Monday, May 18, 2009

Cheap & Soft Tees

If you are looking for inexpensive and super soft tees, H&M Kids is your answer. For just $3.99 a piece, they offer the super softness of a jersey along with double snaps at the neck to ensure your child doesn't get upset when you pull the top over their head. What more could you ask for when you need to stock up for the summer.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Earth's Best $aving$ *Fri 4/10*

Be sure to schedule a trip to Babies R Us this Friday, April 10th. They are offering super savings on select Earth's Best items. For example, buy 10 Stage 3 Junior foods for $10.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Swaddle Me This

Swaddling your newborn can be tricky. Often blankets are too small and will not keep your baby in that super tight bundle package to help them feel secure enough to fall asleep. But bar none the most soft and versatile swaddle blankets ever made are by Aden and Anais. They offer not only the perfect soft and tight swaddle but also can be used as a crib sheet, tummy time blanket, mosquito netting or as a quick car seat or stroller cover to block the sun from burning your baby. Made of breathable cotton muslin, they come in packets of four and retail for $44.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Baby Seat $aving$

Selecting a high chair is stressful. They are big, expensive and only last a couple of years. But why waste money and space? Try out a high chair "space saver" and get more bang for your buck. They are easy to use, save space, clean up well and you can travel with them.

Fischer-Price Space Saver High Chair (ERV $54.99)













Fischer-Price Healthy Care Booster Chair (ERV $21.99)













The First Years Infant to Toddler Feeding Seat (ERV $29.99)

Monday, March 16, 2009

A Beach Bag Without the Sand

With spring in the air, I have been day dreaming about future trips to the beach. But finding the perfect beach bag that leaves the sand at the beach has been a a bit of a challenge.
I think I have finally found a good solution from Salt Water Canvas. This company specializes in custom mesh canvas bags in a variety of styles and colors. Each bag keeps your beach gear well organized and with a couple of shakes before you leave you can knock the sand out so you don't drag it home with you.

The "Whale Bag" (ERV $38.95 - currently on sale for $35.85)

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Post Mommy Jeans

Before I was a mom, I wore trendy jeans such as Seven or Citizens. But I found that in my new life as a mom I need to bend over all the time. And well, I just am not comfortable with flashing my underwear to the whole world all the time. Thankfully there are a few jeans out there that offer a higher rise or "mid rise" in the back and front but are not awful Mom Jeans.

Below are a few to try on:

Gap "Essential"













James "Hector"



























P.S.
To all moms: please switch to the mid rise jeans so I too do not have to see your undergarments. Especially the thongs... I hate seeing the thongs...

In A Jam and Can't Get To The Store?

At some point in your journey through motherhood you might find yourself in a jam. You are about to run out of diapers, formula, or you want to try Stage Two food. But you find that your schedule, poor weather, sickness or sitter canceling is holding you back from running those darn errands to get everything. No need to fear, Diapers.com is here. This site has pretty much everything you need and a vast variety of brands to boot. Their prices are pretty competitive and if your order exceeds $49 they give you fast free UPS shipping. Recently they partnered with BabyCenter.com and this has opened up their online store to even more baby goods such as car seats and even baby furniture.

Love Luvs Diapers

There is a brand of diapers that is the unsung hero of motherhood. Most people use well-known brands such as Pampers and Huggies. Well, you are missing out. While on vacation, I somehow managed to miscalculate the number of Huggies diapers I would need (due to all of the sudden consistent leaks). The spot we picked was an island with one drugstore and the only diapers they had in my son's size were Luvs. Well I'm thankful that this forced me to try them. They are soft but mighty affordable diapers that do a fantastic job. Keeping out all the leaks while staying super soft against baby’s body.

Need a Shoe to Stay on Baby's Feet?

For some reason your little one can not seem to keep those darn shoes on. They kick or knock them off and you frantically try to retrace your steps and find the lone ranger. Or the shoes are too tight to squeeze onto baby's foot. But what is a mom to do when simply wearing socks is not acceptable in public? The answer is Pediped. These soft-soled cute shoes are easy to slip on baby's feet and miraculously don't come off. While they typically are pricier then others (ERV $32), one versatile pair is all you will need.

For Boys:
Check out the style Jake in Navy or Harvey in brown for Summer.


For girls, check out Grace or Olivia for Summer:

Official site for all Pediped styles: http://www.pediped.com
Other online retailers: Piperlime, Zappos, Amazon

Wholesale Clubs: Mom's Best Penny Saved

If you are a mom with children in diapers, you should investigate if you have wholesale retailer near your home. Check if they sell the same or comparable brands to what you are using for:
  • Diapers
  • Baby Wipes
  • Formula
Buying these items in bulk will save you both time and money. And typical most of these retailers offer additional coupons on these items. Make sure you make a list and stick to it. Otherwise you will be tempted to buy items that you don't need and your cost savings is washed down the drain.

A few wholesale retailer examples: Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Warehouse

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Death of 32B

I find it funny that no where in pregnancy books, blogs or websites is a certain topic covered. In my opinion, it is a very important one that should be discussed and shared openly. While they all discuss the joys of motherhood and that you will lose those extra pounds by breast feeding (yeah right), the stretch marks will go away with special creams (think again), etc... But a major point that is ignored is that your breasts not only sag but drop a size. There is no one on this planet that says "oh my boobs were better after my baby". This is absolutely not true. Once you are done breast feeding, they are completely different and quite frankly smaller. I mean really small. Of course they sag and look different but they really feel different. Think of what a balloon looks like after it has been blown up and starts deflating. That is what you are left with thanks to mommyhood. If you see a mom who does not fit this bill, most likely she has had something enhanced. While the rest of us mourn our loses. And mine well... that is the death of my 32Bs. Boy did I take you small but mighty twins for granted.

Just Do It

I wish I could be mad that Nike stole the one marketing phrase that sums up my everyday life as a mom. The first time I used it was when I had to deliver my son. You see unfortunately (and some say luckily) he was ready to arrive very quickly into this world. So by the time I was in the hospital, there was no time for an epidural. So... I just had to do it. The second time it came from my mother. Well maybe second through say fiftieth time I would say. Anyhow, I had a follow up doctor's appointment and was terrified to take my six week old baby by myself. What if he freaked out in the car seat and I could not console him? What if he gets hungry? What if he cries during it? All my mother said was "You just do it. Everyone does it. You'll get through it. And by the way I'm sure they have had crying babies there before." Well, I did it. And he was an angel the entire time. What had I been worrying about? Since then he has had public melt downs. I don't panic anymore or get embarrassed. What am I going to do? Not leave the house? You just do it. And so does every other mom on the planet.

Journey

My journey through motherhood has opened up my eyes, my heart and my soul to a world I knew little about. Up until about a year ago, my life had been pretty simple and care free. I now see how extremely naive I was about motherhood and the challenges that go with the job. Yes, it was a job. And no the challenge is not simply sleep deprivation. Everything is the unknown and once you master something you quickly need to adapt and adjust to something new. And no two kids are alike and no stage is alike. It is probably the greatest game that no single person can master.