Archive | September, 2008

Ok, I know we all call our own little one the most beautiful in the world! (At least I do!) So, why not win a contest and maybe even a big prize for the “adorable-ness” in your arms!!
Now it’s time to take out your cameras or dig through your saved digital pics for TWO great reasons.

1. Participate in Smarty Pants Mama Munchkin Monday! Simply, provide SmartyPantsMama.com (SmartyPantsMama @ gmail . com) a digital photo of your munchkin, 1st name, age, birthday, likes and dislikes and stay tuned to hear of your little one being selected for Munchkin Monday with their very own blog posting and showcase!

2. Participate in the Baby Star Photo Contest at WhatToExpect.com for the chance to win fabulous prizes!!!! See the rules at WhatToExpect.com.

Product

Ambajam Cuddle Up Baby Blanket SetSmarty Pants ReviewYou won’t believe the immediate comfort you’ll feel when you snuggle with the Ambajam Cubble Up Blanket. It must be one of the softest items I have ever held. Ambajam has put together a blanket set that includes their ever-so-soft mini cuddle (17″x17″) and cuddle-up (29″x35″). The blanket set comes in a variety of colors, including complimentary stitching on edge and an embroidered turtle family – so cute! This set is perfect for the new mommy since it provides for the baby not only a little blankie to snuggle up in bed with during the toddler years, but a larger one to either keep somewhere else (car, nana’s…) or save for the childhood years as a more “grown up” version.PS – Ambajam also make a jumbo size too!! Just what a mommy deserves!Why is …

And we have winner!!!!!!!!!!!!! The winner of the Roll-N-Go Diaper Caddy is…kdkdkd!!!

Congratulations!!!!

30. kdkdkd said…diapers, wipes, and a snack box with cheerios

I’ll be in touch this week to coordinate shipment of your beautiful Roll-N-Go Diaper Caddy!!!

Thank you to all for participating in the Smarty Pants Product of the Week Giveaway!!!

Winner selected by Random.org

Here are your random numbers:30Timestamp: 2008-09-28 18:57:51 UTC

The wipes box….what to do with it when it’s empty?

One recent way to reuse the box, is to use it as a container for the munchkin’s playing cards. My daughter has a few different packs of flash cards…Pooh Cards…as she calls them. After many failed attempts of showing her how to put the cards back in the flimsy holder, I realized that the sturdy wipes box would work perfectly.

How do you reuse a wipes box?

Piece of the Week provides SmartyPantsMama.com readers ideas on how to renew, reuse or recycle.

Smart Mama’s: Please review the recalls the CPSC issued this week. The information below comes directly from the email I received from the CPSC.Name of Product: Simplicity Brand Drop Side CribsHazard: Due to sizing problems with the crib’s hardware, the drop side can come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation.

Description: This recall of Simplicity drop side cribs involves models that used a different style of hardware from those cribs recalled in September 2007. The recalled model numbers include: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810, and 8994. The recalled drop side cribs have a date code, which can be found on a label on the headboard under the mattress support, which ends in 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB (examples: 1806 DH or 0507 GB). …

We have a half bath on the 1st floor. The cabinet in there tends to collect lots of odd and ends, from freebies that come in the mail, to random lotions that I’ve received as gifts. One thing is for certain, the cabinet typically does not have any poisonous materials. I say that because with the munchkin always on the loose, and the off chance that someone may forget to put the door lock back on, I want to be sure that if she were to get her hands in there, nothing could harm her instantly.
Smart Mama move – keep poisonous/lethal medicines up high, out of reach, even with door locks.

Product

Roll-N-Go Diaper Caddy

Smarty Pants ReviewThe Roll-N-Go Diaper Caddy is just what smart mamas need! It provides a fashionable, organized manner of storing your diapering needs & more when you’re on the go!
At this stage of the game, 22 months, I need about 2 diapers, wipes, cream and forms of entertainment (crayons..) on any adventure out of the house, so I “loaded” the caddy appropriately before I took it out on my 1st adventure, the park!

Rolled up, with the items I mentioned above, the caddy measured about 6 inches in girth…not bad. No one would even know that diapers and Desitin were stuffed inside with its very fashionable, Asian inspired red print.

When it was time to really test it out (diaper changing time) the caddy worked as expected. I was able to open it with ease, although closing it was …

And we have a winner…..
The Smarty Pants Product of the Week winner for the 2 School Zone Workbooks is bison61!!!! Congratulations Bison61!

bison61 said…our local library has wonderful activities for children-we go there every couple weeks and we read dailytiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Thank you to all the entries!!! I am so happy to read the creative ways you each incorporate learning in your very busy days!

Smiles,caroline

Winner selected via Random.org
Here are your random numbers:36Timestamp: 2008-09-21 23:08:00 UTC

Paper or Plastic or Neither??
This week I finally remembered to bring my reusable grocery tote with me to Publix! I enjoyed my shopping trip, filling up with my Grocery Game items! I proceeded to the check out and handed the cashier my tote. This miracle cashier-lady was able to put ALL my groceries into my tote, minus the eggs! I walked out of there with just 2 bags, instead of the minimum of 6 plastic bags that I would have used instead. This is AWESOME for 2 reasons:
1. As a mom, with a 23 month old in tow, I need speed and agility! Carrying 2 bags to the car and then into the house was much, much, much, much easier and faster!
2. I have recently read that it takes 60 million tons of oil to make a year’s world supply of plastic bags (500 billion)!!! Who …

The following 5 recalls were issued by the CPSC over the last week. The information below comes directly from the listsrv notification emails.
Please be a smart mama and check your homes for these products.

Name of Product: Titan DIN 1st Stage Scuba Regulators and Titan/Conshelf DIN Scuba AdaptorsHazard: Over-tightening of the DIN retainer by a technician during installation can result in the retainer breaking under pressure, a rapid escape of air from the scuba cylinder, and the regulator detaching from the scuba cylinder. This poses a drowning hazard to divers.Description: The recalled regulators have a brass DIN retainer manufactured prior to June 2006. The recalled Aqua Lung Titan Din 1st Stage regulators have serial numbers lower than 6062501 stamped on the side of the regulator’s body. Recalled Titan/Conshelf DIN adaptors are marked “300 BAR MAX” on the side of the part. DIN adaptors marked “300 …

In the attempt to get the crock pot out for tonight’s dinner, I immediately realized that this cabinet needs to be reorganized desperately. I’ll pass on future instances of nearly having my little fingers slit off from the random Cuisinart blade that tumbled out as I pulled out the crock pot. I’ll post the after picture later on today!

Smart Mama’s: Find just one cabinet, I know you have one, and see what you can do to make it a little easier to use!

And the winners for the Smarty Pants Product of the Week – Baby Einstein Special Edition DVDs are DB516 AND Beth/Mom2TwoVikings!!!

db516 said…My kids love listening to the music the DVD’s offer even when they are roaming the room, not focused on the TV while the DVD’s are playing.

Beth/Mom2TwoVikings said…For the Vikings? Baby Noah hands down. We have worn out TWO DVD’s of it and had to go on Freecycle for a third copy in VHS! LOL
Congratulations to you both! I will be in contact this week to get your Baby Einstein DVDs to you!

Smiles,Caroline

Winners selected via Random.org

Here are your random numbers:39Timestamp: 2008-09-14 16:34:26 UTC
Here are your random numbers:1Timestamp: 2008-09-14 16:40:28 UTC

Product School Zone’s Math Readiness Sticker Workbook and Big Alphabet Workbook

Smarty Pants ReviewI’m a teacher at heart and try to incorporate educational activities with my munchkin each day.

Between trips to the park, birthday parties, the zoo and more we do all sorts of educational activities! We sing the alphabet at least a dozen times a day, together we write out the alphabet and her name, we count anything and everything, we paint letters, write them with chalk, form them with play-do. It’s great and best of all I am seeing the work payoff. At 21 months she could identify every letter of the alphabet and count to 13!

To supplement these activities, I have tried out 2 School Zone workbooks, Math Readiness Stickers Workbook Pre-K and Big Alphabet Workbook Ages 3-5. She LOVES using these books. Each afternoon we do a …

Piece of the Week – Mushroom Tray
Mushrooms, whole or sliced, typically come in a blue plastic tray. This rectangular bowl/tray doesn’t come with a lid, and isn’t necessarily the sturdiest of plastics, but it can surely be REUSED in a Smart Mama home!
Reuse Idea #1 – defrosting trayEach evening I take out the next night’s protein out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to defrost. I like the meat to sit in a plate or something, just in case something leaks. For smaller cuts of meat, the mushroom tray is perfect for this. I REUSE the mushroom trays for defrosting!Reuse #2 – fingerpaint trayI often get a little adventurous with my munchkin…choosing to do some messier than normal activities! Fingerpainting is a great activity for art expression and shes LOVES it. I REUSE the mushroom tray to hold her fingerpaints when she’s …

Happy Wednesday! I have received 8 recalls from the CPSC over the last week. Please review the information below that comes directly from the recall notification email.

Name of Product: Deda Forza Bicycle Handlebar Stems
Hazard: The top of the bicycle handlebar stem can crack and cause the rider to lose control, posing a crash hazard.
Description: The recall involves bicycles with Deda Forza black carbon fiber handlebar stems in gloss finish. “Deda Forza” is printed on the handlebar stem. Deda Forza black carbon fiber handlebar stems in matte finish are not included in this recall.
Sold at: Bicycle retailers nationwide from January 2008 through June 2008 on bicycles selling for between $4,300 and $8,700. The handlebar stems were also sold separately for about $400.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to:

Well, for my regular readers you know that I’ve done this tackle more than once in the last 6 months. It’s a typically an every 6 weeks tackle…cleaning out the pantry.
In this closet I store a ton of stuff that I have accumulated because of The Grocery Game. I keep an inventory on my laptop of what’s in here and in my other closet/pantry.
The Mess

The Organization!

Smiles,Caroline

Product

Baby Einstein – 10th Anniversary Special Edition
Smarty Pants Review
Baby Einstein, or i-i to my daughter, is a favorite, quick calmer in this house! In the midst of any tantrum, all I need to ask is, “Would you like to watch Baby Einstein?” and I quickly hear, “i – i yes!” It’s so cute. Recently I, or in actuality the #1 Baby Einstein viewer in the house my daughter, has enjoyed the just released 10th anniversary special edition Baby Mozart and Baby Beethoven. The new DVDs are in new packaging and include tons of new enhancements! She has loved them, this is especially true when over the last 4 days she has watched them each at least 5 times!

So, what’s so special with the 10th anniversary edition? Digitally and audio re-mastered, new “eye-catching real life images”, a fancy new cover…and best of all …

And the winner is…

kdkdkd said…I love the dinosaur Fun Stickies, my son is obsessed with dinosaurs so he would get a kick out of labels like these. I would use the prize pack labeling his things for school and playdates, including his staw drinking cup. Thanks for the chance.

Congratulations! I will get in contact with you and Alexis from Loveable Labels to get your Starter Pack in gear to you!

Thank you to all for participating in the giveaway. You all shared such great ideas on how Loveable Labels can certainly make your life as a mommy, and for some grammy, easier! I encourage you all to return to http://www.alexis.loveablelabels.com/!

Smiles,Caroline

Yogurt Cups

Since the start of solids more than a year ago, my munchkin has loved yogurt. She enjoys all types – Yo Baby, Yoplait Kids and Danon. After trashing the empty containers at the end of each breakfast for months, I finally realized that these little “cups”, often with a picture of Dora or Diego, haven’t ended their “life”! I have started to reuse the cups. Actually, my munchkin has. She has a stack of the cups in her play area. She loves to puts stuff in them, from crayons to her Cheerios. She also uses as a seat for her Little People.

Do you reuse yogurt cups? How so? Please share!

Smiles,Caroline

Piece of the Week provides SmartyPantsMama.com readers ideas on how to renew, reuse or recycle.

Below are the recalls I have received from the CPSC over the last week. I have included pictures for each, however, a number of items have additional pictures available on the official CPSC notification.
The information below comes directly from the listserv emails I received. Please review the each recall below and check your homes.

Name of Product: Indoor Lighting Fixtures
Hazard: The glass reflector can separate from the fixture and fall, posing a risk of injury to consumers below the fixture.
Description: The recall involves the Hi-Bay Indoor High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Fixtures, model numbers PG16A and PG21A. The fixture is intended for high-mounting heights (at least 20 feet above floor level) and is used in retail, warehouse and heavy manufacturing locations. The fixture’s housing is made of die-cast aluminum.
Sold by: Electrical distributors and sales representatives nationwide from January 2007 through May 2008 for between $280 …

A quick tackle this week…the freezer! We have a 7.2 cubic foot freezer in the garage that we use to store tons of items I purchase because of the Grocery Game. We have meat, veggies, waffles, sausage, bacon, frozen dinners, cool whip, bread, you name it…crammed in there. I try to organize it every so often but since it’s so deep I feel like I’m going to fall in when I lean in to try to rearrange. Anyway, this weekend I got Tom to help out with his longer arms!!!ahhhhhhhhhhhhh