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!

The price of nostalgia......

Is roughly $10 plus shipping.

Well, at least for me it is. In a moment of brilliance the other day, I decided that if I had a lunchbox, perhaps I would actually remember to take my lunch to work for once. And that if I couldn't make it fit in the lunchbox, I couldn't EAT it, therefore helping me stick to my diet.

Like I can't cram a lunchbox full of Twinkies.

Anyway, the quest for the perfect lunch box began. I decided I wanted something retro from my childhood (the 80's) and it had to be real retro, not a reproduction. Of course, the 80's were the high point of the plastic lunchbox and thermos combo, so I started my quest on the site of all-things-you-need-to-have, Ebay.

After about 3 hours of searching, I found it - a REAL vintage She-Ra Princess of Power lunchbox with matching thermos, in good condition. This was the lunch box I really really wanted as a kid and never got. It arrived today, better than pictured, and I really am beside myself with happy childhood memories at the moment. And plans for what I can pack inside this week.

So, dear readers (as few of you as there are! LOL), what's the one thing you really wanted as a kid but never got? Did you ever get one later in life? If not, maybe if you're really good, Santa will bring you one this year. :)

A little early holiday spirit

Yes, I know it's maybe a little too early to start thinking about Christmas. (Can we get past Halloween first, please?) But it's never too early for a little holiday spirit! I'm quite flattered to have my gingerbread house ornament (above) be featured in this Etsy Treasury by MedleyofCreativity. Please check out their shop as well!

What's new with us?

We're getting ready for fall!

Just added this week in our Etsy shop - some great new jewelry for girls, made to match the newest Gymboree lines for back to school! You can grab our great new Classroom Kitty charm bracelet, seen here. Also, more made to match coming just in time for fall! Keep your eyes peeled!

Doing some early holiday shopping? In our Ebay store we've got some great new collectibles and toys - including some My Twinn doll dresses!

Also being unveiled this week - our official website, which you can find at www.bunniesnbuggies.com! It's long overdue for us, and I'm so happy to announce the opening! From here, you can find links to both our stores, some company information, links to our blog (here) and our affiliate's sites. Please, go give it a peek!

Dead Tired.......

Want a wardrobe that is just to die for? Check out Patricia's Upscale Resale on Ebay. Photo is also courtesy of her!