If you’re in the LA area this weekend, be sure to check out the Irish Fair & Music Festival.  This year will be our first experience at the festival, which offers a unique cultural experience for the entire family.  The festival is celebrating it’s 8th year and is one of the largest of it’s kind in Southern California and offers Irish entertainment and food.

Some of the highlights include Leprechaun Village with “winner-every-time” games, a storybook stage, petting zoo and pony rides. You can also learn more about historic Ireland as you explore the Ancient Irish Village depicting a 16th century village faire or celebrate the rich Irish culture with sheepherding demonstrations or an Irish dog show.  Lastly, you’ll also find eight stages which will feature true Irish music.  

My husband and I spent almost a year overseas and we had the opportunity to drive all around The Republic of Ireland.  One of my favorite culinary experiences was their Irish Soda Bread in the mornings.  The Festival offers authentic Irish cuisine including bangers and mash, fish and chips, corned beef sandwiches and shepherd’s pie.

The Irish Fair & Music Festival is being held March 6 and 7 from 10 am to 6 pm at the Fairplex (at the Pomona Fairgrounds). Children 11 and under are free.  Ticket pricing for all others is as follows:

$18.00 – General Admission

$16.00 – Seniors, age 55 & over

$16.00 – Students, with valid student ID

$28.00 – Two-day pass

And…all attendees with the last name of “Murphy” will get in free with a valid ID

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received tickets, courtesy of the company.

On most days, water is the only beverage I consume.  Several years ago, when I was on a weight loss plan, I learned that I could cut a LOT of calories by sticking to water.  I’m usually pretty good about sticking to water, but I do get tired of it.  And when I’m “over” water, I usually turn to something that’s not great for me.  Drinking water also sets a good example for my son, who would drink juice all day if I allowed it.

H2Organics offers flavorful, nutrient-enhanced waters to give you a healthy alternative to juices and sodas. The company makes “USDA certified organic nutrient enhanced water, containing specially selected blends of prenatal vitamins, minerals and nutrients.”  The waters are low in calories, carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium.  They’re also free from preservatives, artificial flavors or colors.  The company recently launched a line of prenatal and postantal nutrient waters and a kid’s line. The waters are made with multi-filtered reverse osmosis purified water.

The line for moms includes a Prenatal and Postnatal option.  Their Prenatal water (available in Mandarin Orange) contains Folate, Choline, B Vitamins, Zinc, Magnesium, and Selenium.  The key ingredient is folic acid, which helps prevent birth defects and aids in healthy and normal fetal development.  The 20 ounce bottle actually offers 2.5 servings but, realistically, it’s an amount most people could consume in one sitting.  The entire bottle packs 50% of the vitamins/minerals listed above.  It’s important to take that into consideration, since most pregnant women are also taking a prenatal vitamin.  I actually like the Prenatal version better than the Postnatal version.  It’s mildly sweet, unlike other electrolyte enhanced waters which tend to be too sweet. Even if you were to drink the entire bottle, you would only consume 100 calories and 25 grams of sugar (less than juices or soda).

The Postnatal water (available in Lime) contains B Vitamins, Biotin, Zinc, Selenium, and Fenugreek.  Fenugreek is used to increase milk supply and is the key nutrient that distinguishes this water from the Prenatal version.  The nutrients in this water also help to promote healthy glucose levels and maintain healthy digestion.  The caloric, sugar, and sodium content is the same.  I’m not crazy about the Lime flavor and I’d love to see the company develop both versions in additional flavors.  While I think that the waters are a great alternative to juice or soda, I would probably only consume one a day to avoid taking in too many vitamins and minerals.

I find it incredibly difficult to get my son to drink water.  My favorite product from H2Organics‘ line is their Kids’ Nutrient Enhanced Waters.  Each 6.75 ounce serving contains 40 calories, 10 mg of sodium, 10 grams of carbohydrates/sugar, 100% Vitamin C, and 5% Calcium.  They’re available in three flavors (Grape Berry, Strawberry Apple, and Orange Tangerine) and my son drank them the first week we got them.  I only wish the kids’ waters included more vitamins/minerals.

You can find H2Organics at Whole Foods, Toys R Us, and Babies R Us.

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

My son learned the names and locations of his body parts during bath time.  He is able to distinguish his right from his left because of bath time.  He practices swimming during bath time.  In our house, we utilize bath time for many important things.  We use it for learning and playing.  When my son was a baby, he didn’t like the bath.  In fact, it was miserable trying to get him in and washed up in record time.   My husband and I thought about what we could do to make it more enjoyable for him.  These days, he not only asks to take a bath, he protests when it’s time to get out.

A decent bottle of bubbles and some fun bath toys can make a world of difference in a child who does not want to take a bath.  Suave Kids has recently launched their new campaign, Wash Them Grow, encourages you to recognize bath time routine as “an opportunity to teach, nurture and transition your child through the stages of growth and cleansing.”  Right now, Suave Kids is holding a sweepstakes with a chance to win awesome prizes every week including a Family e-Keepsake Kit (which includes a video camera, laptop, and digital camera).  The Grand Prize is a family vacation to Orlando!  To enter, head on over to the site to play a fun online trivia game.  You can enter daily through February 22.  And if you refer a friend, you’ll automatically gain another entry!

Suave Kids offers four body washes for every stage of childhood.  Our favorites are the Strawberry and Berry Body washes because they smell incredible.  I also like the Free and Gentle Body Wash which is dye free and non-irritating to my son’s skin.  My son has very sensitive skin but has not had any reaction to the washes (perhaps because he’s older now as well).  Suave Kids also offers a Moisturizing Body Wash which is a great transition wash for baby’s.  Suave Kids products are made for children’s skin.  They’re ophthalmologist-tested and tear-free (which is important because my son absolutely despises soap in his eyes).

Contest Details:  If you decide to enter the sweepstakes, you will be entered to win some of the fabulous prizes listed above.  And, the blogger who refers the most readers to enter the sweepstakes will win a year’s supply of Suave Kids products for 10 readers.  So it’s a win-win situation! Have fun!

MomSelect and Suave Kids are having a Twitter Party.  Here are the details!

Date:  Monday, February 8th, 2010

Time:  8  p.m. – 9 p.m. EST
Location:  #WashThemGrow
Host: @MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect)

Before the party, they’re offering a Disney Online Store $50 gift card for one lucky winner. To be eligible to win, make sure you complete the following:

• Click HERE to RSVP
• Tweet out  the details of the #WashThemGrow party between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day of the party

Be sure to follow @MomTalkRadio, @ResourcefulMom, @MomSelectAmy and @SuaveBeauty throughout the evening for updates, prize information and contest details.

I’ll leave you with some Bath-Time Tips, courtesy of Suave Kids (with some commentary by me!):

Nurture Your Baby’s Firsts:  We don’t bathe our little girl all that often, but her first bath is forever remembered on photographs.

Start Teaching at Bath Time: Show your children how to get clean all by themselves (we do this with our son!). I tell my son, wash your right arm, and your left arm, and your back…

I Can Do It Myself:  My son is in this stage right now.  He wants to dress himself, feed himself, and bathe himself.  Allow your child to participate in bath time.  It will make the time so much more enjoyable for both of you.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Product samples were received, courtesy of Suave Kids and MomSelect to facilitate this review.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to evirt!

This post has been updated with answers to the questions I posed and a giveaway.

I have to admit that I’m not particularly looking forward to packing my son’s lunches when he goes to preschool.  It’s hard enough to think of things to feed him here at home (with his food allergies).  But that is the very reason I will have to pack his lunch.  When my son was in preschool last year, lunch was provided.  However, I had little control over what he was eating.  When we learned of my son’s allergies, I realized how important it is for me to pack his lunch.

The typical lunch includes a sandwich, drink, piece of fruit, and maybe a snack.  But from my own experience, sandwiches get boring and both children and adults tire from them.  As an adult, I can easily bring food that can be reheated in a microwave at work.  But for children, that is not an option.  They can either bring a cold lunch with them or eat what is served at school.

I was recently introduced to a product called Warmables. This eco-friendly lunch system is designed to keep food warm for 4-6 hours.  The system includes a plastic (BPA-free) food container, a cherry pit bag (to keep food warm), and a Warmables Pouch.  You simply heat up your child’s food in the morning (in the plastic container), heat the cherry pit bag that comes with the system (which is what helps keep the food warm), and seal both inside the Warmables Pouch. You must then place the pouch into an insulated lunchbox (not metal or plastic).

I like the idea of the system, but I think you need to practice with it a few times to get it right.  For example, you’ll want to make sure the food is heated thoroughly, something that isn’t always the case when you microwave food.  I tend to microwave food for a certain amount of time, stir it, then heat it again so it’s hot all the way through.  When you heat the cherry pit bag, I recommend heating it in intervals (shaking the bag in between heating cycles) so you don’t burn the pieces.  It took about a minute for them to be hot enough in our microwave, but the directions say it can take anywhere from 45-90 seconds.  Once the food and the cherry pit bag are heated, I recommend putting everything in the Warmables Pouch immediately (and then into the lunchbox) to get the best results.  The company also suggests that the moister the food, the longer it will stay warm.   As an FYI, I like the reusable, eco-friendly neoprene insulated lunch bags from BUILT NY.

As a mom, I think this is a great product to have on hand to give your children warm food for lunch.  I do have some questions and concerns about the system (which I am addressing to the company). I will be sure to update this post when I hear back. The first concern I have is that it’s a bit bulky.  A traditional lunch box is not going to fit everything.  My next concern is where to put other foods that are not warm.  If you were to put a cold food next to this, the heat would be canceled out.  Lastly, I wonder about whether there is a potential for bacteria to grow, given that the food is out for so long (4-6 hours).

The company was kind of enough to answer the questions I posed above.  Here is their response:

Bulkiness of product:  We suggest a lunch box with top or side compartments for drinks, piece of fruit or other snacks.  Warmables definitely requires re-thinking how to pack lunch, but is well worth it. After using it a few times you won’t even think about it anymore.

Bacteria: If the food is heated well, the container creates a vacuum, almost like making jam. It slows bacteria growth down tremendously. Think about putting stew in a thermos or eating at a hot buffet….the only thing we do not recommend is re-heating that same food if a child did not finish the portion.

Ice Packs and Cold Food:  You cannot use an ice pack next to the hot cherry pit bag. It will cancel out the heat.

Warmables are made in the USA and are eco-friendly and reusable.  The system retails for $27.95 and is available for purchase on the site.  The site also offers a system for the office which retails for $37.95.

READERS DISCOUNT FOR WARMABLES LUNCH SYSTEMS (save $ 7.95 each)

How to get Warmables for the office for $ 30.00 plus shipping and the kiddie version for $ 20.00 plus shipping:

Sign up for our weekly newsletter along with 2 more friends.
Send us an e-mail with your three names and e-mail addresses. (Make sure to confirm your subscription after signing up, link will be sent to you)
Write “MY WARMABLES DEAL” in the subject line.
Place your order for any number of either Warmables lunch systems.
Include your shipping address.
You will receive a safe, easy to pay PayPal invoice. (No Pay Pal account needed)
Once you are paid up we will promptly send you your very affordable and super cool Warmables set(s) via USPS Priority mail.

The company guarantees their product with a money-back guarantee.

Win It: One of you will win a Warmables For Kids.  Simply leave me a comment (after visiting their site) with something you liked or learned (not mentioned above). Comments will close on January 28, 2010 at 10 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.

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.  I did receive a product, courtesy of the company, in order to faciliate my review.

Babies spit up.  It’s a given.  My son spit up until he was over 6 months of age and my daughter seems to be following suit.  Apart from the fact that it’s messy and time consuming, it doesn’t seem to bother her, so we (including our Pediatrician) aren’t concerned.  I never know when I’m going to have to change her (I don’t like her wet), so I have a plentiful supply of onesies on hand.

myBibzy is a fabulously handy little bodysuit combining a bib and a onesie, all in one. They’re available in a range of sizes from birth to 18 months, which means you can use them for nursing babies and toddlers learning how to drink from a sippy cup.  When my son was a baby, he drooled a ton during the teething process.  I think that myBibzy would have been a great product to have at that time.

myBibzy’s design features three layers.  The outer layer is a knit terry bib, the inner layer is a waterproof vinyl/poly blend (phthalate and PVC free), and the bodysuit is 100% cotton.  The bib section covers the front of the onesie and is really just like having a bib, except it’s sewn into the onesie.  It’s highly absorbent and keeps the baby dry (I can’t feel liquid soaked through to the inside of it). I did a little test with myBibzy before trying it out.  I poured some water over it to see how much it would absorb.  I pretty much soaked the thing and couldn’t feel wetness behind the bib section.

myBibzy comes in a variety of colors and both a long and short-sleeved version.  I’d love to see the company do a few things, style-wise:

• Perhaps they could incorporate fun patterns and such into their bodysuits.
• I’d love to see a footed bodysuit included.  It’s winter here and that’s what we’ve *mostly* been putting our baby girl in.
• I’d love to see the company come up with a design so that the bib part is either inside (so it’s not visible) or the same color of the bodysuit.

myBibzy retails for $22.99-$24.99 (a tad bit pricey) but will save you in the long run (mostly in time and expense doing laundry).  You could easily get a few of these in various sizes and be set.  Maybe then you’d only have to change the baby once a day.  The company donates a portion of each sale to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  For more information, please visit their website.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  I did receive a product, courtesy of the company, in order to facilitate my review.

I fully admit that I’m not the most creative gal on the block.  I tend to think I’m left-brain dominant, which explains my inability to draw pictures of Dora or Thomas for my son.

Thanks to Mom Central, I was recently introduced to the new Out of Office blog from FedEx Office.  Here is where you’ll find an array of projects you can do from the comfort of your own home…no thinking required.  Some of the projects you’ll find include invitations, thank you notes, place mats, homemade gifts, and re purposing your child’s artwork.  On the blog you’ll find contests and giveaways, themed series, how-to videos and more.

Right now they have a New Year’s Resolution series, which features projects such as the Weekly Chore Schedule for kids.  It’s still relatively new, but I’m excited to frequent the site for craft ideas.  For more information, head on over to their blog.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Amy P. Congrats!

It’s winter and it’s COLD (at least for Southern California it is!)…especially at night (in the 40’s!).  We live in a two-story house and because heat rises, we often find that turning the heater on warms the upstairs but leaves us freezing downstairs.  Since our living room is downstairs, that is where we curl up on the couch for movies, books, and family time.  I love snuggling up with a warm blanket during the winter.  And now your kids will too with the St. Eve Kids’ Cozy.

Have you ever seen a wearable blanket with sleeves?  Apparently they’re very popular for adults (i.e. Slanket).  Now your kids can wear their very own super soft blanket!  The Cozy is made from 100% polyester which means it will keep your kids warm.  For a kid’s blanket, it’s a lot bigger than I expected.  I put it on and it fit me (and I’m still holding onto some major baby weight).  I don’t think that this is necessarily a bad thing, just something to consider.

According to the site, you can purchase items from St. Eve Kids at major department stores including Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Bon-Ton, and Nordstrom.  Unfortunately, I had a difficult time finding anything on those sites, which means you’ll have to go into the store.

The Cozy retails for $20.  Be sure to check out Drama U where you can enter to win a one-year supply of pajamas for your kids!

Win It! I have a Bright Pink Cozy to give away to one reader.  Simply leave me a comment with how you get your children to go to sleep.  Comments will close on January 19, 2009 at 10 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.

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.  I did receive a product, courtesy of the company, in order to facilitate my review.

I feel very fortunate because my son just loves brushing his teeth.  I believe it’s because we brushed his teeth with him when his first tooth erupted.  We’ve always been really positive about the experience.    In fact, HE wants to do it all by himself and doesn’t like when mommy or daddy try to “help” him.  The slight problem is that he hasn’t quite mastered the proper way to brush his teeth.

Arm & Hammer, the creators of the Spinbrush, now offer a version for kids.  This battery-operated toothbrush “promotes healthy brushing, removes plaque, and massages gums.” One of the things we’re trying to work on with my son is that he needs to brush longer and all of his teeth (not just some of them).  He’s usually “done” before we think he should be.  According to Arm & Hammer, kids brush 38% longer with the Spinbrush when compared to a regular brush.  I honestly don’t know how that equates with time, but I do know that my son enjoys brushing with it (he’s particularly fond of the Soccer Ball themed brush he received).

The brush head is a little larger than the one he typically uses but it’s definitely still appropriate for the size of his mouth (he’s 2 1/2).  The handle is where the characters are housed and I think maybe it could be slightly less bulky for toddler’s hands.  It’s battery-operated (and batteries ARE included) so it may take children a bit of getting used to since this may be their first experience with a toothbrush of it’s kind (it was definitely my son’s first experience).  He was never scared of it, just hesitant (and that didn’t last long).

Be sure to check out their tips for kids on brushing their teeth correctly!

The Spinbrush toothbrush is disposable (just like a manual toothbrush) and retails for approximately $6.29.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

As a mom who is concerned about the environment my children are growing up in, I routinely evaluate what we’re doing to reduce our carbon footprint.  I am proud to say that with the help of my husband, our recycle bin is always full each and every week.  And we pay close attention to the ingredients and packaging of the products we purchase.

Right now, my son attends a preschool that offers meals.  However, soon he’ll be in a school where I will pack him his own lunch.  It’s interesting to think about the fact that my mother always packed me a lunch in a lunchbox, with a thermos, and tupperware.  Of course she used the occasional sandwich bag and tin foil, but many aspects of the daily “lunchbox” were reusable.  And this was before we heard words like sustainable, BPA-free, and renewable resources.  Today, there are many more resources available to help parents choose, safe, eco-friendly, sustainable products for their families.

If you’re looking for an adorable eco-friendly lunchbox that your child will enjoy bringing to school, check out Yubo!  The company offers attractive, colorful, customizable lunchboxes that kids will have fun using.  The lunchboxes are BPA-Free (so they’re safe), antimicrobial, recyclable, and dishwasher safe.  The lunchbox features interchangeable faceplates, three reusable containers, and a custom built icepack (so it fits nicely in the lunchbox).   You and your child can choose the faceplate you’d like or you can upload a photo to create your own.  The company offers a wide variety of faceplates for boys and girls, and you can personalize them with your child’s name if you prefer.  Your child might also like to customize his/her lunchbox with a Personality Tag (choose from categories such as animals, fashion, sports, etc.).  Lastly, you can choose which size containers you prefer including the option of a Drink Holder.

While I think this would be a wonderful gift for a child, I would suggest allowing the child to have an active role in choosing the Faceplate and Personality Tag.  Even more incentive that they’ll actually use it (although the cuteness factor alone makes ME want to get one).  The system is very practical and eliminates the need for juice boxes, plastic bags, and aluminum foil.  Just invest in a few reusable napkins for a truly eco-friendly lunchbox!

You can purchase the Standard lunchbox for $21.95 on their website which includes a blank name tag and a faceplate set of your choice.  Upgrade to the Deluxe for $29.95 and you’ll also receive 3 containers and an icepack.

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

When I was a little girl, I had a little yellow lunchbox I took to school.  For some reason, it’s one of the few “things” my mom kept (don’t ask me why).  These days, it houses more than 20 of my son’s cars.  It stays at grandma and grandpa’s house and every time we go over there my son tells me how he wants to see grandma, grandpa, Niko (their dog), and his cars.  He has cars here too, but not as many as at their house.  Needless to say, he’s a true “boy” and just loves playing with cars.

Imagine his excitement when we received Fisher Price’s Shake ’n Go!® XTREME™ Speedway.  We actually had to hide it until we were ready to bring it out (mean mommy and daddy).  From the look of the box he KNEW what was in it…and he wanted it!  Before I share my review, I wanted to tell you a bit more about this toy:

The Shake ‘n Go! XTREME Speedway is just that: EXTREME! It features Xtreme speed – with cars that are faster and more powerful than any other Shake ‘n Go car! Xtreme action – with exciting stunts like loops, jumps, and smash-through barrels! Xtreme size – the largest Shake ‘n Go track ever – PLUS it’s reconfigurable, so boys will love creating any kind of track they want. Our revolutionary track easily snaps together and stays together for tons of play! Xtreme fun – whether it’s crazy eights, head to head racing, or stunts, there’s something for everyone!

First of all, this is so easy to set up.  The track pieces snap together easily and the instruction booklet details various ways for setting it up.  I’m so proud of the fact that I *mostly* put it together myself.  I don’t do well with anything requiring tools and the car charger requires a screwdriver to get the batteries in, so hubby did this for me.

Second, it’s durable.  We have had so many toys with tracks or similar set-ups that don’t stay together easily and it’s frustrating.  This is not the case with this toy.  In fact, it takes a bit of effort (not much) to get the track pieces apart.  You definitely don’t want the pieces coming apart while racing.

Third, it’s fun.  I mean REALLY fun!  The cars go FAST and once they’re charged, you just shake them to race.  It only takes about 45 minutes for the car to charge and they hold their charge for a good amount of time (although I don’t know how long since I haven’t had to charge them yet!).  Just charge them when they slow down or stop.  My son squeals when the cars go, especially when they go through the loop.  It’s definitely something he’ll play with for a long time.  And as he gets older, he’ll be able to use his creativity to reconfigure the tracks himself.

The set comes with 2 cars (which include rechargeable batteries), a loop, two jumps, four flats, five crash through barrels, a car charger, and enough track for 20 feet of fun.  I should note that the charger requires 4 D batteries which are not included.

The Fisher Price’s Shake ’n Go!® XTREME™ Speedway retails for $65 and is available online or at retailers nationwide.

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files