Matilda Jane Clothing

Alright. I love shopping. I could shop for hours upon hours. The only problem is...I've seen it all before. What I must tell you is nothing gets me more excited than finding apparel that is super unique and original. Denise, Matilda Jane Clothing's owner and designer really hit the nail on the head with her funky and fresh sense of style. Her clothing line geared toward little girls and women makes my heart skip a beat!

Owner, Denise DeMarchis says:

"I want Matilda Jane clothing to make a little girl smile from ear to ear. I want her to love what she is wearing and be proud of how she looks. I want Matilda Jane clothing to showcase the sweetness of the child. I try to keep the silhouettes simple for that reason. It's not about fancy embroidery or over-the-top embellishments. It’s all about the darling girl wearing it."

Sizes in the children's line range from six months to 12 years. Now best of all, the women's line is available in sizes S-XL. The quality and attention to detail of these pieces is so impressive. I took my Matilda Jane Holly Hoodie to NYC with me last month and I'm sure heads were turning. My brick house tank accompanied me to Disney World last month, too. It was perfect in that gorgeous seventy degree weather!

I simply adore the funky and precious children's line. We have the adorable Vintage Ellie Halter ($34) that you see to the left and I've been so anxious to get some shots of Hailey wearing it.

Matilda Jane Clothing is only available through trunk shows, juried art fairs and the Matilda Jane catalog. You can view the entire Spring 2008 line HERE.

Photo Creations with HP

I generally do no print out my digital photos. Reason being, I take A LOT...of digital photos. It's very hard for me to choose which ones to print when I have five of the same shot. Besides, I took a break from real scrapbooking when I realized all of the cool things you can do with digital photos online or just with programs on your computer.

I broke down and took a disc of pictures to my local Meijer yesterday to take a stab at an photo creation. I've been eying up the HP Photo Center kiosks (photo on left) there for some time and never really thought about taking the time to make something.

I can say now that I'm glad I did and I will definitely continue making more. The process was painless and fortunately, there was a store employee there to guide me through, in case I needed help. If you decide to try out this neat way of making photo gifts, here are my recommendations:

• Before you go to the store, organize your pictures. My project consisted of about 100 photos and I could have saved time doing this before-hand. For instance, if you're going to create a photo book, arrange your photos on your computer at home. Give the pictures filenames that will ensure they stay in a specific order. Choose only the photos you want to include in your photo book.
  
• Save your photos to a disc or memory card. The HP kiosks accept CDs, multiple size memory cards and USB drives.
  

Your pictures will be loaded onto the kiosk at the store (they will be deleted after you finish your project). Chose your photo creation. Pick from calendars, photo books, mouse pads, mugs, etc. Some creations are ready within an hour and some take more time. I felt that the prices were really reasonable too. I create a personal calendar for my mom every year with photos that I take. Next year's calendar will be created at Meijer using the HP Photo Center kiosk.

If you're interested in learning more, you can check out this HP Photo Services Demo.

Find a location by clicking HERE. Hopefully there is one near you!

For a limited time, if you buy a 16x20 poster, you get one free! Click HERE for the coupon. I think this promotion ends on May 31st...so there isn't much time left.

Leave us a comment and let us know if you've tried out the HP Photo Center kiosk and what project you created. We'd love to hear about it!

*In case you're wondering...I'm really digging HP products right now! I've had my HP Pavilion dv6707 laptop for about three months and I LOVE it!

Zune: How do you listen to your music?

I recently had the opportunity to test out a 2nd generation Zune (launched November of 2007). Little miss pink (pictured above) traveled with me to Disney last month. When it comes to mp3 players, I like both Zune and iPod. They are only slightly different and I have my pros and cons about each player/software but if you're contemplating purchasing an mp3 player and it comes down to either of the aforementioned, you're going to get great quality either way you decide to go.

Zune comes in different colors and is available with a 4 gig, 8 gig or 80 gig storage option. I say the more storage, the better! Because if you're anything like me, you don't carry a "brag book" with you. Just sync your digital photos to the Zune and there ya have it, a portable photo album of the fam. The player also has an FM tuner, which is cool for local stuff. I really like the video display and quality, much better than the iPod (I'm not talking iPhone or iTouch here). Just recently, Zune updated its Marketplace and added an extensive video section where you can get download-to-own content from favorite tv shows like The Office and 30 Rock, to content partners like NBC, MTV, Comedy Central and so on.

The more I browse around the Zune Marketplace and and software, the more it's growing on me. As an iPod owner, I'm so used to iTunes, so of course, this takes some getting used to. One nice option that Zune offers is their "Zune Pass", where you get unlimited music for $14.99/mo. Can't really beat that. There are also 5,000 podcasts available for download as well. I've even gotten "Social" on their website.

Overall, I think the Zune is a great product for the money and I would recommend checking one out.

Technorati Tags: zune

Way Out Wax: Something nice for the mum

We have another fab Mother's Day Giveaway for you!

Here is your chance to win an assortment of 6 pure aromatherapy candles in recycled white smoked glass containers from Way Out Wax.

These candles will all burn for hours upon hours and you can rest easy knowing that Way Out Wax uses no synthetic scents, wax or wicks. Their candles come from 100% pure essential oils. These candles are excellent for mom's with allergies or who are pregnant. Way Out Wax is a very "green" company. Click here to read about their environmental commitment. They are located in northern Vermont and have a very sincere focus on health and well-being.

Here's how to enter:

For your chance to win 6 aromatherapy candles of your choice, send your answer to the following question to mumsthewurd[at]gmail[dot]com with "Way Out Wax" in the subject line:

Question: "How many aromatherapy 'single scents' and 'synergies' does Way Out Wax carry?" (Hint: click HERE)

A winner will be chosen at random on Saturday, May 10th and announced on Sunday, May 11th - Mother's Day.

Good luck!

A Gift Idea for New Mums or Mums-to-Be

What does one get for someone about to become a mom? How about a Wishing Well memory maker from Zinke Designs? This unique gift can be used for many occasions, but the birth of a baby is a perfect one! Use this lovely box of note cards to have friends and family share their wishes for your family on the arrival of your new bundle of joy. This special gift comes with 150 cards, a pen, and a keepsake box complete with a customizable photo area for the special occasion.

My sister did something similar for me when I had my first baby. It's great to go back and look at all of the wishes, dreams, and hopes that our loved ones have for our family. What a special way to commemorate such a wonderful time! Find the perfect design for your special mum here.

So How About a Contest?

Geesh...where have the Mums gone? Well, nowhere, really, for me, except maybe to CrazyLand. Everywhere, for Amy, and she started a full time job. Suffice it to say, we've been busy with life, and have not had much time to dedicate here, but we're trying to change that ASAP!!! What better way, than to bring you, dear readers, a contest for YOU. With Mother's Day coming up, wouldn't you love a fun, new purse to take around the town?

My friend Erin is the creator and designer of Rare Plumage purses and totes. I've carried my purse for over a year now. I love it! She does a beautiful job, and every purse is unique, cool, interesting, and solid! You can see her work on her blog.

Here's how the contest will work. Email "Purse Contest" to mumsthewurd[at]gmail[dot]com and tell us what colors/patterns you like in general. If you're the winner, we'll send you the one closest to your fave. Sound easy? That's because it is! The contest will run through May 1, at 5 PM CST.

If you're interested in purchasing a Rare Plumage purse, click here, and send Erin an email! Each purse is $30, unless otherwise stated.

Good luck with the contest, and I'll let you in on a little secret...I'll be putting up another one tomorrow or Sunday, so check back!

How Do You Spell Relief?

These two have put a major roadblock in my already limited blogging life...and that's ok, except for the fact that I haven't found much time to tell you about more fab products or to give away cool stuff! Fortunately, you all know I have an awesome partner in review land that we can all depend on. So a big thanks to Amy, who has held this little blog together while I feed, diaper, wipe tears and peanut butter from faces, chase, shush, and just try to keep my hair washed every other day. :) I think I'll probably have this all under control in about 5 years.

That being said, I have found some moments of solace in this hectic environment. Along with the chaos of having a newly-turned-two year old and a newborn comes some pain. I totally forgot how, well, awful the first weeks of breastfeeding are. Thankfully, other people know this, and do what they can to help us sore moms out. The Shower Hug is a soft, knit terry velour towel that you wrap around sore breasts to protect them from the harshness of the shower. It is a God send! I'm still "recovering" from the first few days of Lennon and his extremely aggressive nursing (the kid is hungry!), and the Shower Hug has been a welcome relief. I also wear it at night, instead of a nursing bra. It's so soft and comfortable! You can see for yourself all of the great benefits of the Shower Hug here, and also learn how to wear it here. I can not tell you how grateful I am to have found this product. Before I got it, I was wincing at the thought of showering, but now, I welcome this part of the day. I am so glad I got the "hug" that I was in desperate need of! Thanks, Belmama & Cherub!

In The Motherhood: For Moms, By Moms

If you're not already familiar, In The Motherhood is a series of stories online written by real moms, for moms. What is unique is that you can submit your stories, have them voted on and if your story wins, you can watch it acted out by professional actors. Starring in the second season of these fabulous webisodes are Leah Remini (The King of Queens fame), Jenny McCarthy (model/actress/author) and Chelsea Handler (stand-up comedian). Check out this webisode from the second season, "Infamous 3rd Date" where Chelsea Handler's character, Heather, gets a little "surprise":



The shows are a hoot! I think it's fantastic that we can share our real life situations with other parents in this way and really get a good laugh out of them. Unfortunately, the submissions are closed for this season but I suggest we all keep an eye out for the debut of season three and if you're anything like me, I'm sure you'll have a couple of good stories to share too and who knows...one of these fine actresses may just play the part of YOU!

In coordination with In The Motherhood and Suave, we have a fabulous Suave prize package (including a couple of other goodies) for one lucky MTW reader!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post, including your first name and email address. You can type out your email address like this: yourname at yahoo (we'll know it's dot com unless you specify otherwise).

Feel free to share any of your disasterous/hilarious parenting stories in your comment if you'd like! A winner will be chosen (at random, not based on comment) at 10 PM, Wednesday, March 19th. Good luck!

While you're waiting to find out if you're the winner, head over to In the Motherhood's website to read some great stories and join the discussions on the message boards.

First Anniversary Bash: Day Eight - BusyBodyBook

BusyBodyBook Personal and Family Organizers are just my most favorite thing, aside from my new BlackBerry Curve, of course. Though, sometimes an electronic device just isn't enough for all that I have going on in my life. These planners are top notch. There is a ton of room for everything you need to keep track of inside of them. The planners come in two different formats; academic year (Aug. - Sept.) and yearly (Jan. - Dec.). The '08 planners are are also available in different designs; Dots, Stripes, Brown, and ZigZag. The Dots and Stripes designs are sold out but the 2008 Stripes and ZigZag designs are still available for 50% off. I can't forget to mention the Fridge GRID Pad, an undated, 7-column magnetic pad that sticks to your fridge. I use mine religiously.

The new 2009 BusyBodyBook designs are SWEET and will be available this June for purchase. Take a peek at them here.

We have TWO of the SOLD OUT Brown BBB's up for grabs for TWO winners during our First Anniversary Bash.

To enter the BBB giveaway:

Leave a comment on THIS post including the following information:

- First Name
- Email address (you can type it out like this: yourname at yahoo dot com)

Comment section is located at the BOTTOM of this post, just under the three little buttons (sk*rt this/vote for me/digg it). (For those of you who are receiving this post in your inbox or via RSS feed, you must visit this post on our site to leave your giveaway entry comment).

*The reason we want you to leave your name & email in the comment entry is so that we don't have to hunt for your contact info. We're sorry, but this is simply the easiest way for us to run over 10 contests in 1 week.

As all of our other anniversary contests, a winner will be drawn as of midnight on March 6th and announced on March 7th.

GOOD LUCK!

Cleaning: 101

I have a confession. I am a terrible housekeeper! I don't like to clean. When I was young, I told my mom that I would have a maid. She asked what I would do if I couldn't afford one, and I said, "I'll just get a penny maid." :) Well, things have gotten more simplified for those of us that convulse at the word "housework"-especially when it comes to the WORST room to clean-the dreaded bathroom!

Scrubbing Bubbles has the Action Scrubber, which I love. Everything you need to clean your entire bathroom comes contained in a disposable sponge that attaches to a reusable handle. No more bottles of cleaning agents and bleach in this house. I've found the answer to my bathroom conundrum!

I don't know about you, but I have a really hard time cleaning the shower. Why does it seem like such a chore? Of all the housework, this is definitely my biggest obstacle (yes, even over the toilet!). Now that tub crayons have been introduced into my life, I've wanted to run and hide at the thought of cleaning the shower...until now! Today, I got the Automatic Shower Cleaner. Although I have not fully put it to the test, I have a feeling this product is going to be my dearest friend. A shower that's clean, that you don't actually have to clean??? Who could ask for anything better? I'm going to give it the 2 week challenge, and I'll let you know how it works out.

Have bathroom woes of your own? Never fear, because you can WIN an Action Scrubber of your very own. We've got two to give to the readers with the best child-related bathroom horror story. Leave your bathroom tale in the comments.* Winners will be chosen on Sunday, February 3rd, at 9 PM CST. Good luck!

*Anything inappropriate or just too disgusting will be deleted & disqualified. In the spirit of the contest, keep it "clean"!

Kathy Lo Rocks and We Agree

I'm one of those mom's who's all about showing off her tot. When I found out about Kathy Lo Rocks, I added them to my list of excellent places to shop for show-and-tell. You'll find an array of customizable accessories over at Kathy Lo Rocks. From necklaces to cuff links and everything in-between, you can show off your child, your favorite flower or a fabulous pattern from their collection.

I chose to have a picture of my daughter on one side of my necklace and a photo of a local piece of art on the other side. I love walking around with a reversible necklace and when people ask to see it up close, I'm proud to show off the excellent craftsmanship.

You can pick customizable necklaces from $58 or a necklace from their Alphabitz line from $38. So many other accessories to see, just stop by Kathy Lo Rocks and take a look at their one-of-a-kind pieces for yourself!

One True Media will warm your heart

Before I discovered One True Media, a creative online photo and video service, I was using Window's Movie Maker or PhotoShow to create photo and video slideshows. The downside of those programs are, Window's Movie Maker does not have all of the great effects like One True Media and it's not online and PhotoShow does not allow you to use your own music, which I highly prefer.

You can use One True Media for free with limited access to all of the fantastic features they offer. Free version features are:

-Quickstyles, effects and transitions
-Premium quickstyles $2.99 each
-Storage space: 200 photos and/or 10-15 min. of video (up to 200 MB)
-Montage song limits: 3 per montage
-Personal TiVo Channel/2 anytime TiVo shares

That's still not a bad deal but with One True Media's Premium service, the features you will have access to include:

-A free pro-quality DVD worth up to $24.99
-Quickstyles, effects and transitions
-Premium quickstyles
-Premium music
-Unlimited Storage space
-Unlimited montage songs
-Personal TiVo Channel/2 anytime TiVo shares
-5 monthly TiVo shares
-Custom embeddable online players
-Download to your PC/Mac or video iPod

The service is very easy to use. One True Media offers a high quality DVD of your montage and photo books, among other personalized items as well.

Here is a little montage I put together to show you how much fun all of the different features are:

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

WIN IT!

We have TEN - 1 year, ONE TRUE MEDIA PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTIONS (with a free DVD included - up to a $65 value) to giveaway to TEN lucky MTW readers!

TO ENTER:

Send and email to mumsthewurd[at]gmail[dot]com with "montage" in the subject line. Ten winners chosen on Sunday, January 20th at 10pm CST will be notified via email.

Good luck!

What Every Pancake Makin' Mama Needs

I love a good pancake, but I always found them to be somewhat of a pain to make. I only had a regular sized nonstick pan, and I could make maybe 2 pancakes at a time. Inevitably, they were cold by the time I was finished with all of the cakes. Being a mom now, and one who strives to be as 50s as possible, I just had to master my pancake technique. I asked for a double burner griddle for Christmas, and my husband, who swears that I'm the best cook ever (even better than his grandmother!!!), indulged me.

There are all kinds of griddles out there, but I don't think you need to go expensive or cast iron (just my non-chef opinion) in order to achieve the perfect pancake. What you DEFINITELY need though, is the double burner style so you can get the max amount of pancakes possible. The one I got is here-nothing fancy or expensive, but it certainly does the trick! I can get approximately 4 4-5" pancakes and 2 "dollar" sized pancakes done at one time. It's totally amazing what a difference it makes when you can make ALL the batter in two "cycles" instead of about 7!

Now, what really makes a pancake great is a good recipe, so give this one a try (it's my very own!):

1 c. bisquick
1 c. cream of wheat (any cook time works)
1 1/3 c. milk
1 egg (2 if you like the pancakes more flat)
3 tbs. melted butter
1 tbs. vanilla

put it all in a bowl, and mix...simple!

Cook over medium heat-flip when bubbles appear (about 2 minutes for side 1, 1 minute for side two). You can add bananas, chocolate chips, etc. to this recipe. I promise, they are divine!

Choose your state of mind, ladies

If you're in a handbag "state of mind" then look no further. Star 50 Handbags is right smack dab on the map where you'll want to be. With each bag inspired by a different state in the union, there will no longer be an excuse not to own at least 50 incredibly luscious handbags!

Right now, Star 50 Handbags has at least 24 fabulous collectible designer bags to choose from and more making their debut very soon! I'm anticipating the release of the Pennsylvania ??? as well as the Montana Treasure Tote. Two of my very favorite states in the union. Colorado would be my third and I'm loving the Colorado Lodge Tote (picture to the right). Some of the handbags are more on the pricey side, ranging in the $100s but that's what you can expect to pay for one-of-a-kind bags like these. "A modern heirloom" is how designer/owner Amity Cooper describes her line of delicious treats.

Not all of them are out of the "I-need-a-million-handbags now" price-range, however. Take the Alaska Trapper that I'm drooling over right now. She retails for $65.00 and comes in three colors; Trapper Orange (pictured), Hunter Olive or Oil Black.

Recently, you may have noticed that we had a couple different Star 50 Handbags up for grabs during our Holiday Blog Hunt, the sassy "New York Hot Pot" and the glittery "Arkansas Diamond Digger".

As you get acquainted with each bag on the Star 50 Handbag website, notice at the bottom of the page the "Fast Facts" about each state where said handbag gets her personality. Oh, and don't forget to tell your hunny-bunny that Valentine's day is fast approaching...wink-wink, nudge-nudge. =)


*Star 50 Handbags was introduced to the Mums by The Winning Pitch PR.

Epson Stylus CX8400 Printer Review

I know, I know...this review is a bit "different" from the norm here on MumsTheWurd.com. But I have to be honest...I'm a digital photo buff and anyone who takes digital photos needs a means of printing them out. I also have a HUGE stack of pre-digital-age photos that need scanned and saved, otherwise, they are going to get yellow with age and I'm all about preserving my memories.

So, that being said. I'm really digging the new Epson Stylus CX8400 All in One printer/scanner/copier. No, no one is paying me to write this review. I have this printer and I LIKE it.

This all-in-one retails for around $99.99 but with a couple of instant rebates offered, you can get this baby for as low as $59.99, which makes for an affordable Christmas gift!

I've had a couple of different scanners/printers over the years and so far, this one runs smoothly and I haven't had any trouble with it. The colors are vibrant and the individual ink cartridges retail between $12 and $17 at your local office supply store.

Of course, here are some notable features of the printer:

*Epson DURABrite Ultra Ink: It dries instantly.
*Auto Photo Correction with advanced face detection: If you aren't a Photoshop pro, never fear! The printer is smart and can help you out with photo corrections needed prior to printing.
*Epson Easy Photo Fix: Great for scanning those old family photos that could use a "touch-up" or two.
*BorderFree Photo Printing: No perforations or edges to trim (hello, time saver?!)

The printer has met all of my needs thus far, whether it has been printing directions to a holiday party or scanning a receipt to print and send in for a rebate, it has worked as good as gold. I've been pleased with the quality of the photos I have printed as well.

The Epson Stylus CX8400 is definitely worth checking out!

*Epson was a part of our holiday scavenger blog hunt!

Keep the good stuff in

Every winter, I have to prepare myself for the worst skin. I suffer from dry, cracked hands and what my husband refers to as "alligator feet". The chapped hands are the worst though. I wash my hands quite a bit during the day, especially with a toddler running around the house. I'm a freak of nature, I always want to make sure my hands are clean. The results of my squeaky clean hands (and lack of fluid intake) is severe dryness. I generally swear by Avon's Moisture Therapy Intensive Hand Cream but I just ran out. Luckily, I just received Gloves in a Bottle. You may have heard of this product recently around the blogosphere, as many have blogged about it. So far, the skin protector has been working really well.


I can tell it lasts for hours because I generally put it on before bed and when I wake up and wash my hands, I can still feel it protecting.

It's a silky lotion, not super thick. After it is massaged into your skin, the area feels smooth. Not necessarily greasy, but you can definitely tell that you have lotion on. I don't really mind this but some people might. After a few minutes or so, that lotiony feeling goes away but your skin is still protected.

Overall, I really like the product. A little goes a long way, so this 8 fl. oz. bottle should last me throughout the chapping season. For me, the true test will be in the dead of winter, which is fast approaching.


You can purchase Gloves in a Bottle by the bottle in the 8 fl. oz. size (retail $12.95). The product also comes in a smaller, more travel-friendly size, 2 fl. oz. I only see prices per 1/2 case or more for the smaller size, so I'm not sure if you can actually order the smaller size per the bottle. Seems like the company gears this product more toward people or businesses who would like to order in bigger quantities.

Gloves in a Bottle can also be found in select pharmacies around the world.

Do you have a BusyBodyBook yet?

We're nearing the end of 2007 and it's time to think about getting your planner ready for the new year. Time to log all of those birthdays and anniversaries and plan out academic events and appointments. Look no further than the BusyBodyBook from About Your Time, LLC. The BBB's are becoming HUGELY popular because of their spacious grid-like pages that let you log any information you so desire.

Pick from four different styles and two different time frames: academic year '07-'08 or Jan. '08 - Dec. '08 and retail for $16.95 each.




WIN IT!

We're giving away one BusyBodyBook to a lucky MTW reader. Email us at mumsthewurd[at]gmail[dot]com and give us an idea of how you would use this phenomenal planner.

A winner will be chosen on Monday, December 4th at 10PM.

***Did you know? We have FOUR BusyBodyBooks up for grabs in our Holiday Blog Hunt contest. Make sure you enter for you chance to win there too! There are over $6,000 in prizes!

Lexie Barnes

Versatility is the key for me when (rarely) I look for a new bag. These days, it comes down to "Can it fit a few diapers, wipes, a sippy cup and a snack?", and in a few months, those demands will include more diapers and a sling. That's why I was impressed with my new Lexie Barnes Duchess backpack. It's got space and lots of compartments, so I'm not rooting around trying to find something quickly and it's nowhere to be found. It's also got two handy side pockets for bottles and cups! No more leaking cups in the bag here (we've had a few "incidents")!

Lexie Barnes is cool because it's not your "typical" bag. I don't know about you, but I could not be more bored when I look around and see everyone and their dog with their "signature" bags. Not only can you branch out from the norm here, you can fit your own accessories and your kids too. Lexie's got many different styles and patterns to choose from, all of which are tailored to fit your lifestyle-traveler, crafter, blogger, or a combination. The only thing I don't like about this backpack is that I don't think you could use it for a long trip-it's just not quite big enough to fill with books, lots of extra diapers, toys-the essentials for traveling, but that's what dad's diaper bag is for ;). The perk of the Duchess? It's on SALE.

**Don't forget to check out this post for LOTS of chances to win BIG for the Holidays! Join us as we celebrate with our GIANT BLOG HUNT!*

Diaper Bag Heaven [or] Ready, Set, Decorate!

If you haven't yet visited Rosenberry Rooms, you best get on over there and check out their insanely large collection of, well, EVERYTHING! You want it, they've got it. Stylish nursery room themes, bedding, ADORABLE footstools and step stools (because I'm in the market for one), wall art and the list goes on and on. My eyes practically bugging out of my head there are so many things to look at. All right up my boutique-loving alley.

They also offer a gift registry. If you're tired of the boring, same-old-same old baby shower registry items, please consider registering at Rosenberry Rooms or tell your pregnant friends/family about this incredible boutique. What a fun and refreshing way for your attendees to shop for you! I kind of want to set one up, just because. :)

I don't think they're kidding when they say they have the largest selection of designer diaper bags. If only, IF ONLY, I had known about them during my pregnancy! They have a very fine collection of diaper bags that will have everyone drooling and asking where you bought that fabulous bag! It might only take something as simple as a fashionable diaper bag to get me thinking "baby" again. :)

This is the Baby Pink Corduroy Laminated Buckle Diaper Bag by Kalencom. Hmmm, what can I say about this bag...IT'S SWEET, ladies. What I love about it? It's easy to keep clean, there is a removable, insulated bottle bag, removable diaper pouch and a changing pad.

The inside of this bag is a gorgeous chocolate brown color. Perfect coordinating colors. Also, there is P-L-E-N-T-Y of room. The bag retails for about $70 and is available at Rosenberry Rooms for purchase.

But wait...we're giving ONE away! YUP! Who loves ya, baby? The Mums do! Let me hip you to the entry rules:

Send an email to mumsthewurd[at]gmail[dot]com with "DIAPER BAG" in the subject line. Since we're nosey, we'd like you to tell us about YOUR diaper bag, whether you had one years ago, you're using one right now or you plan on using one in the future. Even if you have a quite fashionable one, tell us about it and why you love it so much! Anything goes, ladies (and gents). I personally had an UGLY diaper bag! This would make a fab gift for a mom-to-be!

Winner will be chosen on Wednesday, October 24th at 10pm CST.

*Sorry out-of-United-Staters, this giveaway is limited to the U.S. only. I'm sorry! : (

Relax with Way Out Wax!

Some days, it seems like the chaos of life will never end. Traffic jams, meetings, making lunch, playing, teaching, learning, crying, running...my head is spinning just typing. Our daily lives are hectic, so why not sit back and take a breather? Load up the tub with some bubble bath and surround yourself with some aromatherapy, curtosy of Way Out Wax. Sometimes you just need a break from Mommy, and just need a little something for yourself. Way Out Wax gives you the highest quality, soy-based candles you can buy-made with essential oils, all natural & biodegradable, no additives, and more.

The Mums love these candles! You can really tell the difference in the essential oil based candles and others. The smell is so much stronger and real than other candles we've used. These scent of these candles wafts through our entire house when they're burning. Right now, with Fall being in the air (well, here in Texas, not really, but I like to pretend), I am partial to the Cozy Home. It makes the whole place smell like Thanksgiving!

Way Out Wax has a varitey of other products too...which one lucky reader will receive when you

WIN IT!













Be the recipient of a Gift Basket retailed at $49.99 from Way Out Wax-take the ultimate plunge into relaxation, Mums! Email us and tell us your favorite scent and why. That's all it takes to win one of these lovely items! Contest ends Friday October 12, at 10 PM CST. Good luck!