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!

Ring Around the Tub

Bar Keepers Friend liquid cleanser

As hard as I scrubbed I could never get the floor of our shower to be totally clean. It always seemed to be a little dingy and I just decided that maybe that's what happens over time...until I found Bar Keepers Friend liquid cleanser. This stuff is incredible. Squirt it all over the floor of your tub or shower, scrub with the rough side of a regular sponge and rinse clean. Voila! Brand new again. I also use this for the kitchen sink, it works wonders!

PROS: Really cleans shower and sink grime, nice consistency, CHEAP!

CONS: Sometimes hard to find the liquid kind (the powder is nice, too, but I prefer the liquid)

Stores where I have purchased the liquid (not powder): Bed, Bath and Beyond, Harris Teeter

I'm a Mess!

Baby Bjorn Soft Bib

It is amazing how quickly my kids manage to splatter, dribble and drip all over their clean clothes. Short of resorting to making them eat naked (which, if any of you know my kids, they prefer to do!) I had to find a bib they would actually wear and that would actually work. The Baby Bjorn Soft Bib has a wide, sturdy base that is perfect for catching everything their mouths don't!

PROS: It really does catch the mess, very easy to clean, easy on and off

CONS: Does not roll up or fold up to fit in the diaper bag

Shown above in "Spring Green" color

Eyes Wide Open

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes

In all honesty, I have to give my mother-in-law credit for this find. Years ago while visiting her I realized I had forgotten my eyeliner at home. Little did I know that borrowing hers would change my eyeliner purchases forever! This stuff is amazing, I promise you will love it!

PROS: Glides on very smoothly, easy to smudge, lasts all day, easy to remove, a wide range of colors to choose from

CONS: It is a little pricey at $15 a tube...but SO worth it!

My favorite colors: Violet and Dark Chocolate

Where Did You Find That?

I'm a researcher. In graduate school my research paper was on critical thinking and that, I feel, was when it all began. Although, having said that, my mom would probably challenge this, arguing that from the moment I could talk I have been asking "why?". Today, as a mother of two, sole buyer of goods and services for our home, family vacation planner, bill payer, active member of our church, chairman of the preschool board, and the list goes on...I see the importance of getting the best for your hard earned dollar. Needless to say, with all of these hats it is important to make life run as efficiently as possible and I like to find the tools to do just that.

Before I buy anything (and I mean anything) I pick through online reviews. When my family members have an ailment I wade through medical journals to learn more. I've been known to say "I'll look into that" and I mean it. After we had our first child my husband stated countless times "We use everything that we registered for...and it is all great stuff!". Coincidence? I think not. I just smile and nod. From family members and friends I often hear "Where did you find that?" and "You think of everything!". The ultimate compliment is going into a friend's house only to see that the handy little find I was just gushing about at girls night is now a part of their home.

So, after a lot of urging from the above mentioned friends and family, here you go. I created this blog to share my finds with all of you moms and dads who need a gift idea, a handy gadget to make your world run smoothly, a workout video that actually works, a toy that really rocks. I will spotlight one of my household favorites each day so you and the rest of the world can see what is 'around her house'!

FIRST SPOTLIGHT TO DEBUT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th!