Are you a FuNkY MoNkEy?

I am always looking for new snack ideas for myself and Eliza. I was recently sent some Funky Monkey snacks to try and they were YUMMY! Eliza loved the name and was excited to try them. What are Funky Monkey snacks? Funky Monkey is "Fruit that Crunches" made from real fruit using a proprietary freeze-drying process which removes 97 percent of the moisture. They end up being nutritionally equivalent to their fresh counterpart. WOOT WOOT! This process is not used on any other snack product in the U.S. The snacks are 100% fruit with no added sugar, colors, or preservatives. Each 1oz bag contains 3 servings of fruit.

My little monkey and I devoured them.

We sampled three different flavors: Applemon, MangOJ, and Pink Pineapple. You don't have to eat yours out of your Exersaucer.

I absolutely loved the Pink Pineapple while Eliza preferred the Applemon. The bags were gone as quickly as they arrived. Eliza found the Applmon on the table and pulled it off-spilling the contents everywhere. That didn't stop her from eating them of course.

Some of the snacks are USDA Organic. Here is the breakdown of five of the seven flavors. The Bananamon, JiveALime, and Purple Funk are 100% organic! Pink Pineapple is 95% organic and Carnaval Mix is 70% organic. I didn't see info on the site regarding the other two flavors. They are also Raw and Vegan.

For more information visit http://www.funkymonkeysnacks.com/

I will definitely include some in my next Amazon order. YUMMY

Good nights and good mornings with the Good Night Lite

I have only ever met one mother who says that she gets enough sleep. She is either lying or completely insane. I don't even have any kids and would definitely like to sleep more than I do, so I can't imagine how my body is going to react to even less sleep. Luckily my hubby continuously reminds me I will not have to worry about waking up with a baby for another 20 months at the minimum. But enough about my problems...

How many of you have a child that feels the need to rise and shine at 5 am? Most likely it's because the sun is out and they feel it is an acceptable time to start the days activities. Either that or kids secretly enjoy playing with their moms & dads while they are half asleep. And how many of you have trouble getting your kid to bed at night, especially during these summer months when it isn't even dark out yet at their bedtime. Whether you have both of these problems or just one of them, I suggest you read on.

I recently got my niece Layna the Good Night Lite for her 4th birthday. I have heard her parents complain many times about her getting out of bed way too early in the mornings, and when I sleep over she loves to come wake me up around 6 to play. This gift was just as much for my brother and sister in law as it was for her! Basically the Good Night Lite is a behavior modification tool that teaches your child when it is acceptable to go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. It is designed for ages 3-5 which is too young to understand a clock so telling them they can't get out of bed before a certain time is pretty much useless. It comes pre set for bed time at 7:00 pm and wake up time at 7:00 am but the times can be adjusted to whatever fits your family's schedule. When the bedtime arrives, the moon face comes on to show the child that it is time for bed. In the morning, the sun face comes on to show the child it is ok to get up. Two great features about it are that it is 6 inches wide to completely cover the outlet for safety, and it also automatically shuts off during the day to save electricity.

My niece was so excited to get this, even though she had no clue what it was. She just thought it was a totally cute regular night light and named it Sunny. It only took me about 5 minutes to explain how it works and what to do when you see the sun and moon faces. I heard rave reviews from my sister in law the next day when Layna didn't come into their room until the time she was allowed to. She also used to keep asking for more stories at bedtime in order to drag out the process as long as possible, but now she sees the moon and knows it is time to get in bed.

Here is what the images on the Good Nite Lite look like. For more information, or to purchase one for yourself check out their website.

Yummie Tummie...My New Favorite Article of Clothing

How many of you eat way too much crap over the holidays and then after New Year's decide that you are going to start eating healthy and exercising? I would say I fall into that category with probably about 95% of the population. The only problem is that most likely you have come to this decision because you have gained a few pounds in your tummy area and don't look as cute and sexy as usual in your clothes. I am super self conscious about what many refer to as "muffin top" which is when there is some extra tummy popping out over your jeans when you zip them up. If you want to look great and not show the world the extra few pounds you got from way too many holiday desserts, Yummie Tummie has you covered.

It's the first shapewear brand that is comfy, sexy, and meant to be seen. Yummie Tummie tops will visibly slim, shape and smooth you. It’s the first shapewear line on the market that is actually comfortable enough to wear all day and evening and it will automatically take 5 pounds off of your tummy area. Sounds pretty good right...

The coolest thing about them is that they look just like a regular tank top to everyone else! The top and bottom are made out of super comfy cotton...the microfiber midsection panels are the secret. They go from underneath your bust down to your hips and secretly smooth and camoflauge any unsightly lumps and bumps. They make great layering pieces and there are so many styles to choose from. Women of all shapes and sizes, especially new moms will love the comfortable support they will get from yummie tummie...there's even a tank top designed for breastfeeding!

I am not really interested in posting before and after photos of my midsection on the internet, so here is a model to show an example of what the Yummie Tummie will do for you.

I tried the original tank long style in white and love it. The ordering process is so easy and since the yummie tummie is meant to fit snugly, they provide a sizing chart on their site so that you can be absolutely sure that the size you are ordering will fit perfectly.

I love to try out products designed by women for women, and since the creator also has the same name as me, I was even more excited! Yummie Tummie was designed by a woman named Heather Thompson who has been a fashion stylist for the past 15 years - so she definitely knows what she's doing. She has also worked with Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and P Diddy to develop their clothing lines.

So if you've had your holiday fill and overindulged like the folks at eatdrinkandbeyummie.com

Yummie Tummie has you covered with slimming shapewear available in multiple styles and colors.  If you want to shop, get more information about the products, or read about how the Yummie Tummie was developed, check out their website.

Cute Camera For Kids

If your kids are anything like my niece Layna, they love taking pictures.  She always gets excited when I come to visit because she loves to play with my digital camera or my camera phone.  This is most likely because her parents will not let her touch theirs...so I am either really nice or completely insane for handing over my valuable electronics to a 3 year old.

I have recently solved the problem of her playing with my camera by getting one for her. Crayola has recently developed a digital camera for children.  It comes in different colors and has handles on both sides so little kids won't have any trouble holding onto it.  Their company is famous for helping kids be creative and this item is no different...it comes with software to upload your photos onto the computer and edit them in many ways.  Another great thing about it is that there is a slot for a memory card so your child can keep themselves busy taking a ton of photos.  I had no doubt she would be able to use this camera and she figured it out in about 30 seconds. The screen is a good size and there are different buttons for deleting and scrolling through the photos.  The only negative thing I could say about this camera is that the photos don't come out great every time.  I guess you need the right amount of light in the room and the kid needs to stand still while taking the picture-which I don't think many can get that concept. I would recommend this as a great birthday or holiday gift for a little photographer.  This product is aimed at children 3-7 years old.  Crayola also makes a video camera for kids!  Both products are available at mass retailers and electronics stores.

Here's Layna the little photographer - she loves that camera!

Layna

(photo taken with the Crayola camera...being used by an adult)

Me

(photo taken with the Crayola camera...being used by a 3 year old)

Bundleboo Review!

I know I put up this post once already- but what I didn't realize was that Blogger only put up half my post- and the one that was not edited. I have no idea how this happened. The post that was intended to go up had about three more paragraphs and links to the Bundleboo site. So basically I am more than frustrated at this point and really want to pull out my hair.I feel like I am in the episode of Friends when Ross was in the Bahamas and lost his entire key note speaker speech! AAAGGGHHH

The original post went on to say that the Bundleboo can be used for 10 different carrying positions. It also can be used with tiny preemies and with kids up to 40lbs! Of course it was invented by a mom. Rebekah Gonzalez was sewing wraps to supplement her income when she decided to cut two leg openings that would serve as an added safety feature- and the Bundleboo was born. The legs holes really make it much easier to wrap a squirmy child-especially on your back. Eliza is very squirmy and the leg holes help to keep her secure. Additionally, the carrier comes with a DVD that makes using the wrap a snap!

Please check out the Bundleboo site. A percentage of every purchase goes to The Smile Train!


As you all know I am having a love affair- with baby wearing. I am so interested in it and I am increasingly frustrated that I wasn't able to attend the Babywearing Conference this summer. I would love to really learn how to teach other people to baby wear correctly. I love ALL types of carriers and carries. I haven't been this interested I'm anything in a very long time.

I am constantly searching for different types of carriers and my wish list is every growing. My latest find is the Bundleboo. They were amazingly kind and sent me a sample to try out and review. I couldn't be more grateful because I love this Carrier. If you are normally intimidated by wraps, this wrap is for you.

LAF Review & Giveaway!

It has been like Christmas around here lately. Last week I received some awesome products from LAF brand. LAF stands for "Little Angel Face". This company offers seriously innovative products that make life easier for busy families.

The first product is the Roll-N-Go Diaper Caddy. This product is seriously convenient. It is an organized mom's dream and will help me with my dream of becoming organized. This diaper caddy will turn any bag into a diaper bag. Dads can even sneak it into a manly bag and be prepared for any occasion. In my opinion if you need to run out quick it is pretty enough to stand alone as a clutch. Or, stash it in the car for emergencies!
With fall just around the corner we head right into long sleeve t-shirt season. Then Mother Nature throws us a curve ball and you get a warm afternoon and wish you had some summer clothes still available. Attachables clothing is the answer to the too hot, too cold fall weather. The sleeves Velcro in and can be taken off in a jiffy if it gets too warm. The if you get chilly you can reattach them with ease! Products range from infant to 5T so there is something for all your little ones.I wish they made this product in an adult size. Too bad for me!

Stay tuned for the upcoming LAF Rocks line featuring extra long, fun striped removable sleeves with Rocker style. Eliza is a rocker girl and she will def. be getting one of these for her birthday. Additionally, the shirt will also come with a pair of white sleeves so kids can mix and match. We all know how important it is for kids to have choice and these sleeves will help them express their individual style.

I am giving a way a size 3T Attachables T-Shirt. Your little one will LAF out Loud in this adorable black tee with white sleeves. Just visit the LAF website and leave a comment telling me your favorite product! Contest ends September 1st!.

If your thinking of making some Green changes...

Recently I have started to think about clutter. I am talking about physical clutter and mental clutter. I came to the realization that the clutter in my house is having a negative effect on how I feel. The chaos I create for myself is effecting my well being and ability to function efficiently. I often feel weighed down and overwhelmed. For example, my bedroom is often littered with clothes. The nightstands covered with who knows what, and the closet doors flung open wide bearing a hodgepodge of clothes, shoes, hand bags and other misc. items. None of my clothes are actually hanging up. At night when I get in bed, I lay there, unable to breathe, feeling like there is a great big grizzly bear sitting on my chest. A grizzly bear named- CHAOS!

I don't want to live in excess. I want to live simply. I want to live cleanly. I want to live an eco-friendly life. And I want my daughter to see me doing my part to keep our Earth healthy. So what do I do whenever I embark on a new adventure? I get a book. I am a book geek. So when I was offered the chance to check out Eco-Friendly Families before it hit shelves I answered with a resounding., "Heck Yea!"

So I have been reading Eco-Friendly Families by Helen Coronato. I received it a few weeks back and have had my nose in it ever since. It is basically a going green guide for families. This book has really been an inspiration to me because it makes going green seem much more manageable! I just know Pete appreciates how I gently remind him to shut off the water when he is brushing his teeth.

The book has lots of great features that make it easy to use.

• A monthly guide to greening up your home


• Chapter checklists to help you stay organized


• Green cleaning tips and tricks to help get the WHOLE family involved in cleaning. Now if I could only teach E to use a squirt bottle.


• Innovative and fun ways to reuse and recycle common household items. * My niece and I have already recycled some old crayons!


• An awesome resource section in the back with websites galore

Since I started reading the book I have made small changes in my house. The hubs and I are de-cluttering and simplifying. We donated some old clothes (which I normally would do) and I am looking into donating old athletic sneakers to Nike to be recycled (new idea!). I located spots in my community to get rid of old batteries in a safe way. I have also started saving glass jars so that I can reuse them. I plan to bring some down to Hatteras on vacation for collecting shells and sea glass. I think that will be a nice way to make keepsakes from the trip. This is only the tip of the burg for us- but I am careful to make slow, small changes I can keep up with in the future.

The book is a good resource for anyone that wants to make some green changes. It is probably best for those who are just starting out with making some positive changes. Of you have been doing the green thing for a while- you are probably already doing a lot of things suggested in the book. It makes it's debut on August 5th but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now for just $10.85

Soothing our way to Slumberville

I recently received a CD called "Dream Baby" to try out with Eliza. I have to admit that I was getting pretty tired of listening to the Baby Einstein Lullaby CD after 9 months! The "Dream Baby" CD is a harp CD by Merry Miller. Before getting the CD I really knew nothing about harp music or how it effected the brain. I was pretty much open to trying anything with Eliza because she has such difficulty settling in for naps and bed time. Yesterday's post was a perfect example of my struggle!

According the paperwork I received with the CD, the harp is medically proven to help stop kids from crying- and adults too. It also states that harp music is soothing for kids with Autism. the notes played on the harp lower the level of stress hormone cortisol and raises the level of melatonin. In other words, it helps to relax you when you are stressed. Eliza does have a difficult time settling down and I have noticed she is much more relaxed after a few minutes of listening she drifts off to slip. She is usually asleep by track number #4. I also feel quite relaxed while listening to the music so I think the harp sounds are helping to relieve my stress as well.

I used it the very first night when it arrived and I have to admit the music is very soothing. It was actually a refreshing change after nine months. I listen to whatever Eliza is listening to through the baby monitor. OK- who am I kidding-we all know I usually end up holding Eliza while she sleeps so I am right there in the room listening too. The CD has some of my favorite childhood songs including "You are my Sunshine", "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Puff the Magic Dragon".

I asked my husband what he thought of it and he said he just wished it was longer. I happen to agree with him on this point. I could use more of the harpy goodness. However, he says it put him to sleep a whole bunch of times. hee hee. I have been listening to Baby Music exclusively since I received it in the mail. I do wish it would help Eliza stay asleep but so far that hasn't happened. A mom can dream right?

Click here to listen to a sampling of the songs.

Getting Cozy with the CozyWedge

Everyone knows I am a lot little neurotic. So, the Classic Pooh bumpers I bought for Eliza's crib have been laying on the floor of her closet since the day I brought them home. I might have put them on to take a picture at some point-but she was never in the crib with those bumpers. Having bumpers in a crib increases chances of suffocation and rebreathing. The following health organizations advise against having bumpers in the crib: American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Canada, National Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the First Candle/National SIDS Alliance. I just felt I did not want to do anything that could increase her risk of SIDS. So the crib has looked very drab and empty for the past 8 months. Then I discovered the CozyWedge- a safer alternative to traditional bumpers. Now that Eliza is more mobile and can move if her airway is blocked, I feel more comfortable adding a bumper to the crib. When I stumbled upon the CozyWedge I knew it was the right choice for me.

What makes this bumper so unique?
CozyWedge is a wedge shaped bumper made with baby-safe foam- think pool noodle meets crib bumper. This baby safe foam does not create a pocket around your baby's mouth and nose like a traditional bumper might. As a result the CozyWedge is a safer, very chic, alternative. The shock-absorbing foam is totally nonabsorbent, CFC-free and odorless. The slipcovers are completely washable and are made from 100% cotton. The solid colors, like my pink, are made of 100% organic cotton. WOO HOO!

I was very excited when my wedge arrived in the mail. I set to put it together straight away. Although it was very easy to put together, my husband ended up finishing the job because I put some of the foam pieces in upside down. Watching Eliza and putting the bumper together proved to be more than my mommy brain could handle. ;) But I promise you that it really is very simple to put together.

How has it been working?

I decided I wanted a crib bumper for several reasons: E is always getting her arms and legs caught in between the bars , she repeatedly smacks her head on the rails, and her Binky flies out during the night leaving her binkyless. I have been using the bumper for a little over a week and here are my findings. The bumper has definitely helped keep her limbs inside of the crib. I am very grateful for this because it is no fun going in there to unwedge my daughter. However, she is still bumping her head because she usually falls to the side from a kneeling position and hits higher than the bumper reaches. However, her binky now stay in the crib! This results in mommy not having to strain herself by reaching her arm under the crib in the morning to retrieve said binky. So even though she is still cracking herself in the noggin now and again, the bumper is working out really well. In the words of Meatloaf- 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Here are some pics of the Cozy Wedge in action!

Isn't it cute?

Checking out her Cozy Wedge!

One satisfied customer!

I would absolutely recommend this bumper to expecting moms or new moms or any mom for that matter. It would also make a great shower gift. I truly feel much safer using this bumper. I know many moms want to be safe but also like the aesthetic of a bumper. Especially those first time mommies who spend the entire second half of their pregnancy designing and decorating the perfect room. I believe this product provides a nice middle ground. While perusing their FAQ's I found this nifty nugget of information. CozyWedge will send you any two swatches for free to see if the wedge will match your nursery. How cool is that?The bumpers come in 13 different styles so you have a lot to choose from. Check out their website to learn more about this great new product!

Signs of Teeth, Car Seat Update and The Ants Go Marching...

Eliza's two bottom teeth are starting to break through. I didn't think it would make me sad but when I saw it and felt it I was felt sad and excited at the same time. It was very strange. I feel like she is getting so big and her little teeth make her all grown up. Well not really- but kinda. You know what I mean.

I want to thank everyone for your feedback on car seats. It was really very helpful. Peter and I decided to go with the Evenflo Triumph- which we of course will keep in the rear facing position for as long as possible. We still have some time before we are going to switch her over, but I wanted to have it because we are going to be busy in the upcoming weeks. I do like Britax but they were very, very pricey.

So when i got home yesterday I realized that ants have invaded my kitchen. Now I usually LOVE all creatures. I am known to rescue bugs in my class and bring them outside. I am pretty tolerant of bugs and creepy crawlies in general. However, I HATE ANTS! I don't know what it is about them but I really am terrified of ants. I just think they are going to crawl into all of my orifices. The spring always brings bugs into my condo, so it was inevitable, but I just was not prepared for ants. I don't want to use anything harsh because of the baby but I really need to do something about this problem because I am scared to go in the kitchen. I can't figure out where the little ant bastards are coming from and they are multiplying like Angelina and Brad's kids. HELP!!! Does anyone know any safe solution I can use to deter these monsters.

If haven't been around commenting because I have my head stuck in a book called A Dozen Invisible Pieces and Other Confessions of Motherhood. The author is Kimmelin Hull and you can check out her blog or book site for more info. I started reading it last night and now I can't seem to stop. I will post more after I finish reading.

Happy Baby = Happy Mommy

As most of you know Eliza's belly has been through the wringer over the past two months. Two stomach viruses and a round of antibiotics wreaked havoc on her little system. The stomach viruses both basically destroyed the the lining of her gut and the antibiotics killed all of the good bacteria that helped her to digest food and absorb nutrients.

Starting solids proved to be difficult, so I did some research on what to feed little E. I was surfing the net one day and came across a blog that was highlighting Happy Baby food. What immediately jumped out at me was that this baby cereal contained probiotics (good bacteria). I remembered that the hospital gave her probiotics to help her stomach when she was on antibiotics. After reading up on the company I decided to switch Eliza to their products.

Eliza has been eating Happy Bellies Organic Rice Baby Cereal (Organic Brown Rice) and she gobbles it down with gusto. I usually add in some pears or apples to make it extra tasty. The texture of the brown rice cereal is amazingly smooth. My mom even commented on how creamy it was in comparison to another common brand we previously had used. Eliza will soon be gobbling down the other two cereals offered by this amazing company.

* Happy Bellies Organic Oatmeal Baby Cereal (Organic Whole Oats)

* Happy Bellies Organic Multigrain Baby Cereal (Organic Oats, Organic Quinoa, and Organic Amaranth--making this variety a heady source of protein and dietary fiber)

In addition to cereals Happy Baby also makes organic frozen meals in 15 flavors. You just pop out and defrost one serving at a time. Right now Eliza is sampling the Thank You Peas (which she is now eating with no fuss after a few days) and Purer Pear! Yumm-O! The peas have a vibrant green color and smell extremely fresh.If you compare peas stored on a supermarket shelf to the frozen peas there is a substantial difference. The color is just one positive aspect of freezing the fruit and vegetables. In addition, freezing preserves more nutrients in your baby's food. Plus, you are only defrosting and using the exact amount you need so no additional nutrients are lost through refrigeration.

All of the food is 100% organic with no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, and no genetic modification. You can feel really good about giving it to your little one. I feel confident that the probiotics will help prevent the growth of harmful disease causing bacteria and as a result boost her immune system.

I am sure you are wondering, "Where do I get my Happy Baby food?"

The dry cereals are now offered at Amazon.com so you don't even need to leave the comfort of your computer home to make a purchase. I picked up my frozen food at my local Whole Foods. If they do not carry it at your local grocery store you could always talk to customer service. I have found that most food stores will start carrying a product if their is a customer demand.

Let me know if you decide to give it a try. I would love to hear about your experiences with this brand of baby food.