Total Me Time With the Total Gym

by Kate on September 30th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Life

When I first learned of the Total Gym Total Mom Challenge, I imagined it starting in November, taking place after my husband deployed. I figured it would be a new hobby to pick up while he was away – and, of course, I’d get in shape to be looking my best when he returns. But, the timing didn’t quite work out as I imagined. The Total Gym folks were on the ball and the Challenge started very quickly.

The timing has turned out to be a blessing. I have come to really enjoy the me time that comes with hopping on the Total Gym to do my work out. While I glide up and down the machine, working muscles I didn’t know I had, no one bothers me. It’s just me and my thoughts. I silently count the reps of the exercise as I think about new activities for the kids, how to organize my closet, or best of all, I think about absolutely nothing.  I just exercise. As we prepare for my husband to leave for a year, the exercise has been a real stress reliever in a very stressful time.

Stats Update

The exercise has been good for my head, but has it been good for my body? Here are my current stats and the change from my “Before” stats two weeks ago.

  • Weight: 127.0 pounds (-0.6 pounds)
  • BMI: 18.7 (- 0.1)
  • Bust: 34 inches (no change)
  • Waist: 27.5 inches ( – 1/2 inch)
  • Hip: 37 inch (-1 inch)
  • Arm: 10 1/4 inches (- 1/4 inch)
  • Thigh: 20 inches (- 1/2 inch)

Other Total Mom Total Mom Participants

You should stop in and visit the other moms on the Total Gym Total Mom Challenge. Some of these ladies are working their butts off. Literally.

Shop! Join me on the Total Mom Challenge! Click this link to get 15% off your Total Gym purchase.

I am participating in the Total Mom Total Gym Challenge facilitated by Blog Friendly PR and received a Total Gym XLS.

Breastfeeding Success – The Second Time Around

by Kate on September 30th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Life, Parenting


This is a guest post from a dear friend of mine about her different experiences breastfeeding her two children.

***

Crying. Lots of crying. Lots of crying from both mother and daughter. After several trips to the lactation consultant, more pumping than I care to recall, and supplementing to fight jaundice, I gave up the battle to nurse my daughter after six long, hard-fought weeks. Those first weeks with my first born were amazing, but nursing was not included in the “happy” times. I’d heard rumors of the tremendous bond nursing can bring and the wonderful sense of relaxation it can provide to mother and child. For me, the first time around the experience was stressful.

Fast forward four years. In addition to my beautiful daughter, I have a thirteen-month-old son who is still nursing! I finally know that bond that a nursing mother has with her child; about being the person solely responsible for food and nourishment for so many months. As much as it may not be politically acceptable, I know why caring for infants was considered women’s work for thousands of years… because it is! Because I’d had a different experience with my daughter, I did carry some guilt as a nursing mother. I felt guilt that my husband could not be more involved with feeding our son. He had so enjoyed that special time with our daughter.

I also now know the full-body relaxation that can come when sitting down to feed my child. Whether it is hormonal, muscular, psychological or the mere fact that it may be the first opportunity to sit in hours, nursing is one of the few times all day that I truly relax. Don’t get me wrong, even with number two, I was not always relaxed. It does take time for mother and child to “sync,” but once you do, the level of relaxation nursing delivers is hard to equal. In fact, if it were not for that beautiful daughter having a tea party on the ottoman, I think I would fall asleep at each nursing session.

I’m grateful for both my experiences as a nursing mother. I can empathize with those who are trying to make it work and with those who know it is best for mother and child.

***

This post is part of a series of real-life breastfeeding stories sponsored by Bravado Designs! who helps moms find relaxation with the Bliss Nursing Bra.

While breastfeeding is a natural experience, like anything new, practice will be the secret to your breastfeeding success. Everything you need to know to establish a successful breastfeeding routine can be found at Bravado’s Finding Your Breastfeeding Rhythm.  This will help you and your baby discover the most comfortable, and enjoyable breastfeeding experience.

ShooShoos Children’s Shoes and Boots for Fall

by Kate on September 30th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Baby Shopping Guide, Clothes, Reviews

The weather is finally cooling off around here and I’m excited to break into my kids’ fall and winter clothes. (Well, mostly my daughter’s clothes.) The new season means not only is it time to change the wardrobe, but also the shoes on your little one’s feet. ShooShoos has a some great kids shoes that are perfect for winter and fall.

Winter Boots

I am pretty much swooning over the collection of Smiley Winterboots from ShooShoos. Like all ShooShoos, these boots are made of soft leather, but they are lined with soft fleece. The boots are only $35! And, even better, there are soft soled shoes version of these boots for baby on sale for only $20. Now I just have to decide if my daughter needs the pink or brown boot…

Shoos Review

As part of the ShooShoos Mom program, my daughter’s feet have been spoiled with another pair of Smiley shoos. We picked the White Smiley with Pink Flowers – while clearly not the most fall-like of shoes, I like this pair because they are white so they go with a lot of stuff in her wardrobe. Not to mention the fact that my daughter’s feet are growing like weeds and she already outgrew the adorable White Smileys we reviewed this summer. (insert mommy sobs here.)

In the past, while she was totally able to wear them comfortably, my daughter’s feet were a little “tall” or chubby for the Mary Jane style shoes so I was anxious for her to wear a T-bar style. This style does fit differently on the tops of her feet and there is no chubby/tall issue. They look and fit great.

The Smiley shoes are great for active kids like my crazy daughter because they provide sturdy support but are flexible enough for running, jumping, dancing and all around playing.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… We continue to love ShooShoos. I will continue to shop the shoes until my daughter outgrows them. The shoes look great, hold up well and are easy to wear.

Or Not to Buy… Lots of styles are only available up to size 8. I wish they would go bigger!

Shop! The White Smiley with Flowers shoes are $29.95, but they are part of the current ShooShoos Clearance Sale. Buy any regular priced item and get any clearance Smiley for $15 and any clearance soft sole for only $10! Max 3 per regular priced item. That’s 50% off! If you order 2 pairs of regular prices shoes, you can get 6 pairs of clearance at 50% off and so on.

Disclosure: Thanks to ShooShoos for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review.

Bath Time is a Splash with VTech Bath Toys: Review + Giveaway

by Kate on September 30th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Baby Shopping Guide, Giveaways, Reviews, Toys

VTech Toys are always a hit in our home – they are engaging, fun and there’s always an educational component. VTech Bath Time toys bring classic VTech fun to the tub with the new infant line of bath toys.

About VTech Bath Time Toys

VTech continues the tradition of providing children of all ages with toys that incorporate both fun and learning with its new infant line. It is never too soon to start the learning process with your child; VTech’s 2010 infant line does just that. The infant toys are innovative, trustworthy, safe, educational and entertaining for children. Product details of bath toys are below.

Make Bath a Blast

The VTech Bath Time Toys line consists of four toys designed for babies from 6 months to 3 years: Sign & Count Fish, Light-Up Learning Turtle, Submarine Learning Boat and Musical Bubbles Octopus. All the toys feature lights and sounds – pretty cool for a bath toy. When we first opened the Submarine, my husband even said, “That can’t be a bath toy, it takes batteries and lights up and stuff.” But, it IS  a bath toy.

Submarine Learning Boat Features

  • Squirts water with high/low intensity for different water effects
  • Water sensor recognizes when the sub is in/out of water
  • Motion sensor activates fun phrases, sounds and melodies when out of the water
  • 4 buttons introduce colors, numbers 1-3, animals and animal characteristics

The Submarine is recommended for kids 9 to 24 months, and both my 22 month old and 3.5 year old enjoy it. Really, I think it’s probably a bit of a novelty to them both since it makes their other bath toys seem rather boring. My daughter loves finding the animals and colors when the Submarine “talks.” And my son really enjoys when it squirts water.

I’d grown rather lazy about bath time and, instead, would shower the kids quickly. It’s been fun to have a new toy that they both enjoy and keeps them entertained. I feel silly that this toy has motivated me to a bit to give the kids longer bath time to play, but it’s true. And, that’s a good thing. Kids should enjoy their bath and play – and the Submarine has been a good reminder of how fun the bath can be.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… VTech Bath Time toys are fun and interactive. The Submarine is a fun way to keep the kids entertained and engaged in bath time. And, the fact that it will help younger ones learn colors and numbers is a bonus, really – a good one at that.

Or Not to Buy… We’ve had a good experience with the toy so far. I am interested to see how it holds up in the water – if it rusts, for example.

Shop! The collection of VTech Bath Time toys is available at VTechKids.com and Amazon. The V Tech Submarine Learning Boat is $17.99, and prices range from $11.99 for the Sing and Count Fish to $19.99 for the Musical Bubbles Octopus (which I’m pretty sure my daughter has to have).

Win! Three Winners Will Receive a VTech Bath Time Toy!

How to Enter: Visit the VTech Bath Time Toys and leave a comment with your favorite toy or another VTech toy you’d love to try.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

Giveaway ends October 15. Open to US mailing addresses.

Disclosure: Thanks to VTech for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prize. Opinions here are my own.

CSPC & FDA Warn Against Using Infant Sleep Positioners

by Kate on September 30th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Parenting

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued Safety Warning advising parents and caregivers to stop using infant sleep positioners.

From the CSPC Statement

Over the past 13 years, CPSC and the FDA have received 12 reports of infants between the ages of 1 month and 4 four months who died when they suffocated in sleep positioners or became trapped and suffocated between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet.

Most of the infants suffocated after rolling from a side to stomach position. In addition to the reported deaths, CPSC has received dozens of reports of infants who were placed on their backs or sides in sleep positioners, only to be found later in potentially hazardous positions within or next to the sleep positioners.

According to the CSPC Chairman Inez Tenebaum, “The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern to CPSC. We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep.”

We never used a sleep positioner, but I think they are somewhat popular. For obvious reasons, we won’t be included Infant Sleep Positioners on the Baby Shopping Guide.

Please spread the word about this Safety Warning to friends and family with infants.

Thursday Giveaway Linky

by Kate on September 29th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaway Linky, Weekly Features

Happy Thursday! Thanks for coming to link up and browse some great giveaways. There are some awesome giveaways ending soon around here so make sure you enter before it’s too late!

basq Mom & Baby Keepsake Set * Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover * 4moms Mamaroo * Britax B-READY Stroller * $25 to The Funky Bee * $25 Target Gift Card

Don’t forget to link up at Baby Loving Mama today. And while you’re there enter a $25 Visa Card and The Cat in the Hat DVD giveaway.

Every Kid is a Slugger with the E-Z Bat (+ Giveaway)

by Kate on September 29th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Reviews, Toys

Now, don’t tell him I said this, but my son is not the most coordinated kid I know. He’s kind and smart and lovable, but athletically-inclined? Not so much. Nonetheless, we all enjoy playing sports and being outside in the (slightly) cooler fall weather. The E-Z Bat was designed by a grandfather with kids like my son in mind – the bat makes sure your little one hits a home run every time.

About E-Z Bat from Monkey Business Sports

E-Z Bat, the brainchild of a innovative grandfather who wanted his grandson to be able to have the thrill of a home run with every swing, gets kids as young as 3 years old swinging and loving the all-American pastime. The better the swing, the further the ball sails so the E-Z Bat reinforces proper technique. Dads, uncles and grandpas will have a ball teaching Junior everything they know! The E-Z bat balls can either be flung right off the bat or pitched and hit the traditional way. The E-Z Bat is the first of many new active play toys expected to roll out this fall and pre-holiday season from Monkey Business Sports.

Home Run Every Swing

The E-Z Bat consists of a lightweight foam covered bat, two donut shaped “balls” and a stopper so you can place the ball on the bat. When you swing the bat, the yellow ball goes flying off as if the ball were pitched at you and hit in a traditional baseball game. The red stopper allows you to change the placement of the ball to make sure it flies off at the right time depending on how fast or hard your child swings the bat.

My son has recently showed interest in “bat ball” so he was really excited when the E-Z Bat arrived. I probably don’t have to state the obvious – but, there’s no way my son could hit a ball if I tossed it to him. He just doesn’t have the coordination yet. So he is thrilled to be able to swing the bat and watch the ball fly across the front yard. My little guy gets frustrated and discouraged pretty quickly so it’s been fun to see him succeed and enjoy the game without frustration. He even got a little cocky and swung the bat with two balls at one time.

And, I should mention, the ball is a lovely accessory when you’re not playing baseball.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… My son has really enjoyed playing “bat ball” with the E-Z Bat. I really appreciate that he can play and succeed at every swing. This would be a great option for backyard family games with kids of different ages – the younger kids could use the E-Z Bat while the older kids use a traditional ball and bat.

Or Not to Buy… As the seasons change it might be hard to get much time outdoors in colder climates, but keep this in mind for spring.

Shop! Monkey Business Sports has a wide variety of indoor and outdoor games and toys designed to help kids get active. Make sure you check out the selection of toys and games when shopping for the holidays.

Win! Your Choice of Monkey Business Sports Product: E-Z Bat, FoamStrike SwitchBlade or the FoamStrike Pocket Shot.

How to Enter: Visit Monkey Business Sports and leave a comment with another toy that looks like fun.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

Giveaway ends October 13. Open to US mailing addresses only.

Disclosure:  Thanks to Monkey Business Sports for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review and the giveaway prize.

Silhouette Tutorial – Easy Custom Apparel

by Amy on September 29th, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  For Mama, Reviews, Shopping

I’m back again with another tutorial to show you yet another cool project I’ve completed using my new, completely amazing Silhouette Craft Cutter. We’re giving one lucky TSM reader their very own Silhouette, valued at over $300. If you haven’t entered, beeline-it to the Silhouette giveaway post here. The giveaway ends tomorrow!

One of the coolest things you can do with the Silhouette is create custom apparel. I decided to make a Halloween shirt for my 4 year old daughter who loves Spider-man.

The process is the same as when I made my sweet holiday boxes… After your Silhouette software is installed and the machine is plugged into your computer, open the software and select a new document. Click on “My Library” in the lower left side of your screen (see image below.) Select the file SpiderWeb_1042, and the box will appear within your document, as shown. From here you can resize your spider web as needed to fit your shirt.

Next, load your heat transfer material into the machine.

Because you are working with vinyl, you will need to use an alternate cutting blade (blue), which is easily installed by turning the lock lever to ‘open’, inserting the mount blade, and turning the lever to ‘closed.’ Really, it’s that easy! Select ‘cut’ and ’ok’ on your computer, and then the ‘enter’ key on your Silhouette, and your machine will do all the cutting.  Peel the negative design from the vinyl sheet, leaving only your design.

Position your design face down on your garment. Place the transfer sheet and cloth over the design, and place a heated iron on top for approximately 45-60 seconds working your way across the design.

Gently peel the transfer sheet so that the design remains on the shirt. It’s best to try a corner of the design before peeling the whole sheet. If the corner has not adhered to the shirt, repeat the process with the iron.

Et voila! An adorable shirt, which completes my little girl’s outfit for the Halloween party!

How about you? What will you make with your Silhouette? If you haven’t entered to win, you can do so on The Shopping Mama’s Silhouette giveaway post here! The giveaway ends tomorrow!

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