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

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

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?

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

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!

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
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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

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!

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