If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
This summer it seems like my family and I are constantly on the go. And wherever we go, our SIGGs go too. Sure, there are lots of companies offering BPA-free drinking containers these days. But no one offers as many options and as much personality as SIGG. From pirate sharks, ballerinas and Sponge Bob for kids to simple solid colors and bold modern graphics for teens and adults, SIGG offers an endless number of color and design options to find the perfect SIGG bottle to capture the essence of you. In addition to the great designs, I love the combination SIGG bottles have of being both incredibly durable and lightweight. The designated “kid” bottles come with the kid top (a twist-type sport spout), but one of the great things about SIGG bottles is that as your kid grows and your SIGG lasts (and as durable as it is, it will last), you can purchase any one of SIGG’s other lids to update the look and spout performance of the bottle. In addition to the four different lids to choose from, SIGG also offers a ton of accessories like detachable handles, carry straps, pouches and covers to customize your SIGG to your lifestyle. And speaking of 
customizing, SIGG recently introduced customizable bottles through CafePress (where you can choose between seven different background images and add your own customized text) as well as signature SIGGskins (upload your own photos and add color, text and designs – see mine at right!) to create a one-of-a-kind drink container. A great gift idea for holidays and birthdays!
But no need to wait for a special occasion – this summer go green, stay hydrated and bring along your perfect SIGG bottle to all your summer adventures.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Let’s face it, very few moms escape the inevitable mommy tummy that happens after carrying one or more kids. Even if you exercise or otherwise try to fight it, often the effects of carrying a child do permanently alter the shape and size of a mom’s stomach. After a pretty rigorous exersize regimen where I lost a few sizes, I still don’t have the slender stomach I long for.
That’s why I was excited to try Yummie Tummie, a brand of body shapers that help smooth and slim that tummy. Available in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors, Yummie Tummie actually works from the top down to give your stomach a slender look and feel.
I chose a tank in the nude color, which is neutral enough to go with just about everything I own. I tried to decide between two sizes and chose to go up in size – something I’m glad I did, because they are a little tough to get on. But, once I get it on, it’s really flattering! I especially like how it fits – it doesn’t just squish the stomach, it flattens it!
The selection of styles is great for those who have a specific dress or shirt you are looking to wear it with. I’m getting ready to pick out my next one — should I go for the Bareback or the Basic V? To check them out yourself, visit Yummie Tummie online.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
I’ve already talked quite a bit about my adult acne problem. I had absolutely no breakouts as a teen, but have been on and off prescription medicines through my 20s and my 30s, so I was excited to have the chance to try out Clear Remedy by iQ Derma. Clear Remedy is a three part system, with an optional spot treatment cream, and it’s simple and easy to use! The system utilizes such ingredients as salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide, along with skin calming ingredients.
Step one is a cleanser, which works to unclog pores, so they won’t turn into pimples, whiteheads, or blackheads. I really loved the cleanser, because it did a great job cleaning my skin, but didn’t it leave it feeling dry or tight. Just be careful near the eyes – you should use a separate eye makeup remover with this or any other medicated wash.
Step two is the Acne Treatment Lotion, which contains 2% salicylic acid. It’s not irritating or drying at all, and works to prevent acne bacteria from growing. I not only use the lotion on my face, I also use in on some places on my body where I also get breakouts.
Step three is the Hydrating Lotion. Even though I have adult acne, I absolutely cannot live without a moisturizer. The great thing about this moisturizer is that it doesn’t clog pores, and works to calm and hydrate the skin. It does not, however, contain SPF, so I highly recommend using that separately.
The spot treatment has benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient, and is good to use on existing breakouts. It’s a good size to carry with you, so you can apply it as needed.
So far, I’ve been seeing great results with Clear Remedy, with no drying. I have had some pesky breakouts start to disappear, and a few red spots where breakouts had been have started to clear up. I haven’t had any dryness or irritation at all, something that has occurred on a few occasions with other products.
I’ll follow up with another post in a few weeks with more progress as to how my skin is doing. In the meantime, you can get 30% off Clear Remedy and free ground shipping by clicking this link and using the code GETCLEAR30
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
We have loved reading pop-up books with our sons since they were babies. They never seem to get bored of the 3-D illustrations in their favorite books. Recently we received a copy of Baby Signs, a pop-up book that illustrates a variety of beginner signs, like book, eat, and more. It’s fun to see the movement come to life and it’s a wonderful way to learn signs together with baby. It also comes with a small poster that further illustrates seventeen signs. The book is well constructed and sturdy and has a number of tabs for mom or dad to pull for a curious baby.
More information and samples pages are available on Scholastic’s website. Here is a little blurb on the book from Scholastic.
BABY SIGNS is based on American Sign Language and will help encourage the use of non-verbal gestures to communicate. Research has proven that babies who are taught to use signs to express their basic ideas before they can say words are happier because they can communicate with others.
Would you like to read Baby Signs with your own little one?
Please leave a comment below and you’ll be entered into our giveaway. One grand prize winner will receive their own copy of Baby Signs Pop-Up Book and a $50 gift card to Babies ‘R Us. Four (4) other winners will receive a copy of Baby Signs Pop-Up Book (valued at $25.99). The contest ends July 22 at 11:59 ET. Please no PO Boxes. US Residents Only. Only one entry per person.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
My kids love dessert – dangle dessert in front of them, and they are pretty much willing to behave. While we usually consider fruit a good dessert, we do try to keep a variety of small “real” desserts for post-dinner treats when they are especially well behaved. So, when I was sent some samples of Little Debbie’s 100 calorie snack cakes, I thought they’d be a good option for a small treat.
The snack cakes come in several different flavors, including my kids’ personal favorites – chocolate and lemon. They are small – 100 calories doesn’t go all that far – but they are just the right size for a small treat. It’s much better than cutting a tiny sliver of a big cake – since they are individually wrapped, the kids are okay with just one.
You can find Little Debbie’s Snack Cakes at your local grocery store.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
by Chris on June 29, 2009
My son and daughter have sensitive skin, and my daughter has had some strong skin reactions to sunscreens. So, while I certainly want to make sure the kids don’t burn, I also want to make sure their sunscreen doesn’t cause itchiness and hives. It’s a delicate balance.
I was approached by Vivasana to review their 100% natural, 70% organic sunscreen, and I was interested to see how it would work. I really liked the size of the container, especially, because it’s perfect to toss in my purse or the diaper bag. Because it’s a thick lotion, it’s not something that will leak all over my purse (yes, it’s happened with other sunscreens).
The lotion is nice and light in consistency, and works really well. I’ve used the ultra sunscreen on myself, including my face, and got no sunburn at all, and used the baby version on my daughter and son with no sensitivities and no burns. I carry Vivasana skincare in my purse all the time now, so I always have sunscreen when we need it.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
I’ve been needing a lot of new clothes lately for several reasons – one, I actually lost weight over the last year, and two, now that I’m not working full time, I no longer wear business clothes daily. Buying new clothes is definitely fun, but can also be expensive. So, when TJ Maxx and Marshalls offered me two $25 gift cards to shop and blog about it, I was excited to take on the challenge to find some reasonably priced, nice clothes.
My goal – to find some nice, brand name clothing that I could wear out to dinner that were still casual enough for my new stay at home life! Since my local shopping center, Shopper’s World, contains both a TJMaxx and a Marshall’s, it’s super convenient to visit both of them in one visit. I started at TJMaxx – and immediately found a Calvin Klein short-sleeved button down shirt that I loved. It’s a soft material and has natural wrinkles, so it’s easy to care for. That shirt was $19.99, so I was on a mission to find some cheap capris or shorts to match.
I didn’t come in under $25, but came in pretty close. I found a great pair of capris by Arizona Jeans for $7 on the sale rack! Together, they make a great outfit!
Next, I went to Marshall’s. There, I immediately found a gorgeous black sweater wrap that I HAD TO HAVE. It was $19.99, so it didn’t leave me much else, but I wasn’t going to leave it there. Instead of looking for pants, I searched for a shirt to wear under the wrap. I ended up with a soft, cozy blue tee – at $12.99 it brought my a little over budget, but it really is a great material.
I definitely could have found even greater deals at both stores if I was in a different size (as a petite size, I am limited a bit, unless I want to have something altered). And, I didn’t look for accessories but Marshall’s especially had some great shoes (again, as a size 4 1/2 shoe, I’m limited unfortunately).
In need of some great new clothes with a limited budget – try your own “spendervention” at TJMaxx or Marshalls.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to tour one of the Peapod grocery delivery “warerooms” at a local Stop & Shop along with other Boston-based bloggers. I’ve shopped at Stop & Shop hundreds, maybe even thousands of times, but hadn’t ever gotten Peapod delivery.
It was really interesting to see exactly how the shoppers work. Each shopper wears a device on their arm that shows which items they need to put in the bin. Items are organized in the way they should be packed – so heavy items are first, so they’ll be at the bottom. We watched the shopper get one order ready, and I was actually pretty surprised to see how carefully each order is shopped for – for instance, she checked every egg in a carton, just as I would do.
My concern with grocery delivery was always around the meats and produce – I wondered how fresh everything would be. I was pleased to see that the produce and meats are actually specially prepped for each order. So, at the end of the day, the produce and meats aisle is completely empty, and restocked for the next day’s orders in the morning.
Peapod provided us with a gift card to try out the service. Since we’d been away over the weekend, our fridge was bare, so I pleased my order immediately. I placed an order a little over the gift card amount, and selected a 4-hour delivery window, which saves $2 off the charge. Ordering was easy – there were a few specialty items I tried to order that weren’t available, but I wasn’t surprised.
The next morning, I received a text message giving me a more specific 2 hour window for my delivery – 6:30pm-8:30pm. At about 6:40pm, my doorbell rang, and our delivery was there! Every item I ordered was included, and the quality of the produce was really good!
While we still enjoy the experience of grocery shopping, I think we’ll be using Peapod for those times when we really just can’t make it to the store.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
A few weeks ago, I reviewed one of the skincare lines offered by Guthy-Renker, Proactiv. This week, I’m on to a new skincare line – In an Instant, endorsed by Heidi Klum.
As a 35 year old woman, I’ve noticed that my skin is starting to show some signs of aging, from wrinkles to loss of firmness. But, it’s definitely not too bad at this point – so my goal is to brighten my complexion while helping to slow down further damage. Of course, anything endorsed by Heidi Klum sounds great – she looks amazing despite the loads of kids she seems to keep having.
The In An Instant line features four main products, a Foaming Cleanser, an Intensive Firming Serum, an SPF 15 Daily Tinted Moisturizer, and an Instant Wrinkle Smoother. It’s not entirely clear what the active ingredients of the products are, but I actually really like the system.
The cleanser is nice and light, and in my experience, foaming cleansers are best at clearing away makeup. This cleanser is no exception! It definitely gets my face clean. The serum is a nice base for putting on makeup, and I do notice that it fills in my pores and light wrinkles making my face nice and even. For deeper wrinkles, near the eyes and mouth, I use the Instant Wrinkle Smoother. It’s a thicker version of the serum, and does a better job of filling in deep wrinkles.
My favorite product, however, is the moisturizer! I will definitely be buying more of this when the sample I received runs out. It’s got SPF 15 in it, and actually contains some light color that brightens the face. It’s perfect for those days that I don’t want to wear foundation, although it’s also great under foundation.
I can’t really comment on whether these products prevent future damage, but they definitely do a great job of smoothing out the face on a daily basis!
To learn more or to purchase In An Instant, click here.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Dental products are one of those things that we use every single day, more than once per day. While I often don’t think about what specific ingredients are in my toothpaste and mouthwash, there are some ingredients, such as alcohol, that I’d really prefer not to ingest everyday. Even if you don’t eat your toothpaste or mouthwash, the ingredients are absorbed through the gums (something I never knew before).
One dentist decided to offer patients the option to have healthy, natural, and effective dental products, including rinses (mouthwashes) and toothpastes. We had the chance to try out a few of these products, including the All Natural Anti-Gingivitis Rinse (in the Peppermint Sage flavor), the Healthy Teeth and Gums Original Toothpaste (in Peppermint Sage), and the Healthy Teeth and Gums Whitening Plus Toothpaste.
I find that the toothpastes and rinses keep my teeth feeling nice and clean. Both of them have a pleasant, fresh taste – not medicinal at all. They are really effective and I love the fact that they have no dyes or alcohol. The Natural Dentist currently has a promotion running until July 31 – $1.50 off any product! For the coupon, visit the Natural Dentist here.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
by Chris on June 24, 2009
I’m sure you’ve all noticed that we at Mom’s Favorite Stuff are huge bag fanatics. We love ‘em, can’t get enough of ‘em, perhaps have a bit of an obsession with ‘em. It was with much excitement that I have been given another opportunity to review a Coach bag. You can read my first review here.
The Coach New Ali Hobo Bag is surely magical. I can’t explain how it could possibly fit my carrying needs and yet still give me that extra boost of polish. Let’s start with the way it looks. With a shorter length strap, the bag slips over my shoulder and lays close to my upper body. The interior includes one zippered pocket and two open pockets to fit a phone, pens, or other mommy tools. My Ali Hobo Bag is white. While I have never purchased a bag in white, I have been pleasantly surprised by how cool and sleek of a color it is. In a place that is almost always hot, my white Coach New Ali Hobo Bag is refreshing.
Now for the magical part. I’m not quite sure how it does it, but the Coach New Ali Hobo Bag manages to hold everything I need to leave the house with, even with the boys. This includes two epi-pens, an inhaler with aerochamber, Benadryl, passports, a Coach clutch that I use as a wallet, my Sony eReader, cell phone, wipes, and usually a few Geotrax trains. It does it all without breaking a sweat or looking rumpled and overworked. I love that the bag itself weighs so little that it makes carrying all of my ‘stuff’ a little easier. It isn’t too chic or too froufy for this mom. I can take it along when I’m wearing my casual capris, my slouchy jeans, or a pretty sundress.
You can find more bags from the Coach Ali Collection on the Coach website.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
. 
. 
to learn more about it.
.
. 
