Category Archives: New posts

Product Review: Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, New posts, Outdoor Toys, , , , , ,

Little Tikes Butterfly Beach SandboxIt’s imperative that moms relax and it’s nearly impossible for a mom to have alone time.   For me, sitting outside, even with the kids, is the next best thing to having alone time.  I am usually trying to relax when I’m sitting outside, so it’s important that the kids have something to do so they will leave me alone for a few minutes (right!?).
After much trial and error, I concluded that sand is just about the coolest outdoor toy ever.  So, now I have a sandbox on both porches.  On the front porch I have a shallow, wide plastic storage bin (the kind you put under a bed to store stuff in) filled with sand while the back porch, the one I sit on more often, has the more aesthetically pleasing Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool.

The Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool entertains both of my kids, 9 and 3,.. at the same time! Imagine that!
The butterfly’s wings unfold with one wing becoming the pool and the other wing is the sandbox.   It sounds like magic, but it’s not.  The sunshade pops into the butterfly’s back and provides great protection from the sun.  I absolutely LOVE having the sunshade.  When Madelyn is playing in the front porch sandbox (the make-shift storage bin sandbox) I have to move it as the sun shines down on the porch which is a pain because sand isn’t light!  When the kids are done playing in the Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool, the emptied pool side folds over the sand side doubling as a secure lid. The Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool is great for kids ages 2 and up and holds enough water and sand to occupy my 9 year old for a while.

The Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool is sold at Amazon.com for about $45.

GIVEAWAY!
1 lucky subscriber will win a Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sandbox and Wading Pool!  Stay tuned and subscribe to learn how to enter starting April 1st.

Escape to An Eco Friendly Picnic

Eco-Friendly, Food and Drink, Guest post: TheFind.com, New posts, , , ,

picnic
Escape the frenzy of the city for a relaxing picnic on a grassy knoll, sandy beach or urban parkscape. Gather your friends, some fine food and toss a blanket on the lawn or picnic table. No need to throw away plastic utensils and plates, there are lots of earth friendly and fair trade options for dining alfresco in style. With many options for fair trade picnic totes choose one that suits your family’s style. We love the large Simple Peace “Tigmi” basket totes. They’re hand-woven by a fair trade artisan cooperative in Morocco. Store your food in recycled plastic food storage containers that can be recycled again after several uses as #5 plastic. Reusable picnic plates are best for preventing landfill. Serve your famous secret family recipe potato salad on colorful Zak recycled confetti melamine plates along with natural bamboo utensils. Bamboo utensils are reusable, durable and made from a renewable resource.

  • Zak Recycled Confetti Melamine Divided Plates, $7.95 at Bibelotshops.com
  • Simple Peace Tigmi Fair Trade handwoven basket tote bags, $60.00 at WorldofGood.com
  • Natural Bamboo Utensil Set, Natural Bamboo Utensil Set, $2.99 at GetnGreen.com
  • Recycled Plastic Food Storage Containers – Set of 2, $9.95 at TheRainforestsite.com

Review: Jewel Lullaby CD

Bedtime, Music & DVD, New posts, , , , , ,

The combination of Jewel’s angelic voice and the timeless lullaby classics such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star will make your heart flutter and you’ll want to stay in your baby’s room while she is lulled to sleep by Jewel’s voice.

Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Jewel partnered with Fisher-Price and Somerset Entertainment to debut her first-ever independent release, Lullaby.  The 15-track album features 10 self-penned songs and classics including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Somewhere Over the Rainbow which as you can imagine are beautifully sung by Jewel.  The acoustic record is reminiscent of Jewel’s twelve-time platinum album, Pieces of You.

Lullaby is a wonderful album for busy moms to listen to at the end of the day and if you’re like me and you need to create a peaceful car riding environment for the kids (and yourself!), just put Lullaby in your car CD player and I’m pretty sure your kids, no matter what their age, will be calm and quiet within a matter of seconds.  Just don’t fall asleep while driving!

Jewel states that “It’s the perfect album to relax to at the end of a long day,” and I agree.  “It’s really a mood album.  It’s great for children, but adults will love it too.”

Lullaby was produced by Jewel and recorded at her home studio in Stephenville, Texas and is available at major retailers in the baby and infant departments, as well as online at jeweljk.com and iTunes.  Get your copy today!
Listen to samples here.

Review: Create your perfect pillow by Select Comfort

New posts, Relaxation, ,

I’ve been on a quest for a good night’s sleep for about.. let me think .. 10 years. Since I was pregnant with Sebastian, almost 10 years old. I didn’t know at the time that the sleep I got during the first trimester of my first pregnancy included my last full nights of sleep. I would have thrown a farewell party.

Select Comfort - Create your own pillow

Just because I dont’ get a full night’s sleep doesn’t mean I can’t be comfortable when I am sleeping or in bed wishing I was asleep.  I was lucky enough to receive a Select Comfort personalized pillow recently and now know that a good pillow can make a big difference in the quality of sleep I get as well how good or bad my back and neck feel in the morning. Before using my new Select Comfort pillow created just for me based on my sleep position and comfort ‘requirements’, I woke up with a sharp pain in my neck and my neck would be uncomfortable for an hour or so after I got out of bed. I am a stomach sleeper (not so good) and my previous pillow had my neck in a very bad position, several inches above the level of my spine which I learned was not good for my neck or spine.

My new Select Comfort personalized pillow was created based on my answers to several questions and my comfort preferences.  My personalized pillow is filled with Down alternative, has a silver outer ‘shell’, and a silver protector.  Down alternative is less expensive than Down, equally shapeable, and hypoallergenic unlike Down. Other fills include real Down, feather, silver, and memory foam.   I love the silver outer protector.  It’s cool to the touch and is naturally antimicrobial (inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses) which is great for “germaphones” (Sebastian’s word for germaphobe) like me.

My Select Comfort pillow goes everywhere I go.  No, not to the living room.. just on vacation.  Once you get used to your very own personalized pillow, leaving it home when you travel is like forgetting to pack your bra.  Not good!

Go ahead, create your perfect pillow here.

Giveaway: A Jiffy Lube gift card – the perfect gift for busy moms!

New posts, Past Giveaways, Transportation, , , , ,

Jiffy Lube gift card giveaway

“Many moms focus on getting their family where they need to go, and it’s important that preventive vehicle maintenance does not get overlooked in busy schedules,” said John Sanfacon, head of Marketing and Innovations at Jiffy Lube International. “The Jiffy Lube Gift Card provides convenience and value to a busy mom.” Exactly what moms need.

The Jiffy Lube survey found that 23 percent of women say their biggest pet peeve while driving is streaky wind shield wipers (I griped about my streaky wipers recently!), and nearly the same amount (22 percent) say it’s a squealing noise from the engine or brakes that won’t stop. The gift of preventive vehicle maintenance can help with all of Mom’s vehicle needs, and let her breathe a sigh of relief.

Consumers can purchase the Jiffy Lube Gift Card online at JiffyLube.com or at participating Jiffy Lube service centers across the United States.  The gift card can be set for monetary denominations from $5 to $300, has no expiration date or fees, and can be redeemed toward any Jiffy Lube preventive maintenance service, including the popular Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change, tire rotation, engine air filter replacement, radiator antifreeze/coolant replacement, automatic transmission fluid exchange, fuel filter and cabin air filter replacement.

To find a Jiffy Lube in your area, visit Locations.JiffyLube.com. Moms (and dads) can also visit JiffyLube.com to find oil change coupons and promotions, Jiffy Lube news articles, community involvement programs and events, franchise information, and employment opportunities.

GIVEAWAY!
We are giving two lucky subscribers a $35 Jiffy Lube gift card.
To enter to win simply tell us in the comments below, in 3 – 6 sentences, about your first car.  Entries accepted until 11:59pm May 31st and a winner will be chosen at random.  Good luck!