Posts
Monday, May 18, 2009
Babes and Kids has MOVED!
Please change your bookmarks to: http://www.babesandkidsreview.com
Thanks :)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Pros: We've been through quite a few kitchen appliances in our house in the last few years. Choppers, blenders and mixers; we've had at least 2 of each of these. The Health Master packs a serious punch, and is incredibly powerful. As taken from a Health Master press release:
Summer is fast approaching, and that means swimsuits and less bulky clothing. I love getting to the gym and getting a good workout, but when I'm trying to balance family life and work, it doesn't always happen. GE has introduced a new workout video, Strong as Steel. It uses appliances you have in your kitchen to help you get fit! To learn more watch the video below, and to purchase, visit here.
Strong As Steel from Strong As Steel on Vimeo.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Gymboree currently has a 30% off coupon circulating. You can use it in store with this printable coupon.
Or, if you don't have a Gymboree near you, you can use the code CFFRIEND or CFCIRCLE to get the discount online. If you order online, shipping is $6.50. On top of all of that, gymbucks are going, so for every $50 you spend, you get a coupon for $25 off your next $50 purchase in a given time range.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Web md's definition of sleep deprivation:
"A sufficient lack of restorative sleep over a cumulative period so as to cause physical or psychiatric symptoms and affect routine performances of tasks."
"My Tot Clock is an all-in-one sleep aid, alarm clock, nightlight, and timer for children ages
2+"Pros: My Tot Clock is another great mom inspired company. Pamela Gonzalez was a sleep deprived mom who needed to teach her son to stay in bed and establish a routine. Thus, My Tot Clock was born.
I love how many functions this clock performs. Across the top of the clock, there are five different colored buttons. Each one correlates to a different activity.
Green = Encouragement
Red = Discipline
Light Blue = Naptime
Yellow = Awake Time
Dark Blue =Sleep Time
The face of the clock lights up each of these colors too, which makes it easy for a child to know what to expect. One function of this clock we've actually used a lot is the discipline. Since Chandler is 3 years old, when he gets in trouble, he goes to the naughty spot for 3 minutes. A lot of times it was hard for me to gauge how long he was in his naughty spot and it was a pain to always run to the oven to turn on the timer. Now I just make sure that My Tot Clock is close, we are able to set it to 3 minutes, and push the button. Chandler knows while the clock is red he is to stay in time out. Once his time is up, the clock isn't red anymore and a buzzer signals to let him know it is over. He is no longer trying to weasel his way out of time out, and I'm amazed at how effective this is.
Another button we really like is the sleep time. You can preset the sleep time button to the time your child normally goes to bed, and the bedtime routine will automatically start at that time. You can choose to have music, a story, and even white noise. Chandler loves to sit on his bed and listen to the story; it actually makes him excited to go to bed.
If you miss bedtime, or want to put your child to bed earlier, you can manually start the bedtime routine, which is nice. Once the bedtime routine is over, my tot clock makes a great night light and shines blue to know your child is to go to sleep. When we first started using this, I thought the blue light was way too bright. I then realized there was a dimmer on the back. How nice that someone has already thought of that.
You can also set an "alarm" so your child knows when it's ok and time to get out of bed. The clock will turn yellow and fun wake music starts to play.
My Tot Clock is very easy to use and has different cartridges you can buy and change out for the bedtime stories. The faceplate is also interchangable, and with 10 different choices, there's bound to be something for everyone!
Cons: I feel like the story that plays at bedtime is a bit fuzzy/static when you listen to it on the clock. Chandler doesn't seem to mind it, but I notice it. There were a couple different functions that I was also confused about when we first got My Tot Clock. For example, a few days after I got the clock, the face turned red and I couldn't figure out why it was doing this. Thanks to the FAQ on the My Tot Clock website, I was able to get my question answered. This particular page on their website is very helpful as it lists all FAQ's as well as tips and an online version of the user's guide. If you are planning on buying the Tot Clock, I would definitely bookmark this page.
The Bottom Line: A must have for parents with young children. Creates structure for different activities in an easy to understand way for you and your child.
Price: $49.95
Where to buy: My Tot Clock
Rating: Great
My Tot Clock has generously agreed to give one of these clocks away!
To Enter:
Visit My Tot Clock and tell me about a feature I didn't mention in this post - 1 entry
Additional Entries:
Blog about this giveaway with links back to Babes and Kids and My Tot Clock - 2 entries
Follow this blog - 1 entry
Enter another giveaway on Babes and Kids (All giveaways are listed on the top right sidebar, just click on one to enter.) - 1 entry
Grab my Blinkie or Button - 1 entry
Please leave each entry as a separate comment!
Contest is open to US residents only and will end May 27th, 11:59 MST. Winner has 48 hours to contact me!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
With summer right around the corner, one can’t help but fantasize about a tropical getaway. In celebration of the season, Lands’ End has just launched “The Island” at www.landsend.com/getaway, where one can enjoy a virtual island getaway. Amidst the backdrop of a private island paradise, you and your community can shop for Lands’ End swimsuit styles, enter an exciting sweepstakes and share the experience with friends through popular social media channels.
To celebrate the launch of The Island, Lands’ End is providing a promo code for free shipping starting Monday, May 4, and ending Monday, May 25. Simply enter the promo code and pin number below at http://www.landsend.com/ checkout and you will get receive free shipping off your entire order.
Promo Code = ISLAND
PIN = 5262
If you've ever shopped Land's End you know they have great quality!
They have some incredibly cute swimwear, plus some great sales.
Links to Sales:
Womens
Boys
Girls
I also thought that this diaper tote was cute, and it's only $12.99.
Chandler is still a huge Thomas fan and Rowan is starting to like to play with all of the trains too. Right now, there are a bunch of Thomas & Friends dvd's starting at $6.49 with a double train! You can't even get 1 train in the store normally for $6.49. They run around $10. Really great deal. It's through Amazon, so if you spend $25 you get free super saver shipping.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Generally speaking, babies who learn to sign speak sooner and have less frustration with communication. When we received this book, I was quite excited to give it a go with Rowan, now 16 months.
Pros: This book has a great introduction. It outlines what the fuss is all about, how you and your baby will benefit, and why and how it works. I think this is incredibly important. You need to know the benefits and why you should sign. Once you have some background, it makes it that much more motivating to do.
The second part of the book includes introducing signs, and my favorite part - teaching your baby to sign in 2 weeks! We have introduced the first three signs to Rowan, which are: more, eat and milk. (We are actually using drink instead of milk since he is a bit older.) We have been emphasizing "more" since it is a sign that babies easily pick up and according to the book is often their first spoken word. One thing that the book really emphasizes is consistency and making sure that all caregivers are signing. My DH is definitely on board and we are both making sure that we sign with Rowan. Often times, it seems when you start signing, you just sign. This book teaches you different techniques on how to actually teach a sign, which has been incredibly helpful. Another sign that I am really excited to start teaching Rowan is "pain." Once a baby learns this sign, they should be able to tell you where they are hurting or having pain. Nice, right? There are some great techniques outlined to teach this sign.
The next chapter focuses on teaching your baby to sign in 2 weeks. 2 weeks! Isn't that amazing? In order to do this, Diane suggests your baby be at least 11 months old. We started signing almost 3 weeks ago, and with the techniques outlined and a lot of consistency, Rowan has started signing more and eat. He signs more by clapping the tips of his fingers, but I bet he'll be doing it right in no time, and I'm impressed he's making an effort! He has only done both signs a few times and I was really hoping to get it on video, but we all know that babies do things on their own time and most times not on demand. I'm confident as time goes on, he will use both signs in his daily vocabulary.
The book has very clear, concise illustrations which are wonderful aids, and there are small tips throughout the book as well.
The next part of the book is about advanced signing and signing with toddlers. I've noticed Chandler has started to pick up some signs and looks quite proud of himself when he signs them. I think it's pretty cute too and love that he is learning a new skill.
As if this book isn't a good enough teaching aid, it also includes an appendix with FAQ's, dad's special rules, fun and games, and online resources. There is also journaling space in the back, which is nice to write down notes.
I think if I had read this book before signing with Chandler, I wouldn't have given up so easily with him.
Cons: I honestly have never read a book on baby sign language, so I don't have anything to compare this one to, but I don't have any Cons. The book is very well written, is concise and easy to understand, and has great illustrations, plus the techniques really work.
The Bottom Line: A wonderful book that will help you and your baby learn sign language. I would definitely recommend this if you want to start signing with your baby.
Where to Buy: Amazon - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Baby Sign Language, 2nd Edition
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas! I hope you are able to have a nice day and take some time for yourself, you deserve it!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
I'm wondering how many of you are feeling the pull of the economy? I'm sure most of you are affected one way or another. I know our little family definitely is. My DH's company has been downsizing some, and we just found out his bonus for the year is getting cut. He gets his bonus as an advance each month, so that means less money every month. We decided back in December that it might be a good idea for me to get a job to pay off student loans, get out of debt, and build our savings and food storage. I looked for months without any success and was literally applying everywhere. This was discouraging as I have a B.A. in Health Science. I didn't particularly want to work days because I wanted to be home with my boys. I finally got a job as a Health Unit Coordinator in an Emergency Room 45 minutes from where we live. It pays well, but I am definitely feeling the stress of trying to work, clean house, and take care of my boys. My DH helps out a ton, which is amazing, but it's still stressful. I work graves so a lot of time I am running on little sleep which tends to wear on a person. As I write, I am going on about 3 1/2 hours of sleep in the last 40 hours. I don't really want to work, I'd rather stay home with my lovable munchkins, but I'll do what I have to do to make sure our family stays ahead of the game.
I received this yesterday and thought it was quite interesting:
According to Adecco’s latest Workplace Insight Survey, 80% of women are working because they have to, not because they want to. Additionally, almost half (48%) of working moms are more stressed due to the current economic climate and the majority (65%) are cutting their family budget.
Some further evidence that the economy is taking a toll on working mothers is that almost half (48%) of working moms wish they could spend more time with their kids with nearly one in five (16%) reporting that their work hours have increased in this economy. Also, nearly one in five (19%) of working moms are overcompensating by purchasing material goods for their children.
• Re-entering the work force – 13% of working moms went back to working full-time in this economy
• Feeling overwhelmed – Nearly 1/3 (30%) or working moms feel overwhelmed with responsibilities at home
• Being a role model – Working mothers are nearly 20% more likely to think their kids find them to be a role model than non-working moms
• Children of working moms are better behaved and better in school – 74% of working moms think their children do well in school while 60% of nonworking moms feel this way. 72% of working moms think their children are well behaved compared to 65% of non-working moms
Friday, May 8, 2009
Isn't it funny how babies seem to have a personality from day 1? Why not let them express themselves then? The Trendy Tadpole lets your baby, toddler, or child do just that, express themselves through fun and personalized tees. A few months ago, Rowan starting carrying this little stuffed panda with him. It was perfect for him to hold right under the neck. He would often sit and look at him and then smile at the panda and then at me. I found it fitting 
that The Trendy Tadpole had the cutest panda shirt and knew Rowan would love it. The day we got it in the mail, I showed it to him. He did the same thing he did when he looked at his panda shirt; smiled at the shirt and then looked up and smiled at me. Priceless.
Pros: With 37 designs to choose from, there's sure to be something for everyone. A few of my favorites include the buddha belly (What baby doesn't have one of those?), and the frog design that says Oh snap. Innovative, isn't it? There are tons of other cute and trendy designs. The designs come in snapsuits, lap shirts, and tee shirts with sizing ranging from 3 months to a kid's size 12. They even have mens and womens sizes available. You can also choose between short and long sleeved. The possibilities are endless!
I was incredibly impressed with how soft these tees were an how well they wash up. After washing Rowan's panda tee 4 times, we had no piling and the graphic still looked like new. It says on the trendy tadpole website to wash inside out and dry on low because they shrink a lot. We didn't have the problem with Rowan's shirt, it had very minimal shrinking.
Cons: These shirts run a bit small. I was told about this before receiving Rowan's shirt, and it also states it on the product info page. If you don't happen to check the product info page, you might end up ordering a shirt that is too small. Rowan is 16 months and is just starting to wear 18-24 month clothes. His panda shirt is a size 2T and fits him well. So if you are going to place an order, make sure to order up a size!
The Bottom Line: Trendy and fun designs, super soft cotton, washes up well.
Price: $22 (Only $11 with promotional code listed at the end of the post!)
Where to Buy: The Trendy Tadpole
Rating: Great
The Trendy Tadpole is offering 50% off their shirts! Enter the code WHOLESALE at checkout to get your 50% discount.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
3 Kids and Us is doing a great Crayoloa Outdoor giveaway. I'm excited to spend more time outside with Chandler and Rowan this summer doing fun activities. We'd love to win a Crayola Gift Pack! Go check it out and get yourself entered!
We have been participating in the Pampers Gifts to Grow program for about 3 years now. It's a great way to earn rewards for using Pampers diapers. If you use the code HAPPYMOTHERSDAY you can receive a free point on Pamper's Gifts to Grow! Expires 7/31/09.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
It seems that as time goes on, we are using the internet more and more, especially for education. Although my kids are still quite young, I worry what they will be exposed to when they start using the internet for school and other purposes. I want to be able to safeguard and monitor what they are doing, and I'm sure other parents want to as well. Now you can, with the PG Key.
"PG Key was created by a design and development team that includes industry experts with years of experience in creating powerful yet easy to use software applications. In addition to the experienced technical members, the team also includes representatives from law enforcement (an FBI agent that specializes in cyber crimes), education (a PHD that currently serves as a district superintendent), the medical community (an MD and current member of the American Board of Pediatrics) and many others … including ordinary, non-technical, but concerned parents."
more. You simply plug the PG key into the computer and can view all of their activity in a movie style mode. Amazing, right? If that wasn't cool enough, if you choose to do so, PG Key will send you a text on your cell if your child types in a search word that might be questionable or isn't in the bounds you have set. It is very compact in size and has a keychain loop on the end for easy attachment to keys. I am incredibly impressed with the capabilites of the PG Key as well as the ease of use. It definitely gives parents that extra peace of mind. If you go to PG's website, you can get a free 30 day trial of PG Key. That's how confident they are about their product, and I think they have every reason to be, it is really that great. Tuesday, May 5, 2009
One Day Giveaway - Subscription to All You Magazine
119 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 11:48 AM
All you is a great magazine for the everyday woman. As a mom, I love this magazine as it provides easy delicious recipes, advice about style and home, and just offers advice for everyday life. This magazine also has a TON of coupons, usually over $50 worth. Since I am an avid couponer, these magazines more than pay for themselves. They retail for $2.49 an issue and you can find them where magazines are sold. Before I bought a subscription, I saw them at Walmart, so I know they carry it.
JVC has some amazing video cameras, particularly the Everio Series. I am absolutely in LOVE with the HD series as I know it would capture amazing HD video of my beautiful little family. I'd love to be able to look back on those memories, not to mention it has some way cool features, a few of my favorites being the auto face detection and the memory capabilities.
JVC is also sponsoring a giveawy for 4 lucky winners to Blogher 09. I really wanted to go to Blogher but didn't register in time and didn't have the $$. Generous of JVC, isn't it? I would be absolutely floored to be one of the 4. You can visit JVC's Blogher sweepstakes to enter yourself if you are interested!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Chandler loves to look at and read books. We have made it a habit to always read books before he takes naps and before bed. We usually tell him to pick 3 or 4 and he carefully scans through them to pick the ones he likes the most. He is getting to the stage where he is really interested in the storyline of a book. I know that reading with your child is extremely important, and I believe that the content and what it teaches is a very important aspect of that. The Dr. Hippo Series Books help you and your child learn about different medical issues and how to handle them in a wonderful, entertaining way.
wants to make you read them, right? I think a book is wonderful when it's title can immediately capture your attention. They are published in hardback which makes them extremely durable. They've already been toted all around the house, taken to church, and even on a road trip. They still look great. That is definitely one thing I love about hardcover books. 
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Instead of having a separate post everytime I announce a winner, I have decided to post them all on one page. You can find the link in the right hand side bar. I will try to contact winners when they have won a prize, but if they go unclaimed for 48 hours, I will redraw. Make sure to check the giveaway winners link often to see if you have won something from Babes and Kids Review!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Brushing isn't always fun for kids. Chandler normally doesn't like it, and we have a bit of a struggle. We weren't as good as we should have been about encouraging Chan to brush his teeth....and then we went to the dentist. At age 3, he had 2 big cavities. One was in his back molar and I couldn't believe how big it was when the dentist showed it to me. Like his mom, he has very weak enamel. Too bad he didn't inherit his dad's teeth who has never had a cavity. After this experience, we resolved to be better about encouraging Chan to brush his teeth and make sure it gets done. The firefly toothbrush by Dr. Fresh helps make brushing fun, which is exactly what we need.
Pros: The firefly toothbrush is true to it's name. If you push the bottom part of the toothbrush, it lights up and starts to flash, just like a firefly. It then flashes for 1 minute. Once it is done flashing, brushing is done! It's so nice to have a timer in it. I tell Chan to watch the light while I brush his teeth and he gets a kick out of it. It's a big improvement as he used to only let us brush his teeth for 10-20 seconds. The compact head is perfect for little kids, and the bristles of the brush are very soft, which lets me know it isn't too harsh on little gums. It is also great for little hands to hold and Chandler has now started to want to brush his teeth by himself. A HUGE perk of the firefly toothbrush is it's cost. They are only 99 cents! When I normally buy toothbrushes for my boys, I end up spending $3-4, so the firefly is definitely something I am switching to.
Cons: The bottom part of the toothbrush is a bit hard for Chandler to push to get it flashing. I usually have to do it for him. Not sure if this is just our brush. In this case though, it doesn't seem to be too big of a deal as the Pros greatly outweigh the 1 Con.
The Bottom Line: Very affordable, fun toothbrush that encourages brushing.
Price: 99 cents
Where to Buy: Local retailers & Drug stores.
Want a Firefly Toothbrush of your own? Two readers will win one!
Here's how to enter:
Mandatory Entry:
Tell me what you like about the firefly toothbrush - 1 entry
Additional Entries:
Subscribe to this blog - 1 entry
Follow me - 1 entry
Blog or tweet about it - 1 entry
Please leave each entry as a separate comment, it really helps when I go to draw the winner!
Giveaway ends 11:59 MST, May 15 and is open to US residents only. Giveaway winner has 3 days to contact me or I will draw another winner.
