Getting Organized in 2010? Here's a Special Offer For You!

By now most of you know that I am an unapologetic Type A personality. With that comes a sincere love for all things organization related. So it is with a excited tingly feeling that I announce a special offer for Mamalaw readers from Erin Condren Design.

I have been a fan of Erin Condren for years (in fact my 2007 family holiday card was a total tribute to her designs). Her style is so fresh, crisp and fun and, of course, I love, love all the stationery, stickers and other superfun paperstuffs that she offers on her site. Introducing Erin Condren’s 2010 Life Planner! The planner offers fun, creative styles for the chic girl on-the-go! The convenient size and elastic band for “quickflips” as well as the large daily views and “to-do” side bar make it possible to juggle all the work and personal events that life throws your way.

Erin Condren Design is currently offering 25% off as a special pre-sale for those of you who vowed to be more organized this year but don’t want to loose your personal style. You can choose from a number of colorways and designs. Simply enter promotional code PLAN25 at check out.

I bet you're feeling more organized already.

*Disclosure: Erin Condren Design will be sending me a sample planner to review. I haven't received it yet, but wanted to let you know about the sale ASAP.

2009 Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaway Event!

Hopefully most of you are doing better than me and are well on your way to having shopped for your entire holiday list. Somehow, December snuck up on me this year and I've done absolutely nothing to prepare for all that it brings. Tonight, we put the tree up and decorated the house. Even still, it doesn't feel like Christmas is just three weeks away! And so I'd better get a move on and come up with this year's gift list for my close friends and family. I'm keeping it simple this year, but still - I want to make sure that I give great gifts to the people that I hold near and dear. If you're still looking for some neat gift ideas, check out these unique and fun items that I've (mostly) had the pleasure of sampling for free...and enter to win a gift of your own. After all, 'tis the season!

For the Geeky Chick in Your Life: Best Buy Private Label Products.

Insignia Little Buddy Child Tracker.

Keep tabs on your child at all times with this small but sophisticated device that combines GPS and cellular technology to provide you with real-time location updates. The small and lightweight Little Buddy transmitter fits easily into a backpack, lunchbox or other receptacle, making it easy for your child to carry so you can check his or her location at any time using a smartphone or computer. Customizable safety checks allow you to establish specific times and locations where your child is supposed to be — for example, in school — causing the device to alert you with a text message if your child leaves the designated area during that time. View the Product Demo here. Retails for $99.99

Rocketfish Mobile Laptop Desk.

Work comfortably on your laptop with this laptop desk that features a pull-out tray for accessories and a pull-out tray for a mouse pad that features a support structure for stability.

- Holds most laptops with up to a 16" display
- Pull-out tray holds mouse pad and features a support structure for stability.
- Pull-out accessory trayStore your iPod, cell phone and camera while you work. The insert can be removed to hold a beverage. Soda can adapter and paper cup hole fit multiple cup sizes.
- Soft foam bottomFor comfortable use.
- Slim designFor easy portability.

Retails for $41.99. Currently on sale for $29.99.

Rocketfish Mobile Laptop Case.

Protect and carry your laptop safely with this mobility bag that features stowable handles for convenient portability of most laptops with up to a 15.4" display.

- Protective accessory tube reduces clutter and stores your accessories while you're on the go.

- Store tube can also raise your laptop or angle your keyboard.
- Stowable rubber handles make carrying easy.
- Easy-to-use straps hold your laptop securely in place during transport.
- Hard surface lapdesk: The case can be propped open to instantly give you a place to work.
- Foam and rubber materials for long-lasting use and lightweight portability.

Retails for $69.99. Currently on sale for $49.99.

WIN IT! Leave a comment to win your very own Rocketfish Mobile Laptop Case.

For the Little Princess:

Carol’s Daughter Princess and the Frog Collection.

I don't know about you, but it's going to be a very long time before I get sick seeing Princess Tiana on things! Pamper your little princess with this trio of genuinely natural hair and bath treats that gently clean, condition and soothe. This little loving magic is sure to bring out her inner shine.

Gift Set Includes:
Shampoo "The Beauty Within" - 8 fl. oz.
Conditioner "Inner Shine" - 8 fl. oz.
Bubble Bath "Sharing Means Caring" - 8 fl. oz.
Loofah

Retails for $24.00.

WIN IT! Leave a comment to win your very own Carol's Daughter Princess and the Frog products (selection may vary).


For the Budding Bookworm:

Disney Digital Books.

Just when you thought the Mouse couldn't possibly get any more magical...Now your little reader can enjoy 500+ new and classic Disney books! Features:

- Click to hear words pronounced.
- See definitions using the built-in dictionary.
- Be immersed in Look and Listen stories with voices and sound effects.
- Use Story-Builder to create Disney stories.

Full membership with access to over 500 books retails for $8.95/month for family membership (up to 3 children); $79.95/year. Free registration gives access to limited selection of books.

WIN IT! Leave a comment below to win a hardcopy of National Treasure: A Gates Family Mystery #1: Changing Tides (Volume 1).

For the Fashionista:

IMAN Global Chic Collection for HSN. Think globally. Live fashionably. Glamorous and affordable luxuries empower you to be gorgeous. With her collection, Iman takes the hottest trends in accessories and beauty from around the world and brings them to HSN. She wants to give her customer access to global luxury at an affordable price everyone can enjoy. Just take a look at this fabulous Teardrop Necklace and Earrings. Retail price is $54.95 and $59.95, respectively.

WIN IT! Leave a comment below to win a Sequined Knit Wrap - color may vary. Retails for $54.95.

For the Gourmet:

Mrs. Prindables Gourmet Caramel Apples.

Are you looking for an upscale, last-minute, holiday gift for out-of-town family or friends? Teachers? Co-workers? Here's an idea: the gift of Mrs. Prindable’s, the #1 maker of gourmet caramel apples and confections. Swirling, homemade caramel; melted dark, white and milk chocolate; crushed peppermint candy and imported nuts; crisp Granny Smith apples …. these mouth-watering ingredients are used in Mrs. Prindable’s Handmade Confections workshop to create gourmet apples and other tasty treats for the holidays. This year, Mrs. Prindable's has created new Christmas and Hanukkah gifts that out-of-town families will love. (Perfect for last-minute shopping!) Retails for $22.95.

WIN IT! Leave a comment below to win a delicious Mrs. Prindable's handmade confection.

For the Smart Mama:

Mamalaw T-Shirts!

Last but not least! If you're a friend of our blog, you know that we are constantly in search of ways to navigate this crazy journey called motherhood. As we grow along our journey we've realized that there should be laws to govern our universe and we've coined these as "Mamalaws." We are excited to announce the re-opening of our boutique, which offers items based on these laws; so if you agree (and we know that you will) feel free to try one of these on for size. Retails for $23.80.

WIN IT! Leave a comment below to win one of our sassy t-shirts.

Giveaways end Sunday, December 13th at midnight! Winners will be selected at random. Note: by leaving a comment, you will be entering to win one of any of these prizes (not a particular one).

Happy Holidays!

Party Animal: Part 2

After Tech Savvy Mama's party, she put up her story on Whrrl and I totally bit her idea for the Johnson and Johnson Cause Party that I hosted the following weekend. You know what they say Leticia - imitation is the best form of flattery.

So check out my party recap on Whrrl. Enjoy!

Powered by Whrrl

Party Animal: Part 1

For the last few weeks my "social calendar" (ha ha) has been filled with blog parties. In addition to getting an up close and personal look at some of the products of three respected brands, the best part has been spending QT with bloggy friends - and IRL friends - offline.

Kicking off the party circuit was the e.l.f. Cosmetics Brunch hosted by the phenomenal Tech Savvy Mama. What a great time I had! I got to see some familiar faces: Stimey; TeachMama; Thien-Kim; Smiling Mama; Linda from BabyBunching; ToddlerPlanet.; Devra from Parentopia..and I got to meet the incomparable PunditMom for the first time in person. These ladies are a riot and I can always count on having a good time when we get together. In fact, it reminded us that we need to do it more often. Holiday party anyone?




e.l.f. Cosmetics stands for eyes, lips, and face. They have 3 lines of makeup that we tried: the original e.l.f. line, e.l.f. Studio, and e.l.f. Mineral. Of course Leticia laid out a fabulous spread for us sponsored by Giant Food (including their Enjoy line of frozen desserts - yum!); Oikos Greek Yogurt provided by Stonyfield Yogurt; and a selection of organic green tea beverages provided by Steaz. Adding even more glam to the beauty brunch was my friend Katrina - a Stella & Dot independent jewelry stylist - who showcased their luxurious winter collection, which TeachMama and I spent spent an extended amount of time drooling over. We each left the brunch with a generous collection of e.l.f. makeup brushes and makeup mirror, along with a swag bag of even more goodies. Again, the morning was a real treat. And even though I'm not a huge makeup maven, I'm definitely a new fan of e.l.f.'s Eye Shadow Cream. It feels so luxurious and looks great. And it's only one dollar. Bananas.

And now for a peek at the lovely ladies...

Amy says "cheese!"




Susan shows off her fresh manicure.




Aimee's enjoying herself





Devra gets glammed up by Katrina.




There's me lining my lips




A glowing Thien-Kim poses pre-baby!

Our lovely hostess with the mostest.

Jean and Joanne smiling and sipping.

Thanks ladies - it was grand!

Look Out Betty Crocker (It's a Giveaway!)

The really nice people (no seriously, they're so nice) at Growing Cooks send my brood a Growing Cooks Basic Chef set so that they could get their B. Smith on.

We decided to choose the very sophisticated task of baking Fairy Cookies. A while back, Justice Jonesie sent my girls a Fairy Cookbook - a must have for every fairy princess. (Thanks Jonesie!)

The girls loved their chef set. The pieces were just the right size and were easy for them to handle. Mom especially liked the apron, adorable chef hat and washable storage pouch that the set came in.

As I stood in the corner twitching at the sight of cookie dough and sprinkles being ground into my carpet and and my two daughters gleefully covered in a layer of flour, my friend walked in and said: "Awwww! This is so sweet! You're creating such great memories for them." And she was right.


To win a Growing Cooks Basic Chef Set to create memories for your very own growing chefs, all you have to do is leave a comment! Tweet it for an extra entry. Giveaway ends Sunday, October 4.

The Basic Chef set comes with the following matching items:

6 cookie cutters
5 plastic measuring spoons
2 wooden spoons
plastic spatula
wooden spatula
metal wisk
mini wooden rolling pin

Thanks Growing Cooks! Up next? Barbie Brownies. Don't ask.

My new lover...

I've taken a new lover ... of shoes, that is. After being a tad bit upset with my real life lover, I trekked on up to my local mall in search of a new outfit. I had no luck on the outfit side; but lots of luck in the shoe department. I stumbled on a new addition to Union Station - Shoe Woo. By the time I left, I wasn't so mad at RL lover any more.

It was fabulous and trendy and hip and young. And most importantly, there were shoes and bags everywhere. The design is not like your typical shoe store where the walls are lined with shelves of shoes. Rather, the walls were lined, and the center consoles and the tables of varying heights and there were shoes on rotating platforms...maybe even some dangling from the ceiling.

And, more impressive was the fact that they don't just sell one brand, they sell multiple brands - it was like being in shoe heaven. It's funny because it was like being in a department store, but not really. Maybe we can call it a shoe boutique! They carried Nine West, Joan & David, Anne Klein, Bandolino (and maybe a few other brands). Anyway, at this time there are only 2 locations - DC and NJ.

Shoe retailers out there listen up ... this is what we (read I) want. A variety of brands of sexy shoes, all in one place. Shoe heaven, I say, shoe heaven.

Love It! Thursdays: Poo~Pourri

If you've got a little stinker like I do, then you should try Poo~Pourri Little Stinker deodorizer spray. I received a free sample to try out and happily took advantage of the opportunity to use it in L'il Buddy's nursery. The first thing I noticed was the packaging. It's not loud or cheesy like most air freshners and the design gives it an air of luxury, which I like. If I had my druthers, I would outfit my house with only pretty things - including the cleaning products. It's the reason why I'm such a big fan of luxury household products like Williams-Sonoma and Caldrea.

But back to the poop.

Poo~Pourri Little Stinker works differently from your normal deodorizer in that you're supposed to use it before the smell happens instead of spraying it afterwards to get rid of the smell. Here is the description:

A diaper deodorizer with a natural anti-bacterial. Quickly eliminate the source of odor causing bacteria in cloth and plastic diapers. Simply spray on soiled diaper before disposal and there will be no reminder that your little angel was once a little stinker!

I have to admit that I've been using it backwards and spraying it after I change the dirty diaper (force of habit) but the Bergamot, Leomongrass and Grapefruit smell is delightful and really does make a difference. In fact, I've even taken to using it in the kitchen trashcan.

What's even more genius is that Poo~Pourri makes a spritzer for grown ups that you can use to spray the toilet before you go and it eliminates any odor. Probably very ideal at the office or even at parties for keeping your dirty little secret.

8oz bottle retails for $19.95.

The Thing About Product Reviews

We're all friends here, right? 'Cuz I need to take a minute or twenty to gripe about the double-edged sword that is blog giveaways. All of us get contacted on an almost daily basis, I'm sure, by well-intentioned PR companies that want to put their clients' products in our social-media-influencer hands. And, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy receiving advance notice of the latest gadget or happening event (did I just say "happening"? oh gawd), but what I don't enjoy is the poor, poor etiquette exhibited by some of these PR consultants.

Continue reading "The Thing About Product reviews" on DCMM...

Product Review: Pub Corn

It's no secret that I love popcorn (kettle corn is my absolute favorite) and I like to enjoy a yummy cocktail every now and then (my new favorite is this fabulous grapefruit, rosemary concoction that I had in Seattle at Ray's Boathouse). So. Good. So, imagine my delight when I received an invitation to try out popcorn that tastes like drink cocktails! Now this is a product review that was right up my alley.

I guess first I should give you some background as to why the heck someone thought liquor-flavored popcorn was a good idea. Basically, Cary Silverman, a senior business student at the University of Missouri (hey Anheuser-Bush territory, no? Maybe it was in his blood), is the inventor and founder of Pub-Corn. The idea for this tasty treat came to him when he saw some college kids sneaking liquor into the movies. Apparently Americans consume 16 billion pounds of popcorn and spend almost $100 billion on beer and liquor each year, so it was a combination that made sense. He wanted to capture the refreshment of a frosty lager or the delicious taste of your favorite cocktail in a convenient, crunchy snack.

And so my convenient, crunchy shipment of Pub-Corn arrived in the mail and I tore into it right away. Pub-Corn comes in 4 different flavors: Beer, Irish Cream, Pina Colada and Margarita. [FYI - the Margarita flavor wasn't included in my sampling pack so I can't speak to that one] I started with the Pina Colada and was pleasantly surprised. The popcorn is crunchy and light and the flavor is distinct, but not overbearing. And it really does taste like a pina colada. The Irish cream flavor was good too and a favorite of Chatterbox's (could be problematic). I only ate a few of the beer-flavored popcorn, namely because I hate beer and so I figured (and was right) that I wouldn't be a fair judge of that one. I can say that it defintely tasted like beer though!

I liked the idea that Pub-Corn fills the need (and I use that word loosely) for an alcohol-like experience for those who may not be able to enjoy an actual beverage. For example, Cary ships Pub-Corn to truckers who would like to drink a beer but can't do so on the road, and to pregnant women who crave a cocktail but can't drink one. I also can see Pub-Corn being a fun party snack or a cute hostess gift.

So check out Pub-Corn and order yours today! You can sign up to be a Pub Crawler and receive FREE samples and a FREE mug and other special offers. You even request a specific flavor by emailing the company too.

Now if only someone would come up with a fat-free snack that tastes just like chocolate. Or hickory-smoked bacon. Or french bread smeared with brie. Then we'd be in business.

Check out Cary & Pub-Corn on CNN:

LOVE IT Thursdays! Product Review - Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

I've been hearing a lot about tinted moisturizers over the past few years and just didn't know where to start with them. I figured it would be better for my skin and my routine to simply get a dual action product. I have used various Mac foundations for years and love them because the color/tone is perfect for my complexion. So, I went into Sephora (hardly ever go there) and asked for some help because Mac doesn't make tinted moisturizers or at least that's the way it appeared when I was shopping for the product. The Sephora folks were very helpful. They had a color specialist that was able to suggest a brand and color that best matched my skin - wonderful!

He recommended Laura Mercier SPF 20 tinted moisturizer and I love it. I love it so much that I'm asking myself why I didn't make the change earlier. This moisturizer gives my skin a such a glow - it's kind of dewey, not cakey, really light and it's giving a whole lotta SPF protection as well. It was a little expensive (around $40) but you only use a couple dots per day.

So, if you're looking for a tinted moisturizer, give this one a shot! Also, try Sephora for your make-up/skincare needs.

Love it! Thursdays: Product Review: General Mills Lucky Charms!

"I want my rainbow cereal today, Mommy!"

Nothing like having your kids excited about eating. My kids have each developed their own taste buds for this or for that. In the morning I don't always have time to make 2-3 different meals for everyone.

Some days, I don't mind making eggs for Oldest and waffles with sausage for Little B & Daughter. (Okay, I do mind, but I rather pop some waffles in the toaster instead of hearing whining and complaining about eggs).

One thing I know will make everyone happy is Lucky Charms cereal, or "rainbow cereal" as Daughter calls it. Getting to eat Lucky Charms for breakfast is like a treat for them. What the kids don't know is that Lucky Charms is a nutritious breakfast options a kid can eat! Most cereals by General Mills have about 100 – 130 calories per serving and provide at least 10 key nutrients. And,

We always try to incorporate whole grain products into our family diet (brown rice, whole grain pasta, bread, etc.). Made with whole grain, Lucky Charms is fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals, and is a good source of calcium. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics recently doubled the vitamin D recommendation for children, I need to do all that I can to incorporate more vitamin D into the kids' diets. Approximately 75% of kids today don’t get the recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D -- two key nutrients for bone growth. My kids are not big milk drinkers (gasp!) even though I try, try, try to get them to drink it. What I have to do is try to give them other sources of vitamin D and calcium and what better way than to give them some Lucky Charms? The good thing is that all General Mills Big G kid cereals (including Kix, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and more) offer a good source of BOTH calcium and vitamin D in each serving. How easy is that?

A recent report in a leading consumer magazine ranked kid cereals by nutritional content, and all nine General Mills Big G kid cereals included in the report were ranked in the top half. All Big G kid cereals have at least eight grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams are recommended daily), and all have 12 grams or less of sugar per serving. Fantastic!

So for those busy mornings, or when I want to give the kids a "treat," its all about one of General Mills Big G kid cereals. Our family favorite - Lucky Charms.

Love it! Thursdays: Product Review: T-mobile Dash

This one will be easy. This phone sucks, don't waste your money buying it. I've had this phone for about five months, and I'm already on my replacement. The first one had speaker issues. A few weeks after I bought it, the speaker suddenly sounded as if it had blown. I contacted the store I bought it from and without even asking any questions, they sent me a new one, told me to keep the old one.

I bought it because I wanted to have email access in my purse and some ability to use the Internet. My email works most of the time, and the Internet is pretty reliable in working very slowly. Nice.

Did I mention the phone freezes about 2-3 times a week? Yes, it does. And my battery lasts about half a day.

What's good about this phone. Hmmmm. I can check several accounts on the phone, when it works.

All this said, I'm in the market for a new phone.

Any ideas??

Great Christmas Buy! LeapFrog Handheld Didj

LeapFrog has really out done themselves with this one. You've probably seen the Didj in the stores, but didn't know how to pronounce it, and didn't realize all that it can do. The Didj (pronounced "did+g") is LeapFrog's Custom Learning Gaming System appropriate for ages 6-10. What does "custom gaming system" really mean? It means your child can go on-line, enter the math skills or spelling skills he or she is working on in school (for example, addition up to 12) and incorporate those skills into fun video games like Hannah Montana, Sonic, Star Wars, etc. What's great about the customizable features is that there is nothing else like it, and you can buy a number of games that your child already wants to play. Furthermore, it does a great job in balancing the gaming aspect with the learning aspect; important to the kiddos and the parents. Right? In fact, your child gets rewarded for doing well on the games. The better your child does, the more customizable options your child can choose from. Points are earned and "secret codes" are given so that your child can add additional features to the games. Customizing the games is really easy, you just connect the game to your computer, download a program, and then you can also go on-line to do more.

With Christmas right around the corner, I give the Didj five out of five! Oldest loves it and I love it. Thank you LeapFrog!

Deals: Get $10 off the Didj Custom Gaming System at Leapfrog.com. Enter code HY8DSP at checkout expires 12/20/08. And get FREE shipping on purchases $50 or more.