Rave and Review

InMat by GoBaby

"The 'In' Mat"

Some babies hate tummy-time, some babies love it.  The baby I received falls squarely in the “hate it” category, which is probably why she will never, ever, in a million years, crawl.  Luckily, she learned to sit-up early, otherwise Mama would never have her hands free.  Unfortunately for me, when we are out of the house there is very rarely a spot I deem clean enough for my baby to sit on, roll over to, face plant on, or to my dismay, eat off of.  Which is why I was thrilled to review the new InMat from GoBaby. 

No, this isn’t your average plasticy tummy-time mat you will see in large chain stores, which are usually of poor quality and come in the standard “this is for a kid” primary color scheme.  Not a gaudy character or pastel princess in sight on the GoBaby website.  Instead, the InMat has 4 food inspired designs that are adorable and anything but babyish.  It took me 10 minutes and a quick consult with hubby to pick one, and that was only with 4 designs.  Imagine what kind of productivity I would have lost if they had 10 or 12 designs and then be grateful you only have 4 to choose from.   

  The good sized InMat (23”x 34”) is made from gorgeously supple suede that is topped with a super soft designer fleece and then trimmed with even more suede.  I know that sounds like a horrible combination, but it is surprisingly complimentary and deceivingly practical.  The suede bottom lays flat and keeps the mat from slipping as baby wiggles, squirms, and rolls.  And then the fleece top gives extra padding and softness to the mat which everyone will be grateful for when baby does the inevitable face plant. 

When I think of suede, the Mitch Hedberg comedy routine “This shirt is dry clean only.  Which means it’s dirty” comes to mind.  Imagine my elation to find that the InMat is fully machine washable.  Fully machine washable means you can unroll the InMat and use it with reckless abandon, unafraid of what lies beneath.  When you are ready to transport the InMat, the whole thing can be folded and then rolled so that the top fleece never has to touch the areas that come in contact with the ground – which has been my one real gripe about other playmats and exercise rolls.  Once rolled, it can be secured with the attached suede strap and beautiful magnetic closure and is the perfect size for keeping in the trunk or tote for whatever your day brings.  Really, the whole design is perfect.  

In fact, I love the InMat so much I wish I had one in my size.  There was a brief moment I considered getting two and sewing them together to make a Mama sized mat, but then I found out that GoBaby already makes a larger size – aptly called an OutMat – and my semi-retired sewing machine was in the clear.

Random Rave:  The InMat is not just a mat – it is flexible and soft enough to be used as a blanket and the fact that the mat can be folded so that the top and bottom don’t co-mingle means that it can even be used as a changing mat in a bind.

http://www.gobaby.com/ 

25% off code: MOMDEALS

Check out http://www.gobaby.com/fitness.htm for Mama-and-me exercise suggestions and instructions.

Price: $30

Looks: Delightful and delectable

Overall:  The InMat is an ultra-soft go-anywhere play mat that goes from exercise class to play dates at the Little Gym to stroller blanket and more.

Thank you to GoBaby for introducing us to the InMat!

Muddy Buddy by Tuffo

“For when your little buddy is, you guessed it, muddy”

 

April showers bring May flowers, but those showers also bring puddles.  Lots and lots of puddles that are just begging to be jumped in, stomped on and splashed through.  If you have a little puddle jumper, you need a Muddy Buddy to get you through until those May rays slowly begin to heat things up.  And then after that, a Muddy Buddy is the perfect solution for all your Summer and Fall adventures – both indoors and out.

These super lightweight and waterproof zip-up coveralls keep your adorable tot’s togs free from all things filthy, all without restricting your little ones movement or weighing them down.  With their brimmed hoods and completely waterproof seams, Muddy Buddy’s make perfect rainsuits and are excellent mud barriers for gardening, biking, nature walks and more.  I hadn’t even thought of taking the Muddy Buddy indoors until the packaging suggested it, but I am really excited to try that out once baby is ready for legitimate arts and crafts and not just random mess making, which I know is a fine line, but I hope I recognize once she’s crossed it.  I’m picturing her “helping” paint the playroom – probably some horrible shade of pink – while wearing the Muddy Buddy and it’s almost enough for me to not care what color she picks.  Almost.

We tried the 2T Muddy Buddy on three kids ranging in age from 10 months to 3 ½ and although it was really large on the youngest, the oldest could still use it even though he’s in a 5T in other clothing, especially when paired with his low rubber boots to compensate for his longer legs.  I love that the Muddy Buddy isn’t form fitting and can be used over any number of clothing layers which makes it perfect for all seasons and all builds.  The only sizing issue I had was that my family breeds long-limbed children and I wish the sleeves had a bit more length.  Although I’m pretty sure I won’t wish that once we do use it for craft time where long sleeves are always avoided, it might be nice for rain use.

Speaking of sleeves, adding a Velcro-able wrist closure in addition to the elastic to accommodate different sized wrists would be my other suggestion to Tuffo on how to improve upon the design.  Since the sizing is generous, I found the wrist elastic to be a bit too loose on the younger kids and it would be nice to have the option of cinching them down when necessary.  I might regret that when trying to do a quick coverall change in muddy conditions, but it would be nice for inclement weather.   

Things I’m Raving About:

• Reinforced seat and knees are super strong and able to handle all sorts of high jinks, even the kind you warned them not to do.
• The double zipper action makes for easy and mess free changes – no over-the-head maneuvering required.
• Generous sizing means that baby’s going to have this Buddy for a while.
• Machine washable, because the Muddy Buddy was created by parents.  Real parents who hate laundry as much as you do.
• Ridiculously lightweight and portable.  It weighs just about nothing and even comes in a handy carrying bag, so even when your Buddy is Muddy, your car doesn’t have to be.
• Multiple uses means it actually will get used, which is so rare for children’s gear!

As Spring is finally here in the Northwest, I am so excited for my little gardening helper to have a completely waterproof and mess proof suit to trudge around in while Mama grows our groceries.  I might even let her hold the hose, providing there’s no one else within hose shot of her.  That is, unless Muddy Buddy makes suits in Mama and Daddy sizes.

Random Rave: I love the Muddy Buddy as a makeshift snowsuit during the winter months as well.  Just dress up your little one in layers of their non-waterproof cold weather gear and then top with the Muddy Buddy to keep them warm and dry without the huge ticket price of traditional snowsuits.  In a climate that gets only a small amount of snow each year, a designated snowsuit is not nearly as practical as wind stopping fleece topped with a Muddy Buddy.  And I’m all about practical.      

http://www.tuffo.com/ 
 
Price: $30, which is about what I would expect for a rainsuit, but seems low when you figure that it’s also incredibly useful for craft time, snow, mud and more.

Looks: Without a kid in it, it’s a horrible bright yellow rainsuit.  But once you get a kid all zipped up with just their grin peeking out, it is heart-meltingly adorable.  You know, from a completely unbiased Mom’s perspective. 

Overall:  Great multi-use and multi-seasonal suit for all sorts of shenanigans. 

Thank you to Tuffo for sending us this little Buddy to keep us warm, dry and comfortable - in all seasons.

$20 ToddlerTechUSA.com Giveaway Announced!

Winner Announced! Winner Announced! Winner Announced!

Congratulations to Courtney who won the

$20 Purchase at ToddlerTechUSA.com Giveaway!

Courtney Said:

"I hate belts because they're never comfortable! Maybe I'm picking the wrong belts :) But I know my husband hates them too because he can never find one that fits well enough!"

 

Congratulations to Courtney who won the

$20 Purchase at ToddlerTechUSA.com Giveaway!

Courtney Said:

"I hate belts because they're never comfortable! Maybe I'm picking the wrong belts :) But I know my husband hates them too because he can never find one that fits well enough!"

Congratulations to Courtney who won the

$20 Purchase at ToddlerTechUSA.com Giveaway!

Courtney Said:

"I hate belts because they're never comfortable! Maybe I'm picking the wrong belts :) But I know my husband hates them too because he can never find one that fits well enough!"

 

SafetyMate - Portable and Interactive First Aid

“Supplemental Safety Training for Parents on the Go”

I don’t feel qualified at all to write this review – I have absolutely zero medical background, am squeamish at the sight of blood, and tend to panic in the event of real emergencies.  All of which means that I am just the person to do this review.  

At three months of age, my daughter had to go undergo an MRI and it is required that babies of that age be sedated in order to have the procedure.  Since she had recovered from the anesthesia so well, the doctors had let her go a little bit before the recommended 5 hour observation period.  They sent me away with the suggestion that we keep a close eye on her for the remainder of the day.  I was pulling out of the hospital’s parking garage when the realization hit me that if something did happen, I was sorely prepared to handle it.  And it was then that I began to worry about how fragile babies really can be and how scary it is to be the adult in charge. 

Having only taken CPR and first aid as a teenager and then having purged most of the information along with advanced Calculus after I hit my twenties, I definitely was due for a first aid refresher course.  I had meant to do a supplemental class during my pregnancy, but then had a hard enough time fitting in the Lamaze and parenting classes I had already signed up for, what with requiring 14 hours of sleep and 10 hours of elevated legs each day.  Then, I had planned on taking a course when baby was first born, and now she’s 10 months old.  So, I was really happy to review the SafetyMate and get myself motivated to update my first aid skills.

Very rarely does something hit the market that is unlike anything I have ever seen before, as I am constantly on the lookout for new products and gadgets that make life with children easier, so I was thrilled to see a new product come out that definitely does not fit into any of the traditional baby item categories.  The SafetyMate is a compact and portable device that talks you through 8 main first aid categories and does so in two languages (English and Spanish).  The device is much simpler and easy to understand than any other method of first aid that I have ever seen, which means just about anyone can use it.  When you flip the top open, a voice immediately begins speaking, directing you to choose one of the following categories:

	CPR, Unconscious RCP, No Reacciona		Burns Quemaduras
	Choking, Breathing Atragantamientos, Respiración		Falls, Bone Injury Caidas, Lesíones en los Huesos
	Allergic Reaction Reacciones Alérgicas		Poison, Bites, Stings Intoxicaciones, Mordidas, Picaduras
	Bleeding Hemorragias		Seizures Convulsiones

After choosing a category, the SafetyMate continues to give direction on that specific topic, occasionally asking yes or no questions that you respond to by pressing the large “yes” or “no” buttons on the bottom of the unit.  This allows you to tailor the instruction to fit your specific circumstance and conditions to get the best first aid direction.  Equipped with 30+ first aid instructions for common injuries and issues, the SafetyMate is perfect for new parents, child care providers, grandparents and more.

While waiting for hubby to run errands, baby and I had fun pressing each of the categories and responding differently to the yes or no questions.  Baby liked the flashing lights and the fact that the unit is very reminiscent of a remote control which, incidentally, she also adores.  Not one to be won over by flashing lights alone, I loved seeing how the instructions varied based on the age of the victim and how circumstances that I would have never thought would be a factor play such a large role in the method of first aid.  Playing with the unit for a while and choosing from the different categories, I couldn’t help but think of the old Choose Your Own Adventure books from when I was young.  I used to adore those and would devour any and all that I could find.  Not only did I love reading them through once, I liked to go back and reread them, choosing different paths each time so I could try out every possible outcome.  The SafetyMate reminds me of that in the way that you get wildly different first aid techniques by answering one question differently, which makes it a fun and educational way to amuse yourself while someone takes forever at the bank.

To see an online product demonstration, go to:
http://www.safetymate.com/home/prodInfo.html

Although I was extremely excited about the SafetyMate as a tool to reinforce first aid techniques, the product was met with some uncertainty as I began to discuss it with other parents and colleagues.  As is often the case with new items that are so cutting edge that there really isn’t a built-in market, I ran into a few skeptics that I converted along the way.  So, instead of merely doing my normal review process, I am going to address the most common questions and concerns that were voiced about the product and my argument for the SafetyMate and why I think eventually SafetyMates will be on every registry.

Continued.....

Perfect Mother's Day Pick - The Transfer Bag by JoAnn Review and Giveaway

Fashion, meet Organization.  Organization, Fashion. 

A long, long 10 months ago I became obsessed with bags.  Not that I didn’t love a good handbag before, but before I was a mom my needs were pretty simple.  Fantastic looking?  Check.  Big enough for all my mobile gadgets?  Check.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed but designer bags rarely have more than two pockets, both of which are usually pretty useless for organizing.  But, I didn’t care.  Organization, schmorganization.  Sure, whatever bag I was using got messy quick with all my gadgets, coupons and my secret stash of pilfered bank pens, but I always had two hands to look for my keys when they went missing in the bottom.  Fashion has never been about organization, and I just thought that was the price we paid for looks. 

I don’t think I even recognized how long I spent looking for keys, loose change and more in the bottom of my handbag each day until it became impossible to find time for lunch, let alone time for purse rummaging.  But, when a reader alerted me to the genius little Transfer Bags by JoAnn, I was on a mission.  I just didn’t have 5 minutes each day searching my purse contents and I craved that sort of organization.  Because a pile of papers and coins in the bottom of a bag isn’t so bad, but when those receipts, money and coupons are coated in crumbs from all things Gerber, that’s when you call in the pros.

The pros have arrived, and they come with a solution for your bag woes – no matter what your bag situation is.  The Transfer Bag (solution) by JoAnn (pro) can take any bag and make it and organizer’s dream.  Together they can take your coupon-filled, gadget-overflowing, pilfered-pen-hiding and odds-and-ends-crammed handbag and make it so organized you won’t know what you’ll do with all your spare time.*

The Transfer Bag works in two ways: 1) it organizes the bag you currently carry by adding a whole gaggle of pockets and storage solutions so desperately needed and 2) it makes the transfer between handbags, briefcases and diaper bags effortless, which is probably where the curious name of Transfer Bag has its origins.  I really, really wish the Accessories by JoAnn website had one of those awesome before and after pictures where they show the pile of stuff that we all carry around in our purses every day all disorganized and messy and then you pan over and see all those same objects all tucked, tidy and ready to transfer so you could see exactly how great these little Transfer Bags are.  I would have done one for you, but nobody needs to see how beat up my cell phone is, or the fact that I still carry around and clearly love a big, clunky Palm device.

So, if you love your hobo handbag but hate that it only has one pocket, the Transfer Bag is for you.  If you love your hobo bag but you also love your satchel bag and your cute little leather number, well, the Transfer Bag is also for you.  Say you’re somewhere in between and change purses once a season.  Yep, it’s for you, too.  Now what about if you go from briefcase to backpack to eco-friendly tote to gym bag and then back to briefcase throughout the week?  Yep, yep, yep.  Bottom line: If you carry a bag, it’s for you.   

Classic Transfer Dimensions: 9.5” wide x 6” high x 2” deep and is available with handles or without.  Big Timer Dimensions: 10 wide x 8” high x 2” deep.

A bit of warning while shopping on the Accessories by JoAnn website– It’s hard to tell whether you are looking at a Big Timer bag vs. the Classic Bag since there is no scale reference, so just make sure you have the right category selected.  But, if you did happen to order the wrong one, well, you’ll use that, too!

Random Rave: Transfer Bags also work great as cosmetic and toiletry bags – if you have a spare!

http://www.accessoriesbyjoann.com/

Price: The fabric and faux leather Transfer Bags retail for $36 and up, while the full leather bag will set you back around $150.  A smaller Transfer Bag is also available for $30.

Looks: Ranging from neutral colored all the way to striped, spotted and fun.

Overall: I love these little organizers and know you will, too.  I just wish I had known about them sooner!

*Chances are that you know exactly what you will do with that spare time and it probably will be arriving on time to that important meeting or having more time to change diapers, but hopefully somewhere in there you can squeeze in something fun, too.  

And now for the Giveaway….

Perfect Mother's Day Pick - Personalized Jewelry by Danielle Stevens

Before I was a mom, I used to love things monogrammed with my initials.  But, it seems like the day my daughter was born, my initials seemed much less important to me.  I was no longer defined by my own name, but rather who I was in the world: a mother.  After a long search for a charm that I could engrave with my baby’s initials, I finally gave up and decided that I would wait until I just happened upon something, because it felt like there was nothing out there that seemed quite right.  And, seven months later I happened upon Danielle Stevens’ line of initial necklaces that ended my search for good. 

But, don’t get me wrong, Danielle Steven’s does more than make monogrammed jewelry – they have a full line of necklaces, earrings and bracelets that is a cross between funky and classic, and entirely beautiful.  And as much as I love their entire line, I just keep coming back to the Engraved Jewelry.  They are simple, understated and elegant and they go with just about outfit you can put together.  Barely making it out of sweats now that baby arrived?  You will be happy to know that dressing up is not required.  Which is good because any necklace for a new mom that involves dressing up is as good as a dust collector, right?

Are initials not your thing?  Hubby (or you) can get you a Zodiac necklace with either your astrological sign or your baby’s for a fun new take on personalized jewelry.  They are all gorgeous and I love them all, which is great because I can’t remember what sign is my baby’s.  Which leads me to my one suggestion to the web designers at Danielle Stevens, and that would be to add a Zodiac chart on the site that spells out what dates each of the signs are for.  Please, take pity on poor hubby.  There’s no amount of apologizing that can make up for a wrong astrological sign necklace being wrapped up for Mother’s Day.  Completely unfair, but completely true.

Intricate and delicate patterns combined with beautiful jewels and fresh designs make Danielle Steven’s collection my newest obsession, and I am in good company.  Countless celebrities have recently been seen flaunting their Danielle Stevens jewelry and it was recently seen on American Idol worn by Lil Rounds.  Now, I’m not an American Idol fan (which is very un-American of me to admit) but I am a fan of Danielle Steven’s beautiful line of necklaces, bracelets and earrings and think you will be, too.  Check out Danielle Steven’s website and choose your favorite piece.  You can save it to your wishlist or really help hubby out and email your favorites directly to his inbox.  Or you could just send hubby directly to:
http://www.daniellestevens.com/
 
Price: $42 (Zodiac) to $85 (Engraved with quartz drop and pearls), which makes them incredibly reasonable and way nicer than anything you can pick up at a mall jeweler. 

Looks: Gorgeous, striking and elegant.  Just like you.  (Hey hubby, I just wrote your card for you).

Overall:  Perfect for any mom whether this is her first Mother’s Day or her 50th.  The one drawback?  You have to plan ahead for personalized jewelry and allow 2-3 weeks for anything engraved.  The Zodiac necklaces are a good option if hubby procrastinates like I do. 

She's Crafty - A New Use for Gerber Puffs

It's official, I have a little Puff Monster.  When she's not nursing, eating semi-solid vegetables or sleeping, you can pretty much bet that she's practicing that pincher grip on some Puffy Gerber goodness. 

Having a Puff Monster means that I always have a surplus of those contoured plastic little Puffs containers laying around.  At first the organizational guru in me thought I could peel the Puffs label off and use them to store stuff, but then quickly realized they don't really have much organizational value at all.   They are contoured for one, and cylindrical in nature, and baby always thinks they should be full of Puffs, which really, they should be.  Inspiration hit as I was throwing a label-less Puffs container into the recycling bin* and I was remarking to myself how Bowling Pin-esque the container shape is. 

I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.  Now for those of you who are like "what?  where's she going?", I'll spell it out.  You.  Baby.  6 or 10 Puffs containers.  Bowling.  You can't see it here, but under that baby-alluring label is a clean white plastic container that has three indented lines running around the contoured section.  The bowling pin stripes, naturally.  We drew our stripes on with permanent marker because Mama needs more art supplies, but Martha would probably use grosgrain ribbon.  Or you could not do stripes at all; baby won't tell on you.  

Baby also won't tell if you only have 6 "pins" unless baby can count, in which case you're going to want to suck it up and do all 10 pins.  Yes, I know, 10 pins is a lot of setting up.  Unless, of course, they bowl like me.  Hubby was all excited to teach baby to bowl and even started to go all crazy into it, suggesting that we put some sort of weight in the Puffs containers to make them more realistic.  Hubby wasn't around to rig something for weighting them when we were ready to play, so baby will have to wait until later for an authentic Puffs bowling experience, but she didn't seem to mind.  Really, she was much more excited that her cousins actually wanted to play with her Puffs containers with her, which until now had been a one baby game. 

www.gerber.com and available in the baby/toddler section of your local mart.

Price: $2.5 and up for each container, but completely free if you already have them on hand.  

Looks: Like a bowling pin.... hence the inspiration.

Overall: A blast for babies, toddlers and young kids.  And fun, but a little less fun for the pin setter (you).      

*They probably aren't recycleable - I'm a notoriously bad recycler as I think anything that isn't smelly can be recycled.  Trust your own instincts, or better yet, read up here     

Sprig Toys - New Sprig Hollow Series

Sprig Toys – Meet me at Sprig Hollow

When I was young, I adored the sandbox my parents built underneath our deck.  Besides being an awesome place to hide the spoons that our neighbor ruined by dipping in the tar on the newly paved sidewalk, the sandbox was hours of fun with whatever the 5 of us could get our hands on and sneak out without our parents noticing.  Who knows how long we would have stayed outside playing in that sandbox if we had had legitimate and parent authorized sand and water toys to play with.  I’m pretty sure that if we had been given the new line of Sprig Hollow toys we probably would have curled up in that sandbox and made it our bedroom.

The new line of Sprig Toys are just as cute as their Eco-Trucks and Adventure series and some of the most clever multi functional toys I have seen in a long time.  The Sprig Hollow series takes their signature earthy looking all-terrain vehicles to the great outdoors, which makes them the perfect Spring and Summer go-anywhere toys for hours of play.  Rugged and tough, they are perfect for sand, water, garden or anything else your kids can dish out or dream up. 

In Sprig Hollow, imaginations abound and nothing is just as it seems.  A little bit of tinkering and dump trucks become rakes, shovels and buckets and helicopters become scoops that are perfect for transporting sand, dirt and water to the farm funnel and sifter.  When the work is done, the vehicles are easily reassembled and the adorable winged Sprig creatures can ride back to the farm in style.  The tools on the trucks are all interchangeable so you can mix and match the pieces to design your own perfect cruiser.  I love that the frame of the trucks is still very vehicle-like even with the cab and truck bed removed, which means you can actually play with the tools and the vehicles together instead of having to choose one or the other to play with.

Know why I love dual purpose toys?  2-in-1 means they require half the storage space but are twice the fun.  Made from a slightly made up material called “Sprigwood”, which combines recycled wood and reclaimed plastic to create a material that is both eco-friendly and kid-friendly.  Their toys have a pleasing woodsy texture that makes them feel rugged and tough while still remaining lightweight, water resistant and easy to clean and care for like plastic.

Random Rave:  When not being used, the vehicles and farm house can be taken apart and stored in a mostly flat fashion.  The best part?  Assembling the toys is just as fun as playing with them!

http://www.sprigtoys.com/

Price: $14 - $27 online or at a store near you

Looks: Earthy and adorable; perfect for indoors, a day at the beach, splashing around the water park or even just exploring the backyard.

Overall:  Highly recommended for your little explorer, and much more preferable than having to share your utensils, tools and kitchen gadgets for garden play. 

Petunia Pickle Bottom Outlet Sale - Discontinued Styles and Certified Seconds

 

I think everyone knows how much I adore Petunia Pickle Bottom, with their anti-diaper bag designs and gorgeous fabrics and details.  From my love letter to my Cross Town Clutch to my thinly veiled jealousy over the PPB Scout Journey Pack, many a post here on Rave and Review has mentioned these bags.  Well, now's your chance to get these bags and more at huge discounts in their highly anticipated outlet sale.

Shop early for your best chance at grabbing a Scout, Cake, or Cross Town Clutch!

http://www.petuniaoutlet.com/

$20 Purchase at ToddlerTechUSA.com Giveaway!

It's Giveaway time again...

A few days ago I did a review of Dapper Snappers and got so many great responses that Cazella Innovations Inc. has offered to gift a reader with a free $20 Purchase at http://www.toddlertechusa.com/

To enter just comment below and tell me why belts are sometimes overrated. 

If you want extra entries:

Let me know you have subscribed to this blog - 1 extra entry

Blog about this giveaway with links to this post - 2 extra entries

Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (must have an active link) - 3 extra entries

 Comment on any of my posts and then come back here and let me know - 1 extra entry per comment, no limit 
 

on April 25th at 11:59pm a winner will be drawn and the lucky winner will be notified via email