Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Budding Reader
The editors of Parents Magazine have put out their favorite books for all age groups as well as helpful hints on encouraging reading, best way to have storytime and even the best books for potty training.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Diapers Deal!
How it works:
go to this blog and it links you to the amazon coupon ($1.50)
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/8958?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Dansdeals+%28DansDeals.com%29
then use the Subscribe & Save (you can cancel even after the first shipment - right now their having an extra 15% off)
and then before you hit Sign Me Up:
If you get Parent's Magazine, there should be a little pull out card in your August issue with a code on it. Just enter that code. I think there will be another one in the September issue. If you don't get the magazine, you can see if my code will work again:
AWDE-W5SUCT-FRDACT
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Summer Reads
Daily Candy just released a compilation of their picks for 16 Awesome Books to read this summer. The list ranges from girlie fiction to historic to short stories.
Find your favorite spot and enjoy!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Two Under Two
And for those mamas that have two under 2, you are amazing! Stroller Traffic has come up with a great survival guide for those mamas and all mamas with two (or more).
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Black Friday in July!
I have great news - Target is having a "secret" Black Friday sale tomorrow, online only.
Check out the preview.
Let me know if you get any good buys!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
All about him..
With just a few inputs and a few picture uploads, you'll have your own customized Sandra Boynton book.
Happy publishing!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Will you be sharing your new iPhone?
Here is a sampling of some great apps that are fun and educational for kids of all ages.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Is your sunscreen protecting you and your babes?
BRU Little Tikes Sale - 2 days only!
Looks like we might need to make room for some new toys!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Summer wear?
Old Navy
From June 24th - June 29th you can shop the entire store for 30% off, online or in stores.
Gap
You can "roll the dice" and save anywhere from 10% - 40% off your entire order online. Enter PPW9XLYL6YBB at checkout and see how much you can save. Offer ends soon..
Monday, June 14, 2010
Father's Day
Check out their list if you're still stumped!
Lead found in common kid's foods & juices
Courtesy of Cafe Mom
Get ready to clean out your refrigerator ... a new report from the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) shows an outrageous number of children's snacks and juices -- even organic ones -- contain high levels of lead.
Of the 146 items they tested -- including those from brands like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's -- 125 contained "high" levels of lead. Tests were performed on a variety of products specifically marketed to children such as bottled baby food and juices and canned fruits.
So incredibly frightening! It's absolutely outrageous to me that in this day, in this country, this is allowed to happen. I'm so sick of recalls on things we buy for our children (from cribs to clothing), trusting that they will be safe, only to find out that they could be deadly.
So what now?
The ELF has sent warnings to the companies producing the contaminated products. They either have to find a way to remove the lead or place a warning on their products.
Although I question why if there's enough warrant for a warning, the products would even be allowed on the market, I am at least grateful to have this information now. We don't buy juice in our house, never have, thankfully, but some of the organic fruit products are definitely sitting on my shelves ... or were.
Lead exposure can result in a number of serious health consequences for children.
"Exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child's development and behavior," states the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. "Even when exposed to small amounts of lead levels, children may appear inattentive, hyperactive and irritable. Children with greater lead levels may also have problems with learning and reading, delayed growth and hearing loss. At high levels, lead can cause permanent brain damage and even death."
For the entire list, click here
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
PediaCare Product Recalls
Blacksmith Brands and FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients about a nationwide recall of all lots of four PediaCare children's products. These products are sold exclusively in the United States and were manufactured by McNeil Consumer Healthcare at McNeil's Fort Washington, PA plant.
The four PediaCare items involved in the recall are:
PediaCare Multi-Symptom Cold 4oz. UPC # 3 0045-0556-05 9
PediaCare Long Acting Cough 4oz. UPC# 3 0045-0465-04 7
PediaCare Decongestant 4oz. UPC# 3 0045-0554-04 8
PediaCare Allergy and Cold 4oz. UPC# 3 0045-0552-04 4
Blacksmith Brands initiated the recall as a precautionary step because the products were manufactued at a McNeil plant in which a recent FDA inspection found serious problems in meeting FDA's current good manufacturing practice requirements. The company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use.
Read the complete MedWatch 2010 Safety summary, including a link to the firm press release, at:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Monday, May 24, 2010
Supermarket Savvy
Below is an excerpt from Stroller Traffic on shopping supermarket savvy.
Chicken and beef. Seek out free-range chicken and grass-fed (or pasture-fed) beef. Meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs that are certified organic are not medicated with antibiotics or steroid hormones, and have indeed been fed certified organic food. However that statement does not tell us specifically what they have been fed (corn? grass? grains?). When cows and chickens are allowed to eat their natural diet, their eggs, milk and meat tend to be richer in nutrients and typically have higher levels of omega-3 (and fewer omega-6) fatty acids, which helps improve our omega 3/6 balance. Free-range, pasture-fed animals are typically treated more humanely and taste better, too.
Soy products. Look for "non-GMO" on the label. Genetically modified foods are on the rise. Also known as genetically modified organisms (GMO), these foods are created by changing the DNA of a plant's seeds (genetically modifying the seed). It's typically done to increase a plant’s ability to fend off bugs or to increase a crop's production. However, the new genes of a genetically modified plant create a new protein that the human digestive tract has never seen before. Some studies suggest that the human body may have trouble digesting these new proteins, and that this may in fact increase the incidence of soy allergies.
Pasta. Unless your child has a gluten allergy, you do not need to stock up on gluten-free pasta. (Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat; it is not bad for you unless you have a gluten allergy or intolerance). Instead, look for whole grain pasta with at least 4 grams of fiber per serving. One of my favorites is Barilla Plus, which contains 4 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein per serving, versus the 2 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein found in regular white pasta.
Peanut butter. Read the ingredients. Even some organic brands contain added sugar and hydrogenated fats; your peanut butter should contain only peanuts—and maybe some salt, but that is it!
Cereal. Many brands are not as healthy as their names suggest. Just because a cereal is labeled organic does not mean it is more nutritious. Often, they are loaded with extra sugar: "evaporated cane juice" is still SUGAR. For example, Barbara’s Shredded Oats contains 12 grams of sugar per serving—more than Kellogg's Frosted Flakes! On the contrary, Post Shredded Wheat n' Bran contains no added ingredients—just 100 percent whole wheat and wheat bran (and less than 1 gram of sugar). Top with fresh fruit and enjoy.
Yogurt. Organic yogurts do not use any artificial sweeteners. Therefore, the flavored versions typically have a lot of added sugar. Your best bet is to buy plain yogurt and flavor it yourself with cinnamon or fresh fruit or defrosted frozen fruit or wheat germ or nuts . . . .
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Getting that Hot Mama bod back!
One new mom created bookieboo.com to help new moms get back into those favorite pre-preggo jeans and help boost confidence. There are fitness and nutrition tips on the website from a team of writers as well as a blogging community of 2,500 moms, all with the same struggles, antedotes, and inspirational, motivating stories.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Simply Written
And then came along Ellen Galinsky and her new book Mind in the Making. After years of observation and research, she's come up with the seven life skills each child needs. Each chapter in the book focuses on a different life skill, along with tips and ideas for parents to help children develop these skills. All in an easy, light tone.
Thanks Cool Mom Picks for the find!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Recall Alert!
McNeil Consumer Healthcare Over-the-Counter Infants’ and Children’s Products: Recall
including Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl products
Audience: Consumers and healthcare professionals
McNeil Consumer Healthcare and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a voluntary recall of certain over-the-counter (OTC) Children’s and Infants’ liquid products manufactured in the United States, including Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl products. Some of these products may not meet required quality standards. This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events. However, as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children. These products were distributed in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Kuwait. See the company Press Release for a list of products affected by this recall.
Consumers can contact the company at 1-888-222-6036 and also at www.mcneilproductrecall.com
Read the MedWatch safety summary, including a link to the FDA Questions and Answers web page regarding this recall, at:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Thursday, April 29, 2010
Deals, Deals, Deals
In honor of all Mamas there are lots of great deals going on right now. Here are a few that I've come across, happy shopping!
Old Navy - 30% the entire store from April 30th - May 2nd. Applies to in store only. I think they have great baby clothes at great prices.
Crazy 8 - If you're looking to stock up for the summer, shorts are on sale for $9.99 and cute graphic ts for $7
Gap - All shorts are BOGO $10 until May 2nd. They also have great stuff for the summer on their sale racks: dresses, shorts, ts galore.
Diapers.com - Finally a coupon you can use as a repeat customer, with no minimum requirement. Take $5 off your order using promo code 4FORMOM. The coupon is good until 5/9
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Happy Earth Day!
Here are some great links for quick and easy ideas to celebrate Earth Day, today and going forward:
22 Cheap Ways to Go Green: though, I can't do all of them (disposable diapers), there are some great, easy ideas.
Shop for non-toxic products: many sites, such as Diapers.com are having sales on their natural lines of products.
Diapers.com deals:
Seventh Generation diapers & wipes 10% off code SGEARTH1
Britax Car Seat 15% off code BRITAX15
Green Kits 25% off
Eco Friendly Toys 15% off code GREENTOYS15
Seventh Generation cleaning supplies 15% off code SGEARTH2
Monday, April 19, 2010
Don't Need it, Really Want it, How can I justify it?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Easy, Tasty Recipes for the entire family
But who wants to give up some of our favorite things? That's where the Skinny Chef saves the day! Although there are a countless number of resources (many mentioned here before) for ideas and tips on feeding your family healthy meals, this one might just be one of my favorites. Jennifer Iserloh is a professional chef who specializes in taking our favorite foods and making them in healthier ways so that we don't have to give them up and we can even make them for our kids without feeling guilty.
The recipes on the website are broken down into the standard groupings (apps, main courses, desserts, etc) including a Kid Friendly group. She points out the various nutritional benefits of each recipe and even suggests wine pairings to make even the Kid Friendly recipes Adult Friendly.
On her website you can also request a free pdf of her Tips for Busy Moms and supplements to her new cookbook.
Happy Dining (and drinking!)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Shop Carter's Online!
The ideal gift for your favorite preggo!
Now comes along the ultimate prego pickle treat!
The Pregnancy Pack of pickles will crave any pickle craving, instantly.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Rotavirus vaccine suspended
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Toys R Us celebrates with free toys!
Just head to the store or shop online. They have a huge selection of toys, and some Crayola and Fisher Price items are included.
Happy stocking up!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Mommy Podcast Reviews
Both of these are downloadable on iTunes
The Parent Experiment: Hosted by Teresa Strasser (you may remember her from the TLC show While You Were Out) and Lynette Carolla (wife of Adam Carolla – comedian and host of the 90s MTV show Loveline).
Teresa is a new mom to 4-month old Buster and Lynette has 3 ½ year old twins Sonny and Natalia. They are both very funny, down-to-earth moms who started the podcast because they were looking for mom friends to talk with and relate to and also found that there really wasn’t a show out there like it and wanted to fill a niche. It’s pretty new, they are about five or six episodes in but I’m hooked already.
They have a different guest each week. They’ve had on Mayim Bialik (you’ll remember her as Blossom) who has quite an alternative and fascinating parenting method of co-sleeping, potty training from two days old and nursing well into toddlerhood. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor (author of Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay) was also a guest on the show who spoke very open and honestly about her own trials and tribulations of motherhood and how she found herself drinking a bit too much wine in the evening to wind down. In addition to discussions with the guests, Teresa and Lynette have some great conversation about their own mommy experiences.
This one is a bit racy at times and not your typical poopy diaper, feeding schedule, sleep training parent podcast – it’s a lot more fun and makes me laugh. I got through 40 minutes on the elliptical machine listening to one on Saturday morning, kept me going.
http://www.adamcarolla.com/
Manic Mommies: Hosted by Erin and Kristin – two moms living in a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts – billed as the podcast for moms trying to do it all. In recent news Erin is moving to Rochester, NY but Manic Mommies will continue.
Erin has two sons – one in kindergarten and one in first grade, Kristin has a son in kindergarten and daughter in pre-school. They both work full-time so they talk a lot about the daily life of juggling work and being a mom. Their kids are a bit older than my 11-month old so it’s more of a glimpse into my future of driving to games, birthday parties, cub scouts and such but the basic “mom stuff” that they talk about is the same and very relatable for all of us moms.
They sometimes have guests and sometimes just chat it up about what’s going on in their own lives with their children or what vacations they’ve taken or activities they’ve done with their kids. They have discussions about simple everyday topics like meal planning, budgeting and exercise and some heavier ones like raising your child without religion.
Erin and Kristin definitely keep me giggling and I look forward to listening to them on Monday mornings. I’ve gotten lot of great mommy tips from them and they have many times made me feel not so overwhelmed about being a working mommy and realize that so many of us are in the same boat trying to get it all done.. and then some.
Friday, March 5, 2010
If you needed a reason for one more cookie
Cookies for Kids' Cancer was started by a family after their 2 year old son was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer. The survival rate of his cancer is less than 30% primarily because of the lack of research and funding towards a cure. They started this organization to raise money for all pediatric cancers. It's heartbreaking to read a story about any child suffering and makes me so thankful for the health and happiness we experience each day.
I wanted to bring this to everyone's attention because as parents, we know how devastating this can be for any family. What can you do to help raise funds for pediatric cancer? Through CKC you can have a bake sale and send funds to the organization or you can purchase some of their delicious cookies for yourself or as gifts.
I'm going to try to figure out a way to do a virtual bake sale by taking orders, stay tuned!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
I can do it!
Now there's a solution! NoTakeOut is the cliff notes version of any cookbook you may usually reference. It gives you a recipe each day, along with all the grocery and pantry items you will need. They also provide step by step cooking instructions helping you make sure that everything gets done at the same time. And the best part for us busy moms? They also provide suggestions for wine pairings and side dishes, even suggesting the opportune times for you to pour yourself a glass of wine while preparing dinner.
Dr. Suess storytime at Target
There will be a reading of Oh The Places You'll Go and Dr. Suess themed games and prizes.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I'm back!
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Mum Mums on sale - yum yum!
Save up to 40% off select Hot Kid products, such as Mum Mum crackers - our favorite. Save 25% when you enter code MUMMB333 at checkout. You can also save an additional 15% when you combine the instant rebate with their Subscribe & Save offer. This offer is good until February 28, 2010.
After our little one out grew her puffs, these Mum Mum crackers quickly became the family favorite. They are easy to hold, super healthy, and great with yogurt, hummus, cheese... the list goes on.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Mommy business cards at an affordable price.
Yesterday I came across yet another email from Vista Print in my inbox and clicked on it this time. They are currently running a special for free business cards, just pay the shipping. It includes a limited selection of designs. They also have a section for family cards including announcements, moving, and mommy cards. For $5.99 you can get 50 cards. That was more palatable for me. I'll be honest and admit that I do love the selection at sites like Tiny Prints and MommyCards a bit more, but I found a cute butterfly card that worked for me at Vista, especially at that price. You can customize the fonts, colors, sizing, placement of text on the cards and get them in matte for no charge or in glossy for a minimal charge. I ordered ours in matte.
As an update, Vista print just sent me an email with an offer for free matching address labels, notecards, or paper. Check out the site for great deals!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Traveling with baby..
Then we decided to take our little one on a plane when she was 3 months old. We were headed to Tahoe and determined to carry on, we never checked bags. Seemed easy at first, how much could this little bundle really need? Then as I started packing I realized I was forgetting all kinds of things: bottles, diapers, formula. It didn't matter how cute she was going to look in her snow suit if she didn't have any food or diapers. After a few calls to a trusted friend and mother herself, I was confident that I wasn't missing any essentials. She also gave me great advice to buy diapers and formula at my destination instead of packing enough for the entire trip.
I just heard about See Jane Fly. It's a free website that will help you plan your trip. You select your destination and it will build a customized travel planning guide. They also have a great section called Toolbox that has useful checklists, such as Dress Me (what to pack), Romantic Urban Escape, and Baby's First Trip. The website is full of tips, great finds, and perks for planning any type of trip. Our upcoming road trip this summer from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh doesn't seem as daunting after reading some tips on the site.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Paper or Plastic? - neither, I brought my own
So my January 26th resolution, I mean decision, is to take my reusable bags everywhere. Luckily there are countless options and designs, at a large spectrum of prices to make sure I have enough bags. One of my favorite, Envirosax, has a design for everyone. They also let you design your own and have smaller ones for kids. Once my little one is just a bit older, we'll definitely be getting her one her size so she can learn this lesson much earlier than her parents have.
Why stop at shopping bags, at Reusable Bags Depot, you can find a reusable bag for all of your household errands, even drycleaning. They also have a great selection of reusable shopping bags and great prices.
You found the right bag, now make sure you have the right stuff in it.
Once you have that bag, it's easy to stuff it full of all kinds of things you *might* need and just as easy to forget the one thing you really did need. Other than the basic diapers, wipes, toys that you will always need, here are a few other finds:
*Cleanwell 1oz pocket-sized all-natural hand sanitizer. It's sold just about everywhere these days. It's compact, all natural, toxic free and alcohol free. It's spray is a great way to get your kids involved in cleaning their hands. (thanks Jess for the recommendation)
*For those moms whose kids are now eating solids, my favorite way to tote around snacks is this great Boon snack ball. It stores great in the corners of your bag and like all Boon products it's BPA free.
*Even with the Oots bib or other mess ups, sometimes you need to pull out that change of clothes. Put the dirty, wet, soiled clothes in a Wet Happened? bag, zip it up and stash it back into your diaper bag until you can get home. The bag is waterproof, pvc lined, and is machine washable. It folds up small and is so lightweight, I often forget I have it in our bag.
*The Butt Naked Baby shea stick is one of the most versatile items in our diaper bag. It's great for chapped lips, dry skin, and anywhere else that baby is chapped or irritated. I'll admit, I've often used it on my own chapped lips. Just use a clean finger each time for application.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Every mom's favorite store now has online coupons
Target now has online coupons that you can choose, click, and print before you head out to the store. Type in your zip code at the top and the coupons will be customized to your area. It won't keep you focused enough to not do any random browsing, but at least you'll save a few bucks on the stuff that was on your list.
Happy Shopping! Maybe I'll see you there tomorrow, when I stop by to "pick up a few things".
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
High Performance Pampers.
Many moms have switched to other brands such as Huggies Organic, Target, and even grocery store brands. We haven't seen any issues in the diapers we have yet. Have you?
Friday, January 8, 2010
A few more of my favorite things...
Baby Shoes - Robeez were perfect as Soph's first walking shoe. Now she's strutting her stuff in her Pedipeds and they have been great. Other favorites that are functional and in great designs: Stride Rite
also I'm loving the designs and reviews for Livie and Luca shoes.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Why can't I find any good fruit?
In case you are like me and never know what's in season when (or just wanting to know when cherries are coming back to the market), here are some great, fridge posting friendly, charts:
Vegetable Seasonality Chart
Fruit & Nut Seasonality Chart
The website has links for printer friendly versions and also shows seasonality for flowers, meats, & cheeses.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Food experts list the top 7 foods to avoid
It looks like BPA is back - this time in our canned goods. If everyone knows BPA is bad, why haven't the manufactures changed anything, that would be nice. It also looks like the lining in microwave popcorn bags could cause infertility. Not surprising, the inside of those bags did always look a little sketchy, but the popcorn is so yummy!
Here is the complete detailed list.
And here is a list of 25 power foods you should be eating a lot of.
Happy New Year!
Monday, January 4, 2010
A deal for Mommy!
Piperlime is having a one day only sale tomorrow, January 5. Enter the code TREAT4ME for an additional 20% off. They also have free shipping and free return shipping.
Happy Sole Searching!
Is it really Pure and Natural?
See this link to see how the products you use came out in the testing.
Looks like this house might be going back to Burt's Bee from Aveeno Baby.
Breastfeeding Advice
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.
Do you get any advice you found to be priceless?