MOMMAS IN THE HOUSE

My New Site is Up and Running!

2009-07-10T11:08:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! Please go to my blog at http://www.mommasinthehouse.com/. From now on, all my posts will be up on that site. If you are following me on Blogger, please subscribe to my feed on the site, as well as add me to your Blogroll!!! Thank you and I look forward to seeing you on on the new and improved Mommas in the House site!

Update!!!!

2009-07-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

My blog is currently undergoing a huge social media makeover! Don't be surprised, I am aware that my blog is looking better by the minute! ;-) There are a lot of things that I want to blog about, but I am waiting for the Grand Re-Opening of my blog, so please keep coming back to check back at www.mommasinthehouse.com. Also, if you haven't already done so, follow me on Twitter. I've gotten a facelift on Twitter as well. Thanks for all your support! BTW, no baby yet, she is still pondering the day to make her grand entrance. I definitely like the early signs to a strong female who knows what she wants!!!

Body Butter does a Momma's Body, Oh so Good!

2009-07-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

I love body care products that make you feel special and loved. For me, my body is my temple. That being said, I like to nourish, embrace, and baby my body. When I came across, Earth Mama Angel Baby, I had to see what they were about. Especially their trademark, "Gift from the earth for your gift from heaven." I mean just reading that makes me melt and want to take an extra glance at my belly and smile. A name says a lot about what the company is about and clearly when reading their name, all I felt was warmth, love, and happiness.

When I came across Earth Mama Angel Baby, I had to try out their products. Primarily because they fit my description in what I look for in a skincare. Even if I like the name, if the product is full of toxicity, chemicals, and anything bad, I'll turn my nose up and look the other way. Sometimes you just have to be stuck up when it comes to you and your body. When you are pregnant, you are making decisions on behalf of your unborn, so there is nothing wrong with being super picky, super paranoid, and super super-mommy. I don't like to put on lotions, potions, or concoctions that have ingredients on the label where I am like, umm...dictionary please?

I wanted to try out the Earth Mama Body Butter because it looked like a good overall pregnancy lotion. The label says, "Herbal Shea Butter Lotion for Expectant Bellies, Breasts, and Way Beyond." The body butter combines organic calendula and organic chamomile with essential oils in a shea butter body lotion. It works with your growing belly and encourages the belly's natural elasticity. I love that it will not aggravate morning sickness and it's the purest lotion for your pregnancy stretch marks, made with 95% organic ingredients. On top of that, it's completely vegan, cruelty-free, and toxin free. Can you top that?

At first, when I saw the words "Body Butter," I was a little afraid because for some reason my brain associates body butter with greasy, thick, oily, slab of lotion. Don't ask me why. After my shower, I pumped the Earth Mama Body Butter on to the palm of my hands and started to rub it on my belly. Let me tell you, the Body Butter was creamy, non-oily, and went on like smooth butta! I thought it would be super thick, but it was more creamy than thick, and had such a airy consistency on top of it. My belly did not feel greasy or stuffy. It felt more refreshed and enlivened. I read the ingredients on the label, and there was nothing in it where I had to refer to a medical dictionary. It's just heaven in a bottle and you can quote me on that. I loved it so much, I went to Whole Foods and bought 2 more bottles.

I also wanted to try something else in their line, which happened to be the Breastfeeding Support Kit. Since I am going to breastfeed this would be super essential to my breastfeeding ritual. The Breastfeeding Support Kit has four of their best all-natural necessities for the breastfeeding mother. The Milkmaid Tea is USDA certified, 100% organic, Certified Kosher, and helps support healthy breast milk production. The Natural Nipple Cream is lanolin-free and helps prevent sore, cracked nipples. The Booby Tubes are gel-free breast packs that help ease sore breasts, and the Bosom Buddies, an herbal breast compress to help ease with engorgement or mastitis. Now that's taking caring of me, so that I can take care of my baby! You just have to constantly refer back to their name, Earth Mama Angel Baby. Their products really stand by their name.

For more information on Earth Mama Angel Baby please visit them at: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/

The Earth Mama Angel Baby What’s Your Score? Challenge and Giveaway

2009-07-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

One of my readers will win a travel sized and clinically tested A Little Something for Baby.

Main Entry into the Giveaway, you must answer the questions below:

Gather some of the most common personal care products you use regularly on yourself or on your baby. Personal care products include shampoo, lotions, soaps, diaper cream, stretch mark oil, etc.

Go to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Skin Deep database (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/) and enter a product name in the search field. Add up the Skin Deep toxicity rating for all the personal care products that you use on a daily basis to find out what your score is. When you have your score, post your answer to three quick questions (below) in the comments area.

Your post in the comments section with your three answers is one entry into the contest. Don’t worry – there are no right or wrong answers, but we think you’ll be surprised at how high the toxin score is, even for those products you are using that are labeled “natural” or even “organic”.
What was your Skin Deep toxicity rating score?
How did you feel about your score and/or ingredients?
Were you surprised at how high the toxin score is for any products labeled "natural" or "organic" ?

Most women are truly shocked at the toxin scores of the pregnancy or baby products they thought were safe. All Earth Mama Angel Baby products are rated a 0 (lowest possible rating). Also, all Earth Mama Angel Baby products are toxin-free and contain no artificial ingredients. Just pure, natural products for pure, natural mamas and babies! As Gold Members, and one of the earliest compact signers, Earth Mama Angel Baby® is fully compliant with all levels of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. We are one of only 6% of compact signers who can make that claim. At Earth Mama Angel Baby, we are just as serious about taking care of the Earth and her resources as we are about taking care of mamas and babies. That even extends to our packaging and office practices – learn more by reading our sustainability statement.

For helpful advice and safe, natural products that work, women can trust Earth Mama Angel Baby. After all, if Mama wouldn't use it for her own family, then she doesn't sell it. Mama's Promise™.

For additional entries:Please leave a comment for each additional entry you complete. (current followers and subscribers count as well)

Follow my blog.
Subscribe to my blog.
Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway (with a link to this page) on Twitter. Please leave a link to your tweet.(2 entries)
Blog about the giveaway and link back (2 entries)
Add me as a favorite on Technorati

The giveaway will end on Sunday July 19th at 11:59pm(PST).
Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address. If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open for US mailing addresses only.

My Own Score:
What was your Skin Deep toxicity rating score? 3

How did you feel about your score and/or ingredients? Well, I only use three products on a daily basis because of my pregnancy. One of them happening to be Earth Mama Angel Body Lotion which has a 0, Novena face wash which came up as N/A, and then the shocker, my Avalon Organic that came up as a 3.

Were you surprised at how high the toxin score is for any products labeled "natural" or "organic" ? OMG, yes! My jaw dropped open. The Shampoo that I have been using all throughout my pregnancy, which was recommended by the people at Whole Foods, is cancer causing. I would have never bought it, or have used it, if I knew this fact. I like to think I am a purist when it comes to products and this was quite disturbing. This is shocking and I am pretty upset about it because I have been avoiding so many things during this pregnancy because of its negative impact on the fetus, and now come to find out, my shampoo was cancer causing. Yuck!

My Fourth of July Weekend!

2009-07-05T20:07:00.001-07:00

My weekend was mostly spent at home resting as well as trips to Labor & Delivery. On Saturday, it seemed as though my water broke, but I wasn't one hundred percent because it was more like a leakage rather than a gush. With my first, I definitely knew my water broke because it was a super gush, like a huge waterfall.

On Saturday, everytime I stood up from using the restroom, I would have a leakage. I wasn't sure if it was urine or if it was amniotic fluid. I monitored it for an hour and it kept consistently happening, so I decided to call my midwife. I called and waited for about another hour and did not hear back. So i decided to go into L & D to make sure everything was fine and it was not a ruptured sac.

I went in that evening and they did a test on me. The strip test came out to be positive, but the other two tests came out negative. They said in order for it be a positive that my sac ruptured was if 2 out of the 3 tests came out positive. I only had one positive, which meant it was negative. They did an ultrasound on me to see the fluid level. The first time around, it came out 7, which is borderline low, and the second time it came out 9, which is really good. They had me walk around for about 15 minutes with a pad, to test the leakage on the pad. After that was done, they sent me back home and told me to come back within 24 hours.

Today, which is Sunday, we went back to L & D to check on fluid level, as well as do another test to make sure there was no amniotic leakage. The fluid level was at a nine, and the test came out negative. So everything checked out fine. I am super relieved and expect to deliver soon. I just hope that I don't have to go back to L & D until I actually deliver . They say that this Tuesday is a full moon, so I guess we will see!

Debating to call my Midwife

2009-07-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 2:09 am this morning with menstrual-like aches. I dismissed it and went and refilled my water bottle to drink more water. I laid back down on the bed and changed positions. The feeling did not go away. Around 3:40 am, those menstrual-like aches were then followed by this surge of energy that went through my body, and then I would feel weak, nauseous, and short of breath. It felt like an onset of a flu. The odd thing is that they came in intervals like contractions, every 5-6 minutes. But the feelings that I were feeling were not at all contractions, just major discomfort.

I went and laid back down at 4:05 am and nothing went away. After that, I just got paranoid, and started laying to the side to see if I could feel the baby moving. I counted how many times the baby moved, and if the baby only moved a little, I got a little freaked out. I tried changing positions, drinking more water, going to the bathroom, checking to see if I leaked amniotic fluid, and everything and anything I could think of. I woke up at 6:01 am and went online and googled all sorts of labor tags and came across other mothers who went through this when they were in labor, as well as false labor.

After my false alarm last week, I just wanted to make sure I had all the grounds covered before I went rushing to L & D or made a call to my midwife on call. Right now, I feel nauseous and completely drained, like the wind was blown out of me. This pregnancy is so different from my first, I don't know what to expect anymore. I just made a call to the midwife and am now anxiously waiting for her to call back.

Officially FULL TERM today!

2009-07-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

After last weekend's false alarm, we were just all praying that the baby would stay put in my stomach until it reached it's full term date, which is today. The baby is now 37 weeks and as of now, she is still in my tummy!

I have not done much in the last week, so that I wouldn't provoke any unnecessary contractions. My husband has been taking our daughter to pre-school every morning, and my mother and I have been picking her up late afternoon.

I went to my midwife's appointment on Tuesday and every looked great. The baby's heart beat was right on target and she also measured really nicely too. After last weekend's semi-scare, my midwife believes that I will be going into Real Labor soon. I guess we will see if I end up with a Fourth of July baby!

My last cervix check up, I was a good 3 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and -2 station. That was last Saturday. The midwife did not do another check at this appointment, probably not to irritate anything. I still feel cramping and tightening, here and there, so hopefully that means I am continually thinning out and dilating.

Have a sweet tooth?

2009-07-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

I do and so does my daughter. I know a lot of parents are hesistant in giving their children anything that contains sugar because of how it could affect their children's behavior. One of the guilty pleasures in our family is endulging in some good old fashion gummy bears and gummy worms. I call it a guilty pleasure because there are a lot of ingredients that are in it that are not good for you, especially the colorings, additives, etc. It's one of those treats that we have very seldom because of the contents. However, when we have it, we do indulge.

One day, I was reading another mommy blog and they blogged about a company named Surf Sweets. Immediately, I went to their website and started looking up their product information. They carried a line of gummy bears and gummy worms that were healthy. None of their products contain trans fats, GMOs, corn syrup, gluten, artificial colors, and flavors. This is definitely important for me and my children. I don't like feeding myself or my child, products that contain ingredients that are unhealthy and have been in the news for causing cancer, etc. I had to try these out for myself because ultimately healthy or not, it really comes down to taste. If they are healthy and taste like mud, I am not going to eat them, that is the simple truth.

I tried out the gummy worms, gummy bears, super sour worms, fruity bears, jelly beans, and the sour berry bears. Let me say, they tasted even better than what I usually get. The regular gummy bears or worms, usually leave an oily after taste, and sometimes you can see the oil through the package. These had a really great fruity taste without the oily mess. The sour bears and worms, left me wanting more. They had the perfect sourness to my favorite treat. The fruity bears and the jelly beans had a nice fruity taste, which my daughter loved a lot. They were so good, I actually finished all the packages in one sitting. I also liked the fact that I could enjoy eating these treats without the guilt of consuming all those icky ingredients. Another great plus about these were that they contained 100% of our Vitamin C serving. So while we are indulging, we are getting in our "Cs."

I loved it so much, that same day I went to our neighborhood Whole Foods and bought 8 more packages of the gummy worms and bears. I think they will be gone before the end of the week. For parents and children who have food allergies, they have products that are vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free. So there is a treat for everyone. I am allergic to dairy, so these treats were ever-so perfect for me, and they are processed in a facility free of wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish.

So if you want to get your sweet tooth on, please visit: http://www.surfsweets.com/. A lot of stores, such as Whole Foods and Toys R Us carry their line of products. If you don't see a store in your neighborhood, go to the local store manager and urge them to carry these products.

False Alarm!

2009-06-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Friday around 3:35pm: Got a severe cramp in the lower abdomen to which I could make no movement. I was stuck in one position that I could not get out of. The pain was so severe, I could not breath and could hardly talk on the phone with my friend. I called my husband to tell him that I was in a lot of pain, and thought he should come home from work. I then called my midwife and without hesitation she told me to call 911. So I called 911.

Friday at 3:50pm: Ambulance arrives and they put me on a stretcher. I am still having major abdominal issues and contractions. The paramedics ask me a whole bunch of questions and they check me to make sure the baby's head is not crowning.

Friday at 4:10pm: We arrive at UCLA Medical Center and they take me up to Labor & Delivery. The staff at Labor & Delivery and my midwife are waiting for me to make my arrival. They take me to the delivery room, and put two belts on me. One belt is for the baby's heartbeat, and the other belt is for my contractions. The baby is healthy and my contractions are crazy. You could literally see on the monitor that I was having constant strong contractions. Then the midwife checked to see my cervix and it was only at 2cm. Because my contractions were crazy, they made me do a UTI test, take a urine sample, and they checked me on the ultrasound. All the results came back negative. They checked me again before they were going to discharge me, and I was still at a 2 cm, but my contractions did not subside. They gave me a dose of vicodin after I ate dinner. The midwife came back to check on me again, and the cervix stayed the same, but there was bloody show. She told me to come back if I constantly bled.

Around 10:30pm: I was discharged and went back home. The contractions subsided and I went to bed. Everytime I woke up to use the restroom, I checked to see if there was bloody show and there was everytime, so I told my husband that we should go back to be safe.

Saturday 5am: We went back to Labor & Delivery. I told my midwife about the bloody show and a resident came in to check me. She checked my cervix and I was a good 3cm at 50% effaced. She also checked the baby on the ultrasound and everything checked out good, except one pocket of fluid was low. They sent me back home and said to come back on Sunday to get a Non-Stress Test done.

Sunday 9am: Back at Labor & Delivery for NST Test. Everything checked out fine. The fluid was a little low, but they said everything was okay and to go back to my regular midwife visit on Tuesday.

Today: Midwife appointment.

Two more days until 37 weeks, which makes me full term. Hang in there baby!!!

My newest addiction

2009-06-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

Labeling everything. Some may say that I am really bored at home and nesting. While others may think I am super-organized. Whatever the reason may be, I simply know that I am loving Mabel's Labels. I never ever considered myself a labeling type person. I remember growing up, my mom would use a marker to identify our clothing, backpacks, etc...I also remember, I was completely and utterly embarassed by this. Also, I never understood why people labeled, unless they were complete clutzes, or they had some sort of compulsive disorder. I would watch HGTV or TLC, and could not relate to those organizational shows. However, now I can tell you that I am completely intrigued by labeling. Let me tell you why.

Once my daughter started school, we started to miss articles of clothing, her bag, her containers, etc. I didn't want to start labeling her things with a sharpee pen, although I did almost give into that option. To my happiness, I discovered Mabel's Labels. First and foremost, I loved the name. I will be the first to admit that I do buy into the packaging. I went to their cute website, and they pretty much offered a whole line of everything and anything that has to do with labeling. The most ideal package for me was the Camp/School Pack, since all my problems and the need to label, had to do with this.

The Camp/School Pack has 15 sticky Labels, 40 Iron-Ons or 50 Tag Mates, 8 Shoe Labels, 2 Bad Tags. The Labels are all dishwasher/micro-wave safe and UV resistant. The clothing labels are laundry safe, as well. The Labels are available in 3 grouped colors: standard, princess, and ocean. My daughter and I appropriately chose Princess, as her color pallette. Since each order is customized/personalized to your needs, you get to choose what you want, and it's very easy. We typed in her name, selected what sort of labels we wanted, chose our Princess icon, picked our Princess color, and then we were done. These labels are $34.00 for the pack.

Once I received my labels in the mail, I was super excited to start labeling my daughter's school stuff. She just started her ballet/tap classes at school, and I did not want to lose anything of hers, since they were pretty pricey. First, I had to go through the process of fighting over the labels with my daughter because she thought they were stickers, and I wanted to start labeling as fast as possible. She eventually got what I was doing and was pretty excited to see her name everywhere. She loved her princess icon and now that she is learning to spell her name, she immediately read the labels, which as a parent, was one of those proud moments. I labeled her tap shoes, her ballet slippers, her leotards, and her tights. It felt like such an accomplishment. When she gets to school, her teachers will now be able to distinguish her things from her classmates.

Another thing that I had to get that Mabel's Labels offers, was the Mama Cards. Such a simple, but clever idea. How many times have you gone to the park or the mall, and have had other mothers ask for your number or email address? I have had that happen to me so many times, that I can't even keep count. Every single time, I either took out a receipt from a grocery store, rip a portion of my mail envelope, or write on their hands. Obviously, we are not carrying around Mommy business cards to give out when we are doing our daily duties. At least, I don't think about networking or anything of that matter when I am out with my child. The focus is completely on my child. However, once I started my blog and people were approaching me about my blog, wanting to know more about it, it looked a little sloppy writing my info on a Whole Foods Receipt, or a ripped out piece of paper from something else. At that time, I knew I had to get something that was like a business card, but more Mommy oriented.

Mama Cards were the answer to my clumsy looking days. Just like you can customize the labels, you can customize the cards with five different designs and you can include any information you would like on the card. I chose the Field design and put my name, blog name, email address, and phone number on it. On the back, you have a notes section, so you can write down anything you would like. I love this feature because the person who has my card, either knows how we met, what we talked about, or they can write notes for themselves. It's such a cute way for mothers to give out information, without the hassle of taking out a pen and paper, in the midst of all the chaos that goes on at playgrounds or at malls. I already started using mine at my daughter's school, and all the mothers are asking me about it, so it is definitely a winner!

Mabel's Labels is a mommy started company and they themselves created these innovative products, after going through the same frustrations that we mothers go through. Nice clothing items, backpacks, and other things leaving the house, without ever making an appearance back at home. The products definitely had the mother/child/family in mind. I am now a huge fan and I will continue to label everything that I feel needs to be labeled in my household. For more information on Mabel's Labels go to: http://www.mabels.ca/

LIZ LANGE SALE THIS WEEKEND

2009-06-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hautelook.com is having their Liz Lange Weekend Diaper Bag Sale. If you are in the market to buy a really chic diaper bag or need one for a gift, these bags are absolutely gorgeous. I went on to their site and I pretty much wanted every bag. They have some bags that look very similar to the ever popular Hermes Bag. Use Coupon Code: FREESHIPSAT to receive free shipping this weekend.

THE Best Cupcakes EVER!

2009-06-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

I found a local cupcake shop here in Santa Monica, Yummy Cupcakes, through Twitter, and found out that most recently they introduced a vegan line of cupcakes. I love cupcakes! Being pregnant and being severly allergic to dairy, I have been on a constant mission to find the most perfect cupcake out there. Plus, my daughter loves cupcakes too!

These beat the gourmet cupcakes that I use to eat during my dairy years before I was dragged into the emergency room to find out that I was allergic to dairy. I walked in today at 10 am, which was opening. I dropped my daughter off from preschool, and promised her that I would get her a cupcake. When I entered this cute dainty shop, there were 2 pastry chefs (who were both female, love it) and a male behind the counter who was very nice. I could tell that they loved their jobs, and they were all smiling big.

I asked what the vegan flavors were and today's flavors were a vanilla chocolate and the red velvet. The vanilla chocolate cupcakes were ready to go and the red velvet cupcakes needed another 45 minutes. So I took two vanilla chocolate cupcakes. They were $3.25 each, which is $.50 more than their regular cupcakes, but oh so worth the price, considering the big size you get. I have been known to pay more for vegan cupcakes that have been a lot smaller.

When I went into my car, I looked in the bag, and could not resist. I licked the frosting, and it was such a creamy, and sugary goodness. I took the big cupcake and took a huge bite into it. Oh My Goodnessssssss! Can I say I am in heaven? Yes. It was super moist, the right amount of chocolate, and the frosting was l-i-t-e-r-a-l-l-y icing on the cake! I literally sat there in the car and ate the entire cupcake within a couple minutes. I literally had to take my daughter's cupcake and put it on the back seat, or she would have had none.

I think I have found my match. I am always open to knew concepts, stores, etc...but I couldn't be more excited about my new found hidden gem. I liked it so much, I thought about keeping it a secret until maybe one of my favorite vegan bloggers "quarrygirl," wrote a review on them, but I felt I needed to share this surprise with all of you. So enjoy!!! Leave me one when you get there. They also have a location in Burbank, but living in Westwood, Santa Monica will be my shop. I so have to try the Red Velvet.

Yummy Cupcakes has the Mommas in the House stamp of approval.

BURBANK BAKESHOP

2918 W. Magnolia Blvd Burbank, CA 91505

818.558.1080

SANTA MONICA BAKESHOP

313 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90401

310.393.8283

Ultimate Healthy Parenting Party

2009-06-26T00:05:00.000-07:00

The Pump Station & Nurtury will be hosting an "Ultimate Healthy Parenting Party" on Sunday, June 28, 2009. Please Save the Date. The event will be from 12pm-4pm and it's also a diaper drive, so the diapers that are collected at this event will benefit "LA Diaper Drive." For more details about schedule and happenings, please see and click below.

My Birth Plan

2009-06-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you some of the things I wrote for my birth plan. Although, I keep forgetting to take it with me to my midwife visits. The next visit I will make sure I print it out because I will be at 37 weeks and anything can happen at that point. I have discussed some of the things with my midwife, but not in great detail, so this will be great.

My labor coach will be my husband, mother, or friends, depending on what my needs are that day, but that will be the order of how I would like it to be. I have a group of close friends and family that will be present and want to keep things open for that day, depending on how I feel.
I would like my husband, daughter, mother, and friends to witness the birth.
I would like to walk around during labor, as well as take showers, and whatever is needed for me to feel comfortable.
I am aiming to have a drug-free birth, however, have it on hand, in case things change.
I only would like to be induced if I am not able to contract on my own and it becomes a risk/issue for the baby.
I do not want to tear, and would like to push squatting. I would also like to push when I feel necessary to push. In the ideal circumstance, I do not want to deliver laying down unless of course an epidural is used.
I would like for my husband to cut the umbilical cord, as well as hold the baby with the midwife as the baby makes its way into the world.
I would like to hold the baby immediately, as well as breastfeed, as soon as possible.
I would like to be released from the hospital as soon as possible, if there are no complications and everything checks out fine.
I would like snacks to be present for family and friends, as well as myself, if I need to eat during labor.

So that is the game plan! Well, most of the important things. Of course on the actual day, adjustments will occur, but I think this will suffice as a blueprint of how I want things to happen. From this day forward, I need to relax, take it easy, and take deep breaths. I also need to stop watching extremely graphic birthing videos because it's making me anxious and nervous!

Making it easier on you and your baby

2009-06-24T00:55:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of controversy behind whether or not you should co-sleep with your baby. There are experts who believe that it's very natural and good for mom and baby, while others believe that there are so many dangers involved with co-sleeping. When it comes to child-rearing, everyone has an opinion of their own. As a parent, we have to make conscious choices, that best suits our needs and beliefs. When we brought my now, 3 year old daughter, home from the hospital, I decided to have her near me, and chose to co-sleep with her. Of course much thought and consideration went into my decision, but I ultimately did what felt natural to me.

For me, it was a lot easier to breastfeed her because I could just roll over and feed her instantly. Moreover, I was able to bond with her, and really take in the fact that I was a mother. Being a first time mom and being extremely exhausted, we tried the crib thing. But I thought I was going to lose it when I had so much traveling to do between my bed and the crib. It was physically draining. Just having her close to me was easier on me and the baby, and she slept really comfortably next to me.

Honestly speaking, I can also see the dangers of co-sleeping as well. We had our daughter next to me and there were a couple close calls where I almost rolled over her, but caught myself in mid-movement. I am grateful that we did not have to experience anything dangerous, but I can see how it happens. When I found out I was pregnant for the second time around, I wanted to co-sleep again, but I wanted something that would create a simple barrier between me and the baby, that would make the co-sleeping experience more safer. I went online and was able to find a great product called Co-Zee by Hisense. The Co-Zee speaks for itself, "Sleep close. Sleep Safe. Sleep tight." It's a great co-sleeping solution that let's you enjoy the benefits of co-sleeping while having the peace of mind, that your baby is safe and secure.

The Co-Zee gives total sleep protection for the baby and fits comfortably between the parents. So now your husband can also enjoy the benefits of co-sleeping. I know my husband felt a little left out the first time around because he did not have that much access to the baby, but now he can also participate. I can breastfeed the baby easily without getting out of the bed and my husband can cradle the baby throughout the night, without having to travel to the crib. I also love that it has an adjustable nighlight at the head of the co-sleeper and a tray to hold the bottle and pacifier. Plus, it is so comfortable and plush. The Co-Zee and its features really make it easier on the parents and the baby, so that more quality time is spent and making it an experience to remember rather than a tedious task at hand.

Hisense also offers many other quality baby products, but one other product that really caught my eyes were the Flow bottles. The idea behind the Flow bottles are, "A safe and simple bottle that works." The Flow is an anti-colic bottle that leaves the baby comfortable and contented. It prevents Vacuums by drawing air through the bottom of the bottle and it has a unique valve that you can test. It's easy to use, clean, and economical. More importantly, the bottles are made from high quality FDA food-grade PES plastic, and they are free of Bisphenol-A, and come with silicon nipples.

For me, I am going to try to breastfeed exclusively. However, I will have to use bottles when I have my husband, family members, and friends take care of the baby, when I am not present. At least, I will have the peace of mind that these bottles are safe and simple to use for anyone that caretakes my child.

For more information on the Co-Zee and the Flow, as well as other great products, please visit: http://www.babysafeus.com/.

All I want to do is NAP!

2009-06-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

Up till the point of 33 weeks, I had a lot of my energy back and ready to move at a constant rate. Once 34 weeks hit, I lost almost all of my energy. I am literally at a point where all I want to do is nap. If I don't nap, the whole day goes by like a daze and I completely feel out of it. If I do nap, it does miracles.

Today I went to my almost 36 weeks appointment. I am officially 36 weeks on Thursday. As I was waiting for my midwife to come into the room, I was ready to pass out. Once she entered the room, I still was at a complete daze and could not remember half the things she said. All I remember is "160 beats" and "head is down."

Next week, I turn 37 weeks, which means that it's safe for baby to make its grand entrance. Can't wait to see what day she picks for her birthday. I will be one busy momma with a busy-body toddler and a new baby. To that, let me go take a nap for all the energy I need!

Being Pretty while Being Pregnant

2009-06-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

There is one thing that I missed putting on while I was pregnant with my daughter. I hated looking down at my feet and seeing bare toe nails, they looked miserable. Living in California and wearing flip flops on a daily basis did not help. I was constantly online looking for a nail polish that was not harmful, stinky, and bad for you. However, there was no one nail polish that fit all the criterias I was looking for.

When my daughter turned 2 years old, she wanted to start painting her nails. For her, I did buy a children's polish that was child-friendly, safe, and non-toxic, however, the smell was still horrendous. I immediately threw that one away because it just made me gag.

When I found out I was pregnant for the second time, I thought about nail polishes again. I was on a mission to find "the perfect" nail polish for all women, men, children, but most importantly all my pregnant mommas. I mean it's the least we deserve while being pregnant. Sometimes that one little thing can make the biggest difference in how we feel.

I am super excited to present to you, Acquarella. Everything that I have been looking for in a nail polish and more. Acquarella is not just a nail polish, it's nail health. I can't tell you how much I fell in love with this product when I tried it out, and now, my mother and daughter are using it.

Acquarella is the only nail polish in the world that is safe, water-based, and non-toxic. Plus, it hydrates the nails, unlike conventional nail polishes that make your nails chip, peel, and yellow. It has absolutely NO ODOR! So no more gagging for me and you. More importantly, it does not contain formaldehyde, phthalates, and petrochemicals solvents of any kind. Since it is water based, it's non-flammable and free from toxic fumes, and your nails breathe. The polish is super easy to use, without the need of top and base coat and it dries very fast, in 3 minutes.

In using Acquarella, it is essential to know that preparation is key. The instructions are online, which makes it very convenient and easy to refer back to. If you have used conventional nail polishes, you have to go through a preparation cycle that helps remove many oils and emollients in the nail plate that interfere with the Acquarella polish. It's only a 4 day cycle that put your nails in optimum condition for the polish. Part of the cycle, is using the nail conditioner, as well as the remover.

The conditioner can act as a clear polish and it strengthens and moisturizes your nails. Being consistent with the line, it does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, phtalates, or petrochemical solvents of any kind. The remover is water-based as well, has no acetone, methyl acetate, or any other petrochemical solvents. Both these products are essential in the 4 day nail preparation cycle. However, for the lucky few that never uses conventional nail polishes and have hydrated nails, you can skip the 4 day cycle. But I still suggest that everyone does the preparation cycle, just for nail health.

I went through the entire preparation cycle and it was very easy. I noticed immediately that my nails looked so polished and healthy. They were shining and very healthy looking. I also liked that my nails were breathing versus the feeling of heavy polish weighing down my nails. After 4 days of giving your nails a facelift, you can pick from 22 colors to put on. I tried both the French Vanilla and the Prissy, as my nail polishes. The polishes went on thin and very clean. The French Vanilla were very close to my skin color, so it looked very clean and neutral. The Prissy popped right onto my nails and just made a bold statement of sexiness, femininity, and strength, with the hint of girliness. It took about 2 weeks for the nail polishes to gradually come off, which is quite comparable to conventional nail polishes. I used the remover to take the polishes off, and it was definitely easier than I thought it would. I rubbed my nails with the cotton cloth, and it came off without any major hassles.

I love that you can have such a great nail polish without all the hazardous ingredients that can affect your health and the environment. For all my pregnant mommas, you can definitely use these polishes, without the worries and consequences of how it may affect your unborn baby. I have already gotten a lot of compliments from friends and families. For more information on this fabulous product line, please visit: http://www.aquarellapolish.com/.

Happy Father's Day!!

2009-06-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the pappas out there!!! I have so much gratitude towards my husband, as he is a great husband and a father. Within the last three years, my husband has come a long way in his relationship with our daughter. I remember when we first brought her home, he was too scared to hold her, thinking he would break her in two pieces.

Of course, our daughter is a lot bigger now and more communicative, but he now feels more comfortable when it comes to his role as a father. I give a lot of props to the fathers out there because when we have children, a lot of emphasis is put on the mothers, since we are the ones who give birth. We are also the one's that have to breastfeed, if we choose to, which is a huge part of the early stages of infancy.

My husband had 400 people make reservations for Mother's Day Brunch, however, for Father's Day Brunch, there were only 90 reservations. I find that a little sad and dissappointing for our good fathers out there. So I wanted to take a little time out from today to wish our fathers the Happiest Father's Day!

My daughter's gets her Zzzzzzs at night

2009-06-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

My newest discovery is the Kidsleep. It is basically a night light and an alarm clock, that can also act as a sleep-aid. Very easy to use and no complicated set-ups. My daughter is 3 years old, and I thought it was about time to get her an alarm clock. The way she differentiates time is the old fashioned way, which is probably the most reliable way. When it's dark, it's time to go to bed, when the sun comes out, it's time to wake up. She has been pretty good with that, however, she now attends preschool, which makes waking up at a given time, a little more complicated.

I love that the sleeping bunny shows my daughter to stay in bed, and the wide-awake bunny shows my daughter it's okay to wake up. The night light is fantastic because my daughter occasionally likes to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, and she wakes me up because she doesn't want to walk in the dark. The night light offers her the comfort of going to the bathroom, with a little bit of light, and not have to wake me up. Lastly, I love the sound of the alarm clock. It has a bird chirping noise that is non-irritating and non-harsh. You can also have it set so that a rooster sound goes off as the awake bunny is illuminated.

My daughter thought it was a toy at first, as she tried to play with it, but now she knows it's her little clock. She loves looking at the night light as she sleeps, and loves the awake bunny when she wakes up. When the alarm clock goes off, she says, "Mom, Wake up!" So now she has become my own alarm clock. I feel that there is some sort of role reversal going on, but that is A okay with me!

It is suggested that from birth-2 years, the Kidsleep be used as a night light. From 2-6 years, used as a sleep training aid, with the option of using the alarm clock. You don't need to purchase any batteries, just plug to an outlet, and it comes with 2 extra bulbs. It's a really neat product that my daughter will be able to enjoy for years to come. They also carry the Globetrotter, which is smaller and battery operated, for everyday use or travel. For more information, please visit: http://livelovedream.com/.

35 Weeks and Counting!

2009-06-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

I am 35 weeks today and I am literally counting down the days. Of course, I don't want my baby to come early, but I am at that stage in the pregnancy where i feel stretched to the max in the belly, although people tell me that I look 4 months along, I do not feel attractive at all. For my body frame, which I am on a thinner side, it's a lot of weight to carry. My husband jokes that I should know how he feels on a daily basis. Not so funny, when I am dealing with a lot of frontal weight that puts a lot of pressure on the back.

My first child came at 38.1 weeks, so I feel that this next baby is going to come right around the same time or earlier. The baby has been sitting pretty low these days, head facing down, so I am literally counting down the days until it's safe for baby to make its entrance into the world. My midwife says 36 weeks is usually a safe marker, but I have been reading many sites, as well as books that says 37 weeks is when the baby fully develops its lungs. For me, the baby will come when it wants to come, so trying to be as patient as possible.

So today I am trying to just relax and think about what I will be getting my husband for Father's Day!!!

Comfort and Safety when it comes to children!

2009-06-17T07:01:00.000-07:00

Our place is completely covered in hardwood floors, and of course I love it because it's beautiful. However, having my daughter run around everywhere, it isn't the most practical situation. My daughter prefers sitting on the floors when she plays with toys, when she is coloring, and when she is watching her favorite movie, "Thumbelina." She will grab a cushion from our couch, and sit on top of it, so that she can be a little bit more comfortable. Sometimes that leads to her falling from side to side because the cusions are higher and curved, and do not provide for a flat surface area. It's not the safest situation to have your child in.

As a parent, you want your child to be comfortable, but mainly safe. I found a product out on the market that was made by a mom, just like me, and it addresses many of these issues. The Tuffet, is a large round cushion filled with foam beads to protect children, from falling over and possibly getting injured. There are so many things I love about The Tuffet.

I love that it is fully functional. You can use it to watch movies, play with toys, or just sit on top of it. I myself can use it to read a book or watch TV and my husband can use it to play video games. It's one of those products that is very versatile and can be used by every single family member, not just your child. It's easy to clean, just drop the cover in the washer, and it's as simple as 1-2-3. It's easy to store under you bed or in the closet, and you can easily transport it from place to place. The Tuffet comes in a variety of fabric choices, as well as colors, so you are not limited when it comes to your own personal taste.

When I got The Tuffet, it was super simple to put together. I just inserted the liner into the cover and zipped it close. My daughter was able to sit on top of it comfortably without any issues and she was already dragging it around from room to room. It was really nice to see her sit comfortably reading a book, without me constantly checking on her, to see if she was okay. She was very happy and you could tell she met her new best friend. The Tuffet also has two pockets on top, where you could put essential items, such as a remote control. However, my daughter puts her favorite little dolls in it, as their hiding place.

After I dropped her off from school, I came back home and read my new breastfeeding book, on top of it. It was very comfortable, and I was really surprised that my posture was really straight. Something about those beads, in the liner, keeps you from slouching. Had I never sat on it, I would not have known, that added benefit. A lot of items that do provide comfort, are not always the healthiest or the best for us, so it was definitely reassuring to know that my daughter would be sitting up straight while being comfortable.

I think The Tuffet is an overall great product for the whole family and can be used for years to come. It is also Mom Made which I love! Please visit The Tuffet at:www.madebyamom.com.

Brain Dead

2009-06-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

I wanted to write something clever today, but I am going to keep it real, I am just completely brain dead. I think when we have children, continue to give birth, we lose brain cells. I really do believe that because ever since my first, I have memory loss. I've talked to other mothers, who also feel the same way, so I know I am not the only one in feeling like this.

Prime example, today I went to Trader Joe's and the entire time I thought I was in Whole Foods. When I went to check out my food items, I kept telling the crew member how much I loved Whole Foods and why I loved to shop at Whole Foods, and he kept saying to me that Trader Joes had quality items for cheaper. I couldn't get why he kept plugging in Trader Joe's, until I realized that I was at Trader Joe's. Needless to say, I felt really stupid and out of it, but the crew member was super nice and really patient with me.

You would think it would stop there. No way! After Trader Joe's, I needed to stop at the mall to get something for my dad's birthday. I went there and did not know why I was there. I ended up going to the Disney Store and got my daughter a princess lunch kit. I still couldn't figure out why I was there. When I came home, my mom called to tell me that we were going out to lunch. I told her that I wanted to stay home because I was super tired and she said, "Are you sure, it's your dad's birthday?" I literally shook my head because I completely forgot about it. I mean I was talking about it all morning long.

So right now, I just feel completely out of it and brain dead!!

My baby deserves the best!

2009-06-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am very particular in what sort of things go on my skin. Especially since our bodies largest organ is our skin, and everything that is penetrated into the skin, has an overall affect on our bodies. I don't think many people realize what sort of things are put into our skincare products and how it affects our overall health. For one, I started to be more conscious of what I put on, with my first pregnancy because it not only affected me, it affected my baby. With that being said, there are things that are being put into our lotions, our cleansers, our toothpastes, that actually cause birth defects. Now, how is that possible and legal? Well, it's happening everyday, and that is why we must be conscious consumers, for our own livelihoods.

With my daughter, I use only the best skincare out there because I know the short term and long term affects it has on her. When I say, "best" skincare, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is super expensive, and that I am looking to put gold or caviar on my daughter. The prices are very reasonable and the quality is exceptional, without the use of all the bad stuff! With another baby on the way, I am continually looking for products, that meet the high level of quality, without the high price tag. Which brings me to, Aleva Naturals.

Aleva Naturals, carry a whole line of baby products, that meets my particular needs without the added nasties. All their products are free of alcohol, petrolatum, phthalates, SLS & SLES, perfume, mineral oil, paraben, lanoline, and is hypoallergenic. So they pretty much covers their basis when it comes to most sensitivities and allergies. As well as leaving out, all the unnecessary chemicals, preservatives, and fillers that cause harm to our bodies.

The Bamboo Baby Wipes were so soft and were ever-so gentle on the face. The Baby 2-1 Hair & Body Wash, was a perfect addition to my daughter's bathing regimen. It was very convenient that we could wash her hair and her body, at the same time. It was also nice that it did not have any strong odor to it. After her wash, we put on the Baby Moisturizing Emulsion, and it was such a nice ending touch. It went on smooth, and absorbed really quickly. She was left with soft, supple, and buttery skin. They also carry the Baby Breathe Easy Cream, which helps ease nasal congestion and relaxes the baby to get a good night's sleep. For the mommas out there, they carry a Maternity-Nursing Balm, which helps soothe and protect sore, dry, and cracked nipples. So they pretty much have everything for you and your baby.

For more information, please visit them at: http://www.alevanaturals.com/. Be a conscious mother, for you and your child. Everything that goes on your skin, goes into your body, and in the end, has an overall affect on you and your baby's health. Make sure that the ingredients you read on the label, are something that you know, and not some chemistry question, that you are unsure of.

Say bye-bye to nasty dust mites and say hello to Protect-A-Bed!

2009-06-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

How many of us sleep at night, or actually not really sleep at night, and wake up the next morning, feeling like we didn't get a good night's rest. Well, for my husband and I, that has been the topic of our late night pillow conversations before attempting to go to bed. We find ourselves tossing and turning, as well as itching from head to toe. It sounds a little disgusting, and we both shower religiously, but every night, we are itching ourselves all over, reminding us of our chicken-pox days.

Since we were both experiencing these issues, we knew it didn't have to do with our bodies and had something to do with our bed. At first, we assumed it was our bed sheets. We started to wash them, almost every other day, and nothing really changed. So then, we thought it was the detergent that we were using. We only use natural detergents, so we tried using other natural detergents, that were completely in its most natural forms. To our sadness, that didn't work either. We had an inclination that it was probably the nasty little dust mites, coming from our mattress. It was our last and only reason we could come up with.

We then discovered, Protect-A-Bed. They have a whole product line based on allergy relief. Everything from mattress protectors to crib protectors. From their site, I learned that an estimated two million dust mites could thrive in an unprotected mattress. How nasty is that? Did anyone watch that episode with Oprah, going under the microscope, and revealing all the dust mites that are crawling all over our mattresses? Well, that is the visual I immediately got when reading this tidbit.

We tried out the Premium Mattress Protector, which is their standard model. We first followed the washing instructional that was sent along with our protector, which is a must. Then we proceeded to put it over our mattress. We both got ready for bed, and both were crossing our fingers, hoping this would be the answer to our nightly prayers. We actually had a long day, so both of us were ready to pass out, and the protector only helped us because it was super comfortable and soft. Immediately, we both passed out. We woke up the next morning, not once, having to itch our bodies, or being awaken by discomfort. We have used it for over a week, and let me tell you, our moods, our bodies, and our energy levels, have been in tip top shape.

I would recommend this product to everyone, even those that are not having any issues. I would rather sleep in a dust-mite free, allergen-free bed any day, then have to ponder or visualize the thought of little critters walking all over my body. Yuck! There are so many other perks, such as the 10 year warranty, the Miracle Membrane with Total Heat Transference Formula, and protection from stains(accidental spills, perspiration, bodily fluids). For more detailed information about the products from Protect-A-Bed, please visit their site at: http://www.protectabed.com/.

Remember, by protecting your mattress/pillow/crib, you are protecting your family, your health, and your hygiene. Why not sleep with clean comfort? Sleep is something that we all deserve and need. Let's do it the right way!

A little Time Out for myself.

2009-06-11T10:50:00.001-07:00

The last couple days have been quite hectic. My father came into town and on top of it, my mom and my dad our staying with us. I went on a non-stop cleaning spree, which consisted of our living room, 3 closets, and the hallway. I can't believe how much garbage/junk came out of our closets. Now that everything is organized, donated, or thrown away, I feel like I have some breathing room.

Since I have been non-stop at cleaning and I am talking from morning till evening, my back has gone from hurting to now agony. Yesterday, in between cleaning, I literally passed out on my daughter's bed, for about an hour. It was the best hour in a long time, for my body. Last night was a different story. I had my daughter latching onto me, wanting to sleep with me, and so my husband, my daughter, and I shared a bed together. It was probably the most warm and most uncomfortable experience because we were literally sardined in the bed. It didn't help that my husband and my daughter had taken over the bed, and I was left with a space so tiny, not even a little puppy would have been comfortable sleeping in.

So today, I decided to have a little "me" time. I totally deserve it, with all the things I have been doing lately. I dropped my daughter off and then headed to M Cafe. Once of my favorite cafes in town. They serve an entirely macrobiotic menu. I had the wild salmon benedict, an almond croissant, and 2 brownies. I savored every little bite and every little moment. It tasted so good and I feel that I have gotten some sanity back in me.

Now for the rest of the day, not do anything!!!! Well for the most part, until I go and pick up my daughter.

First Juice Guest Blogger!

2009-06-10T11:08:00.001-07:00

Hi Mommas!

I now can add guest blogger to my blogging resume. Today, I posted my review for First Juice, which is such a great company. Please read my post for more information. Morever, I wrote a guest blog on First Juice's Blog at www.firstjuiceblog.com. Please go and read my guest blog, as well as learn more info on First Juice. Thanks everyone!!!!

There are so many FIRSTS, when it comes to our children

2009-06-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I remember the day when my daughter first looked at me, the first time she sat up, the first time she giggled, the first time she said, "mommy",and the first time she started to crawl. Being parents, we get to experience so many firsts, that can be equally exciting and scary. As those firsts, keep coming at us, we try to do what's best for our children. Even early on, we are faced with our own "firsts," breastfeeding versus formula feeding.

As parents, we want to make the right choices for our children. We are living in a world where childhood obesity is on the rise, and more and more foods are coming out packaged, with loads of preservatives. We want to make sure that what is being put into the mouths of our children, is healthy and has nutritional substance.

Eating healthy is very important in my family. I try to feed my daughter organic foods, with lots of fruits and vegetables. I have never been a fan of juices because of the sugar content, and some are just full of empty calories. My daughter likes water and she will drink the smoothies that we make her. But ever since we started her in preschool, she has been requesting juice boxes. All of her classmates, have some sort of juice accompanying their lunches, and my daughter, has her water in her SIGG water bottle. Of course, as a parent, I don't want my daughter to be limited in her options, and want to offer her other choices. However, I want her options to have nutritional value.
After my daughter told me that she wanted a juicebox in her lunch bag, I went looking for options that would be good for her, and made for children. There are so many juices out there on the market, that are very good for you, but has exceeding amounts of vitamins, for a child's daily allowance. So I wanted a drink that was made for children. I then came across, First Juice, so appropriately named. The thing I love most, is that it has a blend of fruits and vegetables. So my daughter is able to get her vegetable servings, in with her fruit servings. One thing, I am noticing as my daughter gets older, is that she is trying to leave her veggies off her plate. I love that the vegetables are being incorporated into the juices, and my daughter doesn't really notice a difference. Plus, it is organic, lower in sugar, and even comes in a spill-proof sippy-top container.

I love that the juices come in my daughter's favorite flavors. The four flavors are: apple+carrot, banana+carrot, blueberry+purple carrot, peach+purple carrot. I was able to get all four, to try it out on my daughter. I packed the juices with her lunch, all week long, and my daughter finished each and everyone one of them. She asked me, if she could have more. I asked, what her favorite flavors were, and of course, she loved the blueberry+purple carrot juice. She loves anything blueberry, so I wasn't surprised by her answer. Just to make things a little interesting, the day after we finished her four juices, I packed a regular apple juice with her lunch. On our way home, back from school, my daughter said, "I don't want the yucky apple juice, I want the blueberry juice with the bicycle boy." She was referring to the the little boy on the bicycle, on the First Juice label. I immediately knew that it had passed my daughter's taste test.

Another thing I love about First Juice, is that they are green and safe. All First Juice® brand bottles are made of Bisphenol-A (BPA) free and phthalate-free plastic. Moreover, the bottles are recycle code #1, which is the most widely recycled plastic in the U.S. And the sippy cap bottles are re-usable. Just refill them with the 32oz refill bottles or water. Not only are you teaching your children on good eating/drinking habits, you are educating them on being green. What a great way to start shaping your child's future!

For more detailed information, as well as purchasing locations, please visit: http://www.firstjuice.com/.

Irritated! Frustrated! Tired!

2009-06-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

One thing I am not irritated about is my great midwife appointment today. She checked me, measured me, and heard my baby's heartbeat. The baby is very healthy and the heart is very strong. She measured me at 32 cm, which is good because the last visit I was at 30cm. So my midwife appointment went very well and I am 2 days from being 34 weeks pregnant.

Now let's move on to the irritated part of me, which is a huge part of me right now. For the last 3 days, I have been cleaning almost non-stop, except for the occasional pee breaks, to eat something, or to drink some water. Some may say that I am nesting, which could be true, but I really feel the need to clean our living space in tip top shape because we have a little one coming in a few weeks.

Right now, we have a lot of things in our closets, that are mostly my mother's things. She had these things in storage at one point, but eventually moved it into our closets because we had a lot of huge closets. The bad part about that was she took over, all our closets, meaning no storage for us. So for the last 3 days, I have been going through her things, and sorting it out in boxes and labeling everything. I need to make room and space for our little one and for ourselves.

I am primarily irritated because no one is helping me. My husband has one day off in the week, so he does not want to clean, on his day off. For the most part, I can understand, but if you see your pregnant wife laboring throughout the day, wouldn't you feel bad? My mom calls me and tells me about her dance classes, what restaurants she went too, and what trips she is going to take. Was there a moment where she stopped to ask, how I was doing? Especially, when I am going through her junk, and extremely frustrated over all the "stuff" she has, that she won't get rid of because she lives the label, "pack rat."

So I guess that is the summary of how I feel. I feel overworked, and under-appreciated. My dad is coming into town today from taking care of my grandmother. So my mom came by my place, before she went to pick him up from the airport. The second she set foot into my place, I lost it. I pretty much let all the "lion" in me come out. Of course, my mom defended herself, and offered to help. But, for one second it felt so good to let everything out. I felt bad afterwards, but for that one moment, it felt so empowering and free, just to let everything go.

A Boppy does a body good!

2009-06-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Being pregnant, many nights I sleep very uncomfortably. No position seems to really work, and the morning after, I have an ache in my back, neck, and hips. Also, I am dealing with a full fledged sciatica that came out, immediately after I got pregnant. So as you can imagine, my body does not feel right and very uncomfortable. The only time I have to truely relax, is when I am sleeping. Even then, my body is constantly adjusting and re-adjusting positions, as the night progresses. I was pretty much fed up with my situation, and had to find an immediate solution. I had heard of body pillows for pregnant mothers from various sources, and how it helped them. So I wanted to see my options and choices.

I researched a fair amount of companies, with pillows ranging from $40-$160. Since these pillows, did not come cheap for the most part, I wanted to make sure I would go with a trusted company. I then came upon Boppy. I was first introduced to Boppy when I was pregnant with my daughter, 3 years ago. I received the Boppy pillow at my baby shower, and used it for breastfeeding purposes. I remember, it did miracles for my back and made feeding so much easier. There was a clear difference in comfortability when using the Boppy pillow. With this in mind, I looked online, and found that they had a mom line. In their mom line, they carried the Boppy Total Body Pillow. I was super excited about this find and couldn't wait to start using it. I was so desperate to relieve the pain I was dealing with when sleeping.

I finally received the Boppy Total Body pillow, and I can only say, it does my body good. For the first time, during my pregnancy, I was able to lay on my side, and the pillow enveloped my every curvature. It truely was made to go with the form of a pregnant body. The pillow had good support all around, and was super comfortable. Of course, I had to adjust my body a couple times during the night, but it was manageable, and did not mess with my sleeping rhythm. When I woke up, I did not have the aches I usually get, that run from the top of my neck to the bottom of my tailbone. I was able to wake up and immediately stand up without any issues.

Today, I put this pillow on my list of things to take to the hospital when I go into delivery. I will probably use this pillow way after I deliver, and even when I breastfeed. I am very happy that I'm finally physically comfortable. I would recommend this to any pregnant and non-pregnant person, who desires comfort at night. The pillow is easy to use and easy to wash (the slip-cover comes right on off).

Please visit Boppy at: http://www.shopboppy.com/. A simple solution to your sleeping problems. You deserve comfort when you are sleeping for two!

Our neighbors in Canada, know how to do a diaper right!

2009-06-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

What am I talking about? Apple Cheeks reusable diapers. These are not the old cloth diapers that my parents grew up on. Nor are they the hideous looking plastic pants, that look super soaked and super heavy. Apple Cheeks is a functional reusable diaper that has great form, super cute style, and effective leak control. For me, all of these matter, when choosing what sort of diapering system, I want to go with.

I know a lot of parents are scared to take a leap into reusable diapering. I use to share those fears. Those fears were based upon cloth diapers I would see in old movies. Mainly, a cloth held up by pins. When I started doing my research on reusable diapers and started to use some, in the latter part of my daughter's diapering days, I regretted that I didn't start earlier. First and foremost, technology and modern times, have done reusable diapering good. Companies, like Apple Cheeks, are reinventing resusable diapers, to fit current times. They have super absorbancy, which I think is a big concern to all parents, when it comes to reusable versus mainstream diapers. Moreover, they have a snug fit, which secures the diaper from moving around, and contains anything from coming out from it. The inner layer, has a super soft microfleece, which makes you want to rub it against your face. It's very easy to put on, by adjusting the straps to fit your child's waist and legs.

Apple Cheeks also offers a variety of inserts for your diaper, depending on your diapering needs. They have everything from Bamboo, Hemp, to a Stay Dry Liner. All offering a range of absorbency from your lightest wetter, to your heaviest wetter. The diaper also comes in two sizes. Size 1 fits 7-20lbs and Size 2 fits 18-40lbs. The diaper also comes in 10 different color choices, all being very cute.

My daughter is completely potty trained, but occasionally, we get an accident at night, depending on the amount of liquids she consumed the night of. This particular night, I let her get away with drinking as much as she wanted. I put the size 2 diaper on her, after she had passed out. The next morning I woke up, and immediately went to the diaper. I checked and she did have a little accident, but not something that was very heavy. What I noticed was that the inserts underneath, soaked it all up, and it was pretty dry for the most part. My daughter does not like anything wet on her, so it was interesting to see that she slept through it, which says a lot about the absorbancy of the diaper. After we took it off, washing it was easy as 1-2-3.

My friend who has a baby, tried the size 1. She loved the diaper because it was so easy to use and had great absorbency. She also loved that her kid was looking cute, crawling around the house, while the diaper had full functionality.

There are other great benefits of using reusable diapers. For one, you will be saving lots and lots of money. My husband and I use to joke about the amount of money we would spend on diapers. We literally could be driving the car of our dreams, with the money that was being depleted from our bank account every month, from purchasing diapers. Especially with this depressing economy, we should definitely make changes that has a whole effect on our lifestyle. Plus, you are not contributing to our landfills, reducing your carbon footprint, and you are saving our trees.

Choosing a resusable diaper has so many more benefits than regular commercial diapers. Apple Cheeks, definitely has a great diaper that offers functionality, durability, sustainability, and last but not least, STYLE! For more information please go to Apple Cheeks Website: http://www.applecheeks.com/. I urge my Canadian readers, to support your Canadian economy, by supporting your Canadian companies.

What's on my mind?

2009-06-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Cravings: Cupcakes, cakes, brownies, cookies from C'est la V Bakeshop. French/Italian bread dipped in Mia Francesca's oil. Vegan pizza from Cruzer's Pizza. "Save the chicken" wings from Native Foods.

Things to prepare for my baby: A new car seat, and start gradually packing my hospital bag.

Physical State: Oh my back hurts! The baby is also kicking me, high up in the ribcage.

Mental State: Sanity sounds nice.

Emotional State: Up and down. One minute, I am super-excited and high on life. The next minute, I am a wreck that is standing at the end of the world.

Reality: Sweep the floors, wash the dishes, make lunch, drive my daughter to and from school, laundry, and go shopping for tonight's dinner (Did I say that my back hurts?!).

Okay, time for me to get off the tushie and start taking care of business! We are definitely in the business of being mommies.

Add a little pizazz to your morning ritual?

2009-06-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

I'm always trying to think of ways to make brushing teeth a more enjoyable experience for my daughter. On most days, it's a mundane experience, almost like a chore, and my daughter stands there completely bored. I was thinking about creative ways to make her brushing experience a more pleasurable one and I came across the Flipper.

What a clever little idea. It's a toothbrush holder, but it's not, any toothbrush holder. The flipper comes in all sorts of adorable designs and characters. Not only that, it has a snap-open mechanism, which makes retrieving your toothbrush easy, and it automatically closes. These are pretty amazing, I must say.

I was first interested in the flipper because of the cute designs and characters. Immediately, I knew it would be an attention grabber. But as I found out more information, it became an amazing gadget. Not only did they have such amazing opening and closing qualities, you could also hang them on smooth surfaces. So it frees up space in your bathroom. They protect your toothbrush from dirt, dust, and other nasty little things that can get into your toothbrush. Also, they isolate your brush from other brushes, eliminating the possibility of spreading bacteria, from brush to brush. You could easily convert these into a travel case. So you are getting a multifunctional toothbrush holder that adds whimsy to your brushing experience.

My daughter got a giraffe flipper from the animal world line and I got the Ozy flipper. My daughter immediately grabbed hers and tried it out. She was amazed by the opening and closing mechanism of the flipper. My Ozy flipper was very sophisticated looking, and it resembled a piece of egg art, that you would see in Russia. We were both pretty excited to brush our teeth and place the brush into the holder. The holder was easy to use, very cute, and super functional. Say goodbye to bacteria, and say hello to clean teeth!

They have toothbrush holders, as well as razor holders. For more information, please visit them at:www.myflipperusa.com. Price:$6.99

PTPA Spring Winners and KINeSYS Giveaway

2009-06-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you know PTPA Media recently announced their Spring winners. I love referring back to the PTPA Media site for product information, as well as what innovative products are on the market. Most recently, I became a part of the PTPA Panel of Moms, and I am very excited to be a part of it. All the products that are on the site have been evaluated by parents like you and me, and we give our very honest opinions. If you like evaluating products, I would suggest you join the PTPA Media by signing up to be an evaluator.

Please check out the list of Spring winners: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs089/1101896048079/archive/1102587108909.html

I took a look at the list of products that won and there are some really cool innovative products out there that I think would be worth taking a look at.

One of PTPA’s latest winners, KINeSYS, has generously offered to give one lucky reader a terrific sunscreen award winning prize pack!

KINeSYS offers a line of sunscreen sprays and creams that are designed with your active family in mind. Included in this prize pack is a large bottle of their NEW SPF 30 Girl's Sunscreen Spray . This performance sun block is even better with the addition of Vitamin E and a new Vanilla fragrance in a cute pink bottle! Also included is a travel bottle of the SPF Girl and their award winning KINeSYS for kids. All of their sunscreens are gentle non-irritating sprays that go on easily and dry fast for little athletes on the go. They are alcohol free and continue to use the highest quality recyclable materials for their packaging and non-aerosol pumps for their sprayers. Their products are never animal tested.

In order to participate and enter into the giveaway, please leave a comment, telling us what you look for in a sunscreen. The giveaway is open to US and Canada addresses only.

For Extra Entries:

Follow my Blog (2 extra entries)
Suscribe to my Blog (2 extra entries)

Blog about this giveaway, and link back (3 extra entries)

Follow me on Twitter, and Twitter about this giveaway (unlimited entries) Please link back to me.

Add me to your Technorati favorites (3 extra entries)

Giveaway ends June 14th, 2009 at 11:59pm PST. Please make sure you leave a valid email address so that we can notify the winner. We will notify the winner, and the winner has 48 hours to respond. If the winner fails to respond within that time period, we will choose a new winner.

Thanks and Good Luck to all my readers!

See Kai Run Review and Giveaway!

2009-06-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Never sacrific style for comfort, and comfort for style. So what does that mean? Why not have both. I am a firm believer, in this day and age, with such great innovative designers, we can truely have our cake and eat it too. My daughter likes all of her clothes, shoes, hats, accessories to be uber stylish, and at the same time comfortable. She will literally take off her clothes or shoes in public places, if their either A) ugly or B) uncomfortable. When ever we go shopping, the items that we purchase has to possess those two factors, comfort and style. I definitely have a fashionista in the making!

Countless times, when we go shoe shopping, we've come home disappointed. If we see a really nice looking shoe, it's too narrow on my daughter's feet, or the bottom is like a wooden board. On one particular shoe shopping outing, after going through numerous stylish, uncomfortable shoes, the salesman brought over the newest, most comfortable shoes on the market. The second my daughter took a glimpse of it, she shook her head no, and turned her head. In seeing the salesman's efforts, I tried convincing her to give it a try. Of course, I was in agreement with my daughter. It looked like a boring shoe that was a miniature version of what nurses would wear, at a nursing home. She tried the shoe on and it was super comfortable, but she and I still could not get past the ugliness of it.

So my daughter and I went online, to take a look at some shoes. Sometimes the internet is the best way to go because you can take a look at hundreds of shoes, without ever leaving the comfort of your home. We came across, See Kai Run. Immediately, both our faces lit up. The designs were very modern and girly chic for the girl's line. They do have a nice selection of boys shoes, as well. My daughter pretty much wanted every shoe that was up on the site. When she took a second to leave the room, as a parent, I read more about the company. And to my excitement, these shoes were comfortable as well.

The shoes have very flexible soles, which are a definite must for developing feet. They have a wide opening and the toe box accomodates larger, chubbier feet. The shoes are made of leather lining which makes for breathability and durability, and they are easy to put on and off, with a velcro closure. The See Kai Run line meets the American Podiatric Medical Association's rigorous standards for foot health and functionality, and has been awarded the APMA's Seal of Acceptance.

The shoes are super flexible, and very comfortable. But what sets them apart from their competition, is that they are hip, modern, and chic. They combine both fashion forward designs with functionality and durability. My daughter got her first pair the other day, and she was smiling from cheek to cheek. She wore the Jennae style which had a rasberry peep toe, cream piping around the edges, and a cute flower at the end of the strap. My daughter was in shoe heaven. She ran around the house in them with no discomfort. She jumped, danced, and spun, without any issues. She kept saying to me, "Mommy, I am wearing princess shoes." She associates princess with anything royal, chic, and pretty. We finally got a shoe, that was both girly chic and comfortable. They have a smaller line that runs from 0-18 months, and their See Kai Run line, which runs from 6 months to 3 years. For more information, please visit them at: http://www.seekairun.com/ and take a look at their wonderful line of shoes. You can also join their email list, to find out about sales and special offers.

SEE KAI RUN GIVEAWAY
One of my lucky readers will win a wonderful pair of shoes from See Kai Run. The winner will have a choice for a pair of shoes from the See Kai Run line, or their Smaller line. In order to participate and enter into the giveaway, please leave a comment, telling us what shoe you would like to win and one thing you like about the See Kai Run line. The giveaway is open to US and Canada addresses only. For Extra Entries:

Follow my Blog (2 extra entries)
Suscribe to my Blog (2 extra entries)
Blog about this giveaway, and link back (3 extra entries)
Follow me on Twitter, and Twitter about this giveaway (unlimited entries). Please link back to me.
Add me to your Technorati favorites (3 extra entries)
Join See Kai Run mailing list (2 extra entries)

Giveaway ends on June 14th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST. Please make sure you leave a valid email address so that we can notify the winner. We will notify the winner, and the winner has 48 hours to respond. If the winner fails to respond within that time period, we will choose a new winner.

Thanks and Good Luck to all my readers!

The biggest scare of my life

2009-05-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, I broke my elbow, sprained my ankle, dislocated my knee, and got into near death, car accidents. However, the scariest day of my life was when my daughter got a second degree burn on her chest. She was 2 months shy of being 2 years old. That particular day, I had made my hot green tea and left it on top of the counter, far away from where she could reach it. When I returned, she climbed up a chair and grabbed the cup. The second I said, "Nooooo," she immediately dropped all the hot water onto her chest. She was in shock, and I was in mortified shock. Being a new mother, I didn't know what to do. I just panicked and looked around for help. Of course, no one was around, and I had to figure things out. I started calling everyone, but no one answered. So then I went online to look for help, but everything was a big blur. My daughter was in a state of shock, so I tried to calm her down. I got a cold wet towel to put over the area. At first, her chest was red, then it progressed to a purple, and then her skin started to peel. I could see raw skin underneath. I immediately called my husband and he rushed over.

We took her to the ER and waited nearly 3 hours before they saw us. By the time it was our turn, the peeling of the skin got worse. When the doctor came over, she literally put an ointment on the chest and stuck a bandaid on top of it. She didn't even take the time to clean off the wounded area. She suggested that we stay away from touching the area and as it starts healing, to put sunscreen on it. I stared at her in awe, and was pretty pis*ed. I couldn't believe how they took care of the situation, like it was nothing. I just felt like we could have done a better job, by staying home.

After that happened, I told myself that I would have ointments, or healing creams readily available in my first aid kit. Just in case it happens again. Although, I pray it doesn't. But as parents, we always have to be prepared. I try to buy everything holistic, homeopathic, or natural when it comes to skin, medication, etc. I went through a couple products that were effective, but I wasn't sure if they were good enough for the "ER" moments. I did some research and came across Thera Wise, a company that makes Natural Bio Active Therapeutic Ointments. Having gone through the scare with my daughter, I was immediately drawn to their Bio Active Skin Healing Ointment, "SHO." It aids in wound healing, reduces skin irritation and inflammation, and has antibacterial properties. It's the natural alternative to corticosteroids, anti-itch and antibacterial ointment. If you look at their ingredient list, it's all very natural. For me, that is very important.

Since a year had passed with my daughter's accident, I didn't try the ointment on her. However, my husband is a chef, and he always comes home with burns, skin irritations, and cuts, so I knew I could test it on my husband. The other day, he came home with a huge cut, so I thought it was perfect timing. I was excited to put the SHO ointment to the test. My husband couldn't understand why I was so excited about his painful cut. I immediately took the ointment, out of the box, and put it on his cut. It went on smoothly and did not have any strong odor. I put it on again, once before he went to bed, and once when he woke up. When he came home that evening, the cut, was enclosed and healing. The ointment works! It will definitely go into my first aid kit. But I see the highly likelihood that my husband will be carrying it, in his back pocket.

Thera Wise carries three other ointments: HmR (Hemorrhoidal Ointment), VpR (Vaporizing Decongestant Rub), and Ac+ (Acne Ointment). For more information on their products, please go to: www.therawise.com.

Labor & Delivery Tours

2009-05-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

For my first pregnancy, I never took a hospital tour nor did I take a labor class. When people would ask me questions about the Labor & Delivery tours and birthing classes, I felt like a foreigner. I felt like I wasn't doing enough and I was missing out on a whole array of things. When I did go to Labor & Delivery to deliver my daughter, I just did everything that was asked of me. I was breathing when I needed to, push when I had to, and filled out paperwork galore.

With this second pregnancy, I made sure I made my reservations for the tour ahead of time. My husband and I attended the informational tour yesterday. The OB nurse who was giving the tour went through everything that you would need to know from the time you go into labor to the time you get discharged from the hospital. She went into great details about when to come to the hospital, what to bring, visiting hours, etc...I found it to be very informative, but nothing I couldn't learn on my own. My husband was falling asleep, which highly irritated me, but I completely understood why. We already had gone through the process before and it wasn't anything new, except a couple things because it was a different hospital. There were a lot of new parents and very few second time around parents.

One thing I learned from the tour, was when to go into the hospital, to be admitted for delivery:

For first time mothers: Strong 90 second contractions every 5 minutes for 2 hours. (You time from the end of the first, to the start of the next).

Second time mothers: Strong 90 second contractions every 5 minutes for 1 hour. (You need to be about 4cm dilated to be admitted or they will send you home)

If your water breaks, come in immediately, you will be admitted.

Personally, I feel that the Labor & Delivery tours are great for new parents-to-be. For me, it was just interesting to see where I would be delivering and where I would be recovering. I liked reviewing information that I already knew and also hearing questions asked by other mothers and fathers. It was also great to see the staff at hand and how personable they were. If you have any questions about labor and delivery, I would highly suggest going on the tour.

Post-natal DVDs, yay or nay?

2009-05-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

Let me start off by saying that I am not a fan of exercise DVDs, CDs, videos, etc. I am a really hands on person and I would rather be in a studio with an equipment, or someone in front of me, directing my every move. When I was expecting my daughter, I received a lot of prenatal DVDs and post-natal DVDs, to try out. Of course, since they were gifts, I felt obligated to at least, turn them on and watch them for a brief exercise. I didn't want to be asked, "How did you like it?",and then have to lie to them, that the exercises were great. It's not in myself, to lie like that. None of the workout DVDs caught my attention, and they just seemed too long and dragged out. I felt like I could do a better job inventing my own day to day routines.

When I received, chicks-n-chickens Lullaby Exercises, I immediately thought, another exercise DVD that is going to attempt in trying to make exercising fun. The packaging was very cute and printed on recycled paper. I loved the name chicks-n-chickens (groove,sleep, enjoy). But will this be enough for me to really enjoy this DVD. I left the DVD on my laptop table, and then went and took a nice relaxing bath. I thought about it, and said, let's give this one a shot. I haven't heard about lullaby exercises, and the pictures on the cover show moms exercising with their babies, in a sling. Now, that's a new concept.

Being pregnant for the second time, I thought about what sort of exercises I would want to do, after I had the baby. I just think it's healthy to do some form of physical activity, after having your baby, even if it's super low impact. However, I remembered back to when I had my daughter, and I had no time for anything, sleep became a luxury. So where would I find the time to go to a studio and work out? And who is going to take care of the baby, if I do? Hmm, those are definite legitimate questions, you ask yourself as a mother.

When I started the chicks-n-chickens DVD, it started with founder Darcy Novo Albrecht, giving us a little insight about the DVD, and just a true genuine warm welcome. Immediately, I was drawn in. You could tell she was passionate about this exercise program she developed, and what it would do for other mothers. Every exercise starts off with a title, and a message underneath, such as "patience." The DVD is divided up into two sections, one is "groove", and the other is "sleep." She started off with a warm-up exercise, and it was so great to see mothers and babies grooving to the music. Of course, half the babies were sleeping, but you could tell they were at peace. The exercises were pretty simple and easy to do, which is great news for people who are not really coordinated. I know of people who gave up on mainstream exercise DVDs, for the mere fact that they were just too hard to follow. Each exercise progresses, and you can tell the mothers are getting a workout. You actually see them breathing and getting into it. Remember they are mothers, not hand chosen fitness buffs to perform workout routines.

I loved that all the exercises were standing up. Darcy, introduces us to a standing pushup, as well as a standing sit up. Now, that is awesome. I don't know about you, but we sit as we breastfeed, we sit as we cradle our baby, and we sit doing a lot of things, when our child is very little. So it was great to see that the exercises were standing up. And the tempo picked up with every exercise. The next section, is "sleep." I really enjoyed this section, and it literally put me in the zone, the zone to fall asleep. It was beautiful to see the moms, swaying with their babies, looking into their eyes, and really bonding with them. You even see Darcy, in one segment, with tears in her eyes. I love that because, how many times do we look at our child, and we have tears of joy. It's so special.

The chicks-n-chickens DVD, is a must have for new moms. I would even put this on my baby registry. You can do these exercises in the privacy of your home and at the same time, bond with your little one. This is the first exercise DVD that I have come across, that means more than just exercising for your waistline. It's about the connection and bond you build with your baby, as you reconnect with your own body. Please visit Darcy and chicks-n-chickens at: http://www.chicks-n-chickens.com/.

A very long Week--------end

2009-05-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a delightful Memorial Day Weekend! Mine was not even close to being delightful. My whole family was sick. Remember my post from last week about going to the ER for my daughter? Well on top of her UTI, she caught a virus when she went into the ER. Needless to say, she has been a miserable camper. I was super excited that my husband was coming back from overseas because I missed him, but I thought he could help out around the house, especially with my daughter. Negative. He came back home with bad jet-lag, but he also caught the flu on the plane. Of course, I had to look up at the ceiling and say, "why me?"

Of course the mini-vacation I had planned over the weekend, never happened, and I was stuck home all last week and during the weekend, taking care of my daughter, my husband, and the household. At this time, any sort of help, sounds really appealing. I feel like I'm out in the mountains, all by myself. After having to carry my daughter around, and catering to my husband's needs all week and weekend long, guess what happened? I woke up with dry throat, a cold, sniffles, and bad lower back pain. Being pregnant, I can't really take anything, so now on top of taking care of everyone and everything, I have to deal with myself. Sometimes, I wonder how we do it all. Then, I think to myself, mothers are powerhouses.

We do it all, regardless of the situation, environment, etc. We make things happen and we don't go down without a fight. I had very honest moments with myself all last week, dealing with the current situation that I am in. At times I felt so helpless, weak, defeated, sad, onset of depression happening, physically exhausted, emotionally drained, and other times, I felt empowered, strong-willed, a true warrior. All in all, I feel like an overworked She-Rah with a purpose. I will be happy once the whole family gets back to normal, as well as myself. Hopefully, no one had to go through what I had to go through, but then again, we all encounter daily challenges, in one way or another.

Convenience is a necessity when it comes to being a mother

2009-05-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

When I bought my first stroller, there were only a few things that I was set on. It had to be lightweight because there was no way, I would lug a 40 pounder, in and out of a car, up 25 flights of stairs, and back down. I wasn't going to kill myself, end up with a herniated disc, and simply put myself through hell. Another thing I also looked at was how easy it would fold. I've seen parents, more times than less, detaching, attaching, reattaching, different components of their strollers. It just looked tedious, tiring, and frustrating. I wasn't going to have the patience to go through that. The last and most important factor would be safety. I didn't want to be going down the block, only to see parts coming off, or our child rolling down a hill. It would be every parents' nightmare, and I've heard some really bad horror stories. If the stroller met those three criterias, it would be sold.

I was lucky enough to find a stroller, that met all those criterias. It was lightweight, super easy to fold, and really safe. You would think I would be the happiest stroller consumer on the market. However, as I used it more and more, it lacked in a lot of features that would make my daily to daily events, a lot easier. First, it did not have a cup holder. I never thought a cup holder, or any holder of that matter, would be of importance. I wasn't a coffee drinker, nor did I feel the necessity to have one. As time passed, I noticed that it became a hassle to bend down, open up my bag, pull out my daughter's sippy cup and then give her a drink. Wait a couple minutes, then retrieve the sippy cup back from her, put it back in the bag, and then bend back down to insert it, in the bin underneath. It was time consuming and just tiring. I cringe thinking about it.

Another feature, that it missed, was a good storage area. Of course, the stroller being light, I don't see how a storage area would make sense, especially since it would contribute to the weight of it. However, my diaper bag would just hang, draped over the stroller, in an unsecured manner. I've had problems where the entire stroller flipped backwards from the weight of the diaper bag. I began to do some research, and found that a lot of the diaper bag companies were offering stroller attachements, to their diaper bags. Of course, this sounded great, and I loved that new concepts and ideas were coming out to improve the lives of mothers, fathers, and caregivers. However, when I saw the attachments, they did not look sturdy or durable. Of course, they looked chic and cute on a stroller, but I wanted something that looked strong. It comes down to preference.

If I had those two things, it would make my life a lot easier, and strain free. I looked for cupholders and diaper bag holders, both online and at stores. I came across the plastic cup holders, that looked nice, but looked like they would crack or break, only in a matter of time. And the diaper bag holders, came in different shapes, sizes, and materials, but all looked either too weak or too bulky. I wanted something sturdy, multifunctional, and easy to manuever. I came across, Think King. The name was very clever in itself. I had to see what it had to offer, and if it would indeed, make my life a lot easier.

They offer the soft buggy cup and the mighty buggy hook. When a company offers two items, as their line of products, it says a lot. To me, it tells me that they really thought about the necessity of these two products, from usability to functionality. They probably are parents themselves or know of people who went through the same frustrations as myself, and came up with a product, that would take away those frustrations.

The soft buggy cup, acts as a cup holder and an "everything pocket," that fits most strollers. So it's pretty much an all in one holder, that can hold everything from your drink, to your diaper wipes. Not only that, it works on scooters, bicycles, wheelchairs, and beds. Wow! You can attach and detach with a simple velcro strap, so no more twisting and turning of a plastic cup holder. It's super sturdy, keeps contents in place with a drawstring closure, and the soft material flattens when the stroller folds. It's a no nonsense cup holder, that has all the bells and whistles, without the added bulk and the complicated instructionals. I love that it is multi-functional, easy to use, and is very sturdy. Everything I was looking for and more.

The mighty hook is the answer to my diaper bag hanging issues. I no longer have to loosely drape my bag over the stroller, knowing that it could fall without a moment's notice. It is made of a sturdy lightweight aluminum hook that will not break. Also, it can be used to hook on everything and anything you want to hang from a stroller. I hooked on my purse, my keys, and my daughter's lunch bag. They have a deep U shape which accomodates extra wide purse/bag handles, and the short hook, holds the bags close to the stroller (definitely a plus, if you live in a major city). Plus, the rubbery straps keep it from sliding around. Similar to the buggy cup, the hook is easy to attach with a velcro strap. I love that it's functional, durable, and easy to use.

Both products were used with the parent/caregiver in mind. Definitely, it's a great addition to my line of products I have at home, and will definitely make my life a lot easier and manageable. I loved that just the other day, I was able to attach the soft buggy holder onto my daughter's bicycle. We were able to put her SIGG water bottle and crackers in there. As she was riding her bike, she was able to pull out her water, when she needed a sip, and ate her crackers when she wanted to. There was no more of, riding around, then coming back to me, drink some water, and then riding back. She was able to be independent of me, and I was able to watch her without having to constantly open and close my bag. It definitely saved a lot of time and energy for both of us. If you are a no nonsense parent, who wants a no nonsense product, please visit Think King at http://www.think-king.com/.

Does your child hate brushing their teeth?

2009-05-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

Are you pulling teeth with them everyday? Well, that's me. My daughter hates brushing her teeth and she would rather sleep for months, without ever brushing. Most of the time, I have to take her to the bathroom and convince her that brushing is for princesses. Sometimes that works, while other times, she will run the other way. There are some days, I admit, she will not brush her teeth at all. I could be bribing her with chocolate cake, candy, and ice cream, and she'll turn the other way, and shake her head no.

Every time she misses brushing her teeth, I feel like I'm a bad parent. I dread the day I have to go to her dental appointment, only to find out that her entire mouth is filled with cavities. I start to think of scenarios and drive myself crazy. This is all because she doesnt want to brush her teeth.

One day, we were back in the bathroom, and I had to put on my sales talk with her. I told her all the benefits of brushing her teeth, including a reward of a Spongebob toy. She hesitently looked up at me because she could never say no to Spongebob. She opened her mouth and I proceeded to brush her teeth, with some minty toothpaste. She said, "yuck!" She immediately grabbed my hand and pulled the brush out of her mouth. Of course, I was super-frusterated. I looked at her and asked her why she hated brushing her teeth. Her reply was simple, "it taste yucky." And then, I had an "A-HA" moment. I realized she didn't like the toothpaste on the toothbrush. It tasted pasty, artificial, and something she would never eat in a million years. Like anything else, I then went on a mission to find a kid-friendly toothpaste. Something that my daughter would love and be safe.

While on the hunt for the perfect toothpaste, I discovered Tanner's Tasty Paste. A toothpaste that was developed by a doctor, for children. After working with children on a daily basis, the doctor learned what flavors responded best to children, when it came to toothpastes. With that in mind, came about the Tanner's Tasty Paste. A paste that was developed for children and babies. The toothpaste does not contain saccharin, artificial colors, flavors, and most importantly, sodium lauryl sulfate (suspected in causing sores). Making the paste, a very safe one, as well. It comes in Banilla Bling, Cha Cha Chocolate, Blingside, and Baby Bling. All my daughter's favorite ice cream flavors.

I was so excited to start using it, that I literally ripped opened the box, when I got it. I told my daughter that she would get to brush her teeth with chocolate. She gave me a weird look at first, because I had never offered chocolate and toothpaste together, in one sentence. Instead of sticking a toothbrush in her mouth immediately, I squirted a little paste onto my finger and had her taste it. She looked at me and said, "more." I was ecstatic. Ever since that day, we have not looked back. I am proud to say, she is back on track, and well on her way to great dental hygiene. The only problem now is that she wants to brush her teeth, all the time. For more information, go to http://www.tannerstastypaste.com/, to make your child's brushing experience, one that is enjoyable, tasty, and safe.

Update: My sleepless last 3 days

2009-05-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

These last couple of days have been so never-ending and tiring. I believe that I may have gotten in 3 hours of sleep total within the last 72 hours. I look like a walking zombie and my daughter wakes up every ten minutes crying for air. The antibiotics that she is taking is very strong, so she is dealing with that and everything else.

The good thing is that my husband is back from his trip and he will be home until next week, so hopefully, I will get some rest. The hardest thing is that my daughter does not go to anyone but me. So if anyone wants to help, she will not have it. I feel like she has become a permanent attachment to my leg. So not only do I have a heavy growing stomach, I now have a 35lb attachment to my leg.

Hopefully this week will go by quickly and my daughter is able to get back to normal. I'll tell you, being a mother is definitely rewarding, but it comes with lots and lots of hard work.

Are you Dappled yet?

2009-05-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

When my daughter was an infant, my mother and I, had so many difficulties in trying to clean out her bottles. Time and time again, we were left with soap residue, milk odor, and not a complete sense of cleanliness. When you are a parent, you have sanitary concerns, especially when it comes to your newborn because they look so delicate and fragile. You want to make sure that you are doing everything in your power, to protect your child from any harm. Trying to be a conscious parent, I bought all natural laundry detergents for babies, as well as natural dish liquid. I liked the fact that my dish liquid was natural, green, and did not have any harmful chemicals in it. However, it was not doing it's job in cleaning my bottles to a sanitary standard. I couldn't find anything else, so we just went with it. If we couldn't get rid of the residue, we just boiled the heck out of the bottles. Most people don't have the time nor energy, to be standing in front of the stove, making sure that the bottles are being boiled, and not over-boiled. We managed to make it through that period, but it came with a lot of hard work.

After my daughter started to play with her toys and shared her toys, cleanliness became a major concern. Especially, when I saw her putting toys in her mouth, as well as other children, putting toys in their mouth. With germs here and there, it was hard to monitor and wash each individual toy, every time I saw a toy go into her mouth, or another child's mouth. Of course, I had my mother, who was on a mission, to clean each and every toy. But had it been me, I wouldn't have had the time or the energy to do that.

Being pregnant again, and having a toddler on my hands, I wanted to find something that could do the job, be safe, and green at the same time. I knew someone out there would understand my frustrations with cleaning products, and would have developed a product by now. To my excitement, I was able to find Dapple Baby, which was started by mothers who had similar experiences, as well as frustrations that I had encountered with my daughter. They devoted their entire line of products to babies, which in turn, makes it safe for adults as well. I tried out there Dapple Toy Cleanser Wipes and their Dapple Dish Liquid. Both those products had a list of simple ingredients, that are very natural, and free of phtalate, paraben, SLES, and dye. A definite "A-plus" in my book. They are frangranced with pure lavender essential oil, and are biodegradable. They do not test on animals and are certified to contain no detectable levels of dioxane. So pretty much, they covered their grounds, from A to Z, to ensure the safety of you and your baby.

We had some bottles of the past, stacked in our kitchen. Most of them still had the residues left from 2 years ago, and the odor still existed. We took the dish liquid, with warm to hot water, and washed it. My mom was skeptical at first. Her first experience with natural dish liquid, was not a pleasant one, when it came to cleaning. To our surprise, the residue came off, and this was from 2 years back. Immediately, we wanted to try out the toy wipes. We took some of her older toys and cleaned them off with the wipes, and it was as easy as 1-2-3. Knowing the convenience, safety, and reliability, I would get from using Dapple Baby Products, made me feel really confident, for the next baby to come.

Please visit Dapple Baby at http://www.dapplebaby.com/

The toughest night of my life!

2009-05-19T13:00:00.001-07:00

Wow! Where do I start? My daughter woke up yesterday morning telling me that her body was hot. I thought she was going to be fine, and just let her stay home from preschool. As the day progressed, her fever got worse and worse. Usually, she fights off everything, but this time, she did not look the same. As night hit, she progressively got worse, to the point that in the middle of the night, she got to the point of 105 degrees. Of course, I rushed her to the ER.

My own mother, took a cab, to my house to take my daughter to the ER. Since I am pregnant, and my husband is on a trip overseas, I needed major help. When we got there, they were very concerned with her high fever. They asked me multiple questions and ruled out the possibility of a cold or flu and a virus. The doctor spoke to me and asked me that she wanted to take a urine sample of her. When girls her age get high fevers like this one, usually it's because they may have a urinary tract infection that is trying to spread in the body. She also ordered a chest x-ray, as well as a blood test.

I felt like I was going through a bad dream. I had so many people come up to me, asking me the same questions. After awhile, I wish they had left us alone because it was non-stop chaos. Needless to say, the urine sample, where they stuck a tube up her urinary opening, was not very pleasant. My daughter was screaming for her life, and I just wish it would be over with. That was followed by blood tests and chest x-ray, and to top it off, an IV for her.

The doctor came back with the results confirming that she had a urinary infection. I am glad we went to the ER and was able to find out the issue. Unlike our last visit, which is another story in itself. However, what I don't like about hospitals is that, too many people come and ask the same questions. It's almost like non-stop interrogation. Anyhow, we were discharged, which I am glad, because there is no better place than home. My daughter was given antibiotics and she feels a whole lot better.

I am glad that this is over with! It felt like a really bad nightmare.

My daughter wants to be clean, and I need to find something now!

2009-05-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

I like to see my daughter tidy, neat, and clean looking. But as we know, kids will be kids, and mess is something that is unavoidable. Growing up with clean freak parents, I vowed that my kids would live a free form life. For them to have fun, be themselves, and not have to care too much about the mess. Of course, I want to see them presentable, and not look, as if they have been neglected. But at the same time, I want them to enjoy being a kid.

Fortunately, my neat freak mom, has been with us, helping out with my daughter. In turn, my daughter has inherited some neat freak tendencies. For example, if there is a tiny drop of water, paint, food, or anything of that matter, she will rip off her clothes within seconds. On good days, she will have two changes, but on her bad days, we will go through 6 or 7 changes. Just a week ago, we went to a restaurant, and she dropped some water, on her top and bottom. She literally stood up on her chair, and proceeded to take off all her clothes. My husband and I, very embarrassed, had to tell her that she was stuck wearing her clothes. Let me tell you, she was not happy, and on the verge of a major tantrum.

Being the mom that I am, I had to find something that would protect my daughter's clothing, be super functional, and super stylish. I wanted something that was a mix of a bib, apron, and coverall. If I couldn't find something like that, I was going to resort to purchasing fabric at Joanne Fabrics, and having my mom, make my concoction, on her sewing machine.

I literally went from store after store. I saw some aprons, some bibs, and some really ugly garbage bag looking things. After running around, and not finding anything close to my idea, I came back home and went online. Even my internet search, was not an easy one. I probably went to around a hundred sites, before I came across my find. My find being, Dilly Dally Chic. I literally went to their site, holding my breath, hoping and praying this would be my answer.

When their page finally opened, and I saw the first photos of their bibbies, I said, "yes, this is it!" This is exactly what I have been looking for. It was a bibbie that was super functional, super wearable, and super stylish. I was pretty excited about the selections they had. The bibbies had very vintage/modern looking prints (that are reversible) and came in four different sizes. It could be worn to do artwork, to eat, to do crafts, to cook, and the list is endless. My daughter actually slept in hers. Of course, she passed out after trying to bake a cake with me, but it was comfortable enough for her to lay down and sleep in it, without any hesitation.

What I love most about Dilly Dally Chic is that it's not just a regular old bibbie. It's a bibbie with a history and family tradition. I am one to love family heirlooms, and this has been passed down for three generations, starting with their Great Grandma Donna. It's so special to know that my daughter gets to be a part of someone else's family tradition. Wearing a piece of history, a bibbie with a story, is something truely special. Of course, with each generation, they updated their bibbies to fit the times.

I am so happy to introduce to you, Dilly Dally Chic bibbies. If you're a mom like me, who doesn't want the mess or the fuss, while having the combined functionality, and maintaining your child's stylish looks, these bibbies are your answer. They have a double sided quilted fabric, to make them extra absorbent. Plus, there are 11 pattern choices, all being very cute, for either your little boy or girl. My daughter has the Sweat Pea pattern, and it is absolutely adorable and darling on her. Her bibbie being a size large, it has an added two pockets to the front, where she stores her markers, and some of her special toys in. She absolutely loves it and for the first time, she doesn't mind if water drops on her. Mission Accomplished! Price: $35 ($4 extra for Large)

When you get a Dilly Dally Chic bibbie, you are not just getting a super bibbie. You get a piece of history, and a slice of the Dilly Dally Chic family tradition. Please visit Dilly Dally Chic at http://www.dillydallychic.com/

For my readers: 20% off for the entire week. Enter code: MOMMAS20

Music for you and your baby's ears

2009-05-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

How many times, do you read a pregnancy magazine or go online, and you see an advertisement for a product that you would like to try out, but you are not sure if its worth the money to spend. I am one of those people. Times are hard, and you really have to think about the worth of your purchases. Having probably the most stressful pregnancy, this time around, with sciatica, nausea, and hormonal changes galore, I have been looking for products that would de-stress me. When I came across Bellysonic, the pictures and the messages on the ad, seemed like my most immediate cure for de-stressification.

I wanted to bond with my child, and music seemed to be the most perfect way. Music is so soothing, comforting, and freeing. I felt that the music I would hear through my ears, and the music my baby would hear, through my belly, would be another step in our bonding experience. In other words, it's our time, for me to de-stress, and my child to reap the benefits of that.

When I was getting more information about the Bellysonic, I was introduced to their other line, Sleepsonic. It's based upon the same principles, but it's a speaker pillow. I have problems with sleeping at night because my days are filled, and I constantly think about all the millions of things, I need to take care of the next day. So in turn, I always have trouble sleeping at night. The Sleepsonic would be another way for me to de-stress, listen to music, and also get a good night's rest.

Of course, once I got my Bellysonic and Sleepsonic, I was super-excited. I was super-excited to try it out and super excited to write about it. If it's something that helps me, and I could help others in the same boat, I would be so happy to spread the word.

First, the Bellysonic, is super soft,lightweight, and made of Organic Sherpa cotton fabric. It has a built in (mini) low out-put headphone type stereo speakers, a headphone splitter, and an MP3 player storage area in the speaker pouch. You can also use the Bellysonic with a CD player. Plus, it is Made in the USA (nothing better than supporting our own economy).

The Bellysonic delivers stereo sounds to the womb. It allows both the mommy and the baby to enjoy the process of prenatal learning. There has been endless research, proving the benefits that music gives to the baby in the womb. I was always told by mom and other mothers, to turn on music and let the baby enjoy, while you relax. And after trying it, I was able to relax, and it was such a great feeling that my baby was listening to the same music. I felt like we were sharing a "secret" experience that was only between us. I felt like I was bonding with my baby, and with every movement and every kick, it just made my experience even more satisfying.

The Sleepsonic stereo speaker pillows came with a built in pair of custom-made digital stero headphones. The pillow was very compact in design and very comfortable. It is also compatible with any digital, stereo CD/tape, MP3, PC, portable or home stereo system. So you don't have to be high tech to use this pillow. My pillowcase was made of Organic Sherpa Cotton, which was very soft and delicate. Another great option was that you can customize your own pillow to fit your own sleeping needs. My pillow was a wedged pillow, made on an incline, which offered me more neck support and more thickness along the neck line.

When it was time to sleep, the music in the pillow was so soothing and relaxing. It felt good that I did not have bulky headphones around my ear, which would be a hassle to wear while I was sleeping. My husband who had major insomnia issues on a nightly basis, was able to sleep within an hour, after just soaking up the music from the pillow. After I saw that, I truely could recommend this to anyone who has sleep issues, or in my case, stress and sleep issues.

Both the Bellysonic and Sleepsonic are gems. For people who are in my shoes, as well as people looking for a great product for themselves, can reap the benefits of these two systems. Whether its pregnancy or stress, in my case, or sleep issues, in my husband's case, both these systems can do so much for you, and you'll wake up a happier person. For more information please visit them at: http://www.bellysonic.com/ and http://www.sleepsonic.com/.

Another Side Note: The lady behind these two great products, Julia Paris, is such a wonderful woman, who genuinly cares about mothers. She is a wealth of knowledge and is very passionate about what she does. So if you have any specific questions or comments, I am sure she would love to hear from all you mommas here. Just go to the website and email her. She is also constantly developing new products and she also has a Baby Sleepsonic line.

Are you expecting or a new mom?

2009-05-14T11:54:00.001-07:00

If you are in the Los Angeles area, I have an event for you. I recently came across the Breakfast Club Mommies. The club was started by Mommy & Baby Lifestyle Expert, Jayneoni Moore. The site says that it is a, "posh social club for moms and moms-to-be." If you are looking to be in some sort of mommy social circle, this one seems to be a fun one to be a part of. I have never been to any of their events, so it's hard for me to really go into depth about what the events are like.

The club is hosting "From the Bump to the Tot Mommy Dinner" at Giggles N Hugs, on May 27th, 2009 (7:30-9:00pm). If you are a new mom or a mom-to-be, you may want to RSVP to this event. The tickets are $60 (includes an overfilled gift bag). For more information, please go to: http://www.breakfastclubmommies.com/.

Link to the invite: http://breakfastclubmommies.com/Invite.html

Cleaning the right way

2009-05-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

As parents, we are constantly cleaning up after our children. Sometimes, they are simple spills, and other times it's the marked up, kiddie drawings, all over the wall. Sure, I love murals and artworks, but sometimes, it just doesnt work in certain places. Having a child, I have been more and more conscious about the products I use. I try to stay away from mainstream conventional cleaners because they are just so toxic and hazardous to our health, while being hard on the environment and our Earth.

I have used many products that are natural and safe, however, sometimes, I just feel it does not clean the way I want it to. Granted it is very natural, so you must compare and outweigh your options. But I felt that something had to be on the market that was safe, natural, and did the cleaning. And you know what? I was right. Simply Neutral is what I discovered. I tried out the Value Pack which included, the all-purpose cleaner, the no-VOC glass cleaner, and the non-abrasive cleanser. Immediately, I liked how they packaged it and shipped to my house. In order to reduce their global footprint, they shipped their cleaners, "waterless." The concentrate was in the bottle, and all I needed to do, was add water. They also reuse and recycle, their boxes, as well as their packing supplies. I thought this was very neat, and very eco-conscious.

My mother is a master cleaner, and she really knows how to work it. In the past, she has complained about, some of my more natural and safer products. I handed the products over to her and she was quite pleased with them. She said that it actually cleaned, rather than her trying to clean it. None of the cleaners contain petroleum-based compounds, phosphates, volatile organic compounds, dyes, or synthetic frangrances. Save your house and Save the Earth. For more information, go to http://www.simplyneutral.com/.

Mod Mum Sling Giveaway!

2009-05-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

For one of my lucky readers, Mod Mum is giving away a sling of your choice from their site. Please comment below telling us what you like about the sling, as well as your favorite print, by going to: http://www.modmum.com/. This is mandatory for the main entry.

Please use one account to enter. If found to be using other blogger accounts, as well as anonymous comments to gain extra entries, you will be disqualified from this giveaway, as well as future giveaways. Let's keep it fair!

For additional entries:Please leave a comment for each additional entry you complete. (current followers and subscribers count as well)

Follow my blog
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway (with a link to this page) on Twitter. Please leave a link to your tweet.(2 entries)
Blog about the giveaway and link back (2 entries)
Add me as a favorite on Technorati

The giveaway will end on Sunday May 24th, 2009 at 11:59pm(PST).

Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address. If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open for US mailing addresses only.

I want to love slings

2009-05-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

I really do? Just to explain a little something, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I had so many slings given to me for my baby shower. Of course, I put slings on my registry list, hearing all the special benefits, it would give me and my baby. However, once I got them, I had such difficulties in putting them on. It seemed way too complicated. After going through the online tutorials, manuals, as well as cds, I pretty much gave up on slings.

As I watched other mothers sport their, really fashionable slings, I just didn't get why I couldn't figure out how to wear a sling. I truely felt like I was a little slow. Consistently, I would give it a try, only to give up again, and just feel helpless. I really wanted to reap the benefits of babywearing, for my child and I.

When I got pregnant this time around, the thought of getting a sling crossed my mind again. So I started to read endless magazines, blogs, online parenting sites, and decided that I would try babywearing again. This time around, I wanted to give it a go, without giving up. If the girl next door can easily put her baby in the sling, then I could do the same. With that mindset, I went on a search to find a sling that would be easy to wear, as well as being stylish. Then I came across Mod Mum, "baby slings for stylish modern mums."

Let me tell you, after struggling, one sling after another, it was so great to put this sling on. I did not struggle, I did not have to figure things out, it was so easy. It came with simple instructions and explained everything, step by step. Also, I learned the importance of correct sizing. If you have the wrong size, you won't be comfortable, and safety issues with the baby may arise. You can use the Mod Mum sling in three different positions: Cradle Carry (0-9months), Front Carry (2-8 months), and Hip Carry (6 months+). The sling that I got was in the Olivia print (pictured above). It is very stylish and modern, and represents the vibrant person that I am. It also has a super sleek leg padding, to add comfort to your baby, when you hip carry.

I am so glad I found Mod Mum slings. I tried it out with my daughter's life size baby doll, and had no problems. I am very happy and hopeful, that this time around, my baby and I will experience the true gift and benefits of babywearing. Please visit them at http://www.modmum.com/. Price: $38-$64

Happy Mother's Day, from me to you!

2009-05-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

Being a mother, has so many special qualities. Every time, I see my daughter sleep next to me in her tutu and ballet slippers, or when she comes up to me and asks me a very intelligent question, I get this warm fuzzy feeling that is indescribable. First off, I can't even fathom how she came out of me. Now she is a blossoming little flower that is growing everyday and gets more beautiful, everytime I see her. Being pregnant again, I share these moments with my unborn baby as well. Every time she nudges at me, or kicks me in my ribcage, I get overjoyed, knowing that this little being is growing inside me, and learning about the world through what she hears and feels inside the womb.

A lot of times, we may take parenthood for granted, and see it as a "right." For me, I feel that if we are given the chance at being a parent, whether its through our own biological child, or through adoption, it's a true privilege. There are no replicas of our children and they are very special, to each and every one of us.

For the last two mother's day, my daughter did not know what Mother's Day was. I am assuming that she saw it as another day we would go to the hotel, to have brunch with her grandmother and her mom, while her dad was working hard to make sure that everyone was being accomodated. This year, she made me a special art project, at her preschool. It was a picture of her on a magnet, with the words, "Happy Mother's Day." It was the best gift ever. Everytime I see it on our refrigerator, it reminds me of how special I am, and how lucky I am to be a mother.

For all the mothers out there, I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day! Always know that, regardless of our rough days and or heartaches, at the end of the day, we are left with being that one special mother to our kids.

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." -Unknown

I want to be a spoiled mama!

2009-05-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

I will say, I am one of those lucky few that did not get stretch marks, the first time around, and I see no apparent stretch marks currently, with my second pregnancy. However, it's not all about stretch marks, it's about treating yourself and your skin to some guilty pleasures. I call it skincare desserts. After going through many pregnancy related skincare products, I've had some hits and some misses, but nothing really made me feel like a princess. Until I came across, The Spoiled Mama. Like the name, you definitely feel spoiled from the time you open the packaging, to the time you slather on some good ole tummy butter.

I love the fact that you can buy a sampler, before you actually buy the full size product. Although, the prices are very competitive and reasonable for the luxury you are getting. I tried out the Best of Bump Sampler, which included 1/2 oz of Tummy Butter, 1 oz of Bump Gloss, 1 oz Extreme Mama Creme, all for a mere $15. I put everything on, after my bath, and they quickly absorbed into my skin, and had such a light consistency. At first, I was hesitent to put on the Bump Gloss because I've had issues in the past, putting on tummy oil, only to be left with oily stains on my nice shirts. Well, I have to say, there were no stains, and my skin soaked it all right in.

For all the mommas, who are very conscious about the safety of their unborn, like myself, all the products are free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harsh sufactants, artificial colors, and petroleum derivatives. They only use the finest natural and organic ingredients (Vegan Approved/Cruelty Free). If you want to be spoiled and "spoil the baby in you," please visit: http://www.thespoiledmama.com/.

Today is "National Mom's Nite Out!"

2009-05-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

Okay ladies, it's your night tonight! Pack your little purses and leave the house, to go to one of many events planned all around the US, for a night out on the town. If that's not option, go to a secret area in your own home and join one of many events going online. There are some great events with a lot of cool giveaways going on, and as a mother, you all deserve this night. I am surely taking this opportunity, to meet fellow mothers, engage in good conversation, and just have some good ole time. If you want to know more about an event near your area, please go to : http://www.momsniteout.com/.

"Part of growing up is falling down."

2009-05-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

This is the first thing you will read when you enter the me4kidz website. I was on the hunt to look for First Aid Kits, after my daughter's preschool required her to have one, in her earthquake kit. We live in California, where earthquakes happen everyday, so the schools require this. I went around to different stores, only to find kits that did not look child-friendly. I wanted a kit that would appeal to my daughter, since we were getting it for her. I was really disappointed in my choices, until I came across me4kidz, which stands for, medical emergencies for kids.

The Medibag 4 Kids was a kid friendly first aid kit that comes in a red doctor's bag. My daughter loved this because she felt like she could play doctor with it. When opening the bag, it had a huge assortment of everything and anything you need, when you encounter an emergency. My daughter and I went through each individual item and talked about its use. It even included kid-friendly stickers. The kit definitely had the kid in mind.

me4kidz is a family-owned & operated business, which I love, and they give back to the community by having their products assembled, by the disabled. They also donate 10% of each purchase, back to the disabled community. Another great tidbit about the company is that, all their products are made in the US, which means they keeps jobs inside the US.

My daughter and I both gave two thumbs up to the Medibag. It's a functional, modern looking bag, that carries all your child's emergency needs. I would recommend this to any parents, who are frustrated with trying to find a nice child-friendly emergency kit. Plus, when you make a purchase, you are supporting our nation's economy. For more information, regarding the products they have, as well as store locations, please go to: www.me4kidz.com .

Do I look like an alien?

2009-05-05T10:53:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I wanted to share with you my little interesting story this morning. First, a little background. With my first child, I did not show until probably my last month, and it was barely a bloated tummy. When I went into deliver my full term baby, everyone was shocked, and asked me if I was going into pre-term labor. With my second pregnancy, I am currently 7 months along, but most people either don't see it, or they say I look about 3 months. I try to wear form fitting clothes because it feels nice to look pregnant for once. It's nice to using the expecting moms parking spot at the mall, without getting a dirty look, and it's nice to walk across a street without someone trying to run me over. There are so many perks and benefits to being pregnant.

Well, today I had a craving for some bagels. So I went into my favorite bagel shop to get my 1/2 dozen bagels to take home. As I finished ordering my bagels, I noticed this gentleman starting at me. I just ignored him, but I could tell from my peripheral vision that he was still looking at me. I'm one of those girls, if I get annoyed with something, I make it a point to address the person. So I looked at him dead in his eyes, but his eyes was looking somewhere else. It was my tummy. I'm going to be honest, a middle-aged man looking at my tummy, I immediately gave him the title of, "perverted male with a bump fetish." I mean, I didn't know what else to think. So I stood and waited for my bagels. From the corner of my eye, I could still tell that he was staring at me. By this time, I was severely annoyed.

I looked at the lady next to me, and she was staring at my tummy. I was like, wow, my tummy is sure making an impact today. So of course, I looked down at my tummy. I started to laugh. My baby was moving around, kicking, rotating, and you can see all that through my fitted shirt. I am pretty tiny, so visually, you can see the baby move and kick. They were all looking at my tummy in fascination. Sometimes I do feel like an alien because it looks like a hand might come out of my tummy, at any second. I walked out of the shop, just laughing because what was odd and fascinating to them, was ever-so normal to me.

Mommy wants to protect my eyes from the sun

2009-05-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yes I do! After not wearing sunglasses for the longest time, myself, I had to learn about the consequences, the hard way. Of course, I was lucky enough, not to get any sort of cataracts disease, or eye related issues. However, not wearing sunglasses, I noticed my eyes squinting a lot, and sometimes, having issues of seeing things clearly. Once I invested in a good sunglass, my squinting went away, and all those days of seeing blur, were problems of the past.

After going through those problems myself, I vowed that my children would grow up wearing sunglasses. Especially living in sunny California, the sun is so strong, a sunglass is a necessity. Unless of course, you want major problems in the future. I purchased tons of sunglasses, well approximately 7, and they all, either broke, or my daughter threw out the window. She didn't like how the sides of the sunglasses were pressing onto the sides of her head.

After going through endless purchases and nothing really working, as a parent, those concerns made me want to find a sunglass that would be functional, durable, and comfortable. That's when I came across Baby Banz. A company that came up with sunglasses, with the child in mind. They were designed in Austrailia for one of the world's toughest UV environments. They have a UV400 rating (100% UVA/UVB protection). They are shatter resistant and have a durable polycarbonate construction. The strap is made of neoprene elastic, which allows for flexibility, breathability, and comfort. Plus, the side adjustable velcro allows your kids to wear it, as they grow. An "A" in my book. It also floats in water and comes in 12 cool colors. You can choose from Baby Banz (0-2 years) or Kidz Banz (2-5 years). For my fashionistas, they have "Retro Banz," which have bigger lenses, giving it a trendy twist to the original (My daughter loves this one).

My daughter wore her Kidz Banz when she went bike riding, over the weekend. At first, she thought they were regular sunglasses, and ran in circles, trying to avoid wearing them. I promised her that she would get some ice cream, if she tried it on. After I put on the sunglasses, suprisingly, she jumped on her bike and went the other way. When she came back to me, I told her I wanted to take off her sunglasses. She shook her head and said, "NO!" I said, "It's a winner!"

They have a whole bunch of other stuff, ranging from Junior Banz to Sunscreen. Please visit them online at: www.Babybanz.com

Pregnancy Awareness Month

2009-05-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

I went to the PAM (Pregnancy Awareness Month) event yesterday. The events' focus was education, exercise, nutrition, wellness and nurture. It was a free lifestyle event for expectant mothers, as well as new parents. The event was hosted by PAM founder Anna Getty, Kelly Rutherford, and Josie Maran. On the newsletter, it said that Ricky Lake was also hosting it, however, I did not see her around.

It was a very informational event, and I was glad that I attended it. You always learn new things, be inspired, and be introduced to new ideas that help us as parents. There was a panel of experts in their own field, offering tips from healthy living, to lifestyle choices made as parents.

For the children, there was an activity area that was hosted by the Hot Moms Club. My daughter came along and she was able to draw a picture on a mock t-shirt paper, plant some sunflowers in her pot, color a backpack, and make her own bracelet. She absolutely loved it. I can actually say that, this would be the first event I attended, where they actually had great activities for children. Everyone was being taken care of, which should be central when it comes to having a healthy family.

The event also had a great amount of noteworthy vendors. Everyone from Seventh Generation, who also sponsored the event, to Dr. Greene, author of Raising Baby Green. Next to the vendors, there was a lounge set aside for Mothers to be pampered with a mini spa experience. I didn't get to try it out because I was running around doing so many other things, but what a great way for mothers to unwind a little.

For lunch, we were treated to a fresh and lite menu, provided by Celebrity Chef Domenic Catelli, author of mom-a-licious. My daughter has been developing a picky tastebud lately, and she doesn't eat anything that isn't plain. For example, she eats plain bread or plain noodles. At the event, we were served with egg salad sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and thai peanut noodles. She ate everything without ever asking me to wash the sauce out. So of course, I got the mom-a-licious book signed.

If that wasn't enough, on our way out, we were given gift bags filled with books, bottles, caps, babyfood, etc... My daughter actually sat on the ground and cried for a minute because she was not ready to leave. Usually, she's the first to drag us out of events. It was a very successul gathering. I would encourage and recommend this to any parents for next year.

For more information: http://www.pregnancyawarenessmonth.com

OOTS! I did it again!

2009-05-01T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you read my post about OOTS! lunchboxes, you'll know why I wanted to try out their other two products, bbib (pronounced buh-bib) and 2 Dishes and a cup. There is no question that OOTS! products are fully funtional and stylish.

The 2 Dishes and a cup, is a dish set that consists of a plate, bowl, cup, spoon and fork. My daughter loved the shape and the picture of the melon. She dropped her cup multiple times, which is quite usual for her, and there was absolutely no damage to the cup. The bowl had a nice gradual incline, which made it very child-friendly, and easier to eat out of. For my daughter, she had no problems eating her cereal from her bowl. They are made of 100% melamine (a high quality, durable, hard plastic), and are dishwasher safe, but should not be used in a microwave. It comes in 4 different design choices, all being very stylish. Price: $29.95

The bib, is more than just a bib. It's a "bbib" because it has sleeves. I love this idea because I've used hundreds of bibs on my daughter, only to be left with food stains all over her sleeves, as well as her belly. She has a bad tendency of wanting to wipe her mouth with her sleeves, so this is definitely ideal for us. We don't have to worry about her sleeves being ruined anymore. They are made of terrycloth, which pretty much absorbs everything. It fits perfectly around the neck with the reinforced straps that are adjustable. They come in four different designs, and 2 different kinds of color choices for each design. Price:$18.95

For more information, go to www.madebyoots.com. Your kid will be stylin without the mess!

Do you want to start educating your child at a very young age?

2009-04-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

How about starting in the womb? What parent wouldn't want their child to reach early milestones, be a little smarter, and be a little calmer. My newest discovery, BabyPlus Prenatal Education System. I recently started using mine and so far, I have only good things to say about it. Of course, we don't see the end results, until the baby is here, and going through his or her first steps, words, etc... However, I am a believer and that is why I am using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System. I know there are a lot of skeptics out there (my husband is one), but honestly, if you were given a chance to make your child, a little bit more brighter, alert, calmer, wouldn't you take it and try it out? Plus, BabyPlus has done research after research that back their findings.

The curriculum has a series of 16 naturally derived sounds that sound very similar to the mother's heartbeat. When I wore mine around the house, my friend asked if it was a heartbeat monitor of some sort. The sound increases as the pregnancy progresses, as you move from level 1 to level 16. The sonic pattern introduces your little ones to a sequential learning process, built around the natural rhythms of their own environment. BabyPlus calls it the "auditory exercise," which strengthens the learning ability during the developmental period. They also say that BabyPlus Children have an intellectual, developmental, creative, and emotional advantage from the time they are born. As a parent, I couldn't ask for anything more.

How does a baby learn through patterns of beats that sound like a heartbeat? A question that I asked myself prior to using the BabyPlus system. He or she starts to discriminate between the sounds coming from the mother and those from BabyPlus. This is where the learning begins.

The first day, I wore my BabyPlus around 8pm, right when I was winding down and my daughter was almost asleep. I pushed the button and set it at level 1. I have 16 weeks left in my pregnancy, so I calculated my curriculum by reading the instructions. I would do each level for 6 days until I deliver my child. When I turned on the button, it sounded like strong heartbeats. You can clearly hear it. As I was listening to the beats, they were putting me to sleep. Furthermore, I have problems sleeping at night, and I was almost knocked out by the end of the session, which was an hour long. My Baby had an immediate reaction to the BabyPlus system. She actually kicked it right on target 4 or 5 times. After that, I could feel her moving around, and jabbing it, every so often.

I have used it for 10 days, and currently I have moved on to level 2. I use it once in the morning, and once at night, for an hour each. Right before I start my session, I talk to the baby and say, "Are you ready to start doing target practice?" She gives me a kick in the stomach and we are ready to go (<--This is something that I am not making up. I have friends and family to proove it). My child is very active when I use the BabyPlus system. They say that the child is either really active or just sleeps. I guess it depends on your child's personality.

Not only do I love the fact that my child is learning inside my womb, I love the fact that I have slept with such peace lately. I really credit that to BabyPlus. We were all inside our mother's womb at one point in our lives, and I think we subconsciously remember those rythmic heartbeats. Moreover, I have had no issues with sleeping, since I started the BabyPlus system.

If you want to know more about the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System, please go to: http://www.babyplus.com/.

The second time around isn't always the same

2009-04-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

My first pregnancy was probably a textbook perfect pregnancy. I had absolutely no nausea, no morning sickness, I felt super energetic, and I had no scares. The baby hit every milestone inside me, from the butterflies to the kicking, and when she was ready to enter this world, she came without any problems.

My second pregnancy, started off with a lot of nausea. I couldn't look at a lot of foods, without my gag reflex going off, and certain smells from foods, just made me not want to eat anything. For the first 4 months, I went through 4 very different colds, one lasting 2 months long with the added benefit of laryngitis. On top of my colds, I was dealing with a nauseous meltdown. It was probably the hardest and worst 4 months of my life.

After that passed, I was able to redeem some energy back. But life had it, where I was presented with a whole other set of problems. My sciatica started to flair up. I could hardly sit up straight and stand up straight, so I was stuck in the limbo of "I can't sit or stand, let's just kind of hang in mid air." Everything was just hurting, and sleeping in itself, seemed like a long drawn out task. I was able to go see a great physical therapist who specialized in prenatal therapy. Through that, I was able to do some pain management.

After I got my sciatica under control, then I was presented with a whole other issue. My daughter started to realize that she wasn't going to be the only one. With everyone's excitement over the next baby, she realized that she was going to have some competition. That's when she latched on and wanted to be attached to me. When I mean attached, she was literally hanging onto my thighs, as if she was another extension of my body. From then on, it progressed to crying a lot, doing lots of bad things to get my attention, and doing things she wouldn't normally do.

Currently, she has finally reached the acceptance stage. Now, she is excited to meet and play with the baby. She talks about what she would do with the baby and she knows she will be a big sister. We have come a long way! But oh the cycle continues and never seems to end. Just the other day, when I finally felt like everything was under control, I had a pregnancy scare. After I came out from my bath, I spotted a little blood. Of course, my heart dropped, and I could not breath. I ran into the room to tell my husband and we called our midwife. She assured us, as long as it wasn't prolonged bleeding with bouts of contraction, we should wait it out. I laid down on the bed and just prayed that everything was going to be fine.

The next day, everything was back to normal. But I was still on high alert. Every time the baby kicked or moved, it felt as if the baby was literally going to fall out of me. I didn't feel that with my first pregnancy, so it was another thing I was constantly thinking about. I went to my midwife appointment today and told her everything that was on my mind. So to make sure, she checked to see if my cervix was closed, and surely it was. What a big relief! I guess I am carrying the baby lower than my previous pregnancy, so I am feeling a lot more.

One thing I am learning is that no two pregnancies are the same. Just like life experiences, it takes you in all different directions. You just have to take it in strides.

Making it easier on you and me

2009-04-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever walked to the grocery store, only to come back with a load of grocery bags and not enough hands? I live like that, almost everyday. We live where everything is in walking distance, and suprisingly we live in Los Angeles, a car filled society. We have a Trader Joes, a 1/2 a block from us, a Ralph's, 1 block from us, and a Whole Foods, 2 blocks from us. Even though they are close by, when it comes to carrying the groceries home, it is no easy task, and those blocks seems like miles away. Especially, when you have a toddler next to you.

My daughter is an active, energetic, full of life, 3 year old toddler. When it comes time to go grocery shopping, I always have to tell her to hold my hands. If not, she has to walk side by side, with me. It's one thing when you're at home giving instructions, it's another when you go out into the "real world" and those actions need to be carried out. Many times, I have had multiple resuable bags full of groceries, and no hands that were free, to hold my toddler. When she runs away, or gets close to the edge of the street, I literally have to throw down those bags and run after her. It's actually a very dangerous situation. On top of going through traumatic stress, I look frazzled, disoriented, and a prime example of those crazy mommas, people point fingers at.

I decided that there had to be something, out on the market, that would prevent these unnecessary situations for me. I came across the Nomie Baby Carry Beaners. Of course, I was super-excited and made reason to go grocery shopping. I put three bags on the carry-beaner, and suprisingly, the bags were lighter than I expected. There was enough room to add on more bags. Plus, the cushioned grip, made it very easy to hold, without any strain.

For the first time, in a long time, I was able to hold groceries while holding my daughter's hand. Moreover, I looked put together, and not a frazzled, disoriented mom, who chases after her kid, in the middle of the street. The Nomie Baby carry-beaner is functional, practical, and reliable! Price:$8
Please check them out at www.nomiebaby.com. They also carry a line of car seat covers as well. It's mom invented and child tested.

Things my daughter says, that melts my heart and makes me laugh.

2009-04-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

She says:

I love you mommy! (blows a kiss with her hand)
You are a princess, just like me.
It's my mommy's, don't touch!
Be careful! (She holds onto my hands really tight, and if there is a car, she will not let me move)
Where can we buy grandma?
Where did you buy my face?
I love you mommy! (she pats me on the head)
How do you make a sky?

I know as parents, we all hear things that just makes us smile from within. Since my daughter started talking, and trying to put all sorts of words together, its amazing to hear some of the stuff she comes up with. It makes you think again, that children are so innocent and they just speak with honesty.

A lot of times, she will say something, and I will laugh and laugh because it's just so funny. She will look right into my eyes and say, "It's not funny! Stop laughing at me, mommy!" Even that in itself, is amazing in my eyes.

I'm sure we all have moments like that, as our children keep growing, and hit different milestones, or points in their lives.

Why spread germs when you don't have to?

2009-04-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm the first to say, when I see a child at my daughter's school or a random kid at the mall, sneezing and coughing, I am ready to run the other way. When our children gets sick, we know the consequences of it, and what it does to our child and ourselves. So I went online to find a product that would take place of a tissue or aspirator, and be sanitary, as well as child-user friendly.

I came up with Germy Wormy! An idea, I didn't even know existed, until I came onto their site. Germy Wormys are disposable sanitary sleeves that you put over your child's elbow. When your child has to cough or sneeze, they can do that right into their Germy Wormy. It's a wonderful way in educating your child, in the prevention of spreading germs, as well as catching germs. The recommended age is between 2-7 years old. You can use the Germy Wormy, both at home and at schools.

You can definitely tell that this product was Mom Invented. It came with a DVD that educates the children through puppetry, of how germs are spread, and how to use the Germy Wormy. It was very creative and educational. My daughter loved it.

After we saw the DVD, we put the Germy Wormy on my daughter's elbow and had her mimic coughing and sneezing, into the sleeves. She had no issues of putting it on and she actually enjoyed herself. When it comes time and she catches a cold, I will not have to go through the grueling process of chasing her around the entire house, with a box of kleenex, or trying to hold her down, as we stick a nasal aspirator, up her nose. It gives her the freedom to run about and when need be, cough or sneeze into the sleeves. Please visit them at: www.germywormy.com and take the first step in the prevention of spreading germs.

Lilabean Nursing Cover Giveaway!

2009-04-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

I wrote a review on this fantastic nursing cover a couple weeks ago. It's an all in one Nursing Cover that has more functions than one. Please go and read my review to find out more about this wonderful chic cover. For one of my lucky readers, Lilabean is giving away a nursing cover of your choice, from their site.

To Enter: Please comment below telling us what you like about the nursing cover, as well as your favorite print, by going to: http://www.lilabean.net/. Retail Value: $65.

Please use one account to enter. If found to be using other blogger accounts, as well as anonymous comments to gain extra entries, you will be disqualified from this giveaway, as well as future giveaways. Let's keep it fair!

For additional entries:Please leave a comment for each additional entry you complete. (current followers and subscribers count as well)

Follow my blog
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on Twitter (@Mommasinthehous, without the E) and Tweet about this giveaway (with a link to this page) on Twitter. Please leave a link to your tweet.(unlimited entries)
Blog about the giveaway and link back (3 entries)
Add me as a favorite on Technorati

The giveaway will end on Saturday May 2nd at 11:59pm (PST).

Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address. If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open for US mailing addresses only.

Earth Day should be Everyday!

2009-04-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day!

Let's take a step in protecting our Earth. As parents, I think its good to educate our children at an early age, to start recycling, making conscious choices, and learning the effects of leaving a carbon footprint. I certainly am not perfect, however, I try to make a conscious effort in being green by choosing eco-friendly products, trying to recycle, as well as using reusable grocery bags, lunch bags, and water bottles. If we all made a conscious effort in protecting our Earth, we would be taking a huge step toward protecting it. A little goes a long way! Let's do our part and protect our home, "Earth."

(Go to the Nature Conservancy Website to calculate your Carbon Footprint. You will be shocked to see the National Average. We all need to open our eyes and move one step toward change).

My Mom Logic

2009-04-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Mom+Logic= My Mom Logic?

It's not as easy as 1+1, or 2+2, and the answers are not something we learned in school. As we grow as individuals, go through life experiences, hit road blocks, jump over obstacles, cherish the victories, we start to put one and one together, and two and two together. There is no right or wrong, it's you and your "logic."

My Mom Logic is striving to live in the moment. When I am able to take a moment to be in the moment, I can see everything, feel everything, smell everything, taste everything, and just be myself. Being a mother, we tend to put ourselves on the back burner and do twenty things at the same time. At the end of the day, you find yourself planning ahead for the next day and unable to take a minute for yourself. For me, when I give myself the freedom to be "me" and put myself "first" and live in the moment, I can share so many magical moments with my child, be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.

When I was told to share my Mom Logic, I kept running circles in my head. Mom, Logic, hmm...What does that mean to me? We are all moms and we try to make logical decisions based on what we think is right or wrong. But going deeper, the logic behind a mom, to me, is allowing myself, 15 minutes to an hour, to have "me" time, to do what my heart desires, and not feel guilty about it (even if it's taking a short nap). I think taking the time to feed my soul and enlighten my heart, on a daily basis, is what gives me strength to live a more fulfilled life as a mother. When I feel fulfilled, I am more available and open to meet the needs of my child, my husband, my parents, and my friends.

I personally feel that my mom logic, to live in every moment, has opened my eyes to the bigger picture. I am able to laugh, smile, cry, yell, scream, and just to be "me." When you are true to yourself, you can be true to the world, and therefore set an example for your child, that there is nothing wrong with being "you." Whatever you feel, see, taste, and smell are your true experiences. I think when you are honest and true with yourself, you become an honest role model for your child.

Just the other day, the heat of the California weather, crept up on us, and our place was like a sauna. My daughter and I put our bathing suits on and went into the bathtub, and pretended to swim. We even took some strawberries with us. We played with her dinosaurs, put our fingers through the water, she drank some bath water, we fed each other strawberries, laughed a lot, and when water got into her eyes, she cried hard. We were both living, being ourselves, and learning about one another with the moments we were sharing.

For me, I want my daughter to grow up living in the moment and being honest and true to who she is. Every part of who she is, is what makes her special and unique from everybody else. That is why I feel so strongly about living in the moment, and that is what is behind "My Mom Logic."

A one-stop lunchbox that has it all

2009-04-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the OOTS! lunchbox? I must admit, when I first saw the pictures online, I thought to myself, it's an upscale version of a bento box. I also thought that it would be way too heavy for my 3 year old toddler. Those were my initial thoughts of how the OOTS! lunchbox looked online. However, it was BPA-free and phthalate-free polypropylene and safety tested for lead. As a parent, moreso than looks, these are definitely important factors for choosing the right lunchbox.

When I had the real OOTS! lunchbox in front of me, I was very impressed with the look of it. It was very contemporary chic and I loved the color combo. Plus, it was pretty light to carry, my daughter had no problems. I told my husband that our daughter will be the most stylin kid in her preschool with a lunchbox like that. It was not only stylish, but once you opened the lunchbox, it was truely functional. It had 4 small and 1 large container, all stacked from the bottom up. I liked the fact that the lunchbox was upright, which prevents food from moving around. Another added on bonus was that the lid of the box holds a bottle in place, under an elastic strap (how cool is that?). You can definitely tell that a lot of planning went into this lunchbox to make it look chic, as well as fully functional.

Of course, I had to put the lunchbox to the test. The first day, my daughter took her lunch in her new OOTS! lunchbox. The two smaller containers contained blueberries and strawberries, while the other two smaller containers contained carrots and sweet potatoes. The larger container contained her pb&j sandwich. On top, she had her SIGG water bottle held in place by the elastic strap that says, "Lunchbox," on it. After driving 6 miles to her preschool and taking some sharp turns, we arrived at her school. I opened the lunchbox, and wallah, a perfectly put lunch, with no indication of any movement. Now as a parent, that makes me smile.

The second day, I took the OOTS! lunchbox to the park. I am currently 26 weeks pregnant, so sometimes it's really hard to make sure I am taking in all the nutrients I need, on a daily basis. Well, this lunchbox made it easier for me because I could pack a well balanced meal by having the different containers there. I was able to get 1/2 of my daily veggie, protein, and grain servings, as well as my full daily servings for fruit. Plus, another mommy at the park came up to me, and told me that my lunchbox was really cute. Woman to Woman, girl to girl, when someone compliments your stuff like that, you know its really nice. Of course, I was smiling from cheek to cheek.

The lunchbox and the containers are dishwasher safe (top rack) and the containers can be used in the microwave. OOTS! lunchboxes are the start of a new wave in the lunchbox industry. Not only do they look very stylish, they are fully functional, and very safe for you and your children (BPA-free, phthalate-free, and safety tested for lead). The Lunchbox comes in three different color combos: Blue, Green and Orange. They are sold with or without the containers. The price tag on these are $35 without the containers or $45 with the containers (Deluxe Version). Please visit them at www.madebyoots.com.

Who wants a Bugaboo for a lot cheaper?

2009-04-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Mommas, I have good news for you! Well, if you live in California, or if you know someone that lives in California, listen carefully. Mark your calendars for the first Bugaboo Warehouse Sale that will take place in Culver City. I have heard a lot of moms in the past saying that they would like to sport a Bugaboo, but the price point did not make sense for their wallets. Obviously, it is a high end item with a price tag to match, however, this will be your chance at nabbing a Bugaboo for a fraction of the cost. The information is all below! So Ladies make sure you mark your calendars!

Date: Saturday April 25th, 2009

Time: 9am-4pm

Location: GMT Studios: Stage 3

5751 Buckingham Parkway

Culver City, CA 90230

Is your Baby a fussy sleeper? Today is your lucky day!

2009-04-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

The folks over at 4Moms developed Goodnight Sleep Trainer, to help parents develop good sleeping habits for their children. Even better news, in honor of Mothers Day, they are having a contest and you could be the winner of a $2500 cash prize. Just for entering the contest (limited to the first 150 entries), you will automatically win a Goodnight Sleep Trainer.

Contest Details:

If your child is between the ages of 4 months and two years and has an impossible bedtime routine, won’t sleep through the night in their own room or has any other challenges that you think qualifies them for the title America’s Worst Sleeping Baby, we want to hear about it. Register on-line by following the contest link at www.goodnightsleeptrainer.com and tell us your story.”The Grand Prize winner will secure the title of America’s Worst Sleeping Baby along with a cash prize of $2,500.00 for his or her family along with a free Goodnight Sleep Trainer, which is a hand-held electronic device designed to help parents teach their children good sleep habits. Plus, because Mom is a winner on Mother’s Day, everyone who enters wins a Goodnight Sleep Trainer, which is valued at $29.95.

Child must be between the ages of 4 months and two years old.

Parents can enter their child online by following the contest link at www.goodnightsleeptrainer.com/sleeptrainer/contest.php or by requesting a paper entry form by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to: America’s Worst Sleeping Baby - Contest Entry Form, 4moms, 40 24th Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

The winner will be announced by May 31, 2009. Complete contest rules can be found online by following the contest link at www.goodnightsleeptrainer.com or requested in writing by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to: America’s Worst Sleeping Baby - Contest Rules, 4moms, 40 24th Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

The Goodnight Sleep Trainer is the first hand-held device parents can use to help teach their children to sleep through the night. Sleeping through the night is a learned skill that can be taught and pediatricians have long recommended sleep training as a way for parents to solve their children’s sleep issues. Until now that has meant reading and following the instructions of a 200-400 page book – something that can be challenging and difficult to follow when it is 4:00 in the morning and your baby is crying. The Goodnight Sleep Trainer takes these proven methods and puts them in an easy to use hand-held device which guides parents though this stressful process. It also lets you upload your data to the web where you can track your progress online and compare your results to statistical norms.

So go on over and win yourself a Goodnight Sleep Trainer!

Truely a miracle

2009-04-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

I am 26 weeks pregnant, with my second child, and it still amazes me that a baby is inside my womb. It's weird because I go through the motions of pregnancy: going to midwife appointments, taking prenatal vitamins, looking at baby items, but it does not hit me that I am really pregnant, until I hear the heartbeat, or feel the baby move and kick me in places, I wish she would not. It's one of those unexplainable things that I cannot describe in detail because you would have to experience it yourself.

With my first pregnancy, everything was so quick, and I was so new to everything, it just felt as if I couldn't really absorb anything, and I just had to go along with it. This time around, it has been a little different. I ask more questions, I am more alert, and I know that I want to be in control, not being controlled by everybody, other than myself.

The first couple months, I was well aware I was pregnant because I was extremely nauseous. You go through the motions of going to midwife appointments, doing lab work, and of course, the ultrasound which shows your fetus growing (which I do not take for granted, by any means), however, the first moment that made me cry, was when I heard the baby's heartbeat. I just laid there in awe, listening to the heartbeat that was inside of me, it's unlike anything else. I still get emotional thinking about it. For me, it was the moment where I said to myself, "I am the mom to this baby." Instantly, my motherly instincts kicked in and I wanted to protect it and just do everything and anything for this baby.

Now, that I am 26 weeks into the pregnancy, the baby has made sure I know her personality, really well. I am pretty much being jabbed and kicked right now, as I speak. Her presence is definitely here and strong. It started with twirling movements, to little kicks here and there, and now she is a full fledged karate kid. But with every kick and every movement, I feel a special bond that is only between her and I.

As I look down at my ever slight stomach (I carry really small), it makes me smile and say ,"She is truely a miracle!"

Sales I want to share with you.

2009-04-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Babystyle is having their final last days sale and you can get a really good deal (up to 50% off everything and 10% extra on maternity wear). Please check out their website for location information: www.babystyle.com.

Also, I just got an email from The Bumble Collection and they will be opening up their outlet, for a limited time. They will be holding a sale for their Limited Edition Warmer/Stroller Liners with Bear, which comes in Emerald Palace and Midnight Garden prints.

Bumble Outlet: Products available for sale on the site can range from items that are slightly flawed to items that are a discontinued seasonal favorite. Blemishes of the slightly flawed product may include: tags sewn on the wrong place, manufacturer markings, minor hardware defects (scratches, missing pieces, changing pads). None of the flaws would affect the basic overall functionality of the item. Their primary purpose of creating The Bumble Outlet was to find an alternative way to reach out to organizations in need. A portion of the proceeds incurred from this site will benefit many charities such as Horizons Homeless Children.

Sale: April 17, 2009 @ 10am PST until April 20, 2009 @ 10am PST

The Bumble Collection

16015 Old Valley Blvd.

City of Industry, California 91745

Who doesn't like some free stuff?

2009-04-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Tax Day, April 15th, there are some big chains giving away some free stuff. With our economic state, I think we all need a relief. I am one of those anxious people to see what's free on tax day. I came across the U.S.A Today site which outlines what will be free on tax day and this was the compiled list:

•Free ice cream. MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery will give away single-scoop servings to customers at 200 stores in what it calls an "e-cone-omic ice cream stimulus package."
•Free sweets. Snack chain Cinnabon will give out Tax Day Bites, free bite-size cinnamon rolls usually known as Classic Bites, from 5 to 8 p.m. at its 700 outlets on tax day.
•Free tacos. At its 275 restaurants in the West, Taco Del Mar will run a promotion: "Taxes Suck. Tacos Don't." People can register at the Taco Del Mar website for an e-mailed coupon for a free tax day taco.
•Free gift cards. T.G.I. Friday's will give Wednesday customers $5 Bonus Bites gift cards for food and beverage purchases of $15 to $25 and $10 cards for those who spend more than $25. Members of the 1,000-outlet chain's frequent-customer

The closest chain to my home is the Cinnabon, so I will treat my daughter to some classic bites tomorrow. Hope everyone got there taxes in on time, or got that extension!

In honor of Earth Month, another green discovery!

2009-04-13T20:49:00.001-07:00

While I was on a mission to find resusable ziplock bags, I also found another innovative green alternative. They are called Lunch Skins and are made by a company appropriately named 3 green moms. Just as the name states, they are a mommy start up company that was started by three mommas. They wanted an alternative to ziplock bags that were reusable, durable, washable, and fun for the kids. They wanted to waste less and save more.

I put the Lunch Skins to the test with my daughters lunch today. I was able to write in her name, which I loved because the bag could be identified, and a decent sized sandwich slipped right on in. The apple green color not only made it feel green, it made the food seem fresher, and lively. My daughter also liked that it had a velcro top which made it secure and at the same time, easy to open.

I am so excited that there are more and more mommy start-up companies that are green and taking care of our community and our world. Please go and check out: www.3greenmoms.com.

Note: They donate 1% of their online sales profits to the C&O Canal Trust, an organization formed to protect and restore the the historic C&O Canal near the nation's capital, a trash-free National Park.

Happy Easter Everybody!!!

2009-04-12T20:20:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter! Hope everyone had a good Easter Sunday. I spent time with my hubby, my mother, my daughter, as well as my closest friends. We all went to Easter Brunch and pretty much stuffed ourselves silly. My daughter saw some Easter Eggs laying around as decorations, and she thought that it was part of an Easter Egg Hunt (she did one at school). She was looking under tables, next to trees, on the tables, and then I had to break it to her, that they were just for decoration purposes. Anyhow, I really enjoyed my time eating, laughing, and just having simple conversation with my closest friends and family.

Easter Weekend and I am smiling!

2009-04-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Today, I prepared some snacks and goodies for a local homeless person in my neighborhood. When it comes holiday time, I always try to give something to the homeless, whether its food, a card, a book, a meal at a restaurant, or just some inspiration.

I went outside in my neighborhood, with my daughter, and we carried around a huge bag looking for a homeless person. I saw a gentleman who was sitting on the side of CVS and he clearly had both legs in a cast and a huge black garbage bag next to him. He just had such a clear spirit about him. I went up to him and asked him if he would like some snacks for the day, and he nodded his head. I gave him the bag and he said, "You're giving me this whole bag?", and I said "Yes, it's all for you."

As I was walking away, he just continued to stare at me in awe, and I could feel his appreciation for what was given to him. When he opens the bag, he will see a card that has a flower on it, with the message, "Happiness should belong to you always"-Adele Basheer. I wrote in there, "Happy Easter! May your days get brighter and brighter. God loves you. Keep Strong and have faith."

It just puts a smile on my face that I could put that same smile on another person's face. I know my daughter really didn't know what was going on, but she could sense that we were doing something good and making someone happy.

An alternative to Ziplocks?

2009-04-11T00:47:00.000-07:00

When my daughter started pre-school, I walked over to Rite-Aid and purchased some ziplock bags. After a week of using these ziplock bags, I felt that it was just a waste and I was contributing to our world's landfills. I always try to be eco-conscious and do my part in keeping our world as clean as possible. My daughter's lunchbag is reusable, her SIGG water bottle is reusable, but putting her sandwich in a ziplock bag, defied the whole purpose. So again, I went on a mission to find a reusable alternative to ziplock bags, and came up with snackTAXI.

SnackTAXI, originally "happy-sacks" started when a mother realized that after packing 500 lunches every year, between her three children, the plastic ziplock bags were just flowing from her house to the landfill. She then came up with what's now called snackTAXIs. They can be used to put sandwiches, cookies, fruits, veggies, you name it, it does the job. I will no longer have the guilt of putting another ziplock bag in my daughter's lunch bag.

Another great thing about snackTAXI is that it's all made in their home-based workshop by local sewers. What a great way to contribute to the local economy. When companies contribute to the local community, it says a lot about the company's integrity, their values, and their core foundation.

I put the snackTAXI to the test, and my daughter loved it. She said it was like opening up a birthday card or a present. It's not only functional but gives another whimsical layer to a child's meal. When I put her PB&J sandwich in the plastic ziplock, it came back unopened and uneaten. When I put her PB&J sandwich in the snackTAXI, it came back empty. I am ecstatic!

You can wash them in the washing machine, but its best to wash with hands and dry by air (just like our hair). It comes in three sizes: the snack-sacks, the sandwich sacks, and the lunch sacks. It's made of 100% cotton and has very cute patterns that meet every taste. Prices are $6.95, $8.95, and $15.95. It will save you money and your world, in the long run. Please visit their site and support their business: www.snacktaxi.com.

Please take a minute to NOMINATE ME on MomLogic for Mother of all Bloggers!

2009-04-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

Please take a minute to nominate me on MomLogic. You do have to join, but it takes a few minutes, and you will be helping out a fellow momma and this fabulous blog. After you sign up, head to my profile: http://community.momlogic.com/profile/mommasinthehouse and comment on my wall with "I nominate you." Thanks to all!

Do you want to know a Nursing secret?

2009-04-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

Introducing the Lila Bean Nursing Covers. An all in one nursing cover that's easy to use and even functions as a front carrier cover, a car seat cover, and a stroller cover. I never knew that nursing covers could be so multi-functional and beautiful. When I opened up the package, my jaw dropped open because I didn't know that nursing covers could be so beautiful. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I immediately wanted to start nursing, although I still have a good 3 months before I do that. The Lila Bean nursing cover takes out the frustration of trying to nurse in public places. I remember when I had my daughter, my options were very limited and I either went into the car or the restroom. At that time, there were nursing covers on the market, but they were so dreadful looking and had such ugly patterns.

I came across Lila Bean when I was looking for nursing covers that were worthy of putting on. Lila Bean really puts nursing covers on the map. The concept began when the founder, Charlotte Butler Penenberg, took matters into her own hands. After trying to nurse her own daughter at a busy restaurant by using a napkin that kept falling off, she knew that she wanted something that would make nursing easier in public, as well as being relaxed. Then she came up with her own wish list of what sort of cover-up she wanted and then she thought, why couldn't this be fashionable? With all that in mind, the Lila Bean nursing cover was born.

To me, nursing is such a beautiful experience, where mother and baby bond. Sometimes, nursing in public places become distracting, loud, and frustrating. It takes away from the true experience between mother and child. With Lila Bean nursing covers, it enables you to nurse, feel comfortable, and be at ease, even in the most distracting places, such as the mall. Lila Bean takes it two steps further by making the nursing cover multi-functional, as well as chic. What I love about the cover is that it fastens around the neck (no wind will blow it off), as well as an elastic seam around the outer edge that keeps the noise and distractions out. Plus, go to the website: http://www.lilabean.net/ , you can see all the beautiful prints that these covers come in, and for the poshiest mommas, it comes in silk (wow!).

I put the cover to the test with a nursing mother at a park and asked her a couple questions:

MH:What do you like most about the Lila Bean nursing cover?
NM: I love that it separates my baby from all the noise from the outside. Also, I like that it's very secure around my neck. I'm very self-conscious when I nurse in public, and I hate using blankets because it gets so hot sometimes and this cover allows air to pass while I have my own privacy.

MH: How would you compare this nursing cover to anything you have seen on the market?
NM: I really can't compare because you can use this cover even beyond nursing. Just as you showed me on the website, you can use this to cover a stroller neatly, cover my baby in her car seat, etc. I definitely have not seen that in other nursing covers.

MH: Would you spend $65 to purchase this nursing cover, why or why not?
NM: If this was just any average nursing cover, I would not spend that much money. But this cover offers you beyond the average nursing cover. I could use this cover beyond my nursing years, which in time translates to saving money.

While I was asking her questions, her baby spit up some milk, and she let me know that it was the first time she was not embarrassed because no one could see that the baby spit up. So if you are in the market to getting a nursing cover that takes it beyond the average nursing cover-up, that's also multi-functional, and chic, please check out Lila Bean nursing covers. It's also momma owned, so let's support our fellow momma!

Side Note: I just washed the nursing cover this morning in the washing machine, and it came out just as new as when I got it in the package. A definite plus in my book!

Eco-Friendly and Organic Consignment Shop in Venice!

2009-04-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

As I was doing my regular search online, I came across a nifty store called Eden's Green Closet. Everything in their store is either recycled, meaning that it has gone through someone else's hands first, or organic sustainable and obtained through fair trade practices. You can either buy, sell, or trade at the store. If you are a momma looking for other places to shop and if you are an eco-conscious momma, you should definitely check this store out. They even have weekly events, fundraisers and special sales for their customers. To me, you can't lose with a store that takes care of the world and their own local community.

They are located at 1423 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice CA 90291. If you have any questions email: edensgreencloset@gmail.com

Do you want something that's a cut above Craigslist?

2009-04-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

Do you want something that is a cut above Craigslist when it comes to Baby items, gears, furniture, etc.? Then look no further and go to Hand Me Downs. It's pretty much a classified ad for everything and anything baby/children. Just as the name states, they are hand me downs. I took a look at a lot of the items on the site and they are either gently used condition or almost new condition, so you can definitely nab a steal. Moreover, a lot of the items are high end and name brand, for some of you platinum moms out there. In the stroller category, I saw a lot of Orbit, Bugaboo, Stokke, Rock Star, Peg Perego Skate, and the list goes on and on. You can even see Nicole Ritchie and Gwen Stefani auctioning off their hand me downs for their charities. All in all, this one is a winner. Go over to Hand Me Downs, and click on your location, it will bring up the classified section of your locale.

I miss my baby!!

2009-04-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

So last week I survived having my daughter go to her full time preschool. This weekend was a lot of fun because we got to spend a lot of one on one time, especially since we were separated the entire week. When Sunday night came, I had a little anxiety knowing that I had to send her back the next morning. Today, I took her back to her preschool and she said "bye," even before I cued her to, so she was a very big girl. I was a proud momma!

During the day, I received a call for a last minute interview in which I had to drive an hour to the Valley by 5pm, which meant that my hubby had to pick our daughter up. When I found out, I was a little sad because I was looking forward to seeing her. After my interview, I rushed as fast as possible to go home, but got stuck in a major parking lot style traffic, on the 405. Finally, I got a call from my hubby saying that he took her to a nearby eatery and so I headed towards them. When I got to the eatery, I ran in, and there was my daughter running to me and yelling "mommy!" It was the most joyous experience.

Its moment like those that fill my soul and lighten my heart.

Would you like to be a Parent Tester?

2009-04-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

I came across this site about a year ago when I wanted to know more about good products on the market for my daughter. The company is called PTPA Media Inc., which also stands for Parent Tested, Parent Approved. Just like the name, it's reviewed by parents like you and I, and then we decide if the product is worthy enough to have our seal of approval. I found this site to be very informational and I got to learn about products that I would not have otherwise. They review everything from bibs, lotions, lunches, dvds, to books. The site pretty much covers the entire spectrum of products. If you have ever thought about becoming a tester/evaluator, you can sign up to be in their database, which has a library of 12,000 other parents. Please visit their site at: http://www.ptpamedia.com/

Fantastic Sales for you and your child!

2009-04-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday 4/4 (1pm-4pm): If you have time this Saturday, go to the Shrnk Sale in Studio City. You can save up to 75% off kids apparel from 3 months - 6 years (Prices run $5-$20). Location: Sunnyside Preschool @ St. Michaels Church, 3646 Coldwater Canyon, Studio City, 91604. Cash only.

Saturday 4/4 (8am-12 noon): JK Tees is having a Sample Sale. Save 50%-65% with tees for adults and kids priced at $5, $10, $15. Location: on the front lawn of Roosevelt Elementary school, 801 Montana Ave., Santa Monica 90403. Cash only.

Let's take a stand. Help save our Earth!

2009-04-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

And you say, just how? They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well in this day and age, it takes the world to save the world. We all need to take a step in changing the world. When my daughter started preschool, I noticed a lot of bagged lunches being brought to school. Unless those bags are being reused again on a daily basis, those bags become a part of our world's landfills. Now, that is happening all across the world which has a direct impact on our world's environment.

After feeling like I had to do something, I started to research resusable lunch bag companies, eco-friendly lunch bags, and looking for anything and everything that had to do with this topic. Then came, Kids Konserve. A company that was formed by two moms, who had an eye opening experience when they calculated the amount of trash being formed by their schools during lunch hour. My favorite is the "Reusable Waste Free Lunch Kit." The Reusable, waste-free lunch kit includes recycled cotton sack, cloth napkin, 304 food-grade stainless steel beverage bottle, food kozy and two 304 food-grade stainless steel food containers. Lunch Sack is 7" W x 10.5" T x 4.5" and comes at a price tag of $40. You can also purchase these items separately.

http://www.kidskonserve.com/

Help save the earth and take a stand now!

Mommas in the House Deal: Save 10% with coupon code house.

My Little "Not So Baby" is in Preschool!

2009-04-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

Up until this day, I had my own separation anxiety going on. I couldn't sleep last night. I was twisting and turning all night long, thinking about all the scenarios that could go on during her first day. By the time it hit 7 am, I woke up and prepared everything. As I was cutting up her sandwich, I stood there thinking about when I went to school, and what feelings I had on my first day (of course, it was way back when). The whole process seemed so long and so scary!

Finally, we got to her school. The teachers were all ready for us. They smiled, showed us her cubby, and introduced us to all the other children there. They were starting breakfast. The teacher asked her if she would like some and she said yes. She sat there staring at all the other children, still unsure if she wanted to stay or leave. After a couple spoonfuls of cereal, she looked at me and gave me the signal. I asked her if I could leave, and she nodded her head and said yes. At that moment, it was like my baby was transitioning into a big girl. I hesitantly walked out and looked behind me. She sat there eating her breakfast and it was like I wasn't even there.

As I was leaving, I just had to smile. Smile at the fact that I was strong enough to leave, and smile at the fact that my baby was now blossoming into a little girl. That moment felt so magical.

Do I need a Labor class?

2009-03-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I went into my midwife for my monthly checkup, which will turn into bi-monthly checkups starting next month. I sat there and she asked me if I had any questions for her, and to my amazement I had no questions. This is not the norm for me because I always have something going through my mind. She said okay and preceded to measure me and checked the baby's heartbeat with the fetal doppler. After that, I did have one question. I told her that I noticed my pelvic floor, as they call it, had a lot of pressure when I stood for long periods of time. It's such an awkward feeling because you have the sensation the baby's about to fall out. She said it was normal and with second time pregnancies, mothers usually feel it more. That's was a big relief.

My midwife then asked me, "Are you thinking of taking a birthing class of some sort or are you planning on reading up on it?" For some reason, I had to take a minute and really think. Am I going to take a birthing class? I took multiple pauses and told her that I never really thought about it because I never took any classes with my first child.

My first pregnancy went by so fast that I never sat down and thought about any prenatal/birthing classes. I went into the hospital and just followed simple instructions, "breathe," "push," etc. After 4 or 5 pushes, my daughter was out.

When my midwife asked me this question, I literally felt that maybe I was a little behind the curve. Maybe, every expectant parent did go to labor class to learn breathing techniques or other birthing tips. Maybe, I was the only one that was out of the loop. So needless to say, I will probably read up on birthing techniques/styles etc., and decide if I really need to go to a class. Personally, I would rather go to a prenatal yoga class, once my daughter attends her full-time preschool. We will see!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Drum Roll PLEASE!!!

2009-03-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

So a lot of you voiced to me that you would like to hear more about new products that will be coming onto the market, as well as new products that are on the market. Well...I have contacted a couple companies that I thought were neat, innovative, and most of them are mommy start-ups! I have gotten some great responses back from them, and once I get those special items, I will be reviewing them for you. They range from everything baby to everything children, and even stuff for mommies and daddies, so there is a little bit of everything for everyone in the family, so keep your eyes open in the coming weeks for those reviews to be posted. Thank you everyone for making this happen!!

OMG I am ADDICTED!

2009-03-29T12:57:00.001-07:00

Yes, yes, and yes. I went back to the Consignment sale today because today was the last day, and the day where your could get 50% off on most items. Anyhow, it was good I went back because I could actually see more clearly today without having to look everywhere to find my little toddler running around. I got a really cute designer onesie for $1.75, a little dress/panty set for $5, a designer top for $5, and last but not least, my favorite find, GAP sandals for only $6. I was in heaven. I could have bought more things, but I knew I didn't need it, so I was able to push the urge down this time around.

Also, last night I was able to go out to a friend's birthday all by myself. It's very seldom that I get a chance to be alone, but to go out without my little right wing gal, is unfound. Anyhow, we celebrated my friend's birthday at a restaurant called "EL CHOLO." It's probably the best Mexican restaurant I have been to in Los Angeles. So if you are ever in the mood for some good Mexican, they have three locations.

The best part of the night was when I came home. I opened the door and there was my daughter spinning like a ballerina. She is like a puppy and can smell me from a mile away. She new I was opening the door and she got up to dance for me. My heart melted. It's really those special moments that make me feel like I am the luckiest person in the whole entire world.

My Daughter's 3rd Birthday!

2009-03-28T11:22:00.001-07:00

My daughter recently turned 3 years old and my friend Donna, who is an event planner and owner of My Fairytale Event threw her a fun filled birthday party. Everything from the childrens' favors to gift bags, tiered cupcakes labeled, "Eat Me," to juice boxes labeled, "Drink Me." It was impressive to the parents and the teachers alike. The children absolutely loved it! If anyone is looking to have a party and don't have the time to endure the physical labor, email my friend, she works with everyone's budgets and will give you an unforgettable event. If you mention, "Mommas in the House" blog, she will give you a special deal on her packages, too special to even mention on my blog. For the tired mothers and fathers, she even puts together gift bags for kids, age-appropriate, and makes her own favors. You can find her online at: http://www.myfairytale-event.com/ and her email is: donna@myfairytale-event.com.

Right Start and Babystyle Stores are having a big sale!

2009-03-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

Right Start and Babystyle stores are having a huge sale of 30% and more. Sadly the company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Right Start owns Babystyle, as well as Tinyride.com. Everyone is being hit by this economy and its sad to see big companies go down because essentially the vendors that they get their products from suffer tremendously. Especially the smaller mom and pop labels that grow out of their own homes, owned and operated by parents like us. I had a substantial merchandise credit from all the unwanted Christmas gifts that I received from Right Start, and lucky me, I tried to go use it at the store, and they said I had nothing on my card. I emailed and called customer service at Right Start and they sent me a long email about my rights as customer to file a claim with the courts. But in regards to my situation this is what they had to say:

"Due to the Chapter 11 filing we are currently prohibited from accepting or issuing gift cards or merchandise credits."

Unfortunately I will not be able to use my merchandise credit. I am expecting this summer and have to repurchase a lot of baby items. I thought this credit would come in handy, but in the end I became a victim to the economy. What can I do? If anyone is in the market for some really great deals for great products run over to Right Start to get some products for your little ones!

HUGE LA KIDS CONSIGNMENT SALE!!!

2009-03-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: I just came back from the consignment sale. There's a lot of everything for every parent. I got some great deals on Designer Jackets for my daughter at $14 a piece, as well designer pants for $5.00. We also got Reusable Spongebob and Dora Ice packs at $1.50 a pop. My mom also purchased a ziplock bag full of used dolls, that only cost $1.00. The consignment has everything from cute little tutus at $25 to bouncers that started at $7. I saw puzzles, stuffed animals, bottle warmers, and rocking chairs. The downfall was that the lines were exhaustingly long to get into the sale, and to purchase. We were in line for an hour and half to get into the sale and the another hour and a half to purchase. If you are serious about getting a deal, it's worth going. If you were thinking about browsing, you might want to think again. Our total time investment was about 4 and half hours.

I will be one of the folks visiting this weekend to see what products are out there because you can buy children's items for way under retail value, and they are in really great condition. Here is the info:

HUGE LA KIDS CONSIGNMENT SALE
HUGE LA KIDS CONSIGNMENT SALE – March 27-29
Don’t miss the Spring 2009 LA Kids Consignment sale – it only happens 2ce a year and you can find AMAZING bargains on everything for children – clothes, toys, strollers, cribs, books, videos, exersaucers, bouncy seats, bath tubs, potty seats, high chairs, outdoor toys, maternity, baby equipment, and sooooooooo much more!! Over 375 families contribute over 40,000 gently-used and new items to the sale – everything is clean, in working order and categorized by size, gender and type of product. The sale is so huge it takes place in a 10,000 square foot warehouse!! Prices are typically 50-70% off regular retail prices.
Sale Dates:
March 27th - Public Sale
March 28th - Public Sale
March 29th - 50% off most items
Location
City-Art
7733 Hayvenhurst Ave.
Van Nuys, CA 91406
http://www.lakidsconsignment.com/
Entrance is free. Cash and credit only
Time : 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Date : March 27, 2009 - March 29, 2009

The Busy Mother

2009-03-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start this blog by commending mothers. It's a tough job trying to juggle hundreds of things at the same time, but we always come out at the end of the day, accomplishing what most would call the impossible. I wanted to have a platform where I could discuss my experiences as a mother, share ideas, offer product reviews and hopefully enlighten others that would like to share in similar experiences, or always wondered, what? where? and how?

I currently have a 3 year old toddler who will be starting preschool next week, which is nerve recking in itself because it is a full day. She was in another classroom setting until recently, but it was only 2 hours a day. I think I am beginning to have seperation anxiety, and they say that mothers are the ones who get it. Also, I am expecting our second child, who is due in early summer, and we are so estatic about a new addition to our family. As a mother, I am asking myself, "how am I going to do it?"

I am fortunate to have great friends and family who will of course support me along the way and I am everso grateful.

With this second pregnancy, I have to repurchase all of my gear: stroller, car seat, bouncer, swing, etc...I gave all mine away and so now I am back to square one. I will be talking about the products that I see, what I like, what I purchase, and hopefully help parents who are in the same boat as myself. So you will see a lot of product reviews to come.