Happy Mother's Day!

Roo outdid herself this year…




Happy Mother's Day!

Extraordinary!

Mommies United has evolved into a more welcoming site for mom bloggers to hang out and get to know each other: Extraordinary Mothers will feature all of the great giveaways you have come to know and love, plus weekly features, blog spotlights, forums and more. It is going to be a true online community for moms to get to know one another! Visit Extraordinary Mothers to see how you can get involved.

Their first giveaways are up now, too:

Win one of five handbags by The Sak or a Keurig mini coffee brewer!

A WannaBe, but not a poseur

***WINNER PICKED 8/21 WITH RANDOM.ORG***


***CONGRATULATIONS, arbrashears (non-blogger)!!!***

her comment...
My favorite feature is definitely the Crumb Drains...too cool! I love all of the colors, but would probably get the most use and love from the brown/champagne. Thanks for introducing me to these fabulous bags -- and for the chance to win.



Diaper bags are a mere necessity for most women, but there are mommies out there who wear them like couture accessories. Some diaper bag brands inspire a fervor that is almost reverent and Ju-Ju-Be is one of the most collectible on the market.

I'd heard about Ju-Ju-Be but never seen the bags in person. I thought the moms who bought a new bag each time the line introduced a new style or print must be totally insane. How different can a diaper bag really be from brand to brand? Umm, pretty drastically different, as it turns out.



Ju-Ju-Be was founded by a mom and dad team, business partners who each have their own families with six kids between them. Obviously, they've done a lot of personal R&D as well as professional! It shows in the thoughtful features and advanced technology that are a Ju-Ju-Be hallmark: tons of pockets for all your stuff, removable changing pads with memory foam, Teflon-coated fabric for easy wipe-down cleaning AND it's machine-washable (air-dry), waterproof lining with AgION anti-microbial properties, Thinsulate insulated bottle pockets, smart magnets in lieu of noisy Velcro that could wake baby, durable metal hardware and mommy pocket with key leash and zippered compartments… For once, I can't think of anything that's missing. Oh, wait, did I mention how cute their prints are?!



I received Ju-Ju-Be's newest (and greatest… size-wise, at least!) bag, the WannaBe in the new Perky Perennials print, pictured above. This is one of the few Ju-Ju-Be bags that does not include a changing pad, so I guess it is not technically a diaper bag although it's roomy enough for me to stow an entire case of Jasper's diapers inside if I so desired. First off, it's huge without being heavy. It has removable backpack straps and integrated stretchy straps for a towel or rolled-up beach mat, an insulated snack pocket, a magazine pocket, and one for your iPod with a soft lining. Two interior pockets are capacious enough for a liter bottle each. My very favorite WannaBe feature is the ingenious mesh Sand Trap bottom: you unzip the bottom and shake and all the sand falls out. Brilliant.



The WannaBe is available in three great prints and is the ULTIMATE beach bag. I say this as someone who grew up in Hawaii and has seen quite a few over the years. It would also be an ideal bag for traveling with a baby, since you can stuff so much into it without feeling or looking like a pack mule.



The other new Ju-Ju-Be bag introduced this summer is the BeLight, which is essentially the polar opposite of the WannaBe. It is an ultra-light (just over 6 ounces!) diaper bag that is completely reversible and comes with a lightly padded changing pad (not memory foam like the usual Ju-Ju-Be pads). You decide whether to wear it short or long because the shoulder straps tie so they are infinitely adjustable. I imagine you could also tether it to whatever you want– stroller, bike, shopping cart. As small as the BeLight is, it also boasts a zippered pocket on one side and a divided patch pocket on the other side. And it comes in seven fun styles, for a total of fourteen great colors… you just know there's a mom out there who bought it to match all her outfits!



I am totally sold on the greatness of Ju-Ju-Be bags. I am lusting after the PackaBe and BeQuick in the new Lotus Lullaby print. I think they would be fantastic for everyday use. For me. I also love that Ju-Ju-Be has a line of Add-Ons, a la carte pouches to hold bottles or sippys or food jars or messed clothes or pacifiers plus a cute brag books, so you can organize your bags whatever way you see fit.

Ju-Ju-Be gives away a bag of the winner's choice (any bag Ju-Ju-Be makes in any color they want!) every single week in its Pink Room forum. The forum has over 28,000 members (that's a lot of Ju-Ju-Be owners!) and all you have to do to win is answer the "Real Mom Giveaway" question of the week.

To enter and win your own BeLight bag, please comment on this post with your favorite BeLight feature and which print you'd choose.


Entries will be accepted through August 20th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


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! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

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

My 15 minutes…

Dude! I'm on Alltop! Well, along with a zillion other mom blogs, but still pretty cool. (Roo says she's not allowed to say "cool" at her new Montessori preschool, by the way. Hmm.)

Mama Mio, Here We Go Again…

I hate to admit it, but some product lines actually make me wish I was pregnant again. Mama Mio, for one. Oh, how I loved rubbing my belly with their sublime Tummy Rub Oil. Truth be told, I wasn't impressed on first use. I have always been a greasy girl, so the concept of dousing myself in oil was not very enticing. But Tummy Rub soaked in quickly and its scent (Gravida, a proprietary blend of ten essential oils) reminded me of the ocean. Happy times.



Fast forward ten months and it's hard to find time to pamper myself with a ten month old who only likes to sleep on me and a four year old budding drama queen. I miss the giant belly that gave me a pass to have some downtime every once in a while. Luckily, Mama Mio makes stuff for post-partum mamas, too. I've been using Boob Tube to try and minimize the effects of nursing two hungry babies. It helps to retain elasticity and firmness. Perky!



Tummy Toner is a serum that seeks to lift, tighten and tone slack skin. I didn't get any stretch marks with Roo, but Jasper gave me some. This helps me resent him less.



Shrink to Fit Cream is amazing. It reduces the appearance of cellulite (which I don't have too much of, thankfully) and water retention (which I have in spades, not so thankfully). The website touts its active ingredient as Adiposlim™, an amazing new ingredient proven in lab testing to help shrink fat cells and then prevent new fat cells for forming. I don't know about that, but it makes my skin look smooth and almost bathing suit ready. Plus it has the Gravida scent that makes me happy, happy, happy.



Mama Mio has a ton of gorgeous gift baskets that are perfect for gifting to expectant mamas and yourself. The next product of theirs I want to try is OMega Body Oil, which I am thinking might give me all the jollies of belly-rubbing pregnancy, without all that extra added… baby.

Mommy Cards, deluxe

***WINNER PICKED 5/22 WITH RANDOM.ORG*** ***CONGRATULATIONS, PURANGO!!!***

who commented: swirls for sarah is my favorite style. I would use them to connect to other mothers at school and dance classes.

I've noticed a zillion "mommy cards" online in recent months but these, from the aptly-named Mommy Cards are certainly the most beautiful. The colors are lovely and the typography is well thought out, too– something that is lacking on many of the other mommy card brands I've seen. Imagine how sophisticated you'll look whipping one of these out at the park or preschool! (I wouldn't even mind dropping one of these in amongst all the "official" business cards…) They look so good, in fact, they might actually encourage you to get out there and meet new people. Offline.




To enter and win a set of 50 Mommy Cards in the lovely Swirls for Sarah style, please comment on this post with your favorite style of Mommy Cards and how you would use them.

Entries will be accepted through May 21st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org.

US/Canada readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.

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! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a new site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

Mommies United

Mommies United! is a new online hangout for mommy bloggers, founded by Christine, Kristin, Amanda, and Shanda. All four of these women have great blogs where they write about their kids and their lives and host giveaways, but they're joining forces to create what I envision will become a massive online playgroup… fun!

Right now, Mommies United are hosting their Mega Launch Party, with a huge list of prizes. There's even a scavenger hunt! Go check it out right now!!!

Here are the prizes I'd most love to win:

19. Natural Pod house play pack
3. Baby and me Boutique $100 gift certificate
20. See Me Read 1 kit
18. Rockin Kid Shop 1 Rockin' Baby Pouch
21. Olive Kids 5 pack of placemats

You've got the cutest little…

***WINNER PICKED 2/18 WITH RANDOM.ORG***
***CONGRATULATIONS, Stacey Moore!!!***
She's had a streak of winning (All Because Two People Fell in Love)…
I suggest she buy some lottery tickets ASAP!

her comment: what a cute site!! i would get one done with pictures of my little loves!! thanks so much!!



I'm not the world's most sentimental person. Sure, I love my kids and like to have mementos of them, but most keepsake jewelry is kind of… mommy. And not in a good way. Roo and Jasper will probably grow up feeling neglected because their mom just isn't going to wear 3" buttons emblazoned with their photos. Sorry, kids. Grandma's not about to sacrifice her bling for a cutesy photo sweatshirt, either. I know, we must not love them enough. Poor babies.

Luckily, I stumbled across the coolest baby memento I've seen in a while– BabyFaces custom jewelry. They transform your favorite photo into a charm in sterling silver or 14K white or yellow gold, perfect to wear as a solitaire or to add to your charm bracelet. I've collected vintage charms and charm bracelets for years now, so BabyFaces seemed like a great way to show off my maternal pride. I emailed my photos in (you can also use the upload option on their order form or mail a hard copy) and in a week or so I had these tiny effigies of my childrens' smiling faces:



They turned out even better than I had hoped! Even my husband was impressed and suggested we get them made annually, so I can have a charm bracelet to keep me company when the kids grow up and fly the coop… so much better than a schoolhouse frame on the wall, in my opinion. I love being able to wear my kids without sacrificing my own sense of style. I have a sick desire to get BabyFaces of me and Bob, to put on our cats' collars instead of normal tags. Which reminds me, how adorable are the BabyFaces Pets charms?



I would love to have a kitty charm bracelet, featuring the ones still with us and their fallen comrades. Although that would add up quicker than I can count, so I'll stick to the kids for now. The website has great pictures of charms made from pictures of pet dogs and horses, too.

BabyFaces offers two sizes: standard (about the size of a quarter) and jr (about the size of a dime) and both are available as a traditional pendant with chain or with a swivel lobster claw clasp. (I chose the clasp so I could move the charms around until they find their perfect place. ) All are available in sterling and 14K white and yellow gold, with prices starting at just $69 for the silver jr clasp version. There is also a new option, the BabyFaces Duet, which features two faces (babies, couples, critters…) and would be an awfully thoughtful gift for your Valentine, stateside or deployed…



To enter and win a BabyFaces custom sterling silver photo charm in jr size (a $69 value), please comment on this post and let me know who you would immortalize in precious metal!

Entries will be accepted through February 17th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers only. Only one entry/comment per person, please.

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!

If you prefer not to leave your email, you can also check for your name at Prizey.Fetch, a new site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

Enter my other current giveaways here.

***Receive free shipping when you order your BabyFaces custom 3D photo charm online!***

Mommy and Me

Bob got his own digital camera for Christmas, so here's actual proof that I exist. It's been a snowy winter here in Wichita!

You're all winners, in my book

Beth from I Should Be Folding Laundry is giving away a pair of Ryka shoes! And she's doing the same thing on her other blog, Tales From The Scales!

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a tiny HP printer and a Lands' End $100 gift certificate!

Stay At Home Dad, Geek Style is giving away a Canon PowerShot SD750 and SmugMug photo packages!

Mom Views is giving away a Bebe Au Lait/Hooter Hiders nursing cover!

Keeping Feet is giving away a Slinglings pouch sling!

Mod*Mom is giving away the Boon feeding stuff I posted about yesterday!

My Mom Shops is giving away a bib/burpcloth set by Sheppard Girls!

Life Is Like A Lunchbox is giving away soapy goodness all week!



Mum's The Wurd is giving away a cooler backpack or messenger bag by Outside Baby!

The Opinionated Parent is giving away an allergen-proof and waterproof mattress and pillow encasement set from CleanRest!

I am going to try and add things as I see them, so check label "new giveaways" for new updates. Blogs that have incredible contests every day, like Cool Mom Picks or MommyKnows won't be on the list since they're one-day entries and I am just not that on top of things. Go check 'em out yourself!

Slurpee

I pretty much lost all modesty while nursing Roo for over two years, but I must admit it is nice to be able to feed your baby in public without feeling like you're whipping your boobs out. I love the concept of nursing smocks with all the pretty fabric choices but Jasper pulls the things off with all his wiggling and exposes me or else cries inconsolably because he doesn't like his face to be covered. When I heard about a new breastfeeding cover-up called Slurp & Burp, I was really intrigued and ordered one to try out.

The Slurp & Burp is essentially a two-layer knit tube with an attached white cotton burp cloth. My husband asked if it was a baby sling, and it does indeed look a bit like a tiny one, but it only covers the shoulder and one breast. Like a dainty poncho. The S&B doesn't cover the baby– the two layers go over and under the breast, providing a discreet opening for the baby to suckle at. Here's a pic from their website that shows how innocuous it looks in use:


Initially, I thought my gigantic shoulders and milk-laden boobs were too big to use the S&B until a plus-sized option is available, but I just wasn't putting it on right. It takes a bit of getting used to and it does require you to wear clothing that allows your breasts to be accessed from the top, while I usually pull my shirts up to nurse. The S&B is nice because no special nursing openings are necessary, you basically just poke the nipple between the layers. The soft knit fabric rolls up compactly and can also double as a pillow or burpcloth in a pinch. As an added bonus, the stripes look great with striped BabyLegs dangling below…



Here's a chance for you to try it out yourself: Mom4Life is giving a Slurp & Burp to one lucky blog reader. Or order one from Mom4Life yourself!

Less Milky than BabySpit!

I've been seeing banner ads for MomSpit online for a while now but initially I thought it was some kind of mommy blogger in-joke that I wasn't in on. (That happens to me pretty often, if you couldn't guess…) Like a parody ad on Saturday Night Live or something. When I finally clicked on the darned thing, I was whisked away to a new product that I had actually been hoping for.



You see, I have a three year old daughter who loves to dig in dirt and play with bugs as much as she loves to dress up in frilly outfits and pretend to be a sushi chef. Roo happily alternates between being a total neat freak and a dirty street urchin. Try as I might, she does not always manage to wash her hands before they go near her mouth. I've carried little bottles of hand sanitizer and wipes around since she was a baby but they kind of gross me out. The alcohol wipes clean well enough but I feel like they're also burning my poor kid's skin off. Add the rumors about alcohol poisoning dangers from kids ingesting the stuff, which Snopes.com verifies, and I certainly don't want to use it anywhere near her face. I want something that cleans without needing a zillion tissues to wipe with, doesn't poison my child, is easily portable, and pleasant to use.

MomSpit totally fits the bill. It comes in three versions: Fig & Green Tea, Lemon & White Tea, and Unscented. I've been using the Fig & Green Tea which has a light and vaguely fruity scent. I kind of wish I had some shampoo that smells like it, since I suspect using MomSpit in my hair would be weird in a couple of different ways. The 2 oz. bottle is a nice size for diaper bags and purses and the way the MomSpit foams up when pumped cracks my daughter up. I haven't had any trouble getting her to wash her hands and sticky face with MomSpit, especially now that she knows to swab down before touching her new baby brother. In fact, she enjoys forcing everyone who comes into contact with him to use it. I will probably need to upgrade to the 7 oz. bottle with all the visitors for Jasper. I think we will try the Lemon & White Tea next, Unscented seems dull in comparison.

Jasper Hearts who?

Mum's the Wurd is having a contest that I found especially exciting since it introduced me to a groovy baby/kid outfitter called Jasper Hearts Wren. While I obviously think it ought to be called "Jasper hearts Roo" after my future baby and current toddler, it is pretty darned awesomely cute.

Appliqued onesies, tees and tanks, headbands and burp cloth sets... all sorts of ways to adorn your own munchkin. Here is the tank you can win in the contest, simply by signing the Mr. Linky and commenting:



And here is the burp cloth and bib set that someone really ought to send our Jasper. Hint, hint…

Matchy-matchy

I do have a sick fetish for the matching mother and baby clothes (probably a holdover from growing up in Hawaii and refusing to wear matching aloha wear with my mom), although my husband keeps it in check. Here are some from Droopy Knickers that I don't think he would be embarrassed by:




These would be great shower gifts, people. Hint, hint.