No Batteries Required!
For the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to keep my daughter busy while she waits for the upcoming school season to begin! Since it was her birthday, I had been looking for some new toys that didn’t have noises coming from them and that might actually require some thinking and maybe even learning!
I’m always on the hunt for things to keep my daughter occupied when we are on the go! She hates waiting or sitting around when we are out. So, when I recently brought along an Interactive Activity Journal called Lots of Fun on the Go, she hadn’t even realized how long we’d really waited for our food while we were out on a Saturday night. It provided hours of entertainment for her and she was thrilled to be doing mazes, word jumbles, bingo games, crosswords and a ton more! This activity journal almost makes even waiting rooms fun! It has a flexible cover and is perfectly sized at 5-3/4 x 8" so it’s just the right size to put in your purse. It has 128 pages of interactive fun!
At home she’s been into constructing masterpieces with her In the Garden Constructibles Building Set. This pretty set of 25 interlocking slotted card pieces come in 5 basic shapes. This set has kept my daughter busy for hours while she constructs flowers, dragonflies, bees, ladybugs and birds in her own little garden. I love that they all fit back into a sturdy box so the pieces are never lost! Constructibles Building Sets are fun, creative and improve hand-eye coordination, develop fine motor skills, and reinforce principles of balance and spatial relationships.
I have been watching my nephew a lot lately and we have been playing with First Puzzles. Each carrying box holds 16 pieces which are color-coded to form 4 different shaped puzzles. He loves seeing which type of truck he can create without wearing a hardhat with the Construction First Puzzles. Winner of the iParenting Best Products Award 2006.
A favorite of mine for kids aged 3+ are the Sticker Set Play Scenes. Your kids can visit the world at their fingertips or drive a dump truck, feed the elephants, have tea with the Queen, practice ballet and when they are done, they can just fold up the fun and take it with them! With Play Scenes kids can use their imaginations to provide themselves with endless hours of entertainment wherever they go! Each sticker set has more than 50 reusable vinyl stickers to arrange and rearrange for ever-changing adventures. Now available are Mini Sticker Set Play Scenes which come with 40+ stickers and the play scene is slightly smaller. The colorful and sturdy background boards fold up like a book and come complete with a carrying handle. No road trip should be without one!
September 05, 2008
I'm Cuckoo for Cranky Pants
I've been trying to get a hold of a pair of Crankypants to review ever since the very first time I stumbled across them while surfing the web about a year ago. To be honest, I became a little obsessed with seeing them first hand. So much so that I literally chased down a mom at the Baby Celebration LA conference last spring. I saw a flash of monster tooth on her child's cute little butt and it was more exciting to me than a celebrity sighting. I had to get a closer look.
Read on to get the full scoop on these adorable pants and a chance to win your own!
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My Night Out With "The Women"
Last night I went to the movies with Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Jada Pinkett Smith, Eva Mendes, Candice Bergen, Debi Mazar and a theater so packed full of megawatt star power I had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. I was at the premiere of The Women directed and written by Diane English. The movie opened to a packed theater. Diane English said a few words and introduced the cast. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, electric. It was nothing short of thrilling to feel the pride, joy and the positive energy that brought this film to be.
Continue reading for a review of the movie and my personal pictures from the premiere!
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A beautiful and practical changing pad for babies who wiggle!
Changing my son's diaper, now that he is 15 months old and wiggling and flipping around like crazy, is not an easy task. It can sometimes be messy too, if I don't act quickly enough! And changing him when we are out is a whole other issue, since I have the additional worry of a gross, germy changing table (that I know he is going to touch because of my small changing pad.)
Well, recently diaper changes have been a bit nicer around here since I was introduced to Raspberry PeaBody's changing pads. These gorgeous, thick changing pads are sized larger to fit pack and plays and store changing tables. (No more gross tables touching my son!) They can be folded up or rolled up, so it is sure to fit in your existing diaper bag. The pad is so nice and plush, with terry cloth on one side, I love the fact that it is comfortable for my son to lay on. And how about the fact that there is a waterproof liner sewn in?! Love that! Best of all this practical, must-have product looks beautiful in a number of designer fabrics with double-face satin ties.
After a messy diaper change the other day, I tested out my new changing pad in the washing machine. It washed great and only became softer and more quilted. I love it!
Raspberry PeaBody also sells hand-made bibs, burp cloths, and blankets, too. Check out this awesome site and receive 20% off your purchase with code MSW20.
September 04, 2008
30 second cupcakes, frost and decorate for fun
So I recently checked out My Girl Gourmet's Cupcake Maker - I thought it was the cutest thing, I ended up running out to Target to pick it up for a birthday party we were attending that weekend. So what is it?
It's a toy for 8+ but of course with the help of an adult, this is a good product for family fun. My 4.5 year old son just loves to bake, be it cookies, bread or cupcakes. He had a blast checking out Girl Gourmet's Cupcake Maker (I didn't tell him it was for girls, of course - shame it's not the "unisex Gourmet Cupcake Maker"), where you can make the cupcake itself in 30 seconds with the help of a microwave. The fun in this toy is frosting and decorating the cupcakes. Everything you need comes in the set - you can order more refill packs to make other various flavors of cupcakes.
You can view an instructional video on the Girl Gourmet website, and buy it at various retailers. I got it at Target, they also sell it at Walmart and it retails for $29.99.
Bonne Bonnets Add Personal Flair to Your Bugaboo
Looking for a way to flaunt your style and make your Bugaboo stand out from the urban herd? Then check out Bonne Bonnets. They offer a bunch of fabulous stroller hoods custom tailored specifically for Bugs. We love the Blue Paisley "Jake" style on our Denim Bug. The possibilities/combinations are many. Make a statement!
September 03, 2008
The Family Road Trip - Shadows and Tall Trees
Day two of our trip was one of the most exciting. We left the rolling hills of Sonoma and entered Redwood country. The sky was a sparkling blue and our children thrilled at the sheer size of the mammoth trees. If you have never driven along the Avenue of the Giants, parallel to US 101, it is a magnificent stretch of road that is not to be missed. The two lane highway wanders in and out of the shadows of the ancient forest, twining around stands of old growth trees. Stops along the way allow you to get out and stretch your legs and explore (always an excellent idea when travelling with kids).
We would be amazed by what we were about to see...
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Mommies With Style Checks out the The Women
From the time I saw the first trailer, I knew The Women was a movie not to be missed. An all female cast of some of my favorite spectacular actresses, female writer/director (Diane English of Murphy Brown fame) and mostly female crew make this picture a must see for me, and all my friends.
Since I knew that Dove and The Campaign for Real Beauty were sponsors of the film, I was even more anxious to see The Women. Dove aims to celebrate Real Women & Real Friendships. It's a message that I too embrace and would love to see more of as a woman, a mother, a daughter and a friend.
I'm thrilled that I will be attending the premeire of the Women in Hollywood tomorrow night and anxious to share it with all my friends at Mommies With Style. I consider each and every one of you my "women" in that very positive spirit. I'll be posting about the Premiere on Friday, but in the meantime, check out the Dove website for the trailers and a mini-documentary on the making of The Women .
Got 15? Quick games to get your family thinking
We love gaming. Sure, tech gaming is fun, but there's nothing as warm as a family game night. And around here, family game night often spills over to family game TIME.
So this afternoon, with 15 minutes before naptime/rest hour, I grabbed a new one: Catch the Match by Playroom Entertainment. This simple game includes 15 cards, each with the same 15 images. But each image is a different mix of colors, so that when you line up 2 cards, only one of the images will match. (Example, the duck on cards 2 and 7 may be the exact same colors, but on 2 and 8 have different colors.) The concept, though hard to explain, is simple to master. With a goal of finding the match before your competitor, you'll find yourself searching the cards silly.
Recommended for ages 5 and up, I played today with my 5 year old and 3 year old. The 5 year old was quick to pick up the concept and identify matches, the 3 year old found it a difficult concept and joined my team. (For the record, the 5 year old beat me the first several rounds. Players need to get in the rhythm and find a strategy to win.) Its a great game of focus and concentration. And its quick, and easy to take anywhere. Found it on sale at Amazon for only $7.99 (20% off.)
In addition, we tried Hop to It today. This memory game, also recommended for ages 5 and up, was a bit more challenging. In this game players must look ahead and remember what they saw before. The 5 year old was instantly frustrated. I even found it difficult to focus and remember. A great game to teach a very difficult concept, I'd recommend it for kids a bit older than 5. Get it, along with many other Playroom Entertainment games, at funagaingames.com.
Chicco Polly Highchair: Polly Want a Cool Highchair?
By Guest Reviewer Kara
The Chicco Polly Highchair ($139) is a terrific double-padded highchair. I recently tested it in the Adventure color combination (charcoal gray and green) with my one-year-old daughter, Dani.
Assembling the highchair is very simple and took me about 5 minutes. Tools are not required.
The Polly’s claim to fame is its space-saving fold, and I agree that it folds smaller than any highchair I’ve seen. It's also a highchair that will grow with your child; it has a 7-position height adjustment and a three position backrest for bottle-fed infants. The leg rest also has three positions, as does the footrest.
The Polly has a 5-point safety harness that securely fastens with two easy snaps. The shoulder straps have two height options, or they can be removed completely. They also come with removable strap pads. My daughter was happier without the pads, but it is nice to have the option. Another safety feature is the “rigid crotch strap” which is the plastic hump that fits between the babies’ legs. Most highchairs build the rigid crotch strap into the chair, but the Polly has it built into the tray. Personally, I prefer the rigid crotch strap to be attached to the chair.
The tray comes with two plastic liners which are machine washable. They are fairly large, so unfortunately they do not fit all dishwashers. I enjoy using the extra liner as a placemat or prep station for Dani. When inserting the tray into the armrests, there are three positions available (the flexibility was wonderful). Food may get caught in the side tray cracks, but it’s nothing that a good wipe down and toothpick can’t handle. One of the smartest features is that the tray hangs off the back of the chair (no more stashing the tray on your table or on the floor). After each cleanup, I hang it in preparation for the next use.
The seat comes with two padded covers. You have the option of using the bottom vinyl one on its own, or add the second for extra cushion. To clean them, use a damp cloth. The Polly is one of the more fashionable and modern looking highchairs. It is offered in nine different color combinations.
The Chicco Polly Highchair is widely available and comes in nine different color combinations.
Do you like formaldehyde in your nail polish?
I love to get my nails done. But when I was pregnant, I was constantly concerned about the smells when I walked in to the nail salon, the chemicals in the products used, and the risk to me and my unborn son. And after giving birth, I noticed a sensitivity to nail polish in general and stopped getting my nails done all-together.
Recently, though, I was introduced to a line of nail polish called Nubar that has no formaldehyde, DBT, and toluene in it (harsh chemicals that can’t be good for you or your kids.) The line has every color imaginable (new and trendy colors, tons of French manicure colors, etc) as well as top coats, base coats, and more.
After getting my nails done this past weekend with only Nubar polishes (I tried the French manicure Ooh La La set), seeing how nice they look on my nails, how well they hold up, and how they are just like your “regular” nail polishes, I never plan on using anything else. Join me and eliminate chemical-laden nail polish and start enjoying healthier, formaldehyde –free manicures with Nubar nail polish!
September 02, 2008
Pampers Gifts To Grow Rewards Now Offers Starbucks Gift Cards for a Limited Time
For a limited time, Pampers Gifts To Grow Rewards Program is offering $10 Starbucks Gift Cards. You'll need to accumulate 110 points (by entering the codes on Pampers packages). Yes, it's a lot of points to get a $10 gift card, but worth it if you're a caffeine addict coffee lover (or want to give it as a gift to someone)...The Starbucks Gift Card also comes with free shipping and handling. They now also offer Melissa and Doug products, but like most of the rewards from the online catalog, you have to pay S & H. The Gifts To Grow program has been extended to March 1, 2009.
Weight Watchers Update: 10% Lost, Loseforgood.com Challenge & Giveaway
I'm holding the brass ring, er, key ring in my hands right now. I received it at my Weight Watchers meeting last week because I lost 10% of my body weight (since the end of May).
What helped me? I take my children to weekly Weight Watchers meetings (they have child-friendly meetings and it was easy to find a center near me with those meeting times highlighted). The support I get from the meetings really helps. My toddler will let me stay for roughly 30-35 minutes (if I bring snacks, healthy of course, and toy trucks. Also, exercising helped; which for me is long walks with the double stroller and Exercise TV on Demand on Time Warner Cable -they have so many great workouts to choose from).
Smarter food choices, plus keeping a food journal also really helped me. I love seeing the calories listed for foods in places like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks because iIt stops me from making bad decisions (like going for a bagel over something less caloric like an english muffin). As someone in my meeting suggested, why not list the fat, dietary fiber and salt content also? I still use E-Tools to help me track my daily food intake and to find family recipes.
My next challenge will be another 10% weight loss, but I'm going to rejoice for every pound I lose! Especially since Weight Watchers announced a new campaign to help people in need, Lose for Good (loseforgood.com). Between September 7th and October 18th, 2008, for every pound that Weight Watchers members lose during this six week period, Weight Watchers will donate the cost of one pound of food -- up to a $1 million dollars to two hunger fighting organizations. Mommies With Style will be giving away two Weight Watchers Online subscriptions to participate in this campaign and take an active role in lessening the number of hungry and malnourished people in the world. To enter, post a comment about why you want to participate in the Lose for Good Campaign. Two winners will be chosen at random and notified via email. Giveaway closes 9/04/08 at 6pm.
Go to loseforgood.com for more information
Micralite Toro - The One Stroller That Does It All!
For years now I have been a stroller stable kind of girl. I humbly accepted the fact that there was no one stroller that could truly do it all. Which is how my garage evolved into a stroller stable of sorts. There were the carseat friendly "systems", the mall cruisers and off road giants, the sleekly compact and impossibly lightweight city strollers for urban travel, the posh bassinet models for neighborhood strolls with an infant… Friends commented on my “problem” and I blithely explained to all that it was simply impossible for one stroller to do it ALL. How could a connosiour such as myself be expected to choose, to skimp, to limit myself to a single stroller that could hardly do all of what my many models could collectively do.
Well prove me wrong.
I’d like to introduce you the the Micralite Toro. The stroller that really can do it all. If it made margaritas, I might even marry it. Continue reading for the complete scoop on the Toro, as well as a coupon to save 15% on your own Micralite stroller.
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September 01, 2008
20% off at UVSkinz, plus free shipping
Late this summer, I discovered a really nice sun protection company - UV Skinz. Ciaran had posted about them in July, and always on the look out for quality swim shirts for my kids, I was interested to check them out. The site was founded by a woman with a very inspiring story, one that makes leaves a customer with little doubt that quality sun protection is the company's top priority.
I can't say enough about the quality of the product - we tried swim shirts on both of my boys and love them. I'm especially into the long sleeve rash guards, which you can't get just anywhere but offer complete upper body coverage.
They have a fantastic selection for babies, kids and adults. Use coupon code MWS2008 to receive 20% off your entire order. Plus, spend $50 or more and you'll receive free shipping.
The Family Road Trip - Plugged In!
Our family loves technology. Cell Phones, gaming systems, nav units, dvd players, walkie talkies, ipods,cameras and video cameras, laptops and gps units. These are a few of our favorite things...
Yes, of course we looked forward to spending some quality time together, to getting back to nature, to laying on a beach and counting how many seagulls flew by. But with over a thousand miles to travel in each direction we also looked forward to getting in touch with our inner geeks. Young and old alike, we had enough bluetooth, wifi, battery operated techno gear to get Gilligan, the professor and the entire cast of Lost off their respective islands. Here is some of the great gear we took with us.
