Wooden Star Wands by Imagination Kids

by Kate on May 31st, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Ten Dollar Tuesday

These colorful wooden star wands by Imagination Kids make a sweet and natural birthday party favor, or the perfect just because gift for your kiddo.

The wooden star wands are made from sustainably harvested wood, AP Certified non-toxic paint, and homemade natural wood polish made from beeswax, jojoba oil, and essential oils. In other words, they’re super safe & eco-friendly.

Shop! At just $6 each or 5 for $27, they are affordable, fun, and encourage imaginative play. Take a peek at all of Imagination Kids’ safe, eco-friendly toys, as well as their blog at www.imaginationkidstoys.com/.

Partum Me?! Get in shape, girl!

by Laura on May 31st, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Partum Me

I spent a good part of my pregnancy looking at my non-pregnancy clothes with longing, missing the pretty patterns, modern silhouettes, and of course, my heels.  I’ve lost all of my pregnancy weight, but still have the extra pounds that came on during the process of trying to get pregnant.  My maternity jeans are way too big, but my non-pregnant jeans are still just a tiny bit too small.  I used to have a bit of tone in my upper arms and now they feel flabby and big.  To focus on the positive, I am happy to have my feet and ankles back to normal size and my legs look pretty darn good since I do a moderate amount of walking with the baby.

I’ve never had a perfect physique, but have been a regular gym-goer for most of my adult life and I miss it!  We ditched our membership to our last gym because we weren’t going during the latter half of my pregnancy and we wanted to direct the money to things we needed for Charlie.  (Plus, it seems to have warped into an episode of Jersey Shore since we joined.)  But we own a Wii Fit and an elliptical trainer, and a personal training facility just opened right near our house.  I’m hoping to find a couple neighborhood friends to do some small group sessions with the trainer.  I hesitate to start counting calories, since I am nursing and the extra calories every day are important to my milk production.  However, I do plan to increase the quality of what we’re eating, which will be easier now that our summer CSA has started up again.  More protein and healthy greens, less white carbs and desserts.  I like to keep it simple.

Despite my Type-A personality, I welcome being ordered around by a trainer who can get me whipped into shape, or at least help me jump start a workout routine that will be work-able with a little one at home.  I don’t want any miracles.  I just want to be able to pull those pretty dresses and blouses off their hangers again.

What did you do to get back into your cool clothes after pregnancy?

Emily Press Label Packs – Perfect for Camp & School (Review & Giveaway)

by Kate on May 31st, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Reviews, Reviews, Spring Into Spring

I think as soon as kids grow old enough to participate in programs outside the home, moms realize the true benefit of labeling. Lots and lots of labeling. But, not all labels are created equal. Emily Press Labels are designed with moms and tots in mind and offer stylish, durable labels that are perfect for camps, school and general OCD-ness.

About Emily Press Labels

After a futile search to find durable yet stylish labels for her nieces and nephews, Maureen set out to design her own labels that would be fun and fashionable as well as stay stuck on their belongings. With her previous experience working for Robeez Footwear, she jumped at the opportunity to start her own creative business with kids and big kids in mind. That’s when Emily Press Labels was born.

Trendy color palettes, playful characters and fashionable designs are the essence of Emily Press Labels. The collections of stylish, functional and durable sticky labels speaks to modern kids, hip youths and savvy grown-ups.

Kids Camp Label Pack

We are moving in the middle of the summer, but both before and after the move my son will attend some fun new schools. First and staring this week(!), my little guy will go to Zoo Camp. He’s beyond thrilled, of course, and we have the ideal labels to make sure he comes home with everything I pack in his bag in the morning. The Emily Press Camp Labels pack is up to the task. The pack contains 129 labels in FIVE different shapes that are appropriate for everything your child can possibly need.

  • Popular dishwasher safe labels for water bottles & food containers
  • Slim dishwasher safe labels for toiletries & flashlights
  • Tag-a-Tag™ peel & stick labels for clothing & linens
  • Shoe labels for hiking boots, sneakers & water shoes
  • Large waterproof labels for sleeping bags & backpacks

I personalized the Jungle Scene and the process is super simple. You enter your child’s name, color choice if applicable, pick an icon and then preview the design. When the finished product arrived I was surprised by the cool packaging. (see below) It’s so clever and keeps the labels in good condition. The quality of the labels is great – they’re thick and look very cute. I think my favorite thing, though, is that each page describes the labels on that sheet and what they’re best suited for.

I’ve labeled up a bunch of my son’s goodies so he’s prepared for camp this week. My favorite labels are the Shoe Labels. Aren’t they clever? (I distorted the photo a little bit but so rest assured the printed labels are clear and easy to read.)

Another great option for the summer, particularly for sleepaway camp for older kids and day care for younger tots, is the new Emily Press Clothing Labels. The Clothing Pack has an assortment of laundry safe labels – including iron-ons, my favorite Shoe Labels and peel and stick Tag-a-Tag labels.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… Emily Press labels are very high quality – the difference is obvious as soon as you feel them. There’s a nice variety to choose from and the labels are easily customized. And, really, you can’t beat the cool packs that contain multiple shapes and sizes for different uses.

Or Not to Buy… The Camp Set is best suited for sleepaway camp but I have no doubt we’ll use all the labels before the year is out.

Shop! The Emily Press Camp Labels pack is $47.95. If you prefer one particular shape or size, check out the Sticky Label options.

Win! Emily Press Camp Labels Pack!

How to Enter: Visit Emily Press and check out the different designs. Leave a comment with your favorite.

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Giveaway ends June 14. Open to US residents only.

Thanks to Emily Press for providing samples and the giveaway prize.

Get Ready for Baby with VTech Toys {Party & Giveaway}

by Kate on May 30th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Life

Last weekend we partnered with VTech Toys to host a local “Get Ready for Baby” party. The idea was to learn a bit about the importance of baby’s development, get to know some VTech toys and, of course, socialize with other moms and moms-t0-be. I admit that the timing ended up being less than ideal, but the party and good conversation with friends was a wonderful distraction at a difficult time.

Get Ready for Baby: Infant Development & Learning Tips

Lise Eliot, a professor of Neuroscience and member of the VTech Advisory Council), teaches, writes and lectures on children’s brain and mental development. She provided some important things to keep in mind before and after baby comes home.

  • Parents Play a Key Role: For babies, parental interaction is their whole world, so moms and dads play a pivotal role in influencing a child’s cognitive, language, motor and social-emotional development.
  • Nuture Language and Sound: Language development opportunities are critical, especially in the first few years. Engage your baby in face-to-face interaction so he can hear: hear language being spoken, listen to the written word read aloud, and practice associating objects with words.
  • Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: Don’t forget about your child’s physical development, which is crucial to her ability to learn. From the third month of life onward, a baby’s limb movement increases significantly as she begins to crawl, stand and walk, so make sure she has a safe place to move and age-appropriate toys to grasp, push and pull.
  • Eyes on the Prize: Babies are very visual, especially beginning around four months of age. As your child grows and discovers the world around him, he’ll start to recognize different colors, textures, designs and shapes. Help him along by surrounding him with bold, vivid examples that engage these new optical abilities.
  • Repetition Drives it All Home: None of these tips are one-off solutions; rather, they are part of a routine you can easily incorporate into your baby’s day. The mind develops through repeated experiences, and the earlier you begin, the better. Find ways to make these tips fun for you AND your baby, because learning is always better with a happy, motivated child.

While I don’t have a baby to put this tips into practice, I did get a great baby fix at the party. I enjoyed some sweet face-to-face cooing and interaction with baby S. His mom and all the other party guests went home with these developmental tips and more from VTech.

VTech Baby Toys

Lucky (little) party guests went home happy with some of the great VTech Toys developmental toys.

  • Baby’s Learning Laptop (6 – 36 Months, $15.99): Your child will be ‘wired for learning’ with Baby’s Learning Laptop! The colorful keyboard interacts with a bright light-up screen to teach shapes, common objects and feelings. Entertaining sound effects, melodies and a movable mouse round out the fun of this electronic learning toy!
  • Peek At Me Bunny (6 – 36 Months, $14.99): The VTech plush Peek at Me Bunny has two playful sensors for an interactive play experience. The sound sensor activates peaceful sounds, endearing phrases, and short tunes in the “night” mode. The light sensor engages infants in a game of peek-a-boo in the “playtime” mode.
  • Submarine Learning Boat (9 Months +, $17.99): The VTech Submarine Learning Boat’s dolphin captain teaches children about colors, numbers, animals, animal sounds and animal characteristics.
  • 3-in-1 Learning Zebra Scooter (18-36 Months, $44.99): The VTech 3-in-1 Learning Zebra Scooter converts easily from push walker to ride-on scooter. Kids can discover their wild side as they move with the zebra and explore new territory with the scooter’s walkie-talkie, compass and flashlight. The zebra’s mane features five light-up buttons that teach colors, animals and destinations.

S & C each took home a developmentally appropriate VTech toy.

Party Planning Details

Because the focus of the party was on “getting ready for baby” I planned the party the way I would a baby shower for a friend. I rented a cool local indoor play cafe that allowed plenty of room for the kids who attended to run around and play while the adults chatted. My sister helped me with the food – she is the best. I ordered invitations and custom party printables from Chickabug. Everything looked great!

There’s a reason people hire photographers. As soon as the party got in swing and we got to talking, I totally abandoned my camera. I wish I had more photos of the moms talking, the babies playing and the cool toys. #partyfail

Shop! VTech Toys are available online directly from VTechKids.com, stores nationwide and internet retailers.

Win! One of you will win the VTech 3-in-1 Zebra Scooter!

How to Enter: Leave a comment here with your top tip for new moms to “get ready for baby.”

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

Giveaway ends June 10. Open to US residents only.

Winner will be selected at random. Thanks to VTech Toys for providing information, toys and a stipend to facilitate the party.

Prints, Patterns & Rosie Pope. Oh My!

by Kate on May 30th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Shopping

As part of the launch of their new Limited Edition Prints diapers Pampers has teamed with Celebrity Pregnancy Concierge, Maternity Designer & Host of BRAVO’s “Pregnant in Heels,” Rosie Pope. Together, they have scoured this season’s top trend – the print – and transitioned it from “runway” to “mom way” just for you!

Check out this quick video to hear Rosie’s take on this summer’s must have style for moms.

Connect with Rosie! Keep up with Rosie Pope on Twitter and check Rosie Pope’s website for information on her maternity clothing line, pregnancy and parenting classes in NYC and her blog.

New Livie + Luca Styles for Summer

by Kate on May 30th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Clothes, Reviews

If you’re like us, you’re still swooning from the announcement and sneak peek of Livie + Luca’s women’s collection. While we still have to wait a couple months to put our best big girl Livie + Luca foot forwards, your little ones don’t have to wait. Livie + Luca’s leather baby and toddler shoe collection for summer 2011 includes new shoes and fresh takes on customer favorites.

New Styles for Spring / Summer 2011

One of the season’s new styles, the Celestina cut-out sandal is the perfect dress up shoe for girls this summer. The shoe is available in two colors – silvery leather with gold shimmer and pink leather with silver shimmer (pictured above). My daughter’s been wearing the pink style and I love the versatility. They look perfect with a nice dress and even cute when visiting the petting zoo.

As we’ve come to expect with Livie + Luca, the quality is fantastic. The leather is soft and comfortable for little active feet and the rubber sole is flexible and lightweight. Even the cut out sandals are sturdy and protect my daughter’s feet during active summer months outside.

Another new style for the spring and summer collection is the Port Shoe – a preppy summer shoe available in soft sole for babies and early-walkers and a rubber sole for older tots. The shoes are available in three colors: aqua, yellow and red (pictured below).

Fresh Look for Customer Favorites

To celebrate the season, Livie + Luca updated some of their classic shoes with new colors. We love the Elephant soft sole in BluePio in pink and Pio Pio in pink.

Shop! Livie + Luca spring and summer collections are available now on the website. The shoes retail for $45 a pair and soft sole shoes are $34.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf

by Kate on May 29th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Favorite Books for Little People

Every Sunday, we’ll focus on one of our favorite books for kids. Think of it as a peek into our story time and find out about what book our kids are saying, “Mama, read THIS one!”

***

I am taking a little liberty with this edition of our favorite books for kids. Rather, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf is a book intended for children in which *I* have found great comfort.

Several weeks ago on the Facebook page I asked for recommendations for books to read to my children about death. My dad was in hospice care and we knew his death was nearing. I wanted to be armed with books to help explain his death when my inquisitive four year old started asking tough questions. I got many great suggestions and added some helpful books to our library – more on those later. But, one book stuck out for ME. I read it several times before my dad passed. Truth be told it’s so moving that I haven’t brought myself to read it since my dad died.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf‘s subtitle is “A Story of Life for All Ages” and that truly describes the book. It tells the story of Freddie, a leaf, who starts his life in the spring. As the seasons change, so does the role of Freddie and other leaves on the tree. As fall turns to winter and the leaves fall from the tree, Freddie grips to the tree not wanting his life to end. When he is the last leaf on the tree Freddie comes to terms with the fact that his life is ending and is at peace with his death.

The book, written by Leo Buscaglia, about nature provides a beautiful story to help explain that death is a part of life. In a week or two, when I’m ready, I look forward to reading it again.

Limited Edition Pampers Prints Bring Fashion to Little Bums

by Kate on May 27th, 2011  |  5 Comments  |  Shopping

Pampers has just released Limited Edition prints diapers in colorful prints for boys and girls. We got a sneak peek of the diapers and they are adorable. The boys print features argyle and blue and green cars, while the girl designs have flowers and polka dots and hearts. The designs are available now in sizes1 through 4 and will be on sale through the end of the summer.

If your little one wears disposables, these patterns are a fun departure from the usual bland prints are are cute enough to go solo without pants. (Not that my kids ever did that in the summer. Ha.)

Shop! Pampers Limited Edition Prints are made available to retailers at the same cost of the rest of the Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers lineup. You can purchase directly from Pampers.com or our affiliate Amazon.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Pampers Baby Board. I was not compensated for this post.
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