Gymboree’s Newborn Essentials

As a mother of two, I can tell you first-hand how important it is to have the right clothes for your newborn. It’s kind of like the story of “Goldilocks and The Three Bears”…the porridge can’t be too hot or too cold…it needs to be just right. In this case, the clothes for newborns can’t be too tight or too rough…they need to be just right for baby.

The world just got a little sweeter for parents searching for the right clothes for baby. Gymboree’s newborn essentials would be just what Goldilocks would be looking for if she was searching for clothes instead of porridge. The clothes are just right.

When it comes to baby clothes, you want and need something that is soft. Gymboree offers 100% combed cotton. This adds a soft feel to your baby’s already soft skin. The clothes are not just soft; they are also breathable and comfy. This is perfect for playtime, naptime, or those rock-rocks in the baby swing.

We all know babies grow faster than you can say tummy time. That’s why it seems like we’re buying more clothes for them than we ever have for ourselves. To ease that burden and give our wallets a break, Gymboree’s pants have cuffs that can be unrolled to grow with your baby. It really is just a simple idea that makes mommy’s life a little easier…and less expensive. Another bonus that’s a real bargain is the reversible tops and pants. This not only gives mom more options, but also lessens the laundry load.

Once you get all of these great clothes home, it’s time to dress baby. Some days that’s easier said than done. Gymboree’s newborn essentials have easy peasy snap buttons and stretch envelope shoulders so dressing your baby doesn’t feel like you’re stuffing a sausage. It not only eases the stress of getting ready but also cuts down on the time. We all know how long it takes to get baby ready and out the door. Anything that can help in this department is welcomed!

It’s not only great to buy Gymboree clothes for your own baby, but they also make a great gift. I really love to give Gymboree sets because you can always find some cute accessories for every outfit. Although baby may not be fully able to appreciate it, moms love every extra ounce of cuteness they can pile on their little ones.

So there’s no need to go store to store to find the right fit and style. Don’t be a Goldilocks. Get it right the first time with Gymboree’s newborn essentials. It really will make life with your baby a little sweeter.

*This is a sponsored post.

5 Reasons Why the New School Year is Better Than the Real New Year

3…2…1…Happy New School Year! Okay, so there’s no ball drop and no noise blowers or confetti. But, the beginning of a new school year really should be a holiday too. I don’t know about you, but I feel like the new school year is like the real new year…just a few months earlier…and a lot warmer.

In case you haven’t guessed, ever since my kids started going to school the new school year is one of my favorite non-holidays (although a Hallmark card to acknowledge would be nice, just sayin’). While I love having them home for the summer, really I do, there’s just so much excitement that comes along with a new school year. In case the new school year doesn’t have you reminiscing about your old Trapper Keepers and longing for a Capri Sun, here are some reasons why you should be:

1. New School Supplies: Okay, I’m a self-proclaimed geek so I love new school supplies. There’s just something about freshly sharpened pencils and clean notebooks. A fresh box of crayons with all 24 colors still intact…you just can’t go wrong. If that’s not enough to get you going, how about those new book bags and lunch boxes? I think I get more excited than the kids!

2. Bedtime is Back Baby: “It’s a school night.” The words are magic to any momma’s ears. They mean the kids are going to bed whether it’s still a tinge light out or not. They mean mommy can catch up on her 17 episodes of “Young & the Restless” that are waiting for her in the DVR. They mean getting on a schedule. Amen! Let me tell you, there’s nothing wrong with a little routine.

3. No Christmas Toys to Hide or Put Away: Usually around the real New Year, we’re still cleaning up from the holidays. It is tiring and annoying. There is so much junk…I mean valuable gifts, lying around the house. This means opening things, buying lots of AA batteries and sometimes hiding toys. Did I say that? We never hide toys. We also never secretly return toys. The great thing about the new school year is that you’re not dealing with more crap in your house. Simply put.

4. New Friends: If you weren’t a fan of your child’s BFF last year, there’s hope this year! Maybe he’ll find a friend who doesn’t think boogers are a new food group. Let’s be honest, there are some kids your child may love, but ones you could do without. A new school year brings hope of new friendships…minus the boogers. Fingers crossed.

5. Drop Off Chitter Chatter: While we all promise to hang out over the summer, sometimes getting together with school friends gets buried in the sand. Sometimes you don’t get together as much as you would have liked. Sometimes you miss hanging out. Sometimes it’s nice to drop off the kids and have a real conversation with someone else who isn’t worried whether Caillou will ever grow hair. It’s refreshing to talk to other moms and dads. There’s nothing wrong with momma getting some social interaction too. Plus, you may be able to figure out who has the booger-eating kid at lunch.

So, the next time the new school year’s got you down, think about what I’ve said. You can keep your champagne and noise blowers…okay maybe just the noise blowers…I’ll take a new school year over the real new year anyday. Now, where’s my Trapper Keeper…

As You Start First Grade…

Tomorrow’s the day, you’re starting first grade.
With your Peppa Pig backpack you’ll be well on your way.
There are some jitters as we start a new year, but this time around Mommy won’t shed any tears.
You’re becoming a big girl, this I can see, but for now it makes me feel good to know you really do still need me.
You’re going to learn so much this time around too; I know you’ll do great in whatever you do.
You’ll make new friends and play with the old, just be sure to stay away from the ones who may act too bold.
It seems each year is passing faster than the last , but I can remember every detail of your days that have past.

I can’t wait to see what pictures you draw and what books you will now be able to read. We’ve been practicing many words this summer, so I think we’ve planted the seed. Now, don’t get in a tizzy if things don’t come easy. Don’t whine. Don’t cry. All I ask is that you try, try, try.

Give it your all, sometimes you may fall. In the end remember to hold your head up tall. You can do anything you put your mind to, so there is no reason to feel blue.

Enough of all this serious stuff, now on to some other things that aren’t so rough.

Like I’ve said before, please remember to go pee at school, you know it’s Mommy’s little rule. Mommy’s other little hope is that you will wash your hands with water and soap.If you happen to go number two, which I know you won’t, please wipe, I’ll know if you don’t.

When it comes to lunch, do more than just munch. Eat what I pack, not just the snack.

One last thing before I say goodnight…remember to have fun and please be safe…I know that first grade is going to be just great.

Review: Cave Man BBQ Tools Set

We all know how great it is to eat food on the grill. But, finding the right grilling tools is just as important as having the best BBQ recipe. Nothing is worse than losing some of your meal through the grates on your grill just because you don’t have the proper tools.

That’s where Cave Man Tools comes in. I recently tried out the High End BBQ Tools Set. The set comes with a BBQ spatula and fork as well as grilling tongs. All three tools are stainless steel which is great when it comes to cleaning them when you’re done grilling. They’re also heavy duty. No dollar store quality here! You know you’re working with some serious tools.

The quality of the spatula is an added bonus for flipping burgers. You don’t have to worry about your burger falling apart when you’re trying to cook it thoroughly. Hot dogs won’t roll all over the place when you use the fork. It is immensely strong for picking up meat off the grill.

As for the tongs, they come in handy when turning over meat like chicken. It not only makes it easier, but lessens the amount of flames that may arise when you turn your meat.

The best part is that when you’re all done, you can just throw them in the dishwasher. Gone is the time-consuming task of scrubbing each utensil clean.

If you’re looking for a durable BBQ set for yourself or for a gift, give the Caveman BBQ set a try. It’s definitely worth it!

*I was compensated with the product in order to complete this review.

We Were “That” Family at a Restaurant

You know when “it” has happened.

“It” happens to all of us every time again even if you’re one of those people who doesn’t want to admit that it does.

“It” is when everyone including their senile aunt is staring you down as if you were walking around spitting fire.

“It” is when you become “that” family.

“It” recently happened to my family.

“It” was nasty, gross, and smelly.

Here’s how “it” went down…

Once upon a time there was a mommy, daddy, and two little princesses. They decided to go out for a nice seafood dinner while they were out of town. The older princess was especially excited because she practically loved seafood more than Caillou…well, almost.

Anyway, when this little family walked in, many of the other people couldn’t help but say how cute the little princesses were in their matching sundresses. When the little family went to sit at their table, the princesses asked if they could order Shirley Temple drinks. The mommy and daddy said yes, what could be the harm? (We’ll find out in a bit)

So, the princesses have their Shirley Temples and decide to order clam chowder…yummy. Both princesses finish their soup and are happy as can be. Once their seafood dinners come, the older princess couldn’t wait to dive in. But, when she did, she spit out a piece.

“This is gross,” she said.

“Yeah, icky,” agreed the younger princess.

“It’s fine, just eat it,” says the mommy.

So, the princesses eat another bite, only to scrunch their noses in disgust. This is when the older princess tells her mommy she doesn’t feel good.

Uh-oh thinks the mommy.

“Let’s go to the bathroom,” says the mommy.

The older princess nods her head in agreement. As they walk to the complete opposite part of the restaurant, the older princess puts her hand over her mouth. The mommy instantly knows what is going to happen next. The two can’t walk fast enough. All of a sudden, the princess throws up a Shirley Temple, clam chowder concoction that smelled worse than a baby’s diaper. All of this happens in the middle of the dining room.

In that moment, they became “that” family.

The mommy hurries to throw some napkins over her daughter’s mess as a woman comments, “how disgusting”. Guess she didn’t think the princess was that cute anymore! Oh how mommy would have loved to talk to her but she had to get to the bathroom before the next eruption. Time was everything.

Luckily they made it to the bathroom where the poor little princess got sick again.

“I just want to go home”, she wailed. Other women heard her and were nice enough to bring a cup of water and some wet clothes to calm down the princess. The mommy’s faith in humanity was restored! The mommy was having doubts after hearing the other woman’s comment in the dining room.

After the princess was feeling better, she walked back to her seat with her mommy and past the rude lady. The mommy gave the woman a dirty look as she walked by. The mommy knew she was a part of “that” family that night.

So, the family took the rest of their meal home, paid the check and left.

The End.

Birthdays, Bacon & Lobster

As we get older, we tend to like to forget our birthdays.

I’ve always said I stopped counting after 30.

Sure it’s nice to have a little cake and maybe get a present or two, but as you get older, the helium seems to get sucked out of the balloons faster than you can say “Happy Birthday.”

Things couldn’t be further from the truth for kids.

A birthday is like Christmas’ first cousin, but even better.

It’s a child’s own special day. No one can take it away from her. She may have to share it with a person or two, but it doesn’t matter. It’s still her birthday. Believe me, kids know when it’s their birthday.

My older daughter turns 6 this week. She’s been talking about this birthday ever since last birthday. She knows she wants bacon for breakfast and lobster for dinner…yes, lobster. I know, it’s obnoxious that a 5 year-old eats lobster, but we deal. Sure, it can get a little much, but that’s okay. It truly does warm your heart to see a child’s face just light up with excitement and anticipation.

Of course as a child gets older, she is more aware of what a birthday can mean…a party, presents, special food…it’s all a part of the package if they’re lucky. I always tell my daughter not to expect too much because then you may get disappointed!

While kids are dreaming of presents and chocolate cake, birthdays take on a new meaning when you become a parent. If you’re anything like me, you find birthdays bittersweet. Of course their birthdays are fun. But, my kids’ birthdays are always a time for me to think about just how fast they’re growing up. While it may sound cliché, time flies and they get so big in the blink of an eye. Each birthday I can remember each of their births like they were yesterday. I can remember the exact moment when the doctor placed each of them in my arms for the first time. If I close my eyes, I can almost fell their baby soft skin.

Each year when they blow out their candles, I wonder what, if anything they’re wishing for. Whatever it is, I hope it comes true if it makes them happy. As a mother, I always make a little wish for them too as they blow out their candles. Of course I never tell them. You know what they say, if you tell someone your wish, it doesn’t come true.

As they get older, I know they’ll want a lot more than bacon and lobster…although I can’t imagine a fancier meal! For now, though, I’ll take it.

Review: Scent Trunk

You go into the mall. A salesperson tries to spray you down with the latest fragrance. You feel like you need a shower. It’s annoying.

Or how about this one…you test out a fragrance in the store. It smells pretty good there. Once you get home, it makes you feel sick to your stomach. This is annoying too.

So, instead of going through all that hassle, why not customize your fragrances from the luxury of your own home? Why not get scents that truly suit your likes?

If this sounds awesome (because it is), then you need to give Scent Trunk a try. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone because I hadn’t either. But, once I did, I found it to be a useful and pretty nifty site.

Here’s how it works:

You log on and create a scent profile according to your likes. Then you subscribe to the service to get unique and personalized sample-sized fragrances delivered to your door. Sounds pretty easy, right? It is.

My Scent Trunk

My scent profile showed I like a lot of fresh scents like jasmine and pineapple. When my Scent Trunk delivery arrived in its nice little box and pouch, I got Coconut Sugar, How You Love, and Pavane No. 1 as my samples.

Coconut Sugar is my favorite

I have to say my favorite is the Coconut Sugar. It has a nice scent that doesn’t leave you sick to your stomach. The other two are good as well, but the Coconut Sugar is definitely my favorite.

What if I get sick of these scents? I can always update my scent profile to go with my current favorites. The best part is I don’t have to go to a cosmetic counter and spray a dozen different perfumes to find one I like.

Scent Trunk is a great resource if you like fresh fragrances tailored to you and don’t want to shop around with a “trial and error” method.

*This is a sponsored post. I was compensated with the product to complete this review.

My Kid The Food Critic

“Mom, this service is horrible.”

“Mom, this mac & cheese is nasty.”

“Mom, how can a restaurant run out of ketchup?”

My 5-year-old is a food critic. She pays attention to every detail of each dining experience and has a comment about everything.

While some people may think this is obnoxious, my husband and I find it hilarious. The really funny thing is that most of the time she’s right!

Case and point. We walk into a rather new restaurant and get seated. We get handed our menus. We decide what we want. We wait. And wait. And wait. No one has come over to even acknowledge us.

“Mommy, they haven’t even come to ask about our drinks.”

She’s right. We’ve been sitting for nearly ten minutes and no one has come over. It really does border on poor service and my kid knows it.

“Mommy, the service here isn’t too great.”

Thankfully she doesn’t say it too loudly because just as she gives her first critique, the waitress finally comes over to take our drink order. Of course my daughter is all smiles. Little does this waitress know she’s being watched by one of the harshest food critics on the east coast.

“Mommy, she’s not too friendly.”

OMG! This kid doesn’t quit. But, once again, she’s kinda right. The waitress kinda seemed like she was either tired or didn’t want to be there. My kid picked up on it right away.

I just nod my head in agreement.

When the waitress comes back to take our food order, both my daughters ordered for themselves. The waitress just looked at them as if they were speaking another language. My daughter gives me that “what’s wrong with her?” look. I pretend not to notice. Instead I translate for the waitress so we get the right food. God forbid the wrong stuff comes out!

So now we wait for our food. And wait. And wait.

“Mommy this is taking forever. I’m hungry.”

Then little sis chimes in too. My mini-food critic in training. I try to tell them to be patient, but I’m hungry too and it has been a long time.

Sigh.

Thankfully once the food finally arrives, it’s actually pretty good. Both my kids eat without complaints. While this may not make up for the slow service, it certainly is a brownie point.

Now onto the ice cream that comes with their meals. They order chocolate. Another waitress brings out vanilla. They stare as if they were just handed a bowl of boogers.

We tell this new waitress we ordered chocolate. She tells us they don’t have chocolate. That’s all fine and dandy, but why didn’t our waitress tell us? That’s a strike.

Ugh.

My kids eat their vanilla ice cream. It is ice cream after all.

When we’re all done, I ask my little food critic what she thought.

“It was okay. Food wasn’t bad, but they need to work on the service part.”

Lol, from the mouths of babes!

Can We Stop Complaining About Our Kids Being Home All Summer?

The kids are home for the summer. The summer is long and hot.

We all know this.

Kids can be a handful at times with all their neediness.

We all know this.

Since all of this is not rocket science, can we stop complaining about our kids being home for the summer?

I’ve been reading so many Facebook posts, tweets, and blogs about parents whining about how they can’t wait for school to start again.

Parents complaining about their kids being home for the summer.

Parents complaining about kids being bored.

Parents complaining about having to entertain their kids.

Parents complaining about having to wake up their kids for camp.

Parents complaining how the kids being home cuts into their time.

Quite frankly, parents complaining about being parents. Sorry school is not open year-round to keep your kids busy. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I think it’s the truth Ruth.

I can count on one hand the number of things I’ve read about parents actually being happy to spend extra time with their kids or parents who are actually happy about taking family vacations.

Are there any parents happy about taking advantage of five-dollar Tuesdays to catch a movie because the kids don’t have to be in bed early?

Are there any parents who are happy about spending a late Sunday evening at the beach?

Anyone? If you’re out there, let your voices be heard!

Did you ever think that if you stop complaining you may actually find some joy in having your kids around for the summer? I am a true believer that kids feed off our energy. If all we’re doing is spewing out negativity with our complaining then it should come as no surprise that our kids are going to be whiney little minions too.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been days this summer when I’ve yelled at octaves higher than an opera singer. I’ve punished and threatened to take things away. There’s been tears. There’s been timeouts. It’s not all ice cream sundaes and smiles around here. But, we manage to enjoy the summer and each other.

There’s been days when trying to figure out how I am going to get all my stuff done becomes more exhausting than actually getting it done. But, it all gets done somehow, even when the kids are lurking 24/7.

Honestly, I enjoy having my kids home for the summer. It means not rushing to get ready for school. It means no drop offs, pick-ups, or half-day nonsense. It means no homework. It means no rushing to get dinner, bath, and bedtime done at a reasonable hour. It means no soccer practices or soccer Saturdays. It means no Friday night Girl Scouts where I’m trying not to draw blood as I help my daughter make crafts. It means no PTA meetings or volunteering.

It means relaxing and having fun!!

Here’s a wild and crazy thought…why not save your whiney pants for when the kids are in school? If you feel the need to complain, it seems like there’s more to work with during the school year. Just sayin’. Better yet, why not throw away your whiney pants for good? Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Why I’m Not Sending My Kids to Summer Camp

It’s summer. The kids are home from school. They’re around 24/7. It can get a little much at times. So, why not send them to summer camp?

Although I hate to answer a question with a question…why send them to summer camp?

Lately, people have been staring at me like I have three heads because I’m choosing not to send my kids to any type of summer camp. Call me crazy, but since I am blessed enough to be a SAHM and freelance writer without a 9-5 job, I don’t really find it’s necessary. Why spend extra money for someone else to play with my kids when I can just do it myself?

Don’t get me wrong, I think camps are a great resource and a necessity when you have both parents who are working all day long. Camps give the kids a chance to play outside, go places, and meet new friends. I know some SAHMs who are sending their kids to some half-day camps and such just to get them out of the house and break up the summer a bit. Since that’s all fine and dandy for them to send their kids to camp, why is it odd for me not to send mine?

Call me crazy, but I actually don’t mind when my kids are home…even during the summer 24/7. I like being able to go outside and play, take them to the beach, and just let them be kids. Before you think everything is rainbows and unicorns at my house, there have already been plenty of times when I’ve barked at my kids because they’ve just plain old gotten on my nerves. There’s been nights when they’ve gone to bed early because mommy needs a break or mommy needs to get a lot of work done. It just goes along with the territory. I’m no Mom-angel.

But, there’s also been plenty of times when we’ve hung out at the beach with friends, splashed at the pool, and stayed outside eating those ice pops that leave your mouth different colors. We’re enjoying our summer…together. I know these days are numbered. Soon enough the thought of them hanging out with their mom at the beach all day will be anything but entertaining. So I’m soaking it in now.

I think as parents sometimes we’re so afraid of hearing, “mommy, I’m bored”, that we feel we need to schedule our kids wall to wall activities. I know it may sound strange, but let them get bored. That’s when their imagination can come out and play a bit. Let them be kids without a daily planner.

I’m sure there will come a day when my kids will need to go to camp for one reason or another and that’s fine. Until then, please don’t look at me like an alien for not wanting to send my kids to camp. For now, it’s Camp Mom 24/7 and I’m okay with that.

The Mommy Rundown

As a mom, the rundown of your day’s activities can make you feel so run down you want to scream. When I can’t scream, I write, laugh, and drink plenty of coffee!

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