Giveaway: Stubby Pencil Studio's Green to the Letter Stationery Set
We've had an amazing response to the review of the products offered by Stubby Pencil Studio. I've passed friends in parking lots thanking me for introducing them to the soy crayons and the interactive cards.
Haven't ordered your's yet, but dying to get in on the great Earth-friendly collection? Then make sure you're subscribed to our Newsletter, because this week we're giving away a Green to the Letter Stationery Set including:
-6 packs of Color 'n Kids cards (winner's choice of styles)
-Set of 10 Smencil pencils
-Set of 10 Colored Smencil Pencils
-Box of 64 Soy Crayons
Yes, its a creative green family's dream! Want to win? You know what to do. Register for our newsletter by clicking here or on the icon on the left. You'll receive our newest newsletter this week. Already registered? Sit tight and enjoy the newsletter. We'll contact and announce our winner next Monday.
I can't tell you how many times I have been out with my daughter at the mall and she throws her toy out of the stroller on the ground followed by the infamous "uh-oh" and a fit of giggles. The Ali-Oops toy clip puts an end to this never-ending battle. And keeps your baby happily throwing their favorite toy or sippy cup while never letting it out of their reach. The toy clip tethers your child’s toys, sippy cups, etc directly to your stroller, carseat, or highchair.
The Ali-Oops! Toy Clip is approximately 10 inches in length with heavy duty snaps on either end for attachment. It comes in a “small” or “large” and is made with stylish grosgrain ribbon.
Ali-Oops! is the signature product of Ali Designs. An online boutique selling children's accessories.
Ali Designs is offering Mommies With Style readers 10% off all items. Use the following link to Ali Designs and the discount will be applied at checkout.
For all you Dads out there looking... (shh, this is also a blatant exploitation of this blog to give him some not-so-subtle hints to my own husband) A year's subscription to Every Day with Rachael Ray, $24 for a year subscription
Pretty in Pink: if she's looking for a new laptop, not only is it a nice product but's so puuuuuuurty - the Sony Vaio in pink.
A night out, a week of someone else doing the dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc. Use your imagination! Last year I had a friend who said all she wanted to do was go to the mall by herself to shop - so that's what she did! Several hours later, she came home refreshed and had a nice Mother's Day dinner with her kids.
I recently learned about Clips 4 A Cure and had to pass this one along. Clips 4 A Cure sells handmade hairclips, headbands, hats, pony tail holders and clip holders. As you probably already figured out from their name, Clips 4 A Cure does so much more than provide adorable items for stylish babies everywhere. It was started by a cancer survivor and mom who wanted to contribute to cancer research. As such, 10% of their proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Not only do I love the idea of supporting such a worthy cause but I also fell in love with these accessories. The knit hats ($20) embellished with ribbon and a big flower are really such special pieces. But my absolute favorites are the flower ponytail holders ($7). In the last couple of months I have finally been able to put Mia’s hair up in a ponytail. Well it is just the cutest thing topped with a flower. It is especially such an adorable look for spring.
Clip 4 A Cure is offering Mommies With Style readers a free gift with any purchase over $50.
Hey Mommies - take a peek at our Summer Shopping Guide. We've put together a list of some great shops (with coupons!) for you to visit this summer. There are discounts of up to 20% off on shoes, organics, nursery items and more.
A tribute to my Kate Spade wallet that has seen better days after today
So after decades of carrying all sorts of bags, I finally find the perfect wallet. I was looking for something that zipped closed (my last wallet was constantly "leaking" change into the bottom of my diaper bag.)
I found what I wanted and more in this Kate Spade wallet (officially called the "vachetta clinton street neda" - I challenge you to say that 10 times fast without tripping up). Not only does it have a separate change section in the middle of the wallet that zips closed, but the entire wallet zips closed around everything. And I love the organization of it all: 12 credit card slots and two sections for bills.
So I found it at Macy's but you can order it online on the Kate Spade site. Of course, the reason I even thought to blog about this today is that I left one of Cole's bottles upside down in my diaper bag awhile I was in class at the gym this morning. So an hour later after I returned to my locker, I found it had leaked all over the bag, the wallet and all of Nate's swim clothes -- the poor kid now smells like soy milk and chlorine. Oh well, one of only many Mommy casualties I've had along the way. (Fingers crossed it dries out okay!)
Congrats to Ben & Jerry's, they're celebrating their 30th Birthday today! To celebrate, participating shops are giving FREE cones! Click here to see if you're close enough to get a freebie today.
At Stonyfield Farm Every Click Counts and Every Taste is YUM!
My son is a yo-a-holic. No kidding. He loves it. But he's picky. He only loves Stonyfield Farm's YoBaby Yogurt. There's something in the creamy, organic mix that makes him calm, makes him happy. At 2 and a half, you'd think he'd be past yogurt, really. Just how many days can a child eat Yogurt?! So, finally, I tried it. And, you know, he's right. Its creamy. Its yummy.
Wes started eating Yogurt around 9 months. But Stonyfield Farm recently introduced YoBaby Simply Plain. A yogurt approved for babies 6 months and older. Its meant to be an organic easy first food. FIRST food. An introduction to bigger, harder to swallow foods, Simply Plain acts as a transition between formula or breast milk to solids. Its totally healthy and naturally, and includes no sugars, colors or chemicals.
But Stonyfield didn't stop at 6 months. They now offer YoMommy! yogurts: for the Mom-to-Be. An organic, lowfat yogurt, YoMommy! helps pregnant women meet their nutritional needs. It also has an added bonus of DHA and probiotic cultures. I passed my coupon on to a pregnant friend to try out. She enjoyed the flavor and loved the health bonuses.
Try out any, or all, of Stonyfield's Yogurts. Enter your e-mail address to recieve coupons for the entire line: good at your local store.
Stonyfield is also working globally. They recently launched a donation program: click on the baby image here and Stonyfield will donate $ to the Environmental Working Group in its mission to keep harmful chemicals out of our food. You'll also be able to print a free guide to pesticides in produce: a pocket size guide listing 12 fruits and veggies with the most and least amount of pesticides.
Stonyfield will donate up to $20,000 for 20,000 clicks. So click and click and click!
Hat's On to Breastfeeding Moms with MoBoLeez Nursing Bonnets
I thought I had seen it all when it came to nursing cover ups. Basically I thought there were only three varieties: the apron, the blanket/shawl and the poncho. But I was wrong! Because a very, very clever mom has come up with a whole new way to cover up when nursing your baby in public. You might even say that she came up with it right off the top of her head ... the MoBoleez is brilliant!
All kidding aside, when I saw this product I had to crack a great big giant grin. I never would have thought of using a wide brimmed hat to cover my breast while nursing but it makes perfect sense. And it works just perfectly. The reason it works so well is the careful way the hat is crafted. The super soft knit cotton brim is just wide enough, just stable enough and weighted just right to drape perfectly around your exposed breast. Even over my generously sized DD's. The baby's head is loosely covered and the brim sits away from his face so there is plenty of room to breathe. The logo on the outside is cute and simple and the message on the inside of the brim "hi mummy" is a sweet little for-your-eyes-only reminder that your baby loves you for taking such good care of him.
I love using this hat so much more than any of the blanket/poncho/apron style cover ups. It only covers the area that needs covering, and thus your baby is not smothered, you are not likely to overheat and you don't feel awkwardly draped. I never really got the hang of nursing with other cover ups and as a result, have inadvertently exposed myself more times then I could count, whilst breastfeeding over the years. Too bad for any curious lookie-loos who missed out on that sight! Much to the relief of my oldest daughter, and all thanks to MoBoleez, those days are over.
Note, I tested this product out while going over a quote for home improvements with my macho-dude, single and childless general contractor, a guy who really would rather not watch me breastfeed. This was a serious test! And no worries for any of us. I've now got a Moboleez hat tucked into my diaper bag and it is on my short list of fabulous shower presents.
Something little you can do for the Earth, while enjoying coffee and looking chic
Its amazing how often I toss a coffee cup. Each time I feel a ping of guilt. I've tried to remember to bring a clean, reusable mug, but I'd need 7 to make it through the week because, to be honest, I just don't have the hands to remember to bring the dirtied mug inside to clean each day. So, yes, I'm contributing to cardboard pollution each day.
However, I'm also doing a tiny part to help out the Earth while I sip my coffee. I recently purchased a few SQUEEZEs from Dizzle Pop at Etsy. Using fantastically fun fabrics, Gigi makes them to match your outfits, and keep your hands from burning. These cotton coffee-cup holders are lined with a soft fleece to keep your hands from the heat--so much chic-er and more protective than the cardboard ones. I love them for the style. So many people have complimented and asked me where to get them, I just knew I'd have to share it.
So, while I failed to use one of my many reusable travel coffee mugs at the coffee shop today, I am doing my tiny part. Because in addition to dressing my coffee to look cute, I'm keeping about 300 of those cardboard covers from being used and tossed each year. Lets do some math, if 300 people order, that's 90,000 cardboard covers that aren't being used and tossed each year.
They also come with a tiny pocket--perfect for a "frequency" card or a gift card--a great way to present a coffee shop gift certificate! Completely machine washable, you can get away with one. But with all the cute fabrics, you know you'll want more!
When you order, mention MWS in the comments area and you'll receive a free shippping rebate.
My love for girl’s hair accessories started when I was a little girl. My Mom would always buy me the most beautiful barrettes and do my hair for hours on end. As I grew older and stopped wearing them, I hoped that one day I would have a girl and continue what my Mom had done for me. So when I had a girl almost 5 years ago, I couldn’t wait until she had enough hair for her to start wearing bows, clips, headbands, etc. I am always on the lookout for new styles of hair accessories. When I came across these cute handmade hair clips, I couldn’t wait to put them in my daughter’s hair!
One Lil’ Cupcake carries the most adorable hair clips for babies and little girls. These handcrafted clips are 100% wool felt and will not slip out of even the finest of hair. I especially love the 2 gift sets which come with several clips. With the 12 Months of Hair Clips you can enjoy accessorizing year round with this unique set! Each hair clip is handmade to coordinate with all of your daughter’s seasonal outfits. This is the perfect gift for the holiday season, baby showers or birthdays and will arrive on a colorfully designed calendar – great for holding them!
The Flower Garden Gift Set is just precious and is a collection of their most popular floral clips. Each flower is a different color so you'll be sure to coordinate with many of her outfits. This also makes a fabulous gift for many occasions! The hair clips come on an adorable colorfully designed cardstock garden – how unique!
One of my favorites on the site includes the Design Your Own Monogrammed Clip. You can choose the letter color and circle color to match any outfit you wish! Also, the Cupcakes and Fruits are simply delicious! For the animal lover, I have never seen such fantastic Animal hair clips! All clips can also be made into big girl clips as well, just e-mail to request.
Order four or more hair clips and receive free shipping. No coupon code is required.
Does this sound familiar? You have a baby gift to get out and so during naptime you hop online to shops a,b,and z and are overwhelmed with the choices. You thought you'd send an outfit but before you know it, you are in too deep, overwhelmed with choices (good and some not so good) and before you know it an hour has passed, your own little one is wide awake and demanding lunch and you still need to get a baby gift out.
This is why I like the Alex Casey site. Simple, uncluttered, easy to navigate and every item in good taste. You can get in and out with the excellent goods you need in no time at all. Which means you can spend the rest of naptime shopping online for yourself or chatting and shopping with your super pals on the MWS boards!
For my own gifting needs and for dressing my own infant son, I'm loving the BabyStar collection at Alex Casey. The pop art prints on these soft cotton pieces is mod and fresh. And the blue dots on the Tag Blue pieces make my little guy's blue eyes really pop.
Mommies with Style: For the next two weeks, get 15% off your order with Coupon Code MWS. Alex Casey offers free shipping on all orders over $150 and ships all over the world.
Take a second and check your inbox to be sure you received this week's MWS newsletter. Inside, we include coupons and great deals for many of our new favorite products.
Wait. You didn't receive it? Check your spam filters and be sure to add news@mommieswithstyle.com to your address book. And be certain you're subscribed by enrolling here. There's still time to win this week's prize, but you have to be subscribed by tonight.
Win a Vine Floral Collection Crib Set from Skip*Hop!
If you drooled over Skip*Hop's new bedding set reviewed over the weekend (and who didn't) then you'll love this contest.
Make sure you're subscribed to the Mommies with Style Newsletter, because next weekend we'll select one subscriber to receive her very own Skip*Hop Vine Floral Collection 5-piece Crib Set. Not enrolled? Click here and enter your e-mail address. You'll start receiving our newsletter full of coupons and great buys this week, and you'll be entered to win all of our great prizes, including this week's set from Skip*Hop.
The winner will be announced next week, so come back to see who has the newest, chicest baby nursery. If you're signed up for our newsletter, it just may be you!
Do you want to pick the gender of your next child?
As the mom of two sons, I get asked quite frequently, "Are you going to try for a third?" or "Are you going to try for a girl"? Though my answer is still up in the air, it is certainly interesting to think about "trying" to conceive a girl. A few of my friends have discussed trying some old wives tales to conceive a specific gender, and others have thought about sperm sorting to achieve their desired sex. But if I decide to try for a girl, I am going to use a GenSelect home kit.
What is it, you ask? It is a FDA-approved system to influence the gender of your next baby with a 96% success rate when used according to directions. The home kits allow customers to modify the body chemistries of both mother and father according to scientifically-proven clinical tests to influence the gender of their next child before they conceive. The four key components that GenSelect focuses on are
1. Body Condition
2. Intercourse Timing
3. Vaginal Environment
4. and Diet
But I bet you are asking... is it safe? GenSelect's nutriceutical dietary supplements are safe, all-natural, and patented. No pharmaceuticals are used in the GenSelect System, and all required FDA approvals have been obtained. Check out the Company's detailed FAQ page, which address some of the critical questions most people have, as well as an interesting article on the safety of douching.
There are separate home kits for boys and girls. Within each home kit you will find:
* Specially-formulated, all-natural nutriceuticals (no pharmaceuticals, doctors, or prescriptions required)
* Dietary guidelines for mothers and fathers
* Intercourse timing aids and instruction
* Vaginal environment adjustment aids and instruction
* Customer access to one of the largest online pregnancy manuals and databases worldwide
* Free online support for all customers through the duration of their preconception
Best of all, the Company offers a full money back guarantee. So you really have nothing to lose by trying it out!
Take a look at the GenSelect site to learn more about this interesting and unique product! Make sure you visit the FAQ page to help answer many of the questions that you may have as well.
If you are interested in purchasing this product, take advantage of a special Mommies With Style 15% discount on orders of $200.00 or more (though this excludes shipping & handling, their site already has free shipping on orders of $200 or more, so both would apply for you!) Enter Promotional Code MWS349110 in the “Promotional Code” box near the bottom of the order page. (It’s case-sensitive, so make sure it is all upper-case). Expires July 1st.
Great conversation is key to a great party. But put a group of people together and it often takes a while to warm up. Get some help with Table Topics at your next party.
Table Topics cubes include 135 cardstock question cards storing in a clear, acrylic cube. Topic themes vary from Book Club to Family to Girls Night Out. Also available are Topics to Go, which are smaller packs that fit nicely into your bag for a discussion on the run (note to self: send a set of Dating to Go to single sister!)
And for a big party, how fun to have Party Topics Coaster, Napkins and Placecards doing double duty as decor and icebreakers?
Use code 08dieMWS for 15% off all products thru April 25th.
According to the countdown clock on H&R Block's Digits website, there's 14 days and 7 hours left to file your taxes as I'm typing this post. If you're still working out your taxes for 2007 and feeling the pinch, you should check out this website - it's an online community and support for anything and all that's tax-related.
They have some helpful articles including info on the economic rebate, dealing with an IRS Audit and much more.
As part of connecting folks to Digits, H&R Block is offering three Flash Drives containing TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal + State as a part of a giveaway. A $45 value, these reusable 1 GB USB Flash Drives contain everything you need to complete your federal and state taxes, guidance for every personal tax situation, step-by-step interview guides, advice on how to find the deductions you deserve and advanced tools for investors and business owners. Subscribe to the Mommies with Style weekly newsletter to be entered to win by Friday, April 4th. Three winners will be seleted from our newsletter member database after this time.
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.
My infant daughter was born with a lot of hair. So much so that at 3 days of age, I started sticking barrettes in. We've tried so many cute brands with adorable clips (snaps and alligator style), but nothing was staying put. We had been leaving them in a trail around our apartment because they kept falling out - one clip fell into my cleavage! Bitty Bows Boutique sent me some clips to test out and they actually stayed in.
We tested out several clips. The Beaded Apple Clip ($8.00) lined with velvet, is currently my favorite and really stood out. It did not move from baby Allegra's hair (I plan on ordering more velvet lined clips soon). Owner (and mom of two little girls) Kelly Rankin orders a special brand of velvet ribbon (no, she wouldn't tell me the brand!) to line her clips with. My second favorite was the Looks Like Nemo fish snap clip ($6.99). You may see a lot of cute butterflies and flowers in clips, but do you ever see a fish? On a white grosgrain ribbon, the red fish applique has a sparkly Swarovski crystal eye.
We also checked out the sweet Sandra in Mint ($5.99) - a little satin blossom with a Swarovski crystal in the middle with a matching ribbon, the pretty Jamie ($6.99) in light orchid and white with a Swarovski crystal center, and the classic Eleanor Bow Clip($6.99) in Azalea (magenta).
There are so many color and customization options - too many to list. Not sure which clip to get for your baby or toddler? There is a page explaining which clips will work for which ages/hair. Want to match an outfit from Gymboree or Jane & Jack? Kelly gives suggestions on which of her clips will match certain clothing collections from these lines.
Exclusive for MWS Readers:Click here to get 15% off your order at Bitty Bows.
So I had to give a shout out to this amazing website I used earlier this month on my trip to Disney, Tour Guide Mike. Jen had recommended it to me - I think she heard about it from Allison on our Message Boards. So Jen told me I absolutely had to sign up for his services - that once you're a "member" you are given all sorts of information to help make your trip to Disney World easier.
Basically you plug in the dates of your trip and he tells you what parks to visit which days. And what order to do the attractions or rides. It even goes so far as to tailor your trip specific to your needs. You fill out a short form in the beginning and it bases the recommendations on your answers. (In our case, everything was "preschool age" related.)
We went for three days during the busiest season (Spring Break), and the longest line we waited in was 10 minutes. Seriously. And that's only because it was a Buzz Lightyear ride in Magic Kingdom that Nate insisted we ride again and again.
Past trips we had taken to Disney World had been nightmarish - lines, crowds, generally miserable. We had a totally opposite experience this time, the kids have a blast, and I totally attribute it to listening to the advice off of the Tour Guide Mike website. Anyway. I wrote the folks over there about a discount for us and didn't hear back, if I do I'll post a coupon. But it's worth it either way - it's $21.95 for the year. Plan early! I only did it a month in advance but I was busy that month trying to schedule us, make reservations and read all of the info on his site (there's a lot!)
I recently took my 2-month old son on a weekend visit to see a girlfriend in Seattle. The plane ride was only a little over two hours, but since I was traveling by myself, I worried about carrying all the stuff the weekend would require. My clothes, his clothes, umbrella (it is Seattle), diapers, wipes, noise machine, pack-n-play, stroller, car seat…I had visions of the looks of sympathy I would receive trying to lug all this and a kid through the airport by myself. Then two fortuitous events occurred: first, my girlfriend was able to borrow a car seat which allowed me to leave the car seat and the stroller at home; second, I met the Nap-Sac. In my life as a product-tester, there have been very few products I have come across that truly have blown me away – the Nap-Sac by Lilly Gold definitely makes the list. Instead of being burdened by luggage and gear, I traveled with one suitcase, my son in a Bjorn and the Nap-Sac for my weekend away.
The Nap-Sac is a combined diaper bag, changing station and portable bassinet. Unfolded, it works as a four-sided bassinet with a padded bottom and two zebra-print sheets. Collapse the sides in, zip it up and fold the bag in half and it’s easily carried over the shoulder or messenger-style across the body. Made of durable nylon canvas, the bag is surprisingly light, even with all six of the expandable pockets packed full. It doubled as my purse and was able to carry everything my son and I needed on the plane including my wallet, cosmetic case, reading material, extra clothes, diapers, wipes, and blankets.
My first test of the Nap-Sac came in the airport bathroom for a quick change of my son’s blow-out diaper (moments before boarding the plane, of course). Easy to set-up and access diapers and wipes in the surrounding pockets, I was especially thankful for the one waterproof, zippered pocket to contain his soiled outfit. Once on the plane, I was also pleasantly surprised to find that it fit nearly perfectly across the airplane seats (I did have a whole row to myself). This allowed for easy in-seat in-flight diaper changes and a place for me to put my son down when he eventually tired of peek-a-boo with the seatmate behind us. If this wasn’t convenient enough, in all of the pockets surrounding my sleeping child, I had everything I needed, easy to reach and close at hand. Swaddle blanket? Check. Magazine? Lip gloss? No prob. Extra socks or binky? Right here. No rifling through multiple bags. No pulling items out of overhead storage. Though it helped that my son made nary a peep the whole time, the Nap-Sac made my flight almost enjoyable. Once we arrived at our destination, my son happily called the Nap-Sac home for his naps and nighttime slumber. I was glad to have him safe and contained for sleeping and cutting out the weight and set-up of a pack-n-play made traveling simpler, lighter and easier.
The Nap-Sac is the brainchild of mother, grandmother and entrepreneur Lilly Gold. Motivated by the birth of her first grandchild and the sub-par quality of the available kid’s gear she saw, Gold began developing a number of innovative multi-tasking products to make life with kids-especially traveling with kids-easier. “My team and I develop the products that every parent looks for-products that fill a need while having multiple uses-getting the most for their money and not sacrificing safety or design,” says Gold. “The Nap-Sac came about after I took my granddaughter to a Neiman Marcus Last Call Sale as an infant. She was on the floor of the dressing room on a blanket amongst the pins. At the same time I realized how dirty the pull down changing tables in the public bathrooms were. I went home and designed a diaper bag that would hold her safely on floors, chairs, tables, or changing surfaces.”
So say goodbye to lugging around a pack-n-play. Bid adieu to carrying a separate travel bed, diaper bag and changing pad. Whether you’re visiting grandma by plane or just going across the street for dinner with friends, the Nap-Sac in red or black is a must-have for making traveling with young infants easier. Also check out the Nap-Sac Backpack in black or camo that allows you to carry the bag as a shoulder bag or backpack.
Lilly Gold is offering Mommies With Style readers 10% off listed prices and free shipping if you order any Lilly Gold products (including her award-winning Sit ‘n’ Stroll) through www.lillygold.com and enter code “Stylemoms08”. Pick one up now for all your spring and summertime travels.
The Essential Baby Organizer: Birth to One Year ($19.95) is a follow up to The Essential Pregnancy Organizer by Dani Rasmussen and Antoinette Perez. File this one under "Smart ideas". Someone like myself, who is on her second child, is just too busy and scatterbrained to remember all the things about my daughter. Baby Allegra is already 11 weeks and I am just forgetting so many things about her. Happily, I started using this organizer to record how she is doing, so I can look back at it when she's older.
This organizer is actually great. Everything is one place and it is quick and easy to fill everything out. It is slim enough to fit in your diaper bag. You can fill it out while you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding (if you have a table or pillow to balance on) or during those rare quiet moments. It gives you, in one of the first few pages, a place for all your important phone numbers/ addresses: (for you and your husbandor partner, pediatrician, pharmacy, lactation consultant, nanny/sitter, friends, grandparents and health insurance company). This way, you're not scrambling to find all these numbers in a hurry (or when grandma comes over to babysit).
The organizer is broken up into four 3 month blocks. I loved the letter to baby feature, at the end of each 3 month block. Authors Dani Rasmussen and Antoinette Perez really thought of every detail - there's a page for gifts, a page for baby's world (who was the President, major headlines), and an illustrated fill-in tooth chart. You know that there are so many firsts - but will you remember each one? Just use their fill-in chart on page 13 to write them down (first outing, first smile, laugh, coo, word, food, time they rolled over, crawled, danced...)
Features:
Week-at-a-glance feeding, sleeping, and diapering charts
Baby well-check records
Photo pages
Soothing techniques
Sleep guidelines
Developmental milestone chart
Breastfeeding information
Suggested infant feeding guide from Earth’s Best
Interview questions for babysitters
First-aid guidelines from the American Red Cross
Convenient journal pages
Helpful resources
Pocket for paperwork or keepsakes
The book is spiral bound and 126 pages. Dimensions are 6.875” x 10”. At this price point, you could give this as a new baby gift and snag one for yourself!
Shop Essentialorganizers.com. Exclusive Discount for MWS Readers: Use coupon code 294825 during checkout for 15% off.
Back from Disney... with a couple site announcements
Hi Mommies... after a grueling four hour delay in Orlando airport (and circling in the air for another hour once we actually got to Philly - oh so fun when you have a 16 month old lap child), we're home safe and sound! I have plenty of Disney-related reviews coming which I can't wait to share.
So now that I'm back, I had a couple things that happened while I was gone that I wanted to fill you guys in on:
We've added a star ratings button below each review on the homepage. We thought this would be a fun way for you to interact with our reviews - let us know what you think! Someone emailed in to ask what you're rating - you're rating the product, not our writing (But that did make me laugh - please don't rate my writing - I'm the typo queen!)
Hot Moms Club: The big news I wanted to share with you include the launch of the Hot Moms Club Super Community. Some of you may be familiar with their site - the exciting news is that they've launched a new community for their users, and Mommies with Style is a part of it. You can check out our group and join through this button. It's a neat spot to view info on a bunch of different Mom and kid-friendly websites and communities. The button will take you through to view all of the new partners of their Community (including us) and you can register and join any group you want from there.
Facebook: This last one is regarding Facebook - are you on? I have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with the site (gotta get my daily Scrabble fix). I've created a Mommies with Style page there as well so you can become a fan of Mommies with Style if you're on Facebook and you read our site. (Because, as if the million other ways we can all connect online isn't sufficient, here's another!) Seriously, it's fun and come join if you're a Facebook user.
If you're reading this blog, I guarantee you'll love this site and their products. There's something for every Mom here and I challenge you not to smile when you check out the tees for sale on the Darling Mummy website. These have to be some of my favorite sassy tees of all time. They're still offering their classics like "Mommy juice" tee (pictured with a glass of wine) and "I'm too sexy for my mini-van." They've also added some new tees like, "Sugar Mama" (pictured with a cupcake with a little bling on the top) and "Hoo's your Mama?" (pictured with an owl.)
Also new are matching notepads - you can pick from 10 designs offered in 75-sheet notepads, great for the kitchen for grocery lists, notes to school and more.
Use coupon code MWS15OFF for 15% off anything on the site (even sale items).
Remember how before you ever had kids you swore you'd be a really cool, really fun mom? The kind of mom who always had a game up her sleeve? And let her kids have ice cream sundaes for dinner?
Well perhaps you might have to forgo the ice cream for dinner but with Think-Ets, you can be that cool mom with a game. This infinitely entertaining little game literally fits up your sleeve or in a pocket of any purse. It's open ended and perfect for travel, waiting rooms, or restaurants.
Basically, the game consists of a small pouch filled with tiny interesting trinkets. There are numerous ways to play - 10 different game instructions are included and when you have exhausted these, you can make up your own games. You can also buy additional trinket "sets".
Some of the games suggested include memory/what's missing games, story telling games, sequencing games. All engaging pastimes that have your kids flexing some mental muscle thinking critically and creatively. While having fun! These are appropriate for ages four and up but you should be aware that as the trinkets are tiny, they are not really for kids under 3.
However, school aged kids on up to adults, will find Think-Ets an incredibly amusing diversion that turns waiting time into fun time and turns you, into that cool mom you always knew you'd be. Kudos!
My daughter was recently in a fashion show and when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she replied “a princess.” Okay, so my daughter is a little obsessed with the Disney Princesses. We did just get back from Disneyworld where she got made up to be a “real” princess and we’ve been invited to a few “dress up like a princess” birthday parties, but I was surprised when she called out princess for her occupation later in life. Let’s hope she aspires someday to be something more than this!
She loves dressing herself these days and she has to find a hair accessory every day to match what she is wearing. We have lots of bows that color coordinate with her outfits. But since receiving some Disney Princess bows, she has bypassed her color coordination obsession, as she now only wants to wear these! She LOVES wearing her Disney Princess Bows daily, and let me tell you, after an extensive search, I had not seen anything like these before. These bows are made with licensed Disney bottle caps. Each princess comes on a bow with her matching color. You can choose from: Cinderella (Blue polka dots), Belle (Banana polka dots), Ariel (Lilac with pink polka dots), Jasmine (Aqua polka dots), Snow white (red polka dots) and Aurora/sleeping beauty (white with pink polka dots). Each bow measures around 3 inches across (medium sized) and will have your daughter styling in no time! These bows are simply precious and even stay put in hair.
Princess Bow Bow has some other beautiful hair accessories as well for babies, toddlers and older girls. Check out the gorgeous Baby Non-Slip Clippies as well as the elegant Mary Janes. Having trouble deciding which clip or bow size is best for your daughter? Then check out this helpful information.
Trust me, your daughter will be thrilled with these gorgeous hair accessories! And if she’s not, just send them our way. We’d be happy to add them to our collection!
Click through this link or any link above to save 15% off your purchase through the rest of 2008.
So once you have kids, I think your definition of "embarrassing" when it comes to body functions gets redefined. Whether it's maturity or necessity that warrants this change is up for debate, but I know in my own case, it takes a whole heck of a lot these days to really phase me when it comes to anything regarding body parts, the potty or anything coming out my kids noses.
That said, I'm not exactly a shy person - and two kids, two c-sections and dozens of doctors and whoever else later, I've become a little numb to the concept of modesty. It doesn't exactly phase me to whip a tampon out in the middle of some public venue. But don't get me wrong, it is nice to actually have a little privacy and be discreet when you are given the opportunity.
So here's one product that allows you do that when it comes to that time of the month: TOMTotes. It's a tiny product for tampons and pads and you'd never know what it was by looking at it. (I tested out the tampon one by asking some Moms what it was and they didn't know.)
TOM stands for "time of the month" and they offer two products, one for tampons and one for panty liners. Cut to fit each product, they tie nicely and are so small they tuck away in the smallest of pockets inside of your bag. Use coupon code FREESHIP for free shipping on your order on the site. Orders on the site are wholesale only, but you can order by emailing dawn@lexiebdesigns.com. Each product is $12.00 retail.
Inca Kids offers Adorable, Fair Trade Toys and Clothes
Looking for a gift that stands out? Sick of the mass market and want to give a gift that feels a little more personal, hands on and earth friendly to boot?
Inca Kids offers fair trade, hand made and fashionable apparel, accessories, and artisan toys. Their products are made of natural fibers and materials such as the 100% alpaca or ovine wool and 100% cotton that are their trademark in apparel and accessories.
Their line of toys include more than 25 hand knitted finger puppets characters (from a butterfly to a fireman, a llama to a clown fish), traditional musical instruments. Their charming line of "Arpillera" items include a storybook, a mobile, a backpack, a small bag and tapestries.
The "Arpilleras" are exquisitely detailed hand-sewn three dimensional textile pictures that illustrate the stories of the lives of the people in Peru: Stories of planting and harvesting, stories of spinning and weaving wool; stories of country life, of tending llamas, sheep and goats; stories of weddings and fiestas. Their artists painstakingly handstitch every single detail.
All the Inca Kids products are crafted by unprivileged Peruvian artisans in different parts of the country. Many of them work in cooperatives located in the dusty shantytowns of poor and displaced families that ring the capital city of Lima with unemployment near 80% and few sources of income. Their project, provides a fair wage to artisans allowing them to support their families and educate their children, providing a little better living standard.
I was extremely impressed with the gorgeous quality and craftmanship of the items I received from Inca Kids. They are heirloom items and the hand knit items are incredibly soft to the touch. The finger puppets are just adorable!
Mommies with Style Save 10% when you enter the Coupon Code STYLE. Additionally, orders over $100 will receive two free finger puppets!
One year. That's how long my son's been wearing sweat pants or sweat shorts. In fact, it's actually been 13 months now that he's been potty trained even though it feels like an eternity ago. We had a very nice potty training experience - he had just turned 3 and it took us one weekend. The caveat and lasting-effect from the whole thing stemmed from that first weekend though - he would be so upset if he missed making it to the potty - most of the time was those first few attempts, wearing a pair of jeans and not "getting it" yet.
That weekend we put him in sweat pants because he could get them on and off much more easily than pants with a button and a zipper... and well, it stuck. After he was fully potty trained he refused to go back to non-sweat pants -- as he calls them, "comfy pants." (Who can blame him? I'd love to sit around in "comfy pants" all day too.)
Lately I've been wanting to put him in jeans and nicer pants. I finally convinced him to put a pair of jeans on - the way I did it? With a Myself Belt. He was just so excited at being a big boy and wearing a belt like Mommy and Daddy that this is what finally convinced him. Which I have to say, has been great. He's loved wearing his Airplane Myself Belt and is proud to show it to anyone who will listen.
Even better, Myself Belts are just cool products. They're belts for kids that come on and off with a pull - they secure via velcro so it's very easy on a trip to the potty. Plus, they're just cute. Use coupon code STYLE for 10% off your order on the Myself Belts website, expires March 31, 2008.
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 th
Any Mom would love this fun and summery signature 
I recently learned about 
My son is a yo-a-holic. No kidding. He loves it. But he's picky. He only loves Stonyfield Farm's YoBaby Yogurt. There's something in the creamy, organic mix that makes him calm, makes him happy. At 2 and a half, you'd think he'd be past yogurt, really. Just how many days can a child eat Yogurt?! So, finally, I tried it. And, you know, he's right. Its creamy. Its yummy.
Its amazing how often I toss a coffee cup. Each time I feel a ping of guilt. I've tried to remember to bring a clean, reusable mug, but I'd need 7 to make it through the week because, to be honest, I just don't have the hands to remember to bring the dirtied mug inside to clean each day. So, yes, I'm contributing to cardboard pollution each day.
The 
One of my favorites on the site includes the 
As the mom of two sons, I get asked quite frequently, "Are you going to try for a third?" or "Are you going to try for a girl"? Though my answer is still up in the air, it is certainly interesting to think about "trying" to conceive a girl. A few of my friends have discussed trying some old wives tales to conceive a specific gender, and others have thought about sperm sorting to achieve their desired sex. But if I decide to try for a girl, I am going to use a 
Great conversation is key to a great party. But put a group of people together and it often takes a while to warm up. Get some help with Table Topics at your next party. 
I recently took my 2-month old son on a weekend visit to see a girlfriend in Seattle. The plane ride was only a little over two hours, but since I was traveling by myself, I worried about carrying all the stuff the weekend would require. My clothes, his clothes, umbrella (it is Seattle), diapers, wipes, noise machine, pack-n-play, stroller, car seat…I had visions of the looks of sympathy I would receive trying to lug all this and a kid through the airport by myself. Then two fortuitous events occurred: first, my girlfriend was able to borrow a car seat which allowed me to leave the car seat and the stroller at home; second, I met the Nap-Sac. In my life as a product-tester, there have been very few products I have come across that truly have blown me away – the Nap-Sac by Lilly Gold definitely makes the list. Instead of being burdened by luggage and gear, I traveled with one suitcase, my son in a Bjorn and the Nap-Sac for my weekend away.
Basically, the game consists of a small pouch filled with tiny interesting trinkets. There are numerous ways to play - 10 different game instructions are included and when you have exhausted these, you can make up your own games. You can also buy additional trinket "sets". 
My daughter was recently in a fashion show and when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she replied “a princess.” Okay, so my daughter is a little obsessed with the Disney Princesses. We did just get back from Disneyworld where she got made up to be a “real” princess and we’ve been invited to a few “dress up like a princess” birthday parties, but I was surprised when she called out princess for her occupation later in life. Let’s hope she aspires someday to be something more than this!
Looking for a gift that stands out? Sick of the mass market and want to give a gift that feels a little more personal, hands on and earth friendly to boot?
