of seasons, the winter month's will come sooner than we expect. I know in my family, we have a "summer" and "winter" comforter to suit our needs.
Plumeria Bay makes luxury down comforters -- pick from lightweight to heavy for cold nights. Either way, there's a great selection on the site. As I sit in my office with a big sweater wrapped around me on a cold, damp day, visiting this site makes me want to curl up under one of these comforters right now. The prices are reasonable and the quality's nice so if you're in the market for a new blanket, comforter or pillow out, you can check out Plumeria Bay.
I'm going to do it. Soon. Every time I check out at my local grocery store, I feel compelled to stop using the plastic bags, it's such a waste. The other day I was in my local grocery store and I was speaking to the clerk about the reusable bags they have for sale. (Were a lot of people buying them? Were a lot of people using them now?) I'm impressed when I see Moms and others using their recyclable bags. But I feel like I'm lucky to get out the door with my diaper bag, let alone some additional grocery bags.
But even more of a motivation now for me to make the change are these grocery bags from Skeeda. Not only are they environmentally friendly (not just the bag itself, of course, but the act of no longer using plastic bags each time you go) but they are stylish and cute!
I'll be the first to admit that keeping the environment safe is so high up on the totem pole that being "stylish" isn't even in the same world... but, if you can be both eco friendly AND stylish, why not?
Check the bags out on Skeeda's website. If you purchase, mention "mommies with style" in the comments section and one lucky buyer from this site will receive an extra bag of choice. The bags are $15 each and hold a lot. (I recently used mine for a day trip with some clothes for the boys - loved it! Light and simple.)
I got the Grandinroad catalog in the mail recently. I hadn't heard of it before but liked a lot of the products in the catalog so I went to check them out online. They are a sister company to Frontgate.
Anyway, I ordered a few items last night. I scoped out a coupon for 20% off the entire store and used it successfully. It expires end of the day today but check out their site - they have some gorgeous wall art, furniture and more. Supposedly the coupon works for Frontgate too.
My Mom recently got us a unique present: a Hopskotch rug from Flor for our entryway hall. My oldest loves to jump over it each day as we walk in the hallway, yet the colors and the style make it a nice piece for our house.
And the best part about this rug, and others from Flor, is that they are all so easy to install. Each rug from Flor is made up by 19.7" tiles. You order as many as you need based on room size - the backing on each made of a rubbery substance that is sticks to the floor well (no need for a rug pad). They do come with little stickers to keep each tile next to one another, but I haven't been using them on our Hopskotch rug. I'm thinking you'd need it on one of their wall-to-wall rugs.
Anyway, check out Flor's array of choices. You can mix and match. Or order a rug and change it up a year down the road. Kind of a neat concept. No coupon code but I find the prices to be reasonable as far as carpeting and flooring goes. I'd be all over the Souk Chic if I had a room to put it in.
I should also mention that they forgot to ship one of the tiles the first time around. I called in and their customer service was great; they immediately shipped out a new piece and it came within two days.
Another company that makes scheduling easier on a Mom is Whomi. Whomi makes calendars, agendas and to-do products -- items that are designed with a Mom's busy life in mind. Everything is color-coded and simply organized, designed to help you.
In particular, we are using the Whomi Calendar in the kitchen. It's color coded for each family member, and it has a section for up to 4 family members. We're only just getting to the stage where I have to juggle appointments and things, so I've been using one line for me, one for hubby and one for the kids. It's been working out well, plus I like that it's nice and big - easy for me to do a quick check as I'm running by.
Visit the Whomi site to check out the array of products they offer. Whomi has been featured in O and on the Today Show.
A portion of the proceeds from all the "pink" products sold in October on the AimeeJ site will be donated to support the fight against breast cancer. Use coupon code "mommies" for 10% off your order on everything on the site, and buy pink to support breast cancer awareness for the entire month.
AimeeJ sells really nice scrapbooks and accessories. You can check out Jen's review of the Mini Baby Days book from back in June here.
Inspirational blanket and book bundle: Breast Cancer Awareness
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and throughout the month we'll be bringing you reviews and information about products and info you can check out in support.
Here's a bundle of inspiration from company Affirmagy: they're selling a soft blanket with words and phrases of encouragement and a Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor's Soul book for $39.95. $7.99 of each purchase of this product is donated towards breast cancer charities.
And they have a wonderful suggestion on their site - click "Please Pay it Forward" at checkout and you can have this shipped as an anonymous gift to a woman you know who is facing breast cancer. View the gift pack on the Affirmagy site.
Lily on the Fly: great meals and quick organization
Time is my enemy. I have to wonder if there was ever truly a moment in my life when I was bored, or if that's just a crazy dream I once had. These days, I'm racing here and there constantly. Someone always has preschool, a doctor's appointment, a swim lesson or a music class. Or I'm picking up dry cleaning. Or going grocery shopping. You guys get the picture. Stretched about a million different ways, I never seem to get anything done to 100% satisfaction.
I'm beginning to realize that disorganization is definitely one of my time bandits. Often times, I'll forget something at the grocery store and have to go back twice in a week - which definitely eats up a good chunk of time. Getting organized is something I feel like I can at least maintain a bit of control over.
Meal planning is a start for me. Julie and I have talked a lot about those dinner planning services - she did one for awhile and seemed to be happy with it. I've always wanted to try one, so I was excited to get a chance to try some of the recipe and meal planner cards from Lilyonthefly.com.
Lily on the Fly sells meal cards. The front of each meal card has a picture of the dinner, and instructions on how to prepare it. (and time - day before/day of instructions) But what I really appreciated too was the back of the cards, which organizes and lists each ingredient based on the section you'd find it in the grocery store. (Produce/meat/dairy) This was helpful when I was in the actual store. I grabbed 3 Lily cards as I was running out the door one day and tossed them into my purse. So while I was at the store, I flipped the three cards over and lined them up - I then I had a list of what I needed from each aisle, and by the time I was done shopping, I had 3 full meals in my cart.
And of the three recipes I cooked, everything was easy. (I'm no Martha Stewart - recipes have to be easy for me to get them right and these were just fine and good!)
Could I open up one of my cookbooks and do this all myself? Sure. But the reality is that I don't. Which is why I love products like these: ones that are simple that make a Mom's life easier.
Use coupon code MWS for a 15% discount. The starter pack (36 meals) comes with a 7-slot magnetic holder that you can put on your fridge, allowing you to plan the full week's meals ahead.
My oldest never quite got the hang of the sippy cup thing, not until well after he had mastered the art of using a cup with a straw. In fact, it was straight from the bottle to the straw cups, and it was only months later that he was able to figure how out to use the sippy cup. It was a couple of frustrating months.
At 10 months old, I'm trying to transition the baby to learning how to use a sippy cup, and like his brother, he had been resistant. My friend Rachael told me to try these Nuby sippy cups, I had definitely seen them around but never tried them with my kids. So when we were then at a friend's house who had these Nuby gripper cups, I decided to give it a try.
The baby took right to it. Another friend told me that they are great transition bottles for breastfed babies because the tops are so soft and pliable. Whatever it is, I'm happy he's learning how to use something and thought I would make a mention here since it's working so well for us.
I got ours in-store at Babies R Us. I've also seen them at Wal-mart, or you can get them on Amazon. Spend $25 or more on baby products or more on Amazon and you'll receive a free one year subscription to Cookie Magazine.
This will probably come off as totally stupid sounding, but here goes: this product rocks. I don't even know what more I can say to articulate how much I love this product. I'll just say that this has been a bit hit in our house and is fantastic. WallCandy Arts are stickers to decorate and entertain on your walls.
They're large and they peel and stick on the walls, some for decor purposes, some for your kids to draw on. And they have all sorts of fun items: plain squares and circles, animal shapes, they even have a growth chart where you can chart your child's growth progress. The chalkboard pieces come with white chalk.
I was definitely worried testing this one out too - we used the plain big chalkboard (square) and the animals. We peeled a big square one and I put it on my son's wall with a threat about not getting any of the chalk on the walls, and a warning from my husband about how it better not ruin any of our paint job when I remove it later on. I'm happy to report that my son was very behaved with the chalk but did get a tiny bit on the walls, and that it wiped right off. Better yet, the entire chalkboard sticker peeled right off with ease and not a scratch to the walls. And they have such fun items for decoration purposes: stripes, airplanes, animals, flowers and much more.
Visit the WallCandyArts.com site to see everything they have to offer. Arte Bebe also has some of the collection, and you can view it and get it at 10% off with coupon code MWSFALL07 for that, and anything else on the site. Check it out - it takes "drawing on the walls" to a whole new level.
Perfect for entertaining: Be it in your Living Room OR Playroom
A child's playroom doesn't need much. A few baskets, maybe some shelves, a table, and, really, you're set. Less is more is so true when it comes to inspiring imaginative play.
But even the table and shelves can be cumbersome, so it becomes important to search for quality products. Products that will withstand the test of friends climbing on them, leaning across Candyland -- with a whole body on the table to get to King Candy, and Grandparent weight. And, of course, it may be a playroom, but you want it to look as good as the rest of your house.
Jennifer DeLonge, up-scale children's furniture designer, and designer to the stars, creates distinctive pieces for an up-to-the-moment style. A favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox-Arquette and Mira Sorvina, deLonge is the wife of Blink 182's Tom deLonge, and designer extraordinaire in her own right. Her children's furniture evokes a sleek, mod style, one so "normal" that it could easily be subbed in as adult furniture. In fact, during an impromptu get together in our yet unfurnished-basement (well, "Mommy and Daddy's Playroom" is still unfurnished) we grabbed our Grace Table and pulled it in between our sofas-- the guests would never had known that it, in fact, wasn't our coffee table (though the color didn't exactly match our mix of leftover-from-singledom couches.)
The Grace Table is firm and secure--so much more so than those I considered from popular children's furniture retailers. The stools, mini-replicas of the table, are in fact so strong they held my father-in-law during his extended visit to Wesley's Diner.
So easy, a 4-year-old and his Daddy spent less than an hour putting this table and 2 chairs together, while Mommy assembled the other 2 chairs. (It probably would have taken less than 15 minutes if a. the 4-year-old weren't there and b. Daddy's drill had been charged and we didn't have to hand-screw in all the pieces.) Regardless, this Mod piece is a highlight of our playroom.
Other deLonge products have impressed me for a while. I'll never forget meeting a Jennifer deLonge sales rep at a trade show a few years ago. He jumped, several times, on one of the Ava chairs. Then hopped from the chair to the Ottoman, and jumped back again. Obviously, he was well-practiced. But I have to tell you, I was very impressed with the look, quality, and craftmanship. Impressed enough to mention to my husband just how cool it would be to have one of these for each kid. (We don't, yet.) She's also recently introduced a line of Mommy Jewelry that fits in the modern, sleek style of her furniture.
The latest product I've been testing from MomAgenda is the Kitchen Folio. I love it. This is just the sort of thing I needed in my kitchen. As I've shared with you all before, I'm totally disorganized. And my kitchen bears the brunt of it. There are always papers flying all over the place, and although I try and stick important papers and items in various folders, I can never seem to find anything I need in those time-sensitive moments.
The Kitchen Folio arrived and I already love the clean-up it's encouraged. The best way to describe it is that it's a business portfolio for Moms. The outside is a faux-lizard print in hot pink. Inside, clear plastic slip in pages allow you to save everything you'd need at a moment's notice. There are tabs on all of the pages to help keep everything categorized if you should so choose.
But here's what I have going in there so far which I love: a preschool fall schedule; a class list with phone numbers from last year (will insert the latest school year's information when it comes) and some personal information with important phone numbers to us. MomAgenda also provides some free downloads for it - forms you can print out and fill out as suggestions to also put into your Folio. (Family Medical Info and Babysitter's information are two examples.)
I love it because it's a space saver, and I love it because it consolidates and keeps it all in one spot. Julie has a few too and I know she was just telling me recently that she plans on having one on every floor of her house! Which is an idea I may have to steal. For now, I keep the one in my kitchen.
You can buy it on the MomAgenda site for $29.95, or if you can wait a bit, at Precious Personalities for 20% off - click through the link for the discounted rate, but it won't be shipping for 3-4 weeks there.
Over the last few years of running this site, I had heard a lot of talk about the Svan high chair. I strongly disliked the one we used with my oldest - a Baby Trend model that's no longer sold in stores. So I was interested to test out the Svan chair, especially after I had reluctantly pulled the Baby Trend out of the basement.
This is now my latest baby product obsession. The price point is higher than your "average" high chair, there's no denying that. But what makes this worthwhile is it's versatility in comparison to other high chairs. This one lasts for years as it grows with your child. It converts into various stages - baby, toddler and can even be used as a computer chair for a teenager. I feel like that alone makes the price justifiable.
Other amazing selling points: it's small. It's not some monstrosity in my kitchen, but compact and it actually compliments the room. I have it in a natural wood, which matches our kitchen table. But you can pick whatever wood stain you'd like, other than natural, it also comes in cherry, whitewash, espresso and mahogany. There are also 9 cushion choices.
It comes with a tray cover which pops off easily for wipe down or cleaning in the dishwasher. And the whole thing cleans so easily - I wipe it down after each meal with a wet paper towel and it cleans much more quickly and efficiently than our old high chair. In short, I love it. In fact, I'm debating buying a second one since this is actually great for both boys. (Baby setting for the baby, toddler for my preschooler)
Check out the Svan site to read about all the other nifty features. It's currently on sale at Albee Baby and they have free shipping on the chair.
Cute and functional, I love this towel in a bag from KooKoo Bear Kids. I used it for the first time last week -- we were outside at a friend's and Nate was running around in his suit. I brought the towel in a bag. I stuffed it with some baby lotion and a change of clothes, slung it over my shoulder and loved the convenience.
The towel is 60" x 30" so it's a good size too although you wouldn't know it as it tucks into the bag so well.
Use coupon code MWS for free monogramming. Expires two weeks from today. Check out how nifty the monogramming looks on this circle dot print towel.
So we have a blast cooking in our house. At least my oldest son does, which is funny as I'm definitely culinarily-challenged. But when it comes to making cookies, pancakes, or anything reasonably standard that I can't mess up, I regularly have a little helper on a stool next to me.
Nowadays my helper is wearing a kids' apron from Kim Things. He was very excited when it arrived and he now calls it his "cooking outfit." Not to mention that it's nice that it actually has a function and keeps the cooking "extras" from the counter off his clothes.
Check it out at Kim Things. She has small aprons (ages 3-6), large (ages 7-11) and adult. The patterns are different from the usual - some really unique and vibrant colors and patterns so it's definitely worth a looksee.
Kim Things also sells some cute accessories like pot holders. Check out the bag section too (diaper bag, tolietry bag and more) Use coupon code MWS01 for 10% off your order and shop now as there's currently a free shipping special.
So you might have figured I'm into cooking. I've gotten lots of cool new tools, always find great recipes and love cookbooks. Besides a few foodie failures, the only real disappointment has been a few unnecessary spills... on my Mommy's so Stylish clothing. NOT good. So another kitchen product I'm beginning to collect is aprons. But, of course, this Mommy needs stylish aprons. And Earth-friendly is a huge bonus.
And enjoy this! Nancy currently has the entire line of aprons on sale--up to 40% off. So these beautiful aprons are selling between $15 and $18, down from $25-30. And, perfect for Mother's Day, there are even a few that make a Mommy/Daughter pair. Cute!
Its not too long ago that the idea of me in an apron would cause a snicker. But in my recent years of domestification, not to mention the influence of Marcia Cross' Bree on Desparate Housewives, and an apron is suddenly desirable.
Fall in love with one of the pieces at A is for Art (we have both Polka Dogs and Pirate Ship) and you won't find it hard to coordinate with a child's room. The colors are vibrant, the images full of life, and full of stories to be told. Finding an inspiration piece for your child's new room isn't hard when you're shopping at 
I get very intimidated by decorating my home. Especially when it comes to hanging something on my walls. What if it doesn't look right? What if I hate it after a month or two? I'll be left with holes in the wall, not to mention my pockets.
This beautiful 
children's plates are too small for a spoonful of peas and a piece of chicken. But the generous size allows for peas, chicken, cranberry sauce and stuffing--all without touching! (Just don't let those peas roll). From nearly 
This weekend it really started to feel like winter in Southern California. I know the rest of you are laughing at our chattering teeth in 45 degree weather, but to us - that's COLD! My son needed a little more warmth at night and I was happy to wrap him in this unbelieveably 
Ezoetic has a lot of really cool organic items to check out. One other item of theirs that I tried that I really think is amazing are 
Willow Tree figurines
A child's playroom doesn't need much. A few baskets, maybe some shelves, a table, and, really, you're set. Less is more is so true when it comes to inspiring imaginative play. 
The latest product I've been testing from MomAgenda is the Kitchen Folio. I love it. This is just the sort of thing I needed in my kitchen. As I've shared with you all before, I'm totally disorganized. And my kitchen bears the brunt of it. There are always papers flying all over the place, and although I try and stick important papers and items in various folders, I can never seem to find anything I need in those time-sensitive moments.
