Updates on the terrors of moving with kids...

Moving day is very fast approaching at less than 30 days out. If you saw my previous blog post, this has been an absolutely nerve-wracking experience, however the closer the deadline gets, the calmer I'm actually becoming.

My biggest fear was Bug being upset about moving. We've lived in this house for pretty much his whole life, and I was afraid leaving would be a terrible shock to him. And he didn't even find out the way I had planned. I had wanted to sit him down and talk to him about the changes, and was prepared for him to be very upset. What actually happened? I was on the phone with moving companies trying to get quotes. As the woman asked, "well, where are you moving to?", Bug burst in the door as I was saying "We're moving to Florida from New York." As soon as he heard me, his eyes lit up and he yelled, "We're moving to FLORIDA?!?! I'm gonna go pack my stuff!" And the rest is history. He's spent the last few weeks telling everyone about how we're getting a new house with new rooms and a playground. All I'm waiting for is to find out whether we actually GOT the house, which hopefully I'll know in a day or so.

So, that's one colossal obstacle down, only, oh..... a hundred or so more to go.

My kid likes Top Chef better than cartoons....

In a "haven't had my coffee yet" haze at 6:00 this morning, I plopped on the couch with my wide-awake five year old to wake up with a short burst of television while he played with his dinosaurs nearby. Giving up on finding any quality programming at the early hour, I started browsing our cable's On Demand listings to try to find something that, at best, just didn't suck as bad as being out of coffee.

When I failed to find something that was at least marginally interesting to me while still being family-friendly, I vacantly suggested watching a little Dora the Explorer to Bug. I was more than a little surprised when he answered, "No, I wanna watch the cooking show!" I momentarily racked my brain before realizing the only cooking show we really watch is Top Chef, which I did find is On Demand right now. I checked with him again before putting it on - "You're really sure this is what you want to watch?"

"Yup." he answered smartly. "I like when they make the amused butts!"

He was referring to the episode where they have to make an amuse bouche from a breakfast buffet. Either way, my kid is more of a culinary master than I will likely ever be.

I despise making really difficult decisons.

*Heaving a big sigh*

We are, inevitably, moving clear across the country in only a few weeks. We've spent the last several years living with my in-laws (more for their benefit than our own). Then, my husband's father passed about 5 years ago, so we continued to stay, helping along my mother in law, who was (with good reason) devastated by the loss.

But now, she is moving on and so shall we, with our best option being moving to Sunny Florida, as I have my own family there. I am excited to be, finally, out on our own, as our OWN FAMILY for the first time ever, just myself, my husband, and our son.

At the same time, I am terrified.

I am still waiting on confirmation as to whether or not my employer will relocate me, and even still that doesn't have the most positive outlook. So I am seeking out a new career, but playing the waiting game for a response is slow and painful, and does not leave me feeling all too hopeful. And I can't even begin applying for our apartment until my job is secure, so really I'm a total mess.

Add to this the fact that I have not yet explained to our son what is going on. I feel like it's still too soon, with so many things up in the air. I want to wait until I can show him pictures of where his new home, new school, playground, etc. will be, before making his life any harder than it already is. He's already worried about starting Kindergarten this year.

So, again I sigh, and turn back to my coffee and the sanctuary of my desk for an hour's peace and quiet, telling my husband I need to "unwind" even though I'm secretly actually still poring over pages and pages of online job searches, hoping that the next click will bring me some peace. At least, for now.

Mom Reviews: Step 2 Sand And Water Table

It is definitely the time of year to start thinking about how to keep the little ones fully occupied for the summer! Although my son is almost six now, I had to give a review of the Step2 Sand and Water table set that we've had for the last almost three years.

Step2 is known for making quality children's products, and this one is really no exception. And, apparently, it's currently on sale at Amazon (down from the almost $100 we paid for it back in the day). You can see my full review here at Epinions as well, but we give it 5 out of 5 stars.

If you have a child or grandchild ages 18 months to preschool age, this is a very worthy investment as you're bound to get several years of use from it, and I guarantee, it will keep the little ones busy -and outside- the whole season.

Mom's Internet Finds: Custom Boutique Pettiskirts and More by Magical Attic

Come on Moms, you all know you want one too! I became quite envious myself, when I stumbled across these adorable Custom Boutique Pettiskirts made by Magical Attic. She makes them in your choice of a wide variety of colors as well as specially made designs in prints as well. I originally found them on Bonanzle but when I contacted the designer she also provided her Etsy Store in which I found even MORE awesome treasures!

She offers these really cool custom Superhero Capes as well, suitable for your little boy OR girl and fully customizable with colors and themes. And they are a steal at under $20! If you're in the market for a sweet customized gift without being overindulgent, I definitely urge you to visit Magical Attic!

All photos borrowed with permission from the owner. :)

Mom Reviews: Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Soap

A good soap for the whole family can be very hard to find! I'm a big fan of Bath & Body Works Wild Honeysuckle Anti-bacterial Moisturizing Hand Soap because it both moisturizes your skin as well as leaving you fresh and clean. All parents know, when you have kids, constant hand washing is inevitable - both your hands and theirs. You can read my full review here but we give it 4 out of 5 stars!

Mom's Internet Finds: Cute Custom Cupcake Outfit

I keep hoping some day I'll have a girl, so I can indulge in super-sweet finds like this Custom Pink Cupcake Skirt and Halter Top Set by lilbugclothing, available at Bonanzle. (If you're not yet familiar with Bonanzle, it's all the fun of shopping on a site like Ebay, without the auctions. You see an item you like from a seller, and you can buy it or make an offer. You should definitely check it out!)

lilbugclothing is offering this cute set on sale for $25 (and accepting offers, currently). It is custom made in your size choice from 12 months through size 6. I can see this being just the perfect birthday girl outfit! And the price is right too - I think $25 is more than reasonable to spend on a really special outfit. If you like the cupcake design but don't necessarily want a halter-style top, she offers other styles in a similar pattern/print as well.

Mom Review: Batman Band-Aids

If you have kids, you know that regular bandages sometimes just don't cut it when your child gets a scrape or cut. Sometimes the overwhelming reaction of ohmygodthere'sblood from your little one just can't be soothed by a kiss to make it all better. That's when you bring out the big guns - the fancy character bandages.

Moms and dads, you know which ones I mean - the marginally overpriced box of not nearly enough bandages to get you through a month that are right at your kids' eye level in the store. They have bright colors and fancy graphics and all their favorite characters, and are seemingly magic in their ability to calm any reaction to an injury. My five-year-old evil genius conned me into this box of Batman Band-Aids.

At least if I'm going to be talked into buying special bandages for just one person in our house, they're really cool. These are Band-Aid brand bandages (there's a mouthful!) by Johnson & Johnson, not a knock-off generic. They come packed 20 to a box in assorted sizes.

The box advertises these as being 100% waterproof and that they shield out dirt and germs. They are sterile unless the individually packaged bandage is opened or damaged. There is also a warning that this product contains natural rubber latex and should be avoided by those that are allergic.

Now, by "assorted sizes", closer inspection of the box reveals that this is apparently just two sizes. There are five square bandages measuring 1.5" x 1.5" and fifteen strip bandages measuring 1" x 2.5". It is extremely important to note that these measurements are the size of the entire Band-Aid, not the actual padded area that you would apply over the wound. The actual padded area is very small, only approximately 30% of the center of the adhesive area in total.

The one nice feature that I like, regardless of the size, is that the padded bandage area is completely surrounded by adhesive. You know how on regular bandages, you have a center padded area, with two adhesive strips on each side? And how no matter how you apply it, water or dirt always sneaks in that non-adhesive area? Well, not with these. Because the adhesive covers the entire surface, you get a nice protective seal around the bandaged area that keeps liquids and dirt out nicely. Therefore, you aren't replacing the bandage every hour because it's falling off.

The downside to so much adhesive area is that these are impossible to remove. Getting them off skin is moderately bad - if you soak it in warm water or rub the edges with baby oil it will begin to loosen. Do not, ever, try to yank one of these off with one quick pull - thy are stuck on skin strongly and are semi-painful to remove in this way. However, you do not, under any circumstances, want these to get stuck to something other than your skin. My son got a hold of a handful of these bandages and went wild, plastering them on his furnature, carpet, and the outfit he was wearing. Eight months later, I still cannot get them off! Even through multiple washings, the adhesive part of these bandages are clearly visible on the clothes he was wearing - which have since been relegated to permanent playclothes - and shredded remnants remain stuck into the carpet fibers. I eventually got the one on his bedframe off with some sticker remover.

My son enjoys these bandages because of the graphics, which show Batman in various "action" poses in several designs. I believe there are six total variant designs in this box, although the quantity of each design will vary. Rather than the "yucky" skin-tone shade of a regular bandage, these are printed on a clear background with vibrant colors.

Overall, I'll say these bandages are worth the purchase. Although slightly expensive at about $5 a box for only twenty, it's not so bad when you save them for only the truly traumatic injuries like removing a splinter, and not just every little bump or bruise. They make my son happy, and that, as a parent, makes me happy. Just don't let your kids use them as an alternative to stickers.

Recommended:
Yes

You can also check out this review at Epinions!

Back from a very long break!

The holidays are always an exceptionally difficult time of year. I work in retail, so I have a tendency to "disappear" for a few months between October and February while the calls of the 70-hour work week keep me pulled in another direction. I hate it. I get away from everything I love, and I don't just mean my family - my hobbies, writing, having a normal schedule....

Anyway, that doesn't matter. I am rededicating myself to my blog (among other things) so hopefully those of you that still follow along, desperately awaiting my next update (hey, I can pretend!) are happy that I'm back.

Promising new reviews, new stories, and more, soon. Glad to be back.

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.