Does Mommy Love It?

As a mom without a TV (gasp), there is almost NEVER a moment in our home that isn’t underscored by music.  And while I love a good rendition of Bananaphone (nothing but love for Raffi) or anything by Bob Marley (my almost-1-year-old can’t get enough of Buffalo Soldier), sometimes I need a little tune-refresher.  I got a chance to check out up and coming singer/songwriter, Lindsay Aline and was pleasantly surprised.

Lindsay is a San Francisco-based artist who recently released her self-titled debut album.  I can honestly say that she has her own, inimitable style.  I would describe it as soulful pop-rock with classical overtones. Think Coldplay meets Enya.  Hard to describe, yes. Hard to listen to, no!  Lindsay’s classical training shines but does not get in the way of her thoughtful lyrics. It’s an easy listen but by no means ordinary.

In reading the liner notes, it seems that Lindsay really started to take off in her career when she tapped into the thing that she could do best – sing her own music. I not only enjoy listening to the album but it also stirs up my own creative juices hearing someone else pouring out their talent. Lindsay’s album will definitely have a rotation on my playlist.  Right after Baby Beluga …

Lindsay Aline is offering a copy of her debut album to one of our readers! Simply visit the site and leave a comment here that you did.

For additional entries:

1) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? then leave a comment stating you did so.

2) Twitter about the contest and leave us a hyperlink to the tweet!

3) If you haven’t, please join our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE!

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment with thepermalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

6) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

This contest ends August 30 th, 2010 Midnight EST. Click here for contest rules at DoesMommyLoveIt.com!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. Lindsay Aline provided the product, and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

14 Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Pregnancy, Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Contest, Family Time | tags: Contest, debut album, lindsay aline, singer, songwriter. | #

One of my favorite games as a young tot was Hungry Hippos.  I can now say that it is also one of my son’s favorites as well!  The classic game consists of a playing board with four hippos whose mouths are controlled by each of the four players.  20 plastic marbles are launched onto the playing space and each participant uses their hand-eye coordination to “swallow” as many of the marbles as possible.

I received the game about 3 months ago, and my son goes gaga for it each and every time I bring it out.  He loves the fun of launching the marbles and then trying to get his Hippo to grab them before Mommy and Daddy.  He also loves counting the marbles with us after each round, and the praises he receives for the marbles he attained!

This a great introduction to board games for your preschooler and something that they will enjoy well into elementary school!  I am totally loving the old school classic kid games!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. Hasbro provided Hungry Hippo, and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

No Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Preschooler, Family Time | tags: games, Hasbro, hungry hippo. | #

Here is a fabulous craft that doubles as a toy once completed, providing hours of enjoyment for you little ones.  Calafant Cardboard Toy Kits allows your child to build tree houses, castles, haunted fortresses, buses, airplanes, and dinosaurs all made from recyclable cardboard!  Best of all they have different kits for different age groups!  These encourage creativity both in the building process and through pretend play, once they are assembled.  Awesome!  It’s such a joy to have this product around for these hot days as a nearly 9 month pregnant mom.  As a toddler, my son will spend 15 minutes at a time working on it.  It’s really becoming a piece of art!

Also available on the #mce_temp_url# site are the perfect reusable lunch bags by a company called Lunch Skins.  These dishwasher safe lunch bags are made from a German tech fabric that is moisture and grease proof, food safe, and dries amazingly fast.  This is what all reusable lunch bags should be, and obviously, a better choice for the environment.

#mce_temp_url# has these as well as a great deal of more toys and tools for your child’s growth.  They are a great company for school fundraisers as they provide 30% of the profits to the host school.  Their products are educational and beneficial toward the family so are a perfect fit for this type of sale.  Visit their website to check out all of the unique products they stock at Creativetoys.com and to learn more about their school fundraisers visit creativetoys.com/fundraisers.

Creative Toy Shop  is  offering a $25 GC  to one of our readers! Simply visit Creative Toy Shop and leave a comment here with your thoughts and favorites!

For additional entries:

1) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? then leave a comment stating you did so.

2) Twitter about the contest and leave us a hyperlink to the tweet!

3) If you haven’t, please join our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE!

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

6) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPYus on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

This contest ends August 5th, 2010 Midnight EST. Click here for contest rules at DoesMommyLoveIt.com

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. Creative Toy shop provided the Treehouse and Lunchskin, and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

35 Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Arts & Crafts, Educational, Family Time, Green, Toys, Websites | | #

Ammo’s Kid Made Modern is a wonderful new craft book for you and your children by renowned designer, Todd Oldham.  Nothing encourages me more to interact with my son through crafts than modern, hip, and eco-friendly crafts! I’ve been reading a lot about how important it is for children to express themselves through creative outlets, and this book is a great facilitator of ideas.  I have tried to encourage this outlet through a few of the highlighted craft ideas from this book!

One of my favorite aspects of the book is that it takes inspiration from mid-century designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Marimekko, Alexander Girard, and Dorothy Draper.  Each of the book’s sections gives a brief introduction of these wonderful designers before highlighting a craft project inspired by that designer.  What a wonderful introduction for your child to the design world!

The crafts themselves are awesome and include bulletin boards, jewelry, book covers, pet accessories, scarves, lanterns, and many more.  Best of all, the book uses items that most likely already have in the home, saving time and money.  While the book is recommended for grades 3-6, but under adult supervision, I think children younger will be enthralled with a great deal of the crafts found in this book.  This book is perfect for those long summer days when boredom can sometimes be a problem.  Reach for this book, and let their creativity soar!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. Ammo provided the book, and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review

Ammo is offering a copy of Kid Made Modern to one of our readers! Simply visit Ammo and leave a comment here about yourthoughts and favorites.

For additional entries:

1) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? then leave a comment stating you did so.

2) Twitter about the contest and leave us a hyperlink to the tweet!

3) If you haven’t, please join our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE!

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

6) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPYus on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

This contest ends July 15th, 2010 Midnight EST. Click here for contest rules at DoesMommyLoveIt.com

20 Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Arts & Crafts, Craft, Family Time | tags: Books, crafts, Kid Made Modern, Todd OIdham. | #

Game night can be an absolute blast in any home.  We enjoy playing together as a family (my son isn’t quite old enough to fully participate, but he does love watching) as well as when having guests over.  It’s a great social activity that is easy on the budget and fun for all.

One of my favorites as a child (and a grown up child) is Candy Land by Hasbro!  I have fond memories of playing this for hours with my brothers because to the bright colors, candy theme, and zany characters.  That’s why I was so excited to see that they have updated this timeless board game with a 3D version!  My son is playing with the cute pieces as I type this and I look forward to soon being able to teach him how to fully play this wonderful game.  As for now, I use the candy land road pieces to teach him colors!

For the grownups and older children, I recommend Electronic Catchphrase (also from Hasbro).  This one is great for get-togethers at your home or on the go.  It’s all there in the battery powered hand held device.  It keeps score automatically and includes over a thousand phrases.

Board games are much more interactive than a movie or videogames and something the whole family can enjoy.  I love these two titles, but visit Hasbro’s website for a whole slew of other great options!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. Hasbro provided the products, and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

3 Comments | In: Ages- Preschooler, Electronics, Family Time, Recreation, Toys | tags: candyland, catchphrase, games, Hasbro. | #

Rag and Bone Bindery is a wonderful company in Rhode Island that produces hand made photo albums, baby books, journals, guest books, and more.  They are of the highest, archival quality and made using traditional bookbinding skills intended to last a lifetime.  They use many local and recycled materials during production.

New from the Rag and Bone comes “Twelve Ways” Marriage book.  This book gives you and your spouse a number of different fun prompts to fill out  such as “If you were a movie couple you would be…”,  “You’re a great couple because…”,  and “Things you never say or begin a sentence with…”.  The book is primarily intended for newly married couples, but my me and my husband of 6 years got a real kick out of filling this out together!  I find it to be a great activity for date night!  This book would also make a very fun and thoughtful gift for a bridal shower.  Be sure to check out their full selection of books, albums, and sorts!

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. Rag & Bone Bindery provided the book, and I provided my honest opinion. No other type compensation was received for this review.

No Comments | In: Accessories, Family Time | tags: gifts, journals, photo albums, Rag & Bone Bindery. | #

No Comments | In: Family Time | tags: event, happy mother's day, special day. | #

As of late, my family and I have been on a massive crafting kick.  Making things with our hands is something we all love doing together for family time.  I have seen Sock Monkeys around for ages, and thought making one would be something fun to do as a family.  Although my son is not old enough to make these on his own he sure enjoys watching and assisting my husband and I in the process.

The SockMonkey.net website carries 3 different kits, each based on the amount of work you want to put in.  One has been pre-sewn for $22 and one that needs to sewn for $13.

This is a wonderful family activity that brings everyone together to create something that your child will adore for a lifetime!  Skip the television tonight, gather the troops together and start crafting!  Visit www.SockMonkeyFun.net for more fun creative one of a kind sock monkeys.  If you have any special requests she would love to hear them!

2 Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Toddler, Arts & Crafts, Craft, Family Time | tags: crafts, Family Time, sock monkey.net. | #

Many know and follow the man who said ‘lose your life and only then will you find it’ without really knowing what it means. Today I experienced a bit of losing and finding. Today I did not put anything on the calendar. I did not try to desperately hang onto the life that I have always lived and become accustom. I did not follow my nature to cram a million things and people into 1 day. I did not follow how I was nurtured (by business and society) to be effective and efficient.

Instead I gave my life away to my children. I was fully (well as full as I get) present and experienced an answered prayer of “being” with my children instead of doing things with my children. So this is how it went.

With my daughter in the care of a friend, my son and I set out for the Cloisters and the beautiful gardens that surround it. Armed with a picnic, jasmin tea, a blanket and hunting gear we boarded the M4 uptown. You know what we found there? Nature… and it was glorious!

We kicked through fallen leaves
Picked up acorns and there tops
Meandered down tree lined paths with the Cloister tower as a backdrop
Collected sticks, leaves and flowers
Sat on a stone wall and watched the boats head north up the Hudson
Waved at birds, planes and joggers
Ate fruit strips
Rolled down a grassy knoll covered in clover

After picking up my baby girl from my friend’s house, we unloaded our bag of nature’s goodies. Since our new $5 rummage sale coffee table is craft friendly we sorted our stash and filled a large mason jar with the wonders of nature. Who knew that acorn tops make great hats and noses, especially on a 2 month old. Apparently acorns are also phones because my son talked on one all afternoon to an imaginary friend and even cleared his throat like I do while talking! We laughed and laughed.

Music class taught us a few things about impromtu dancing and playing so we used our sticks to bang to the beat of the Brazilian mix playing on the iPod shuffle. Soon the kids and I were chugging through the dining room to a “choo choo” song and using a yoga band to keep the train cars (our bodies) connected. We don’t need no stinkin’ music class–we have all we need with the elements of nature…and well, a $5 coffee table.

The afternoon turned into many many messes —so we spent an hour in the bathroom while Ander experimented with the bath to shower nozzle, drenching all 3 of us. Our baby girl stared and stared at her brother breaking into wide mouth grins every time he went off on one of us babble numbers. She excitedly responds to him as he was the primary voice she heard while incubating. Was that the water falling from the shower head or a tear on my cheek? Ah, life.

Today I let go of “my” life and in turn found more living, more joy, more abundance, more peace that I thought possible. Lose it, it’s worth it.

Guest Blogger, Tanya Springer Bishai, is a former marketer and incentive strategist who recently left corporate America to raise her 2 young children and hasn’t looked back. A firm believer that “an unexamined life isn’t worth living” (Socrates), she spends her time pondering how to shape her world to best love and nurture her husband, her children and her community. Once an adventure seeking junkie she is now channeling her obsession with global travel into planting roots in New York City. You can find her blogging here.

5 Comments | In: Family Time | tags: generation zii, joy, losing your life to find it, parenting, tanya. | #

When my son’s second birthday was approaching, I knew right of the bat that he wanted a bike because he had been asking us for it non-stop since his last birthday! He specifically asked for a green bike and being his loving parents, we were on the hunt! Thankfully, our Brooklyn neighborhood is bustling with children, we found one immediately! As we watched kids  riding many types of bikes around, we discovered the LIKEaBIKE and fell in love with it immediately. The LIKEaBIKE is a beautifully designed balancing bike that aids children in their very earliest desire to be active and is a wonderful first riding toy. It is designed to be used by children as early as age 2 as they are developing critical motor skills and balance. It has no pedals, so initially kids can slowly walk and push the bike and as they build confidence they also build speed! It is perfect for any environment; indoors and out, playgrounds and city sidewalks and most children go right from the LIKEaBIKE to a proper 2 wheeler. The LIKEaBIKE is made of sustainable birch wood with non-toxic varnish and 5 available seat covers and is made to be a family toy passed down to many little riders. A focus on safety makes this bike another great choice as there are no sharp edges, 2 full wooden wheels so the child’s fingers cannot get caught in any spokes. There is felt in the gap between the frame and the fork so there is no pinched fingers and the felt also prevents the front wheel from making sharp turns which can often cause a tumble in a new rider. We love this bike, the only drawback I can see is the lack of proper braking ability. This really only comes into play on larger hills when my son’s feet cannot skid to a stop on a dime, but as a mother to a 3 year-old daredevil I can say I have been incredibly impressed by his balance…even flying down a steep hill!

No Comments | In: Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Family Time, Learning, Recreation | tags: balance, bike, LIKEaBIKE, motor skills development. | #

Hello DMLI readers!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Much love and joy to you all! Enjoy your time with your families and know that we have so much to be thankful for!

Best,

Caroline, Cece, Cheryl and Kristy!

No Comments | In: Family Time | tags: Happy Thanksgiving, holiday. | #

Whoever named this product at J. J. Cole got it right. The “Essentials Blanket” is just that. A blanket for all seasons, the park, the beach, indoor or outdoor activities, it’s a great accessory to keep in the car for spontaneous family outings. This is not your typical “picnic” blanket. It’s lightly padded so it’s comfortable for baby to roll around on. Both outer fabric and inner lining are super sturdy (no weights needed on the corners) so it won’t blow away with the wind, also super easy to clean for inevitable spills and such. Another advantage is the ease of use – it can be folded up and velcro’ed shut single-handedly (say, while you’re holding baby with the other arm). It easily fits under the stroller, or the detachable strap makes it easy to sling over the shoulder. A generous 5’x5’ surface area seats a family of four pretty comfortably. My family uses this blanket all the time! Colors come in khaki/pink stripes, gray/green stripes, or cocoa bubbles. Reasonably priced at $29.95, it’s a must-have for families on the go!

1 Comment | In: Accessories, Ages- Elementary, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Pregnancy, Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Family Time | tags: essentials blanket, family, jj cole, jj cole collection, outdoor, park, picnic. | #

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.  CONGRATS MEGAN, YOU ARE THE WINNER!

Most children’s music that I have been exposed to tends to give me headaches and make me slightly nauseas.  The combination of over-stimulation, cheesiness, and all around “zaniness”, makes me avoid much of the music for my child.  That is why it was so wonderful to hear the music of Frances England.  Her albums are a breath of fresh air to children’s music.  Her ‘Family Tree’ album is beautiful, soothing and the lyrics are something that children and their parents will appreciate.  The heartwarming “You and me” deals with a young one growing up.  The song’s lyrics are so moving; they actually brought tears to me eyes. Another favorite is the much more lighthearted “Tea Party” with instruments used being a guitar, fiddle, and shaker.  The lyrics include:

“One little bird sitting high in a tree

Turning his head, he was looking at me

I said, “Birdie, oh, birdie just

what do you see?”

He said, “A sweet little boy having a tea party.”

The blankets spread wide for your guests

The saucers and cups are laid out to impress.”

In addition to the two albums she has released, she recently wrote an ABC song for web magazine, LMNOP.  This was how I first discovered her music.  I kept the song on repeat as my little one danced happily around the living room!  I am in love with the music of Francis England for its simplistic, beautiful arrangements and my son and I look very forward to her next release.  If the ‘Family Tree’ album is not in your music collection yet, go out and pick it up!

Frances England has offered one of our readers a Family Tree CD! To enter, simply visit Frances England and leave a comment on this post with your thoughts and favorite song!  For additional entries:

1) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? then leave a comment stating you did so.

2) Twitter about the contest and leave us a hyperlink to the tweet!

3) If you haven’t, please join our FACEBOOK GROUP!

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

6) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

This contest ends October 12, 2009 Midnight EST.

Click here for contest rules at DoesMommyLoveIt.com

5 Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Arts & Crafts, Dvd & Music, Family Time, Uncategorized | tags: baby, CD, children, Family Tree, Frances England, music, play, sing-a-long. | #

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! CONGRATS, Jessica, Megan, Emily, YOU ARE THE WINNERS!

Buy a yoga mat, they plant a tree!  Jade Yoga has designed the most durable mats for adults and children on the market.  The natural rubber makes for better cushion and resilience.  Natural rubber is a renewable resource and their mats are made without PVC, making them the first “green” yoga mats!  They are committed to giving back to the earth with every mat sold. Because Jade mats are born from trees, they decided to give back to nature by committing to plant a tree for every mat sold.

Yoga is something to be enjoyed as a family experience, so Jade Yoga makes mats for little ones as well as adults.  These are the best mats I’ve seen.   Because of the high quality of material and design, you don’t have to worry about your mat moving around as you are in position.  They are cushioned enough to feel like using a mat actually makes a difference.  This has always been a problem I have had with other yoga mats.  I never feel like they are thick enough.  Jade yoga has solved that problem and I am truly thankful.  Now, if only I could be more consistent with my yoga sessions!  Jade Yoga mats can be purchased from their website and run from $40-$100!

Jade Yoga has offered a kids mat set to three of our readers! To enter, simply visit Jade Yoga and leave a comment  here on our site with your favorite yoga mat! For additional entries:

1) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? then leave a comment stating you did so.

2) Twitter about the contest and leave us a hyperlink to the tweet!

3) If you haven’t, please join our FACEBOOK GROUP!

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment with the permalink to this post.

5) Grab our button and put it on your sidebar and comment with a link to your blog.

6) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

This contest ends October 5, 2009 Midnight EST.

Click here for contest rules at DoesMommyLoveIt.com

8 Comments | In: Accessories, Ages- Elementary, Family Time, Green, Recreation | tags: Jade yoga, play, yoga, yoga mats. | #

This lightweight, compact, easy-to-assemble tent is perfect for your  little one. It’s ideal for the infancy stage, and is recommended for babies 0-9 months. Whether its the park, pool, or beach, this tent will not only provide shade but SPF protection as well. It’s affordable and somewhat versatile. I took my 5 month old to the beach and to the pool, and it was nice to have a shady place for him to sprawl out. However, I wouldn’t say that it is a must-have, so I would have to say that

No Comments | In: Accessories, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Toddler, Family Time, Recreation | tags: beach time, Lil Nursery tent, outside, playtime, shade. | #

This is hands down the most convenient, safe, space conserving booster seat!  The Healthy Care Booster Seat by Fisher Price offers a very functional way for my child to eat at the dinner table with the entire family.  Designed like a miniature high chair, the seat easily straps onto my dining chair and my son eats right off the tray and I place him right next to me.  It can hold up to 45 lbs. and the tray has 3 different lengths to adjust to the tummy as well as an adjustable three point harness that grows with my child.  So, when my child is old enough, he’ll stay secure even when the tray is completely removed.   My favorite part of this is that it provides a truly clean and effectively germ free feeding area.  Since the tray comes off, it can be placed in the dishwasher for thorough cleaning. Plus,  it’s a breeze to wipe down, thanks to the seam- and crevice-free design. By the way, did I tell you that it’s portable?  Although I haven’t use that functionality, it’s a great perk worthy of mention. To be honest, I’m not crazy about the colors or the stylistic aspect of this seat, but due to Healthy Care Booster Seat by Fisher Price‘s incredible practicality and space conserving attributes, I’m enamored!

3 Comments | In: Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Toddler, Cleaning, Family Time, Feeding, Furniture | tags: eating, Feeding, fisher price, healthy care booster seat, high chair, portable. | #

Let me start by saying I’m not the craftiest person alive. I would LOVE to be, but those genes somehow didn’t missed me. However, I LOVE people who are craft oriented and fall in love with all of the end product the crafts. That is one reason I love sites like Etsy.com.

When my issues of Craft: came in the mail I was immediately impressed. The small magazines are SO pleasing to the eye. They are clean, modern, colorful and leave you wanting to see more at the same time. I suppose that is what the cover of a magazine should do; leave you yearning for more.

The crafts are not your old school I’m embarrassed to put this in my stylish modern house crafts either. They are more like the amazing products you would find on Etsy and always wished you knew how to make.

The step-by-step guides for each craft are surprisingly simple to follow.  I was able to do most of the crafts, and that’s almost unbelievable! Accomplishing this, I felt like an artist extraordinaire!

The magazine contains the following categories:

• A themed (by issues) Special Section
• Columns
• Features
• Crafter Profiles

The magazine is even “green.” It is printed on recycled, process-chlorine-free, acid-free paper with 30% post-consumer waste, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forest Initiative, with soy-based inks containing 22%-26% renewable raw materials.

I can’t say enough about this magazine! It is laden with rich content and you will get more than your pennies worth out of every issue. If a non-crafty person can say this, then imagine how much more a crafty person would say. Craft magazine would also make a great gift also! 

I’m so sad to say that shortly after I wrote this post I was informed by my Craft: contact that Craft: has stopped its print magazine operation.  The good news is they are still going to be active on their website.  This is happening to print media like a virus as the online world is growing so rapidly.   If this post sparked your interest in Craft: I strongly encourage you to go to the site as it is a useful tool for craft lovers everywhere.

No Comments | In: Family Time, Magazines | tags: Craft, craft: magazine, magazine. | #

A close friend of mine had told me about a blog that Gwyneth Paltrow had started. It piqued my curiosity so I checked it out immediately. Called “GOOP” by Gwyneth Paltrow, the blog already captures her simplistic beauty and natural style.  As her mantra is “nourish the inner aspect,” the blog touches on various parts of her life.  Divided into six topical categories… 1) “MAKE” is about food, cooking, menu and health. 2) “GO” is about her travels, her favorites restaurants, and vacation spots/suggestions. 3) “GET” is about style and fashion. 4) “DO” is about discipline, consistency, habits and sticktoitiveness. 5) “BE” is about family and parenting. 6) “SEE”  is about life, culture and world we live in.  I really enjoy reading her blog because it’s very “whole” centered and really inspired me to see my own life as a whole and not compartmentalize it. She really has interesting thoughts and her blog is very refreshing and contemplative.  GOOP is set up as a newsletter as well.

1 Comment | In: Books, Family Time, Website Wednesday | tags: blog, goop, gwyneth paltrow. | #

For Website Wednesday, I have chosen another fabulous site. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! Wish you had some help organizing your family life? Check out Cozi! It’s your family life simpified. Cozi is the new way busy families keep track of appointments and list, coordinate home and work schedules, and share favorite memories and photos, all in one place. Best of all, Cozi is FREE. Some of Cozi’s features include family calendars, customized lists, reminders and messages, and a family journal. Access Cozi from anywhere—home, work, or on the go—with any computer or mobile phone…it even has a sync function to Microsoft outlook. All you have to do to get started is to create a Cozi account. It’s quick and easy, with no downloads required! So start now!

1 Comment | In: Ages- Elementary, Ages- Newborn to 1yr., Ages- Pregnancy, Ages- Preschooler, Ages- Toddler, Family Time, Organization, Website Wednesday, Websites | tags: cozi, family calendars, Organization, Website Wednesday. | #

THE WINNER OF THIS CONTEST DRAWN AT RANDOM.ORG IS AMANDA K.!!! CONGRATULATIONS AMANDA!

The holidays are quickly approaching! Why not make the most of time with your family by introducing a new tradition! The Box Girls “Box of Questions” is sure to be a hit at your next gathering!

I was able to sample the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Birthday box of questions. The boxes are absolutely precious in and of themselves. They are also made with 100% recycled paper, using 100% post consumer waste. Made from 100% Recycled FSC forest stewardship council certified paper, the cards are even “green”. Once you untie the box and open it you’ll find circular cards, tough enough to be coasters, with adorable, quirky designs on the top. When you flip them over you will find questions such as:

• What are you most thankful for this year? (Thanksgiving)
• Thanksgiving is a celebration of gratitude for having food on our table. What can your family do this Thanksgiving season to help others who are not so fortunate? (Thanksgiving)
• What gifts do we give on Christmas that do not come in a box? (Christmas)
• Is there an ornament from your Christmas tree that is dear to you? (Christmas)
• What age do you feel is a woman’s prime? And a Man’s? (Birthday)
• How are you better/ wiser this year than you were the last? (Birthday)

Box of Questions include:

1) Email 5 of your friends and tell them why they should check out DoesMommyLoveIt?. Be sure to COPY us on the email (doesmommyloveit@gmail.com)! Then comment stating you did so.

2) Subscribe to Does Mommy Love It? and then leave a comment stating you did so.

3) Follow us on Twitter and leave a comment stating you did so along with your twitter name.

4) Write a post on your own blog about this giveaway and comment back with the permalink to this post.

That’s 5 ways to enter!!!

The deadline for entries is OCTOBER 24TH, 2008 MIDNIGHT.

174 Comments | In: Ages- Elementary, Family Time | tags: box of questions, family, holidays, the box girls. | #