You had me at "how do you close this thing?"

L.O.V.E.

I just returned from {a much needed} vacation and I now can truly say...I love my stroller. Not just love, in love, infatuated, soul-mated to my stroller. I once {back in '07} thought I was in love...with a Bugaboo. But now I know that was merely young lust. Once you've mated with a stroller, you know all those that came before it were simply a distraction. Love like this doesn't come around every day {well, until the next great stroller comes out.}

Okay, okay enough with the metaphors. Here is what sold me, and has kept me, in love with my CityMini. And if you are a parent, a grandparent or even a caretaker, you will understand why I fell hard for this one:

Perfection!

If you've ever struggled to close any stroller with packages in one hand, or a screaming baby in another hand, or both, you'll understand how beautiful the CityMini's quick close feature is.

As I was waiting to go through customs after a 5+ hour flight home, trying to corral my sleep deprived 4 year old, hold my completely knocked out 1.5 year old and make sure our luggage wasn't picked off, I folded and unfolded {just as amazing} this bad boy too many times to count. And every time I was able to flick it open and close and move in and out of places, I fell deeper and deeper in love.

But don't take my word for it. Love is best experienced in person:

Baby Jogger City Mini Stroller by Baby Jogger

The gift that truly keeps on giving

TEGU
The Tegu Story from Tegu on Vimeo.

I found these guys on Open Sky {one of my new addictions} and after watching the video above I instantly fell in love with their story and products. I am always on the hunt for non-plastic or recyclable/eco-friendly toys and ones not made in China {no offense to the Chinese, but they know what kinds of products they are making}.

These toys fit both of these requirements. And, to sweeten the purchase, for every toy you buy, Tegu will plant 12 trees in Honduras or fund one day of school for a child who would otherwise work on a trash dump near Tegucigalpa. The products are simple. But simple is best for little ones. It helps ignite their imagination and unleash creativity. Wooden blocks are a staple for any kids toy box, but even more so when they are young like my little ones {1 and 4}.  It can be quite frustrating when they fall over so easily!  

Tegu's blocks fix that little problem because each piece is magnetized. So after your little one has concentrated so hard to build the best castle possible, it won't be instantly ruined when his/her little brother/sister comes and tries to knock it down {we call Little J the Block Monster}


Watch the video, it's a must see. Check out their products. And buy a gift that won't just end up as another toy box casualty.

Baby It's Cold Outside

It is finally starting to feel like Winter. In some ways, I love the thought of wearing cute coats with matching scarves and hats while drinking a Starbucks Eggnog Latte. However, I do miss the ease of dashing out of the house without having to worry about outerwear. And, without worrying about keeping my son warm. My daycare provider recently reminded me that it is probably a good idea to dress my son in shoes or booties to keep his feet warm. So, it is time to retire the cute Trumpette socks and invest in some cute baby booties. When I had my daughter, I loved the Zutano booties. They NEVER fell off and came in cute colors and styles. I think I may need to place an order from some soon.

Diapers.com has the cozie Zutano Booties in navy, pink, fuchsia, and light blue on sale now for $16.00! Unfortunately, they only go up to size 12 months. They are also available at Comfy Kid. I have ordered from them before and they ship very fast!

Robeez Booties ($36.00)

I also found these cute booties:

North Face ($30.00)

Here are some other options:

Polo Bootie ($30.80)

Ministar Booties ($19.99)

Happy Holidays....and keep those baby footsies warm!

B is for Book

I love books. All kinds of books. Small ones and big ones. True ones and fiction ones. Books with pictures and books with words. I love them all, every book, every word.

I've been a consumer of books my whole life, well at least since I could read/hold a book.  So it's only fitting that I pass this obesession on to my kids. My dream is to build them a library of books that they can cherish and come back to even when they are older and have outgrown Good Night Moon and Peekaboo Morning.  

So I am always on the hunt for a great book to read to my kids {and now that my oldest has begun reading, books that he can read to himself}.  Right now, I'm definitely partial to books written in rhyme.  It just makes it much more enjoyable to read over and over and over and over {you have a bazillion books, why do we have to read It's Lovely When You Smile AGAIN?!?}

But there are so so many children's books out there: from board books to picture books, from classics to new creations.  It's really hard to know where to start or end.  So I was excited to find this yearly list of the "Best Baby Books" by the Fred Rogers Company {yes, that Fred Rogers a/k/a/ Mr. Rogers}.  Here's this year's list for books published in 2010:

• Baby Baby Baby! by Marilyn Janovitz   
• Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig,  Illustrated by Marc Brown {I LOVE this one...so cute}
• Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla,  Illustrated by Amy Cordova
• Hip Hop by Catherine Hnatov
• I Like Fruit by Lorena Siminovich {I Like Vegetables is delicious...I mean good too :-)}
• One Pup’s Up by Marsha Wilson Chall,  Illustrated by Henry Cole
• Pocketful of Posies by Salley Mavor
• Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming
• Switching on the Moon compiled by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
• Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen, Illustrated by Sherry Scharschmidt

Here are a few of my kiddos' favorites:


{Okay so this is mommy's favorite, but both the words and the illustrations are just wonderful!}

Must. Have.

I went to the Beaba USA website today for the first time {even though I have been in love with their Babycook forever} and immediately was like.....WHOA!  That's Hot! and I Must. Have. That.

Introducing the Bib'expresso....

Be sure to check out the Demo to see all the features.  I just hope it comes out before my little one turns 1 and stops drinking formula!

And the Cribsie goes to....(cont.)

Stroller Traffic, A-List Mom and Diapers.com are hosting a fantastic Awards program right now. I've been listing my votes and commenting on the selection. But as I said before, the list is loooonnng.  So I had to break it up.  Here's the rest:



GEAR:
Ultimate Do-It-All Stroller - Baby Jogger City Series
 
Chicest Diaper Bag That Doesn't Look Like A Diaper Bag - Timi& Leslie {great if you are going incog-mommy and don't want your bag to advertise it contains nappies and milk and wipes and things}

Best Way To Recycle Used Baby Stuff - BrightZoo

Comfiest Infant Tub - Puj Tub {Best infant tub hands down}

Most Necessary Car Seat Accessory - Safe Fit Baby-In-Sight Mirror

Coziest Winter Must-Have - JJ Cole BundleMe

Best Diaper Pail - Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail

Coolest Stroller Add-On - Think King Mighty Buggy Hook {these make mall shopping a breeze}

The One Thing You Can't Leave Home Without - gogo Kidz Travelmate {soooo much better than buying a travel car seat or having to rent one at your destination}
 
Most Comfortable Way To Wear Your Baby - Sleepy Wrap {a life-saver when your newborn just won't settle}

FASHION:
Cutest Socks To Build An Outfit Around - Trumpette {a better description would be the cutest socks for every outfit}

Gentlest Detergent For Baby Togs - Dapple

Best Shoes For Developing Feet - Pediped

Loveliest Layette Essentials - Pixie Lily {they make the most beautiful and softest layette...love them}

Most Darling Dress-Up Duds - Ralph Lauren {for boys, but my real vote goes to Matilda Jane, who should've been nominated}

Ultimate Street-Cool Appeal - A For Apple {their clothes for boys are actually cool and not just....strange looking}

Best Way To Score Mad Deals On Luxe Labels - Gilt Children {for the bargain fashionista in us all}

Comfiest Pajamas - Hanna Andersson {their PJs are amazing. they are super soft and last FOREVER even after many many many many MANY washes in HOT water. love love love them}

Most Durable Basics That Don't Look Like Basics - Mini Boden

Best Inside Track On Kids' Wear Trends - Child Mode

WEB:
Best Place To Connect With Other Moms - MomsLikeMe 

Most Addictive Celebrity Baby Site - Celebrity Baby Scoop

Top Go-To Resource For Expecting Moms - The Bump

Coolest Design Ideas For The Nursery - Nursery Notations

Yummiest Toddler Recipes - Weelicious {this has been such a big help for me because I have such a hard time coming up with new meal ideas for my little ones}

Sleekest Family E-Zine - Babiekins magazine

Best DIY Announcements And Invites - Tiny Prints {there are lots of imitators now but Tiny Prints is still the best}

Most Trustworthy Product Reviews - CoolMomPicks

Smartest Family Travel Tips - PoshBrood

Easiest Place To Spend A Paycheck - Giggle  {their store is so soothing an easy to shop in. and I LOVE that their CEO is a woman!}

 *   *   *

Phewww......now that's a lot of top picks.  Happy shopping!