Recharged, Revitalized

Energizer's crazy pink drumming bunny hopped into our psyches in the '80s and he's still going strong, but it's nice to know that the brand's technology isn't stuck in the past. Energizer has a whole range of batteries that are specifically engineered for optimal performance in high tech devices. We've used their Lithium batteries for years but now that both kids are old enough to have battery-powered toys, it seemed wise to switch to rechargeables.



Energizer offers a whole slew of Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers. We have a zillion AA and AAA rechargeables floating around our home, since those are what we use most, but what about that new toy grandma brought over that requires D batteries? Oh, yikes. When I was little, it seemed like most battery-operated toys took Cs or Ds. And a lot of them. These days, not so much. Still, it happens. Jasper loves robots and it seems like they're all foreign and require gigantic batteries, which I don't tend to keep in the house. Luckily, there's a fantastic solution: the Energizer® Family Charger.



The Energizer® Family Charger charges up to 8 AA, 8 AAA, 4C, 4D or 2 9V NiMH rechargeable batteries. I didn't even realize they made rechargeable Cs, Ds or 9 volts! I was so excited. The Energizer® Family Charger is Energy Star-certified, will only charge when the door is securely closed (safe for kids!) and can recharge batteries quickly- in about 2 hours for 4 AA batteries and 7 hours for 2 9V batteries! Better still, it features an LCD screen that shows the charging status of the batteries so you know what to expect. I think this is a great item to keep in the house, but how handy would it be to throw in your suitcase on family vacations? It seems like you could recharge your batteries overnight and never have to make pit stops to buy batteries for your cameras and DVD players.



Thanks to Linsey (an official online advocate for Energizer) for hooking me up with the Energizer® Family Charger. I am sure we will get a lot of use out of it in the future.

Green Toys

Green Toys is reinventing playtime. Their collection includes iconic playthings like tea sets and trucks and sand toys but they've added a new twist to the classic forms: all Green Toys are made from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials and ship in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable once you've taken the toy out. Green Toys are also manufactured in the US, unlike most of the inventory on toy store shelves these days.



We received a couple of items from Green Toys to review, the Tea Set and the Dump Truck. The Tea Set is so lovely to look at and hold that I was inspired to make a sweep and rid Roo's toybox of all the chintzy plastic dishware we've accumulated in the past five years. These HDPE plastic pieces feel substantial to hold and I like the fact that they contain no traceable amounts of phthalates or BPA. They are also designed without any external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint. And nary a peeling-off Princess sticker in sight!



The other Green Toy we reviewed is the Dump Truck. It is super cute in primary red and yellow, with a functioning dump bucket and chunky wheels. It is very sturdy and well-built. There are no metal axles to oil or corrode. Both of my kids fell in love with the Dump Truck and took turns filling it and spilling it. Roo even made a spa retreat for earthworms:




We love the imminent playability (for both genders and most age groups!) that Green Toys offer. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

Wordless Wednesday- Garden Asparagus, Cat Love, Doll Stroller

For more or to add your own pictures this week, check out Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Evenflo Can Pump You Up

***WINNER PICKED 5/7 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #2 Sara and Alex!!!***

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When I was pregnant with Roo, I went to every childbirth class I could find. I was obsessed with being prepared for motherhood and I was especially worried about breastfeeding. The lactation classes freaked me out. All of the different ways to hold the baby while nursing had specific names and were shown in how-to diagrams. The cradle carry, the football hold, the saddle hold. All seemed so beyond me and the constant reassurance that latching on takes time and effort made me positive that breastfeeding was going to be an uphill battle. Luckily, I was totally wrong. Roo latched on easily and effortlessly and my milk came in just fine. She never took a bottle and I barely had to pull out the hand pump I'd registered for.

Jasper, on the other hand, couldn't nurse immediately because he had some breathing issues and was whisked off to the NICU. They kept him on IV feeding for most of that so I was assigned a hospital grade breast pump while I was staying with him. That sucker was amazing and I was dedicated to producing as much milk as I could for my poor sick baby. Who rapidly recovered and turned into the biggest milk hog on the planet. I hadn't really needed a pump with Roo but with Jasper my milk came in so, umm, abundantly, I had to pump pretty much whenever I wasn't actually nursing the baby or risk a torrential downpour. (icky.)



The Evenflo Comfort Select Performance breast pump is an occasional-use pump that would have been perfect for my overflow traffic. It features an auto-cycling vacuum that simulates natural suckling and encourages milk flow; the vacuum is adjustable so you can control the rate of suction for your own comfort. Dual collection means less time spent pumping (and therefore less time being engorged, yay!) and the pump can be plugged in to an AC outlet or run on batteries, although it drains them pretty quickly that way.



Evenflo is teaming up with Mom Central to give away Three Evenflo Comfort Select Performance breast pumps along with some boxes of Evenflo Nursing Pads. Enter to win one at Mom Central or try your luck winning one from me by leaving a comment below!

To enter and win your own Evenflo Comfort Select Performance breast pumps and Evenflo Nursing Pads, please comment on this post with your own breastfeeding stories.



Entries will be accepted through May 6th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Give It Away Now!

Candice and I became friends through our respective blog giveaways and the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival have always been something to look forward to. We were both pretty disappointed to hear that Chilihead was putting the kibosh on them for the foreseeable future, although I can totally understand how much extra work something like that must put on an already overextended mom and blogger. (Chilihead also runs the site Blogging Basics 101, which is really, really useful for non-techies like me.)

Candice was so distraught that she decided to take matters into her own hands… As if she didn't have enough to deal with raising two boys in a third world country, teaching, traveling, and of course blogging about it all, she's decided to step up and host her own blog carnival!



With the advent of Give It Away Now, we'll all have another quarterly excuse to get together and mingle. (Or forget about cooking and cleaning and ignore your kids for a week, whatever the case may be…)

Get ready to link up May 4-8!

Hallmark Giveaway

***WINNERS PICKED 5/5 WITH RANDOM.ORG***


***CONGRATULATIONS!!!***

#1 Sara and Alex, #14 Naddez, and #5 Shannon


I've known how special Hallmark Cards are since I was a little girl. “When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best” is a concept that was drilled into my psyche early on. Hallmark was definitely one of the first brands I was aware of as a child. My grandmother always had some of their elegant gold foil seals around and I was so proud to stick them on envelopes for her while she caught up on her correspondence. I was so disappointed to miss the blogger event Hallmark hosted recently… I have been dying to visit their headquarters in Kansas City since I moved to Wichita!



Mother's Day and Father's Day are coming up soon and Hallmark is ready, as usual. This year, Hallmark's Recordable Cards with Music are a surefire hit. They feature a pre-recorded song clip, which both my kids LOVE, but what's even more fun is that these cards also allow you to record a 10-second personal message. It's a great way to commemorate these particularly family-oriented holidays.



Hallmark has also introduced a new collection of re-designed “everyday” cards that retail for only 99¢ each. The new 99¢ cards span a wide variety of occasions (birthday, thinking of you, friendship, encouragement, etc.) and feature vibrant colors, modern design and, often, a sense of humor. I find that the The new 99¢ cards are great to keep in the house, just in case…



To enter and win one of three Hallmark Card gift packs, please comment on this post with your favorite card from the Hallmark website. Feel free to share any Hallmark memories you might have, too!


Entries will be accepted through May 4th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Paper Shouts/Bride Wars Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 5/7 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #130 Jinxy and Me!!!***

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I never wanted a big wedding. Bob and I didn't elope but we came close- we were married by a judge who was a friend of my parents in the living room of our rental apartment. Sometimes I regret not having made a bigger deal out of the occasion (in particular, registering might have been a nice way to improve the quality of our dishware…) but I'm glad we didn't have the stress that comes with planning a fancy schmancy wedding. I've been to several where the festivities have been marred by family drama, bad food and, of course, frightening bridesmaid dresses!

I'm definitely pleased I avoided the kind of bridal frenzy that Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson experience in BRIDE WARS, a comedy that pits best friends against each other in a fight for the ultimate wedding! In BRIDE WARS, Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway), best friends since childhood, are always there for each other, through good times and bad. They even become engaged to be married within a few hours of one another. Together they plan their respective weddings, each to take place at New York’s ultimate bridal destination, the Plaza Hotel. But a clerical error and subsequent clash in wedding dates pits the two brides – neither of whom will step aside – against each other, in a competition that quickly escalates into all-out war. BRIDE WARS will be available on DVD April 28th.



In honor of the BRIDE WARS DVD release, 20th Century Fox and Paper Shouts are teaming up for a couple of great contests: one lucky reader of this blog will win a copy of the BRIDE WARS DVD and also be entered in the grand prize drawing with prizes including a trip to Cancun, sunglasses worn by Kate Hudson in BRIDE WARS, Paper Shouts gift certificates and a one-sheet BRIDE WARS movie poster signed by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway.



Paper Shouts creates posh stationery for life's big moments. Starting this month all Paper Shouts announcements and invitations are printed on premium grade 100% PCW recycled, heavyweight (110#), uncoated paper and are shipped with 50% recycled envelopes (30% PCW/20% VF). Paper Shouts has a way to share just about every occasion you can think of, and even a few you might not have considered– they even offer designs to welcome your new pet!

To get 15% off any order at Paper Shouts, use code Super15 in the promo code box in the checkout.

To enter and win your own copy of BRIDE WARS on DVD and a $25 Paper Shouts gift certificate, please comment on this post with which character's style you relate more to (take the BRIDE WARS quiz to find out– I'm an Emma, FYI, although I picture myself as more of a Liv…) as well as your favorite card from the Bridal Shouts collection.



Entries will be accepted through May 6th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Thanks, Amanda and Layla Grace!

We won a contest on Amanda's blog recently and received the fabulous prize from Layla Grace… I think Roo likes it, what do you think?


Thank you!!!

As Good As Gold

LaRocca Skincare is a new beauty brand that uses the healing powers of gold to renew and revitalize aging skin. Each product in the line features their proprietary Cellular Gold Complex, an exclusive formula made with 24K Colloidal Gold which is known to promote electron transfer with the metal ions found in the skin to stimulate cell regeneration.


Products in the LaRocca Skincare 24K Gold line include an exfoliating cleanser, eye cream, moisturizer, cocoa gold vitamin mask and my personal favorite, the c-gold gel. All of them have a subtle shimmer and impart a radiant glow to your skin. The c-gold gel leaves skin with a silky smooth finish that lasts all day, with or without foundation. It is amazing!



Founder Laura LaRocca, who also co-founded DuWop Cosmetics, discovered gold's regenerative powers when she experienced total kidney failure. She made it her mission to create a collection of age-defying potions that utilize the power of gold while promoting a better environment. LaRocca Skincare does not use parabens, PABA, mineral oil, phthalates, paraffin, DEA, Urea, synthetic fragrances or animal derived ingredients and 3% of their profits are donated to the Southern California National Kidney Foundation.

Be sure to sign up for LaRocca's mailing list to receive samples of this fantastic skincare.

Staycation, All I Ever Wanted…

Summer is near and the specter of keeping two little kids busy and even traveling with them is looming on the not-so-distant horizon. I'll admit it. I am terrified of Roo being out of school for three months. She talks from the moment she wakes up until her eyes close at night and while I usually am very interested in what she has to say, it is pretty exhausting. Especially when I have to keep Jasper from pinching her and pulling her hair and keep her from instigating said actions. I'm already breaking a cold sweat!

There are options. Bribery. Engaging them with thoughtful play options. Sometimes those two things can coincide. Case in point: Little Jet Set. This mom-founded boutique carries a plethora of stuff you might need to make traveling– or staying at home– with little ones bearable and even fun. I love their selection of funky suitcases and clever gift ideas.



Roo received the Poet and Astronomer Paper Dolls by eeBoo which feature gorgeous illustrations and inspiring scenarios. This would be a great surprise to pull out on the road since it comes in a slim portfolio but folds out for more imaginative play.



Jasper received a set of Automoblox miniature wooden cars that he absolutely loves to take apart and reassemble. (Technically, these are recommended for ages 3+ because they feature tiny parts that could be choking hazards. I took note of that warning but feel that Jasper's up for the challenge, being the little brother of a Polly Pocket aficionado. There are tiny things littering every nook and cranny of our house.) If I could ditch all of the cheapo plastic cars he has and replace them with these, the world would be a MUCH better place.




Don't forget to check out Little Jet Set before planning your summer trips. Something like the Tray Bien In-Flight Organizer would come in awfully handy on that loooong airplane ride…



Right now, Little Jet Set is having a HUGE sale– all regular-priced merchandise is 40% off and all clearance items are 50% off! Hurry on over because things are selling out fast and the sale ends on April 27th!

Your Mama Loves Letterpress

Whose mom wouldn't be thrilled to receive one of the fabulous letterpress Mother's Day cards from Portland's Egg Press? Ten styles are available, ranging from traditional to quirky and back again. My favorite is the Heart Border Mother's Day Card:



p.s. I think this one would make a great Father's Day card, too. Conveniently, it comes in boxes of six. Just in case you have a daddy complex…

Get Your Mother's Day Buzz

***WINNER PICKED 5/7 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #108 Sabrita (non-blogger)!!!***

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Enjoyed the article "Anatomy of Sexual Humor"

The following review/giveaway is for adult eyes only because it involves sex. Mommy and daddy sex. (Everyone under 18 just clicked away, right?) No super explicit stuff here but the links might contain NSFW content. Consider yourself warned.



Sometimes it's hard to remember your sex life, pre-mommydom. Breastfeeding can leave you all touched out and hormonal changes can make your sex drive erratic. Sometimes you need a little spark to get going, to remember how you made those babies in the first place… Eden Fantasys is a site committed to helping you (consenting adult that you are!) have the most fulfilling sex life possible. They offer a variety of toys, books and other products chosen to appeal to all genders, ages and orientations from the shy beginner to the super kinky. I'm not going into detail (you can thank me later) but I fall somewhere in between.



I was lucky enough to review the Mia Pleasure Object, a clitoral vibrator small enough to take anywhere. It's available in pink and purple and is so compact that it could easily be mistaken for this CoverGirl mascara tube. Mia's packaging is sexy, too. The sleek black box looks like something from a fine jewelry store, an indulgent present, and doesn't scream "SEX TOY!" which adds to its appeal. I am a total whore for packaging.



You'll notice that Mia is USB-powered, which I think is alternately hilarious and smart for tech-savvy mamas. Plus it can run for almost 4 hours on one 2-hour charge, which I suspect might be amusing for business travelers… Conveniently, you can lock it so it doesn't start to vibrate in your purse!



Mia is tiny but packs a punch with intuitive + and - buttons to control the vibration. You can set it to vibrate steadily or pulse and increase or decrease as you see fit. Mia is made from phthalate-free plastic and silicone and can be washed easily. Use only water-based lubricants if necessary. (Although realistically, I wouldn't recommend inserting Mia anywhere. It is very tiny!

Eden Fantasys features reader reviews of all their product offerings (Mia has 3.5 stars out of 5, in case you were wondering) and has an active community forum that they hope will help you to "celebrate the powerfully positive affects of sexuality in your life -- with no judgment or embarrassment." If you prefer less interaction, Eden Fantasys also has new online magazine called SeXis that explores all aspects of sex culture, from sex toy buyer's guides to sexual health information… and, yes, even dick jokes.



To enter and win your own Mia Pleasure Object, please comment on this post with your favorite article or advice from Sexis. Don't forget to check out Eden Fantasys, too– you'll be amazed at how vast their selection is!



Entries will be accepted through May 6th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. (Note that prize is not guaranteed to arrive by Mother's Day!) US/Canada readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, follow my blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Birthday Party Solutions

It seems like there's been a birthday party every week for a while now but luckily Chronicle Books has a slew of new releases that make excellent gifts. And not just books, either…

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld is a picture book that uses an optical illusion (do you see a duck or a rabbit in this drawing?) to full comic effect. Roo thinks it's hi-la-ri-ous and I must agree.



Sprout Your Own Sweet Scents and Sprout Your Own Leafy Wonders are well-designed kits for the budding horticulturist, complete with tiny pots, peat moss, seeds and how-to book and journal.



Rosie Flo's Coloring Book by Roz Streeten are fantastic because they're less about coloring and more about drawing and using your own imagination. Streeten creates intricate outfits and scenarios but leaves most of it up to the kids to figure out. Click here to download pages to try out yourself!



Sukie Iron-Ons is a 30-page book of gorgeous color illustrations from British design duo Sukie. Whimsical cityscapes and charming forest creatures abound. Use these to create one-of-a-kind gifts!



And finally, The Printmaking Bible: The Complete Guide to Printing Materials and Techniques by Ann d'Arcy Hughes and Hebe Vernon-Morris. I always regret not taking more printmaking classes in college but this comprehensive up-to-date manual makes me feel a little better. It's a weight volume of more than 400 pages packed with 1,000 full-color photos and illustrations giving comprehensive instructions, troubleshooting tips and even a resource list. Really a tremendous library addition for any creative person… and a perfect Mother's Day gift for crafty mamas!

The Itchless Tutu!

Roo loves princessy, fluffy things but she hates tutus because they're scratchy. I'm not ordinarily a girlie girl but for some reason I love the way little girls look in tutus, the poofier the better. Imagine our delight at discovering TutuLegz, a tutu engineered for maximum wearability.




TutuLegz were designed by two sisters whose mission was to "get the tutu out of the dress-up box and into the everyday wardrobe." Their ingenious solution was to attach a mini tutu-bubble to the stretchy, comfy leggings that most little girls love to wear. The tutu starts below the elastic waistband so there is no problem with scratchiness. TutuLegz' tutu fabric is actually softer than most tulle I've encounted, anyway. The tutus are attached to striped or dotted leggings and feature cute themed embellishments. The TutuLegz Roo is wearing are The Lil' Rockstar design, with tiny pink guitars. I also love the Happy Hearts TutuLegz, especially with its matching tee:



TutuLegz are available in three lengths (Shorts, Capris and Full Length) for sizes newborn-5T. I wish they were available in mommy sizes!

Heaven Eleven

Roo wore her pink Eleven boots all winter and, oddly, Jasper is always trying to steal them. Now springtime is in full force which means winter boots have been retired and it's time for some new kicks! Roo's new favorite shoes are the Laura mary janes. They look like pink and burgundy spectators but with flower cut-outs instead of normal holes. So cute!




Obviously, the girl loves pink! Eleven's spring collection is full of great school shoes and sandals for the fashionable 3-8 year old. Jasper will just have to wait until he's bigger… thankfully he's got See Kai Run (sibling brand of Eleven; he's already too big for their other sibling, Smaller!) shoes to wear until then.

Word to Your Mother

The Fine Art of Family is a line of keepsake jewelry and gifts fashioned in precious metals that turn your favorite photos into wearable heirlooms. I've written before about discovering the beautiful jewelry by photographer Monica Rich Kosann.



Just in time for Mother's Day, The Fine Art of Family is introducing a new line of thoughtfully inscribed miniature pieces, The Notes Collection. Most of the pieces are embossed with their signature floral motif and are available in silver or gold. My top pick is the Mom and Love necklace with its simple inscriptions that mean so much.



I received the Mini Floral Disc necklace with "I Love You" engraving. It is delicate and so pretty, especially on Roo. What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than by gifting the one who actually made you into a mom? The Mini Floral Disc necklace is also available with other inscriptions ("carpe diem" or "mom") and in 18K gold.



My own mother is a jewelry fanatic, so I think she would be more impressed by the bigger and bolder Charmed Life Bracelet.



What piece from The Fine Art of Family would you choose for your mom? Which piece would you love to receive for Mother's Day?



Right now, The Fine Art of Family is offering free shipping for Mother's Day. And you'll receive a free gift with purchases over $200, The Fine Art of Family Book by Monica Rich Kosann, a $40 value.