The Shopping Mama

Whimsy Couture: Sunday Spotlight

by Kate on October 25th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Sunday Spotlight, Weekly Features

Last summer, shortly after I discovered I was expecting a girl, my mom taught me how to sew. I spent many pregnant nights sewing simple dresses for my Baby Girl. I am no expert, but I quickly developed an appreciation for beautiful homemade dresses, tops and skirts. (Sorry, boys, homemade is cuter for girls!)

Oh, how I wish I’d known about Whimsy Couture when I was on my sewing kick! Denise of Whimsy Couture creates sewing tutorials so you can design and make your own darling little duds. The patterns are sent via email and contain picture tutorials, sizing chart for cutting fabric, and come in Word and PDF form. With over 1700 sales on Etsy, it’s obvious she’s very successful and knows her business, so let’s get to know more about Denise.
The Shopping Mama: Tell us a little bit more about yourself.
I call Waldorf, MD my home right now but I am originally from Germany. I have two funny kids that keep me very busy.

TSM: When did you start making and selling your patterns? Is this your full time work or do you have a “day job”? Actually I started sewing Barbie clothes years ago and selling them on ebay. After that I went into pet beds of all kinds which was very successful and kept me working full time from home. Then once my kids were born I fell in love with making kids clothing and not to long ago I started writing patterns. Selling on Etsy IS my day job!
I never knew you could sew a pet bed, but how comfy does this Marshmallow Pet Cuddle Bed look? I’d sleep there, for sure.

TSM: What is your inspiration?
Life itself! Besides that my kids, all the wonderful fabric designers, the outdoors give me endless inspiration.
I just love shopping for fabric. There are so many beautiful, beautiful prints and colors – you can’t help but want to sew!
TSM: Do you have any plans for new, additional products or business expansion?
I still want to cover a lot of patterns for girls and I am planning to include some boys clothing as well. As far as my business plans….we’ll see where it takes me.
Oh, boys! Forget what I said about boy’s homemade clothes not being cute. I’ll reserve judgment until I see your patterns.

TSM: If money were no object what is one thing you would buy right now?
A cure for cancer and for all those other deadly diseases.

TSM: What are some of your favorite stores or Etsy shops online?
Fabric shops, custom girls clothing (I love to browse those) and all handmade goodies

You can find Denise at the Whimsy Couture Etsy shop and blogging about her creations, giveaways and tutorials at the Whimsy Couture blog.

If you own a blog, Etsy shop or handmade boutique and you’d like to be featured on the Sunday Spotlight, email me!

Nap Nanny – Helping Babies Sleep: All About Baby Giveaway

by Kate on October 25th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaways

Nap Nanny is an amazing mom-invention that I first discovered at the ABC Kids Expo where I had the pleasure of speaking with creator Leslie Gudel. When her infant daughter wouldn’t sleep in anything but her car seat or swing, and baby sleep “wedges” didn’t work, Leslie invented the Nap Nanny.

What is Nap Nanny?
The Nap Nanny® is made of high density foam with car seat-like contours, a super-soft, washable designer cover, and a special safety harness to secure the child so she can sleep at an incline. It is sloped 30° at the top and 40° at the foot to gently cradle baby, optimize breathing and prevent sliding.

Relief and Comfort for Baby
When I saw the Nap Nanny, I immediately thought of my dear friend whose first daughter suffered from reflux. Her doctor recommended the baby sleep at an angle. My friend tried everything to help her baby sleep comfortably from phone books under the crib mattress to a car seat to bouncers and swings. The Nap Nanny seems the perfect solution to the challenge of a baby with reflux, don’t you think?
The back of the Nap Nanny is elevated to keep baby at a comfortable 30 degree angle. Many doctors recommend this position for reflux, colds, colic and ear infections. And, as mamas know, many babies just seem to prefer this position. In addition, the foot rest of the Nap Nanny is elevated to cradle and comfort baby.

Keep Baby Safe
The Nap Nanny is recommended for babies above 8 pounds. Because of the quality of the dense foam used, there is no weight restriction and a little one will probably grow too tall long before growing too heavy. The design of the Nap Nanny is intended with safety in mind – there is a lap harness (similar to what you find on a bouncy seat or in a swing) to keep baby secure and the sides are slightly raised to further prevent rolling. Because safety is of the utmost importance, the Nap Nanny is only recommended for floor use.

Durable Design
Created with babies in mind, the Nap Nanny is covered in a removable minky slip cover. Plus, the foam base is lined with a waterproof material to withstand the inevitable messes of babyhood. The covers are available in four solid prints and four brand new fashion prints and the covers may be purchased separately from the base if you want to change the look of your Nap Nanny or keep an extra cover on hand.

Additional Features
* Not just for babies – I can only imagine how much my son would enjoy reclining on a Nap Nanny to read a book or watch his favorite show on TV.
* Lightweight – At only 3 pounds, the Nap Nanny can go with you from room to room or to grandma’s house.

After seeing and touching the Nap Nanny for myself at the ABC Kids Expo, I can tell you I am extremely impressed with the quality. It’s a very well thought out product that will be a must have for many mamas. I think it would make a great (and generous) baby shower gift and I will definitely recommend it to anyone with a baby who has reflux or just plain refuses to sleep anywhere but the car seat!

Shop! The Nap Nanny is available for purchase online for $129.99. Order 2 or more and save 10% with the code MULTIPLES. The Nap Nanny is also sold in select retailers around the country.

Win! A Nap Nanny with cover of your choice! (A $129.99 value.)

How to Enter: Please visit the Nap Nanny website and check out all its great features and uses. Leave a comment here telling me what color cover you’d like AND what you like best about the Nap Nanny.

Bonus Entries:
* Fan Nap Nanny on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this: Win a Nap Nanny – the portable product to help babies sleep ($130 value). Check it out @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/1okhCu
* Blog about giveaway including a link to this post and Nap Nanny for TEN entries
* Post the Holiday Gift Guide button on your blog
* Fan The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader

The Fine Print: Please leave a valid email in the comments or your Blogger profile so that I can contact you if you win. If you prefer, you may email me directly with your contact information after leaving valid comments. Open to US mailing addresses. Giveaway ends November 11. Winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Thank you to Nap Nanny for providing a product for the giveaway prize.

TGIF: Sales, Coupons, Discounts & News (10/23)

by Kate on October 23rd, 2009 | 5 Comments | Deal & News Roundup, Uncategorized

BabyLegs Pumpkin Hunt
Join in the first-ever Pumpkin Hunt! Find the pumpkin on www.babylegs.com between October 26 – 30 and discover hidden coupon codes for special deals during the Pumpkin Hunt. Three pumpkins are hidden daily on the site, each with their own code. Happy hunting! Plus, Free Shipping on all orders through October 31!

pediped Stars for a Wish Extended
The auction to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation starts October 25 and has been extended until November 5. You can bid on pediped shoes signed by celebrities like Halle Berry, Heidi Klum and Shaquille O’Neal (to name just a few). For more information and to see the list of celebrities involved, check out Stars for a Wish.

ShopAtHome.com $1000 Facebook Giveaway
Learn how you can win $500 and $100 for 5 friends – just in time for holiday shopping. Read about the giveaway and enter to win – more info on this post on The Shopping Mama.

Sale
* SnapTotes: Use the code octsale09 for 15% off. Great holiday gift ideas, but hurry the code expires October 25.

Exclusive Discounts
* Beba Bean: The Shopping Mama readers receive 20% off with code SM10/07/09.
* Onaroo: Get $10 off your purchase of any two Onaroo products at American Innovations. (Learn more about the products in this Teach Me Time review.) Use the code MAMA at checkout.

* The Studio: For $10 off your purchase use SHOPMAMA at check out.
* Belle’s Biscuits: Get 10% off your purchase with the code BELLES10.

* Macaroy Kangaroo: Save 15% with the code HAPPYFALL.

Crane Humidifier Review + All About Baby Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on October 23rd, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Uncategorized

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know flu season is upon us. Cold and flu season is always a concern for mamas, and, yes, this year with the fear of H1N1, it’s an even bigger concern. One way to prevent and treat cold symptoms is to use a humidifier. Indeed, earlier this year, an Oregon State University study found that in “low-humidity conditions, the influenza virus is more likely survive, possibly giving it a better shot at spreading from person to person and making its way to you.” In other words, keeping the air a bit humid, such as with the use of a humidifier, might help prevent the spread of the flu. (Read the article on CNN Health.)

About Crane

Crane was founded on the belief that design is an attitude and the home is a personal expression of an individual’s lifestyle. Our products are functional, efficient and communicate an appreciation for good design.

High Quality Humidifiers
If your little one has ever had the cold or flu, you know there’s often no antibiotic or medicine to treat it. I seriously think every time my kiddos have been sick, the doctor has suggested using a humidifier. It’s just one of those things you have to have for baby’s first year and beyond.

Before we received the Crane Cool Mist Humidifier, I knew it would look adorable, but I didn’t realize how much I would like the function of the humidifier. Upon opening the box, the assembly and user instructions were quite simple, and it was obvious this humidifier was different from the cheap-o ones we’ve used in the past. For example, the water tank fits easily under a typical bathroom sink, and then you screw on a top that only releases water when in place in the humidifier. So, yes, you can fill and prepare the humidifier for use without spilling water all over the house!

Another great benefit is that the Crane humidifier does not require a filter. It’s an option if you have hard water, but it’s not necessary. And, frankly, I’d rather not worry about when to change a filter if I don’t have to.

Additional Features I Love
* The Crane humidifier runs quiet! Like, very quiet.
* Adjustable output. All my other humidifiers have had on / off switches, that’s it. In addition to an on / off switch (in the back out of reach of little hands), the Crane humidifier has a knob that turns to adjust the output strength. The range of moisture output on this is pretty dramatic and is up to 2.1 gallon output a day. It’s really a nice feature.
* Auto off feature when the humidifier is out of water.
* No leaking. I’ve always put a towel under other humidifiers to protect the surface its on. Crane recommends NOT using a towel to avoid overheating and it hasn’t been an issue. It’s on my son’s dresser and there’s been no leaking or unwanted moisture gathering on the wood surface.

Adorable Style
Seriously, these humidifiers could not be any cuter. We have the Pig design and it’s just one of the cute animals from the Adorable Animals collection. The function is well integrated into the design and the cool mist comes from the Pig’s ears. It’s really quite adorable.

To Buy… If it’s possible to love a humidifier, I love this one. The style is adorable and perfectly suited for a nursery or child’s room, and the function is top notch. If you need a humidifier, which you probably will, you might as well get one that is high quality and looks good, too.

Or Not to Buy… I can’t think of a reason NOT to buy. Seriously, I tried.

Shop! The Adorable Animals humidifiers, including the Pig, are $39.99. You can purchase Crane products online or in various retailers across the country.

Win! A Crane Humidifier. Pick from one of the following: cow, pig, dragon, panda or penguin.

How to Enter: Visit Crane and take a look around. Come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite style.

Bonus Entries – only valid after you complete the first mandatory entry:
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this: Flu got you down? WIN a Crane humidifier @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/1oUfh8
* Blog about giveaway including a link to this post and Crane for TEN entries
* Post the Holiday Gift Guide button on your blog
* Add The Shopping Mama to your blog roll
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader

The Fine Print: Please leave a valid email in the comments or your Blogger profile so that I can contact you if you win. If you prefer, you may email me directly with your contact information after leaving valid comments. Open to US mailing addresses. Giveaway ends November 4. Winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you to Crane for providing a sample for the purposes of this review and a product for the giveaway. The opinions expressed here are mine and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Sleeping Through the Night: Let’s Talk All About Baby

by Kate on October 22nd, 2009 | 5 Comments | Parenting

I am NO expert at getting a baby to sleep through the night. Just ask my husband. But I have gathered some information you might find helpful so you and your little one(s) can get more shut eye!

Our Sleep Story

My son was not a good sleeper and I really struggled with it until he was about 10 months old. After reading nearly every sleep-related book I could get my hands on and trying countless methods, I finally read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. That book, the reassuring words of my pediatrician and 3 nights of letting my little guy cry led to my now fantastic sleeper. He has napped and slept through the night consistently since then.

Baby Girl was a bit earlier to sleep through the night consistently (about 6 months old), but has really regressed a bit since she started teething. For some reason, I actually don’t mind waking to feed her but I know if I want her to sleep through the night again I need to get a plan and get consistent.

What I’ve Learned

Do What Makes You Comfortable! No matter how many people tell you the Cry It Out Method works, if you don’t feel comfortable doing it DON’T. If you think it might work for you, be consistent and stick with it. But, more than anything do what feels right to you and your child.
Be Consistent. Whatever method you chose, stick with it. I definitely made the mistake of giving up on a theory after a day or two if I didn’t work.

Advice from Experts

Here are a collection of resources that provide helpful tips to get your baby to sleep through the night

Mayo Clinic. Includes the general recommendations to encourage your baby to sleep through the night. (You know, the stuff that you think you’re doing so will make you totally frustrated when he’s still not sleeping!)
Kids Sleep Training with Dr. Weissbluth. In conjunction with Parents Connect, Dr. Weissbluth offered step by step advice on getting babies and children to sleep better. There are specific suggestions for a variety of common sleep issues, too.
The Baby Whisperer. I think of this as a kinder, gentler version of the Babywise program.

Books Recommendations

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. At only $9.36 on Amazon, this book is worth its weight in gold. Written by a well-respected pediatrician, I highly recommend it and know many other families who swear by.
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. Tracy Hogg is a nurse, mother and nanny who suggests a structured routine to get baby to sleep for longer stretches at a time.
The No-Cry Sleep Solution. What mom can argue with this title, right? Author Elizabeth Pantley helps you discover stumbling blocks and work with baby’s natural sleep rhythms.

You’re Not Alone

Misery loves company. Read about other moms and their experiences with sleep deprivation and sleep training woes.
* Kate, The Shopping Mama
* Twenty Something Momma
* Heather Nicole on Ferber & Co-Sleeping

Share! What was your experience with your baby sleeping through the night? Any book or website you found particularly helpful? What method worked and did not work for you?

4moms Sleep Trainer: All About Baby Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on October 22nd, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaways, Uncategorized

Sleep. Everyone needs it, new mamas want it and yet babies can’t seem to do it for long stretches. I’ve struggled through two kids who were not the best of sleepers. I’ve even blogged about being exhausted when my daughter was waking every two hours. The problem for many parents, myself included, is that many babies need to learn how to sleep through the night. I know I was so desperate for help when my little ones were waking frequently that I wished for someone or something to come teach me how to teach my baby to sleep. I really needed something to guide me when I was groggy and frustrated in the middle of the night.That’s where the 4moms Goodnight Sleep Trainer comes it. It was developed specifically to guide parents step by step to teach babies to sleep through the night.

About 4moms
Committed to making routine tasks easier for parents, 4moms is revolutionizing the juvenile products industry with dramatically innovative products. By leveraging the declining costs of technology, the company is able to develop products that are completely unique and revolutionary, yet would have been cost prohibitive just a few years ago.
(Just check out the Origami stroller!)

How It Works
* Teach Baby to Sleep Longer – Yes, this system does involve baby crying. It’s painful and can be hard on mamas, that’s for sure. Trust me, I’ve been there, I know. The Goodnight Sleep Trainer uses a timer that indicates when you should check and console baby. I like that the timer says “Hang in there” and tells you how much time you have left to wait – any encouragement is comforting to mama when baby is upset. The timer gets progressively longer between check and console times so that baby will learn to soothe herself to sleep.

* Develop a Consistent Routine - The Goodnight Sleep Trainer interactive website has an allows you to track sleep patterns, get sleep tips and see your progress. This is a lot more clear and easy to read than the scribbled notes I kept while trying to help my little ones learn to sleep through the night! I think this would be especially helpful when trying to find your child’s natural nap pattern.

Check out this short and very informative video where a pediatrician and “one of the moms” explain the theory of the Goodnight Sleep Trainer and demonstrates how it works.

Award-Winning Product
The 4Moms Goodnight Sleep Trainer has been awarded the National Parenting Seal of Approval and the iParenting Media Award. I’m not surprised… I really could have used one of these when my babies and I were struggling to sleep for more than a couple hours at a time. If you’re (luckily) past this phase, I think the Goodnight Sleep Trainer is a great, affordable and useful baby shower or new baby gift. Every mom wants the gift of sleep, after all!

Shop! The Goodnight Sleep Trainer is $29.95 and can be purchased on Amazon and in select retailers like Babies R Us and Target.

Win! A 4moms Goodnight Sleep Trainer!

How to Enter: Leave a comment about babies and sleep – that’s it!
You might share how many hours of sleep in a row did you get last night? Or, when your little one slept through the night? Or what’s your favorite feature of the Goodnight Sleep Trainer and why do you think it’s a great product for moms?

Bonus Entries – only valid after you complete the first mandatory entry:
* Register to be a 4moms Insider: test products, get deals, be heard, win stuff.
* Follow 4moms on Twitter
* Fan 4moms on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this: Win a Goodnight Sleep Trainer and help baby sleep through the night @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/1Jisj
* Blog about giveaway including a link to this post and 4moms for TEN entries
* Post the Holiday Gift Guide button on your blog
* Add The Shopping Mama to your blog roll
* Follow The Shopping Mama in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader

The Fine Print: Please leave a valid email in the comments or your Blogger profile so that I can contact you if you win. If you prefer, you may email me directly with your contact information after leaving valid comments. Open to US mailing addresses. Giveaway ends November 4. Winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Thank you to 4moms for providing a product for the giveaway prize.

Thursday Giveaway Linky

by Kate on October 22nd, 2009 | 5 Comments | Giveaway Linky

Happy Thursday! Be sure to check out the giveaways here – three end tomorrow: Designs by Jessie, Macaroy Kangaroo and Princess Bubble.

I’m in the midst of the incredible All About Baby giveaway series and am so excited about some of the ongoing and upcoming products. They almost make me want to have a newborn again.

Thanks for stopping by to link up and check out giveaways. Now, get your link on!

ShopAtHome.com $1000 Facebook Giveaway

by Kate on October 21st, 2009 | 5 Comments | Uncategorized

Yes, you read that correctly – $1000 with 3 zeros. One lucky person will get $500 and $500 to give to 5 friends from ShopAtHome.com ($100 a friend).

How to Enter - it’s super easy and well worth a couple minutes:
1. Register with ShopAtHome.com.
If you haven’t done so yet, what are you waiting for? It’s a great cash back shopping site where you can earn money for doing what you’re already doing – shopping online at your favorite stores. And you get $5 just for registering.
2. Fan ShopAtHome.com on Facebook.
3. Share your best Holiday Shopping Tip (what saves you the most money, what days are best to shop, or any other ideas you want to share) on the ShopAtHome.com Facebook Wall.

On November 4, the folks at ShopAtHome will select the top 30 tips and from those a random winner will be selected. You can find more information on the ShopAtHome.com Facebook page and the complete list of rules here.

So, get thinking and share your best tip for your chance to win! Good luck!