When we become grandmothers we want to be as cool as the fantastic Mrs. Nene Leakes. Check out her sweet little glambaby. She sure has grown up. They don’t stay little babies for long. Before we know they’re getting into stuff.
This sister can run from u now! #mylittleblessing #glambaby http://t.co/Csj3a8TCvT
—
NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) August 25, 2013
My daughters are nearly as tall as I am now, but when they were wee ones I would have loved these! ToeBlooms. How cute.
As moms, we know there is always that stage where you don’t want to put shoes on your babies so you simply keep their feet warm with socks when it’s cold or let them go barefoot when it’s hot outside. Toe Blooms are an adorable alternative to soft shoes or bland white socks with a small yellow bow. They wrap around your baby girl’s feet and add an adorable charm to any outfit.
Now that the holidays are upon us, there is really no cuter way to dress up those frilly velvet dresses. ToeBlooms let you dress your little girl up with a fashionable flare. And, they are always perfect gifts for new moms.
And, moms with boys, not to worry! They have ToeBuds for the little guys as well.
Plus, this is a mom-owned business and who doesn’t want to help fellow moms get a leg up in the business world?
ToeBlooms retail for around $22 – $24.
If you are looking for a coloring book for your little girl of color then you definitely want to check out Miss Zee, or at least support the production of the Miss Zee coloring book.
As an artist and mother, Gloria Smith could not find toys and coloring books with images that looked like her daughter. So she created her own coloring book called “Miss Zee.” Gloria Smith uploaded free printables to the Net with overwhelming response. People wanted to buy the coloring book and now all she needs is the money to print them.
I think it’s a worthwhile cause.
Here is a sample page you can download. Or, you can donate to get Miss Zee into the hands of little girls around the country. Check out Smith’s Kickstarter page to make a donation.
Visit Miss Zee at www.misszee.net and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/misszeedoll.
If you are traveling to Los Angeles from now through the end of the year you can take advantage of their TRAVEL LITE package. I love W Hotels! Last year I visited the W Hotel in midtown Atlanta as well as the W in Times Square and love them! If you have never stayed at a W hotel you won’t be disapppointed!
Starting at $699, the TRAVEL LITE package includes:
This travel package from the W Los Angeles is perfect for out-of-towners as well as those who live in LA or nearby.
Learn more at www.wlosangeles.com/travellite
When I was pregnant I read as much about natural remedies as I could. I was a little rabid about it actually. When my daughters were babies I kept them away from all pharmaceutical baby medicines and instead used natural remedies when they were sick like rubbing garlic oil on the bottom of the feet, using Echinacea when they were sick, using tea tree oil when they got a rash, and juicing organic fruits (especially apples, oranges, and lemons) when they got first started getting the sniffles.
Earth Mama Baby Angel, a brand I trust and used when my girls were babies, has a free herb eBook on their site. Make sure to check it out. It has great information in it.
On the Net: www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/herbs-for-breastfeeding-ebook
While record snow fell on the northeastern states last week, more snow is still in the forecast. That means, you guessed it, more snow days!
Just because snow days are nearly always synonymous with play days you can always get your kids prepped for school again by keeping learning fresh, even after a day of playing in the snow.
Here are a few tips courtesy of Sylvan.com to beat the winter blues.
1. Read. Yes, of course. Everyone has his or her favorite book, so read them to each other. It’s fun for the older kids to read their favorite childhood books to their younger siblings. Act out 
your favorite scenes for the enjoyment of everyone.
2. Tell stories. This is a great time to trot out the old family photo albums and tell stories of your happy memories. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, favorite friends and neighbors. Connect the kids to your past — and theirs.
3. Keep a snow journal. As a family, write a few sentences every day about the snow. What time did it start to fall? What did it look like on the trees? How did it affect the traffic on your street? Did you feed the birds? Does your dog like the snow? The cat? Write about sledding, snowman building, snowball battles, snow forts. Write how you felt when you learned there’d be no school. What friends will you miss for the days you’re away from the classroom?
4. Do some weather science. Measure the snow as it’s falling. Keep a log of the temperatures hourly. How long does it take for the snow to melt on the south side of the house? On the north side? How do those icicles form?
5. Play games as a family and, for some quiet time, as individuals. Some mind-engaging activities include board games, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, coloring, finger painting, water colors, scrapbooking.
6. Keep up the lessons. Check those spelling words — if there aren’t any from school, assign your own. Practice math facts. Read the next chapter in the social studies book.
7. Organize. Take this found-time to organize notebooks, planners, back packs, and study areas at home. Make sure everyone’s up-to-date on assignments that will be due when school starts again.
8. Try to keep up normal routines. Yes, the snow throws everything off, and that’s okay. It’s good to take a break (or have one thrust upon you) from time to time. But try to keep bedtimes, mealtimes, study times, and other important personal routines (medications, for example) as close to normal as possible. When you know schools will reopen again, start to get back into the swing of things right away.
9. Be a role model. Use your homebound time for catching up on some put-off tasks. Enlist the kids’ help in rearranging furniture, organizing closets and donating unused clothing to the homeless shelter. Talk about how warm and cozy you are — not everyone is as lucky.
10. Stay positive. Spring will arrive. Promise.
For resources and additional information, visit http://www.SylvanLearning.com or call 1-800-31-SUCCESS.
If you missed my first Disney Dream post, you can find it here. There I talk about embarking on Disney’s newest cruise ship.
On Thursday morning we docked at Castaway Cay, Disney’s own private island in the Bahamas. Here’s the view we saw when we woke up and stepped out on our verandah.
Continue reading Disney’s Island in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay
Last week I was on board the Disney Dream as a part of the media to cover Disney’s newest cruise ship. I have so much to share about the ship that I can easily post something new every day this week and more than likely I will.
I took my entire family along with me on the Disney Dream because I really wanted to see how the cruise accommodates families. I cannot express to you the level of friendliness, attention to detail, and unparalleled service we experienced from the moment we embarked to the moment we debarked. Suffice it to say, the Disney Dream operated like a very well-oiled machine.
Right after we walked across the gangway, members of the Disney Dream crew waited for each guest, asked our names, announced us with a microphone and clapped us on board. Then a member of the crew took us aside and personally told us how to find our rooms and something to eat. I loved all of that!
Continue reading Disney’s Newest Ship, The Dream, Really Delivers
Be sure not to miss Destination Maternity’s up to 50% off fall sale: www.destinationmaternity.com/sale.asp
Free Shipping at Destination Maternity on orders over $100 use promo code: DMFS10. Valid Oct 7-11.
Also, there is an up to 30% off fall sale at Motherhood Maternity
http://www.motherhood.com/sale.asp
Free Shipping at Motherhood Maternity on orders over $75 use promo code: MHFS10. Valid Oct 7-11.
New Books for Expectant Moms from Meadowbrook Press:
The Official Lamaze Guide (2nd Edition)
This new edition has been updated to reflect the latest evidence-based research on pregnancy and childbirth. Since the first edition, childbirth in the U.S. has gotten riskier. The cesarean rate has continued to rise; now almost one third of women in the U.S. have a cesarean. There’s been a shocking rise in the maternal mortality rate. More babies are admitted to NICUs, and there’s been an alarming increase in incidences of postpartum depression and post traumatic stress disorder related to childbirth. BUY ONLINE (no affiliate link)
Guía sencilla para tener un bebé (Spanish Edition of The Simple Guide to Having a Baby)
This Spanish edition of The Simple Guide to Having a Baby is available at the same price as the English edition—a welcome change for healthcare organizations, hospitals, clinics, and childbirth educators who had been paying significantly more for an imported Spanish edition. BUY ONLINE (no affiliate link)
Since I just came back from Miami yesterday and am now clamoring to go back very soon I thought this information about Miami’s “Everyone’s A Kid… Again” promotion would be of interest to anyone traveling to the sunshine state this month.
Miami-Dade residents as well as tourists can score dollar-saving coupons including “one adult free with one adult admission at The Miami Seaquarium and Jungle Island,” “50%-off admission price at Miami-Dade Parks Eco-Adventures,” and “50%-off each admission at Monkey Jungle.” These special offers are only available at www.Everyonesakid.com
Participating attractions include:
1. Coral Castle Museum
2. Deering Estate at Cutler
3. Dolphin Harbor at Miami Seaquarium
4. Everglades Alligator Farm
5. Fruit and Spice Park
6. HistoryMiami
7. Island Queen Cruises
8. Jungle Island
9. Miami Children’s Museum
10. Miami-Dade Parks EcoAdventures
11. Miami Science Museum
12. Miami Seaquarium
13. Miccosukee Indian Village
14. Monkey Jungle
15. Ocean Force Adventures
16. Viscaya Musuem and Gardens
17. Zoo Miami
On the Net: www.Everyonesakid.com
