Mom Reviews: Glade Sense and Spray Air Freshener

Time for a (long overdue) Mom Review!

As a member of BzzAgent, I was given the opportunity to try out one of Glade's Sense and Spray air freshener systems. Having a house full of kids and pets means that, well, something's always a little stinky - so I was more than happy to give it a go.

The idea of the Sense and Spray is great - a motion detector on the front of the sprayer only releases scent when someone comes into contact within a 5-foot range, and it has an automatic shutoff that keeps it from releasing fragrance any more often than twice an hour. If you need more scent, there's a button on the front you can use to release an extra burst. This keeps waste to a minimum. I've been told that one canister will last approximately a full month - right now I'm on week 2 and still going strong!

The Sense & Spray starter kit I received included a white, hard plastic pod that stores a small aerosol air freshener spray. The whole thing only stands about 6" tall so you can stash it just about anywhere AND it won't clash with your decor. The front pops open to change out the scent canister when it's empty.

The fragrance that was included for me to test was the Clear Springs scent, which has a light, slightly fruity smell. It's not too sweet or too overpowering, and is just enough to handle about one full room with scent.

I tested my Sense & Spray in the toughest of all stinky spots - near the litter box. I placed it on a low shelf just over the litter box doorway - low enough that the cat could set off the motion detector. This way, after kitty does his business, the Sense & Spray lets off a light burst of fragrance that helps to conceal those difficult pet odors, at least until I can take further care of it myself.

The Glade Sense & Spray retails for $11.99 - a reasonable price for the starter kit which includes the pod and one scent canister. Refills are available for $3.49. Refills are available in six pleasant scents - Clear Springs, Powder Fresh, Clean Linen, Apple Cinnamon, Country Garden and Hawaiian Breeze. The Hawaiian Breeze is definitely our next pick!

And of course, with this Mom Review comes a Giveaway! You can win a Glade Sense & Spray starter kit for yourself. Just post here and tell me what scent sounds most appealing to you, and where you'd use your Sense & Spray! You can also get additional entries (once per day) by Tweeting about this giveaway on Twitter, and posting a link back here. A winner will be picked using random.org on Friday, November 6th, 2009.

We love Sketchers shoes for kids! A perfect wardrobe essential for all ages.

Beating the Mid-Summer Blues

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been hearing choruses of "I'm boooorreeeed" and "There's nothing to dooooooo" now that we are halfway through summer (and close to Back To School for some of you!). So, to break up the boredom, we've got some suggestions for inexpensive (or free!) activities to creatively use up some of that free time. (Most of these activities are advised for ages 10 and under - teens will have to fend for themselves or tag along!)

• Go to story time at your local library. Most libraries have a calendar of events that are free. If you've never done this before, it really is a great way to spend an hour or two! And while you're there, sign your child up to get their first Library Card if they don't already have one.
• Plan a slumber party! Whether you invite one child or ten, or make it a family slumber party in the living room, it's a guaranteed hit. Added fun? Try making your own pizza or have a "crazy popcorn" contest - pop some plain popcorn, and see who can make the yummiest toppings using the fridge and pantry. Top it off with homemade Bisquick pancakes in the morning in fun shapes or flavors.
• If you don't already own one, go out and buy a sprinkler to run through. We never had one before, and I finally picked up an inexpensive one about 2 weeks ago - Bug has been consistently entertained every sunny afternoon since. Total cost - about $20.
• Paint birdhouses. Michael's and other craft stores sell pre-assembled plain wood birdhouses for under $5 that can be painted with acrylic craft paint, which is also very inexpensive. Once dry, they can hang their creations outside.

Squeaky Clean Kids Giveaway Winners Announced!

**UPDATE** All winners have been notified by email. Thanks to everyone who participated, and look out for our new giveaway starting VERY soon!

Just wanted to pop by and let everyone know that the winners of the Squeaky Clean Kids Giveaway will be announced later in the week. Between LittleBug's 5th birthday tomorrow, and an emergency tooth extraction for me earlier this week, I've been a little swamped, a little distracted, and a LOT out of it. Oops. :) I can't wait to pick the lucky winners!

We Have A Winner! Mom's Summer Reading Giveaway Winner Is.....

The winner of the Mom's Summer Reading Giveaway is......

Susan K.

A big congratulations to Susan, who we have already been in contact with - your book will be arriving shortly. Please come back and let us know what you think!

Busy Summer Days

Sometimes you just need a break from the normal pace of things, so I took the last week "off" from blogging and working on the website (aside from filling orders) to just enjoy as much of the gorgeous weather as possible. I limited all exposure to "technology" of any kind - including turning off my cell phone when I was off from my other job (if it's an emergency, they have my home number), limited my online time to responding to only critical emails, and actively tried to keep the television off as much as possible.

Sometimes a technology break is very, very good.

Awesome Deal of the Week: Free 2 Year Subscription to PARENTS Magazine

We couldn't resist passing on this awesome deal! Get two full years of Parents Magazine totally free - no bill, ever! Yes, this deal is so great that we signed up ourselves. We originally found this offer at Grocery Price Blog - stop by there too and give them some love for sharing! Parents is America’s leading magazine devoted to serving people who are raising children. This magazine is designed for women ages 18-34 with growing children. Its editorial focus is on family formation and growth including the daily needs and concerns of modern mothers. It also regularly features information about beauty, food, fashion, home, age specific child development, health, pregnancy, marriage, finance, child care, education and discipline.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Super Sweet Giveaway At Mammalicious Finds!

One of our fellow mom bloggers is hosting an AWESOME giveaway! It's so great that we just had to share. Mammalicious Finds is giving away an 8 ounce Ice Cream Party Sugar Scrub and 1 ounce Ice Cream Party Shea Stick from The Bath Project.

Also, while you're at it, check out The Bath Project - they have tons of sweet treats for your body that won't break the bank. These are a great way for moms to pamper themselves a bit.

The Perfect Fit - Helping Your Teen Find Their First Job

Summer is upon us, so this seems to be just the right time to tackle a tough subject. Chances are, your teen (or possibly even tween) is contemplating looking for a summer job - whether they're saving for their first car or just some spending money for the movies.

So, I'm going to help you to help guide them in the right direction, because honestly, so little job advice is given out these days until you're graduating college. By that point it's too late - it is a million times harder to snag your first job experience at 21 than it is at 16.

Welcome to The Perfect Fit: Helping Your Teen Find Their First Job. Part One: Expectations.

The hardest part of the first job is that -quite frankly- it probably won't be your ideal job. In fact, you may downright despise it but keep at it for the paycheck that comes on Friday. Please repeat this as needed until you're sure you've accepted it: "My first job is probably not going to be the greatest job ever. I may hate the work I am given, but I will stick with it and do my best."

This is the toughest of the Expectations to deal with. It's hard at that age - ok, at any age - to keep plugging away at something you don't enjoy. However, this is a realistic scenario in the working world!

The other Expectations are much easier:

1. How much time will I invest at this job? Consider this very seriously before proceeding. If your child is only available for the summer, it is extremely important that they make prospective employers aware of this when they apply. If, when September comes, they can no longer work afternoons because of the basketball team, cheerleading, chess club, or simply too much homework, an employer needs to know this up front. Some jobs will have a training period of two weeks or more - which means by the time we're done training you, you're going to be leaving. This doesn't work for anyone involved. And please, just be honest about it - if you fail to tell us just so you're more likely to be hired, if we find this out later when you suddenly resign, trust me - you're not getting a positive recommendation in the future!

2. What type of job is best for me? I'm going to tackle this more in Part Two, but basically this means you and your teen should sit down and evaluate their skills and what jobs are best suited to them. If they're fabulous with their younger cousins, perhaps a Camp Counselor position would be a good start. Good with animals? Your local shelter probably needs some help attending to all their needs.

3. What jobs do I want to apply for? This is crucial. If your teen is dead-set on not cleaning the cookware at the local fast food place, then face this right away. Rule out the places that are simply out of the question to you. Then, make a list of your ideals - your fashionista daughter loves the local teen boutique, so that becomes top on the list.

4. Research the jobs you want before submitting an application. This is so very simple, yet I rarely see it happen. Want to know what type of hours they need to fill? Check their Open sign to see what times they operate. If you shop in this particular location, note how the employees act - are their counterpeople just cashiers, or are they required to do other work as well? How big of a staff do they have? Do they have a Now Hiring advertisement up?

5. Be ready to accept rejection. You may not fit into the job that you really want due to your availability or lack of experience. Accept this graciously and do not continue to nag at a place that has given you a "no".

I speak all of the above from experience. Not from the parenting side - as most of you know, our little one is not even school age yet - but from a hiring manager side with 15+ years of retail management experience. My "real" job is a very desireable place for teens - I can't reveal the name but I will say that I deal with some super cool cutting edge technology - and at this time of year, every year, I receive over 75 applications a week from teens age 15-18. I've seen some very good, some very bad, and some extraordinarily ugly.

Want to learn more? Come back and visit us for Part Two: Job Options later this week!

Squeaky Clean Kids Suave Summer Giveaway

To tie in with our Mom Review of Suave Kids Shampoo, we here at Bunnies & Buggies are sponsoring a Squeaky Clean Kids giveaway! Summer is great for lazy days in the pool or sprinkler, building sandcastles at the beach, or tackling the biggest slide on the playground, but at the end of the day a bath is usually in order before bed. In order to make this part of your routine a little more fun and kid friendly, we're giving away FIVE Suave Kids gift packages to our readers!

How you can enter to win:

Visit the Suave website and tell us which of their kids' products that your kids would like to try the most. This is required to be considered for winning!

How you can get additional entries to win:

1. Blog about this giveaway OR about our online store, then post the link to your article here. (You can get two entries this way - one for blogging about the giveaway, and another for blogging about our shop!)

2. Tweet about this giveaway OR about our online store - make sure you put @bunniesnbuggies in your Tweet so I can find it!

3. Grab our store logo from the sidebar with either our store or blog link (the pretty plaid one) and post it on your blog or website - then come back here and let us know where we can find it.

This contest will begin on June 18th, 2009 and will end on July 18th, 2009 at 11:59 pm. Winners will be selected via Random.org and winners will be announced on or before July 31st 2009. Must be 18 or older to enter.

Mom Reviews: Suave for Kids 2-In-1 Shampoos

I have to say, honestly, that I did not anticipate giving this review! I am totally blown away by the quality that I never expected from a kid's shampoo, let alone one at this price. I picked up Suave 2-in-1 Shampoo Smoothers for Kids in the Coconut scent on a whim for my four year old son, as I got tired of going through my more expensive shampoo at an alarming rate considering that he's got a super short hairstyle. This shampoo is definitely kid-friendly - the bottle is a bright white and green squeeze style with a cute monkey on the label. The other scents that were available at the store included cherry, dragonfruit, watermelon, strawberry and mango, but I'm really glad we went with the coconut - it's definitely perfect for summer, and the scent is sweet without being overwhelming. I also love that this is a one-step hair washing product - the conditioner is built in so we only have to go through the dreaded wash and rinse routine once, rather than twice. My son despises getting his face wet so anything to shorten the hair process is greatly appreciated from a mom point of view!

A few claims off the bottle..... Well, for starters, the full name of this product is 2 in 1 Shampoo Smoothers for Extra Softness. It is also said to be detangling and tear free. I'm always a bit leery of shampoos that claim to have a built in conditioner, because usually it just doesn't leave you with the same level of softness that you would get from a separate conditioner. Not the case here! In fact, this is probably the best conditioning shampoo I have ever tried. My son's hair is soft and untangled after washing and drying. And, after at least 20 washes using this product, I can definitely agree with the claim of tear free, as there have been no tears (or battles) during scrubbing here! The back of the bottle says "opthamologist-tested formula is tear free and easy on eyes" and we wholeheartedly agree. Also, no one in our family had any sort of skin reaction or irritation at all - a difficult claim in a family full of insanely allergy-prone people.

Now for the surprising news....
After running out of my own usual hair products last week, I started using the Suave Smoothers shampoo. I have to say it is a million times better than my (admittedly overpriced) normal choices! It leaves my hair, which is very long and on the very dry side, sleek and smooth with no extra products needed! I have actually converted my entire family over to just this one shampoo now. The other great part? It's incredibly inexpensive! At only $2.49 for a 12 ounce bottle, I bought 10 bottles and put them in the closet, just in case Suave stops making this. I really hope they don't, because I have yet to find a better all-around choice for hair care.

How I outsmarted my stubborn preschooler. Part One: Cleaning

Something really baffles me about Bug sometimes. This kid loves doing chores - washing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning windows and tables, vacuuming, you get the idea. But for some reason, the request of "put your toys back in your room" is like a completely foreign concept, which is always met with the whining battle cry of "I don't waaaaaaaant to!" or "Can't you helllllllllllllp me?" (Parents, I know that you know how the emphasis lies on exactly those words!)

Some parents say the timer method works for them. You set a kitchen timer for, oh, five to ten minutes, and everyone scrambles to pick up the stuff. Ok, those of you who find that this method works, raise your hands. Damn, I knew that would be most of you! I don't mind the "timer scramble" for big messes, but honestly now - why should I be scrambling for ten minutes to pick up Bug's stuff? He's almost five! He can pick up the fifteen Matchbox cars and bring them to his room by himself, it's not that much stuff!

Well, after a few months of the aforementioned back and forth battle, I finally realized what the problem was. It's not the amount of stuff to be put away - it's that his hands are small, thereby requiring him to make 15 trips through the house for 15 toys. So, I had a moment of Mom Genius. Bug really, really, really likes shopping of any kind - especially clothes, but that's a whole 'nother topic - so on our last shopping excursion I had him pick out his own reusable plastic grocery tote bag. He chose one with a lion, disappointed in the lack of dinosaurs as an option. This is officially his shopping bag and no one is allowed to mess with it.

And basically how it goes now is like this: the official lion bag hangs on the doorknob to his bedroom. At the end of the day, or any time the mess has just overflown too far into the rest of the house, I announce "shopping time". Bug goes to town "shopping" for all of his toys to take back "home" to his room, and when he gets back to his room he just has to dump the bag back into the toy box, and hang it on the doorknob for next time. Clean up now takes under five minutes, and everyone is less frustrated. I highly recommend this if all else has failed for you so far too!

What's new this week?

I've decided to add a little weekly (or perhaps bi-monthly) feature article on what's new at Bunnies & Buggies Boutique. I have to say, we've been expanding much more rapidly than I could have ever dreamed and we are just positively ecstatic about it!

This week's new additions:

• Our biggest feature - the opening of our new SALE department, where you can snag tons of great deals that won't break the bank!
• Tons of new summer dresses for girls were added this week.

Stay tuned, and make sure you pop back weekly - we also have new giveaways coming here to the blog, as well as a new product launch coming soon! Also, make sure you enter our Summer Reading Material giveaway for moms, the cutoff date for entries is June 30th!

Mom Reviews: First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowl With Lid

Finding adequate tableware for a two year old boy who now wants to do everything himself is a headache in and of itself. I admire my son’s desire to feed himself with a fork and spoon and use his own “big boy” plate. Our kitchen, however, was starting to resemble an elementary school cafeteria after a food fight after every meal, as my son would inevitably throw his plate across the room as soon as he declared himself “all done” with his food. With the intention of saving the paint on the kitchen walls - and my sanity - I picked up two First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowls while shopping.

What it is...
The First Years Smart Serve Suction Bowl with Lid is basically exactly what it sounds like - a bowl, a suction cup, and a lid. The bowl is hard plastic and is proportioned just right for a toddler-sized meal, about the same size as a standard soup or cereal bowl. Attached to the bottom of the bowl is a large rubbery suction cup, and also included is a hard plastic lid that snaps securely to the top of the bowl for travel. The set comes in a variety of color combinations - I have a red/blue and green/yellow. Many others are available, including more feminine combinations if you have a little princess rather than a little prince. There are two small handles on either side of the bowl which help when you are trying to get the suction cup to grip the surface.

The bowl...
As I mentioned earlier, the bowl is just the right size for toddler meals. While it doesn’t have a divider, it does have a little ridge in the center to somewhat divide the foods. The bowl comfortably holds several cut up chicken nuggets with carrot dices and applesauce - a favorite combination in our house - with no problem, and the little ridge keeps the applesauce from seeping under the chicken. The bowl is a very sturdy hard plastic and is dishwasher safe. It has been used for many other things by my adventurous two year old, including a mini stepstool, a hat, a drum, and a frisbee and it has held up wonderfully.

The suction cup...
The suction cup on the bottom of the bowl holds it reasonably in place. I usually have to wet it slightly to get the initial grip onto the high chair tray, but it holds well. On an extremely stubborn day, my son has been able to yank it from the tray, but it takes him long enough to do so that I usually catch him before it goes flying. If the surface underneath is wet, he is also sometimes able to scoot the bowl around without losing the suction as well. Overall, it does its’ job. It holds up well from the dishwasher as well, and the rubber has not dried out at all, even after several months of frequent use and washing.

The lid...
The lid is made of an identical hard plastic as the bowl and snaps securely to the top for travelling. While I do not recommend travelling with a full bowl of food, as tupperware holds up much better, the seal is tight and it has not leaked, even when accidentally tipped sideways in the diaper bag. Affixing the lid to the bowl also makes for a good toddler-sized drum, should you need emergency entertainment.

Overall...
This bowl has been a lifesaver on many occassions. It is an absolute necessity for restaurants, where plastic dishware is often nonexistant - nothing says “Time to leave the restaurant!” like a couple of broken salad plates. Cleanup is a snap - when travelling the parts can be wiped clean with baby wipes, and all parts are easily cleanable by hand or dishwasher. I would be happier with a slightly stronger suction cup, but this one does get the job done 90% of the time, which is good enough for me. The price is reasonable at an average of $1.99-$2.50 depending on where you buy them, which is cheap enough in case you accidentally leave one somewhere. I feel that I have more than gotten my money’s worth out of them, and I never leave home without it.

Price $1.99 to $2.50 (varies by store)
Available at.. Target, Wal-Mart, Babies R Us, many others

What do you do when your parents are getting divorced?

And I don't mean this for the kids. I mean for us, as parents ourselves - what do we do when our parents decide to split up?

My own mom recently divorced her husband (my step-father) after almost 20 years of marriage. There was a big age difference, and a big difference of opinion on aging. She worked, he had been retired for 15 years already. Her job was moving five miles down the road, he complained it cost too much in gas. He criticized everything she did, and she finally had enough. There were other things too, that I won't get into. When she announced she was filing for divorce, I said "Good for you!". Her friends said the same thing. Her co-workers even said the same thing.

Honestly I never liked him in the first place. They married when I was eight - I'm now 28 - and this is the same man that single-mouthedly caused my eating disorder that I still can't shake 16 years later, caused me to move out at 15, and numerous other things. And of course, my mom is aware that I didn't like him. I found it very hard to conceal my complete elation at the news that they were splitting up.

So how do you be supportive of your adult parents divorcing, especially when you're not impartial? I've always kept it friendly with my step-father, despite my actual feelings for him, out of consideration for my mother - and I'm actually kind of hurt that I haven't heard a word from him since he moved out of my mother's house almost three months ago. At least mom is taking it well - she's got a real "I'm just fine on my own and I will survive" spirit (and a few shopping sprees probably didn't hurt) but I just can't find the right words to say.

Anyone been there done that? Any words of encouragement for me or her?

Mom Reviews: Summer Reading Material - The Chosen One by D.L. Mains

Summer is here - or almost here, depending on where you live - and hopefully that means you can catch some rays and relax with a good book. So, from now through August, we're adding Summer Reading Material reviews to our Mom Reviews section!

First up on our list is the new Sci-Fi/Romance/Fantasy book The Chosen One by D.L. Mains. This is Ms. Mains first published novel and she was kind enough to send us a copy to check out!

A little briefer: The Chosen One combines futuristic science fiction, Harlequin-esque romances, and a hint of fantasy. Even if you're a fan of only one of these genres, or have never tried any at all before, I guarantee this intriguing piece of fiction will suck you right in.

The Chosen One tells a tale of a post-apocolypse setting based in what we (now) know as New York. The human race has nearly been wiped out by an alien race known as the Venturians. A long and brutal war has been waged between the races and the humans are struggling to regain control of the Earth. Within this main theme, the stories of the three main characters will unfold before you. There is Jesse Sullivan - co-commander of the human uprising against the alien force. Jesse is strong-willed, a natural leader, and -of course- gorgeous. I loved being able to relate to her inner thoughts and tribulations as a female as they unfold. It is a refreshing change from the typical male protagonist. Next, there is Davros of Manderlay - a Venturian noble desiring peace between themselves and the humans, and who seeks to find the answers of a prophecy laid before him. The third perspective is that of Gar, the cruel, heartless, and vindictive leader of the Venturian armies against the human race. All of this is wrapped in a tale that is intense and passionate, and a hint of seriousness because it relates directly to the world in which we live - not just a world that we have conjured based on Ms. Mains eloquent words.

This book is a great summer read because the chapters, while numerous, are short and are typically from the perspective of just one of the main characters at a time. For instance, Jesse's story begins in the first chapter, where you learn of her mission and a brief history. Chapter two switches to the introduction of Gar, and so on. You can digest a portion of the story and put it down if necessary - but you won't want to. The tale of this epic battle is compelling and you will not just want, but need to know what happens next at each turn.

I would love to write more about the plot but I would also hate to give away any twists or turns. The details of this novel of love and hate is best contemplated on your own. And so, we here at Bunnies & Buggies Boutique are giving you the chance to see for yourself! We are going to be giving one lucky winner a copy of The Chosen One for free to kick start your summer literary adventures! And if you're not our lucky winner, her book IS available at Amazon.com as well!

How can you win this awesome book? Here it is:

• Leave a comment below telling us why you want this book! (one entry)
  
• Tweet about this contest on Twitter, and leave a post with a link to your Tweet (one entry per day)
• Visit Ms. Mains' website, and leave a comment at her guestbook - then come back and let us know you did! (one entry)
  
• Write about this contest on your blog or website, then post the link here! (one entry)

This contest is open from June 7th, 2009 through 11:59 pm. June 30th, 2009. Winners will be chosen via random.org and a winner will be announced by July 15th, 2009. Winner will be contacted via email for shipping information. Must be 18 or older to enter.

Babysitting is not my day job.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE kids. All kids, not just my own. I've worked for preschools and summer camps, and I would let my kiddo have twenty friends over a day and not blink an eye. What I don't like though, are parents who like to leave their little darlings unattended in public places.

Now, moms and dads, this seems like a no-brainer, right? I have an (almost) five year old myself, and I would never, ever in a million years, leave him in a public place with total strangers, and just leave! And seriously, this happens to me every. Single. Day.

My "regular" job happens to be a retail store that does attract kids. We carry some products for kids. Most normal parents come in with their kids. However, we're also located in a big shopping center (strip mall, for those of you familiar with that term). There's a bank, a Chinese restaurant, a pizzeria, a nail salon, a clothing store, a coffee shop, and a major supermarket. A certain amount of kid-only traffic is expected from the tween and teen crowd of course. What baffles me though, are the parents who drop their young kids - age 10 or younger! - at the door, then head to the supermarket for two hours to do their grocery shopping!

Parents, PLEASE! This is not safe! Although I try to keep an eye out on these unfortunate littles that are unattended, if there are twenty other customers in the store that I need to attend to, I cannot babysit your child for you! This includes the well behaved ones - they may not be causing any harm, but honestly I don't know that the adult they walk out the door with is their parent or guardian. On the other hand you have the little troublemakers, who spend the entire time ripping things off of racks, shoving to get in front of other people, and generally causing mischeif. What am I supposed to do with them when their parents aren't there to handle them?

Case in point: One Sunday early afternoon, a child about 5 or 6 years old comes in at the same time as a group of teens and adults. An hour and a half later, I realize the child is still there - except now there are no adults in sight, and there haven't been for a while. Another 45 minutes passes, customers come and go, and the child is no longer there. I figure the parent came back to retrieve them (finally). Well, all of a sudden, this child's mom comes in, asking where her son is. I respond that I have no clue who her son is. (I didn't put two and two together until later on.) She proceeds to scream at me and I tell her that I'm sorry, but no one has been in the store for at least 15 minutes. She leaves and calls the police, reporting her child missing. The police come, and I tell them the whole story. An hour after THAT, they finally find the child - he had gone to the supermarket to look for mom because he was bored!

Of course, all's well that ends well. But, what if that child had been bribed out of the store by an adult and abducted? I cannot fathom ever leaving my child alone somewhere! And this happens at my job not rarely, but actually multiple times on any given day, and moreso on the weekends.

So, moms and dads, I put this to you: am I expecting too much? Would you leave your child in a kid-friendly store and just assume that they will be safe? Or would you never dream of leaving your child alone somewhere? Tell me your thoughts!!

Mom Reviews: Sketchers Shape Ups - Save or Splurge?

MomReviews are seriously my favorite types of posts! A long time ago, I wrote product reviews for another site and loved doing it. Maybe because I tend to be a little opinionated?

ANYWAY - up for review today are the new hot thing from the Sketchers shoe brand: their Shape Ups line. Sketchers touts these shoes as "helping you get in shape without ever setting foot in a gym". Well, I had the pleasure of trying these out for 30 days now, and I'm sure you're all waiting on edge to hear my thoughts - because a life without having to go to the gym seems like a heck of a good idea to me!

About these shoes:
Sketchers says that these shoes will help promote weight loss, tone your muscles, reduce cellulite, reduce stress on knee and ankle joints, and improve your posture. Some other brands call this style of shoe a "rocker" - I priced them out not long ago and most companies were charging $300 or more for this "technology" in their shoes! So I was surprised -and maybe a little skeptical- that Sketchers Shape Ups are only a bit over $100. For me, that's expensive for shoes. My sneakers usually cost about $50 or less and I was reluctant to double my shoe budget. However, I had a nasty knee injury last year and I find it hard to find shoes that I can wear all day without my knee acting up. They pretty much lured me in with "weight loss" and "reduce stress on knees".

How these shoes work:
From the Sketchers site, because honestly, they can explain the technical aspect better than I can! We have turned hard surfaces into comfortable ground through revolutionary technology designed into the framework of the shoe. The core of this technology is in the dynamic rolling bottom, the soft foam insert under the heel, and the dual-density midsole. These three elements work together to give you the feeling of walking on sand or luxurious pile carpet – regardless of the actual surface. Walking on softer, uneven surfaces forces you to engage muscles not normally used when walking on hard ground. Not only does this strengthen your muscles, but it also increases blood flow and reduces the impact on your joints and lower back. I find this to be VERY true. You know that feeling in your legs that you get from walking on the beach due to the lack of resistance from sand? The way you really have to push from your toes to keep momentum? Well, these shoes use those muscles! I definitely felt it in my muscles for the first two weeks - it was like I had never used them before now. I had some sore buns for a few days!

It takes a bit to get used to wearing these. They're a bit wider than your average sneaker, so they will fit best if you wear a normal or wide width. Sorry narrow ladies - these probably will not be a good choice for you! I honestly can't speak for weight loss because I kind of fell off the wagon with my workout routine. I CAN say though that these have greatly improved my posture - I don't slouch anymore. Also, they are great on problematic knees, ankles, and joints - I wear these for my full ten hour work shifts (in retail, on my feet all day) and I still feel great at the end of the day. I also do feel that my calves and rear are starting to become more toned - I promise I'll come back and update after another 60 days with these.

Shape-ups are offered in a few different styles. Three of these are sneakers (I chose the "Strength" model shown above), one is a casual Mary Jane style with a crossover strap, and one is a work style shoe.

So - spend a little on yourself, or save for something else? I vote a big SPLURGE on these shoes! I definitely think they're worth the investment (and I had to buy my own, Sketchers did not comp me or know that I'm writing this review, so I'm totally writing this from the heart). If you can't get to a Sketchers store, you can order them online and they are great about returns for size or fit. If you'd like to find out more than what I could fit here, I've added a link to them in our left sidebar - definitely go and check them out! Your feet (and legs) will love you for it!

Open advertising spots available!

We are now offering highly affordable advertising spots here at Adventures In Blueberry Pancakes! Sidebar spots start as low as $5. The only thing we need from you is an image no bigger than 200x200 px. Interested in advertising with us? Email us at bunniesnbuggies@yahoo.com for more details!

Mom Reviews: Birch Soaps

I cannot resist a new bath product, ever! So, of course, when Birch Soaps gave me the opportunity to try one of their awesome handmade bar soaps, I jumped at the chance.

Some of the fragrances I had to choose from included Island Coconut, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Lemon Poppy, Mango, Morning Star (a tropical/citrus blend), and even more. I elected to go with PearBerry, a favorite scent by a certain big-brand bath and body store that they no longer make.

Within three days, the bar arrived at my house and I could smell the yumminess right through the envelope. I ripped into the package to find a nicely wrapped bar in the same size as your average bar of soap - about five ounces.

The first thing I did was dash into the bathroom to wash up my hands (even though they weren't dirty) because, well, like I said, I'm obsessive over bath products! The bar lathered up with a rich, luxurious lather and the scent was strong but not overwhelming. I rinsed off and dried up my hands, and I loved how clean they felt. There was no sticky feeling or residue after rinsing - something that is actually fairly common with both store-brands and handmade soaps. Plus, I still had a hint of fragrance on my skin for several hours afterwards!

I have to say that I am beyond pleased with this soap. We've also used it as a full-body soap in the shower and in the bath with Bug. The scent was pleasant all the way through the bar, and there were no adverse reactions on anyone in the family. We would totally recommend them to anyone!

In fact, we like them so much that we'll be carrying them in our store later this summer! So, keep your eyes out for a forthcoming giveaway at the launch of Birch Soaps at Bunnies & Buggies Boutique, coming between late July and mid-August.

Do your kids grandparents try to out-parent you?

Maybe it's your parents. Maybe it's your significant other's parents. Either way, you've decidedly reasoned that they are just messing in the wrong territory right now - deciding what's best for your kids.

This is apparently some sort of parenting fact of life. In fact, years from now, you'll probably put your own kids through this proverbial hell once they have their kids. It's a grandparenting syndrome.

Now, if you're lucky, this is mild and/or tolerable. If your parents or in-laws are relatively sane, they're not doing much worse than slipping some cookies to the kids before dinner, buying that expensive gift that you refuse to buy, or sneaking them a few dollars for "spending money" at the candy store. This is ok. This is normal. This is how most grandmas and grandpas spoil their "little angels". (You, of course, may feel differently when they're bouncing off the walls like little banshees hopped up on sugar at one in the morning, but bear with it.)

No, what I'm really talking about here is when your own parents/in-laws try to supersede your firm, concrete rules for your kids knowingly and, possibly, somewhat maliciously. They feel the need to re-exert their parenting authority. This is what makes you want to rip your hair out and refuse to ever visit again.

Take this example (always my favorite) - Bug is four. He sits in the middle row of our minivan in a toddler booster seat. This is a RULE for his SAFETY. For some reason, one of his grandparents feels that he should sit in the front seat so he can "see better". I tried to put my foot down on that and they snapped back, "Well it's our rule that he sits in the front! You sat in the front as a kid and you turned out just fine!"

Ummmm NO. I DON'T THINK SO. A desire to overindulge a four year old with something that could endanger him is not a "rule", it's you being stubborn, possibly of the mind that you know best because you've been there done that before. But the reality is times, and our knowlege of safe vs. unsafe, good vs. bad, evolves over time.

Do your parents or in-laws try to out-parent you? Do they think that only they know best? I'd love to hear your stories. And, if you're a grandparent that does this with your kids, this is a plea to please, let us make our own parenting decisions. We'll love you that much more for it.

Splashdown! Summer memories....

Today pretty much was the definitive first day of summer for us - the first time the outside temperature peaked over 80 degrees by 10:30 this morning. Being off from work to enjoy it, I urged hubby to break out the kiddy pool, the one thing that LittleBug has been eyeing longingly all winter.

So, a bit grudgingly, hubby gets the pool out, hoses it down, and we get ready for the first fill up. Except - oops! - no one has the first clue where we stashed the plug at the end of last summer. Thankfully, hubby is a bit of a McGuyver type, and one Ziplock bag and loads of duct tape later we were good to go.

I could only restrain Bug for so long - every 30 seconds a chorus of "is it time NOW?!" echoed through the house. I was hoping we could hold off until the water had a chance to warm a bit in the scorching sun, but that was really a bit of a pipe dream, right?

Now, the first round of the Summer Ritual begins. I lather Bug up with SPF70 sunscreen. Half a bottle later I decide we're good to go, since he's looking a bit albino at this point. Then on goes the white t-shirt, the swim trunks (that are a size a little too small, because I wasn't quite ready for it to be pool time yet!), the sun hat, the sunglasses. The hat and sunglasses are promptly pitched on the patio table as he bolts for the pool.

I managed to snag a few pictures - just before the first slide in, and then right as the shock of the burst of cold water set in. I stuck a toe in the pool and promptly pulled back. As I stood there watching my little water monster, splashing and bouncing around without the slightest concern of temperature of water, I was reminded of myself at that age. How I would have dove into the chilly waves with the same sort of abandon, and basked in the too-hot-for-mom sun.

Oh, to be four again!

Laundry Cat likes fabric softener....

Yes, this is actually our cat, Shadow. Just wanted to share a little picture of him being cute - I was trying to fold laundry on our bed, walked away for a minute, and came back to find him snuggling in the warm, fresh from the dryer goodness.

RunningMoms Twitter Group - join us!

We now have a mom's running group going on Twitter! Basically we're a group of moms that have committed to supporting each other in doing a 30 minute run (or walk) every day in an effort to get in shape, stay in shape, and keep each other on track (forgive the bad pun!) If you want to join, simply hang out with us, and use the #runningmoms hashtag in your Tweets so we can stay connected. Walk alone, with a buddy, or with your kids - just WALK!

I have to say, I just got back from my first walk today and it felt GREAT! My half hour takes me from our house, which is at the far end of a 1/2 mile stretch on a dead end street on the water, up to the short crossover block, then up two blocks. Next I head back towards the house, taking the back way which is a 3/4 mile back through a park with a walking path. I took my Ipod, listened to some upbeat tunes, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. So come on and join the runningmoms party!

Win A Mom's Mini Vacation Package from Bunnies & Buggies!

To kick off all the new stuff we have going on, we're offering up a super special! You can win a Mom's Little Vacation package FREE from Bunnies & Buggies Boutique!

This mystery gift package I *guarantee* will make ANY mom happy and will be packed full of summery items with a total value of over $50! Some of the included goodies will be beauty treats, some relaxing treats, and some edible treats!


There are a few ways you can win this awesome gift:

• Make a purchase at our store at www.bunniesnbuggies.com between now and June 30th - each purchase is an entry to win!
• Follow us on Twitter and Tweet about either this contest or our website - make sure you put @bunniesnbuggies in your Tweet as I'll be looking for them daily!
• Write about our contest on your blog, and link it in the comments below

You do NOT have to make a purchase to be entered, it's just one of the ways you CAN be entered!

This contest will run from May 20th through June 30th - so tell your friends, shop with us for great deals, blog, and Tweet!

Go Green! Raising Greener Kids

Spring is an ideal time to start teaching young kids about being just a bit more environmentally conscious, and to learn some simple earth science as well. So, for our first Raising Greener Kids blog post, I'm going to suggest a simple activity for some easy, green Spring fun.

Growing plants is a great learning experience - even the youngest child can grasp basic concepts of earth science, the greenhouse effect, and the basic task of caring for a living thing. This project can be done with a group of children for easily under $15 - so consider inviting some friends over to join the fun!

What you'll need:

• Clear plastic cups - at least 16 ounce size is preferable
• Potting soil - we use Miracle Grow Moisture Control with plant food incorporated into it
• A small shovel (optional)
• Seeds of your choice - some good starting seeds to work with are marigolds, sunflowers, or green peas. These are hardy seeds that have a high bloom rate, begin growing quickly so your child can see the results of their work faster, and are difficult to accidentally ruin.
• Rubber bands that will fit around the cups
• Plastic wrap
  

Depending on the age group you're working with, talking about the basics sometimes helps - just that plants need soil, water, sunshine and care to grow. We suggested the use of clear plastic cups as it allows the child to see the plant as it is growing, and the cups can be washed and reused for later planting. Have your kids fill the plastic cup halfway with the soil, without packing it down tightly - you'll need to leave some breathing room for the roots to expand downwards. Place a few seeds into the top of the soil. If you're working with a larger seed like a sunflower, only put 3-4 seeds in the cup to prevent crowding as they grow. Gently cover the seeds with a light layer of soil - your cup should be just under 3/4 filled at this point. Lightly water the soil with 3-4 tablespoons of water - soil should be damp to the touch but not saturated. Cover the top of the cup with a piece of plastic wrap, securing it around the rim with a rubber band. Place the cups in a warm, sunny spot, only watering again when soil becomes dry to the touch - usually every three days or so - the plastic wrap creates a greenhouse effect, keeping valuable moisture in the container.

When plants start to sprout and form at least one full set of leaves, remove the plastic wrap. Continue to water every few days as needed, just a few tablespoons at a time at most. When plants start to reach about 2" tall, have your child brush the blooms gently with their hand to encourage strong stem growth.

If you have room, once the plant becomes about 6" tall, you can transplant it to an outdoor garden, or move it to a bigger pot.

Our son LOVES this project - he's going to be five soon, and this is our third year at the indoor potting project - a little later in the season I'll post pictures as we move ours out to the garden!

Is there a double standard for stay at home parenting?

I'm really curious to hear your thoughts and feedback on this - from both moms and dads, stay-at-home, work-at-home, or work outside the home, please!

My husband is a Stay At Home Dad (hereon referred to as SAHD, thanks!). I work full time outside the home, a 50 hour work week, plus I (primarily) run bunniesnbuggies.com by myself. Yes, he helps with that, but he is one of those guys that doesn't know taffeta from tulle, satin from silk, or which end of a dress is up, so I take on the bulk of the work with that. :)

Whenever this comes up in conversation, generally with other females, this is how the conversation usually goes:

"So, what does your husband do?"
"He's a stay at home dad to our preschooler"
"You mean he doesn't WORK? How do you pay the bills?"
"Well, *I* work."
"So, is he LOOKING for a job?"


*sigh* I wish I was kidding here folks. If the roles were reversed, and I was the SAHM, no one would question it for a second. So why is it so odd that my husband is the stay at home parent?

I LOVE my job. I love working. Yes, it's exhausting, but I do have a fun "real" job, I like working with the people and customers that I do, and I like the constant change of scenery so to speak. My husband doesn't just watch our son - he also does all of the laundry, cleans the house, cooks for us, makes sure our son is happy, healthy, and well attended to. They do fun boy stuff while I'm gone all day. Honestly, sometimes I secretly think he's a little better at it than I am anyway. This arrangement works for us - we're a happy, harmonious family because of it.

So why is there a social stigma to the SAHD? Has anyone else ever come across this before? Please share your insights with us!

Our Ebay Store Has Moved....... to off Ebay

If you've been to the ebay store lately, you've probably noticed things are thinning out quite a bit. Regretfully, because of the policy and fee increases at Ebay, we will no longer have a store there. We WILL still run auctions at times, however the store has moved to our new independent website at www.bunniesnbuggies.com. This was the best option to continue to keep prices down for our customers and allow us to stay in business - because no way was I about to close down the virtual doors after 10 years! So please, visit us at the new site, and let me know what you think!

New Life, New Home, New Office

This year will be the year of change.

We're moving, definitely - leaving New York and basically all I've ever known. My mom is starting a new life this year as well - newly divorced (for the better, really), and wanting a family again in all of us. No more tiny NY apartments - clear across country, heading to sunny Florida, to have a real family and a better life.

We're expanding Bunnies & Buggies Boutique - hoping to include a full-fledged office or even *gasp* a retail location finally (post-move of course).

This probably makes no difference to you - heck, it's likely you hardly know me. But if you'd like to contribute to our cause (anything - some spare change, a dollar, whatever) we have a Twitter pool set up for the cause.

And, 25% of all money we get will be donated to the Child's Play charity - of which I am a strong supporter.

I thank you in advance for any Tweet-gifts :)

From all of us at Bunnies & Buggies Boutique.

We're Growing!

We reached our 100th item today at the new store! Please check it out and let us know what you think! www.bunniesnbuggies.com

Bunnies & Buggies Boutique is on Twitter

Join us on Twitter! Find us under username BunniesNBuggies and follow us for exclusive Twitter-only offers and news!

Bunnies & Buggies Boutique Is Open!!

We are beyond pleased to announce that Bunnies & Buggies Boutique is fully open and running! We have to give a huge hand to BISIDesigns, who designed the site for us as well - it looks great and it's fun and funky! Please stop by and check us out, and leave us some comments with your thoughts!

Back from the holiday break.....

Hope you all had a Happy New Year! And here is to hoping (as always) that this year will be better than the last.

We here at Bunnies & Buggies (meaning mostly ME of course!) have been busy prepping for 2009 as well - in fact, as of Jan. 1st, our independent upscale consignment and resale shop, Bunnies & Buggies Boutique is OPEN for business at We sincerely hope you'll visit! In that shop we are carrying new and gently preowned clothing for infants through children's size 16 (with juniors sizes coming later this year), as well as Maternity clothing, gifts for new moms, dads, babies, and their siblings, toys, decor and more!

And I'm offering a little bonus - use the coupon code BUNNYBLOG at checkout on our site, and get FREE SHIPPING on any order over $20! This offer will be good until June 30th of 2009. Just a little thank you for reading about us here and visiting our shop.

I'll be back soon to post more, but for now I will wish you all a happy and healthy new year, and all the best from us!