Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

Hey you guys, just a fast note to let you know that with the weather my cable has been up and
down, mostly down today, so I am not forgetting about you, just having issues!
Hang on, I will be back!
Michelle

Kids in the Kitchen? You Betcha! I love
to have my kids help me cook and even though
Rowan is just over 7 months I still drag her
walker or high chair into the kitchen and we
spend the time talking about what Mommy is
doing now. Not only does it foster a sense of
closeness between your child and you it also
allows them to start picking up early tips in the
kitchen and retain a level of comfort around
appliances and cooking in general that will stay
with them for the rest of their lives. Andrew started
really young, just like Rowan and by the time he
was 13 he cooked a complete Thanksgiving Dinner
by himself. And not a normal, run of the mill
Thanksgiving Dinner either but a full on Michelle
Style Holiday Meltdown Dinner. I never have just
a Turkey or a Ham or Roast for a Holiday meal
for with the hoards I feed I have all of the above
and that year I was recovering from a pretty serious
surgery I had only days before and there was no
way I could cook. I thought for sure Andrew would
just go with his Dad to an Aunt or an Uncles for
normally his Dad and Grandmother came to my
house but Andrew insisted on keeping the tradition
alive and making it himself. I didn't even have
a recipe box to help him for all mine are kept in
my head so he sat by my bed and wrote down what
I rattled off and made it all, complete with 4 pies
of different flavors, by himself. It was delicious and
quiet a feat for a 13 year old boy and there isn't a doubt
in my mind that he never would have been able to
pull it off if he had not pretty much grown up in
a kitchen. Part of the trick to get them so interested
is to offer them items to use that they can call their
own. Cookware that is made for them or if it is something
that does not offer a pint size variety, really cool to use!
Kids love to get down and dirty and would do anything to
help if you only give them a chance. Don't worry if
you are the blind leading the blind in the kitchen for it
does not matter how something tastes when you
are done it just matters that you made it together and
that fact will make it taste like a creation from the
kitchen of Cordon Bleu itself!

Recently I got a chance to do a product review
for some kitchen items that pretty much hit everything
a Kid could want. They are made for them, look cool,
fun to use and inspire a child to get up and cook!
Duralex makes dishes just for your children called Kiddishes
and Cuisipro makes some awesome tools for creating some
dishes they will just have a blast making. I was sent a complete
set for one of the Kiddishes and from Cuisipro a flour sifter
and a peanut butter and Jelly spreader. We never use
our Bread maker though Andrews Dad lives with his, better
model I think for mine is a pain, but anyway I thought it
would be pretty neat to make some bread to make an
awesome Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich to serve on the
dishes. It was a hoot! Andrew and I drug the Highchair
into the kitchen and started the bread. Now with our recipe
you don't have to shift the flour but what they hey, it is
a cool gadget and we wanted to make something for
lunch. Andrew claimed it and we had a little bit of flour
tossing going on in the kitchen for it was so much fun.
The 4 cups for the recipe went by so fast so we decided
we need desert and I grabbed some for a cream puff shell
recipe for this is what a shifter is made for, those yummy
good, knock your socks off pastry's where you need some
prefect flour and it needs to be just so. The part I want
you guys to understand it with my old sifter I hate shifting
flour and never make pasties anymore though I am certified
as a pastry chef. Some day I will give you all the details
but to be a master chef you have to go through levels and
each level takes a lot of effort and time. I went through two of
them and pastry would be one. I used to love it, when I had
the kitchen to go with it and Andrew and I have made some
really great things but as I grew older it just became a
hassle and I just bought from a bakery instead. My old shifter
was hard to use and you got quite a work out just turning
the dang handle and by the time I got around to kneading
I was already through for I was beat. Cuisipro's sifted
was like a hot knife through butter and so easy and fun I
had to beg Andy to give me a turn. I could have sat the boy
down with a hundred pound bag of flour and he would have
done it all. Once I got that away from him I wanted to
see if it was difficult to clean for that was also another
issue with my old one, wet flour turns into glue. At
a professional Kitchen you have power hoses at a dish
tank and the force there can knock anything off, at home,
no such power. With a lot of peoples water pressure you are
lucky to get a stream at all so I was a little worried, even more
since we sifted a lot and the thing was covered. Such an
easy cleanup, I just could not get over it. It was like Teflon
with the flour just falling off. Okay, Gadget one;
A blast
Easy to use
Easy to clean
Perfect for kids and parents alike!
While the bread cooked we made our puffs and
Andrew made some filling and we set the table. I love the
Kiddishes. They are just the right size for kids and stylish
too. I wish they made a Momdishes set for they were
that nice. See through, so when cleaning you know if
there is any kid goo left and also easy to clean and
the plates and cup are just the right size for young hands.
Rowan is now hooked on drinking from a cup and the only
down side to the Kiddishes is she does not want to drink
from anything but them now. I have bought 7 different kinds
of Sippy Cups for as cute as the kiddishes are she is still
to young to drink from something without a lid ( ah, let's
dump this too Mom!) and if I don't hold it for her she
will flip it. As a busy Mom I can't always sit there and hold
a glass for the baby so I need those lids. Rowan does not
agree. Rowan says make time Mom, I like the cup better
and I am a big girl now! The whole set just makes the
family feel she is apart of it and has her own place
in this world. It will not be long before she joins us
at the table and her own set of dishes screams she
is ready now to us. The fact that they are virtually unbreakable,
dishwasher safe, Microwavable and shock resistant is just
a perk on the whole package. The big sell here is they are
the right size and perfect for little eaters. That fact they are
100% recylcable is also a pretty big sell!
Back to the cooking now, the bread turned out
great and I have to say I think that is the first time
it did in our bargan basement machine. It might be
the sifter or it might be the fact Andrew has more
patience with things like that then I do but it was really
good for a change and I ate about 3 pieces before we even
broke out the spreader. Sorry, I just couldn't help mysefl,
there is nohting like fresh bakery bread! The thing that
made me mad was once we used the spreader I realized
it was worth the wait had I known how cool it would be.
Don't you hate it when you are making a PB and J and
you do the Peanut Butter first and then you are stuck
with two options:
1. Lick off the Peanut Butter, fine if you are making it
for yourself but you still need to rinse it so you are
not tossing your germs into the Jelly.
2. Wipe the Peanut Butter off on the bread. This idea
stinks, it always tears the bread and you never get it
all off and you end up getting Peanut Butter in the Jelly
all the time! YUCK!
Now there is a new option and a darn good one, the spreader
by Cuisipro works like a charm and no more Peanut Butter in
the Jelly, no more stopping mid-stream in your sandwich making
to clean off your knife and no more hassel. Peanut Butter on
one end, Jelly on the other and smiles all around! I loved it and
it is also big enough where even young children can handle
it and are able to make thier own sandwich for there are no
sharp edges and clumbsy fingers will have no problem grabbing
the thick middle and clean-up can wait to you have enjoyed
your sandwich, not before you can slather on the jelly. It is
also cute and we all know how I love things that are
cute for it is color coded, Jelly is purple and the
peanut butter is brown. If that isn't good enough for you
it is dishwasher safe and has a 25 year warrenty. I am
thinken they are pretty confedant on thier products to offer
something like that. Your Grandchildren will be making sandwiches
before the warrenty expires.
So let's recap here:
1. Andrew and I road tested some pretty cool kitchen
gadgets made by Duralex and Cuisipro.
2. We used the Flour Shifter when we made fresh bread
and it worked like a charm, easy to spin and cleans up
with no effort.
3. We used that bread to make some out of this world
Peanut Butter and Sandwiches and use our Cuisipro Spreader
to do it and decided that was one of the best kitchen inventions
ever!
4. The dishes were used to serve our feast and were
pretty much the icing on the cake! What a lovely time in
the kitchen.
Duralex and Cuisipro made for one fine time in the kitchen
at our house and a awesome review. If you have children or
even if you don't and just like to bake the items we used are
a perfect addition for any kitchen! Don't argue or get into Jam
every again, use your spreader and no more broken plates with
KidDishes! Want perfect flour for your baking? Cuisipro's Flour sifter
is the right tool for the job, Six thunbs up here!

You too can win this bevy of kitchen tools! To enter just head
over to Cuisipro or Duralex's web sites and take a look around then
come back here and post what one of their awesome kitchen
devices would work best in your house? The contest will start tonight
and run to midnight on April 8th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Cuisipro

Duralex


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Sleepy Wrap Contests!

I spent my Summers at our House up in Northern
Michigan. My Grandmother was a school teacher at
a local Catholic School so not only were school years
shortened to begin with, she also had the summers off.
My Grandfather was a Paper Pusher at Fords and had
no such luck. Every year on the day after the last
day of school my Grandmother and I would pack up the
car and leave for the Lake House. Grandpa would come
up on the weekends and take his Vacation through July
since he had worked his way up to about 6 weeks a year.
Now my Grandfather was an outdoor guy but my Grandma was
more into arts and crafts and cooking and canning then
the Lake, woods, beach or fishing or boating. During the
week when he was not there, her and I would be alone and
we would pass a lot of time with Arts but I was a Tom
Boy and wanted to get out. Lucky for me we were not only
in the country but it was a different world still in
the 70's and I could pretty much go where I wanted since
I knew the area like the back of the hand. It was not
rare for me to ride my bike or walk many miles every day.
I also would swim for hours and my best friends were
just down the hill from me and and though they did not
live on the Lake their Grandparents did and were across the field
and a short walk through the woods from my back door and
owned a resort so they had everything there and it was
a virtual playground for us kids to spend our summers in.
We used to help clean the guest homes during the week
and be rewarded with a couple of bucks that we would use
to ride up to the local store. Now when I speak of a local
store here and now I am speaking of a CVS about a block
away but there we were lucky to have one so close, about
a mile down a dirt road. Shaw's! When you first walk in
they have two isles of bins that all had penny candy in them.
The State Park was right across the road and they made
a killing catering to them and had anything a kid
could ever want inside. We would buy a huge bag then split
up the loot once we got back to our home. I gotta say
that was the best time in my whole life. The thrill of
getting a little brown bag and reaching into bin after
bin of Penny Candy was enough to make a little kids
excitement level fly through the roof and even then
places like that were a rare find.
Andrew spent most of his life experiencing candy
the way a large percentage of kids today do. At the
Supermarket or Drug Store, maybe Target but every place
has the same routine. A row or selection near the checkout
with full sized candy bars and gum where people are prone
to make an impulse buy. 7-11 and Gas stations are not
much different though they have an isle with the same
candy. The point is no longer do children get the thrill
of walking into a store that has been set aside just for
Candy and filled with not a few rows on a rack or one
isle out of 20 but rather isle after isle of bins and
shelves and buckets that hold every confection the world
has to offer. Now you can find some chocolatier's around today,
a candy bar for 9 bucks if they carry a bar at all for most
offer items like Truffles or Bon Bons, ask Andy what a truffle is
and he would say something along the lines of pigs and woods for
it just isn't something a child is into. They want Chocolate
Bars and Penny Candy and Sour whats its! Not gourmet Chocolate
with an inflated price tag and a filling they have never heard of.
We lucked out when we moved here for there is a Penny Candy
Store on the other side of the Park from us called "Z's" Penny
Candy. Now they are pretty darn cool but even the fact they are
dedicated to Penny candy is lost on me for their whole store
does not even come close to the Candy Section at Shaw's and
it is pretty much the same 10 Candy's over and over again.
More or less a bin of Orange Tootsie Rolls, then a regular one,
then Grape and so on and so forth. Nothing special from my
view but the kids still looked forward to it and even listened
to my tales on the way there about the Penny Candy shops
when I was a kid. I would give each of the children a couple
of bucks then buy 20 dollars worth of mixed candy for the
house and what really got me was if I were to spend 20
dollars when I was a kid I would have needed a forklift
to bring it home with, now a days Penny candy is a quarter
and it just isn't the same. Lack of choices and a huge
price tag does not bring back the memories I was so fond
of. When I was searching for Candy for the Valentines day
gift guide I stumbled on a store that was in a different
league now. Old time Candy has the Tootsie Rolls but
also all the other Candy I remember as a child, an my Mom
remembers and so on. They have it all!
Old time Candy has candy from 1920 on up to what is
hot today! Everything I remember from being a child, to
when Andrew was little and so on. I was squealing like
I was back at Shaw's with a couple of bucks in my hands
as I was flipping through the pages. Andrew came running
in the room thinking his Mom has finally lost it and you
have to remember he is two floors away on the opposite
side of the house but that was how loud I was. They sent
a sample box for review and it was like some sort of
political sum-met meeting in my living room when it came.
All of us gathered around the box peering inside trying
to decide a way that was fair and even to dole out the
contents. Everyone got five picks of their all time
favorites then we went around in a circle to divide the
rest. I grabbed my Pay Day, Marshmallow Ice Cream Cones
for you have no idea how much I love those things, Sugar
Daddy, Swedish Fish and Bit O Honey. I wish I could tell
you what the boys grabbed but I can't for I really didn't
care, I was too busy keeping an eye on the loads of other
items I wanted and hoping their hands went over them when
they were making their five picks. The rest were dolled out
one at a time for there were too many items we all liked
to do another large draw but I was tickled to see one of
the handle suckers from when i was little. You guys know
what I am talking about, the stem is shaped in a loop so
it is easy to hold and we rewarded Rowan with that little
gem for she was so behaved as the adults acted like 5 year
old over the box of Candy. I also do not know how Andrew
always ends up with all the Gum, no matter where I get
Candy from that boy always gets the Gum. John sat hording
his bag and munching in the corner the rest of the day and
I swear he growled whenever someone encroached his area as
if they might make a move for his stash. Talk about Junkies!
I am so Happy my Grandmother was not here for they have all
her favorites and for a kind woman that would share anything
with you if you can anywhere near her Jelly candies, LOOK OUT!
It could be my Birthday and she could say what would you like
and if I told her the only thing I really wanted was one of
her Jelly Candies she would have looked me square in the
eye and Growled, Pick again! Old Time Candy
can even cover her and her addictions! I really wish she was
here too see this for we are not sure where my Grandfather
used to find some of her candy and after he passed it
fell on my mother and I's shoulders to find it and
we had a heck of a time. We had no choice but to find
things that were sorta like, or similar too but never
the real deal. Old Time Candy has the "Real Deal"


They also have any real deals you can remember from
your youth too and to order is a snap. You can go a
little or a lot and Mix and Match and the possibilities
are endless. Not sure what you really loved for those
memories are a little fuzzy? Just get a sample and pick
the decade and they are sure to have just the thing
you are looking for even if you can't remember the name.
Gifts are covered too for they have some awesome ready
made theme packs that take out the guess work and are sure
to bring a smile to any ones face. I just love this store
and yes, I have done reviews for some pretty fancy, smancy
gourmet shops but nothing, and I repeat nothing, beats my
Marshmallow Ice Cream Cones and Old Time Candy flew straight
to the top of my list with just the simple fact I could order
those as often as I like! Remember how I told you part of
the fun was getting a bag and filling it with as many
different candy's as you could in all different flavors? The
bins calling your name and a little of this and a little of
that was half the fun of getting the candy? You guys can relive
that too with Old Time Candy's Pack A Bag. Pick what ever you
like and toss it in a bag and that's how it is going to come to
you, just like when you were a kid. Share your memories with your
children and pack a bag with them. The shipping was super fast
and there is nothing like the trill of opening that box!
Gift, Holiday, restock the house hold stash or just for you,
Old Time Candy is there to help you out! I have a order in
my cart all ready to go for as soon as I am down to my last couple
of pieces all I have to do is hit send for I need me some candy!
Perfect for Valentines Day and Easter, they have what it
takes for any age from any decade! They even have gift baskets!
Enjoy!


Old time Candy was also sweet as candy and offered
to give one of my readers a 4 pound sample pack too!
To enter just head over to the site and take a look
around and come back here and post what your favorite
candy was as a child. The contest will start tonight
and Run to April 8th at Midnight. Right in the Middle
of Valentines and Easter to give you time to look for
both! USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.


Old Time Candy!




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.


2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.


Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Sleepy Wrap Contests!


Don't forget to look for Old Time Candy on my
Valentines Day Gift Guide!

I have decided Rowan is a Doll! A living,
breathing Doll! now I know every Mom thinks that
about their Baby but hey, it's my Baby and I will
brag if I want to! I had fun when Andrew was little,
I made a point out of dressing him all sharp and
adorable and no matter how hard I had to look
for style trends back then for boys that were
not plain old BLAH! I would search. I had some
baby flannels with muscle man arm onesies for him
that were really cute and received a lot of
complements but it is just so hard to find boy
anything for they only have about a tenth of the
selection girls have. Everything for girls is cute
and precious, you would be hard pressed to find anything
ugly, though I am sure it is going to happen. Andrew
had Rowan's full face smile going for him and those
big round cheeks so it didn't matter what he wore he
was still cute. In fact, when Andrew was about 9 months
old, what do they con you into at the picture place
that first year? 3, 6, 9 and 12 month to have them
taken? Anyway, the 9 month shot turned out so good the
photo place said they would pick up the tab for it if
I let them hang it in their studio. Hey, even then
photos were hundreds of dollars so I was in. But Andrew
was a boy and I could not "Add" things to him other
then a baseball hat. With Rowan I have options! Lots
and lots of options. She can wear Bows, barrettes, hats,
streamers, ribbons, flowers, Head bands and more. Even
with clothing you have more options. Girls can wear
any item a boy can and they still have girly items
too! I had visions of Rowan wearing a new frilly
outfit every day with matching shoes and hair items
and all the perks. Then I saw the price tag on
little girl items and went, hey, maybe one or two
in each category. That stuff is E-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e!
At least anything cute. You can find those not so
cute items at a pretty good price.
I needed to find items that were the cutest of
cute I could afford. What I could not afford was
hats that cost 34.99 per hat or Hair bows that
cost 12.99 for a hair bow. Are these people out
of their minds? Now Rowan was also born bald so
I didn't look right off the bat but in the last
two months she has sprouted tufts of hair that
are crying out for a bow. Now was the time to
start my hair and hat shopping for little baby,
baby. My Doll!  In my search I ran across a site
called Kutie Kadoo and I just had to share with you
guys. I stumbled on them looking for Tutus but
it was the Hats and Bows I fell in love with. Now
the Tutus are adorable and I do want one, or five,
but that hats!

SIGH

They are just too much. Classic designs brought
to the modern world and they make a little lady
out of even the most tomboyish of a little girl.
I was reminded of the 20's and flappers and that
eloquent style of feisty modern vigor that we have
forgotten as we fell into the carbon cutout fold over
the last couple of decades. Even the 70's had more
fashion statements then we have had in the last 20
years and Kutie Kadoo said, "no way, we need some
life back in a children's wardrobe. AND they added
it. Bright vibrant colors on Classic Crochet hats
that take a little smile a baby wears and turns it
into a delicious grin! I was sent a couple of hats and
hair clips for review and even a Tutu and each one
was a delight and I felt like we had just walked into
Glam Shots and put my Angel on parade. The owner
was incredible and she told me she was sorry she
did not have more to offer in terms of a selection
and my Jaw about hit the ground. "What is she talking
about!" her selection is fabulous, everything is sweet
and dainty except for the pieces that are purposefully
bold and then they are BOLD!  Right when I was talking
about doing the review she was remodeling the store and
had yet to put everything up but if you want my opinion
it is better to have a few items that are fantastic then
a whole truck load of everyday. Lucky for us she must
have been running a fever for she has a lot of items
and each and every one is fantastic. I think she is
just very humble for I could not stop screaming about
this place! The review items not only looked like a
slice of heaven they were made with a perfectionists
touch for every thread, every weave, every inch of
the hat was pure Quality and Rowan loved it too, in
fact so much i could not get it away from her. I was getting
ready to cry for I thought for sure she would ruin it
and made loads of efforts to get it away. I even offered
Ice Cream and all she did was shove the hat under her arm,
accept the Ice Cream then fight with me for the bowl then
to add insult to my tears, went right back and tried to
put the hat on her head again with sticky hands. I was
so worried the Ice Cream Baby Gunk would not come out
and set it aside for hand washing and my helpful son
saw it and tossed it in with his load. He came later
to inform me how helpful he was and I about broke my
seat to run and stop the washer to only get there to
hear the final spin, spin, spin.................Stop.
I was afraid to open it. I went to bed and didn't even
look. For sure it was ruined, this is a crochet hat,
how could it not? Andrew took this as a sign to keep
going and tossed it in the dryer. THAT, I didn't know
to later, but the next morning it was sitting on the
table still looking like a peach! How lucky for me and
what a shout out for the hat that something so delicate
looking can stand up to my son! Just like the little
girl wearing it, the hat is going to be a fighter!
Even the bows were still crisp and sassy!
Her hair bows are just as stunning and so crispy
that they will hold up to any style. Rowan looks like
a little Pixie in hers and now she has learned to bounce
and tries to dance with music on and her, the bows, the
music and the dancing is enough to make me break a stitch
laughing so hard for there should be a law against that
much cuteness! The Korkers are a must have but I also
love the Crib shoes and I have got to get some if it
kills me, they remind me of a Hollywood movie star for
years past walking through her house in her fuzzy slippers
and in the clips, the skulls are there. You guys know
how I love that contradiction of sweet little girl and
little devil and collect skull items for Rowan. I am
nuts about Katie Kadoo and will be spending a lot of
time there so stop on by and join me.
Katie Kadoo sent and extra hat and Korker for one of
my readers. To enter just head over to the site and take
a look around them come back here and post what you liked
best in a comment. This is one of those places where I
would be posting all day! The Prize is one of their darling
hats and a Korker! The Contest will start tonight and end on
March 31st.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Katie Kadoo


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Sleepy Wrap Contests!

Hey guys, have some awesome pics from the superbowl?
Send them over to our friends at Meyer Natural Angus to win some steaks!!
They have a great twitter promo going on and I thought you might like to check it out!!

 Here is the link guys!

Meyer Twitter

I know you guys have all heard about Ergo Baby.
They are huge and known for their Quality of design and
funky,stylish patterns and functionality and features.
Even me, a person who was totally surprised when she
found out she was pregnant and thought 16 years ago she
was done having children and knew as much about what's
new in the Baby market as I do brain surgery have heard
of them. They are known by all as one of the premier
brands when it comes to a design that is not only comfy
for baby but also promotes an ergonomic design that supports
the baby's spine and offers the healthiest position for
baby's hips while they are carried. That is something
often overlooked but trust me folks it is a good thing.
Now I have had a lot of questions about Ergo mailed
to me so I guess it is about time I get off my duff
and do a review for you guys!

The Ergo Baby Carrier I received can be used for
both a front and a back carrier and is very easy to
convert. They recommend you use the front carrier
for Children aged newborn to 6 months and it was nice
to see that information in the guide for I really didn't
know that. I have done a review for another carrier
not that long ago and they were super kind to work with
and it was my first time using these new fangle designs
and I didn't know a thing about them. They were kind
enough to walk me through all the up-grades and advancements
that have came along in the last 16 years but I forgot to
ask that question. When I spoke to the people at Ergo
I thought I was now an old hat and didn't need to ask
any questions so I skipped that part. When I saw the
age range in the guide I did an "Oh, I could have had a
V-8," thump to my head and was super happy they thought
to include that in their guide for honestly I never would
have known and one day when Rowan was 2 or 3 I would have
tossed her in that way and with my luck we both would have
taken a tumble. I even did research on baby Carriers, a lot,
in the last 6 months for when I do a review for you guys
I like to be informed and still didn't see that anywhere so
hey, let's file that away as good to know! Another cool
thing about the guide, and yes, I can't believe I am
raving about a guide and not talking about a carrier
but it impressed me here, what can I say. Any who,
another good thing about the guide is it shows you
different techniques and diagrams them for putting your
child into the carrier. I did know the different ways
for insertion but they were in my head and by verbal
or written descriptions but never in a pictured, step by
step, guide that shows me what I am doing in an easy to
follow format. People like me, with a head that can
flop off at any moment for it truly isn't securely attached,
need that extra little ump of a picture tutorial and
I was very appreciative they had it for me. John is
another story, he just doesn't get things, period,
and Ergo will have to just send a person over to walk
him through it, for if he doesn't catch on the first
time I try to walk him through it I might just end
up trying to shove him in the carrier and we don't want
that to make the news!
Ergo has two designs, they offer the "Standard" and
the "Sport" and both come with a variety of features
that make their carriers super efficient and comfortable
for both Mom and Dads and Baby. They offer a bevy of
perks that make them an excellent choice for people
on the go and let's not forget they have your baby's health
at the heart of the matter and that is always a good thing
no matter what version you are looking at. I was sent a
standard carrier for review and it offers such enmity's
as padded shoulder straps and chest straps, a side release
buckle and webbing straps for shoulder strap adjustment
and a padded waist belt that buckles in the front and
something I really need for with my back I need all
the breaks I can get here! They also have a storage pouch
to toss some of baby's items in or yours for those long
summer walks and a really neat thing I was totally impressed
with, a sleeping hood. The Sleeping hood adjusts for length
to fit you growing baby and was a super cool thing to add for
I have told you guys about Rowans aversion to the sun and
the fact when just one little ray gets anywhere near her eyes
she is screaming like a Banshee. For her, this means falling
asleep in any carrier is just about imposable and with Ergo
and this hood, when she starts rubbing her eyes, plop, goodnight
Irene! You have got to love that! The fact you can just toss
the whole thing in the washer when she gets Baby gunk* all
over it is just icing on the cake.
Ergo also carries accessories such as the Infant
insert, the Front Pouch and Back Pouch and the Sucking Pads,
um, right now, Rowan, Teething, Need I say more? Those are
a great option for I have to wash everything around this house
over and over again because everything Rowan picks up is a
Sucking Pad right now. They also carry a Changing Pad and
A Weather Protector and that is also something we need here
for their can be Tsunami Winds outside and I swear John will
say, "It is only a drizzle!" and take that Baby out anyways.
If I make him use this, one of two things will happen, he will
either not want to use it and give up on the idea or will use
it and either way is a win for me because I know Rowan will
be safer. Ergo has also went green and offer Organic carriers
and have even thought of your Baby's older sister or brother
with Carriers for them to put their Dolls and Teddy's in. Bibs
are also a great item from Ergo. Another thing I enjoyed was
the Website itself for it is packed with information to help
you on your path. Resources and Ask the Doctor are both
some great links to help out first time parents of people like
me who have had a decade or two between children and need
some help to get back in the fray. Every way you look
at it, Ergo goes out of their to make your life and you
Babies more comfortable, safer and allows you better
health and is a great investment and a welcome product
to have for your child.

Ergo was kind enough to offer to give one of my
readers a carrier of their own. To enter just head over
to Ergo's site and take a look around then come back here
and post what you learned in a comment. The contest will start
tonight and run to midnight on March 31st.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Ergo Baby


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

5. Tweet about this contest and post the link
here. 5 Entries, please post 5 times!

Don't forget to follow Ergo Baby on Face Book
to keep up on everything new and promotions
they run!

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Posh Little Tutus Contest!


* Baby Gunk is anything that comes out of a Babies mouth
that is more disgusting when it comes out then when it
goes in.

When Andrew was a baby there wasn't much of
a fuss over what was right or what was wrong when
it came to carrying him. The only Baby carriers they had
then looked like a booster seat with back pack straps
on it and was not very comfortable for Mom or Dad and
I am 100 percent positive couldn't be very comfy for
Baby either. Still, Babies love to be close to their parents
so it was a hit and it wasn't long to the market was
flooded with different types of carriers and now with Rowan
I have my choice of literally hundreds of different styles.
There is also a considerable debate on what way is the
best.
To carry your baby in a wrap?
To carry your baby in a sling?
To carry your baby in a front or back carrier?
People are all up in arms about why it is important
or why it is detrimental or why why why? Those for point
out that people have worn their babies since the start of
time and it is a natural process, those against say just because
something has been done forever does not mean it is right.
There is even a debate among the different sides amongst
themselves on what brand is better, who's sling works the
best and what wrap makes baby the happiest and who's back
carrier is best for Mom and Dad. It is enough to drive
anyone mad and drop the whole thing all together but
the fact remains, baby likes to go places with their
Moms and Dads and no matter what side of the debate you
end up on we are still doing something for babies benefit,
not to squabble among ourselves. I decided to not decide.
I thought instead of coming out for or against I would just
let you know my experiences with different carriers and
how they worked for me and let you make up your own
mind if that is what would work in your own house. I
am also not going at this blind and before I bring you
an item I am checking for safety reports and consumer
forums for no matter what side of the fence you grow
your grass on we all want that grass to be safe!
I got the chance to do a review for Sleepy
Wrap and some of their new product line. The Organic
Sleepy Wrap. Since I have never used a wrap much
less did a review for one I thought it would be a great
time to learn some of the benefits of a wrap. Sleepy
Wrap has a great article and gives some very compelling
reasons that a wrap is a great thing to have. From their
site I learned such interesting facts such as:
1. no pressure points on your baby -no pressure on
developing hips or spines like other hard baby carriers
which place pressure on your baby’s pelvis
2. grows with you and your baby -it's optimal for infants
yet you may continue to carry your baby with this wrap
baby carrier as long as you are both comfortable
3. no baby is too small -the baby wrap is designed for the
tiniest of babies
4. ideal for kangaroo care - premature infants thrive when
wrapped in a Sleepy Wrap
5. evenly distributes the weight of your baby-much more
supported than carrying with your arms, on one shoulder,
or your hip
6.perfect for traveling -compact and great on uneven
terrain or crowded places

There are also a lot more reasons listed on the site
and further details and it is a great way to educate your
self on the benefits and I recommend reading it. Some of
these really pertained to me and I was very interested in
the weight distribution for with my back I am always looking
for ways to make the day a little more comfortable. The
Kangaroo care was also of great interest for both of my
children were born early and though I was fortunate and
skirted any health issues I feel for those who were not
as lucky. Rowan was only a week so she was considered
full term and though she spent an extra week in NICU she
was hearty enough where she did not need special care
when she came home. Andrew could have turned out really
bad save the fact healthy large children run in my family.
Though healthy pregnancy's are a problem for us and I had
Eclampsia with both my children they seem to thrive in the
weight department for Andrew was born at 8 Months ( 34
weeks) and already weighed almost 8 pounds. Had he
been born full term I would have had a monster but I am
glad he was so healthy for 34 weeks is pretty early, more so
in those days and I could have faced some life long difficulties
with him and it would have been nice to have the option of
a Sleepy Wrap back then. The fact that a wrap can't be
too big or too small is also something I love for Rowan went
from 5 pounds after she lost over a pound the first day to
the 18 and a half she weighs now, just over 7 months later.
The Sleepy Wrap could have grown with her from then to now!
My experience with the wrap was really positive. Rowan
is a Mommas girl and though she loves spending time
with John once she sees me it is all over. If I want a
break I have to pass her off then leave the room for the
minute she hears my voice or lays eyes on me it is all
arms out and if I ignore that subtle sign tears start to flow.
She does not care what we are doing she just needs me.
Even if I lay her on the floor by my feet she is clinging
to my leg and won't let go. It has been that way since
day one. Don't get the impression it is an unhealthy attachment,
for it is not. She is not uncomfortable with other people
and loves to visit and as long as I am either out of the
room or in arms reach if I am in the room she could
spend all day with another person and not be the least bit
distressed. It is just when she is with me she wants to
be "With Me," and can be very clingy to get her way.
She does not care if I am doing the dishes or laundry or
just reading a book, she needs to touch her Mom and
enjoys that bond. I enjoy it too though it can be a hassle to
have her in my arms at all times for I can seldom get
anything done. For the site I have a desk top in my
room and the laptop down stairs and write and edit
in brief spurts while she is pre-occupied and I am always
working on one review on the desk-top and another on
the lap top or I would never get anything done at all.
She has little play areas set up all over the house
but still needs me to sit there with her and before the
wrap the only way I could accomplish anything was to
wait to she was sleeping and that made for some long
nights. Even longer days when you walk around half
awake. She is not like that with John and he can set
her down and she will play happily to the sun sets
on the day. Since I have the wrap I have enjoyed
the fact I can have her with me and go about my
day and do things as normal before she was here to
change my definition of the word. She loves the fact
she can be in on the "Action" and never has to
give herself whip lash wondering where Mommy is
for she hears the voice but can't see her. With the
wrap she is all giggles and sunshine and feels like
a little Dora the Explorer knock off for she is exposed
to all sorts of things I had left her out of before. Rowan
has helped with the laundry and unwrap boxes that
came in the mail and even has added a few touches
of her own to dinner ( the cold items to be safe)
and seems to even enjoy her bath time more for she
is now involved in the making of the bubbles and
setting up of the tub. Even going to the Potty with
Mommy is exciting for there is a shelf right there with
lots of bottles to explore and I also got off my duff and
did some more baby proofing for I was waiting to she
was older and could get around by herself but in a
sense, she is now and it is better to be safe then
sorry for if I am not paying attention, poof, that
dish soap is in her mouth. John also enjoys the
closeness the wrap offers though it took him a while
to get the hang of wrapping it but now that he has
that mastered he finds it refreshing to have her right
with him instead of having to set her in a "Play
Area" when he wants to grab some coffee or a glass
of water then have to rush back in the room for she
is making a weird noise or worse yet, no noise whatsoever.
Now she is right there with him and helping him
pour, again the water not the coffee.

The Sleepy Wrap promotes closeness and I
love that for I do not come from a touchy family
and with my son I had to literally remind myself
to spend so much time a day touching him for
when you place your hand on a baby or rub
their head or backs it is not only a source of comfort
but also gives them a sense of security they will
remember in their sub-conscious for all of their lives.
I know this is important to an infants well being and
made a point to schedule so much time out of
the day to offer that touch to Andrew and would wallow
in guilt on days that I forgot. With Rowan and the
Wrap I do not have that guilt or even fear for though
she is tucked safe in the wrap it is just reflex for
a person too secure a babies head or body when
making a fast move or getting up or down. She is
in no danger of falling out but instinct lets a person
know to make doubly sure and she thrives in the fact she
is offered constant touching and I never have to
worry about making time for it like I did with my
son for it is all second nature and I do so without
thinking about it. I think the wrap has blended into
our family in a perfect way and will continue to
use it until she is the one who would no longer
like to be carried that way for let's face it, Mommy's
enjoy the contact just as much as the children and
it keeps her close to me in every way possible. My
thoughts on the Sleepy Wrap are nothing but
positive and I love it!

Sleepy wraps are made durable and the
new wraps are made from 100% Organic Cotton
and are super soft. They come in a variety of
colors and the Organics come in Natural or
Kakki so they are 100 percent Natural in every
sense of the word. They are easy to use and
attach and provide a secure comfortable fit
that can be adjusted for every size child or
baby. They are perfect for Breast Feeding and
a soothing way to lull your child into a peaceful
sleep. There are no sizes to worry about and
they not only offer better communication between
you and your baby it also allows you the option
to keep baby for yourself and next time that lady
at the grocery store walks up and says "Oh,
what an adorable little baby!" you don't have
to worry about her putting her hands that you
have no idea where they have been on your
child for it would really take a brazen person
to come that close to you and since baby is
on you chances are they will admire from
a distance. In the rare case someone is
willing to put their hand on you in thier attempt
to get thier hands on your baby all you have to
do is turn away and baby goes with you! The
Sleepy Wrap is a great thing to have if you are
a busy Mom and allows you to spend time
with your child no matter how hecktic your
day is for they are right there with you! I adored
the closeness it has brought us and you will
too!

Sleepy Wrap has also offered to give one
of my readers and Organic Wrap of their own.
To enter the contest just head over to thier site
and take a look around then come back here and
post a benifet to wearing your child in a Sleepy
wrap. The contest will start tonight and run to
midnight on March 29th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Sleepy Wrap


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

5. Follow Sleepy Wrap on Twitter and Tweet
the giveaway. 5 entries, and post link here.

Don't forget Sleepy Wrap also has a Face Book
where you can keep up with all the new events!

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Posh Little Tutus contests!

Are you guys ready for Valentines Day? It
is just over a week away and the clock is tic-ken.
I thought I was starting to hit the bottom of the
barrel when it came to posting gift ideas for
you guys. I have passed on so many as of late
for I determined to bring you guys some original,
quality, entertaining or beautiful to behold items that
will either make the recipient of your gift squeal in
delight or just plain take their breath away. I was
almost ready to start working on an Easter Guide
for you guys then I came across a Jewelry store I
felt I just had to share. Now I feel pretty confidant
at this point that I know jewelry. From out of this
world in price and design to affordable and simple
I think I have covered it all. Once in a while I
locate a store that covers it all in one little kit
and Caboodle. When that stop you dead in your
tracks perfect Jewelry store also happens to have
a heart and dedicates large amounts of time to
helping Charitable organizations through creating
a unique design that embodies the message and
reflects the beauty of each charity I felt it was
my duty to share too! Pull the Bus over, I am getting
off and don't come back to tomorrow. I might
get so carried away I will have to borrow some
of Andrews friends to help me unload! This place
is a jackpot of knock your socks off pieces!

Alex and Ani has pages and pages of
stunning and one of a kind pieces that as if that
wasn't enough they also allow you to design your own.
I got a bruise on my chin from my jaw hitting the
ground when I saw everything their inventory, Yummy!
I contacted them and let them know I was quiet sure
that lightening would strike me dead if I did not put them
on my Valentines Day gift guide and they sent an item
for review and I think they did it for fear of drowning
in the puddle of drool flowing from me to their store!
I received a bracelet that is unlike any I have seen before.
It is totally fashionable and you can wear it everyday,
around the house, heck, this would look stunning to wear
to the beach even or dress it up and take it out on the
town. Sometimes a perfect piece of Jewelry makes a
better date them some of the nut balls on the dating
market. It also makes "The Perfect" Valentines
Day gift for the bracelet is all about love! The Love
Bangle is what I received and it comes in two styles, the
Russian Silver and the Russian Gold and both are stunning.
I loved the simplicity of it and the message it delivered.
For their bracelets it is such a hard choice though for
the have over 5 pages of single charm bracelets alone.
Add in every other variety and the results are staggering.
That is also just one category of the Jewelry selection.
The also have the Charity by Design selection where you
can pick out a piece and watch up to 100% of the profets
be given to that charity. In fact right now the have a
Cornelian Bangle Bracelet where all the profits go to help
those in Haiti.








They carry everything you could ever want
for your jewelry needs and I had a field day strolling through
the selection of new arrivals and best sellers and found a
really stylish and sheek Disco Inferno Expandable Bangel set to
add to my wish list. The Hoop earings are another one of
my favorites and the Cavier Endless Hoops are so right up
my alley followed by the Mother of Pearls for you all know
how I feel about Pearls right now. The Bangle Bar has got
to be the coolest thing I have ever seen. What it does is you
go to that area and there is a rod, 3 D like, and on the side are
alll the catagorys of single bracelets they have for you to look
at and choose for your own stackable design. Your options are
beads that are metal or glass or just a plain bracelet and then
charms from here to tomorrow in all differant designs. You pick
out exactaly what you want and they bring it to life. Normally I
don't like getting gift certificates from John for a present because
it makes me feel like the only reason he bought one was he
wasn't paying attention to the hints I dropped and he just didn't
want to put the effort into finding the right gift. I am weird like that,
I don't care if he buys me something that costs 39 cents as long as
it is something he put thought into and looked for but if he were
to give me one for here and explain he thought I might like to
design my own I would so forgive him! This has got to be the
coolest idea ever!









Alex and Ani is a celeberty favorite too and even
the Great Oprah herself has them in her Magazine and I grew
tired of counting the number of other publications they have
been in for somewhere after the 3rd page it became more then
clear that the list would go on forever. When you make something
with pride and the quality shows and you still find time to give
back to the comunity, you can't help but to end up a huge
sucess and Alex and Ani truly are. So if you are looking for
a simple bangle for your daughter or a whole set for your wife.
Want to start your own collection and pair it with some delishious
earings, these guys have you covered. You may onnly have a little
over a week left but there is still time and many other reasons
to buy your loved one something from here, even if it is
"Just Because!"

Alex and Ani wanted to take care of my
readers as well and are not only offering them a code
for 10% off their total purchace at checkout they would
like to let one of you win the Love Expandable Wire
Bangle Set of 5 in thier choice of either the Russion
GOld or Russion Silver. To enter just head over to
their site and take a look around then come back here
and post what item you liked the best in a comment.
To contest will start tonight and run to Midnight on
March 28th
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

For your Discount Just Punch in IC2010 at Checkout!

Alex and Ani

Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Posh Little Tutus contests!