BlogHer 09

Kathleen is such a great roommate! I'm really going to miss her and Candice when we go home. Not to mention Katja, Kristin, Allison, Renee, Sheena, Kim, among many other great new blogger friends. Way cool to watch Design Mom iron and see CityMama and Bad Kitty spur Carson Kressley's spontaneous nudity by gifting him with a Ript Fusion tee (Yummie Tummie's shapewear for men, FYI).

My WiFi is slooooooow and keeps booting me off so I'm just going to post a couple of pictures and tell you all about it next week...

Britax Marathon CS Review

We are a Britax family. Case in point:


Roo in her Marathon, Jasper in his Boulevard. They're like plush recliners for your kids, only with the added bonus of protecting them in the event of a crash. In fact, these carseats are so well-designed, they have been known to keep children safe even when the car they are riding in has been struck by a train! (I would still recommend not stopping on train tracks, in case you were considering doing some home-testing.) That seat was a Roundabout, a convertible seat that is good for rear-facing infants to 40 lb forward-facing kiddos.

We went with the Marathon when Roo was a baby because it has such a long lifespan. Britax carseats are not cheap but they are extremely well-rated and in our experience they are just as durable as they are plush and good-looking. When Jasper outgrew his infant carrier (at six months!), I discovered a new Britax convertible seat. The Boulevard is even cushier than the very similar Marathon (both seats are recommended for children up to 65 lbs) and my hands-down favorite feature for Jasper has been the No Re-thread Harness Adjustment which allows you to adjust the harness height without having to re-thread the harness straps– super handy when you have a rapidly-growing baby/toddler/kid. Roo was a much more gradual grower so it's not as much of an issue to have to switch out the harness height every six months or so when you pull the cover off to wash it.

We recently received a new Britax model, the Marathon CS. The "CS" refers to the Click & Safe audible indicator that helps to determine when the child seat harness is within range of appropriate snugness. I remember taking a carseat safety class when I was pregnant with Roo and being informed that an alarmingly high number of parents were installing their seats improperly AND using the harnesses incorrectly, as well. I think it might have been close to 70%! The Marathon CS is just as comfy and sturdy as its non-clicking predecessor but it does give me a reassuring feeling to know that there is a way to make sure the harness is optimally tightened. Especially since this seat is going to go in grandma's car…

The Click & Safe feature is also available in the Boulevard CS. (Did I mention how totally awesome that No Re-thread Harness Adjustment is for wiggly boys?) The Britax Marathon CS has a MSRP of (USD) $299.99 and can be found wherever quality baby goods are sold.

Wordless Wednesday- Jasper Is Two!

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Happy Birthday, Jasper!

You made it to two years! Nice job, little buddy. I love you so much.

Picture Keeper- A Must Have!

***WINNER PICKED 8/7 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Carol EL!!!***

her comment...
I like that I don't need software to use it.


I'm not so great at organizing photos. It's embarrassing to admit but I haven't backed up or done anything with my photo library on my computer since before Jasper was born. He turns two tomorrow and I have 3000+ photos slowing down my hard drive. Yes, I am a bad techno mommy. Anyway, being lazy as sin led me to discover something new and totally awesome! The Picture Keeper looks like an ordinary USB flash drive stick but it is pre-loaded with software that will automatically detect photos on your computer and copy them for safekeeping. How cool is that?


Unlike so many nifty gadgets I read about, this one is actually compatible with all Windows XP and Vista systems AND, more importantly to me, Mac. Too often we Mac users get shafted on solid, inexpensive technology like this but the Picture Keeper even provides a screen-by-screen tutorial on setting up automatic backup from iPhoto files that was much, much less complicated than I expected. I think it took me two minutes, maximum. And then the Picture Keeper promptly located 5600 photos on my hard drive. Eeek! I already need to upgrade from the 8 GB model I received to try out…

The Picture Keeper is available in several versions, depending on your archiving needs: 4 GB (saves up to 4000 pictures), 8 GB (saves up to 8000 pictures), or 16 GB (saves up to 16,000 pictures). The company also recently introduced the 160 GB PK Pro external hard drive which connects via a USB cable and stores a whopping 160,000 photos! Additionally, you can choose to build your own Picture Keeper by purchasing their proprietary software and using it to format your own drive.

What I find especially useful about the Picture Keeper– aside from its obvious use as a safety net in backing up your important memories– is that it is truly cross-platform and can share information between PC and Mac computers easily, which would be great for sending a zillion trillion grandkid pictures to my Apple-deprived in-laws in West Virginia or my dad in Hawaii. You can also plug the Picture Keeper into any USB-ready digital picture frame for immediate viewing. It really doesn't get any easier, as far as I know. As a matter of fact, it was recently named one of Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Products for Summer 2009 and I would heartily agree.

To enter and win your 4 or 8 GB Picture Keeper, please comment on this post with your favorite thing about the Picture Keeper– is it the ease of use or the low cost or the easy-to-carry-anywhere size that appeals to you most?


Entries will be accepted through August 5th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. You can also post the picture you'd most want to back up with the Picture Keeper on your blog and link back to this contest! Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.



Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!

***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Problem Solvers Recognized

This is the last weekend the public can vote for their favorite entry of the James Dyson Award, an international competition that is open to product design, industrial design and engineering university level students (or graduates within 3 years of graduation) who have studied in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, and USA. The designer with the highest rating as of Midnight BST on July 20th will receive the US People’s Choice trophy and a chance to progress to the international finals where their work will be viewed by an international judging panel comprising high-profile designers and engineers, academics and journalists. James Dyson, the renowned will make the final judgment, informed by the international judges.

This year’s US-based entries include:

Bag Electronic Series – a line of household electronics which eliminate wasteful packaging.
Fresh, the Shrinking Milk Jug – a milk container that keeps air out and allows milk to stay fresh nearly a week longer.
Galileo – a manual wheelchair with a power assist function that uses saved kinetic energy to propel the chair forward without the use of a battery.
New Water – a redesigned mop wringer with filters throughout the front outputs and base of the enclosure.
Roto – a bedside clock that allows someone to read it from 360 degrees.

My favorite entry is the Rollie Pollie Cleaner, which combines the fun of a ride on or push toy with the functionality of a carpet sweeper. It might not be an earth-shaking, world-changing invention like some of the other entries, but if you've ever secretly wished to tape dustcloths to your baby's onesies, this one's for you…


The winner of the James Dyson Award 2008 was Michael Chen, from Middlesex University in the UK, who designed Reactiv, a cycling jacket that communicates a cyclist’s intentions to other road users.



Winning the James Dyson Award came as a surprise to me. I’m immensely proud to have been selected from a list of such outstanding product designers from around the world. And to be personally selected by James Dyson himself made it more special. The James Dyson Award has given me many new opportunities and much publicity for my designs. -- Michael Chen

Live, in Person!

I know I've been lax on the personal stuff lately but there's a feature on me over at Katydid and Kid today if you've been wanting to know a little bit more about me. Yeah, right…



Kathleen is my BlogHer roomie for next week and I am so excited to hang out with her in person. We'll be the ones hanging out in the corner, talking about our kids, come say hi… as an added incentive (along with our obviously charming personalities and covetable business cards), I'll be handing out goodies from Chicken Poop, Twisted Silver and Mayron's Good Baby while supplies last!

Green Enough

Leave it to the geniuses at The Onion to create the perfect eco-conscious statement water bottle…



On sale now for $16 at The Onion Store.

Love and Marriage

We're going to a birthday party for one of Roo's classmates this afternoon. Roo says she's going to marry him, which I think is hilarious. Here is the "card" she made for him, it's a picture of Roo and Gene getting married!

Wordless Wednesday- Pool

And, yes, I am too cheap to waste swim diapers in our own backyard…



Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Waiting

I'm writing this from the frontseat of my mom's car, parked in the lot of Exploration Place. Jasper fell asleep en route and I don't really want to subject my aunt and cousins (or Roo and grandma, for that matter) to my nemesis, overtired and cranky boy.



This summer has been a giant exercise in waiting. Trying to balance Jasper's nap schedule with Roo's activities, spend time with family and friends, find time for myself, waiting for BlogHer as a pivotal demarcation of time. It's been hard for me to maintain a blogging schedule and I apologize profusely for that- especially to my patient and merciful giveaway sponsors! I hope I haven't bored anyone so much that they won't come back once the heat and lethargy have subsided... Regular programming will return; hopefully sooner than later.

You'll just have to wait for ME to wake up...

--Post From My iPhone

Welcome, Space Monkey!

Laura, my compatriot from Mums the Wurd, has launched a seriously cool project with her husband and a couple of their good friends. Their new brainchild is Space Monkey, an online gallery/storefront where you can buy ready to hang 12″ x 12″ canvas prints (high gloss or matte finish) signed by the artists. Eventually they plan to expand their offerings to include clothing, toys and more. Laura's husband, Elliott, is the proprietor of an Ebay collectibles shop and they have two little boys, so they definitely know what grabs and holds kids' interests… and what will span the test of time. I'm partial to the Stitch-Kins, which blend the homespun charm of rag dolls with cuddly critters.



In honor of Space Monkey's grand opening, they're offering my readers a 15% discount using the code BLASTOFF (expires August 1st). They're also offering $20 off of their adorable Dino-Shores line, this week only!

HIV Healthcare Funding

Everyone's cutting corners these days and obviously some programs need to be cut. I would like to think that healthcare wouldn't be one of the first things to go but that is what HIV positive patients in California are facing.



If you are a a California resident, please call your legislators and let them know how you feel about healthcare budget cuts.

The petite woman in front is my cousin Sherri who is an HIV/AIDS educator and activist. She has been HIV positive since 1987 and hosts a Here TV podcast, Straight Girl in a Queer World.

Wordless Wednesday- robots, clowns, hugs and kisses

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Goofus and Gallant

The following review/giveaway is for adult eyes only because it involves sex. Mommy and daddy sex. (Everyone under 18 just clicked away, right?) No super explicit stuff here but the links might contain NSFW content. Consider yourself warned.



I'll cut straight to the point: I'm not really a dildo kind of girl. If I'm going to play all by myself, typically I would pick something a bit less intrusive. But when Babeland offered to send me a new toy, I figured it couldn't hurt to try something new. I trust their advice. After all, their original Seattle store was right next door to my old friends' art gallery and I spent many hours perusing their wares.

I received a slimline vibrator called the Gallant, which is fashioned from pliable and easy to clean silicone. It's not threateningly realistic and veiny or overly cartoonish-looking. Mine is a pretty pale blue, with a subtle curve and etched waves for extra sensation. The oddly-Nickelodeon-esque splotch on its base is an ergonomic, fully-adjustable dial that allows you to control your buzz from a gentle hum to a more profound vibration: the Gallant has a very, very powerful motor compared to other toys. It is also quite large- almost 7" and about 2" around. It uses two AA batteries and is water-resistant enough for shower use but not for bathtub submersion.



The full-size Gallant I received doesn't seem to be available on Babeland right now although truthfully, the adorable Mini Gallant seems like it might be a more manageable size (4" x 1") for solo play.

Didn't See That One Coming

The following video is for adult eyes only because it's slightly risque and the ending is pretty abrupt. No super explicit stuff here but the links might contain NSFW content. Consider yourself warned.

She is the Egg-Girl

My mom has some friends who have chickens wandering around their horse stables and we were the lucky recipients of these gorgeous free-range eggs. Roo likes them with spam and rice. Mmm!

Mom Central Summer Giveaway Bonanza

Summertime blues got you down? Time to check out the Mom Central Summer Giveaway Bonanza! Each week throughout the summer, Mom Central will post new giveaways with tons of great prizes for all members of your family. Some of the fantastic prizes include:

• Hoover Cyclonic Bagless Upright Vacuum: This new vacuum from Hoover removes more dirt than other cyclonic bagless vacuums due to its patented wind tunnel technology and embedded dirt finder. With power controls on the handle, it reduces bending to get to those hard-to-reach places and easily moves from hard floor to carpet.

• Crayola Play Sand: Transform an ordinary sandbox with a splash of color or design colorful art projects with a 20 lb. bag of Crayola Play Sand. The sand doesn't stain hands and features an easy-to-carry handle to make transporting easy on Moms.

• Jeep Tandem Stroller: Built to accommodate your growing family, the Tandem Traveler Stroller features sun canopies, reclining seat backs, car-seat adaptors, and cup holders that will leave you feeling like the coolest mommy on the block.

• Razor Jr. Electric Wagon: Put a modern spin on the classic wagon with the Razor Jr. Electric Wagon. Traveling safely at 2-3 miles per hour, parents have assistance while cruising the block.

Meaningful Beauty Review

I've always loathed Cindy Crawford. Yes, she's beautiful and sporty and actually seems like she'd be pretty nice in person. But since I first saw her in the '80s I have had an irrational dislike of her, perhaps because she is my polar opposite. When I see pictures of her with her preternaturally beautiful kids these days, I feel unnerved– it's like she and her remarkably attractive husband are out to repopulate the world with their superhuman progeny.

Which isn't to say I wasn't foaming at the mouth waiting to try the Meaningful Beauty Cindy Crawford Skin Care Program. Obviously, she knows a thing or two about not only being beautiful but retaining that beauty while aging gracefully. The crux of the Meaningful Beauty system is Age Maintenance. Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh created the line to help preserve skin’s existing youth and vibrancy, without surgery, delaying the visible signs of aging for as long as possible. Meaningful Beauty’s formulas are designed to help smooth the appearance of visible fine lines, brighten the complexion, and diminish skin roughness and redness in just four weeks.



Initially, I was skeptical of Meaningful Beauty because of my pathological (and inexplicable, really) dislike of Cindy Crawford and laziness about skin care regimens. I used to be a proponent of single step systems but now that I'm getting older I am definitely much more open to using different moisturizers for day and night. The core system consists of a skin-softening cleanser, eye creme, day moisturizer with SPF20 and night moisturizer. Additional products include a glowing serum (unbelievable!), easy-to-use facial masque, and décolleté and neck creme. The last sounds a little extraneous but it really does firm up the skin around your neck and bosom, which can often be the telling point of a woman's age. I have been very impressed with Meaningful Beauty, especially with the way it moisturizes my skin without leaving it feeling too oily or causing blemishes. The skin softening cleanser is very gentle and an unusual non-foaming, non-cream texture. It cleans the skin without stripping it of moisture or over-exfoliating. The night fluide moisturizer is very lightweight compared to other similar products I have tried but it leaves my skin smooth and even… radiant.

Maybe Cindy Crawford isn't so bad, after all!

Asserting Our Independence

Hope everyone is enjoying backyards, BBQs, bonding and all the good stuff that comes with the 4th of July…









Roo's dress and Jasper's shorts are from The Children's Place and their shoes are Crocs.

Share your 4th of July holiday pictures at 5 Minutes for Mom's Virtual Backyard BBQ for a chance to win a year-round indoor grill!

Happy Fourth of July

Galaxie 500

Momfluence Summer Guide

Looking for some great products to make your summer that much more fun and enjoyable? Looking to pamper yourself while the kids are off at camp? Or maybe you're dealing with summer bumps and bruises. Momfluence has collected some reviews of great products that you need to know about! Check out what our reviewers had to say about these great summer finds. And don't forget to stop by the Momfluence member giveaways listed at the bottom for some summer winning!

Featured Products

FishBites Swimmies - Spending time in the water is one of the most fun and exciting parts of summer. FishBites Swimmies by Swimways is a great solution to give the little ones the extra security they need in the pool, in a fun and exciting way.

Delsey Helium Fusion Carryon - If you are hitting the road or flying the skies this summer for your family vacation, the Delsey Helium Fusion carry-on offers a lightweight solution for packing your travel essentials.

Do Something Daily Calendar - Tired of hearing the kids say they have nothing to do? The DoSomethingDaily Calendar offers fun and exciting suggestions for things to do on each and every day of the year. Make memories with your family, every day!

Perlabella Pearls - Want to combat some of the wrinkles cause by sun damage? Perlabella's Retinol solution helps to fight the signs of aging, that can be caused by excessive sun exposure and other factors.

More Summer Fun

iTurtle

Playdoh Spaghetti Factory

Submergency

Nerf NFL Progrip Football

SuperSoaker 50

Boochie Game

Good For The Kids

Talking To Toddlers

Two Belles and A Bead Engraved Necklace

Cardstore

Jumeau Handbags

Staphaseptic

Member Reviews/Giveaways

Bonggamom - $50 Tiny Prints Gift Certificate

IceFairy's Treasure Chest - KiNeSYS, Purex 3-in1, and more

Eccentric, Eclectic Woman - Bra Barrette, Skipping Hippos

Riding With No Hands - 20 Piece Rubbermaid Set

Consumer Queen - FurBuster

PlusSizeMommy - Giant Hershey Bar, Zensoy, and more

MommyNotGuilty - KidBanz Sunglasses

Robyn's Online World - Kodak Digital Frame

Simply Being Mommy - EA Sports Active

Lattes and Life - Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs & Parent's Choice Formula

Motherhood Moment - Summer Fun

A Simple Kinda Life - Summer Soiree of Giveaways

From Cribs to Car Keys - EcoStore $25 Gift Certificate and more

Miscellaneous Finds 4 U - Tiny Prints and more

All Momfluence guide reviews are product-provided, featured positions were purchased by vendors. Member reviews and giveaways are not associated with Momfluence.

Ageless Moms

Our Ordinary Life is partnering with Ageless Fantasy anti-age perfume for a BlogHer sponsorship contest. One lucky participant will receive $200 to use toward their BlogHer expenses (That would cover my early-bird registration or one night of lodging!) and four others will receive a bottle of Ageless Fantasy. To find out how you can participate, click the button below:



In my case, I am ageless because of my permanently youthful attitude. I might be getting closer to 40 with each year but I think my self-image locked in place around 22 or so!

Check out Ageless Moms to learn more about keeping time on your side.

Win $500 BlogHer Scholarship

On Friday July 25th, Momfluence and Type-A Mom are joining forces with HP for the first-ever LIVE sitewarming party at BlogHer! In celebration of this auspicious event, HP is providing one lucky registered conference goer (the event is already sold out- you must already have a BlogHer ticket to be eligible to win) with a $500 scholarship to help out with their BlogHer expenses! I know in my case that would pay for my conference ticket and airfare, which would be unbelievably great…



Click on the button to find out how you can enter:

Bye-Bye, Pain in the Neck

I've had a pain in the neck since Roo was born five years ago. No, I'm not talking about my beloved daughter, although she certainly has her trying moments. I'm talking about the residual loss of sleep I've had since first getting pregnant and being forced to change my sleep habits. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been a back sleeper. Flat on my back, covers tucked tightly around my neck (to ward off vampires, duh!), motionless in deep, replenishing sleep. Of course, pregnant ladies aren't supposed to lay flat on their backs so early on in my pregnancy I made the switch to side sleeping. I assumed I would just switch back once the baby was born but it just hasn't happened. Not after Roo was born, not after Jasper was born. For some reason, I am still sleeping on my side and fitfully so. Now that both kids are sleeping through the night, I blame my pillows. I can't seem to find the proper ones. I like firm pillows but not too hard. Soft but not mushy. Plus I tend to flip them all around since I have the world's sweatiest head (aside from my kids, of course) so it has to stand up to a beating. I usually use two and swap them back and forth all night, bunching them and fluffing them to try and get comfortable. To no avail.

Thankfully, Tempur-Pedic offered to send me a couple of their fabulous pillows to test out. All of their pillows feature their proprietary Tempur material, a pressure-relieving foam that absorbs and distributes your body weight for maximum comfort and support. It conforms to your shape but immediately regains its original shape, eliminating pressure points. The invention of Tempur was inspired by the study of G-forces on astronauts and Tempur-Pedic is the only brand of mattresses and pillows recognized by NASA and certified by the Space Foundation. Literally, it is the science of sleep!

There are a wide variety of Tempur-Pedic Pillows to choose from, depending on your sleep style. I received the NeckPillow and the ComfortPillow.



The NeckPillow is a sculpted pillow recommended for those who need a therapeutic sleep posture. Its dual-lobe shape ergonomically supports your head, shoulders and neck to align your posture and help you get a more restful sleep. It is a bit funky looking but it does a great job of cradling your head and neck as you lay on your back, ensuring proper posture and comfort. It really helps me to remember to sleep on my back. I even bought a travel-sized one for Jasper to use since he is a fitful sleeper and it has seemed to help. (There is a similar style meant for side sleepers, too: the SidePillow would have been a lifesaver during pregnancy!)



The ComfortPillow is a more traditional-looking pillow but still very supportive thanks to the Tempur material.
I love that it looks and feels like a standard firm pillow but it gives a little, thanks to its plush zip cover. My husband tried to steal it from me immediately! I didn't let him.

I am sleeping much better these days and would love to try sleeping on a Tempur-Pedic mattress one of these days. If I win the lottery, I would even consider getting them for the kids' beds. They're that comfortable. And everyone is happier with a good night's sleep.

This review is cross-posted at Mums the Wurd.

Wordless Wednesday- Last Week

No, we didn't plan to match their outfits.


Yes, that is a bloody knife.
But look at what he has to put up with.






Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!