tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53845769914715311662024-03-20T03:19:06.528-07:00Products For Your PumpkinProviding product reviews for you and your pumpkin through pregnancy, motherhood and beyond! All products are personally tested by either Gabriel or me (or Josh or the pooches)!
We hope you enjoy!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-30933365794695069812008-12-08T09:00:00.000-08:002008-12-08T09:00:00.716-08:00eebee is a cutie<a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bloggers</span></a> asked me to review one of "<a href="http://www.eebee.com/shop.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">eebee's</span> adventures"</a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dvds</span>, and to be perfectly honest, I initially found it to be a little weird. <a href="http://www.eebee.com/about.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">eebee</span> </a>is a puppet, admittedly pretty cute, who explores all kinds of different methods of play in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dvd</span>- <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.eebee.com/products/products_exploring.html">Exploring Real Stuff</a>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">eebee</span>, and other babies featured during the video, play and explore with cheerios, rice, paper, wrapping materials, balls, and other equally common objects and manipulate them in different ways. All sorts of experimentation takes place, from dumping to scooping to tearing to crumpling to rolling and sliding.<br /><br />The real test of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">dvd</span>, of course, came from playing it for Gabriel. In the end, what I think doesn't really matter, if the real critic in our family liked or disliked it. He was mesmerized. I was sure it would be a little young for him, since the age range for this particularly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dvd</span> started at 6 months (although others on the website start at different ages), but as usual, I was totally wrong. Whenever the screen would shift and the title of the next scene came on, Gabe would scream "more baby!" at the television. He loved the puppet, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">eebee</span>, and he loved watching the other babies play with the different objects on the screen. He kept inching closer and closer to the television to see the babies up close and personal, and would occasionally turn around to comment to me on what he was seeing.<br /><br />Besides being entertaining, I almost wanted to pull out paper and a pen to take notes on the different things the babies were playing with in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">dvd</span>. It would be a great snowy day activity to fill some containers with rice or beans and let Gabe go to town with a scoop or a tube as they were demonstrating in the movie. I'll definitely be saving my packaging or wrapping materials for him to do some mini-experiments with tearing and crumbling and pulling. I even started thinking that I should wash out my recycling and let him play with it before I put it out each week. The babies in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">dvd</span> seemed to be totally engaged with all of the activities, and I think Gabe might enjoy it too.<br /><br />In addition to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">dvd</span>, we also reviewed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/eebees-Have-Ball-Adventures-Eebees/dp/1402757719/ref=pd_bbs_sr_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227366458&sr=8-12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">eebee's</span> HAVE A BALL cloth activity book</a>, and Gabe really loved this one. In fact, I'm planning to order a couple as gifts for other ball lovers in our life, because this book was such a hit. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/eebees-Have-Ball-Adventures-Eebees/dp/1402757719/ref=pd_bbs_sr_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227366458&sr=8-12">book </a>has a cloth stuffed ball attached on a string, and on each page of the book, the ball is used in a different way. On one page you put it through a hoop, then on another in a pocket, or you hide it behind a pillow on the page, or some other equally cute activity. Gabe couldn't get enough to playing with it and will often ask for the ball book when we are sitting around. It looks like there are several different books and toys on the website, so there is lots of choose from even if your child isn't obsessed with balls the way Gabe is.<br /><br />Gabe was a definite fan of <a href="http://www.eebee.com/shop.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">eebee's</span> adventures</a>, so I can wholeheartedly recommend the book and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">dvd</span> for the 2 and under crowd. It would make a great holiday present, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">eebee</span> is offering some discount codes for 20% off and free shipping on the website. Here are the codes if you're interested:<br /><br />free shipping on orders over $50<br />coupon code: <a href="http://secure.ultracart.com/cgi-bin/UCEditor?merchantId=EEBEE&COUPON=HOORAY">hooray</a> <p class="ideas">20% off <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">thru</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">december</span> 25, 2008<br /> coupon code: <a href="http://secure.ultracart.com/cgi-bin/UCEditor?merchantId=EEBEE&COUPON=EEBEE20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">eebee</span>20</a></p>Check out what everyone else has to say about <a href="http://www.eebee.com/index.php"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">eebee's</span> adventures</a> on <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Bloggers</span> </a>also!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-63126136839561772372008-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:002008-10-21T07:37:04.404-07:00My Baby A to Z DVDWe've been working on shapes with Gabe for the last couple of weeks, so we're always on the lookout to find some new ways of showing him different shapes in a fun and interesting way. We jumped at the opportunity to review the <a href="http://www.mybabyatoz.com/">My Baby A to Z DVD</a>. <a href="http://www.mybabyatoz.com/">My Baby A to Z- Come Explore Shapes With Me</a> DVD introduces the basic shapes to kids through a few adorable puppets, fun music, and snippets of children and animation.<br /><br />Gabe doesn't seem to care much for television, but he found the <a href="http://www.mybabyatoz.com/">Come Explore Shapes With Me </a>DVD to be interesting enough to hold his attention for the whole video. I sat with him, and he would excitedly chatter about the characters on screen and point out the shapes he recognized while the video was playing. It was pretty cute, and made me feel that he was definitely learning and having his shapes reinforced for him through the video.<br /><br />The creators of the DVD are two parents with a toddler themselves, so they have the inside track on what toddlers find interesting. At 21 months, I thought the video was a little challenging for Gabe and would definitely serve an older audience too. For example, when the characters would ask the viewer a question, the answer period was too short for him, so he ended up opening his mouth to try to say something and the puppet would have moved on. I don't see that as a negative, though, I'm sure that as he gets more adept at pointing out shapes and following along it'll be the perfect speed. And for those of you with older kids, it'll likely be the perfect speed to keep them occupied.<br /><br />Since watching the DVD over the weekend, Gabe has been pointing out circles, triangles, squares and stars to me all over the place. We had taught him those 4 shapes before watching the DVD, but I think maybe having those characters demonstrate how to find shapes in everyday life clued him into his ability to find them all over the place too. It's been exciting to see him make the connections!<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.mybabyatoz.com/">My Baby A to Z DVD</a> is available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Baby-Z-Explore-Shapes/dp/B001EO5JQQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1224549408&sr=8-1">Amazon </a>and on the <a href="http://www.mybabyatoz.com/">website</a>, and I happen to have a free copy to give away to one lucky reader! Just leave me a comment and I'll have Gabe draw names out of his Halloween candy bucket! Parent Bloggers are also giving away 20 copies of the DVD on the launch post for the DVD, so stop on by to increase your chances!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-40310434087240219752008-05-16T09:00:00.000-07:002008-05-16T09:00:04.953-07:00the tao of fertility<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/SC0MPElIsfI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/yXR2rEK2sqc/s1600-h/41ygM7I2x9L._SL500_BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/SC0MPElIsfI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/yXR2rEK2sqc/s320/41ygM7I2x9L._SL500_BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200826597749862898" border="0" /></a><br />I'm definitely a fan of trying alternative or holistic medicine. Earlier this week I was trying to convince my OB to write me a prescription for acupuncture to see if it could make a dent on this nausea. Which is horrid, by the way. Truly, truly horrid. But that is the subject for another post.<br /><br />When <a href="http://www.blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> asked if I'd like to review <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Fertility-Healing-Chinese-Medicine/dp/0061137855">The Tao of Fertility</a>, I jumped at the opportunity because I figured that Josh and I would start "trying" for a second child in the next 6 months or so, and everything helps. I'm a big fan of acquiring as much information as possible, and I've heard wonder stories about Chinese medicine, so I was fascinated to learn more.<br /><br />Truthfully, though, I can't speak much to the validity of the methods in the book because before I'd finished the first chapter, I found out I was pregnant. I can, however, confirm that having the book in your house helps you get pregnant, so I'm happy to send the book along to anyone interested in having a good luck charm.<br /><br />I did find the book interesting and informative, however. I don't know much about Chinese medicine, and although I've heard about its success with infertility, I haven't heard details. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Fertility-Healing-Chinese-Medicine/dp/0061137855">The Tao of Fertility</a> assumes no prior knowledge, and lays out fertility advice in a straightforward, clear, and logical way. Dr. Daoshing Ni encourages readers to make serious changes in their lives, from diet and nutrition, to herbs, acupuncture and exercise, and even examining your readiness toward having a child. He discusses his methods in relation to Western medicine, and even provides a 28 day plan for readers to follow.<br /><br />If you are at all interested in undertaking an alternative approach to fertility, or you'd like to try something before embarking on fertility treatments, I would definitely recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Fertility-Healing-Chinese-Medicine/dp/0061137855">The Tao of Fertility</a>. Dr. Daoshing Ni keeps the book interesting with his clear tone, and touching vignettes sprinkled throughout.<br /><br />As I mentioned, I'm happy to forward the book along to a worthy recipient. Email me if you're interested, and if I get more than one request, I'll draw names out of a hat. For more information, check out <a href="http://www.blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Fertility-Healing-Chinese-Medicine/dp/0061137855">Amazon </a>to order.halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-73084105896724688322008-05-06T06:38:00.000-07:002008-05-06T07:34:22.301-07:00a website for the less than organizedGabe's grandparents have serious gripes with me. I take tons of pictures of Gabe, but I rarely upload them to the computer, and once I do, I very rarely forward them along to family and friends. At first, I claimed it was because I didn't want to be obnoxious and overload their inboxes with pictures of Gabe, but the truth is, I'm just kind of lazy. I'd really like to be able to share pictures of Gabe with my family, especially since the last time I went to my inlaws' house, I realized they have almost no pictures of Gabe around the house!<br /><br />Enter <a href="http://www.kinzin.com/">Kinzin</a>. <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>is a website for parents and families that allows you to connect with family and friends, communicate with your family and friends, and share pictures and stories - all in a secure environment. <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>allows you to create a family page, including sections for each of your children, and then you can invite family and friends to join your page and keep updated on everything going on in your family. By using <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin</a>, you can share information with those people you'd like to keep updated, and maintain your privacy at the same time. In an age where so many of us live far away from our extended families, <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>can really help. Best of all, <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>is free!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>allows you to upload pictures and stories to your page. You can create memory books, journals, family newsletters, and even more, all on <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin</a>! But my favorite feature of all, by far, and the one that has initiated a truce of sorts with the grandparents, is that you can sign up for an additional service that mails your best 10 photos from every month to the address/es of your choice. Each address to which you'd like photos mailed is $2.99, and every third address is free! $2.99! That's it! To have <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>automatically mail 10 photos one time per month to the grandparents or great aunts or cousins, and then no one yells at you anymore! No one has anymore excuses for why they don't have pictures of your children featured prominently on their mantle. Plus, it'll help out those non-computer literate members of your families (we all have 'em). Zero effort from you, and voila! You've kept everyone up to date!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>is easy to use. So far, I've found that the photos are easy to upload, and you can add titles and descriptions of each picture if you'd like. <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>also lets you enter short descriptions of what is new in your child's day or week or stage of development. When you invite family and friends to view your website, they don't have to sign up for anything either, your invitation is enough for them to see your page. <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>can even be linked up with your <a href="http://www.facebook.com">Facebook </a>page, if you'd like the news and pictures about your kids to be more public. <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>also works with <a href="http://www.flickr.com">Flickr </a>to pull photos from there instead of your hard drive, if you'd like.<br /><br />The bottom line is that if you face the same difficulties I do- finding time to email, print, or mail out photos and then send them along to family and friends, or if you'd like a way to share information about your family through a secure network, <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>is for you. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now, the first shipment of photos of Gabe shipped out this week, and so far I've received rave reviews. Everyone has updated pictures, and I didn't have to do anything! It's a win-win situation! Plus, the grandparents are happy!<br /><br />For more information, check out <a href="http://www.kinzin.com">Kinzin </a>or <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com">Parent Bloggers</a> to learn more!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-49307729835827914812008-02-05T10:00:00.000-08:002008-02-04T22:16:10.972-08:00sex, sex, and more sexIf you are having more than enough passionate, intense, HOT HOT HOT sex, then please don't read on. While you're at it, send me tips on how to achieve a sex life like yours, I'd welcome the advice. If you could use a little more of that HOT HOT HOT sex (I can't wait to see what kind of spam I get from this post!), then feel free to read on.<br /><br />I just finished reading <a href="http://harpercollins.com/books/9780061136078/Sex_Detox/index.aspx">Sex Detox</a>, by <a href="http://www.iankerner.com/">Ian Kerner, Ph.D</a>. I have to admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of Dr. Kerner's book, but I did appreciate some of his points. Dr. Kerner's premise is simple- our love lives are in serious disrepair and we need a drastic intervention to correct them.<br /><br />If we were to undertake a detox of any part of our lives, we would fast from that activity for a period of time. Similarly, Dr. Kerner asks that in order to rejuvenate and renew your relationship, you undertake a "sex fast" for 30 days. If you are not in a relationship, Dr. Kerner's program is still applicable, your "fast" would be from dating or casual sex. I didn't read through the sections for single people, but that was the basic idea. During those 30 days, Dr. Kerner provides you with assignments, questionnaires, readings, and exercises to assist you throughout the process.<br /><br />Dr. Kerner gives scientific explanations for why a Sex Detox will improve your relationship, or your search for a relationship. It makes sense if you think about the Sex Detox creating anticipation and excitement in a relationship that has become boring or lackluster. The Sex Detox is more than just a fast from sex, though, it is a way to change the course of your sex life. A Sex Detox gives you the time and emotional energy to address any problems that exist in your sex life. Hopefully, at the end of Dr. Kerner's sexual fasting, you will learn how to connect with your partner in a new and exciting way.<br /><br />The book includes stories of people who have undertaken the Sex Detox and improved their lives in some fundamental way. I found the stories interesting (although often very graphic), and I particularly appreciated Dr. Kerner including stories from same-sex couples, something I haven't seen often in self-help books.<br /><br />Now comes the moment of truth. I understand the idea, and I don't doubt that Sex Detox can work for some people. Did we try the program? No, not exactly. Our sex life isn't perfect, and I'd certainly like to have more of it, but neither I nor Josh see our sex life as toxic. Without getting into too much detail, we have a one year old and Josh works long hours, and those are what we believe to be our main problems, not a problem specific to our sex life. I just wasn't sure that taking a 30 day break from having sex was going to help us.<br /><br />On to the criticism I have of the program. While Dr. Kerner makes several interesting points and provides very pertinent research backing up his ideas, I didn't like that he proposes undertaking a Sex Detox whether or not your partner agrees. I don't know about you, but if my partner up and decided to take on a 30 day sexual fast, and didn't give me a say in it, I'd be pretty pissed. It would definitely drive a wedge in our relationship. I think this is the type of thing a couple has to agree on, or at least agree that it is an area that needs improvement and assistance. I also just don't believe that there is a one size fits all program that can improve everyone's sex lives, especially when many people arrive into relationships with serious emotional baggage that impair their ability to have healthy and loving sex lives.<br /><br />That being said, <a href="http://harpercollins.com/books/9780061136078/Sex_Detox/index.aspx">Sex Detox</a> is an interesting read, and definitely worth a shot if you're looking to make a change in your sex life. The program is thorough, well-written, and easy to understand. Check out some of the other reviews on <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> to see what other readers have to say about the success or failure of <a href="http://harpercollins.com/books/9780061136078/Sex_Detox/index.aspx">Sex Detox</a>! Dr. Kerner will also be on the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.blogtalkradio.com/motherhooduncensored">Motherhood Uncensored</a> radio show on 2/20 from 9-9:30pm EST if you'd like to hear more!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-12872675239334510262008-01-07T06:13:00.000-08:002008-01-07T06:52:25.846-08:00ice, anyone?It is an understatement to say that it's been cold around these parts lately. It's been icy, and frigid, and icy, and snowy, and icy, and COLD. Really, really cold. One day a couple of weeks ago, I had to visit 6 stores to try to find ice melt for our driveway, and was out of luck every single time. Josh had to try to break up the ice with the edge of the shovel and hope that no one slipped on what remained.<br /><br />As you can imagine, I try not to leave the house with Gabe when we're in the middle of these kinds of freezes, but sometimes I have no choice. Luckily, I received two <a href="http://www.prestone.com/">Prestone </a>products for my car through <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> that came in handy during those times. I tested out <a href="http://www.prestone.com/">Prestone</a>'s <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/iceFighters.php">Windshield De-Icer</a> and <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/windshieldWasherFluids.php">Windshield Fluid Booster</a>. I have to admit that I'm a fan of additives. I've bought <a href="http://www.prestone.com/">Prestone</a>'s fuel additives for the last few years, and I don't know, but I think they help. I like thinking that I'm helping out my car by giving it a little boost. I felt the same way about the ice fighters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/R4I7IVHqPaI/AAAAAAAAAN4/D6gLb_i-YMQ/s1600-h/Boost.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/R4I7IVHqPaI/AAAAAAAAAN4/D6gLb_i-YMQ/s320/Boost.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152745937959533986" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/windshieldWasherFluids.php">Windshield Fluid Booster</a> is a specially formulated concentration that you add directly to a vehicle's washer fluid reservoir. This powerful formula helps improve ordinary washer fluid performance to remove light ice and frost, repels the build-up of dirt and salt from road spray and helps prevent dangerous re-freeze from forming on a car's windshield.<br /><br />I added the <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/windshieldWasherFluids.php">Windshield Fluid Booster</a> last week, and although we didn't have tons of ice build-up during this last week, I did notice a marked improvement in the dirt and salt build-up. In the winter, I'll have to run my windshield wipers several times during a short drive because other cars kick up tons of gunk onto my windshield. After adding the <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/windshieldWasherFluids.php">Windshield Fluid Booster</a>, I ran the wipers and washed my windshield once and didn't have to do it again. I felt like the windshield seemed clearer and didn't look nearly as dirty once we'd arrived at our destination. Even Josh commented that the windshield looked better. Prestone also sells a special winter washer fluid that I think I'm going to buy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/R4I7IlHqPbI/AAAAAAAAAOA/lz5B97mvtug/s1600-h/icer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/R4I7IlHqPbI/AAAAAAAAAOA/lz5B97mvtug/s320/icer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152745942254501298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The second product, the <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/iceFighters.php">Windshield De-Icer</a> is made from a concentrated high performance ice-melting formula. The product, when sprayed on car windows, helps melt ice fast and even reduces dangerous refreeze. It also has a convenient ice scraper top to help clear away ice.<br />The <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/iceFighters.php">Windshield De-Icer</a> is the type of canister that you would keep in your car for days when you find your windshield frozen and in need of scraping. You can either spray the windshield and then try to scrape it off, or you can use the scraper that comes attached to the can. The <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/iceFighters.php">Windshield De-Icer</a> formula seems especially convenient because the scraper and spray are attached, so you only need one product. In a huge freeze, where you walk out to find inches of ice on your windshield, I think that you might need another larger scraper to assist you, but for thinner layers of ice on your windshield, or for frozen wipers or patches of ice, I think this product would be great.<br /><br />Boston winters can be tough, and I'm always looking for ways to make life easier (especially since we have a one car garage and I don't park inside). I don't have tons of time to spend on icy mornings scraping the car, especially now that I have Gabriel. I can't leave him alone while I run outside, and I hate to leave him in a cold car for too long. I think the <a href="http://www.prestone.com/">Prestone </a>products, both the <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/windshieldWasherFluids.php">Windshield Fluid Booster</a> and the <a href="http://www.prestone.com/products/iceFighters.php">Windshield De-Icer</a> help to make icy mornings easier and faster. I'd definitely give them a try if you face snowy and icy days as well.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> or <a href="http://www.prestone.com/">Prestone </a>for more information!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-60697451656264415392007-11-30T10:00:00.000-08:002007-11-30T12:14:47.900-08:00autolite flareglo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/R0-rmyRCyxI/AAAAAAAAANI/EyJvNwmWakY/s1600-R/flareglo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/R0-rmyRCyxI/AAAAAAAAANI/78911P_B4hU/s320/flareglo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138514382669662994" border="0" /></a>For some reason, I tend to hit curbs when I turn corners. I'm sure it has nothing to do with being a bad driver or spatially challenged or something, I suspect the curbs jump out at me when I'm not looking. I've had to replace two tires in the last three years because I hit curbs and the tire blew out. Once as I pulled into the parking lot of my friend's apartment building, and another time in the parking lot of huge baby superstore. Slightly pitiful, I admit.<br /><br />Both times were at night, and both times my car ended up stranded in the middle of a trafficky area and all I had at my disposal to ensure that no one hit me were my hazard lights. Both times I also thought to myself that it would have been pretty helpful to have had flares or cones or something that would make people realize before they were practically on top of me, that my car was unable to move.<br /><br />I'm pleased to report that I now have that product: the <a href="http://www.autolite.com/products/convenience.php">Autolite Flareglo</a>. The Flareglo Safety Lite is a small battery operated light that serves the way traditional flares would, without the whole live flame thing. Each Flareglo has three super bright LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights inside of a small red plastic casing. The lights blink rapidly and can be seen from up to 500 feet away. I didn't actually measure out 500 feet to test it out, but I did walk down the street while Josh stood at one end to make sure the lights were easily visible, and according to my tester (Josh), the lights are easy to see and really obviously blinking.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.autolite.com/products/convenience.php">Flareglo Safety Lites </a>were compact and easy to store in the car, an issue for us since I am a rather serious packrat in my car. These are small enough to fit in a safety kit in your car, or even in the glove compartment if it wasn't packed full of napkins and straws like some people. The batteries were also easy to install in each Flareglo. My only complaint was that one of the tiny LED lights was burnt out in one of the Flareglo lights I received, and I wasn't sure how to go about replacing it. The light still worked fine, since there are three LED lights in each Flareglo, but it did make me wonder whether there is an easy way to replace the bulbs. This is a minor concern, though, if you consider the fact that with flares you'd have to keep flammable stuff in your car. Batteries and LED lights are more reasonable, especially with kids around.<br /><br />All in all, I'd recommend the <a href="http://www.autolite.com/products/convenience.php">Autolite Flareglo Safety Lites</a>, especially if you have a penchant for having car emergencies. I think they'll come in handy in the future, especially now that I'm carrying precious cargo around with me. Check out the rest of the reviews at <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> and for more information about the other <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/2007/11/29/autolite-flareglo-and-spotglo-campaign-launch/#respond">Autolite</a> products.halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-82173441150201347712007-11-15T07:41:00.000-08:002007-11-15T08:20:23.074-08:00keeping it simple<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdCRCyqI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/podEf3KUzJM/s1600-h/wallinfo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdCRCyqI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/podEf3KUzJM/s320/wallinfo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133101319422397090" border="0" /></a>Organization is not my strong suit, not by a long shot. I consider our house to be in a state of "controlled chaos" most of the time. I keep the chaos at bay every day by making little lists all over the house, or by putting away just enough of our stuff, or organizing things just enough to keep the house dissolving into a complete disaster. Lately, it's been starting to get to me. And the biggest problem is that with all the appointments that happen with a baby, I've missed a few because I don't have a good planning system.<br /><br />Just this week, Gabe had a playdate in the morning, and another playdate and coffee (for me) on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday we had a doctor's appointment, needed to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy, plus we need to pack for our trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. Wednesday had a music class and lunch scheduled, plus a quilting class for me in the evening. Thursday (today) we have to go to the grocery store to pick up ingredients for a dish we are making for book club tonight, plus we have an afternoon playdate, and a music class in the afternoon. We also need to buy a travel crib sheet for the trip. Phew! And I attempt to keep this all straight in my head! Because I'm insane!<br /><br />Thankfully, though, <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> asked me to test out the <a href="http://www.dayrunner.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category3_10053_10004_43201_-1_Y_18774_10053_Y_false">Family Matters</a> product line by Day Runner. Day Runner has come out with a <a href="http://www.dayrunner.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category3_10053_10004_43201_-1_Y_18774_10053_Y_false">color-coded organizational line</a>, that includes:<br /><ul><li>an undated erasable wall planner</li><li>a wirebound monthly/weekly appointment book</li><li>erasable door reminders</li><li>activity folders, and<br /></li><li>storage cases</li></ul> <p>I tried out each of the products within our own family, and Josh ended up begging me to let him use the storage cases and erasable door reminders in his office because he was such a big fan of them.<br /></p>The thing I liked best about using the <a href="http://www.dayrunner.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category3_10053_10004_43201_-1_Y_18774_10053_Y_false">Family Matters system</a>, is that the information was all in one obvious, clear, easy to access place. The erasable wall planner let me put up all our monthly plans in one place that both Josh and I could see on a daily/weekly basis. With all our information in one spot, there were fewer discussions about where Gabe and I would be on Wednesday afternoon, or whether we had dinner plans on Saturday night. I could also mentally prepare for the week ahead when I saw it all written out in front of me.<br /><br />Another big hit were the erasable door reminders. These were great! We hung one on the front door, one on the kitchen door, one on the bathroom door, and Josh took one to the office. These little dry erase boards have a spot to hold a pen, so whenever you remember something, you can jot it down as you run out the door. I actually remembered tons more errands that I needed to complete since this list was the last thing I saw as a ran out the door. Plus, they are kind of cute, and seriously convenient. Josh used it in his office to write himself quick phone messages or reminders to himself. He got compliments from his coworkers because people thought they were interesting and functional.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdyRCytI/AAAAAAAAAMo/qp7OGh7qVjo/s1600-h/Doorreminders.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdyRCytI/AAAAAAAAAMo/qp7OGh7qVjo/s320/Doorreminders.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133101332307299026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Although I thought I would, I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdSRCyrI/AAAAAAAAAMY/9n9ekNbLA_Y/s1600-h/wallplanner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdSRCyrI/AAAAAAAAAMY/9n9ekNbLA_Y/s320/wallplanner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133101323717364402" border="0" /></a> didn't end up using the wirebound appointment book much, mainly because I thought it was rather large. It was the kind of traditional wirebound notebook that the office stores sell, about the size of an 8*11 page. It reminded me a little of the grading notebooks that my teachers used in elementary school. It was color-coded to coordinate with the rest of the set, so if you have a spot to keep a notebook like that, then I think it would be helpful.<br /><br /><br /><br />The storage cases and folders are also coordinated to go with the rest of the set, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwcyRCypI/AAAAAAAAAMI/PPS8HXa58AY/s1600-h/storagecases.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwcyRCypI/AAAAAAAAAMI/PPS8HXa58AY/s320/storagecases.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133101315127429778" border="0" /></a>and they were easy to use, functional and relatively discrete, so I didn't mind having them visible on my shelves.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdiRCysI/AAAAAAAAAMg/lEPfHHfThtk/s1600-h/folders.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RzxwdiRCysI/AAAAAAAAAMg/lEPfHHfThtk/s320/folders.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133101328012331714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I only have one baby, so I color-coordinated everything to be assigned one to myself, one to Josh, one to Gabe, one to the dogs, and one to miscellaneous. The dogs didn't do much this month (shocking), so their colors didn't get used much, and of course, Josh and mine and miscellaneous tended to overlap, so we didn't get as much use out of the system as someone who has more than one kid, or older kids that require lots of appointments and activities.<br /><br />My one complaint is that I wanted the system to be a little more cute or stylish. It was pretty straight forward and clean, but the style didn't necessarily go with my decorating style. If I had the choice, I would have made it a little more colorful.<br /><br />All in all, I thought the <a href="http://www.dayrunner.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category3_10053_10004_43201_-1_Y_18774_10053_Y_false">Family Matters line</a> would be really useful for a family on the go. It was functional, helpful, and had tons of coordinating products that would help you to stay organized. If you're interested, check out the other reviews on <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> to hear what everyone else thought.<br /><br />The good news too, is that I have some leftover products to share with all of you!<br /><br />Leave me a comment telling me why you need organizational help, and I'll pick a winner at random and ship off one of the products for you to try! This year could be the year we get organized!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-25506553485219112492007-09-11T18:10:00.000-07:002007-09-12T07:58:49.528-07:00rockin' the rykas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/Ruc_-V9-FRI/AAAAAAAAAI0/rsnJZ3KHppc/s1600-h/RykaSneakers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/Ruc_-V9-FRI/AAAAAAAAAI0/rsnJZ3KHppc/s320/RykaSneakers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109122642556622098" border="0" /></a>Since Gabe was born, I've been hitting the streets like I've never hit them before. Walking with him (since my post-baby body isn't quite ready for running), either in a sling or in the stroller, has been my sanity saver when I get a little stir crazy from being cooped up in the house. I'm notoriously bad about my shoe choices for our long walks, though, mainly because I'm too lazy to change shoes or go hunt through my closet to find my sneakers. Inevitably, I find myself walking to our town center and back (sometimes 3 miles or more!) in snow boots or flip-flops. Not some of the smartest decisions I've ever made, I have to say.<br /><br />Given this unfortunately bad habit, I was psyched when <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/2007/08/29/ryka-campaign-launch/">Parent Bloggers</a> asked me to review some <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/2007/08/29/ryka-campaign-launch/">new sneakers</a>. I figured that maybe shiny new sneakers would tempt me into wearing them instead of taking the lazy route of the sandals sitting by the front door. I was right.<br /><br />I received <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://ryka.com/main.asp">rykä</a>'s <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://ryka.com/footwear.asp?product_id=62">MC2 Walk</a> shoes in the mail a few weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they were pretty cute. I'm not very daring when it comes to sneakers because I want them to go with whatever I have on, so that generally limits me to white or light gray sneakers. Sadly, I find myself wondering if I'm in the minority on the white sneaker thing, because most of the cute sneakers come in bright pinks or purples or an assortment of neon colors. The white sneakers available look like my mother might wear them, and if you saw the kinds of sneakers my mother picks out, you'd be assured that this is not a good thing. Thankfully, the MC2 Walk shoes are cute. They are simple, stream-lined, not too wide or flashy, and go with everything.<br /><br />Next, the shoes had to pass the comfort test. I have super duper high arches, and since getting a hairline fracture in my foot during college, I need lots of support in those super duper high arches or I end up with stabbing pains in my feet. At the same time, however, I can't have shoes that are too tight or I'll also end up with stabbing pains in my feet. I am a very picky shoe wearer- no high heels for me- especially not while toting a 20+ pound baby. I decided to test the MC2 Walk shoes during a serious test- Gabe and my flight from Boston to San Francisco two weeks ago. I knew this was a risky proposition. Our flight had a layover in Atlanta, and with a baby, a heavy carry-on bag and a stroller, I needed to be comfortable, just in case I had to make a mad dash for our next flight. My feet also swell during long flights like these, so I wanted to be able to get my shoes on and off easily.<br /><br />I'm pleased to report that the shoes were surprisingly comfortable, particularly for my first time wearing them. The sole of the shoe provides fantastic support, and I found myself bouncing along through the terminals while pushing Gabe in his stroller. My feet never felt sore, even at the end of our journey when my feet were definitely swollen and tired. I did some pacing up and down the aisles of the plane with my tiny traveler, and the MC2 Walk shoes were definitely a pleasure to have on. Once we were in California, I wore them on walks with Gabe and was happy to find them to be very comfortable, no matter the terrain. I didn't try to run with them, since <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://ryka.com/main.asp">rykä</a> makes both running and walking shoes, and I'd specifically requested walking shoes, but I think they would even work on slow jogs.<br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://ryka.com/main.asp">rykä</a> creates shoes for women, by women, taking into account the specific comfort and design needs of women. After wearing their shoes for a few weeks, I definitely believe it. I wouldn't normally order shoes without trying them on, but these <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://ryka.com/main.asp">rykä</a>s fit like a charm. I'm even building up the courage to join our neighborhood gym, because these last 5 pounds are apparently not going to melt off all by themselves. I'm going to have to actually break a sweat before I'll fit back into my old clothes. I have a feeling these MC2 Walk sneakers are going to make breaking that sweat a little more comfortable.<br /><br />You'll be happy to know, though, that if you disagree with me on the white sneaker front,<br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.ryka.com/">rykä</a> has lots of colorful options for you to choose from, both on the running and walking front. I highly recommend the MC2 Walk sneakers, though, if you're more of a walker, like me. <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.ryka.com/">rykä</a> also has a couple of fantastic tips to help you determine both (a) what <a href="http://www.ryka.com/shoefind/shoepage.asp">kind of shoe you need</a>, and (b) what <a href="http://www.ryka.com/company_faqs.asp#shape">shape of foot you have</a>.<br /><br />In the meantime, <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.ryka.com/">rykä</a> is giving away <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://ryka.com/goodforyoursole/">50 pairs of shoes a day until October 25th on their website</a>! Plus, <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com">Parent Bloggers</a> is having a <a href="http://blog.parentbloggers.com/2007/08/29/ryka-campaign-launch/">blog blast</a> this Friday, September 14th, for the opportunity to win a full work-out outfit, including <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.ryka.com/">rykä</a> sneakers! Check it out and make sure to check out <a style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);" href="http://www.ryka.com/">rykä</a> the next time you're picking up some new sneakers!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-71326832771414595102007-08-02T10:40:00.000-07:002007-08-02T11:34:22.038-07:00my secret saviorI have a secret.<br /><br />I'm terribly ashamed of this secret, and I work to keep it hidden from my co-workers and friends, although sometimes it sneaks out despite my best intentions.<br /><br />I am horribly disorganized.<br /><br />Disgustingly.<br /><br />Seriously.<br /><br />If you look in my desk drawers, you'll find lovely systems of organization, folders, files, labels. They are all set up differently. Sometimes by date, sometimes by category, sometimes random, but in the end, they are all unused. I have grand plans about how I am going to keep my life organized, and in the end, it all gets thrown by the wayside because I get caught up in life.<br /><br />I've tried PDAs, Blackberries, paper agendas, keeping it all in my head, keeping it all online, and none of it seems to work.<br /><br />When I was pregnant, and since giving birth to Gabriel, it has become a serious feat to keep track of all our appointments and meetings and classes. This kid is a serious social butterfly!<br />All of this makes me nervous because I know how hard it is for me to stay organized, so when my sister in law told me about <a href="http://www.momagenda.com/">momAgenda</a>, I jumped at the chance to try something that might actually work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last year, when I was in my last month of pregnancy, I purchased the <a href="http://www.momagenda.com/">momAgenda</a> in the hopes that it might keep me organized through the last-minute classes, doctor's appointments and errands that I needed to complete before the birth. The good news is that the momAgenda is very stylish and easy to use. If anything was going to help me get organized, this was it. The agenda is set up as a calendar in the beginning, with one month set out over two pages, and then another section with space for you to write in your daily appointments and reminders. The daily pages are listed at one week over two pages.<br /><br />The daily section is what really sold me on the agenda, because there is room to write out appointments, but also room below that to list out the names of your children (or husband) and what errands or reminders you might need for them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RrIbEndEGZI/AAAAAAAAAIk/VaxCiZt9w4o/s1600-h/desktop07-08_weekview.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_0zpMEexKDSg/RrIbEndEGZI/AAAAAAAAAIk/VaxCiZt9w4o/s320/desktop07-08_weekview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094163894633765266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was extraordinarily helpful to me, because besides appointments, I also needed a section to write out the different things I needed to remember for each of Gabriel and Josh. For example, today Gabe and I have music class and a lunch date, but I also need to remember to go look at car seats for him at some point today, and Josh needs me to pick up some stuff for him at the pharmacy. Before, I would just have made a long list of everything that needed to get done, and I would have to keep reading the whole list to decide what could wait and what couldn't, and I'd have to keep rereading the list to decide how to structure the day. Sounds like it isn't a big deal, but now I see everything I have to do at a glance, all organized clearly on the page.<br /><br />My other favorite feature is that at the bottom of the page there is a category for dinners for the week. I've used this feature for the last couple of months and it is so helpful, I can't believe I didn't do this before. On one of the days during the weekend, I sit down for 5 minutes and decide what we're going to eat for each day of the week, and jot it down quickly. Then on Sunday or Monday I go to the grocery store for the ingredients, and I never have to think about it again. If I list out "chicken" for Wednesday, then when I look at the agenda on Tuesday, I know I need to defrost the chicken the day before. Or if I list "salmon" for Thursday, I know that I need to stop by the grocery store to pick it up. Before using this system, I was agonizing every evening over what we would eat and fretting because we had no vegetables in the house or no rice in the house. Inevitably, I was always missing something.<br /><br />The momAgenda has a few other cool features, like a section at the beginning for important phone numbers and websites. I've used this a few times for airline numbers or rental car company numbers, especially when I'm not near a computer. There are also section for party planning and vacation planning, and a phone book at the back that is removable from year to year, so you don't need to reprint everything, you can just transfer it. With the advent of cell phones, I don't use this feature much, but I have jotted down some numbers there when I meet someone and don't have my cell phone handy.<br /><br />Like all systems, you have to use the <a href="http://www.momagenda.com/products.cfm?cID=8&pID=21">momAgenda</a> for it to work, but I've found that even for me, this agenda is incredibly easy to use. It comes in 5 colors and several different sizes and styles. My only complaint is that it is a bit heavy, but I have to admit that I chose the larger size because I prefer the bigger pages. I get around this by keeping it in the car rather than my diaper bag.<br /><br />Long story short, the <a href="http://www.momagenda.com/products.cfm?cID=8&pID=21">momAgenda</a> is a huge help when organizing the life of a little one, and I only imagine that as Gabe gets bigger, it'll be even more helpful! The agenda runs from August to August, so I just purchased my new <a href="http://www.momagenda.com/products.cfm?cID=8&pID=21">momAgenda</a> (in purple!) and cracked open the binding last weekend. It is just waiting to be filled in with our exciting little life!<br /></div>halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-3827455698283758872007-06-28T20:31:00.001-07:002007-06-29T07:00:16.274-07:00herbs, vitamins or maybe a prescription?What are my complaints these days? Well, exhaustion is one, irritability is another, and my leftover pregnancy weight is one of the biggest. All of these combine, of course, for forgetfulness, a low sex-drive, and occasional aches and pains. I don't like to call my doctor unless I'm really feeling unbearably sick, so these are the types of complaints that go diagnosed over the Internet, or simply tolerated indefinitely. Before going to business school, Josh used to work at a pharmaceutical company, and one of his early assignments was to take various illnesses and do Internet searches on them to see what type of medical information was readily available to the public. I don't need to tell you that the response was alarming. For the same problem, he might uncover one website that told you it was no big deal, while another told you that you were on the verge of death, and another might give you inaccurate advice on medical procedures or medicines you should be getting. From then on, Josh told me never to go on the Internet for my information. <br /><br />Even though I know that using "Dr. Google" can be dangerous, it is far too tempting to resist simply typing in my symptoms and getting instant gratification. That is why I loved reading <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/news.php">The 24-Hour Pharmacist</a>. In one reputable book that I could keep in my library, I had information about things like fatigue, weight loss, anxiety, heart problems, cramps and crankiness, among others. The author, <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/page.php?5">Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.</a> has been a pharmacist for 2 decades and has a syndicated column that reaches 24 million readers across the country. Although I've always thought that pharmacists would be more likely to promote prescription drugs than anything else, <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/news.php">The 24-Hour Pharmacist</a> recommends natural options such as herbs, enzymes and supplements instead of overmedicating with drugs.<br /><br />If you were to sit in my living room for an evening of television viewing, you'd discover that this is one of my biggest pet peeves. I hate the fact that now we have to sit through commercial after commercial for the drug companies. As my mom pointed out last night, we see so many drug commercials that we can now recognize the drugs just from the description. A little purple pill anyone? How about the butterfly?<br /><br />It worries me that people watch these commercials promising quick fixes for any discomfort, and might go to their doctor with a specific drug in mind to request it, whether or not that drug is the right choice for them. Additionally, if you wait for the end of the commercials, or read the drug inserts, the long list of side effects are often much worse than the original symptoms!<br /><br />Because of this, I'm a big fan of either trying to prevent illnesses before they occur, or trying to resolve illnesses through natural remedies- both of which <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/news.php">The 24-Hour Pharmacist</a> tries to do. Specifically, some of the remedies described even hope to get you healthy and off any prescribed drugs through natural remedies. It sounds a little crazy to say that, but the author doesn't advise you to stop taking your medications cold turkey, but rather to start following natural remedies, or try them as an alternative and then see if your health problems don't resolve. She describes different health problems in great detail to zero in on what the problem might be, and then advises you to work with your doctor to see if supplements might help you as much or more (!!) than drugs.<br /><br />For example, in her chapter on Overcoming Fatigue: From Stupor Woman to Super Woman, <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/page.php?5">Suzy Cohen R. Ph.</a> describes the different types of fatigue experienced by different women. She has catchy names for the different problems (I think I'm a Juggling Janet) and then describes what might be causing the problems (maybe a drug reaction, maybe an adrenal problem, maybe your thyroid) and then makes suggestions for natural remedies (ask for an alternate medication, change your diet, try an herbal supplement, try an over the counter additive).<br /><br />My mom and I were glued to her chapter on weight loss, Lose Fat While You Sleep... When Pink Elephants Fly. My mom, specifically, is always trying to lose weight without doing anything, and she's willing to try loads of diet pills if she thinks they'll help. I'm constantly chastising her and begging her to just e-x-e-r-c-i-s-e, but the appeal of an easy fix is just too much. I was sure that <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/news.php">The 24-Hour Pharmacist</a> would be a chapter telling you that all the herbal remedies and diet pills are all a waste of money, but instead, <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/page.php?5">Suzy Cohen </a>went into great detail about why each supplement works or doesn't work and what you can try for your different problems. My mom, needless to say, was THRILLED. In fact, this past week we traveled to Montreal and Quebec, and before we left she followed one of the book's suggestions and purchased some hoodia gordonii in pill form. According to her, the hoodia was a raging success. Even when faced with the French treats we passed at the bakeries in Quebec, she was able to resist engorging herself. That is HUGE for her, because notoriously, she has no will power. She's excited to try some of the other remedies described also, and I may just have to eat my words.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I had to use my mom as my guinea pig because since I'm still breastfeeding Gabriel, I was a little nervous to add anything new to my diet. One suggestion I did follow from the book was to add Omega 3 fatty acids to my diet. I purchased both fish oils and flax seed oils, and alternated for the last month while taking one in the morning and one at night. Gabe's pediatrician approved, by the way. I can't tell you 100% for sure that the fatty acids did it, but I lost about 4 more pounds that had previously been stuck on my frame, and my skin seemed clearer, my hair shinier, and best of all, I felt a little less fatigued and with a little more energy.<br /> I didn't make any other changes besides adding these supplements to my diet, so I'm definitely sticking with it. Plus, of course, we've all heard of how great Omega 3's are for our bodies, so it is certainly worth trying.<br /><br />I could go on and on about the book, because even the chapters that don't apply to me (yet), like the ones on stomach or bone problems were interesting. My mom is begging me to let her borrow it because she found the information so helpful. <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/news.php">The 24-Hour Pharmacist</a> is more than worth it's price, especially if you are a closet Internet diagnostician. <br /><br />********************<br />The <a href="http://parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> are giving away a $50 gift certificate to <a href="http://www.cvs.com">CVS</a>, so if you'd like to be entered in the running, leave a comment on the post for <a href="http://www.dearpharmacist.com/news.php">The 24-Hour Pharmacist</a>.halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-22307785968466986862007-05-15T07:07:00.000-07:002007-06-29T07:07:51.376-07:00rrrrrrr... a parent bloggers review<a href="http://www.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers Review</a><br /><br />I grew up speaking Spanish. In fact, Spanish was my first language because my parents didn’t speak much English when I came along. I learned the little bits of English that they knew from them, and then learned more in school and of course, from television. I went through different stages during my childhood of refusing to speak Spanish or being embarrassed to speak Spanish in front of friends. When I was 10, though, we took a trip for 3 months to Argentina to visit all of our family and friends, and since then, I’ve been enraptured with the language. All of a sudden, I realized what being bilingual meant. Since then, I’ve worked to keep up the language, including studying there in high school, college and law school, each for a semester. I’ve tried to get back to Argentina whenever possible, and Josh even took an immersion trip to Costa Rica 2 years ago in the hopes that he’d be able to speak Spanish fluently in the future.<br /><br />It appears that Gabriel is also working on being bilingual. At least, he’s been gargling and gurgling so much, that my mother in law asked me the other day if he was practicing rolling his r’s. I doubt that, but I certainly have been working to make sure that he will also grow up bilingual. And trust me, this is harder than it sounds. I have to remind myself constantly to speak to him in Spanish, even when Josh is around. I have also been buying books and music CD’s in Spanish so that when we read and sing together, he will constantly be exposed to the language.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_UP-yMPn7X0IY-mtaeDQJ1MG4AXbgAIqVwB8IOapyTIo9t1Sw2G1gL9J9_MNjQzFgypNK6ZpnL9sYg09RN1FK0siM1uHDVX-OgCIa8GlAG2h_TSCTj1cqZ2GslLta0EZmmRjMp0Mk0c/s1600-h/dvd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064696556193535586" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_UP-yMPn7X0IY-mtaeDQJ1MG4AXbgAIqVwB8IOapyTIo9t1Sw2G1gL9J9_MNjQzFgypNK6ZpnL9sYg09RN1FK0siM1uHDVX-OgCIa8GlAG2h_TSCTj1cqZ2GslLta0EZmmRjMp0Mk0c/s200/dvd.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />When the <a href="http://www.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers </a>asked me to review the <a href="http://www.bocabeth.com/">Boca Beth </a>language program, I was excited. Gabriel is still too young at 4 and a half months to give me much of an indication as to whether he likes the products, but I tried them out myself to see what I thought. The <a href="http://bocabeth.com/about/">Boca Beth set </a>that we received included a DVD called “I like animals”, music CD, coloring activity book, Boca puppet and maraca. All of these products come in a set that retails for $29.99.<br /><br />The first thing we tried out was the musical CD, along with the props. I tried mimicking the songs from the CD with the Boca puppet. Gabriel was a fan, and I agreed that Boca was pretty cute, with bright colors and ease of maneuverability. The maraca was also a hit with Gabe, although his rhythm was a bit off. The CD had 15 songs that included phrases in both English and Spanish, often directly translated one after the other. The same song might include one sentence in English, followed by the same sentence in Spanish, or vice versa. The songs were catchy and not too long, and I was able to get through a few of them before Gabriel lost interest (not bad for a 4 month old, I’d say). I didn’t love the CD, though, mainly because I would have preferred a full song in each language, or at least a full section of each song in the different languages. Since almost every sentence was in a different language, I thought it could be a little confusing for a non-native speaker. I worry that it might not be totally clear whether each sentence is a repetition of the previous sentence in the other language, or whether it is just a continuation of the song. I did think the songs were fun for kids, though, and as long as you were clear on how the songs were structured, you’d definitely learn Spanish from the CD.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TqPv43wVZLDHfRdULSjlNloNIw2v8STCusWiF5dOrdui-zHBbcOZfgbecpVTz76ZOiAk_3g3Q9Qx_LOCVQKZFJAq0MA7ojEd7f-oQglMryjAtZ_tOOZpkYXtz-rsRbDAQcKmZYcxJlk/s1600-h/puppet_img.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064696560488502898" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TqPv43wVZLDHfRdULSjlNloNIw2v8STCusWiF5dOrdui-zHBbcOZfgbecpVTz76ZOiAk_3g3Q9Qx_LOCVQKZFJAq0MA7ojEd7f-oQglMryjAtZ_tOOZpkYXtz-rsRbDAQcKmZYcxJlk/s200/puppet_img.gif" border="0" /></a><br />The DVD won me over, though. Gabe doesn’t watch TV yet, but when he does, I’m sure he’ll love the DVD. I believe that the best way to learn another language is by seeing language in context, live and in action, and that is what the DVD does. The DVD is interesting enough to keep a child’s attention, and included quite a bit of vocabulary and language. The DVD’s description boasted 200 vocabulary words and 85 phrases. Not too shabby for one DVD, that’s for sure. Animals are featured throughout, with their names in both Spanish and English, along with descriptive sentences in each language. I also loved the fact that Gabriel will hear grammar and other words besides just the names of the animals. I may even try to imitate that structure when I teach him other words in Spanish and English in the future.<br /><br />The coloring book was cute, but definitely too old for a baby. I did show it to my 7 year old nephew and almost 4 year old niece, and they both seemed interested in learning the different Spanish words featured in the book. I was pleased to see that the products will apparently appeal to a broad range of ages. Once Gabriel is old enough to understand a little more, I suspect we’ll be using the whole set of products for quite some time.<br /><br />My overall feeling about the products is that they will definitely come in handy if you’d like to introduce a foreign language to your child. Obviously, they can’t do it all by themselves, but the DVD and CD could certainly spark an interest in Spanish in your child. All the products appear to be entertaining for children, and I’d definitely recommend it to friends.<br /><br />If you’re interested in checking out one of the <a href="http://bocabeth.com/about/">Boca Beth sets</a>, leave a comment on <a href="http://www.parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers</a> for a chance to win a free copy!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-54327640492031431302007-03-21T10:09:00.000-07:002007-06-29T07:10:07.522-07:00in the eternal quest for more fiberSince being pregnant, my quest for enough fiber has been a never-ending one, as I'm sure you all can relate.<br /><br />I have to share my newest discovery... Fiber One's Granola Bars. Seriously, I cannot stop talking about these granola bars because they are sooo delicious, and the best part is that they have 35% of your daily fiber. 35%!!! Do you know how many vegetables I have to eat in order to get to 35% of my fiber?!<br /><br />I have never had tastier granola bars than these, and I tried both flavors- Oats and Chocolate and Peanut Butter, and both were fantastic. I thought that maybe I was crazy because I loved these bars so much, but I ran them by both Josh and my parents, and all agreed that they are sweet and yummy. More like a candy bar, than a granola bar. I even made my mom take me straight to the grocery store in California to pick some up, because I love taking a short break in the afternoon with one of the granola bars and a cup of decaf coffee as a quick pick-me-up.<br /><br />The funniest thing is that I googled the granola bars to see where I could find them here in California, and <a href="http://www.iateapie.net/reviews/archives/2007/02/fiber_one_oats.php">there </a>were <a href="http://foodmaven.blogspot.com/2007/03/fiber-one-granola-bars.html">tons </a>of <a href="http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2007/02/05/fiber_one_oats_and_chocolate_bar_review.php">blog </a>posts <a href="http://hollywoodflakes.blogspot.com/2007/02/newsflash-fiber-one-chewy-bars-unite.html">about </a>them, so I'm not the only convert.<br /><br />I'd definitely give them a try if you are also in the hunt for fiber, and if you don't like them, send them my way!halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-41689834147996230522007-02-26T07:08:00.000-08:002007-06-29T07:09:01.246-07:00public service announcement for new momsI told Gabriel that it's about time that he starts making a living around here, we're not running a free joint. So Gabriel and I have been hard at work for the past couple of weeks reviewing a product from the <a href="http://parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers Network</a>- the <a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher</a>. The <a href="http://parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers Network</a> reviews all kinds of kid and parent appropriate products through blogging. I've been looking at their products for a while now and have found tons of items that are interesting, so check it out if you have a minute!<br /><br />If this is your first visit to the Halloweenlover household, welcome! I'm a new mom to an 8 week old baby boy (Gabriel), on maternity leave from my law firm in Boston, married to a business school student (Josh) who is currently knee deep in his post-graduation job search, and living with our two adorable pooches.<br /><br />I have to admit that many things about being a new mom were a surprise to me- the explosive and leaky diapers, the socks that constantly slip off, the dry skin (for both of us), and definitely, DEFINITELY, the spit-up. My mom never mentioned the spit-up and my niece and nephew never seemed to do it, at least when I was around, so I was wholly unprepared for the prolific, ahem, liquid that could appear without warning. So when the <a href="http://parentbloggers.com/">Parent Bloggers Network</a> asked me to review the <a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher</a>, I was psyched!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://parentbloggers.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_oxaj08xPC8E/Rd5wNE8f6WI/AAAAAAAAAds/w0SMral15HU/s200/ParentBloggersNetwork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034584803414894946" border="0" /></a>Funnily enough, I'd just seen an advertisement for the <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>when I received the email from <a href="http://parentbloggers.com/">PBN</a>. The <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>is just like a regular burp cloth, but with a pocket at one end. Once you place the <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>over your shoulder or arm, the pocket automatically hangs open, and stays open, to catch any spit-up that might ensue from a burping session. The <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>comes in a couple of options, both costing $9.99. You can either purchase a package of two flannel <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatchers </a>with a ribbon lining in pink, blue or green, or one fleece <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>also coming in pink, blue or green. Gabe was a little disappointed to receive his sample <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>in pink, but after some convincing he agreed to try it out anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8YdZYw8v6pSxxRarrarJDihcb-A59D1ewzgQ3phX10KnMJUORHX6C8fAN3K-eEzWvvixHes9DIpubIMu9hMRVfPf0jIzZNEaJH4YRiYu492jIFevmtficQif1mc3_e-73Zbjd9bl_7s/s1600-h/IMG_4031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8YdZYw8v6pSxxRarrarJDihcb-A59D1ewzgQ3phX10KnMJUORHX6C8fAN3K-eEzWvvixHes9DIpubIMu9hMRVfPf0jIzZNEaJH4YRiYu492jIFevmtficQif1mc3_e-73Zbjd9bl_7s/s320/IMG_4031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034766371035682802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />See? Doesn't he look a little moody about the pinkness?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>is the first burp cloth to include a pocket that catches spit-up rather than letting it run down your back, or over your arm and onto the rest of your clothing.<br />The hardest part about using the <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher</a>, is to remember to pick it up every time you go to burp your baby, or if you know that you are approaching a fussy time that often includes spit-up. In our case, Gabe doesn't consistently spit-up so I occasionally risk it and leave off the burp cloth, but since I was trying the product I made an effort to use it constantly and it certainly worked.<br /><br />We've found over the last 2 months that regular burp cloths aren't absorbent enough, so for the most part we stick with cloth diapers. I was happy to find that the flannel fabric was just as absorbent as the cloth diapers we've been using and caught most of the spit-up before it reached the pocket, but the pocket did save my sweater a couple of times. We also draped it over the boppy and leaned him onto the boppy for some modified tummy time. It caught some unanticipated spit-up then too. I even brought it to my new mommy's group to see what some of the other mothers thought, and those of us that have experienced the spit-up agreed that it would have been a great gift. The colors are simple enough to go with anyone's style. It would be a cute shower gift if you were in the market for gifts.<br /><br />Now if only <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatcher </a>could come up with a burping bib with a pocket too, for those spit-up episodes when I'm sitting Gabe up in front of me for a chat!<br /><br />All in all, I was definitely pleased with these burp cloths and found them easy to use and pretty cute. One of the other <a href="http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com/2007/02/21/burpcatcher/">reviewers</a> mentioned that in her dryer the <a href="http://www.burpcatcher.com/">Burpcatchers </a>were the last things to dry, but I didn't have that experience, although now I'm wondering if maybe I'm overdrying my clothes! I'd definitely recommend them to a new mom or anyone looking for a baby gift.halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384576991471531166.post-62832542575986479392006-11-02T08:11:00.000-08:002007-06-29T07:12:15.221-07:00monitors anyone?There is an awful lot going on in the halloweenlover household these days, most of them relating to the bayyybeee that is possibly arriving in this household in the coming weeks. This Monday was our 32 week appointment, at which time the pumpkin showed off its wriggling skills and moved in and out of the reach of the doppler several times, making it difficult for the doctor to get an accurate read on the heartbeat. He or she probably weighs around 4 pounds, based on her manual estimates and measurements. All appears to be well, and we're very happy to be crossing the threshold into 32 weeks. For some reason, this whole baby thing feels very REAL these days.<br /><br />Over the past couple of weeks, Josh and I have been fortunate enough to play around with a new product sent to us for our review. A very, very new BABY product, that has just hit the shelves at your neighborhood Huge Baby Store, the <a href="http://www.hearmybaby.com/"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Philips DECT Baby Monitor</span></a>.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7239/808/1600/Fall%202006%20195.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7239/808/320/Fall%202006%20195.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Now, a baby monitor was something we'd thought long and hard about. Should we get a video monitor or an audio monitor? What were the relevant features? What about interference? Would it block the cordless phone and internet (we've experienced this problem before)? What about price? What about size and looks? There were a number of things to think about.<br /><br />Once you've made the choice for an audio monitor rather than video, the <a href="http://www.hearmybaby.com/"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Philips monitor </span></a>definitely comes out as a front runner. After owning it and playing with it for a couple of week, albeit without a baby, here are my thoughts:<br /><br />1. It is the cutest baby monitor I've seen out there.<br />These monitors, both the one that remains in the baby's room and the one that goes along with you, are pretty sleek and modern-looking. The monitors are white with yellowish/orange accents. The parental unit comes with an attachment to wear it on your belt or around your neck. It is small, about the size of a small cordless phone or largish cell phone.<br /><br />2. The features and perks are very nice.<br />Both monitors have bright displays that are easy to read. Both show you the time, volume, and temperate in the nursery. The parental unit (handheld one) can activate a few lullabies and a nightlight from a remote location. We tested this one out and could scroll through and turn on lullabies from downstairs! The nightlight can also be turned on from downstairs, and it seems to be a good strength, nothing so crazy that it would wake up a baby, it just sort of casts a soft glow over the room and displays little stars on the light up portion. You can also use the parental monitor to talk to the baby from another room. I'm not sure how much we'll use this feature, but I didn't see it on other monitors. Of all of these, my favorite feature was seeing the temperature in the nursery since I'm a little paranoid about that room getting too hot, since it is very small.<br /><br />3. Best of all, NO INTERFERENCE.<br />We used the monitors near the computers while surfing the internet, and tested them with each of our cordless phones and even while the microwave was running. This was a problem we'd had in the past with tons of electronics, so it was a relief to get away from it! Apparently, Philips uses "digital enhanced cordless telecommunication" to make sure you don't hear your neighbor's baby instead of your own by scrolling through up to 60 channels to find a clear connection. I don't know anything about the technology, but it definitely worked. Our neighborhood is full of kids and even when we left it on for hours, we never heard anything but our own house. Josh and I had a good time using the monitor as a walkie-talkie and running around the house chatting to each other. When we aren't making noise, I hear absolutely nothing from the monitor- no background noise or strange sounds or buzzing or anything. I think I'll appreciate that when I'm trying to sleep.<br /><br />The monitor is really new, and I've only seen it on display in the glass display case at Huge Baby Store, looking all petite and cute next to the other models. I was nervous to have a review a product like this one, because I've been so picky about other baby items, I was convinced I'd be disatisfied. But truthfully, I'm very impressed with how easy to use and functional I think the <a href="http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/catalog/tree/PERSONAL_CARE_GR_US_CONSUMER/BABY_CARE_CA_US_CONSUMER/product/SCD589_54_US_CONSUMER/catalog.jsp?language=en&country=US&catalogType=CONSUMER&proxybuster=0AHBNHPOKHG2LJ0RMRCSHQNHKFSESI5P"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Philips monitor</span> </a>is. I'd definitely recommend it to other new or expectant parents I know. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions! And I'll do another review once the littlest member of our family is here. I'm sure I'll have more opinions once there is a baby on the other end, instead of Josh making scary noises and trying to terrify me.halloweenloverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226515861332754382noreply@blogger.com0