mama mio O●Mega™ Wonder-Full Balm

     Although your face is probably the most important feature in determining your age, your hands come in a close second. It is almost impossible for anyone to go through their day without using their hands. From washing, driving, writing and gardening, hands are one of our most used body parts. As with anything that is used on a frequent basis, the delicate skin on our hands tends to give off very visible signs of aging and distress. Stop for a moment to take a good look at your hands. Do they look for feel dry? For me, the answer has always been yes, until I recently received a sample of the mama mio O●Mega™ Wonder-Full Balm.

     Featuring rich antioxidant and vitamin enriched ingredients including carrot-seed, avocado, almond and evening primrose oil, this nourishing balm is thick and moisturizing, yet never leaves you with a greasy feel.  After a week of using this product, this balm really truly lives up to it’s name, as I found that it not only helped to ease the rough and dry skin on my feet and heels, it can be used all over─ as a lip balm, a cuticle cream or easing the irritation from those dreaded stretch marks.  The mild floral scent of a blending of ten pregnancy-specific safe oils was instantly pleasing.

     As I am always on the lookout for eco-friendly, natural products, the mama mio O●Mega™ Wonder-Full Balm (as all of the mama mio products) is paraben, petroleum, sodium laureth sulphate and dye free.  Retailing for $26.00, the mama mio O●Mega™ Wonder-Full Balm can be purchased directly thru the mama mio website at: http://www.mamamio.com/us/omega-wonder-full-rescue-balm.html

      For further information about mama mio’s line of skincare products (especially those specifically targeting the skin care issues during pregnancy), please visit their website at: http://www.mamamio.com/us/

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B. Toys Woofer

    

     Music is a natural part of life for our toddlers. They might be found singing to their stuffed animals, tapping their feet to the rhythm of nursery rhymes or enjoying the sound of their loved ones singing to them — even if we admit (like me) that we can't always carry a tune. This early introduction to music does more than entertain.  It helps to initiate early learning, serving as an important foundation to exposing our children to sensory experiences that offer lifelong benefits.  Taking this into consideration, B. Toys Woofer, is a playful and enjoyable introduction to the joys that the world of music can bring to your little one.

     The Woofer plays 20 familiar songs as well as 9 adorable and funny puppy parody favorites (and yes, moms and dads, there is a volume control button so your little rocker-to-be can play the Woofer quietly!!)  The songs utilize the three settings that your child can set with the red button on the bottom side of the Woofer─ acoustic, electric, and ‘howl’, and boy, did we howl with laughter at the funny little songs it plays!   The ‘howl’ mode plays both the same chords and songs as the acoustic and electric modes, except with the addition of doggie howls and barks in replace of guitar sounds (which turned out to be my son’s favorite play mode!).  The scale of the eight multi-colored buttons run up the side of the Woofer, are a fantastic tool for initiating early learning of the music scale.  The four blue strings really strum, so your child will be able to feel that they are really rockin’ the guitar!  The ‘Whammy Bone” in light blue on the left side lets your child create their own songs. 

     The strap has a velcro bit so you can easily open it, which is very important, as it helps to avoid your child from trying to put it around their neck.  As a longtime fan of B. Toys, I have always appreciated that not only do they create such imaginative toys, but they take into consideration all the safety issues when creating their products. The Woofer comes complete with instructions and a lyrics and songs booklet. Another great feature, which will come as a great relief and surprise to moms and dads, batteries (requires 3 AA) are included! The Woofer is well-built at a solid 2.07 pounds, and best of all, its BPA free.

     Retailing at $22.99, B. Toys Woofer can be purchased at Target stores nationwide http://www.target.com/p/B-Woofer-Hound-Dog-Guitar/-/A-13527758#?lnk=sc_qi_detailimage  For further information, please visit B.Toys website at: http://justb-byou.com/

Maternity Jean Cut Tips

     Well, you might as well face it─ you will probably be wearing jeans throughout your entire pregnancy.  Not only should your jeans look amazing, they will play an important part in protecting you against becoming a victim of PPB─ pregnancy plumber’s behind!  But, before you begin your search for the best jeans, here are a few tips on what to look for:   

• Check to see that the denim fabric has a little bit of give in it. Rigid denim jeans are best to avoid, as they can dig into your tummy and make the jeans uncomfortably tight as your pregnancy progresses. A cotton mix is perfect.
• Inspect the top button – this may seem like a little thing to do, but the type of backing to a button can be surprisingly irritating when you get to the later stages of your pregnancy, especially if it starts to dig into your belly.
• If you are considering a fold-down fabric topped pair of maternity jeans, make sure it has belt loops!  The last thing that you is to be caught walking down the street hiking your jeans up like pair of loose pantyhose!

 Here’s the lowdown on the cuts:

Straight leg─  An all-round good type of jean; the cut sees your legs being cut straight down, not flaring or tapering in anywhere. If you are small in stature, this may be a good choice, as they tend to make your legs look longer than they actually are.

Boot Cut Maternity Jean─ As their name suggests, boot cut jeans were originally created the intention of making a man look good when worn with boots, but they have since become a favorite piece of women's clothing. Relatively relaxed in their fit, hugging the hips and thighs without being overly tight, they flare out slightly at the bottom, making them suitable for women with a large upper body, as they balance out the body shape perfectly. While comparisons can be made to bell bottoms, but the flare of a boot cut is not as big or dramatic.

Skinny Leg Maternity Jean─ an integral part of any expecant momma's wardrobe; skinny jeans are a great fit for women with a slim waist and legs.

Flared Maternity Jean─ the modern version of the popular 1970s bell bottom jeans, flares are a slightly more reigned in version. Rather than being skinny at the top then widening massively below the knee, flared jeans have a loose but straight feel all the way down the leg, only beginning to flare just above the ankle.

Assemble 'Fancy' Outfits with New "Fancy Nancy" Game from Briarpatch

     As an assistant librarian at an elementary school, I can say with all honesty that each week, our library’s collection of the Fancy Nancy books is always on limited supply.  Our younger girls (and even our older girls) just adore Fancy Nancy, the best-selling series of a young girl with a larger-than-life personality by author Jane O’Connor.  Fancy Nancy always dresses extravagantly─ no ensemble of Fancy Nancy’s isn’t complete without fairy wings, boas, tutus and fuzzy slippers to name a few. 

     Now, your little fashion maven-in-the-making can pair ensembles just like her favorite storybook character with Briarpatch’s Fancy Nancy Fabulous Fashionista Game.  Players assemble their ‘Fancy Nancy’ ensembles (held in an armoire and shoe rack) by trading and collecting all of those essential fashion accessories that make up an outfit.  The first player to have assembled three outfits is the winner.  The Fancy Nancy Fabulous Fashionista Game comes with four (4) armoires and shoe racks; fashion die; 24 matching dress and shoe tokens and rules for all of the different ways that you can play.  An added bonus─ cling reusable stickers that can be used to ‘fancy-up’ the armoires or to let your little girl add a spark of creativity to just about anything else that needs a special touch!

    We found that the Fancy Nancy Fabulous Fashionista Game is suitable for children ages 5 years and up, and is best played with between 2 to 4 players.  Retailing for $20.99, the Fancy Nancy Fabulous Fashionista Game can be purchased at Kohls stores nationwide, or online at www.briarpatch.com, www.amazon.com, and www.scholastic.com .  For further information, please visit the Briarpatch website at: http://www.briarpatch.com

Plum Organics Unveils New Fruit & Veggie Whole Grain Blends

  

      Although I’ve always tried to make my own baby food from scratch for my son, I can often be found in the baby food aisle at my local grocers on the lookout for new, delicious organic baby foods that I can take with us when we are on the go. Plum Organics has recently introduced its new Fruit & Veggie Whole Grain Blends.  All four varieties feature recipes using ancient grains like Amaranth, Millet and Quinoa, providing little budding palates with a whole grain boost of nutrition.  The new flavor blends include Zucchini, Banana & Amaranth; Apple Raisin & Quinoa; Sweet Potato, Mango & Millet and Plum, Berry & Barley. 

       Every Plum Organics baby food pouch contains 100 percent real fruits and vegetables; no added sugar, juice or color; absolutely no artificial ingredients, trans-fats or high fructose corn syrup, and best of all, for this mom of a child with a sensitive, picky belly, three of the new blends are gluten-free.  My son and I tried the samples of the Plum, Berry & Barley and Apple Raisin & Quinoa the last two days , and we were both  so pleased with the taste.  The addition of the grains added a hearty and nutty (without the nut!) flavor.

     The food pouches are BPA-free and they are extremely lightweight and can fit just about anywhere---perfect to keep in your diaper bag when you're running errands for a quick nutritious snack, or for long day trips. The resealable squeezable pouch is ideally designed for self-feeding, and it features a child-safe cap.  Each Plum Organics food pouch retails for $1.49 and can be found in Whole Foods Markets, Target and Babies-r-Us stores nationwide.

     For further information on the wide variety of organic baby food and toddler snacks from Plum Organics, please visit their website at: http://www.plumorganics.com

Wei Beauty Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser

     For years, women have used water infused with rose petals to rinse their faces, leaving them with softened skin.  The gentle, yet tantalizing aroma of rose assists with opening your skin’s pores, leaving your skin complexion radiant and glowing.

     As I have long been a loyal user of rose-scented beauty products, I was thrilled to recently receive a sample of the Wei Beauty Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser.  After using it once a day in the morning for two weeks, I am honestly amazed at the results.  This creamy, foaming cleanser thoroughly left my normally dry skin-tone cleansed and refreshed, with a soft, supple feel.  The Wei Beauty Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser, containing an infusion of Chinese Rose, delicate White Tea and essential vitamin C from Mandarin Orange peels helps to brighten your skin.  It effectively dissolved makeup as well as oily residue at the end of the day. The cleanser is allergy and dermatologist tested. 

      Retailing for $32.00, the Wei Beauty Chinese Rose Foaming Cleanser can be purchased online on the Wei Beauty’s website at:  http://www.weibeauty.com/

New Product Helps to Make Tummy Time Less Tearful

     While I was pregnant with my son, every magazine I read stressed the importance of tummy time. for newborns. During our first visit to the pediatrician when we brought our son home from the hospital, he also emphasized the significant benefits that this would give to our boy.  However, our pediatrician  also mentioned  that many babies do not really enjoy this play time,  so we’d be best to try it in small doses─ like a couple of minutes after each diaper change─ to ease our son into it.  So, when my family received a sample of the Infantino Right Angle Tummy Triangle, we instantly set our sights on gradually getting our son accustomed to some (we hoped) fun time on his belly. 

     There was very little, if any, assembly required with the triangle, and my husband was instantly enamored with this, (after months of frustratingly putting together cribs, strollers, changing table, dressers, you name it) before we even got our son used to it! The surface lets you lay your baby on his/her stomach at a slight incline, allowing her/him to look into a mirror or play with the attached toys instead of typically having their face in a blanket on the floor.  The bar is adjustable, allowing you to raise it as your baby’s neck strength grows.  The bright colors easily engaged our son’s attention, and when he noticed the mirror and the crinkly bumble bee, well it quickly became one of his favorite things to reach out for.  Another pleasing feature of this product is that it includes a musical device timer.  You can set the music for 1, 5 and 10 minute time intervals to assist you in getting your little comfortable.  As each day passed and we gradually increased his tummy time on the device, the strength in his tiny arms improved, and it made tummy time no longer a time filled with tears for both mommy and her little boy!  One quick word of advice─ as soon as you notice your baby getting to the point of really pushing up on their arms, you will need to watch them carefully because they can easily roll off of the sides. 

     Retailing for $34.99, you can find the Infantino Right Angle Tummy Triangle at Babies-r-Us, Target and Wal-Mart’s nationwide and online.  For further information, please visit the Infantino website at: http://www.infantino.com/