The Shopping Mama

KicoKids on LilLuxe – Awesome Kids Clothing & Accessories Sale

by Kate on January 26th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Shopping

LilLuxe is an awesome members only site that launched last fall with the goal of bring high end fashion and gear for kids a little more accessible and affordable for savvy moms like us. I made my first purchase in December and was super pleased with the price (cheap!), the shipping (fast!) and look forward to getting the daily deals delivered to my inbox every day. If you haven’t signed up for LilLuxe yet, now is the time to accept my invitation because there is an awesome sale on kids clothes and accessories going live right now.

Kico Kids Sale on LilLuxe

Kico Kids combine classic styling with whimsical elements that children love to wear and parents want for themselves! Created by acclaimed womenswear designer Tia Cibani (of high-end label Ports 1961), the collection features plenty of tweed, merino wool, and fine gauge cotton for an exceptional quality and feel. Embellishments like paillettes and pompoms add quirky, fantasy-filled touches. These are the accessories that children will look back on and love.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the gorgeous clothes and accessories from KicoKids on LilLuxe today. Can you just imagine my 4 year old looking so smart in this jacket?

I am dying for this sweater for my daughter. It is so adorable and totally unique.

And wouldn’t it look perfect with this fabulous scarf?

Some more fab finds.

New to Members Only Shopping? How LilLuxe Works

LilLuxe hosts daily sales events that showcase multiple brands. Items are limited and are sold on a first come, first served basis. The sales events are short lived and last only 3-4 days; so it’s best to grab your bargain as soon as possible. The only way you can have access to these premium brands at such steep discounts is by becoming a member of the site. Join now!

Once you join, you can invite friends to join and shop LilLuxe, too. When a friend makes their first purchase you will get a $15 credit to thank you for the referral.

Shop! Sign up for LilLuxe now to shop the awesome KicoKids sale. And, you can get $10 off all orders over $50 just by “liking” them on Facebook – click the “Offer” Tab to get the code.

This is a sponsored post. As always, opinions are my own.

Mom Style Q & A: Nicole Feliciano of Momtrends

by Kate on January 26th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Fashion & Beauty, New Year New Mama

As part of the New Year, New Mama series, we are featuring some very stylish moms. We’re hoping the quick Q & A will give us all a little style inspiration to kick it up a notch in the new year.

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Nicole Feliciano created Momtrends, a fashion and lifestyle blog, to prove that moms don’t have to trade in style for sweats just because you have a baby. I was very excited to meet Nicole last summer at BlogHer, and let me tell you, she could not have been warmer or more fun to talk to. And, not surprisingly she looked amazing every time I saw her that weekend. (That’s us at the Ralph Lauren party.M)

The Shopping Mama: How do you define your style?

Nicole Feliciano: Brooklyn Chic–I interpret urban trends in my own way and mix them with classics.

TSM: What’s your favorite thing in your closet?

NF: Other than the new bikinis I bought in Brazil (check one out here), a pair of Geox Suede boots that look hot and sport a 3″ wedge heel that I can walk in for hours.

TSM: Describe your image of a stylish mom.

NF: Halle Berry. She’s got a no-nonsense hair cut, but is always impeccably groomed. Her clothes are classy, yet never boring. Her glow comes from the inside. She doesn’t chase trends. She makes trends. Check out this Celeb Mom Style advice.

TSM: We’re often seduced by cheap finds (anything at Target comes to mind), when is it okay to go cheap and when is it better to buy one, more expensive piece?

NF: Go cheap on maternity fashion. NOT maternity staples (jeans, suits, LBD, etc). Go cheap on super trendy accessories. Finding a steal on a party dress is also a good idea–check out what I discovered for $200 and under here.

Splurge on outerwear–it’s got to fit and perform.

TSM: What is one must have piece of clothing or accessory for this season and / or spring?

NF: Spring demands that all of us add a print into the wardrobe. I’m leaning towards the ethnic prints. You can check out one of my spring fashion reports here.

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Get all the stylish scoop for moms at Momtrends and follow Nicole on Twitter and Facebook. You can also find Nicole blogging at Moms Fashion File.

New Balance truebalance Toning Shoes Review

by Kate on January 26th, 2011 | 5 Comments | New Year New Mama, Reviews

You’ve already seen (and of course entered) the New Balance truebalance Toning Shoes Giveaway so I’m sure you are wondering:

“Do they really work?”

As someone who was STOPPED IN THE HALL today at work and told that I looked like I was loosing weight (I’m not, I was on the scale this morning) because my backside looks smaller, I think I can answer, “Heck Yes!” Hello, do they make better feedback than that?

So now you are wondering, “Is it really the shoes?”

I did make a New Year’s resolution to work out more, but I’ve only made it to the gym 4 times this month (5 if you count the time I had to leave because little guy was crying so hard I couldn’t handle it). I of course wore my truebalance shoes and I could really feel them bringing up the burn, especially on the incline treadmill. Maybe if things continue at this rate I will have a worship worthy tush in a few months. Imagine if I was actually able to work out a couple days a week!

The main feature of these shoes, their balance board technology, actually made me a little nervous at first. I am a huge klutz, I can trip over a line painted on the pavement, and so I worried that something designed to destabilize me, would…right onto my hiney. That’s not the way I wanted to shape things up (plus it would probably involve swelling which is pretty much the opposite of what I was going for). This is not the case at all with these shoes. I don’t feel unstable in them at all and, if it wasn’t for the fact that I can feel my muscles working more, I probably wouldn’t believe that they were toning shoes.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The shoes are super comfortable and I wear them any time I can get away with sneakers and sometimes when I probably really shouldn’t. They so cute and I’ve gotten compliments on the way they look and of course everyone is surprised when I tell them these are toning shoes. I highly recommend Truebalance toning shoes.

Not to Buy… These shoes are perfect for adding extra toning to day to day activities or cardio at the gym. What I wouldn’t recommend these shoes for is running, I don’t think they are designed for that (and honestly, if you are really running I’m pretty sure your tush is getting toned). New Balance has many outstanding options for running shoes. Check them out at shopnewbalance.com or your local running shop.

Shop! Truebalance WW850 shoes are available in 7 stylish colors on-line at, Amazon.com, and local retailers for $89.99.

Win! You still have time to enter to win a pair in our New Balance Truebalance WW850 Toning Shoes Giveaway!

Nap Nanny Announces the Arrival of the Nap Nanny Chill

by Kate on January 25th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Shopping

The oh-so-comfy baby recliner Nap Nanny has some updates to make it safer and easier for baby (and mama!) to chill. It’s been quite a year for Nap Nanny – from the high of darling national publicity when Sandra Bullock’s son Louis was spotted sleeping in a Nap Nanny in People Magazine to the low of a recall last summer to the excitement of product updates unveiled at the ABC Kids Expo. I had the pleasure of speaking with Nap Nanny President and Founder Leslie Gudel at the ABC Kids Expo in both 2009 and 2010 and her enthusiasm is absolutely infectious. After learning about the product updates, it’s clear Nap Nanny has a placed focus on baby’s safety. (And it’s worth noting many of these updates were in the works prior to the safety recall.)

How is the Nap Nanny Chill Different?

The portable Nap Nanny Chill offers

snugger fit at the hips
slightly higher sides
a redesigned three-point harness
harness is removable so it transitions easily to a toddler chair

Like previous Nap Nanny, the Nap Nanny Chill weighs in at 3 pounds, offers a wide base for stability, and a waterproof liner to protect the foam core. It mimics the basic contours of a car seat, but is sloped at 30° at the top and curved gently at the foot to cradle the baby and prevent sliding.

The Nap Nanny Chill recliner is a stand-alone product and not a sleep positioner. It can be carried easily from room to room, but is designed for FLOOR USE ONLY — it should never be placed in a crib, play yard or elevated surface.

Shop! The Nap Nanny Chill Portable Recliner is available for purchase on Amazon for $129.99 (Free Shipping for Amazon Mom). Nap Nanny Chill is available in Camel, Giraffe Print, Minky Blue, Minky Pink or Minky Sage.

ULTA Beauty 20% Discount Code – What’s a Must Have in Your Makeup Bag?

by Kate on January 25th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Fashion & Beauty, New Year New Mama

You already know I’m trying to get my pretty on this year. So far my not very lofty goal of wearing a bit of make up every day has been a bit of a bust. But, this ULTA Beauty sale may be just what I need to get excited about some fun new makeup. Now through January 29 save 20% of your entire order (see code below).

My Makeup Bag

I like Bare Esentuals and for about $50 (after discount) you can get this customizable 8-piece bareMinerals Get Started Kit.

I have several single ULTA Eyeshadow colors. At $7 (only $5.60 after discount), it’s easy to try new colors and experiment a bit with what looks best. I also use a Bare Escentuals Mascara like the bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara ($14.40 after discount).

For affordable and very wearable lip color, I like ULTA Sheer Lipstick ($8 Buy 1, Get 1 50% off).

I’m fighting eye wrinkles with Radiance Eye Cream with Royal Jelly ($14.40 after discount).

Shop! Get 20% off your entire order at ULTA with code 40753 from Jan 23-29. Exclusions Apply. Free shipping on orders over $50 and you get three free samples with every purchase – fun!

What’s a must have item in YOUR makeup bag?

Get Your Blog & Family Tax Documents Organized with SMEAD

by Kate on January 25th, 2011 | 5 Comments | For Mama, New Year New Mama, Reviews

In addition to personal goals this year, I have high hopes for The Shopping Mama in 2011. The progress and growth of the blog is great, but it means an increase in paperwork – especially where taxes are concerned. I have a great online organization system to help me get there, but my paper organization skills leave a lot something to be desired. I don’t have a dedicated office and my laptop goes with me so I don’t even have a dedicated work space. It’s clear the only way I’m going to keep The Shopping Mama paperwork in order is to get some good gear and tackle the random piles I have created throughout the house.

Get Organized with SMEAD

SMEAD products are straight forward and to the point. No frills, no fancy colors, but they get the job done. And are just what I need to get my stuff in order. I’m getting my paperwork in order with the Expanding Files and Tax Organizer.

Jan – Dec File Organizer: Organize large amounts of paperwork that need to be transported quickly, or file material without a file cabinet. Number of pockets varies depending on your choice of indexing method. Elastic cord on flap adds security.

The monthly file organizer is pretty straightforward – it’s an expandable folder that can hold up to an impressive 900 sheets of paper. There are 12 pockets (one for each month), and I’ll use it this year to file away important blog documents. I’m hoping this will keep me on track with my goal of getting more organized while growing the blog. Of course, it will save me a bunch of running around early next year to get paperwork in order for 2011 taxes.

Tax Organizer: This six-pocket Tax Organizer makes tax preparation a breeze. Simple instructions and a checklist are printed on the inside front cover. There are printed and blank labels included for easy filing. The Tax Organizer features secure pockets for safe transport.

I haven’t received many tax documents yet, but when they start arriving in the mail, they are going directly into the Tax Organizer. The Organizer is an expandable folder with six pockets just for tax info. The front cover has a checklist with tips on how to get the most out of the organizer and a tax checklist so you can make sure you have all the info you need to prepare. The folders are tabbed and the Organizer comes with pre-printed labels (like W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and blank stickers so you can make your own specific labels.

My Tax Organizer is all ready to go… just waiting to be filled with documents.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The SMEAD organizing tools are simple and effective. The folders are expandable and thankfully well reinforced so they’ll withstand a lot of documents and shuffling around. I really do appreciate the folders and hope they’ll keep me organized!

Or Not to Buy… While I like that the products are all business and to the point, it does make the price tags seem a little high. The suggested price for the Expanding File is $14.49 (on sale on Amazon for $8.37) and for Tax Organizer is $18.49.

Shop & Organize! You can find valuable tips for getting organized for your taxes on the SMEAD Organomics website. SMEAD products are available at Amazon, Office Depot and Wal-Mart.

Thanks to SMEAD for providing sample products. This is a compensated post. As always, opinions are my own.

What Drugs Can a Breastfeeding Mom Take for a Cold or the Flu?

by Kate on January 24th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Parenting

We’ve talked a lot about taking care of sick kiddos, but what about sick Mama? What should Mama take when she’s breastfeeding and gets sick? Find the best medications to take based on your symptoms using this Quick Reference Guide, courtesy of the hard working pharmacists at the Indian Health Services (IHS). You can also explore IHS’s prescribed and over the counter drugs page. It looks like they will be updating it periodically so you may want to bookmark it like I did.

Of course you can always ask your local pharmacist or your doctor for advice. If you or your baby has any special conditions, be sure to consult someone familiar with the condition.

Some medications, like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and most of the medications listed for allergies, may cause reduced milk production in some women. If you struggle with milk production you may want to stay away from these medications. If you don’t have milk production issues, you are unlikely to notice an effect. Keep hydrated (which you should be doing anyway) and stop taking the medication if you experience issues. Any effect should be short term and reversible.

Some general suggestions for using non-prescription medications:

Take the lowest doses of these drugs (don’t buy “extra strength”,”maximum strength”, or “long acting” – do buy “regular strength.”)
When able, take the medicine right after nursing or before baby’s longest sleep time.
Don’t choose medicines that have a variety of ingredients.
Watch baby for effects from the medicines that you take.
Follow the directions on the label. Don’t take more than that.

I have a fever … headache … or feel achy all over

Acetaminophen (Tylenol^R and many other brands)
Ibuprofen (Advil^R, Motrin^R, etc.)
Naproxen (Aleve^R, etc.)
avoid aspirin

I have a stuffy nose

Best: sodium chloride nasal spray (Ocean^R or other brands)

Other Options:

Phenylephrine nasal spray (Neo-Synephrine^R , etc.)
Oxymetazoline nasal spray (Afrin^R and others)
Pseudoephedrine oral tablets (Sudafed^R and many other brands)
Mothers may experience a decrease in breast milk production when they take Sudafed, so they should be sure to drink more water!

I keep sneezing … my allergies are acting up

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl^R and many other brands)
Brompheniramine + pseudoephedrine (Bromfed^R, Rondec^R syrup, etc.)
Triprolidine + pseudoephedrine (Actifed^R and other brands)
Chlorpheniramine (Coricidin^R and many other brands)
Dexbrompheniramine + pseudoephedrine (Drixoral^R and others)
Loratadine (Claritin^R, Alavert^R, others)
Cromolyn sodium nasal spray (Nasalcrom^R)

I have a sore throat … even after a cup of hot tea

Warm to hot salt water gargles (don’t swallow it!)
Throat sprays (Cepacol^R Maximum Strength Sore Throat Spray, others)
Throat lozenges (Sucrets^R Regular Strength, Halls^RMentho-Lyptus Drops)
Avoid phenol and hexylresorcinol

I have a cough

Guaifenesin with or without Dextromethorphan (Robitussin^R, Robitussin DM^R and many other brands)

Disclaimer from the editor: Malia is very smart and knows what she’s talking about, but the information contained on the TheShoppingMama.com is not intended as, and is not, a substitute for professional medical advice. All decisions about clinical care should be made in consultation with your treating physician.

Credits: 1/23/2011 (I.H.S. Pharmacists) BF-L BF-M CHN-L

photo: msn.com

No Name-Calling Week: Books About Bullying for Preschoolers

by Kate on January 24th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Parenting, Shopping

Inspired by a group of fictional teenagers in the book The Misfits who are trying to survive daily taunting in middle school, No Name-Calling Week was first organized in 2004. This year No Name-Calling Week is January 24 through 28 and the goal is “to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities.”

The No Name-Calling Project website has great resources for students, parents and teachers. But, it’s never too early to start teaching children about tolerance, that works can be hurtful and how to deal with bullies so we found some relevant books for the preschool and young grade school crowd.

One ($11.53). By Kathryn Otoshi, this book gets praise for handling a difficult topic in such an artistic and beautiful manner. From the publisher: “Blue is a quiet color. Red’s a hothead who likes to pick on Blue. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple don’t like what they see, but what can they do? When no one speaks up, things get out of hand — until One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up, stand together, and count. As budding young readers learn about numbers, counting, and primary and secondary colors, they also learn about accepting each other’s differences and how it sometimes just takes one voice to make everyone count.”

Lucy and the Bully ($12.74). Best for children ages 4 to 8 this tells the story of Lucy (a sheep) who is teased and threatened by Tommy (a bull). She tells her mom about the bullying, who tells the teacher who tells Tommy’s mom. The bullying stops and Lucy reaches out to Tommy and they form an unlikely friendship.

Jungle Bullies ($6.99): Nearly every animal in the jungle is being pushed around by a larger animal from the elephant down to the monkey. It only stops when the monkey asks his mom for help who advises monkey to say, “Don’t you tell me what to do, this tree’s big enough for two. Share it with me as a friend, don’t be mean to me again.” The animals repeat the phrase and stick up for themselves until all the animals are swimming together in the pond.

Enemy Pie ($10.87). The publisher describes the book: “It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy! In this funny yet endearing story, one little boy learns an effective recipes for turning your best enemy into your best friend. Accompanied by charming illustrations, Enemy Pie serves up a sweet lesson in the difficulties and ultimate rewards of making new friends.”

Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully: A Freckleface Strawberry Story ($6.80). From Julianne Moore, this book tells the story of everyone’s favorite redhead who loves recess but not when it rains and play is moved inside. Inside she has to play dodge ball with a bully, but she decides to beat him at his own game.

Learn More about the No Name-Calling Week Project at www.nonamecallingweek.org.

Shop! Barnes & Noble is a No Name-Calling Week partner and has displays of relevant books in many stores. Books in this post are also available in The Shopping Mama’s Amazon store.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972394648?ie=UTF8&tag=theshomam-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0972394648