Good Morning, Sunshine!

KIDS'Sleep Classic Toddler Sleep Wake Training Clock

"Mommy! Cow's awake!" I hear this every morning through the baby monitor...my two year old knows that her "cow" is her key to freedom. When my older child would wake up well before the sun came up I searched for solutions to keep her in her bed. I stumbled across this clock and thought I would give it a try; it solved our problems...MOST of the time :) There are still those days when no matter what a silly little cartoon cow may think, our girls want to come downstairs and they do. But, most mornings, the cow is dancing before I hear a peep from them.

So, here's how this little gadget works: You set the time that you want your child to wake up (I have set the time for 7:00 a.m.); at 7:00 p.m. the cow "goes to sleep" (a picture of a cow in a bed lights up), at 7:00 a.m. the cow "wakes up" (a picture of a cow dancing lights up). It's as easy as that. You can also set nap times but I don't bother with that, my Zoe is an excellent napper (I put her down at 1:00 p.m. and don't hear from her until 4:00 p.m.!).

Make sure you explain to your child every night when you put them to bed that they "must stay in bed until the cow wakes up" so that they fully understand and remember to look at the cow in the morning. When first using this for the girls I would set the cow to wake up 15 minutes before they would normally wake up (ex. if your child is normally waking up at 6:00 a.m. then set it for 5:45 a.m.) so that they got excited to wake up and see that the cow was awake. If you want your child's wake up time to be 7:00 a.m. and not 6:00 a.m. then gradually increase the time you have set by 15 minutes every day or two so that they train themselves to sleep a bit longer without even realizing it!

PROS: YOUNG children can use this (like I said, Zoe just turned two years old!), the pictures are big and bright, it is easy to program, choose from pink, blue or green

CONS: Pricey ($30), if you need to put your kids to bed earlier than 12 hours after they wake up then the cow is "still awake" (this happened to us recently when we put the kids to bed 30 minutes before they normally go to bed..."Mommy, why is the cow awake?"..."Um, it's not working right now; go to sleep and it will be fixed in the morning!"

What's in this Stuff?

Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skindeep Cosmetics Database

As much as possible I try to buy all natural, organic products and food. Having said this, there are a few things that I buy because I have used them for years and like them or because the price is right. When I use a product on myself or my kids I always wonder what exactly is in the product and if I should be concerned about putting it on my children. This website is an amazing resource to learn all about the quality and safety of the products you use on you and your family.

This is taken directly from the website:
EWG's Skin Deep is an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products, launched in 2004 to help people find safer products, with fewer ingredients that are hazardous or that haven't been thoroughly tested. Skin Deep combines product ingredient lists with information in more than 50 standard toxicity and regulatory databases. The database provides easy-to-navigate safety ratings for tens of thousands of personal care products.

Here's the site:

www.ewg.org/skindeep

WARNING: This site can be addicting. The first time I used it I obsessively checked anything and everything I could think of...it took a couple of hours one late, late night :)

In the Clear

MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Clearing Complex

Five years ago a patient of mine, an aesthetician, told me about this nifty little product. When I'm stressed or...ahem...it's that 'time of the month'...I have a lovely little blemish that pops up in the same place. Over the years I had tried a number of things to get rid of it quickly but nothing seemed to do the trick until she told me about this. This product works quickly and effectively to get a problem spot under control!

My aesthetician patient would perform an extraction on me with a sharp little tool and then apply this to the area. The way that I have found is most effective is to relieve the pressure on the blemish yourself (yes, I mean wash your hands and gently squeeze until all the yuckiness is out) and then dab this gel on. It will tingle, or even burn, and will leave a little white residue. The next morning the area will be quite obviously healing, there may be a little scab that will last a day or two. This little treatment zaps zits quickly!

PROS: Effective at clearing problem skin, fast-acting

CONS: EXPENSIVE! The 1 ounce tube is about $35 BUT I have only had to purchase this ONE time...my current bottle has lasted more than five years!

Wakey, Wakey Sleepyhead

Keurig Platinum B70 Gourmet Single Cup Brewing System
When Heath was in a very busy period of his residency and we had a toddler and newborn my parents gave us one of the most valuable Christmas gifts we could have received...a Keurig brewer. Hallelujah! The freshest morning coffee at the touch of a button was a lifesaver for those late night shifts for Heath at the hospital and the late night shifts for me with a newborn and a two year old.
To this day we are still very much in love with our Keurig, as are our friends and guests that come to our house! It is great to have a variety of coffees on hand to appeal to every coffee, tea and hot chocolate drinker who visits. One coffee drinker may need a jolt of caffeine at 8:00 p.m. while another wants a cup of decaf to go with after dinner dessert. It's so versatile and efficient...a must have!
PROS: Super fresh coffee, a variety of flavors, cup-by-cup brewing, brews quickly in multiple sizes, eliminates the need to set the coffee pot at night and waste half empty pots of coffee
CONS: K-cups can be pricey (I used to have a favorite company to purchase from online but they have since raised their prices so I'm still looking for a good vendor),
A NOTE ON K-CUPS: K-cups are available at Bed, Bath and Beyond which is convenient and cheaper with the 20% off coupons or $5 off $15 coupons. There is also a removable filter basket in which you can put your own coffee grounds but this can get annoying and messy, much less 'fun' and satisfying than the K-cup varieties. Finally, Folgers has produced their own line of K-cup that are actually very tasty, cheaper and can be found at grocery stores, Target and Wal-mart so very convenient!

Namaste, Baby

Gaiam Kids: Yogakids Fun Collection

As you know, I am a fan of yoga. There are so many scientifically proven benefits of this form of exercise and literally every person can be helped mentally and physically from some level of consistent yoga practice.

Having said this, my first born grew up watching me do yoga almost every single day. I would practice while she rocked to sleep in her swing at 6 weeks old, I would practice while holding her to help her to calm down, I even purchased a couple of mommy and baby yoga videos so she could reap some of the benefits as well. Needless to say, it wasn't too long before she would pull my yoga mat out and do a downward dog (very handy for bottom wiping, by the way) or would contort her body into all sorts of positions exclaiming, "Mommy, look! I'm doing yoga!".

When she was two years old she requested that Santa bring her a yoga mat. I found some darling child-size mats online and purchased one with turtles on it. In my search for this mat I came across the Gaiam Kids: Yogakids Fun Collection Yoga DVD. It got great reviews so I decided to try it. When she opened that DVD on Christmas morning we put it on and had the greatest time!

The poses are not traditional yoga poses but are so fun to do. Each pose is assigned a letter A through Z and takes you through a video that shows different animals, landscapes and components of nature. The kids in the video are so cute and engaging. Now, two years later, we still like to pull our yoga mats out and get silly together...the neighborhood kids love to do it with us, too!

This is an excellent Christmas gift for preschool and elementary school aged kids. With cold weather keeping the kids indoors I love having the video on hand to give us something fun and active to do together!

around her house Blog Update

It's that time of year again. The time when we all prepare for guests, plan for holiday meals, decorate, bake, mail out a mountain of Christmas cards, shop for Christmas gifts, attend holiday parties; basically lots of cooking, lots of cleaning, lots of energy to make the holidays as memorable as possible for family and friends.

I've already started the Christmas shopping and am mostly done (yay!) but with the guests starting to roll in next week, two holiday meals and a holiday party being hosted at our house I will have to cut back on the daily blog. Mom goes into overdrive now so there are some things that must go on the backburner for a while. I will post weekly (on Mondays, hopefully!) and may resume the daily posts once the holiday rush is over.

The blog has been a big success with over 4,200 page views since September. Thank you for your interest, comments, texts and emails!

Happy holidays to all!

Suck it Up

Dirt Devil Extreme Power Hand Vac M0914 (former model is the Dirt Devil Accucharge)

There are a few things that every household needs and, in my opinion, a good handheld vacuum cleaner is a must. Since our marriage in 2003 we are on our third handheld vacuum and this one is my favorite. This handy little tool is ready when you need it and I use mine many times every day!

The battery fully charges within 24 hours and provides heavy duty suction. It is lightweight but the best feature is the 'quick flip crevice tool' that allows you to get into corners, under cabinets and in all nooks and crannies with the press of a button.

PROS: Powerful suction, convenient, easy to empty, replacement filters are available at Target and Wal-mart stores, quick flip crevice tool, price (about $30)

CONS: None!

Give Me a Hand

Weleda Skin Food

It's that time of year when your lips, face, hands and the rest of your body feel dry and chapped. There are some great hand lotions that I use during the spring and summer that are light and non-greasy but they just don't hold up to the cold outdoor air and dry, heated indoor air. In comes Weleda Skin Food. I originally purchased this for Zoe's eczema but it just seemed to irritate her, as do most lotions and creams. So, I decided to try the cream on my dry, rough hands and I am so glad I did!

This super nourishing, thick, wonderfully smelling cream really does the trick. It is soothing to dry, chapped hands, elbows and feet and coats your skin without feeling greasy. An added bonus is that it smells amazing as it is filled with extracts of pansy, calendula, chamomile, lavendar, rosemary and sweet orange oil.

PROS: Smells amazing, thick consistency, moisturizes well

CONS: Price (I paid $16 at Whole Foods but this will last about one year)

TIP: Vitacost.com has a full tube on sale for $10.78. If you buy more than $49 worth of products, you get free shipping...otherwise shipping is $4.99!

Get a Grip

OXO Good Grips Pop Containers

At one time we had a strange group of tiny moths living on the ceiling of our pantry. If any of you know me, you know that I don't care for bugs and critters inside my house, so I made a quick call to our exterminator. He came out and took a look at these pests and told me to take everything out of our pantry so he could take care of the problem. I asked him how we could possibly have acquired these moths to which he replied that they could have come home with us from the grocery store in just about any of the containers in our pantry (flour, rice, pasta, cereal, etc.). GROSS. He suggested I put as many of our pantry items in air tight storage containers as possible.

I ventured out for a suitable storage solution and came across the OXO Good Grips Pop Containers. I fell in love. The plastic is thick and durable and with the press of the button on top, an airtight seal is made. I transferred as many of our dry goods to these containers as possible. I would like to store more of our pantry items in these storage units but they are a bit pricey! I will have to acquire a few more over time...hopefully before the moths can find their way back into our pantry.

PROS: Durable, tight seal, feel and look very nice, stack well

CONS: Pricey, difficult to know exactly which size you will need for each of your items (this requires a bit of advance planning!)

You can find these containers at Macy's, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, TJ Maxx and other retailers.

Ready or Not, Here I Come!

Melissa and Doug Hide and Seek Puzzle

Our second child (now two years old) received this puzzle for Christmas last year and it is by far the best puzzle we own. There are so many skills she can work on when doing this puzzle! Finger dexterity, memory, color recognition, association of objects, critical thinking and more. I never get tired of doing this puzzle with her. It makes a great gift for the hard to shop for toddler!

PROS: Well constructed, builds a number of skills, great size for play and for storage

CONS: A number of pieces so you have to keep track of them!

Bottoms Up!

Tervis Tumbler 24 Ounce Insulated Tumbler

We have all heard of the 'eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day' rule. As a physical therapist who specialized in women's health and disorders associated with urination I can tell you that this rule does not apply to everyone. To figure out exactly how many ounces of water you should be drinking every day, do this:

Take your weight in pounds and divide it by two

This gives you the total number of ounces of fluid you should drink daily

Multiply this number by 2/3 and this gives you the amount in ounces of water you should be drinking daily

For example: a 120 pound female should drink 60 ounces of fluid daily, 40 ounces of this should be water (the other 20 ounces can be tea, coffee, juice, etc.). This equals five eight ounce glasses of water daily. More, of course, is perfectly fine.

I received the Tervis Tumbler as a gift when I was pregnant with my second child along with a note saying that "now that I was pregnant I need to make sure I'm drinking enough water"! I use this cup almost every single day. I fill it in the morning and drink from it all day. It is a 24 ounce tumbler so it makes it very easy to remember how many times I need to refill it (for me, I need to drink two of these tumblers daily). It fits in my car cupholder and goes with me inside and outside of the house all day!

You can find a large selection of these tumblers at Bed, Bath and Beyond and Amazon.com

So That's What They're For!

The Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra by Bravado

Lets face it...nursing can be uncomfortable. Your breasts become excessively large, nipples overly sensitive, you let down at some inopportune times...but there are also so many positives associated with breastfeeding. I nursed both of our children for a year each and while it was difficult at times (especially with Zoe's allergies modifying my diet tremendously) it was so worth all of the inconveniences. The least you can do for your ready-for-action-24-7 breasts is to give them some nice support, comfort and easy accessibility. This is where the Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra by Bravado comes in.

This bra makes a great nursing bra but it also makes a great maternity bra. The material allows for fluctuation in breast size and is so comfortable. It has soft, molded cups that provide extra nipple coverage and really mold to your shape. A must-have for the pregnant and nursing mom!
PROS: Seamless, removable foam cups, great nursing bra for yoga class, easy sizing, clips securely and folds down fully for access for nursing, proprietary conversion kit (new) allows you to change this bra into a regular bra when nursing journey is complete

CONS: On the pricier side ($50) but worth it since it is so functional and you will wear it every day!

Hi, My Name Is...

Custom Orbit Label from InchBug

At playdates and school there are so many cups floating around (along with the germs of their owners) that it is almost essential for your child and you to identify your sippy cups at a glance. I bought a set of the custom orbit labels from http://www.inchbug.com/ when we had our first child because they were pretty cute and super handy. When our second child came along, little did we know that these labels would be lifesaving for her. Since she has a milk allergy it is so important for her cups to be clearly labeled and these things do the trick!

PROS: Non-adhesive so no sticky residue, won't come off in dishwasher, easy to slip on and off but won't come off unless you want it to, fits a variety of cups and bowls, reusable and lasts for years, great variety of colors and customizing options

CONS: A little bit of an investment ($12.95 plus shipping for four labels)

Chop, Chop!

Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus

For a couple of years now Heath and I have mulled over the thought of buying a super nice, ultra fancy food processor. I have watched videos, checked them out at Williams-Sonoma, used friends, read online reviews and just couldn't decide on the capacity or model that would suit our needs best. While at Target one day I happened upon this little gadget. Seeing that the price tag was only $25 (on sale) I decided to give it a whirl.

I use this thing almost every single day! I haven't chopped an onion by hand for months now. I pull out my little chopper, throw in an onion cut in quarters and with the press of the button I have diced onions with no tears at all. Now I quickly make bread crumbs, chop herbs and do lots of little food prep tasks with the press of a button. The best part: ALL PARTS ARE DISHWASHER SAFE! I pull off the bowl, the blade and the lid and stick them all in the dishwasher. Love it!

This is a great Christmas gift idea for the hard to shop for wife (hint, hint boys) or friend.

PROS: Sturdy, user friendly design, very affordable, dishwasher safe, efficient

CONS: None!

So...How's the Weather?

TIP: Mobile Text Alerts (http://www.digtriad.com/)

Every morning at 8:00 a.m. I hear the 'ding' of my cell phone alerting me that I received a new text. Months ago I signed up at http://www.digtriad.com/ (our local text alert system) to have the daily forecast texted to my phone, school closings texted to me and weather watches and warnings texted to me. This has been such a useful little service! In this area it is not unheard of to have a severe shift in weather that could lead to tornado watches and warnings so I feel secure knowing that no matter where I am, I will be alerted of an event such as this. It is also convenient to determine if the girls will need a sweater or coat that day and, later when the weather turns to snow and ice, it will be so handy to get those school closings texted straight to my phone.

Check your local weather and/or news station to see if there is a service such as this offered in your area. You may even try Googling "(name of your city) weather text alerts" and see what pops up. Ours is free but I believe there are some areas of the country that would charge a small fee for this handy little service.

What's for Lunch?

Tip: School Lunch Ideas

Per request from one of my wonderful neighbors, I am going to give some ideas for school lunches. Since my oldest is four years old and eats lunch at school only one day each week, I don't have to pack too many school lunches BUT we are always on the go so here are a few ideas that work for us. These ideas are nut allergy friendly since so many schools are starting to adopt that policy!

Drinks:

I am a fan of good, old fashioned, plain water (I really like the Nalgene sippy cups for preschoolers)

Main Course:

Sandwiches on whole grain bread: turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, cucumber and cream cheese, tuna salad, chicken salad

Leftovers: spaghetti, grilled or rotisserie chicken, rice and beans (my kids like Zattarain's red beans and rice), meatballs

Pizza (Home Run Inn makes a great, all natural cheese pizza)

Spiral pasta (my kids like Wacky Mac) or macaroni and cheese (my daughter likes Annie's Aged Shells and Cheddar) with cut up hot dogs (I get nitrate free: either Smart Chicken Uncured Chicken Frankfurters or Oscar Mayer Angus)

Spiral pasta with black beans, olive oil, oregano and garlic powder

A whole wheat tortilla roll with melted cheese and/or hot dog (see above for hot dog recommendations) or diced, grilled chicken

Sides

Chobani Champions (Greek yogurt for kids)

String cheese

Cottage cheese

Feta and kalamata olives (my daughter loves this!)

Steamed vegetables

Green pepper strips

Mini red, orange, yellow peppers (Costco has a big bag at a great price!)

Baby carrots or carrot chips

Cherry or grape tomatoes

All fruits (bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, mangoes, berries)

Diced avocado or guacamole

Pretzels

Multigrain tortilla chips

Cascadian Farms granola bars

Back to Nature has a great line of crackers, check them out at Whole Foods or Wal-Mart

Treat/Dessert

I give my daughter the same treat in her lunch box every week and that is one Newman's Own Newman O's Cream Filled Chocolate Cookie in either Original flavor or Hint O' Mint (like a traditional Oreo cookie but this is a more natural, 'healthier' option)

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

JJ Cole Bundle Me

When we had our first child I created quite a baby registry. I bought books on baby gear, checked out Consumer Reports online, read countless reviews, and even called some companies before adding anything to our registry. One of my favorite little finds was the JJ Cole Bundle Me. Our child was born in October and, though it was in Texas, those fall and winter months were chilly for a newborn. This little contraption is a must-have for the infant carseat!

The interior of the Bundle Me is a super soft, non-irritating fleece material while the exterior is a soft thermaplush. The zip-off, removable top is an excellent feature allowing you to remove it when the baby is too warm or to remove it to lay down on other people's couches or floors for diaper changes or for your baby to nap on when you are at a playdate or visiting your friends. The Bundle Me has elastic straps on the back that snugly secure it to your infant carseat and is easily removable for machine washing.

PROS: Great color choices, soft for baby, machine washable, keeps baby warm and cozy, removable top, affordable and worth every penny

CONS: None!

Time to Wash Up

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Hand Soap Geranium Scent
One of my favorite things to make my house feel a bit more 'home-y' is to have a nice handsoap in the kitchen and bathrooms. I knew about Mrs. Meyer's and her range of products and came across her line at Whole Foods. The price tag was a little steeper than I wanted to spend (considering I could get hand soap at Bath and Body Works for much cheaper) so I passed. Then, one day while at Wal-Mart, I saw that they carry Mrs. Meyer's products at a much more budget friendly price! I opened the bottles of hand soap, sniffed and fell in love with the 'geranium scent'. If you aren't a lover of floral scents then this is not for you. I, on the other hand, love super feminine smells so I snatched up a bottle right away.
PROS: Smells amazing...like fresh cut flowers! Makes hands super soft,paraben free, great price tag (I paid just over $2!)
CONS: It can be difficult to find this particular scent, bottles are on the smaller side

Bag Lady

Thirty One Organizing Utility Tote

For Mother's Day this year I asked Heath to get me some sort of vehicle to carry things to my car and then back into the house again. I'm talking about sippy cups, mail, paperwork for the girl's school, my binders for board meetings, coupons...all those things that I just don't have enough hands to carry while helping the girls down the stairs and into the car. I searched online, through magazines and in stores and couldn't find anything that would be as functional as I wanted. Then I remembered about Thirty One and how they specialize in cute, functional storage pieces and bags. Low and behold, I stumbled across the Organizing Utility Tote and it has fit my need perfectly! This is a must-have for every busy mom...don't forget, Christmas is right around the corner!

PROS: Holds a lot (papers, binders, even lunch boxes), the side pockets are the perfect size for sippy cups and bottles of water, mesh pouches on the ends hold keys and cell phone well, very affordable! ($25)

CONS: I don't love the fabric choices, however, I think they have added a few more options since I purchased mine so it might be easier for you to decide than it was for me!

Go Bananas

RECIPE: Banana Bread (dairy and egg free but SO good!)

I love to bake so it was a little much to take when we found out about Zoe's dairy and egg allergies. After some trial and error I have now perfected my banana bread and it tastes even better than those with butter and eggs! My husband raves about it, saying it's the best banana bread he has ever had...and, being one of his favorite indulgences, he has tried a few in his lifetime!

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup Crisco Butter Flavor Baking Sticks (you can use butter or any other butter substitute you like but this gives it a nice, buttery flavor)

1/2 cup applesauce (or 2 large eggs)

1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 medium)

1/2 cup soured soymilk* (or buttermilk)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups all-purpose or whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired

*1. Make soured soymilk: add 2 teaspoons white vinegar to 1/2 cup of soymilk and set aside (you can also do this trick to regular milk in place of buttermilk in any recipe)

2. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heath oven to 350 degrees. Grease two loaf pans with shortening.

3. Mix sugar and butter substitute in large bowl. Stir in applesauce (or eggs) until well blended. Stir in bananas, soured soymilk or buttermilk and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts, if using. Divide batter evenly between pans.

4. Bake 30 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans on wire rack.

5. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about two hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to four days, or refrigerate up to ten days.

These tasty little loaves are great to make for company or for friends coming over for afternoon coffee. Make mini ones to wrap in festive packaging to give as Christmas gifts!

Let's Heat Things Up

Shark Vac-Then-Steam

Last year my parents told me to pick something for Christmas that they could buy for me. The fashion-loving side of me found a super cute pair of Tory Burch flats that I really wanted. After some internal debate, the practical, mom side of me went with the Shark Vac-Then-Steam mop.

My neighbors give me a hard time because there was a time when I used this thing every single day. Now, two kids and a busy schedule later, I use my vac/mop two to three times a week. I LOVE this thing! I love that it doesn't use any chemicals at all...a huge bonus with my allergy/eczema prone child in the house. I love that it cleans our hardwoods so well without leaving a film on the floor. I love that the floor dries almost immediately after cleaning. I don't know what I would do without it! What would make it even more perfect is if I could mop while wearing a pair of Tory Burch flats!

PROS: No chemicals, heats up quickly, extra long cord, comes with multiple machine-washable pads, cleans very well

CONS: The pads with the thicker fibers leave streaks on the floor (I stick to the microfiber pads or those with smaller fibers, also included), the vacuum feature is a little weak and loud (I usually sweep then dustbust my pile...I don't mind this extra step but some might)

I haven't priced this model in a while but check out Bed, Bath and Beyond...those 20% off coupons really help with big purchases like this!

Step Right Up!

Mommy's Helper Cushie Step Up Padded Potty Seat with Step Stool

Today I began the potty training adventure for my second child. This major milestone spurred the idea for today's blog. When I was potty training my first child I came across this potty chair and it helped tremendously! The weekend before she turned two I spent two days teaching her how to use the big girl potty and I truly feel this potty seat was the reason her training was so quick and seamless. It arrived in the mail and she was so eager to try it out, she would constantly climb up onto it by herself to go potty "like a big girl". The novelty of the device and the independence it facilitated were key to teaching her to use the toilet.

PROS: Folds and stores easily, easy to clean, cushioned seat, handles for feeling of security on the potty, affordable ($20)

CONS: Smaller children need help getting up and down the step, older kids visiting our household like to use it for 'fun' and have broken it so there must be a weight limit, doesn't fit perfectly over oval or elongated toilets (but it will still work on these)

Where to buy: amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, walmart.com, sears.com, toysrus.com

One for One

TOMS Shoes

A few years ago my power yoga instructor came into class one day wearing TOMS and enthusiastically explained the concept to me: with every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. Great idea but I wasn't really in love with the look of them...until a couple of years later when I saw them at Whole Foods and tried them on. They are surprisingly comfortable with decent cushioning and arch support and so practical!

I bought a black pair and wore them with shorts, sweats, jeans, and leggings. They quickly became my go-to shoes for running to the grocery store at 9:00 at night or slipping into to go get the mail. Over the summer I purchased a burlap pair that have a great 'natural', summery feel. Again, I wore the heck out of those shoes. I even purchased a silver pair for my then 3 year old. Word of warning, though, the metallic TOMS are 'stranded' and after a few trips to the sandbox and the playground the strands started unraveling. I would stick to the solid kind for kiddos.

PROS: Affordable, easy on and off, variety of colors and styles, goes with almost everything in my closet!

CONS: A lady once told me she thinks they look like 'cleaning lady shoes'...I don't really mind because as a mom and wife, I am often a cleaning lady :)

Life in the Fast Lane

Disney's FastPass

This will be the last post of my Disney spotlight. I have a lot more info about Disney, dining and hotels so just let me know if you have questions!

Disney has devised an ingenious way to make waiting for attractions much more bearable. Certain rides and attractions in each park are equipped with the FastPass capability. I suggest you use the book I mentioned in a previous post to determine which rides offer FastPasses. Here's how I suggest you use FastPass:

1. The day before you hit the park, determine which attractions offer FastPasses. Decide which attractions your family would most like to go to and as soon as the park opens, send one person to the attraction to get a FastPass. THIS PERSON WILL NEED TO HAVE EVERYONE'S PARK ENTRY CARD (or the cards of each member of your party who wants to ride the attraction).

2. At the attraction the 'runner' will go to the FastPass distribution kiosk and insert each card one at a time to receive a FastPass for each member of your party. Make sure they know to collect all park entry cards after getting all FastPasses! You don't want to forget your park entry cards in a kiosk as these cards are linked to your credit card information.

3. The FastPasses will have a 'return time' printed on them. This means that when you come back to the attraction after the designated time on your FastPass, you can enter the FastPass lane and board much more quickly than the regular line. This return time will be a one hour time slot later in the morning or afternoon depending on how many FastPasses have been distributed that day so it pays to get yours early on very popular rides (ex. Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios). A very important thing to note is that you do not have to return in that one hour window. For example, if your return time is 10:40 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. you can ride any time after 10:40 a.m., you do not have to ride in the one hour window but you do have to ride the same day in order to use the FastPass.

4. Another notable thing is the number of FastPasses you can get for different attractions at one time. Once your FastPasses print they will display a time when you are eligible to get a FastPass for another attraction. In the Magic Kingdom you can get FastPasses for different attractions just about every hour, however, in Hollywood Studios you can get FastPasses for different attractions every two hours or more. Make sure you arrive at the park early and get the FastPass for the ride you want to ride most right away.

By the fifth day of our trip we were tired and got to Hollywood Studios at 9:30 a.m. (the park opened at 9:00 a.m.). Heath immediately ran to get a FastPass for Toy Story Mania while we went to watch The Voyage of the Little Mermaid. He returned, FastPasses in hand with a FastPass return time of 2:00 p.m. This did not work for our group because the kids would not last that long, especially on the fourth day of our trip, so it pays to get to the parks early or on time and to get those popular FastPasses quickly!

Sitting On Top of the World

Disney's California Grill

Located at the top of the Contemporary Resort (14th floor) the California Grill is a must for foodies visiting Disney. In the middle of the week of kiddie rides, games, shows, characters, songs and stories our night at the California Grill was a little reward to the adults in our party. The view of the castle is beautiful, the drinks wonderful (we were ready for a glass of wine after two days in the Magic Kingdom park where there is no alcohol!), the food divine, the atmosphere relaxing for adults but children still very much welcome.

We participated in the dining plan and this restaurant used two table service credits. If you do the math, this is an incredible deal. Visitors using the dining plan could choose a main course (prices ranged from $30 to $50) and had a choice of a variety of decadent desserts or a truly impressive cheese platter as an appetizer or dessert.

We ordered an appetizer for the table of cheese flatbread with sundried tomatoes and basil pesto that was just delicious. Heath chose the cheese platter and indulged in 5 cheeses along with plum paste, glazed almonds, honeycomb and crostini. Some of the amazing main dishes ordered in our party included pan seared bison, truffle mac and cheese, snapper with crab risotto, beef tenderloin and a beautiful dragon roll prepared by Yoshie, one of the top three sushi chefs in the country! Desserts we ordered included chocolate lava cake with Tahitian vanilla marshmallow and peanut butter gelato and warm bread pudding with Jack Daniels glaze and bacon ice cream (very interesting!). The kids ate steak, potatoes, vegetables, fruit salad and ice cream (all allergy friendly!).

We planned our dinner reservation on a night that the Magic Kingdom was having their "Wishes" fireworks at 9:00 p.m. We sat at 5:40 p.m. and finished our meal by 7:30 p.m. We then rode the monorail around the park and checked out other resorts before returning to the California Grill to view fireworks from the viewing deck (something you can do with a receipt showing that you ate at the California Grill that day). It was a beautiful setting and the music from the show was piped into the restaurant, however, it was very cold and windy on the actual viewing deck. We ended up going back into the restaurant and finished watching through the window.

This is a definite must-do if you are lucky enough to get a reservation at this amazing venue!

Don't Rain on My Parade

Raines by Totes Adult and Youth Ponchos

As I mentioned in previous posts, the next few posts will have a few tips and tricks that are Disney related. One of the tips that I wanted to share was the good, old fashioned rain poncho. I picked up three of these ponchos at our local grocery store for about $7 each (two adult ponchos and one youth poncho). Whatever the season, these are a must for Disney travelers. Not only does it shower frequently in Florida, there are a few rides (ex. Kali River Rapids) where you can get completely soaked. We felt so bad for people sloshing around in wet shoes and clothes because they didn't have these handy little ponchos!

PROS: super lightweight so they travel well, not too flimsy but not too thick to fold, comes in a travel pouch, easy on and off, youth size is great for ages 3-4 and up, much more convenient and practical than an umbrella

CONS: difficult to fold up small enough to get it back into the travel pouch!

Where to find the Raines by Totes Poncho: Walgreens, Harris Teeter, amazon.com

If you forget or just can't find a poncho in advance that will work for you, you can purchase ponchos at the Disney gift shops at a very reasonable price ($8.50). I do not believe they have youth sizes.

The Most Magical Place on Earth

Walt Disney World with Kids 2012 by Kim Wright Wiley

After a week at Disney World, Heath and I feel like we need a vacation! Even though we technically went in the 'off season' there were crowds to push through, lines to wait in and we even missed an attraction here or there because it was just too busy. I hadn't been to Disney World in 22 years and it is now a completely different place. I can not stress enough that if you are planning to brave Disney with your kids then you must be prepared, especially if this is your first time.

The best place to start planning your trip to the 'Magic Kingdom' is with a good and thorough book. One of my very good friends is a seasoned Disney traveler and recommended this book to me when we started planning in April for our October Disney trip. Yes, you really should start planning 6 months in advance if at all possible! Hotels book quickly (there is a hotel offering an incredible military discount with rooms that sell out ONE YEAR in advance!), reservations for the Princess Breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table go fast and there are a number of other things that you can experience with your family that pay to plan ahead.

This book walks you through every detail about Disney from hotel and dining reservations to what to pack to which FastPasses to get at each park. There are detailed maps of each park and information about every attraction from height requirements to 'Scare Factor' to appropriate ages for the ride. Kim Wiley goes into detail about each show and which parts may be scary for little ones as well as which adult rides are located next to kiddie attractions so your party can split up if the adults want to brave the 'Tower of Terror' while the kids romp on a playground.

I spent a lot of time on websites and even checked out a couple of other books but really feel that for our family with two young children this resource was priceless. I'm sure people thought I was a crazy tourist walking around the park with my nose in the book and my detailed printed notes from the book resting on top of our Cadillac sized double stroller. All I can say is we all had a great time and there is nothing that we regret missing out on. The vacation went smoothly and everyone in our party from my 60+ year old parents to my danger seeking, need-for-speed husband to our 4 and 2 year old princesses was happy. I, on the other hand, am exhausted but everything was worth it to see the complete and utter look of shock on our 4 year old's face as she saw Cinderella's Royal Castle for the first time...an expression I will never forget and was definitely worth the months of planning.

BRB (for the non-internet savvy, that's code for 'Be Right Back'!)

We are off to Disney to celebrate our children's birthdays so I'm going to put the blog on hold until October 24th. Stay tuned because those first few posts will be about all things Disney!

You're Such a Loser

The Biggest Loser Cardio Max DVD

I am addicted to exercise. My addiction has gotten a lot more manageable now that I am incredibly busy with 'life' duties but there are times in my life that I absolutely crave a good work out and can't go on until I get it.

In college I taught spinning classes at our local gym and have always had a gym membership for as long as I can remember. There have been times in my life, though, when I have been forced to work out at home and having kids was the final straw...I now almost exclusively work out in my house at any time of the day or night. As much as I miss the 'silent motivation' I would feel when working out in the gym environment with other complete strangers sweating right next to me, I am happy with most of the work outs I have found in the form of a DVD.

I have a whole list of DVDs I can, and will, recommend over the next few weeks, but wanted to start with this one as I think it will appeal to most levels of the home exerciser. I started this DVD right after my first child was born (in 2007) and quickly lost the baby weight. The DVD consists of 3 levels of workout and, if you stick to the regimen, takes 6 weeks to complete (you do one level for 2 weeks before progressing to the next). There is a fun mix of lunges, push ups, jumping jacks, kickboxing and more in quick 20-30 minute work outs.

PROS: little to no equipment required, cheap ($8 on amazon.com), quick work outs (20-30 minutes each), instructors are motivating

CONS: you need to have some body awareness and knowledge to modify some of the activities to protect your knees and back (the trainers on the video don't do this perfectly...but I'm a physical therapist so, naturally, I am a little more critical of this!), instructors can be a little annoying at times

Fall into Fall

Williams-Sonoma Mulling Spices

I love everything and anything that has fragrance in it. Perfumes, candles, laundry detergent, even some hair styling products have the most amazing smells! I used to have a Bath and Body Works Wallflower plugged into almost every outlet in my home and candles galore. Then, our sweet, sensitive, allergy prone Zoe arrived in the world. All of the wonderful smells I loved in my home came to a screeching halt.

A few weeks ago I walked into Williams-Sonoma and was overwhelmed by the most amazing scent. It felt like Fall had arrived; cloves, cinnamon, citrus, allspice...warm, homey and delicious! I was so pleased to learn that they sold this wonderful concoction of spices wrapped up in the nicest little tin. I contemplated for a brief moment about whether or not to purchase it but then decided that since my husband and I absolutely love this time of year AND it was Zoe-safe I should go ahead and grab a container. When I opened the tin at home I was even happier to see that all of the ingredients were indeed actual spices, nothing artificial here!

HOW I USE IT: I simmer mine on the stove in a pan of water but the spices can be added to wine or cider (recipes on the tin).

At only $10.95 this makes a GREAT gift for the hard to shop for recipient!

My Biological Clock is Broken

Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

For today's blog I wanted to do another baby item but then I started thinking, "I need to start from the beginning!". While we have a number of friends with children, we have a few friends who are still in those early stages of trying to conceive. Heath and I experienced our bout of fertility difficulties (many of you know the details and that we winded up having our first, beautiful child, through in vitro fertilization). If you have been following my blog you must realize now that I am a reader and I picked apart a number of fertility books when we were "TTC" (for the fertility savvy, that's code for 'trying to conceive'). Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler is by far the best book to familiarize yourself with the steps it takes to get pregnant.

This is a comprehensive book that details the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), something your body naturally goes through each month that gives you signs to tell you when you are most fertile. The book helps you pinpoint your fertility period and also explains anything you have going on that may be inhibiting you from achieving that fertility period. When we were struggling with our own fertility issues, we felt like we weren't getting the right answers from our doctors and this book steered us in the right direction...we discovered things that our doctors were completely missing!

This is a very thoughtful gift for the friend, family or any other loved one facing frustrating and, often, debilitating fertility problems.

Return to Sender

Monogram Address Stamp

I am a sucker for cutsie stationery, invitations, and address labels. Years ago, when we were first married, I had an awesome little return address embosser. I loved the way the tone on tone raised return address looked on the envelope, so crisp and clean. Shortly after my embosser phase, I fell in love with the monogram address stamp and use ours on all of our correspondence (well, all except bills which, if I haven't paid online, I use those free address labels you get in the mail). I love the bold, central initial and the address cleanly surrounding it. It is so quick and easy to use and gives such a nice, neat final touch on your thank you notes and invitations!

My favorite stampers can be found on expressionery.com but the one shown above is from invitationbox.com. I like expressionery.com because they often run super discounts and have many codes on retailmenot.com; OH, and they are offering 8.5% cash back on ebates.com right now!

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

AND

WEBSITES

I have a method to save the most I can possibly save when shopping online. Here it is:

First, I consult froogle.google.com (see earlier blog about this).

Then, when I find the item I'm looking for, I head to eBates.com to see if the site I will be purchasing from participates in this money back program.

Finally, I check out retailmenot.com to get promo codes to save even more.

Voila, money back, free shipping (almost always) and promo codes = cheaper than in stores!

eBates: This is a great program that everyone who buys anything online should really consider signing up for...it's FREE and you get money back when you shop! Just sign up and remember to check the site for participating partners before you buy anything. Here's an example: Let's say you want to buy your 4 year old fashionista a pair of boots at gap.com. Go to eBates.com, type in gap.com and the amount you will receive in cash back will be displayed on your screen. Often, from the Gap and it's participating partners, the amount in cash back is about 2%, however, there are certain times that eBates has promos that will earn you 10% cash back! Click on the gap.com link on the eBates page and a new window will open up with the gap.com site so you can get those boots. After you make your purchase at gap.com, your cash back will automatically accrue in your eBates account and at certain times throughout the year you will get a "Big Fat Check" in the mail! Free money!

retailmenot.com: This is, in my opinion, the most legitimate and reliable source for online promo codes. Always check here before purchasing anything to see if you can get a promo code for your purchase!

Hey, Bright Eyes!

Tarte The Eraser Concealer

With age and multiple children comes dark underye circles and tired eyes. I tried every trick I could find: white eyeliner inside my lower lid, undereye brightening creams, more sleep (when humanly possible!), makeup and more but nothing seemed to make my eyes appear 'awake' until I found Tarte The Eraser concealer.

I love the click pen and brush applicator. You just twist it up and 'paint' the concealer under your eyes and on your eyelids. It instantly brightens and is a great base for eyeshadow. You can also use this as a base for lipstick to give it extra staying power.

EXTRA BONUS: This concealer is paraben free, phthalate free, sulfate free, fragrance free, propylene glycol free, gluten free, dye free, petrochemical free.

PROS: Glides on smoothly, instantly brightens, lasts all day, the pen lasts a long time (I am on my second tube and have used this product for 2+ years)

CONS: Pricey at $21 each (but one tube will last a year or more!)

The shade I use on my medium skin with olive undertones is BARE (04)...but I think since I last bought this they have changed the names of the shades so you will have to pick the shade that works for you!

Bundle of Joy

Aden & Anais Classic Muslin Swaddling Wraps

There is nothing more annoying than trying to wrap a squirming baby up in a blanket that is too small or too stiff; pulling and tugging until you finally get all limbs securely wrapped and the little Houdini finds a way to squrim out in a matter of seconds. The Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddling Wraps are every mom's answer to the swaddling battle. The wraps are HUGE...in fact, I had to fold one in half before I could even swaddle our 4+ pound Zoe (our youngest). The material is so soft and so breathable; it stretches, tucks and folds very easily so you can get a super snug wrap on your baby. Amazingly, they get softer and softer every time they are washed!

These wraps are not only soft, stretchy and breathable; they are so versatile it's amazing! You will need quite a few: one for the diaper bag to use as a nursing cover, a burp cloth, a blanket for tummy time at your friend's houses; one in the crib to swaddle your baby before naps and nighttime; one in your car to place over the stroller to shade your baby from the sun...or to place over the carseat to protect your baby from all those strangers who just have to touch your sweet child!

PROS: huge, soft, breathable, the best swaddling blanket on the market (in my opinion!), versatile

CONS: pricey but, again, shop around for deals online!

These wraps are a great gift idea for the new mom or for the old pro having another baby!

A Tisket, A Tasket...Make a Baking Basket!

TIP

I love to bake. There was a time in our past, less busy life that I would bake almost every night. Digging through drawers to find the measuring spoons, measuring cups and beaters was getting frustrating. So, after many cakes and cookies, I realized that it would be smart to consolidate all of my baking tools into one basket. Pick a spot where your basket will live and purchase a basket big enough to hold all of your baking do-dads. This basket can live in a cabinet, in your pantry or anywhere else that it can easily be accessed.

My baking basket contents:

3 sets of measuring spoons

1 set of wet measure cups

1 set of dry measure cups

1 handy little Pampered Chef Measure-All Cup

1 set of hand mixer beaters

It's so much easier to pull out my basket, set it on the counter and get baking instead of rummaging through drawers for my baking tools! (Shown above: Crate and Barrel Sedona Low Open Tote)

Smoothing Things Over

Rowenta DW2090 Effective Comfort Cord Reel 1500 Watt Steam Iron with 300 Hole Stainless Steel Sole Plate

When my iron met an early demise (it plummeted from the ironing board onto our carpet, burning a nice iron-shaped mark where it landed) I was faced with having to find a replacement. My grandmother and my mother have always said that Rowenta is the best name in irons so, since my almost 10 year old Rowenta committed suicide, I decided I should probably stick to the same brand. I found the Rowenta DW2090 at Bed, Bath and Beyond. What sold me on this iron was the cord reel feature...how handy! This iron makes ironing enjoyable (well, as enjoyable as it can be!) because it works so well; it gets even the most difficult wrinkles out and glides so smoothly because of the stainless steel sole plate. I hope to keep this one around for a long time!

Price: $59.99 but get it at Bed, Bath and Beyond and use one of their 20% off coupons to buy it for about $48

PROS: Effectively smooths wrinkles, comfortable to use, cord reel feature is awesome, extra large base for vertical storage, affordable compared to other high end irons on the market

CONS: It is pretty heavy but you do get used to it, it may be considered by some as expensive but I feel it is totally worth it especially since it will last for years!

When There are No Words

La Belle Dame Jewelry

One of the hardest things for a woman to go through is a miscarriage or loss of a child. I know this because, before our first was born, Heath and I suffered a few losses. There wasn't anything that anyone could do or say to make it easier, time and faith in God was what helped us heal.

When a friend or family member is faced with such a loss it is difficult to know how to help them cope but at the same time you want to show your sincere sympathy and concern for their well-being. During our struggles with our own fertility, one of my dearest friends suffered a miscarriage. Knowing, from personal experience, how devastating this is I began to research ways to show her that I cared, to acknowledge her loss and to give her hope for the future. This is when I found http://www.labelledame.com/. This website has a wide selection of necklaces, key chains, rings and more that can be personalized in a variety of ways. A nice idea is to order a piece with a birthstone that represents the birth month (or the expected birth month) of the baby.

The site claims that it is 'jewelry to nurture and support the spirit' and I feel that it does just that.

40 Weeks and Counting

The Pregnancy Bible: Your Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Early Parenthood

When I was pregnant with my first child (almost 5 years ago) I stumbled upon this book in one of my girlfriend's "libraries". Since she wasn't planning of having any more children she kindly 'gifted' this book to me. It turned out to be one of the best resources I had throughout my pregnancy and beyond. Being a Women's Health specialist I have bookshelves full of pregnancy books, nursing books, birthing books, child-rearing books, etc. but I have not found a single book that is as useful and comprehensive as The Pregnancy Bible.

The illustrations are superb, the text is very easy to understand and there is detailed medical information based on contributions to the book by two medical doctors. The book takes you week-by-week through fetal development in utero, discusses nutrition and exercise, options for pain relief, prenatal and postpartum care, how to cope with emotions, how to take care of a newborn and more. It is a must-have for anyone who is pregnant...makes a great gift, too!

PROS: Beautiful illustrations, easy to read, informative, edited by qualified and knowledgeable medical doctors, a great gift idea for any mom-to-be no matter how many kids they already have!

CONS: Some photos can be a bit graphic for some (especially some husbands!)

Online prices range from $15 to $30+ so make sure you shop around for the best price before you buy!

I See London, I See France

Soma Intimates Vanishing Edge Microfiber with Lace Hipster

I have always been particular about my undies but I have never found a pair that I absolutely love...until now. The Soma Intimates Vanishing Edge line is amazing. There are absolutely no panty lines in most pants (even some yoga pants!), they are stretchy and don't bunch up anywhere, they have full back coverage and they don't look like granny panties at all! What more could you ask for?!

Go to http://www.soma.com/ or visit a Soma store to try them out. My favorite is the Microfiber Hipster with Lace (as pictured). To determine your most comfortable size, I recommend buying one in your regular size and one in a size bigger as they do fit snugly. You can always return or exchange as needed!

PROS: Minimal to no panty lines, wear very comfortably, a variety of cuts, colors and fabrics to suit all tastes

CONS: Costly ($16 a pair) BUT Soma often runs deals where they are BUY 3 GET 2 FREE which ends up being $9.60 a pair...it's totally worth the investment for such an essential article of clothing that you will wear every day!

I'm Seeing Green

TIP

Many of you know, we have a child with pretty severe food allergies. Because she has so many allergies it is frustrating and anxiety inducing to leave her with a babysitter, a friend, even a family member. I used to make long, drawn out lists detailing each of her allergies and what she could and couldn't eat. This was not only time consuming but it was stressful because I didn't want to forget anything. After some thinking I devised the "Green Dot Method"!

I purchased a pack of colorful dot stickers (like those you see on garage sale items) and on each and every thing that is safe for our little one to eat, I place a green dot. You can find these dots in the office supply section of any grocery store, Target, office supply store, etc. It is so much easier to tell people "Anything that has a green dot is safe for her to eat/drink". It has even helped my own husband to know what to give her...after all, he has been the one who has given her something 'not safe' in the past!

The green dots can be used for so much more than food allergies, though. Here's a list of examples:

1. Helpful for sitters who are watching infants/toddlers and don't think about choking hazards!

2. Helpful for children to know which snacks they are allowed to eat

3. The dots are great reminders to do a number of things outside of the pantry like:

- one placed on the mirror reminds kids to wash their hands after using the restroom

The physical therapist in me loves the idea below :)

-place one at the kitchen sink, one in your wallet, one on your steering wheel, etc. to remind you to do your pelvic floor exercises (Kegels), to correct your posture, to take some deep, cleansing breaths, to do your favorite stretch, etc.

If you can think of ways to use this idea in your life, please post a comment and share your idea with us!

A Really Good Rubdown

Paradiso Exfoliating Washcloth

I have never been a washcloth user. Touching a wet washcloth gives me the heebie jeebies but I do believe that it is essential to get a good rubdown to get rid of dead skin cells and buff up your skin. I came across the Paradiso Exfoliating Washcloth and fell in love. One side is a soft weave washcloth while the other side is a textured, exfoliating material. Touching it doesn't gross me out and I feel squeaky clean after using it!

PROS: Ridiculously cheap ($2.99), gently exfoliates

CONS: None!

Where to Buy: A few online retailers and in some Wal-Mart stores!

What's the Deal?

If you were my neighbor (and some of you are) you would know that the UPS man visits my house so often that he could probably get here in his sleep. That is because I hate to shop at stores. I hate the hunt for something that may or may not be there, I hate dealing with the crowds, the carseats, the meltdowns (from the kids and me) only to not find what I'm looking for...or, worse, to find what I'm looking for only to return home and see that I can get it cheaper online. So whether it is shampoo, diapers, printer ink, shoes or vitamins, I get it online. With promo codes, free shipping deals and a number of other sneaky ways that I will detail in later posts, I always pay less online than I would in stores.

My number one way to find a deal? http://www.froogle.google.com/

Go to the site, type in the item you are searching for, change the filter to "Sort By: Price Low to High" and there you go. Happy cyber-shopping...and saving!

Over the Moonbeam, Baby!

Moonbeam Baby Burp Cloths

SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR A SPECIAL PROMO CODE ONLY AVAILABLE TO MY BLOG READERS!

Everyone likes to proudly display the name they have chosen for their sweet baby and what better way for a new parent to do this than to put it on an item they have with them everywhere they go...a burp cloth!

For years I have ordered personalized burp cloths from Moonbeam Baby (http://www.moonbeambaby.com/) for both our children and as gifts for a number of our friends. I admit, I have placed orders for burp cloths from other sites and, much to my dismay, they just don't match up to Moonbeam Baby. The quality of their burp cloths is excellent, all three panels are nice and thick and the material is so soft.

With so many designs available you will need two or three...a couple for every day use and one nicer one for church or other special occasions (ex. baptism, weddings, social gatherings). Love them!

PROS: Excellent quality, very affordable, a thoughtful and useful gift idea, they are so darn cute!

CONS: You have to order in advance of when you will need them because it takes time to personalize and ship...BUT, this company is super quick and usually takes no more than a week to get your items to you

Website: http://www.moonbeambaby.com/
EXCLUSIVE PROMO CODE: aroundherhouse

Enter this code at checkout to receive free shipping on your next order. Valid one time per customer. Valid through October 31, 2011.

With a deal this great make sure you stock up for yourself, coworkers, friends and family who are pregnant or have just had a baby!

A Soothing Timeout

Yoga Conditioning for Women DVD -- BONUS MONTHLY PRACTICE ONLY

Today's spotlight is for the BONUS MONTHLY PRACTICE section of this DVD ONLY. While this is a wonderful yoga DVD, the main feature is for the advanced yogi. The Bonus Monthly Practice included on the DVD is for any and every woman who needs to give their mind and body some TLC. No joke, this short, 20 minute practice is like a massage from the inside out.

I have been practicing yoga for 12 years and, as a physical therapist, can detail a whole host of reasons why yoga is such an incredible and essential form of exercise. This Bonus Practice is designed to be done during times of stress and fatigue. When Heath and I were going through our fertility treatments I did this practice every single day for months. Now that we have busy lives with two children I reserve this for times when I just need to breathe, relax and rejuvenate.

PROS: You really have to try it to understand the PROS, you will feel the incredible benefit it has on your mind, body and spirit; this is a SHORT practice at 20 minutes run time

CONS: Motivation...with any form of "exercise" or "relaxation" we often tell ourselves we don't have time but, I'm not kidding, make the time to try it...YOU will thank YOU!

TIPS:

1. Have a designated area where you can relax in dim lighting (I use my bedroom, for example)

2. Make sure your props are easily accessible, you don't want to have any excuses!

I recommend the following props:

a folding chair

a yoga brick/block

2-3 pillows (instead of the yoga blanket used in the video)

a yoga strap or a regular belt (the belt of a robe works well, too)

If you have any questions at all or need to know how to modify a pose please send me an email (chrissy.g.mccullough@gmail.com)

Try it, I promise you will hug yourself for doing it!