Category Archives: New posts

Be the Ultimate Gift Giver with Mud Pie Baby, Wedding, and Holiday Gifts

Baby & Kids Clothing, Gifts, New posts, , ,

Mud Pie trendy baby items and gifts

Mud Pie plush toys
Mud Pie plush toys - My 4 year old loves this little guy!

I attended a fun event at the Mud Pie showroom at AmericasMart in Atlanta today called “Be the Ultimate Gift Giver!”.  Talk about fun.  For a couple of hours, I was surrounded by colorful, whimsical, all occasion, gift giving goodness.  I wasn’t familiar with the Mud Pie brand before today but now that I’ve learned about Mud Pie, you’d better believe I’ll turn to Mud Pie for just about every occasion including Mothers’s Day, Graduation gifts, Weddings, Anniversary’s, Birthdays, Christmas, Baby Showers, and even Halloween decor.  Mud Pie’s affordable prices make their gifts attainable by moms with even a budget on the lower end.

Creative, adorable, fun, and innovative gifts are words that describe Mud Pie®product.  The company began 25 years ago with 10 items and has grown into a leading gift company.

Mud Pie offers three catalogs – Baby, Gift and Initials, with over 1,500 items designed and produced exclusively by Mud Pie®.  Our goal is to bring you innovative, well-priced, packaged gifts that make you smile.

Mud Pie Essential Tote
Mud Pie Essential Tote

There’s no wonder celebrity moms including Marcia Cross enjoy Mud Pie’s products. Mud Pie’s Essential Tots are the perfect bag to pack with beach towels and toys for a day at the beach or for a trip to the market. The Essential Tote has a water-resistant interior lining and an interior pocket with a zipper. It retails for just $25 making it a great gift for all of your mom-friends, yourself, and don’t forget your Mom!

Marcia Miller of Mud Pie
Marcia Miller of Mud Pie

I really enjoyed talking to Mud Pie’s CEO Marcia Miller.  Marcia is a lovely person with a very professional and lively presence about her.  Love her!  Ms. Miller started a business in 1988 with a small pottery-making shop and named it “Mud Pie” because the pottery was painted brown to resemble terra cotta and the rest is history.  If only starting and running a business were really that simple.  I learned today that Ms. Miller and I share a similarity, one that I think neither of us prefer to share.. we were both run over by a car and seriously injured.  Despite the difficulties she’s been through as a result of the accident Ms. Miller has built this amazing company that caters to moms and all types of consumers with style, trend, and budget in mind.

 

Alicia Hagan, Mom Blog editor

NEW Caillou Doll and Caillou Bath Time Vehicle

Bath Toys & Gear, New posts, , ,

Caillou has been a permanent fixture in our home for as long as I can remember.. well since having kids at least. First, my son who is now 11 years old, loved Caillou.  We read Caillou books and watched Caillou on PBS, almost daily.  Now, my 4 year old daughter is following in his footsteps with her very own collection of Caillou items which I must admit, trump my son’s collection from years ago.

Calliou Doll
My sleepy 4 year old snuggling her Caillou Doll

My daughter’s Caillou collection includes books, videos, and now a new Caillou Doll and Caillou Bath Time Vehicle.  She’s a huge fan of bath time (aka ‘play in the water time’) and has way too many bath toys.  But she picks favorites.. and right now the Caillou Bath Time Vehicle is her fave.

Madelyn’s Caillou Doll is my daughter’s new partner in crime.  He plays ‘spy’ with her and her brother, empties the cookie bin, and eats dinner with her most nights.  Of course Caillou is the one that makes the messes at the dinner table, not my 4 year old. 😉  The Caillou Doll retails for a steep $29.99 but believe me.. Caillou’s not going anywhere and you’re child will love snuggling with and playing with his/her Caillou Doll for years.

Caillou Bath Time Vehicle
Caillou Bath Time Vehicle

My daughter loves her new Caillou Bath Time Vehicle although she’s on the older end of the recommended age.  The wind-up boat has an underwater motor that really works and makes the boat move across the bath tub and comes with 2 figures: Caillou and Gilbert or Caillou and Rexy.  The Caillou Bath Time Vehicle retails for $16.99 at Toys R Us.

The Caillou television show airs on PBS Kids and Sprout and is brought to you by Cookie Jar Entertainment.

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge by the pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Alicia Hagan, Mom Blog editor

Family Travel Destination – San Antonio, Texas

New posts, Travel, , ,

I recently visited the Embassy Suites Riverwalk-Downtown property in San Antonio, Texas.  While in San Antonio, I visited many of the city’s family friendly activities including the San Antonio River, The Alamo, the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, Market Square, Museo Alameda, and Witte Museum.

The first adventure our group embarked on was dinner catered by Rio Rio Cantina on a river barge combined with an amazing cruise tour down the San Antonio River.. which I learned is a real river.  Tomorrow we will visit The Alamo, Market Square, and Witte Museum to name a few.  It’s going to be a busy day!

Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk-Downtown Hotel
Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk-Downtown Hotel Accommodations and Amenities

About Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk-Downtown:

The Embassy Suites Hotel is located on the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. From the steps of the hotel you can stroll around the San Antonio River and sample some of the best shopping and dining in Texas. If you prefer, take a guided boat tour of the river.

Families can spend free time at the outdoor pool and spa or in the state-of-the-art fitness center. While enjoying the outdoor pool take time to relax on the spacious deck and treat yourself to a cool beverage from the poolside bar.

When it’s time to experience some first-class dining head to Luke, Chef John Besh’s signature restaurant located in the Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk-Downtown. Chef Besh’s Luke is an authentic brasserie featuring old-world German and French cooking reminiscent of brasseries that once reigned in New Orleans. The view of the San Antonio River from the restaurant and bar will add to the experience and keep you coming back time and again.  Oh, and the two two 32″ flat screen televisions with cable and in-suite movies don’t hurt either! 🙂

125 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas, United States 78205
1-210-226-9000

Three Family Fun Attractions in San Antonio:

Alamo IMAX Theatre Rivercenter
What child doesn’t love IMAX films?  Currently showing is Born to be Wild narrated by Morgan Freeman (love his voice!).  The giant IMAX screen, large film frames and incredible sound system create The IMAX Experience.
849 E Commerce, #285, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 247-4629 / Toll Free: (800) 354-4629

Dinosaur Quest
DINOSAUR-QUEST is an exhibition of Dinosaurs, displayed in brilliant lighting and sound, all complemented with high-end video animation.
849 E. Commerce St., Suite 759, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 229-8888

Ripley’s Believe It or Not & Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! allows you to discover one-of-a-kind oddities, curiosities and illusions gathered from all over the world by the famed cartoonist Robert Ripley. There are over 500 exhibits – one of the largest in the world!
301 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 224-9299

I’ll be posting more about my trip to San Antonio soon!

Disclosure: All travel expenses and accomodations were paid for.

Alicia Hagan, Mom Blog editor

Atlanta Moms: Fernbank NatureQuest – A Must Do!

Atlanta Moms Edition, New posts, , , ,

We had such a great time at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s new NatureQuest exhibit a couple of weeks ago.  We could have stayed for hours.  Even my 11 year old!  I expected my 4 year old to love it and want to stay but my 11 year old son explored every nook and cranny and could have stayed all night.

Fernbank NatureQuest exhibit
Fernbank NatureQuest Exhibit

Fernbank NatureQuest is a different kind of museum experience–one where children are engaged through over 100 interactive encounters on a journey to explore an immersive, nature-inspired environment. It’s a space filled with live animals, hands-on learning and the thrill of following curiosity’s path. Everywhere you look, there is something to “do.” Games, interactives and live animals are just the beginning! Look, explore, engage, observe, discover, climb, play, learn!

  • The Clubhouse is home base for a variety of activities, including microscopes, books and activity cards.
  • Each ecosystem has a Forestry Sign. Check there to see what discoveries have been made today and then see if you can find them.

My son loved the waterfall and sciency areas while my daughter loved the ‘moving water’, book nook, and the canopy walk.
Fernbank NatureQuest hours are Monday-Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday Noon – 5pm

Enjoy your visit to Fernbank Museum of Natural History!

Fernbank Museum of Natural History website

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Alicia Hagan, Mom Blog editor

Instant Domed Photo Pendant Kit Review and Giveaway!

New posts, ,
Photo Jewelry Making
Photo Jewelry Making - Instant Domed Photo Jewelry Making Kit

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to create your own personalized jewelry complete with a photograph of your little one or a small version of your child’s favorite illustration, look no further than PhotoJewelryMaking.com.  They offer buyers an easy to use Instant Domed Photo Pendant Kit that includes everything you need to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry that you can either keep for yourself or give to a loved on.

I wanted to get creative and make an Easter themed pendant out of my Instant Domed Photo Pendant Kit but I had a hard time finding an Easter image that I thought was pretty enough to wear.  So, I took to my pile of magazines and searched for a photograph or image that popped out at me that I thought I would enjoy wearing and it didn’t take long to find a beautiful illustration/image of bright red roses on what looks like black and white striped wallpaper.  I love the vintage look of the image and once I put the image in the pendant I knew that it was something I would not have a hard time wearing time and time again.

You can create your own Domed photo necklace instantly with this complete kit from PhotoMakingJewelry.com.

The easy to use kit includes:

  • One round silver photo pendant tray with a 27mm photo area and bail
  • One Krystal Clear domed circle cover
  • Ball chain necklace
  • EZ Resizer software cd
  • Super glue and photo paper
  • Instant Seal-itz strip to attach glass to pendant

Just resize and print your photo,seal with the domed cover, attach photo with dome to pendant, attach chain and your photo necklace is ready to wear! WOW! This is so easy you won’t believe it!

Order your own Instant Domed Photo Pendant Kit here.

Follow Photo Jewelry Making on Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

We are giving a lucky reader a $25 gift card to use at PhotoJewelryMaking.com.  To enter, leave a comment below telling us what you would do with an Instant Domed Photo Pendant Kit.

Entries accepted through April 12th, 2011.  Open to U.S. residents 18+ only.

Extra Entries!

  • Follow @mommyinsider on Twitter
  • Like us on Facebook
  • Like Photo Making Jewelry on Facebook
  • Tweet this: “I entered to win a $25 gift card for PhotoMakingJewelry.com on TheMommyInsider.com!  You can enter here: http://wp.me/plszx-27C”
  • Be sure to tell us what you’ve done in the comments below!

 

Alicia Hagan, Mom Blog editor