Five Must-Have Baby Products (that I wish I had when my kids were babies) {Giveaway}

When I had my first child, I never thought I would have another shower again. There was no way to keep him happy or quiet, so when someone would come for a short visit I would ask for 10 minutes to throw some water on my face. Then my mother-in-law got me a Bumbo.

Life changed after that for the better. I couldn't believe that anyone could live without one. 

That was about six years ago. 

Now Bumbos are like a basic necessity on any baby registry. 

So when I had the opportunity to visit Dallas Market Hall for PBJ: Play. Baby. Juvenile, a juried trade event for the most innovative gifts and gadgets across the baby and children’s industries!

It was like a wonderland of all the things that made you say "why didn't I think of that?" So here's the rundown of some of my favorite finds that could have made those early months so much easier!

Mixie Baby is the only self-contained 2-in-1 formula bottle, making feedings possible at any time. Formula and water are stored in separate compartments of the bottle.  For feeding, simply press the button on the bottle’s bottom and shake to mix. Mixie is BPA, phthalate and PVC free and is dishwasher and microwave safe. 

Can you imagine later at night being able to make that bottle with a click of the button? And it's even compatible with Dr. Brown's and BornFree nipples! 

The Cup Catcher is a multi-use connector developed by a local Southlake couple to safety tether a sippy cup, bottle, or even your favorite toy to a car seat, highchair, stroller, wheelchair or shopping. 

So instead of spending 10 times an hour picking up the cup off the floor while running through the grocery store or the mall, you could avoid bending over relentlessly! 

Cuddlecloth® is an award-winning and patented instant release & hands free bath towel designed for baby's safety, made for moms convenience. This patented, innovative and practical bath towel bib is made of 100% cotton terry spa velour, one of the largest, thickest towels for baby on the market. 

Remember those first baths and you were so gently with your baby until it came time to pick him/her up with a towel, wondering if you were going to drop them? This is where this towel comes in handy. Just check out this graphic that shows you exactly why you want one of these instead of those terrycloth ducks that don’t have any purpose. 

The Dream by Babyhome  is a highly designed travel cot featuring a unique adjustable leg system that provides three different uses for the same product. Its aluminum structure gives it a modern, sophisticated look complemented by removable and washable fabric in a variety of colors. A foam mattress, a honeycomb breathable pad and a fitted sheet are included.

We had three pack 'n plays; whether it was cheap or expensive we somehow either broke them or couldn't get them put up without screaming an expletive. There's no "set-up" for these and is light as a feather. 

The Emotion also by Babyhome, stands out for its easy maneuverability, compact folding and lightweight. It is a highly popular stroller because of its attractive design and modern colors, while it is also one of the most functional and practical on the market. With the use of available car seat adapters, Emotion becomes a useful stroller from birth to 55 pounds. 

And at the end of all my stroller envy! I mean I've had five strollers and now I've found one that hits everything from cost (approximately $300), durability, comfort and weight! 

"What was your baby product you couldn't live without?"

Answer that and you could win a Mixie Bottle Starter Set ($40!) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lasagna: The Perfect Recipe for New Moms {Recipe}

Note: I received my own Lasagna kit from Red Gold and you can too, just keep reading to find out more.  

When I gave birth the first go-around, I remember a friend who was kind enough to bring me over a lasagna to help with dinner. I can still remember not only how delicious it was, but how it kept me fed for almost a week - especially late at night when my little one decided he needed to get us both up for a few hours. 

Now it's my turn to bring a meal to one of my friends who just had a baby. However, it's not just because lasagna is delicious and as Anelle would say "freezes beautifully," but that this recips is full of several nutrient-rich foods that are needed for a new mom, especially when she has a little one that she's feeding, too. 

According to WebMd, there are 12 Super-Foods for New Moms including: 

1. Leafy greens like Spinach
2. Low-fat Dairy: Cottage Cheese and Mozzarella Cheese
3. Whole-Wheat Grains like Pasta
4. Lean Protein like Turkey 

So my Spinach Lasagna Roll-ups are like the super food for new moms - and all in one dish! And did I mention there was less than 20 minutes required to whip these up?  Which makes it my go-to meal for taking over to friends along with a bag of salad, and a loaf of garlic bread!

SPINACH LASAGNA ROLL-UPS

Ingredients

1	(28 ounce) can Red Gold® Crushed Tomatoes, or 2 (15 ounce) cans
2	(14.5 ounce) cans Red Gold® Diced Tomatoes With Basil, Garlic & Oregano
1	teaspoon Italian seasoning
	Salt to taste
1	(16 ounce) box lasagna noodles, traditional, uncooked
1	(6 ounce) package fresh spinach, washed and patted dry
1	(15 ounce) carton low fat cottage cheese
3	cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2	cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

• Preheat over to 350^o F. 
• In a large bowl combine water, RED GOLD® CRUSHED TOMATOES, RED GOLD® DICED TOMATOES with BASIL, GARLIC & OREGANO and Italian seasoning.
• Boil the lasagna noodles making sure they don't stick. Once cooked, lay each noodle on a sheet of wax paper until ready to roll. 
• Cover the bottom of a 9x13x2 inch baking pan with 1½ cups of sauce mixture. Take one noodle and then add a layer of cottage cheese, parmesan cheese and then a handful of spinach leaves.  Tightly roll up the noodle into a roll and place seem-side down. Continue until the dish is full. Then add the rest of the sauce. Next layer the top with mozzarrella cheese. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese.
• Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 to 1½ hours; until noodles are cooked. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
• The recipe makes 12 servings, but you could divide the recipe into two 9x9 inch baking dishes and freeze one! 

Red Gold Premium Tomatoes is having a Lasagna Party Sweepstakes on Facebook - until Wednesday, Feb. 5! You can win some great stuff including gift cards, lasagna kit, and other fun prizes! So check out http://www.facebook.com/RedGold.

Disaster Diaper Diaries: How Huggies Slip-Ons Saved Us + $25 Target Giftcard {Giveaway}

Try-it Tuesdays:

Disclaimer: This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Huggies, but all my opinions are my own. #HuggiesSlipOn #pmedia http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

It was one of those days that I woke up thinking, it might be a great day. The house was clean, I had a warm shower all by myself and I actually wasn't dreading anything in the next eight hours. I could hear a little Mary Chapin Carpenter singing, "I Feel Lucky" in my head.  

Then I went upstairs. 

I had spoken too soon. 

My daughter had done her business. Then she peeled the tabs off her diaper and ripped it off. 

And then proceeded to use my carpeted staircase as her personal roll of Quilted Northern. 

I was devasted. Maybe because I had just gotten the carpets cleaned. Maybe because I had just taken a shower and I didn't want to get dirty. Or maybe it's because poop all over my almost-white carpet is just gross. 

While cleaning it all up was my next step, I had to figure out what I was going to do to make sure this wasn't going to happen again. NEVER. EVER. AGAIN.

Then like a little Diaper Fairy Godmother, Huggies Slip-On diapers came in to my life. 

What's so different about Huggies Slip-Ons? 

This diaper has a perfectly snug fit for my busy little kiddo with stetchy sides and Stopping Guards to keep her adorable chunky thighs comfortable all while keeping all the other stuff IN her diaper. Best of all, since they are easy on and off whip these on/off easily without fighting to make her stop to change her diaper (which is helpful since she isn't stopping and runs faster than me.)  And we'll even be able to use them as a transition for potty training - our next messy step in toddlerhood. Lucky me. 

Then just like that -- mama was able to redeem her day...for the most part. I prevented another snail trail incident from happening all over my carpet all thanks for the Huggies Slip-Ons. 

Now I just need to work on getting the Mr. Clean Fairy to show up to help me with the carpet. 

Are you ready to make your diaper diasters turn into diaper dreams? 

*****************************************************************

COUPON ALERT: 
You and your little one can try Huggies Slip On Diapers too 
with this special coupon from Target for $2 off! 

*****************************************************************

Now consider this your special Fairy Godmother with a giveaway for $25 Giftcard from Target so you can try your own Huggies Slip-Ons (and maybe a little something for mama, too!) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soothe Baby Eczema with Aveeno Eczema Therapy Kit {Giveaway}

Want-it Tuesdays:

I received product for the purpose of this review. However, all the information and comments are my own.

A few months ago my beautiful little girl's perfectly peach and unmarked skin became red, whelped and dry all over her poor little, chubby legs. Since she didn't complain and thinking she just had a reaction to being out in a field of bluebonnets (a spring Texas requirement), I let it go for more than a week without doing much than amp up her lotion use. It was only after her school became scared the condition may be contagious and it wasn't going away, I realized it might be eczema.  But just in case, I needed to take her to the pediatrician. 

Comfirmed by her pediatrician, we decided it was time to take her for a dip in an oatmeal bath and slather on the lotion. Why oatmeal?  As a skin protectant active ingredient, oatmeal can help restore skin's normal pH and aid in the maintenance of skin's moisture barrier to prevent and protect dry skin. 

Of course, that meant only one brand would do - Aveeno. Since both my husband and I had our own issues with eczema, we already were big fans of their products. But for our little girl we wondered if the treatments might be too intense for her tender skin. 

The Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Care Kit is a two-step regimen formulated with colloidal oatmeal to help soothe eczema-prone skin. Eczema Therapy Bath Treatment gently cleanses and relieves irritation due to eczema. The convenient kit helps to improve the four symptoms of eczema—itchiness, dryness, irritation and rough skin. When dispersed in water, the hypoallergenic powder forms a tear-free milky bath that soothes as it naturally cleanses without soap. After bathing, baby's skin is softer and smoother, and dry, irritated, sensitive skin is relieved.

While I loved that there was a kit including the lotion and treatment, I still needed a wash to clean her body when we didn't have time for a bath. Thankfully there was a solution for that too...the Aveeno Baby Cleansing Theraphy Moisturizing Wash. awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. Best of all everything we needed was purchased at our local grocery store, didn't need a prescription and didn't break the bank. 

And neither will you with this special giveaway from Aveeno! 

Are you looking for a nighttime ritual to From AVEENO®, the leader in ACTIVE NATURALS® ingredients and recommended by Pediatricians for over 60 years, comes the AVEENO® Baby Bathtime Solutions Gift Set, which includes products to nurture baby's skin and pamper mom!

One lucky reader will win the AVEENO® BABY BATHTIME SOLUTIONS GIFT SET (great gift for you or a great baby shower gift) with:

• Baby Wash & Shampoo: blends natural oat extract into a rich, lathering, soap-free cleanser that cleans without drying
• Baby Daily Moisture Lotion: non-greasy formula contains natural colloidal oatmeal to help soothe baby's delicate, dry skin
• Baby Calming Comfort Bath: tear-free, soap free cleanser contains soothing scents of lavender and relaxing vanilla
• Stress Relief Body Wash: formulated with natural colloidal oatmeal to clean and moisturize skin, and scented with lavender, essential chamomile and ylang-ylang oils to help calm and relax you in the shower

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Giveaway is now closed! 

5 Reasons Why You Should Try White Cloud Diapers

Try-it Tuesdays:

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Diapers. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

When you have your second child, everything is different. You don't feel compelled to read the baby books, ask every friend their recommendation or stalk the Internet trying to find the best choices for your child. Your first one was your "practice" and you've already spent the time, so you normally just go with whatever you did with the first one. I know when I had my second, there was no question of what brand I was going to use for her diapers.  Not necessarily because it was the best choice, but it's just what we were familiar with. 

So when I had the opportunity to try out a new brand of diapers called White Cloud Diapers and then discuss the brand with some other moms, I thought it might be time to consider something different and it was way past time for a playdate. 

Taking advantage of the spring weather (and unfortunately a good bit of wind), we met at the park so we could keep the kids entertained while we did some diaper talk.  We fed the kids some snacks and did a little oohing and ahhing at how cute all our babies were and then got to business. 

The "business" included a few games (think baby shower fun) to get us all familiar with each other and White Cloud Diapers. I know I was reminded at how hard a baby has to work to take down a baby bottle in a little mom vs. mom contest. (I'd share that photo, but it just wasn't a cute shot at all!) Then I had the chance to meet some new ladies who had driven more than three hours to be there for a our playdate. (That's committment!) 

But admist all the fun, we also spent some time doing our "doodie" of checking out White Cloud Diapers. And since I'm all about sharing my "try-it out" on Tuesdays, I wanted to let you know what I learned!

5 Reasons Why You Should Try White Cloud Diapers: 

1. My daughter has sensitive skin, so I love that White Cloud Diapers are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.

2. White Cloud diapers have a special ultra-absorbent inner core that wicks away moisture to help keep babies dry and comfortable and the stretchy sides have secure fit so no accidental leakage. (And no special wet surprise when you put your little one on your side!)

3. While my daughter is past the stage, I would have loved when she was in her early stage diapers to have a wetness indicator that changes color to let me know when the baby needs to be changed.

4. Don’t you get tired of Winnie the Pooh? I love that there are fun animal prints on the diaper so my daughter can point out the names of them as she learns them! 

5. Budget friendly is my favorite word and White Cloud Diapers are available around 30 percent cheaper than brand name diapers. (See for yourself!)

Diapering can be one of the biggest expenses in a family’s weekly budget and a great performing diaper is a must-have for parents. In order to make this affordable, Walmart has reintroduced their premium line of White Cloud Diapers to address the needs of today’s busy parents.

White Cloud Diapers provide your baby the highest quality diaper with superior leakage protection, exceptional softness and great fit. White Cloud Diapers are available exclusively at Walmart, where you can find low prices everyday on all your family’s needs. Check them out today!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of #WhiteCloudDiapers.

Five Baby Safety Products You (and Baby) Shouldn’t Live Without (updated 1.13.13)

After you've left the hospital and get to take your new darling home, there’s a wholenew world of acclimation for both you and baby to get into a routine. I basically compare it to when the honeymoon phase is over when you get married,but it’s now time for you and baby to figure out: “How are we gonna do this?”

Whenmy first child was born I sometimes had to wait all day before my husband got home just so I could take a shower. Then I was given a Bumbo and the whole world became a new place including one where I no longer smelled of baby poo and milk. Although Bumbos recently were recalled, at the time,it was the one item in the world I couldn’t live without. Thankfully, several companies have continued to improve technology by developing new products to solve some of the biggest new baby (and even beyond) issues in efforts to help families live more normal and safer lives.

“My Baby Won’t Sleep Flat” 

If you think you are the first parent to attempt to stack up pillows, blankets, or even stuffed animals just the right way to try to getyour baby to sleep like they do in their car seat, then here’s your wake-up call – join the long lines of parents who’ve done the same thing and not succeeded. Thankfully, one mom developed a safer option and called it the Nap Nanny® Chill. 

Nap Nanny® Chill

This soft, portable recliner was designed to increase comfortand improve infant sleep. The Nap Nanny® mimics the contours of a car seat and the comfort of a baby blanket and features maximum stability, allowing your baby to rest peacefully. The cover has a waterproof liner protecting the foam for greater longevity, while the safety harness keeps baby secure. Weighing onlythree pounds, the Nap Nanny® travels and stores easily, so you can take this to grandma’s house without bringing a trailer to fit all the baby stuff. I’m surethat this one is soon to replace many bassinets and pack and plays for newborns.

NapNanny.com or Amazon.com,$129

NOTE: NapNanny has been closed due to a recall, but many parents and retailers stand by this is an amazing product. For more info, follow their Facebook. 

“I Spent all this Money on a Crib Set and I Can’t Even Use It”

I will never admit how much I spent on my crib bedding foreither of my kids, but I will divulge that I spent less time deciding whatcollege to go and what car to buy than the countless number of hours online finding the perfect crib set. The irony was, while it was cute, once I took all the parts out that aren’t safe for a baby (the big blanket, the bumper and even pillows), I was left with a sheet and a bed skirt. Then I had to go and buy additional swaddle thingies so my baby could be warm, but not suffocate themselves. So basically,what was the point, right?

Halo SafeSleep Crib Set

While a little late for me, you finally have the perfect safe solution for baby bedding. The all-in-one Halo SafeSleep Crib Set is contains everything your baby needs to sleep safe and sound from the start: a coordinating HALO SleepSack wearable blanket, SleepSack Swaddle, two soft 100% cotton jersey fitted crib sheets and matching decorative skirt. And for theType A moms like me, it all matches, so you still can have a cute set while keeping your baby safe, so now you can sleep at night rather than think about what matches what and if your baby is breathing. Best of all, at around $100 and available in several colors and designs, it’s also a new pick for my Roundup of Perfect Baby Shower Gifts!

Halosleep.com, $115

“I’m Scared I’ll Forget My Baby in the Car”

No one ever thinks they’re going to be “that” parent who forgets their child in a hot car, but sadly it happens every year, especially when the weather is at its hottest. Sleep deprived new parents are especially susceptible as the routine of taking care of baby is so new. The childminder® SMART Clip SYSTEMis an alarm that goes off 8 seconds after the parent or caregiver has moved more than 15 feet from the child in his/hersafety seat.  The ChildMinder system installation takes less than three minutes. Simply replace the baby’s safety seat chest clip with the ChildMinder system's smartclip and place the key ring alarm unit on your automotive key ring…itrings when you walk too far from the car seat with your baby locked inside.(Wish you had thought of that, right?)

BabyAlertInternational.com,$69.95 

childminder® SMART Clip SYSTEM

“It’s Too Much Work to Transfer my Car Seat”

Since I’m normally am the official chauffeur of the Reo children, I don’t have to trade out the chairs very often. However, when Ido, it takes everything I have to transfer them to the next vehicle and worst off, return it back to my car. Not only is it inconvenient, but fiddling with buckles and the finding the Latch hooks to connect everything still has me sweating and tired. Thankfully Baby Trend has figured out safety and efficiency can actually work together.

trendZ Fastback 3-in-1 Car Seat

The trendZ Fastback 3-in-1 CarSeat changes smoothly as your child grows from 22 lbs. up to 120 lbs. In less than a minute, the carseat can be installed using the latch anchors points in the car.  It is a forward-facing car seat with a built-in harness up to 70 lbs., a high-back booster seat up to 100 lbs. and a backless booster seat up to 120 lbs. The FastBack features a structural steel frame withwhat they call a “innovative Rigid Energy Management System (REMS), the easiest,most secure and reliable attachment method available. “Designed to exceed all governmental safety standards and reduce the movement of the car seat in acrash."  

While I don’t know what the REMSis, I can testify I feel like my kid is secure and it took literally 2 minutesto install with a little bit of strength to click-it-in to place.  And even better it has a built in cup holder and even a spot for toys or gaming device (for when she is a little older.) I do think we have found our solution to the one car seat that does it all and goes with us as she grows up!

BabiesRUs.com, $199.95

“My Kiddo Doesn’t Need a Booster, but Do You have a Phonebook?”

While your baby won’t need help sitting at the kitchen table right off the bat, there will be a time that your bundle of joy will not need to be in the high chair, but still need a little help to reach the top. Thank goodness for you, you don’t have to tote around one of those giant phone books anymore, now there’s LUV CHICKEN!  

Luv ChickenBooster Cushion

Described on their website, “Your Little Chicken will love the boost they get at the dinner table with the Luv ChickenBooster Cushion,” it’s your solution for the movie theater, restaurants, and the ball game! What I loved about the Luv Chicken was that it was washable, had a handle and you don’t have to worry about the cushion slipping off the chair since it’s got a non-slip bottom. I got one that was green too, so then both boys and girls can use it. This is just one of those things that is good to keep around even after your kids don’t need a little boost.

Luv-Chicken.com, $45.00

Looking for more baby love?

It’s always baby around here, but this month, it’s really about them with the best products and things you need to get ready for baby.

The Perfect Baby Shower Gifts

Combat Germs with Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Save Your Baby Toes with ToeBlooms

Disclaimer: I received these items for purposes of this review, but the comments here are all my own.

Trendy Baby Fashion Tips (Without Going Broke)

A recent article said that raising a child costs an average family $235,000 from birth to 17. While that probably seems hard to imagine as a new or parent-to-be,  ask any parent with at least a six-month old and they know that babies and all their “stuff” add up.  And by "stuff" I’m not even talking about the perfect stroller (which I’ve yet to find and have five), but your baby’s style – like clothes, shoes and even their diapers.

I got a glimpse of my grim (and poor) future when I waspregnant with my daughter and purchased a white Burberry onesie. Not onlyshould a baby not wear while, but there is no use for Burberry on a one-yearold. I don’t even have any Burberry!

So in efforts to help you rather than pretend it’s not important, here are a couple of tips from this mom on head-to-toe baby style(not to be exemplified on mom’s own capacity to be stylish.) Besides, when your kiddo is 17 they won’t hate you for putting them in that ugly Elephant out fitif you put them in some of these designer shoes! 

One-stop shopping that cute for all ages

I’m so excited to share some new happenings from one of our favorite stores, The Children’s Place! While I have been a fan of The Children’s Place for the kids when they hit those toddler years, when they were infants it seemed like their baby section was limited. However, the store is now understanding that moms don’t have time to go to several stores to score all our kiddos’ clothes,so they’ve revved up their under 12 months old department and appropriately named it BABY PLACE! Now not only can you grab all your uniforms and staple items, but can also get clothing for the baby too! And best of all, they say during the holidays, you’ll be able to find coordinating outfits for all ages…(yes, I said that and you probably will too!)

Also,for those of you that already have kids, right now there are so good deals going on instore and online as well as cash back when you spend $40!

           Consignment shopping

If you like dressing your kids as much as I do, you’ll go broke – no matter how much money you have! Thankfully, nowadays being thrifty is nifty, so sales like Just Between Friends and Rhea Lana have become celebrated bi-annual events for moms. Whether you are selling or buying,these events make having young children affordable and you benefit from those moms who buy all the nice clothes for their kids and take care of them! When kids only wear things 2-3 times when they are under 1, it doesn't make sense to invest in really expensive clothing,but your kids can if you are willing to look and go early at these not-to-miss sales.  So just go to these websites, save the dates and make sure you get there before the crowds do!

           Stepin Style with her first pair of designer shoes!

If you follow me, you know I prefer to be barefoot, but still love the art of a beautiful shoe. And given the opportunity to have a pair of my own Stuart Weitzmans, I would probably put them in a shrine to look at every day rather than wear them. Soget almost the fun out of a having a pair and for a whole lot cheaper, get your baby fashionista her own pair of My First Weitzman.  Available from newborn to 12 months in a broad range of colors and styles, any stylish mom and her baby will thrilled to have a pair! This perfect gift item comes beautifully packaged in a pink signature box.

You can be stylish all the way to their undies

Having your baby all dolled up doesn’t end with the dress and the shoes. With designer disposable diapers and adorable cloth diapers, your baby can look good with hardly anything but their bottoms! Now while I am not a cloth diaper mama, I have tons of friends who are and claim it really is easy as well as much more inexpensive and not to mention more environmentally friendly. So when I was received a few samples of adorable cloth nappies from Ones & Twos that grew with you from ages 0-2, my curiosity made me want to try cloth diapers (only as a test.) Once I read the instructions a few times and popped online to the cloth diapering pros at Pooters, I felt I could do it…and since we weren’t going anywhere for the evening, why not?

In the words of Paul Harvey, "and the rest of story...":

Actually there really wasn’t one. I didn’t love the part about washing them after the mess, so I know I would outsource that part to the professionals. But all together, I can proclaim it can be done…(at least once that is!)

Just face it kids cost money. A lot. But by being smart and being willing to pair a little hand-me-down Ralph with a brand new pair of Stuart Weitzmans, your baby will still be the belle of the ball!

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Baby Roundup: The Perfect Baby Shower Gifts

Did you know that more babies are born in August than any other month? In celebration of this and the fact that my daughter will turn one this month as well, we’ll be concentrating on all things baby this month. From newborns, toys, equipment must-haves and even trends in baby birthdays, we’ll be focusing on them this month!

One of the best (and worst) parts of expecting a baby is the waiting part. Depending on your personality (and if it’s your first baby or not), you’re busy asking questions, being puzzled and basically overwhelmed with all things baby. That’s why baby showers were created; not just to gift the new parents, but to give everyone something to look forward to while your bun in the oven is baking.

So this week I’ve rounded up some of the coolest things for shower gifts and newbie parents.

1.) TeetheMe.com Subscription:

It’s the gift that keeps on giving; a monthly subscription to the hottest baby gifts on the market! Do you have one of those moms that always has the newest must-haves of everything? Then she’ll definitely want to make sure she’s got the coolest products for her kiddo as well! Based on how much you want to spend, a subscription to TeetheMe.com gets a monthly box of 4 to 5 hand-picked products for your child (aged newborn to 3 years old) delivered straight to their door in our signature TeetheMe Box.  My box included a pair of baby sunglasses, City Grips stroller handle covers (a must for any mom with a stroller that saves her hand while looking cute), a Mickie Mouse lovie and a Little Pim Foreign language DVD. It was perfect for my one-year old!

(www.teetheme.com) Starting at $24.00

2.) Daddy Diaper Changing Toolkit:

Featured on The Today’s Show, this is the one toolkit that daddy-to-be won’t be asking for…his very own Daddy Diaper Changing Toolkit. A fun gift to get dad in the spirit, this toolkit comes with all the tools from turkey baster to goggles, to make this chore a little easier (or at least a little bit more fun to watch!) There’s lots of other things on this site as well, so check it out for all things dad!

(www.giftsfordadtobe.com) $36.99

3.) Covillow:

Studies show one of the best things a mom can do to protect her new baby is to breastfeed (and the hospital will certainly reminder mom as well.) While many moms want to breastfeed, but it’s the idea that you’ll be out of the home feeding your child while exposed that makes the choice difficult. That’s why you’ve seen all those lovely designer covers out on the market, but that don’t seem to do everything a breastfeeding mom might need.  Covillow makes it easier for a breastfeeding mom to still have a life.  This nursing cover is like none, other- it covers your back and both sides completely and has a pillow so that both mom and baby are comfortable.  Plus it rolls up to easily fit into a diaper bag.

(www.covillow.com)  $59.95

4.) Personalized Diapers by Diapers Couture

I’d rather not even share this little gem as it is my go-to gift for all parents-to-be, but it is one of my favorites! There’s nothing better than personalized diapers all perfectly packaged to look like a cupcake! I always get raves for this gift and best of all it’s a practical gift that will be used – and the parents will think of you every time they change their baby’s diaper (I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad…). With a few weeks’ notice, you can customize the diapers with the baby’s name, initials, nursery design, the parents’ favorite things or leave it up to them. In DFW you can pick them up or out-of-the-area you can have them delivered. It takes about 10 minutes to put this gift together, and voilà!, the perfect, personalized baby gift.

(www.diaperscouture.com) $49.95

Hope this list is helpful! They’ll remember you for these gifts!

Disclaimer: I received products from Teethme.com, Daddy Diaper Changing Kit and Covillow for purposes of this review, however, the comments here are all my own. 

SOS: Save our socks with ToeBlooms!

As a mom of a two kids, I’ve been through A LOT of socks. I mean a lot. It seems every time I purchased a box of diapers, I was also replenishing a supply of new socks. Thankfully, with a boy a pair of plain ole white socks wasn’t a huge concern, just an inconvenience. However, with a little princess now of eight months, white crews don’t cut it. I buy socks to match each outfit (yes, you know if you have a girl you also buy hair accessories and sometimes even blankets, too.) Unfortunately, after about six months trying to keep up with those cute socks was getting to be a real pain. Really. My son, who saw my frustration, told me that he was going to “get the sock monster” for eating all of Taylor’s socks!

Now with the spring approaching, socks seem to be less a real need to keep her toes warm, but more of an accessory with her cute outfits. However, even though I have several pairs of adorable shoes given to her as gifts, shoes aren’t as practical or advised until around the age of one. So what’s a mom to do?

TOE BLOOMS, I found, was my answer.

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 

Let me start – they aren’t the cheapest little things at around $23, but neither are all those bows and headbands I’ve been buying either. However, they are the cutest little “sock wraps” with bright colors and designs featuring big, beautiful flowers. And when your daughter’s name is rose, you can imagine that many of her outfits, accessories (and even her room) are all decked out with roses, so I was hooked instantly.

Toe Blooms are a must-have for moms tired of coming home with just one of baby’s shoes! This adorable line of stylish baby footwear stays on by wrapping securely around baby’s sweet feet and can be worn with or without socks (so she’s got her summer shoe wear too!) To get your pair, you can get them online on their cute website, www.toeblooms.com. (Be careful though, they have handbands to match!)

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 

****DISCLAIMER: I was provided a sample of ToeBlooms to try for myself. However, the claims made here and my review is all my own. ***