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.

This Is No Time For An Intervention (Updated)

I saw these shoes today and had, I mean had to have them. Especially since they were 50% off thanks to a one-day sale. Forget that I have nowhere to wear them. Forget that I have nothing to wear them with. Forget that I am on a budget. Forget that I'll probably break my neck trying to walk in them. Forget all of those things. When you have an addiction, you have an addiction and that good sense your mama taught you is thrown to the wind.

So in true addict fashion, I have begun justifying my actions by making up reasons for why it was, in fact, a smart and responsible move. So far, the best I've come up with is that I was planning on buying a fabulous new outfit for my Valentine's Day date with hubby. We are going to a swank resto-lounge and I need to at least try to look like I belong there. So rose colored, sequined, platform, slingbacks pumps on V-day it is. (caution: twisted rationalization up ahead) Actually, it's the perfect shoe for a romantic date, no? Nevermind that it's February and will likely be freezing and open-toe shoes make little sense. NEVER.MIND. The shoes? They are fly. And I will feel so hot in them that I will actually be warm.

Really, the only thing left to do now is to find a cute dress to go with them. Any suggestions? Come on fashionistas. What kind of friends are you if not my enablers?

It is with heavy heart that I must report the following unfortunate news - I came home, opened up my email and saw this message: "Thank you very much for shopping at SmartBargains. We are sorry to inform you that all items in order 280308322941-315096811018 have become unavailable...blah blah blah."

Friends, it's a cruel, cruel world.

*Sigh*

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly love him anymore, President Obama launches a White House blog.

Be still my beating heart.

Baby Love

There's nothing like having a baby in the house.

The sweet smell. The chubby limbs. Seeing the wonder and amazement in their eyes.

You can't beat it.

Summer Review #1: Ginger Snaps Baby

Ok, I have to tell y'all about the cutest online gift boutique: Ginger Snaps Baby. What's unique about this boutique is that its products are inspired by children of color, which is so great, because chic baby items made especially for brown babies are rare! No matter what the color of your bambino though, you are sure to find something precious at Ginger Snaps Baby. The owner, Michele Duger, was gracious enough to send me some samples of her products, and they.are.adorable! Really. I'm in love with the Bag ID tags personalized with my girls' names. They are just darling. And, I'm a sucker for stationery, so I was tickled pink to receive some personalized notecards in a pretty and stylish print. With matching, round, address labels. So cute!

So during your next Windows shopping trip, make sure to check out Ginger Snaps Baby! MamaLaw readers can get 20% off their purchase by entering the coupon code JUSTICE20 at checkout. And, for a limited time, you'll receive free address labels with the purchase of personal note cards.

Enjoy!

*By the way, this might go without saying, but this and forthcoming product reviews are entirely unpaid (but for the free samples) and voluntary. Just want to make that clear!*

My Very Own Visa Commercial

Bubble machine: $7.99

Watching your kids' absolute delight over dishsoap blowing in the wind: Priceless

Good Times.

Despite me being beyond exhausted from the pregnancy, yesterday was a good day.

First, I came home from work to find our cherry blossom trees in full bloom. I love them. They make me happy.

Aren't they making you happy too?

Then last night, at approximately 9:19pm, we became the eBay auction winners of the stroller that we wanted! Yahoo! We saved almost 50% off of the retail price. Gotta love the Internet. It was my first time actually participating in an auction on eBay -- I usually just use the "Buy It Now" feature. The even better news is that we lost an auction over the weekend for the same stroller from another seller and so I was bummed. But we got an even better deal last night than we would have the last time, and the one that we won comes with the manufacturer's warranty.

Now if I could only stay awake for it, I'm sure today is going to be a good day too.

LOVE IT! Thursdays: Sippy Cups

Today I thought I would give an ode to a staple in our household that we use, multiple times, on a daily basis...

The First Years Take & Toss Spill-Proof Cups.

I can't even remember when we started using these. I think it was when Chatterbox was completely off of the bottle and we needed something to give her milk in before bed. I'm not sure why I picked these up instead of just using her regular assortment of Dora sippy cups, but I did and we love them.

The funny thing is that even though they are meant to be very disposable, these cups are surprisingly durable and last for weeks on end. The only thing that might need replacing are the tops, which Chatterbox loves to bite while she's drinking her milk. Giggles loves them too and they both must have their bedtime milk in these cups of they're all out of whack. The cups are dishwasher-safe (almost nothing in my house isn't!), are stackable (which is fantastic given the amount of counter-space kid stuff occupies at my house), and microwaveable (shhh!).

So while this isn't the most exciting product review I could have given today, I definitely wanted to give a shout out to the First Years Take & Toss Spill-Proof Cups and urge you to try them. Oh, and did I mention that they're dirt cheap? You can't beat that with a stick.

I give these cups:

4 gavels: "Liked it. I would definitely recommend it!"

High Roller

Have you heard of the Zooper stroller line? I saw a dad pushing a double one at the mall yesterday and I fell in love.

Then I came home and looked it up online...Let's just say my dream flew out the window real quick when I saw the price tag.

Next stop, eBay.

The Wire

Is anybody else watching these final episodes?

I don't think I'll be able to go to sleep tonight.

LOVE IT! Thursdays: Sanity-Saving Gadget

During our trip to Chicago week before last, we stumbled upon a fair where my sis and I got the cutest little gadget! It's called Finders Key Purse (get it??) and it really is the best thing since sliced bread. And maybe reality tv.

Anyway, Finders Key Purse is a key chain designed to hook on to the side of your purse (or pants pocket, etc.) so that you won't have to dig all around your bag searching for your keys or phone. Brilliant! To make it even better, the woman who designed it offers the key chain in a variety of adorable designs. The charm faces outwards so all you see is that cute little design. I got the Red Pump (naturally) and Lisa got the Fleur-de-Lis. For a mere 10 bucks, we were sold.

I have to say that I love this little gadget. The design of the hook makes it very difficult for it to fall off the side of your purse, so while the contents of my bag could be a disaster, I can rest assured that my cell phone is always where I can find it. Such a small thing, but it really makes life that much easier! Lisa uses it with her T-Mobile Sidekick and there is a design that works with keys too.

I give the Finders Key Purse:

5 gavels: Love it! Can't live without it!

LOVE IT! Thursdays

Yes, I'm totally cheating, but I just have to tell y'all that I finally got my car and...I LOVE IT! Here she is:

I took this pic with my camera phone this morning in the parking garage at work, so of course the picture doesn't do the car justice. If anyone is in the market for a new car, definitely look into the Acadia. It's the new crossover from GMC. Mine seats 7, but you can opt for it to seat 8. Like Justice Jones said to me: "It's like a hidden minivan." We got the DVD package for the kids and it came with free OnStar and XM radio. It's very spacious, rides smoothly, doesn't feel like a big 'ol truck, and is adorable. There are 2 sunroofs and dual everything. Of course, I've had it all of 1 week so I may find a reason or two to gripe about down the line, but for now, this mama is a very happy camper.

Now I just need to get seat protectors to save my precious new seats from toddler terror.

I give the GMC Acadia:

5 gavels: "Love it! Can't live without it!"

Do you love your family car? Hate it? Tell us all about it and don't forget to link back here.

Fergie's Guide to Style: Items 2 & 3

I promised to keep you updated on the new additions to my closet, so here goes...

I stumbled upon a sale at J. Crew and was able to get a nice blazer for less than 1/3 of its original price! And just in time for the fall weather.

Also, I used my DSW birthday gift certificate and found my snazzy sneaks on the clearance rack. They are so comfy too.

Oh, and speaking of cute finds - I won a contest over at Mrs. Schmitty's contest blog and she sent me a personalized set of notecards. They are so adorable! I would post a pic of them here but they have all of our names on them. You can even customize them to look like members of your family and she offers so many different accessories that you're bound to find something that suits your personalities. Her stationary company is called Doodle-Kids and I highly recommend that you click on over there and check out her work. I know I'll be back around holiday time! She's offering her blog readers 15% off their orders (visit It's A Schmitty Life for the code) so you can't lose!

LOVE IT: Thursdays!

Or Fridays. But whatever.

This week's LIT theme is:

" __________ is the only sunscreen I like using on my child(ren) on these sunny summer days."

I decided on the topic of sunscreens because it seems like my kids are using it on a daily basis these days. The sun is in full force and therefore, so is water play! So I wanted to tell y'all about the sunscreen that we use - it's the Coppertone Water Babies Quickcover Lotion Spray SPF50. And it rocks.

I stumbled upon this sunscreen because applying regular sunscreen lotion to two fidgety toddlers was getting to be tedious. So I went looking for a spray. I decided to try this one and I'm so glad that I did! At the risk of sounding like a commercial, we love this sunscreen because the spray is an even mist that is easy to control, the lotion is easily rubbed onto the skin (no more tragic ET-looking kids), it smells yummy, is waterproof and contains Vitamin E to moisturize.

And it doesn't hurt that the kids get a kick out of getting sprayed with the stuff. It's always good for at least 3-minutes worth of giggles.


My rating for the Coppertone Water Babies Quickcover Lotion Spray SPF50?


5 gavels: "Love it! Can't live without it!"

Now it's your turn!

What type of sunscreen do you use to protect your little rays of sunshine? Remember to add a link to your blog posting here:

I'm baaaaaaaaaaack.

And 1.0 lb heavier. But trust me, it was totally worth it. Beignets. Cajun redfish. Grilled scallops. Pralines. Praline bread pudding. Taffy. Peanut brittle. And oh the martinis.

In fact, +1.0 lb is pretty impressive.

And for all my fellow dieters, I just have to share my latest find:
Hershey's 100 calorie wafer bars. SO. GOOD. They taste just like a Kit-Kat.

Now if only I could find 100 calorie bread pudding.

We're in a pickle!!!!!

Justice Fergie and blogger world...there must be something in the air here in the D.C. area. I, too, am in a similar situation. My nanny gave me her 2-week notice on Monday and I've been debilitated ever since. This week was a particularly hectic week at work for both myself and DH (grammatical error - who knows?), so it has been hard to even focus on where to start looking for a new nanny.

Here's the story. When our nanny started back in January, DD fell off her bike and hit her head. Of course there was a huge bump and a bruise. It was difficult for me and DH to handle because she had never fallen before and this was her first bruise - the tough part was that she had just spent the first year of her life with me and nothing (except her falling off the bed at seven months) had ever happened. So within the nanny's first month of the with DD we had this incident. Then about 2 or 3 days after, DD fell and scraped her knee.

We accepted that she was at that stage where she had just started to walk and was still quite clumsy and accidents were inevitable. DH always points out however that although accidents happen while she's with us - there have been no bruises or serious injuries.

So, Monday afternoon, DD who was deliriously tired because she is teething and did not nap, jumped off the sofa chasing the kitten and bumped her head on the coffee table. She is bruised a little - nothing too serious. It was a little black and blue, but nothing that a little Iodex couldn't heal. The nanny is absolutely distraught. I believe that she was very remorseful that DD had sustained another injury while she was at home with her. Then she dropped the bomb - she said that she didn't think that she could keep up with DD anymore and was too afraid of another injury occurring and that she wanted to quit - for DD's safety.

I thought she was over-reacting and asked her to think about it. Anyway, 2 days later, I asked her whether she had given her resignation any more thought and she said no. So, I figured what the he!! .... you're really just going to quit!!!!!!!!!!!! What am I supposed to do now?!?!?!?!

The nanny sincerely loves DD and DD loves the nanny very much. I trust the nanny and I believe that she takes good care of DD. DH however believes that we should not beg the nanny to stay because if she believes that she can't keep up with DD then the chances of another injury are high.

So, we're in a pickle right about now. We have one week to find a replacement. One week!!!!! DH wants to explore some daycare centers, but I know that that's not going to work out for us because we both work crazy hours and most daycare centers close at 6 p.m. on.the.dot!!!!

One week....one week. Let's hope that something works out for us. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Giddy Laughter on Aisle 3...

Can I just tell you about this wonderful wonderful thing I've found? On Saturday, after we spent the morning watching Hubby's flag football games I took the kids to the grocery store...Right. Around. Naptime. And yes, I know better but I was already out and about and it was sunny out and therefore so was my disposition and I thought "How bad could it be?" And it wasn't! At all. And it's all because of this wonderful little shopping cart that lets two kids ride in their own car attached to the front of your cart. It was my first time using it with both kids and it worked like a charm. There was no screaming. No crying. No kicking. No attempting to jump out of the cart by twisting and turning their way out of the safety belt. No reaching into the cart trying to eat the unwashed grapes. They were happy as larks "driving" the car around the store. The safety belts kept them strapped in and the metal grate beneath their feet kept them from losing their assorted toys that they couldn't leave home with out. This picture doesn't show it but the cart I had even had safety rails that came down on either side so I even felt comfortable putting my 13-month-old in the car.

It was amazing. I didn't have to rush through the grocery at breakneck speed like I usually do. And not once did someone ask or "grunt" at me for snacks. Granted, this particular grocery with this fine apparatus wasn't in my neighborhood, but I have noooo problem driving the extra couple miles if it means peace of mind. In fact, I will probably tell them as much the next time I go.

As I was searching online to find a photo of the cart to show you kind folks, I came across the manufacturer's website. Besides the website being pretty cool, it claims that storeowners who provide these carts to their customers drive up their sales by 20% beccause moms are able to shop longer. I can totally see how this is true. I love how the business world is finally wisening up and realizing that if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

And friends, this Mama's happy.