Archive for June, 2009
June 29, 2009
· Filed under Uncategorized
As a work from home mom I count on a few things to make me successful: 1) my mad business skills, 2) a qualified preschool for my daughter, and 3) a loving, responsible person to care for my toddler son. I had #1 and #2 covered but back in April I was struggling with finding #3: a great babysitter for my son. Allison invited me to attend a Mommy Mixer she was hosting at Bloom and now I have not one but THREE wonderful, caring, responsible babysitters for my baby boy.
I wrote about the details of what to expect at a Mommy Mixer. But now, after using the sitters I met there, I can wholeheartedly recommend Mommy Mixers to my friends and family and you!
The three young ladies I contacted following the mixer came over to our house (separately, of course) for in-depth interviews and to meet the kids. Although the hired babysitter would be taking care of my son most of the time there would be times that his sister would be with them too. I needed to make sure that both kids liked and respected the sitter I chose.
All three women are either in college or have recently graduated. I hired all three of them because their schedules vary, as does mine, and having three people I can count on prevents situations where I might get caught without babysitting help. In the last two months all three sitters have been on time, responsible and great with my kids. I expected one or two to flake out on me every now and then because that was the experience I’d had with other sitters in the past, but so far that hasn’t happened. They truly understand that I need them to be responsible and here when I ask them to be.
So thanks, Mommy Mixer, for finding these great young women on our local college campuses. You’ve got a great method for recruiting top-quality babysitters. And that’s why I’ll keep recommending you to everyone I know who’s looking for babysitting help.
Bloom Maternity is hosting another Mommy Mixer on Tuesday, July 7th at 6:30 p.m. For more information and to register to attend please contact Allison. You can also read my detailed review of Mommy Mixer and visit the main Mommy Mixer web site for more information.
June 19, 2009
· Filed under Parenting questions · Tagged baby pool, colleen pence, summer fun, summer stress, swimming with small children, swimming with small kids
When you think of summer and children your mind automatically drifts to the beach. But if you live in a landlocked town like us, your next logical thought is of swimming pools.
I spent many wonderful summers during my childhood at our neighborhood pool which was just six houses down from where we lived. My seven-year-old sister and I (nine at the time) had to pass a swimming test so we could be at the pool by ourselves. We both did and that, along with being watched over by lifeguards, gave our parents the peace of mind that we could handle being at the pool for long stretches each day by ourselves. Of course this was during the 1980s when times were simpler (or seem so now, looking back).
Now that I’m a parent myself I CANNOT imagine leaving my kids at a pool alone. Heck, when I’m at the pool with them I’m almost constantly stressed out. Sure, I love watching them discover the fun of the water and how to blow bubbles. But they’re young and can’t swim yet. So I usually spend the time we’re at the pool on constant watch, trying to keep my 18-month old from slipping under the water and my four-year-old from doing the same or, at least, from splashing other kids in the face. I’m confining our swim play to the baby pool for now. Only an octopus could handle my two babes in a regular-sized, 5-ft deep swimming pool without the possibility of one of them drowning.
So, for now, my childhood memories of the fun and freedom I felt while swimming will have to sustain me for a few years. At least until my kids are old enough to swim and be safe in the water all on their own. I remind myself that one day, in the not-too-distant future, I’ll get to join the ranks of mommies reading books and relaxing by the side of the pool while their kids swim and play nearby. These days I’m really looking forward to that kind of small freedom.
June 18, 2009
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged ba, baby, family, org, organic, sun protection, sunblock for babies, sunblock for kids, sunscreen
For those of you that don’t know me, my husband or our children, we are the fairest of fair. All blondies and blue eyes. Our son is translucent. Our daughter can tan but it takes months!! Just like her mama. Sunscreen is a MUST for us – everyday – no matter what. Plus, skin cancer is prevalent in my husbands family. As Dr. T says, “90% of lifetime sun damage occurs during incidental daily exposure. Whether walking outside, or just driving in the car, damage from UV rays is cumulative throughout your life.”
So who better to blog about their love of Supergoop than me…..
With Vitamins A, C, & E SPF 30 Organic Protection for the Entire Family
Supergoop!! Top 10 Reasons my family loves it….
- It stays on for a long time. I do reapply about every 2 hours if we have been sweating or swimming.
- A little goes a long way. I have had the same Super Small Pump since Spring Break and there is plenty left in the bottle.
- It is a great moisturizer. Our youngest has eczema so he needs a sunscreen that will moisturize. I leave it on his chest of drawers and use it on him everyday. He knows the difference between regular sunscreen and Supergoop!
- Quickstick rocks! It is my new favorite. I use it mainly on there little faces, but I caught myself using it on my chest the other day when I was out in the sun. I keep one in my purse as well as in our pool bag.
- It’s organic!
- No sticky, smelly concoctions – it’s the real thing. It glides on, just like a regular light-weight moisturizer. I also use on my face and it doesn’t clog pores.
- No parabens.
- It absorbs really quickly which is perfect for applying on squirmy 4 and 5 1/2 year old bodies ready to explore the world.
- The Super Spray is a 5 oz. REFILLABLE spray – so I buy the 15oz. Super Small Pump and a Super Spray Pump and refill, baby! One more way Dr. T’s is Eco-Friendly.
- Shop Texas!!! Dr. T’s is produced in Dallas, but the founder and CEO of the company lives in San Antonio. Oh yeah, and she’s a woman!!
Ready to give Supergoop! a try? Let’s go shopping - and to sweeten the deal, the shipping is on us! Just type in “supergoop” in the coupon code when you check out!
June 17, 2009
· Filed under Parenting questions, celebrity parents · Tagged babysitters, can you have it all, mama guilt, motherhood vs. career, motherhood vs. work, preschool, working moms
It’s something that’s been on my mind a lot lately: motherhood vs. work. Can you really have it all?
When I started my own business after working just a few hours a week for a previous employer, my role as mother shifted. Of course I was still mommy and I continued to do my fair share of diaper changes, late night feedings, giving baths, handling bedtime, playing games and tending to boo boos (no matter how hard or how long I work at my job I’ll always be a mom!). But I became a working woman again too and by the very nature of that, I started seeing my children less.
My work hours extended from 10 a week to 40+. That meant my daughter started spending more time at preschool and her brother met several new babysitters. And while I was confident in the care they were receiving and I was thrilled with my new professional life and growing business, I still felt the mama guilt seep in.
Of course, I’m not the first mama who’s wondered if she’s doing the right thing by trying to have it all. Celebrity Baby Blog recently ran a story about actress Jane Kaczmarek, a mother of three, whose career took off just as she was starting her family. Although she was thrilled with her professional success she conceeded that the long hours she worked and the times she went days without seeing her children were very difficult. She recently arranged her schedule so she works much less than she did before and now she’s able to spend quantity and quality time with her kids.
I’m on the opposite end of where Jane is right now. My kids are young and my business is too. Providing the nurturing needed by both my kids and my business is a balancing act I have yet to perfect. Truth be told, I’m the one who ends up suffering. My children are my priority so I make sure to spend plenty of time with them. But my business and the commitment I’ve made to my clients is obviously important too. I often work long hours, late into the night, to be sure I get everything done.
It can be tough. My life is super busy these days. But I also find it invigorating to work hard at both motherhood and business and “have it all,” as long as I remember that sleep isn’t included in the “all.”
[photo credit: Sam's Club]
June 16, 2009
· Filed under Product Reviews, Uncategorized · Tagged baby clothes, baby shower gift, children, gift guide, infant, kids clothing, toddlers
Daily Tea; Mix-n-Match Knit Wear for Boys and Girls
Daily Tea is adorable knit wear for boys and girls. Nothing is priced over $30. Purchase 6 pieces and it creates 9 outfits. This is the perfect clothing for summer and back to school! Daily Tea is marked down 30%. Take advantage of these great markdowns and stock up on kids clothing now!
June 15, 2009
· Filed under Life with kids · Tagged babies, baby, baby carriers, baby shower gift, baby wearing, children, parent child bond, pouches, slings, toddlers, wear your baby
Come learn the joys of babywearing.
Bloom is hosting it’s monthly FREE Babywearing Class on Thursday, June 18th from 5pm – 6:30pm at our Basse Rd. location. Come learn about a little known secret to keeping your baby close, content, and safe while you are hands free. Wearing your baby is an age old tradition with endless benefits for you and your little one. This informative class will cover the basics and you will have the opportunity to try them on yourself. Bring your own sling or pouch or try any of the pouches available at Bloom Maternity. We have a great selection of pouches by Rockin’ Baby, Tango Baby and Baby K’Tan. Babies and toddlers are welcome to join us! If you want to attend please RSVP to allison@bloommaternity.net. The class is FREE but space is limited.
June 12, 2009
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged making, organic
Candace Trino! Congratulations Candace and thank you for commenting, tweeting and posting the giveaway on your blog! Thank you to everyone who participated and made our first Bloom Blog giveaway such a big success! You can congratulate Candace on Twitter at @dealectiblemom or check out her blog: “Deal” ectible Mommies!
The BEABA Babycook - the only machine you need to make your own baby food.
As Bloom’s THANK YOU to everyone who participated we are offering $10 off the Babycook! Just enter winner in the coupon code at checkout. Hurry, this coupon is only good until Monday, June 15th! And don’t forget the Babycook qualifies for FREE shipping, so this is a GREAT deal!!
You are going to love the Babycook. Last night I roasted apples (in the oven) and then finished cooking them in Babycook and baby had delicious roasted apples for breafast and she loved them!!
June 8, 2009
· Filed under Uncategorized
June 5, 2009
· Filed under Parenting questions, celebrity parents, pregnancy · Tagged controversial pregnancy, elizabeth adeney, having a baby at 64, jeffrey tambor, old men having kids, old women having kids, pregnant at 66, twins
Kiley Bishop/London Ent/Splash News Online
A few weeks ago, Allison blogged about a woman in England, Elizabeth Adeney, who is 66 and about to give birth to a baby she conceived with the help of IVF. Allison pondered the question: Do you think 66 is too old to become a Mom?
On tonight’s The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, actor Jeffrey Tambor, 64, announces that his wife, who’s 41, is pregnant with twin boys. The couple already has two children, Eve Julia, 2 ½, and Gabriel Kasper, 3 ½, and Jeffrey also has adult daughters from previous relationships.
It is different for an older man to become a father than it is for an older woman? Sure the mother, at any age, bears the brunt of a pregnancy physically but both parents must be physically and emotionally fit to take on the task of raising children. I suppose if you’re a celebrity and have lots of money it’s easier because you can hire help.
But is there a double standard when it comes to older women vs. older men becoming parents? I have yet to see an article questioning Tambor’s choice to become a parent so late in life. So far the coverage about his babies-on-the-way have been cheerful announcements. While in the article about Elizabeth Adeney she was “defending” her choice to become a parent.
I’d like to think that becoming a parent, at any age, if that’s what the person wants, would be cause for celebration. But what do you think? Is 64 or 66 too old to have a child? What if you’re a man? What if you’re a woman?
First of all, if Jeffrey and his wife have the stamina to handle a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old and twin boys, more power to them. And secondly, the good news about all of this for me is that I can reassure my husband he’s not the oldest dad in the world after all. We had our second child together when he was 54!
June 3, 2009
· Filed under Product Reviews, double strollers, jogging strollers, strollers · Tagged babies, baby product review, baby strollers, BOB revolution stroller, double strollers, jogging strollers, phil and ted sport buggy, stroller review, strollers
Don’t forget to register in the post below to win a FREE Babycook!
The Phil & Teds Sport Buggy with optional doubles kit
For three years I have owned the Phil & Teds Sport Buggy. It has suited my needs just fine. I love the doubles kit option – turning the stroller into a double stroller on an as need basis! The Sport Buggy also reclines completely flat, which I never used until my 3rd child and it was a great feature to have when it was nap time and we were out and about. The reason I chose the Phil & Teds originally was that my kids are all 2 ½ years apart and they attend a Mother’s Day out program. I wanted a single jogging stroller with the option of a double stroller only when I needed the double stroller.
The BOB Revolution stroller shown in mesa orange, makes me want to get outside.
Then along came BOB. BOB was handsome, sleek and had everything that I needed in a stroller. I waited and waited and then finally gave in and purchased a new BOB Revolution. I love my BOB Revolution because it truly is the only stroller you need. Purchase the infant car seat adapter and you can throw your infant car seat right onto the stroller (click here to see list of car seats compatible with the BOB). The seat reclines 70 degrees from vertical, which is great for a sleeping child. The canopy is huge, the largest in the industry and probably one of the main reasons that I bought the stroller, especially since the canopy on the Phil & Teds is so small. Somebody was using their noggin when they made this stroller; there is a sun flap that keeps the sun from coming through the back when the seat is reclined!!
With the front wheel unlocked, you can go anywhere and do anything with your BOB Revolution. Lock the front wheel and it extends the wheel base giving the stroller more stability and creates one heck of a jogging stroller. When you are ready to load your stroller up in the car it couldn’t be any easier to fold up.
The BOB Revolution makes me want to get outside and with 10 extra pounds of baby weight I need all the help I can get! I had a great run with my Sport Buggy, but I am looking forward to many wonderful miles with my BOB.
Additional accessories for the BOB Revolution include:
- Handlebar Console (you must have this accessory) – $19
- Infant Car Seat Adapter – $54
- Sunshield – $65
- Travel Bag – $99
All accessories and prices listed above are for a single stroller.
What is your favorite stroller and why? If you could have any stroller you wanted, what would you get and why?
