My son co-slept with us for almost a year and a half before we both realized that he needed more space.  Because we waited so long, the transition was (and still is at times) rough. It took a lot of patience and creativity to finally get to the point where he sleeps in his toddler bed on most days.  It also took a lovey, something we introduced when we were attempting to move him out of his crib.

Little Giraffe is a Los Angeles-based luxury children’s line offering ultra cozy Chenille blankets, burpies, towels, and more.  The company’s designs are modern and stylish and the fabrics they use are incredibly soft.  Their products are offered in a variety of colors and fabrics suitable for babies and tots.

Little Giraffe offers comfort, luxury, and quality.  We received a gorgeous lovey in light pink for our daughter.  For children who have difficulty sleeping without their mommy, a lovey can be a great way to transition to being a “big” boy or girl while still offering security.  This Little Blanky is small enough for tots to bring with them on the go, while still offering a, luxurious blanket to sleep with.  I love how soft it is, particularly because my daughter’s skin is still so soft and sensitive.

You can purchase Little Giraffe products at Barney’s, Nordstrom, Layla Grayce, and Petite Tresor,

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A product sample was provided to facilitate this review.

The internet is an endless wealth of resources.  I don’t know about you, but I often find it difficult to sift through the information to find exactly what I’m looking for.  At times it’s like information overload.  And everyone is an expert, right?  Since there isn’t much governance over what’s put on the web, it’s important to be discerning about what you read.  One of the sites I often go to for relevant, credible information is DisneyFamily.com.

DisneyFamily.com offers moms and dads one place to find everything from the best recipes to the top travel destinations. Here is a bit more information, from the site:

DisneyFamily.com also offers a diverse range of original and aggregated content specific to the needs and interests of parents.  And woven throughout the site is a rich, easy to access community of other moms with shared parenting experiences.  The site’s features include family-relevant search tools with highly rated, best of the Web results.

The site is organized into seven sections including food, parenting, entertainment, household, self, travel and holidays. DisneyFamily.com recently added a new beauty feature which provides moms with tips and expert advice on how to achieve inner and outer beauty. Here is some of the information you’ll find:

DisneyFamily.com is easy to navigate and offers comprehensive information on diverse topics in one location.  My favorite part of the site are the videos.  They’re succinct but comprehensive…perfect for busy moms on the go. For more information, just visit the site.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I attended a media event, hosted by the company to demo the site’s new features.

As a busy mom of two, running a household and working part-time as a nurse, I rely heavily on my mobile phone.  I use it to keep schedules straight, manage lists, navigate my way around town, and stay connected.  With all of that use, I never make it through the day without having to charge my battery.

Several weeks ago, I received a fabulous device called the Charge Anywhere, by iGo.  With this device, I can charge two things simultaneously.  For example, I can charge my mobile phone and my digital camera.  But what makes Charge Anywhere unique is that once it’s charged, it can charge other devices without having to be plugged in.  How cool is that?  So when I forget my charger at home, or it takes my car charger too long to make a noticeable difference in the life of my battery, I can just plug into the Charge Anywhere.  The device is portable, lightweight, and compact.  I charged my Palm Pre Plus the other day at Expo West when the battery was completely drained.  It took a little over an hour to fully charge the phone’s battery.  Not bad!

Along with mobile phones and digital cameras, Charge Anywhere will charge Bluetooth headsets, smartphones/PDAs, MP3 players, portable gaming devices, digital cameras, GPS devices and more.  The device comes with a standard tip but you can claim free tips for other devices on their website.  Here are the specs, from the site:

Charge Anywhere is one of the company’s “green” products.  iGo Green Technology automatically reduces standby power by up to 85%, conserving resources and saving money.

Charge Anywhere is a fabulous little device for charging a variety of electronics.  At $49.99 it’s affordable, considering that one device is all that’s needed while you’re on the go.  The convenience and versatility will appeal to multi-tasking moms.    You can find Charge Anywhere at retailers nationwide.

I did not relieve compensation for this post.  A product sample was provided to facilitate this review.

Remember that little campaign I did?  With Verizon and the Palm Pre Plus?  Well…this Thursday, I’m going to be on the Fly Lady’s Blog Talk Radio Show with four of the other women who were on the campaign.  The title is “How Smart Moms Balance Life,” and will air Thursday, March 18th at 11 am EST. Join Nicole, Jo-Lynne, Christy, Sarah and I as we discuss everything from our favorite Palm Pre Plus Apps, blogging, staying connected, and running a business with the Palm Pre Plus.

*Update*  My giveaway is closed but you still have an opportunity to win a Palm Pre Plus.

Joined by TheMotherhood.com’s Verizon Palm Pre Plus mom blogger team, we will be hosting a Smart Mom/Smart Phone Twitter party on Wednesday, March 17 from 9 PM EST to 10 PM EST . We’re getting ready for our guest appearance on The Fly Lady radio show on Thursday (3/18)  so let’s talk about organizing, our Palm Pre Plus tips and tricks AND what you want to know from Fly Lady! We have a big prize! One lucky winner will receive  a Verizon Palm Pre Plus device!

Details…

Where: Participate and follow our Twitter party with our custom tweet grid.

When: Wednesday, March17th (St. Patty’s day!)

Hashtag for the party will be #VerizonPalmPrePlus and #T4MT (Technology For Mommies Thursdays)

In order to win the Verizon Palm Pre Plus (you must get your own contract with a data plan in order to use the phone), simply post your twitter id in Mister Linky below and participate with at least one tweet during the party.

I did not receive compensation for this post.

St. Patrick’s Day is this week, and 1-800-FLOWERS.COM offers an array of holiday-themed flower arrangements and gift baskets to celebrate the occasion. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM offers fresh flowers and an exquisite selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections, and stuffed animals.  I’ve received flowers and gifts over the years from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, and I’ve never been disappointed by the presentation and freshness of the flowers or food.  What’s great about the company is that you can find an arrangement or gift in a variety of price ranges.

This St. Patrick’s Day, check out their gorgeous flower arrangements and gourmet fresh baked goods.  The company partners with several different food companies to offer uniquely-arranged baskets.  On Friday, we received a Cheryl & Co. St. Pats Day Sampler Gift Tower.  Before the weekend was over, the cookies and brownies were gone.  My favorite item was the Frosted Shamrock Cut-0ut cookies.  They’re super soft and buttery,which is how I prefer my cookies.  All of the items taste fresh, considering the fact that the package was shipped to me.

The presentation was just as gorgeous as what was inside.  1-800-FLOWERS.COM utilizes some of the world’s top floral artists to create unique arrangements.  And their food items celebrate the occasion with festive gift boxes and tins.

Now through March 17th, you’ll save 15% on gifts over $24.99.  Simply use the code STPADDY at checkout.

Win It! One of you will win a $50 gift certificate to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM.  Simply leave me a comment with the name of a product you like from the site.  Comments will close on March 30th, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Vote for Rockin’ Mama for the Hot Blogger Calendar

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Product samples were provided to facilitate this review and giveaway.

I grew up as an only child.  My mom and I were and still are the best of friends.  I remember playing a ton of board games as a child.  Sometimes I feel like the age of board games has been replaced with video and computer games.  And while I definitely find a place for video and computer games, there is nothing like the excitement and interaction experienced when playing a board game.

Board games these days are getting fancy.  These days, many games include a DVD component.  My husband and I recently received Scene It? 80s Deluxe Edition, courtesy of the Game Review Network. Here is a brief summary, from the site:

Are you ready to flashback to Flashdance? Then, Scene It? 80s Deluxe Edition will have you totally stoked to the max! You’ll relive the rad fads of Glam Rock, Fraggle Rock, Pop Rocks and more. Test your memory of everything from Pac-Man to Ray-Ban and enjoy on-screen trivia that features the most excellent 80s music, movies, news and sports moments. Let Scene It? 80s Deluxe Edition take you on a pop-culture journey through the 20th century’s most bodacious decade! Totally tubular!

My husband and I both grew up in the 80’s, so this is “our” game!  At first glance, Scene It? 80s Deluxe Edition appears to be an era-specific trivia game.  But it’s so much more.  With the added DVD component, the game “challenges you to use observation, memory, wordplay, and problem-solving to decode the puzzles that you see on-screen.”  My husband and I became a bit nostalgic for the era of E.T., Growing Pains, and the Care Bears.

The game can be played quickly (in 15 minutes) or over a longer period of time (40 minutes) and the game board reflects this in it’s two different sizes.  Because of the “team” aspect of the game, there really is no limit to the number of players.  The game is designed for children ages 13 and up, but I think that many of the questions won’t be recognized by the younger crowd because they are era-specific.  The token pieces used were modeled after 80’s cultural artifacts including a cassette tape, joystick, handheld phone and keytar.  To play, teams (or players as is the case with my husband and I) advance by answering traditional trivia questions or DVD-based puzzles (my favorite!).  The trivia questions come in three categories, “Take Three,” “Songs, Slogans, and Sayings,” and “Pop Culture.”  Some of the questions were pretty challenging and others were fun and brought us back to the 80’s.

My favorite aspect of the game is the DVD component.  We had a blast viewing old clips and solving puzzles based on old TV shows and movies.  So many times the answer was on the tip of our tongue but it’s been so long that we’ve forgotten a lot of 80’s history.

Scene It? 80s Deluxe Edition retails for $29.99 and is available for purchase on Amazon.com and Buy.com.  You can also win a copy over at the Game Review Network.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  A game was provided, courtesy of Screenlife Games in partnership with the Game Review Network to facilitate this review.

I’ve been MIA the last two days…so unlike me right?  To NOT post?  Crazy!  I’ve been in Anaheim, CA at Expo West (aka The Natural Products Expo) courtesy of Seventh Generation.  I still can’t figure out why there are 2 names (3 actually) for the same show.  The show, which is geared towards retailers, offers the latest in natural, healthy, organic products.  But the best part of the show is the opportunity to attend seminars with renowned physicians like Dr. Alan Greene and Dr. William Sears…

I also met celebrity author Anna Getty (again!) at her book signing (which by the way looks so amazing that I bought it and she signed it)…

And spent some time chatting with the founder (Jeffrey Hollender) and CEO (Chuck Maniscalco) of Seventh Generation…

And learned a bit about the science and safety behind the ingredients Seventh Generation uses in their products from Scientist Cara Bondi…

And chatted with Jennifer Taggart at her book signing…

And snuck in a few pictures i probably shouldn’t have taken (they have a strict no photography policy…shh!)…

And felt like I was invited into Seventh Generation’s “home” for the weekend…

I was challenged, educated, and inspired.  It was a great weekend…and I’m exhausted…

This week I’ll be blogging over at the 7Gen Blog….my working title is “Wellness Redefined.”  Stay tuned!  I’ll update you when the post goes live…

Seventh Generation provided a show floor pass, meals, and covered costs related to the event.  No other compensation was received and the experiences are authentically mine.

It’s supposed to be a beautiful week here in Southern California so I don’t think the kiddos and I will be spending too much time indoors.  But if you’re still feeling the effects of winter and you’re looking for some fun indoor activities, check out Disney FamilyFun!  They offer St. Patrick’s Day-themed crafts…here are a few that I spotted…

Wee Leprechaun

Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

Materials:

• Toilet paper tube
• Green craft foam
• Acrylic paints: green, skin-tone, pink, and brown
• Black permanent marker
• Tacky glue
• 4 brown pipe cleaners
• Decorative button

Instructions:

1. For this crafty little decoration, first trace around the end of a toilet paper tube onto a piece of green craft foam.
2. Draw a 2 1/2-inch circle around the first circle, then cut them both out to create a hat top and brim and set them aside.
3. Next, using acrylic paints, paint the paper tube green. Add a skin-tone face and hands, plus rosy cheeks, as well as a band of brown paint around the back for hair.
4. Once the paint has dried, use a permanent marker to draw on facial and clothing details, then use tacky glue to stick on 3 coiled brown pipe cleaners: 2 in the back for hair and 1 around the face for a beard. For feet, fold another pipe cleaner in half, then tightly coil and pinch the ends, as shown.
5. Place the folded pipe cleaner inside the tube and glue the feet to the edge. Glue on the hat top and brim and a 5 1/2- by 1/2-inch strip of craft foam for arms.
6. Finally, glue a decorative button to the hat brim.

Luck o’ the Irish Shamrock Cap



Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

Materials:

• pencil
• ruler
• two 12- by 18-inch sheets of green craft foam
• heart-shaped cookie cutter
• scissors
• hot-glue gun
• masking tape
• clothespins
• 3 green pipe cleaners
• green ribbon

Instructions:

1. First, mark and cut one sheet of foam (as shown). (Use wider circles for a larger hat.) See cutting instructions for a whole sheet.
2. Cut the second sheet of foam in half lengthwise and glue the 5- by 6-inch rectangle to the end of one half. Allow the glue to dry.
3. Roll the strip into a cylinder that fits inside the ring of foam (the hat brim), then glue the overlapped edges in place, using the tape or clothespins to hold them until the glue has dried.
4. Make ¾-inch vertical cuts (approximately 1½ inches apart) around the bottom of the cylinder, as shown, then fold the tabs outward. Fit the brim over the top of the cylinder, pulling it down to the bottom, and glue the tabs in place against the underside of the brim. Glue the 7-inch circle onto the top of the hat.
5. For the shamrock, glue one end of each pipe cleaner to the middle of a foam heart. Allow them to dry, then twist the pipe cleaners into a stem.
6. Make two small cuts in the front of the hat, one above the other, close to the brim. Poke the stem in through one hole and out the other, bending the end so it rests on the brim.
7. Finally, tie the ribbon around the hat, and it’s ready to wear.

I did not receive compensation for this post.

Having a baby is unlike any other experience.  Nothing else on earth compares to the overwhelming joy and intense love that overcomes you.  However, the physical act of delivering a baby, regardless of the method, is awkward, painful, and messy.  If it weren’t for complete and utter amnesia, I may not have endeavored to repeat the experience.

When my son was born, I knew my incision would be painful.  I knew that my body would shed what had been stored up for over 9 months.  But I was not prepared for the discomfort I would experience in the early days of breastfeeding.  There were nights where I would cry because the pain of latching my son was so severe.  I struggled with engorgement, plugged ducts, and multiple bouts of mastitis.

While I’ve yet to experience plugged ducts or mastitis, I have had my share of discomfort while nursing my daughter.  Earth Mama Angel Baby offers a line of all-natural breastfeeding products to help ease some of the discomfort.  Regardless of how easily a baby latches, I believe that some discomfort is inevitable.  Since I don’t like the sticky nature of lanolin, I usually dont use anything to ease the soreness.  Earth Mama Angel Baby offers a Natural Nipple Butter that feels nothing like lanolin and works just as well (if not better).  The company offers the first organic, all-natural, plant-based balm, designed to soothe sore nipples.  It’s made with organic calendula, cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter and feels incredibly rich and smooth (unilke lanolin which is very sticky).  It’s safe for moms and babies so it doesn’t have to be washed off before nursing.

I really like the texture.  It’s not sticky and rubs in very well.   The Natural Nipple Butter does a great job of providing relief for sore, irritated nipples.  It doesn’t have an odor and my daughter never even noticed I had it on (I’m not currently using it any more because I’m no longer experiencing soreness).  Right now I’m using it on her body after baths for massage.

I am so glad I have yet to experience a plugged duct or an episode of mastitis this time around.  I had an oversupply of milk with my son, which I believe was the result of excessive pumping.  This time around I did things differently.  While the first several I experienced a lot of discomfort from engorgement, my body has finally started to regulate itself and I’m no longer waking up engorged.

Earth Mama Angel Baby offers Booby Tubes, natural gel-free breast packs made with a 100% organic cotton shell and filled with all-natural flax seed.  They can be used warm or cold, but I always prefer heat when I’m engorged.  They’re easy to use (either put them in the freezer or the microwave) and effective at relieving engorgement when heated (I have never used them cold).  Heat can help maintain open milk ducts, encourage milk to flow, promote let-down and provide comfort during episodes of engorgement or mastitis.  I like to use them several minutes before I nurse or pump.  When used cold, they can help reduce swelling and tenderness associated with engorgement.

Earth Mama Angel Baby also offers Bosom Buddies, designed to ease the symptoms of engorgement, clogged milk ducts, and sore, cracked nipples.  I haven not tried this yet, but I would definitely consider it if warranted.

Earth Mama Angel Baby’s Postpartum Recovery line includes products designed for women who have had either a natural or casearean delivery.  Their C-Mama Healing Salve is amazing.  My incision became infected this time around and I ended up on antibiotics to clear it up.  I used the salve at the same time and felt like it helped ease the external discomfort at the incision site.  The C-Mama Healing Salve includes Vitamin C, essential fatty acids and amino acids to help with wound repair.  I’m actually still using this since it can be used on wounds, scars, stretch marks, rashes, and burns.  Be sure to check out the company’s entire Postpartum Recovery line for product designed to ease the discomfort from a natural birth.

Earth Mama Angel Baby recently introduced their Happy Mama Body Wash.  Stay tuned for my review coming soon!  Now through March 16th, you’ll receive a bottle free with the purchase of their Mama’s Pregnancy Essentials Kit.

Earth Mama Angel Baby is unique in many ways.  The company “uses the highest-quality, certified-organic or organically grown herbs and oils for [their] teas, bath herbs, gentle handmade soaps, salves, lotions and massage oils.”   Their products are “100% toxin-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and free from all artificial preservatives, fragrances and dyes.”  I appreciate their transparency with regards to the ingredients in their products and their view on pregnancy as a life stage (as opposed to an illness) aligns with my own.  Earth Mama Angel Baby is also green on the inside and the outside.  Their packaging is derived from eco-friendly recyclable or reused/resuseable materials.

For more information, just visit their website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Product samples were provided to facilitate this review.

This weekend, I have the honor of attending the Natural Products Expo, courtesy of Seventh Generation.  Ironically, I first learned of the conference last year from my husband.  Over the past few years he’s really become supportive of my efforts to live a healthier, greener lifestyle.  Very soon we’ll be launching Raising Generation Green…a venture born out of my passion for raising eco-conscious children.

Expo West is “the world’s premier trade show for the natural, organic and healthy products industry.” By attending, I hope to come away with fresh ideas on how to live sustainably.  I’m also thrilled about the opportunity to meet and speak with Dr. Alan Greene (again!).

Stay tuned…I’ll be guest posting on Seventh Generation’s blog after the event.  And if you want to keep up with the Expo happenings on Twitter, just follow @natprodexpo and @SeventhGen (the hashtag for the conference is #ExpoWest).

Seventh Generation provided a show floor pass, meals, and covered costs related to the event.  No other compensation was received and the experiences are authentically mine.