We recently learned about this extremely useful product called Kaboost. Fortunately, my toddler is right at the age where this unique product would come in very handy (20 mos to 6 yrs). She likes to get up and down herself and doesn't like to be strapped into a high chair.
Meet Kaboost.
Your little big kid will no longer feel like he or she has to be the oddball sitting in a baby chair. They will magically seem to fit right in at the dinner table with the other big kids and adults. What a great feeling of independence for them!
The Kaboost comes in three snazzy colors: green (pictured above), chocolate (pictured below) and natural. This fantastic invention folds up nicely so you can take it with you on the go.
It has an adjustable spring system and two height positions that help it fit snuggly under most kitchen and dining room chairs. We've been using ours for about a week now. I tried to get Hailey to sit in her booster seat today due to lack of room at the dining room table and she wouldn't have it. She wanted to sit in the big kid chair like her mommy. I would have to say that this product deserves the MTW Seal of Approval.
We're heading out for the holiday weekend and Kaboost will be joining us on the road. I'm anxious to hear what kind of response we'll get to this compact chair booster.
Kaboost retails for $39.95 (money well spent, if you ask us.) and is coming to a store near you very soon.
WIN IT!!!
We're delighted to have a Kaboost to give away (color green) to one lucky MTW reader! To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your name and email address (please, because blogger profiles are occasionally set to private). We'll pick a winner on Thursday, September 6th at 10:00 pm CST.
Good luck!
Peeps are talkin'!
See what these other fine folks are saying about Kaboost:
~ Mod*Mom
~ Coochicoos
~ Mommy Poppins
~ Swissmiss
~ One Chic Mama
*If you stop by their sites, make sure you tell them that "The Mums" sent ya! =)
Mother's Intuition has recently come out with a new line of products that's sure to satisfy those who want to go green and those who want to save a little green! I've been trying out their Tummy Honey Butter, and so far, I like it! As for it preventing (any more) stretch marks, remains to be seen, but I do like that it is free of animal products and is not tested on animals. I'm saving the Tummy Honey Stick for when I'm much more pregnant and feeling much more lazy. :)
I'm also looking forward to using the other products I received from Bella B when I'm breastfeeding. They make a Nipple Nurture Cream, which is, again, lanolin free, and Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads. I'll let you know how they work out in 2008! I'm excited to try these, because both are said to work for soreness and dry/cracked nipples, and I know I want to stay as far away from that as I can when nursing the newest addition to our crew.
Bella B Natural Bodycare utilizes the highest quality, clinically-proven ingredients available while maintaining the integrity of clean, natural formulations free of petroleum, mineral oils, lanolin (comes from sheep wool) and parabens (artificial preservatives).
WIN IT!!!!!!
Let's face it: Most of us that have housed a life inside of us, now show permanent signs of that life across our bellies. Bella B has come up with something that may help fix those stretch marks! Win a bottle of Tummy Honey Cream, and try it out for yourself!
Hey, what have you got to lose, except those stretch marks you've loathed!?!
What do you have to do to win? Leave us a comment and tell us a funny anecdote about your "lasting signs of pregnancy", and if you don't have any stretch marks from being prego, don't enter. We hate you. JUST KIDDING!!! Contest ends Wednesday, September 5th.
A quirky, folk, pop music family band in vintage threads? No, it's not the Partridge Family! You sort of have to see it to believe it. We stumbled upon this little gem of a band while watching Jack's Big Music Show one day with our son. They incorporate the very original idea of taking random people's old slides and incorporating them into their live shows, and actually writing some of their music based on these slides!
New to the world of kids music, Jason Trachtenberg has been making his own solo records and performing in places like Austin, Seattle & NYC. He later got his little family of three involved, and this unique trio was formed. Check out their website and their MySpace, and become a Trachtenberg junkie too! When they make it back to the states, we'll be interviewing them and more! We'll also have an MP3 up imminently...Stay tuned!
Although I am not the proud owner of a Rattle-N-Roll poster, I really, really, really wish I was!!! I have always been a big fan of the retro-style concert poster, and adding one of these to our wall art would be so awesome. I actually had a dream that the owners contacted me and wanted to send me one-and it was sort of pathetic how bummed I was when I woke up and realized it was only a dream. I think I'm a little obsessed, but how could you not be? These are so rad! All items from Rattle-N-Roll are custom made to your child's specifications-it's an artist rendering of his or her face and all their birth stats. Pictured here are the 5 templates you have to choose from, or they will do a customized job just for you. Seriously, I'm getting sad typing this because I want one of these for Noel & Baby ? so badly! As it says in the FAQs, there is nothing cooler in the whole world! If you've got impeccable style, which for us, means decorating your house in concert posters, and some spare cash, I better see a Rattle-N-Roll poster hanging in your house next time I'm over.
Our Midwestern summer weather has finally cooled down to bearable temps and we're itching to get outside and play. That is just what Oregon company, "Outside Baby" is all about. They have exactly what we need to get out there and enjoy what mother nature has thrown our way. From technical playwear to an array of quality packs and bags, among other outdoor-type items, Outside Baby is where it's at.
Outside Baby's packs and bags are made from waterproof rip-stop Nylon and Cordura. If you want to look like you know what you're doing out there on that rough terrain, you've got to have one of these!
Check out some of their stylish packs and bags, prices ranging from $19.99 to $79.99:
Hailey is sporting the mini backpack, just like mom and dad's! Next is the mini messenger bag, which works perfectly on your son or daughter's bicycle. Then the cooler backpack, excellent for hiking. I find messenger bags hard to live without so definitely check out their messenger bag, complete with a travel cooler. Last but certainly not least, the hydro pack so you can stay hydrated at the park or on the trail!
Outside Baby is really worth taking a look-see. Whether you're an avid outdoors-man or just taking the occasional stroll on the suburban trails, Outside Baby is a trusted source for quality gear.
WIN IT!
TWO lucky MTW readers are going to win either this Cooler Backpack:
or this Messenger Bag:
Feel free to let us know which one you'd like and we'll do our best to accommodate.
To enter:
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter HERE* AND leave a comment on this post letting us know where your favorite "outside" place is. Whether it's to the neighborhood park or hiking in the rockies...we want to know!
Deadline to enter is Tuesday, September 4th at 10 pm CST.
*If you are already signed up for our weekly email newsletter, you may still enter this giveaway. Just let us know you're on the list in your comment so we can verify it!
Perhaps, if you buy your child the set of DVDs created by Dr. Robert Titzer, your baby will learn to read! We received a copy of the "Your Baby Can Read!" series DVDs, and it is really pretty amazing. We've been doing the Starter video with Noel, and he loves it! It's done using a lot of different children, and they show the focus words on the screen. The same words are used throughout the play time, which is 20 minutes.
Parents that may be worried about children watching TV can watch the Parent portion done by Dr. Titzer, explaining how he came up with this method and how it works. He suggests showing your child very little TV, other than the videos, which total about 40 minutes a day of learning. He shows his own children reading at very young ages, recognizing words at 8 months, and reading never-before-seen words at 18 months.
We've been using this video series for about 3 weeks now, and I've seen Noel start to recognize words as they're used and said in the videos. I will keep you updated on his progress and let you know how it works! We should have the set completed in about 6 months.
I wish I had known about ReliaDose® last year when Hailey had her bouts of Rotavirus. Using this handy product would have been so easy and we could have been sure she was getting the correct dosage. However, I'm glad I know about it now for the next time around.
THE FACTS:
ReliaDose® is a medicine delivery system that was invented by a mom when she had her own problems administering medicine to her infant son. The "system" is a 5 ml dosing syringe inside of a 2 oz. bottle. The patented dual-chamber nipple keeps the medicine from mixing with the preferred drink, therefore masking the taste and ensuring that your baby is getting the precise dosage. ReliaDose® is meant to be used with babies from 0-18 mos. Check with your Pediatrician and/or Pharmacist to be sure the particular medication you would like to use with the system is one that can be mixed with certain liquids.
The ReliaDose® system is available for purchase for $11.95 HERE. It is also available at THESE retailers/wholesalers/online.
Click HERE to view the coupon for a FREE accessory pack after purchasing this fabulous invention.
MY OPINION:
I received my ReliaDose as a gift in my swag bag from the Chicago Moms Blog. Although I haven't tested it on a baby yet, my thoughts are that it is most likely going to do what it is meant to do, administer medicine. If you were to ask about the control of the flow of medicine into the child, my thoughts are that with the baby's natural sucking instinct, he or she is going to get about an equal amount of medicine and liquid per suck. The purpose of the system is to get all of the medicine into the child, so I don't think the flow control is really an issue. Would the baby be distracted by the structure inside of the nipple? The structure in the nipple is as flexible as the nipple itself, so I don't think the child would be distracted by that at all. If anything, the shape might be the only issue, if your baby is used to a certain shape of nipple. From what I can see, if you were holding your baby the way you normally would to feed using a bottle, coming straight at the child, he or she wouldn't think anything of it. Judging by the way my child was between the ages of 14 and 18 mos., I think there might have been a bit of a distraction because she wanted to hold her own bottles.
Hopefully my opinion counts for something if you are considering purchasing one of these bottles. I personally think it's a unique invention and worth giving a shot if your child puts up a fight. It's all about trial and error when you're a parent, isn't it? Anything that might make our job a little easier is fine by me.
Peeps are talkin':
Read what Daddytypes SAID and what Mom Gadget SAID about ReliaDose®
Dear Applicant:
We received your application for the Family CEO position. We would like to extend this rewarding opportunity to you, as we think you are a great fit for the position. You have made an exciting, yet challenging career choice. In case we forgot to mention this in the job description, you'll be working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (plus overtime) without breaks or insurance. All of this in addition to your current career obligations. Oh, one last thing...your annual salary is $0. Welcome to the team!
Sincerely,
Your Family
PS: We'll need you to take out the garbage and make dinner, too.
Does that sound a lot like your career?
Maybe it's time to read "Desperate Households", a very well written home management book by America's Family Manager, Kathy Peel.
I had the distinct honor to meet and have lunch with Kathy at last month's BlogHer Conference. This woman is so passionate about family management that it is hard not to lend her an ear. She passed along some fantastic tips, one being the four "F" words of motherhood. They are Fair, Firm, Fun, Flexible and they are all very reasonable expectations of a mother who is cool, calm, collected and in control of her and her family's lives.
Aside from her most important job of wife and mother of three, Kathy is also founder and CEO of Family Manager Network, Inc. and AOL Body's Kids & Family Coach. She also writes for popular magazines such as, Family Circle, Reader's Digest, Parenting and HomeLife. Kathy's signature "Family Manager Makeover" stories have been featured on Oprah and HGTV, among various other networks and programs. If that isn't enough, she is also a breast cancer survivor. Girl can multi-task!
Kathy's newest book, Desperate Households
WIN IT!
We have a copy of Desperate Households to give away to one lucky MTW reader!
Two things you need to do to enter:
1. Comment on this post with just ONE of your "job" responsibilities. I know this will be difficult, as we Family CEO's wear MANY hats but just one is all we need.
2. Sk*rt this post! Just click the "Sk*rt This" button at the bottom of this post. (Sk*rt is a place to find and/or link to anything and everything on the web that you'd like to share.)
*Edit: If you are not a member of Sk*rt and don't want to sign up for a free account there you can still enter our giveaway! Just promise us you will spread the word about MumsTheWurd! =)
Once again, please include your email address so we are able to contact you if you win.
This giveaway ends on Monday, August 27th at 10:00 pm CST.
Good luck (and I really mean it because this book is a must-read!)
*Download FREE Family Manager forms HERE.
*Find out how to get your own Family Manager Makeover HERE.
*Want to learn more about becoming a Family Manager Coach? Click HERE.
*Check out Kathy in action HERE!
Bethany Balsis and The Mums have something in common...we love all things BABY! Because of her passion, Bethany started The Polkadot Platypus, your one-stop maternity, baby and kids shop. Bethany strives to choose the most unique and reasonably-priced products for her shop, from mama jewelry to Mai Tei Carriers to playtime items.
One item in particular that we fell in love with from her shop is this Bella Tunno Play Smock in the "Hot Stuff" style. If your toddler is as energetic and creative as mine, this is a must-have. I have been searching for a smock like this for the majority of the summer. Something waterproof and big enough to cover her entire front-side, yet not constricting. The Bella Tunno Play Smock is just that. The fact that it is super fashionable is a plus too. :)
The Polkadot Platypus has such a large variety of maternity, kids and baby items to pick from, it's hard to tear yourself away to finish that tuna melt you were just in the middle of making (seriously).
We have something special to offer one lucky MTW reader - a $25 gift certificate to The Polkadot Platypus' eBoutique! I went ahead and did a little "pre" shopping for you. Take a look at just SOME of the unique gifts that you can purchase from the shop, all for UNDER $25! Feel free to click on the image to be taken right over there (you don't even have to drive!) to start making your "if I win, I want THIS" list. Don't worry, we'll be waiting right here for you to get back.
Here's what you need to do to enter, leave us a comment on THIS post and tell us if you've ever seen a platypus. Please leave your contact information (i.e. email address). Please don't forget to leave this, as we have had to count out a lot of people in the past because they didn't leave us a means of getting in touch. That's how we do business here and we'd really like you to be a part of these fun giveaways! Here's a tip for you, if you type in your email address in this format: you [at] yourdomain.com, you won't get spammed by those not-so-friendly robots. Now, on with the show shopping!
This giveaway will end Sunday, August 26 at 10PM. Good luck!
*Don't forget to check out our CONTEST section for more great giveaways!
Sign up HERE for our weekly newsletter filled with unique fun!
Today, it seems like we're concerned about everything involving our children (which we should be, of course). Does their food contain too much sugar? Is it organic? Does their diaper cream have anything harmful in it? Is our tap water safe for them to drink? The list goes on and on. Something you don't hear people worrying about much are what shoes we're putting on our children's feet. However, this is one of THE most important things we should be concerned with when it comes to our little ones health. These are two things that will literally get them through the rest of their lives. So, that being said, what should we put on their precious little baby toes? Pediped!
Why Pediped? Lots of reasons! The creators of Pediped say it best:
Pediatricians now recommend that children up to two years of age go barefoot (when practical and safe) or wear lightweight, flexible footwear. This enables children’s feet to grow naturally and to develop musculature and strength. A soft-soled shoe also enables them to sense the ground beneath their feet and to grasp with their toes as they learn how to walk.
Pediped shoes will offer your child comfort and style, and contribute
to better foot health. They're built to endure all that your new walker will surely put them through. They're soft, yet durable! Not only are they the next best thing to bare feet, but they're cute as heck too! Check the huge variety of styles for boys and girls alike! If you're unsure of sizing, you can check here.Noel is pictured here in his Liam's (do you think they sent me this pair on purpose because they're Oasis fans?). Hailey is daintily showing off her little Victoria's. We've also featured a great friend of the Mums, Gillian, showing off her Katelyn's. They all look comfortable, yet fabulous!
For the perfect gift, or just a really great pre-walker and new walker shoe, be sure to check out Pediped!
I'll let you in on a dirty little secret of mine, sometimes when no one's watching, I feed my toddler macaroni and cheese from the BOX! (Gasp!) Come on, I'm not the only one right? Well, that's what authors Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile set out to find when they were interviewing hundreds of moms for their new book, "I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids".
This guide to reinventing modern motherhood is chalk full of testimonials from mothers around the country who are voicing their dirty little secrets and letting you know what makes them feel most guilty being a mom in this fast-paced world of today. You'll read about moms who want to have it all and have it all NOW to moms who struggle with telling their kids "no" and sticking to their guns. Amy and Trisha 
are moms just like us and they offer their best insight to these situations and provide you with great comebacks to questions like, "Can't he say his A-B-Cs yet?" They are here to reassure you that it's going to be o.k.!
This is a book that all of us should read! Sometimes you just need to take a step back and have a good chuckle and know that you're not alone with your parenting woes. Compare notes with the research that Trisha and Amy have compiled for us and rest assure that you too, are a GOOD mom, no matter if your kid eats Play Doh or you secretly wish to have your own apartment to escape the chaos.
WIN IT!
The Mums have a copy of "I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids" for you! Let me hip you to the rules of this giveaway:
We want to know YOUR dirty little secret! Leave us a comment and tell us what makes you feel like a less-than-perfect parent. Have some fun with it! We'll forward your responses to authors Amy and Trisha. Just remember, when leaving your comment, we'll also need your email address so we can get in contact with you if you win.
Winner will be chosen on Thursday, August 23rd at 10PM.
Good luck!
This book is Available at Amazon.com
Hey there, why not sign up for our newsletter while you're here? Just mouse over to the sidebar and click the "Weekly Newsletter" text. It's as easy as that!
With the help of my music blogging husband, MumsTheWurd! is now "officially" located at:
www.mumsthewurd.com
No more redirecting - Woohoo!
Please make sure to update all of your bookmarks.
=)
Hugs,
Team Mueller!
Here is my lovely daughter, Hailey, proudly wearing her "Drama Queen" tee from the hip online boutique, Baby Rock Apparel. I'm going to go ahead and make the assumption that they had Hailey in mind when they designed this tee. She has "drama" written all over her face!
Baby Rock Apparel carries a variety of little onesies and toddler tees, all the way up to size 8T (on select designs)! That's quite a range to keep your kiddos looking totally rock into their school-age days.
If these two weren't meant to be, I don't know who is! Here is Noel in his "Honor They Mother" tee (click image to enlarge). I kid you not, this is the SOFTEST, stretchiest toddler tee I have ever gotten my hands on. It is a semi-sheer fabric and has a true vintage worn-in feel. However, we may let Noel borrow the Drama Queen tee one of these days. :)
They'll also throw in this cool tin lunch box with a gift note for an extra $10 bucks per order and gift wrapping as well. Anyone who is willing to add a note and wrap my gifts for me is tops in my book.
Aside from rad onesies and tees, Baby Rock Apparel also carries footwear, tunes, caps/beanies and gift sets.
Kim and the fine folks at Baby Rock Apparel, Inc. donate a portion of their profits to The Pediatric Cancer Foundation, a charity that is near and dear to their hearts.
HEY! WIN IT!
Baby Rock Apparel has teamed up with MTW to offer one lucky reader their choice of TWO tees or onesies from the shop. ROCK.
To enter, all we ask that you do is go to their SITE, browse around and then come back here and leave us a comment with your name, email address and your favorite design (or product) from their online shop. We'll pick a winner on Tuesday, August 21st at 10 PM
*Bloggers and non-bloggers alike may feel free to enter!
*For anyone who can't wait to see if they won, Baby Rock Apparel has offered Mums readers 20% off of their order at Babyrockapparel.com by entering coupon code "mumsthewurd" at the checkout.
**We also have a BRAND SPANKIN' NEW weekly email newsletter! Sign up over on the sidebar to receive it and never miss a giveaway again!
Don't forget to check out our CONTEST section before you go!