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.