A Free Giveaway!!!
“For first-time moms without time or inclination to dally in stores comparing various items for their babies, Maclean and Schultz have compiled a handy baby-gadget buying encyclopedia.” Is how the Baby Gizmo Buying Guide is described. This mommy has to agree.
How I wish I had something like this when we were just starting our family. With the vast amount of baby products out there getting lost is easy. What do you need and what do you not need? Heather Maclean and Holly Schultz have attempted to take their years of baby buying and basically give you a cheat sheet. The sheet just happens to be 457 pages long.
The length would be my only complaint about this book. It makes it seem as intimidating as buying the actual products themselves! However, if you view it as an encyclopedia or reference instead of a book you read from beginning to end the size should not matter, but rather encourage you! For instance if you are interested in buying a new stroller simply turn to chapter 25 and get the low-down.
Special extras in this book are a special section on safety, growth charts and milestones, a registry list, a section on the perfectly packed diaper bag, a baby brand pronunciation guide, a money saving chapter, and the top 10 things they wished they knew when they were having children. The extras alone could be their own book!
After seeing this book I can definitely saymlvi1.gif
Now here is the fun part!!!!! I have 3 copies to give away for free! All you have to do is enter @ www.doesmommyloveit.com and make sure your email field is filled out. You have until April 11th to enter. Spread the word. It is appreciated but not required for you to mention this contest on your own blog and link to this post.
Game on!
TAGGED by my friend, Cara…I’m It!
I got blog tagged by my writer/editor friend Cara, so here are the rules and my list.
The rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged.
————–
With that, here are six non-important things, habits, and/or quirks about me:
1. I’m addicted to anything citrus…oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pummelos, citrus-scented candles, citrus-flavored gum, and the list goes on!
2. I play the saxophone…I was first chair in junior high for my jazz lab for 4 years!
3. I love dark chocolate. The darker they are, the better it is!
4. I watch cooking shows but never cook.
5. I only use pens that have black ink.
6. I have to have hand cream 24/7. Dry skin esp. the hands drive me nuts!
Tag — you’re it!
Misi, MommyZabs, Stephie, Jackie, Leta, and Wonki
Does Mommy Love It? Group Writing Project #1
Welcome to the first Does Mommy Love It? Group Writing Project! Go to www.doesmommyloveit.com.
If you are not familiar with what a Group Writing Project is, let me explain what it is and the perks of participating!
A Group Writing Project is a writing activity/contest that allows you to share personal stories and experiences based on a specific topic that is presented to you (by us, of course!). The topics are pretty general and you, as the writer, can share whatever you want within the topic…it can be humorous, serious, dramatic, and etc. The Group Writing Project occurs over a specified span of time (usually monthly, but subject to change). It’s a fun way to express your creativity of everyday life and even practice writing!
Here are the many perks in participating in a Group Writing Project:
1. More exposure to your own blog(s) and gain a broader readership audience.
2. Discover new and interesting blogs of others and make connections.
3. A chance to publish links to other’s posts and get links back to yours.
*If you are familiar with blog world, you know having links back to your blog are quite advantageous. I encourage everyone who participates to publish either a list of their favorites or even the whole list on their blog at the end of the contest.
4. Find out about the latest parenting trends, get advice on family issues, updates on new products, and meet other moms, dads, & families!
5. Lastly, you have a chance to WIN A PRIZE!
Okay, drum roll please, now for our first Group Writing Project…
Topic: A Family Product I Cannot Live Without, is…
This could be anything (a baby product, a child toy, or a website or book, etc.) that has helped you in your everyday family world. Please explain how it fits into your definition of what a “family product” is.
The post must contain a link back to this post. In using Mr. Linkey, make sure that you link back to your specific entry post and not your blog URL. You are welcome to take the banner from this post and use it in yours!
Deadline: Sunday February 24th, Midnight Eastern Time Zone.
PRIZE: $20 Amazon.com Gift Certificate – This will be chosen at random of all the entries.
What about those who want a chance to win but have no blog?
NO WORRIES! Simply use our contact page and copy/paste it in there, and we would be happy to post it for you. Or what’s even better, you can create your own blog using wordpress, blogspot, xanga, and etc.
New Web Venture
Hello Everyone!
My wonderful and good friend Elizabeth and I partnered up to create a new website for mommies. Our website features practical and fair reviews on all different kinds of products pertaining to baby, toddlers, families and parents. Our intention is to build a consistent readership audience and communities for mommies- new, experienced, grandmothers, and even friends of moms! Plus, we would love your comments on our products (i.e. whether you agree or disagree) as well as any feedback on our website itself. Please help us in spreading the word to others. It would be greatly appreciated.
Check it out at www.doesmommyloveit.com! We are in our initial launch, so let’s build this together!
Thank you!
I’m grateful for my child…(Mamablogga group writing project)
I’m grateful for my child for his ability to make me laugh. Boy, does he light up my life! By nature, I am a very serious person, introverted and very pensive. I think, think, think all the time about everything. Jaden, almost 3, lives life so simply. He’s carefee, loves to have fun, makes most of his play and learning time. He soaks up his zest for life by the little things we take for granted. As a witness, to this, he shows me I need to laugh more and enjoy challenges and the unpredictable circumstances that happen. I now, run with him through puddles and play with his trucks and trains with him. I feel as though I can endure anything life throws at me.
Music!
We were at the mall last weekend and it was packed. However, we found ourselves waiting for the crowds to pass and found a kiosk with Elmo, The Wiggles, Veggie Tales, and Dora all over. Obviously, it peaked Jaden’s interest and we decided to discover what it was all about. It turns out that they make and sell children’s characters (such as the above) CDs personalized with the child’s name in the songs! So, Jaden kept saying, “Elmo, there’s Elmo.” We got the CD with all of Elmo’s songs and Elmo says Jaden 75 times! Jaden loves music and hearing Elmo say his name…so we found that it’s a great alternative to TV. He dances to it and sings. It’s great! They are available online… Just ME music. Check it out!
New Findings
So, I’ve started my new job at Liz and it’s been great. There is such a ease about the atmosphere and such routine there. Everyone is cross-trained and knows each other’s job. I work with 6 people and I analyzed the inventory to fully maximize our business. I primarily allocate Juicy Couture. At 5:30pm, I’m out the door and home by 5:45pm. Still, it feels a little weird. But I am enjoying it.
I have two great findings, I must share with you all. I absolutely adore these new footwear called Crocs. Recently, I bought Jaden a pair and it’s the cutest thing. He has the kids cayman, but they offer various styles. Also, you can add little accessories called Jibbitz. I love them! Great for everyday wear, on the beach, and etc.
Also, you need to check out this E-MAGAZINE called “Babble.” Check out their mission statement below.
We created Babble for one very simple reason: we can’t find a magazine or community that speaks to us as new parents. Every publication we encounter presents procreation as a cute and cuddly experience, all pink and powder blue, at best an interior decorating opportunity, at worst a housekeeping challenge. None of it is true to the experience we are having, and that we see around us.
The truth is that parenting is one of life’s crucible experiences — it’s rapturous, backbreaking and hysterically funny. It swiftly cures both diehard cynics and careless naifs. It’s a primal, somatic journey, thick with the fragrances, stenches, coos and cries of life at its most elemental. It’s a subject, in other words, that deserves both more serious and lighthearted attention from the great writers of our day, not to mention from the best bloggers, photographers and videographers.
This, then, is the first part of Babble’s mission: to tell the truth about parenting, to bypass the clichés and dig into the magical and maddening reality. Our commitment to readers is to explore the world of parenting on a daily basis with ruthless honesty, and with the humor and lyricism natural to the subject.
We can’t think of a more interesting time to be talking about parenting. A few decades ago, things were simpler — parents followed uncontested instructions from the family doctor; wives did most of the work. Today, everything is up for grabs: roles are shifting, rules are changing and every opinion has backers. On the one hand, we are renegotiating the structure of parenting with employers and spouses; on the other, we are adapting techniques with the benefit of new research and our own instinct for reinvention. We are doing all this in pursuit of an age-old objective: we — fathers and mothers alike — want to raise happy, curious children without fully surrendering our adult lives.
If this were ever possible, it seems so today. We are a generation that has participated in the reinvention of media, science and technology — we have cause for optimism and experience with forging new rules. Many aspects of parenting are timeless, but others have changed radically in recent decades: Fathers today spend twice as much time with their children as they did 30 years ago, for instance. More mothers are working or finding other ways to stay socially and culturally engaged. American cities are undergoing a kind of parenting renaissance — more young families are staying in cities, and as a result cities are becoming more family-friendly. And yet despite all this progress (some would say because of it), parenting remains an extremely challenging job.
The second part of our mission is to make this challenge easier, to help parents navigate and keep pace with the modern, ever-changing world of parenting. To this end, we offer Strollerderby, the most comprehensive parenting blog on the planet; Parental Advisory, our advice column; and regular features about products, fashion, entertainment, travel, trends and health. Our short, straightforward reviews are designed to help new parents navigate the ever-rising ocean of gadgets (five-piece anti-gas baby bottles! electric wipe-warmers! multi-position slings!).
For those looking for quick answers to practical questions, we created the Info Center: a clear presentation of the landscape of expert opinion. Non-judgmental health-and-development articles present multiple answers to questions like, “Should I circumcise my child?” “Can our toddler watch movies?” and “Should we vaccinate against chicken pox?” along with links to the best resources online. Babble saves the conscientious parent hours of fruitless research by providing wise, thorough and succinct answers to all the most important questions.
The final aspect of our mission — and the closest to our hearts — is to build a community of like-minded parents. Parenting can be lonely. Together, we can connect the dots between our isolated experiences. We want to shares stories, commiserate and celebrate the absurdity and wonder of it all. We still have a lot of unanswered questions, and we have found no better resource than other parents. So please join us on the Babble Boards and share your thoughts, whether about Babble or parenting more broadly. We look forward to seeing you there.
— Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman, co-publishers
Very cool!
The greatest fraud ever?
Apparently, we don’t have to pay income tax. It’s not a law, but a duty of a US citizen. It pays the government to provide us with various services like paying for the war in Iraq. I’m not certain if this is true or not, but we have some homework to do! Check out the documentary by Aaron Russo.
This is an hour and 30 minutes long, so here’s a link.
Way Overdue…
Wow! It’s been a couple of months since my last blog. A ton of things have happened; therefore, my mind has been in whirls of pensive thought. To begin, this past Saturday, my amazing grandmother passed away. She practically raised my sister and me throughout our childhood. She was only 72 and it seems so incredulous to me that she’s gone. It was so sudden…she collapsed last Friday night and was hospitalized and in a week she’s gone. She’s had health problems but wasn’t supposed to be this early. She was so awesome and loved all of her grandkids. She was so patient and loving. It’s a little over a year since my other grandmother died. I have to stop writing, tears are welling up.
Death has been one of the things constantly running through my mind. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine, older brother, committed suicide. Man, that was surreal. I’m not sure if any one of us knew how to respond/react to that. It seems as though he suffered from bipolar mental disorder. But when you met him, he seemed so normal and just a regular guy. At the viewing, my friend read the last journal entry of his and all he wrote down was, “I am a child of God, a child of God, a child of God” repeatedly. He jumped off the George Washington bridge and must of died immediatedly because it was freezing.
About a week ago, my close, close friend almost got into a huge car accident, and it really shook her up. I am so thankful she’s not gone. Sigh of relief!
I was driving up from the NJ Turnpike and literally witnessed a multi-car accident where I saw a car tire shoot straight up into the air. Blessedly, I was driving slower than usual and I was 5 cars away from the accident. My heart raced at the site of the accident.
To be honest, God knows I don’t feel ready to die or ever ready for anything that will require a sacrifice. My question is…”are we or am I ever ready for anything?” It is written in Romans, “For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you though Christ from the power of sin that leads to death…so you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves…for the Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us we’re God’s children.” Why is it that most of the time I feel like a cowering, fearful slave? I know I am a child of God, yet why do I lack so much trust. So far, my twenties have been a consistent whirlwind of transitions and change. Most unplanned, some planned. However, has it really built more trust in Him? Have I learned to love Him more? Has He become my all in all? How about my heart…has it hardened or has it softened? I hope so…I better have.
Truly, as I am learning more of who I am with the Lord and how He’s shaping me, things of this world is slowly passing away. GOD, you are sovereign and good.
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” 2 Cor. 4: 16-18
On a somewhat brigher note, I have resigned from my job at L’Oreal and will be working at a new job at Liz Claiborne starting March 19th. L’Oreal is great and the team I work for are fabulous, but just can’t understand the the whole life/balance thing. The Liz office is in NJ, about a 20 minute drive and I will be doing something that is somewhat related. It has just as great benefits as well as set working hours. 9-5. Yes!
Jaden’s growing at rapid speed and is learning a ton of things at daycare. His major milestone is that he’s speaking in sentences. His daycare functions as a preschool. They even take class pictures. After the summer program, Jaden will be entering Pre K 3. It’s great!
This must be the year! I have 5 weddings to go to and 6 of my girlfriends are pregnant. Three with their firsts, one with her 2nd, one on her 4th, one on her 3rd. Crazy! I am craving for my second, definitely. We’ll see! 
Here’s pics for you to enjoy… ALL in ALL I love every one of you who has been and is part of my life!
Where’s the balance?
So, it’s been quite a while since my last blog. To be honest, it’s been incredibly busy at work. My manager resigned 3 weeks ago and thus, in two months time at L’Oreal, I’m pounded with a ton of work. Reports after reports for upper management, getting used to all the systems, learning the business, I’m bogged down. For the last 3 weeks, I’ve been coming home at 7:30pm-8pm every night. It’s seriously not fun. I’m exhausted. Pray for me. It’s really weird to reconnect back to NYC life. People who stay at work till 8pm and go out afterwards for drinks and such.
For me, finding the balance is still a work in progress. I know I’ll find it soon!
I’ll write more later.
