Tag Archives: Smarty Pants Mama

Diaper Deals of the Week
Want to know the best price for diapers by size? I have analyzed the per diaper costs of Pampers and Huggies on Amazon Mom.  If you aren’t aware, Amazon Mom is a fairly new program by Amazon to help moms keep up with diaper demand.  Diapers, and other baby needs are offered to moms at a great discount and delivery is free for the 1st three months.  If you continue ordering the free shipping continues!
Here are the Smart Mama deals by size:
Size 1
Pampers Baby Dry Size 1 Diapers Economy Pack Plus 276 Count $29.95, 11¢/diaper
Size 2
Pampers Baby Dry Size 2 Diapers Economy Pack Plus 246 Count $29.95, 12¢/diaper
Size 3
Pampers Baby Dry Size 3 Diapers Economy Pack Plus 222 Count $33.59, 15¢/diaper
Size 4

Got meat?  I know you do!  From lean beef to juicy pork tenderloin, our carts get filled with these excellent sources of protein each week at the grocery.  Some of us buy small portions and others buy the large value packs.

Regardless the size we need to always remember that although tasty, the meats can easily become health hazards if certain precautions aren’t followed!  Below is a list of tips for Smart Mamas and Dadas to remember when shopping the meat case.

Make the refrigerated meat case your last stop to ensure meat stays cold as long as possible until you get home. I’ve seen SmartMamas using bags like these to keep their meats cold when transporting from the grocery to home.  I’ve never personally used one.  Have you?
Be sure to choose packages that are cold, tightly and completely wrapped with no tears or punctures.  I like to dig …

Hitting the grill this summer?  We love to grill!  Burger, dogs, chicken, pork…you name it!
Now through August 5th you can enter The Elevate The Everyday™ Summer Dining Sweepstakes by Hormel Foods to win one of 3 great prizes!

13 winners will be selected and you could be the Grand Prize winner, enjoying a $500 value outdoor grill for your backyard dining this summer!  Other prizes include,
First Prize: Two Grills ($200 value each)
Second Prize: Ten Summer Grilling Coupon Prize Packs ($45 value each)
To enter, head over to http://www.Facebook.com/HFRecipes and LIKE the page.  Click the Summer Dining tab and complete the entry form!  You can access the official rules from there!
Stick around Facebook.com/HFRecipes for loads of summertime recipes and more!
Disclosure: I am currently a member of the Hormel Foods Extended Blogger Program and this post is part of my involvement in …

I welcome Karen Boykin of  www.lacabezagrande.com as a guest writer this week!  You may remember her delicious sounding suggestion of making Chilaquiles when I asked readers to suggest ways to use leftover taco meat.  Her idea is a perfect use of pantry staples, that’s nutritious too!
Karen plans on devoting part of her blog to fresh food and cooking, as she’s in the process of a diet and lifestyle makeover.
Liven Up Those Leftovers!

Stretch your food budget too, with this Mexican-style recipe, suitable for breakfast, lunch or a hearty snack. They’re called chilaquiles and they’re made in a variety of ways with tortilla chips or corn tortillas – either as fried strips or layered whole, like lasagna. The toppings are up to the cook. The one thing they have in common is that they are an inexpensive use of leftovers, combined with staples that …

As we all head to backyard barbecues and the beach this weekend we must remember to put safety 1st.  Fireworks, including sparklers, are dangerous items that can very easily injure.  Please take a moment to view this video made by the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) on the dangers of fireworks.
 

Please share this post with friends and family.  I was especially moved by the mannequins of the 2 girls playing with sparklers.  It’s is frightening how easily lives can change with fireworks.  Be a vigilant parent this 4th of July.  By all means, keep your children away from any dangers.  Seeing how Jason Henderson’s life has been forever changed because of the misuse of fireworks really hit home.  Don’t let it happen in your own.

Thanks to Plum Organics for sponsoring my post about fun kid photos and the stories behind them. Enter Plum’s “Babies for Yum Caption Contest” on Facebook and you could win a $100 gift card or Plum goodies.
Just this morning Isabella wanted Cecilia to come play in her room.  Unfortunately, the 7 week old isn’t really up for that just yet!  Isabella is still waiting for the baby to instantly grow to “full size” and play dolls with her!  I brought the baby into her room and set her on the bed.

Isabella loved that her very own baby sister was in her room, with her head on her pillow.  She carefully pulled up the covers and stared at her with a smile that made my heart melt. We talked about how Cecilia is getting to be soooo big and how the days will soon be here where …

 
I recently read a great article about Cozi.com, an online calendar and more.  I had never heard of it.  Have you?
Cozi’s co-founder and CEO Robbie Cape, described in a guest post on TechSavvyMama.com, how his product was essential for dads wanting to stay in the loop and organized with family affairs.  I knew I needed to try it out, not just for Smarty Pants Dada‘s sake, but for me too as I was about to embark on my 1st summer as a mother of 2, managing the crazy summertime schedule of camps, doctors appointments, vacations and more!
The Basics
“Cozi is an online calendar designed for busy parents,” according to it’s site. Are you busy?  LOL!  I know the answer to that!  I quickly learned that it isn’t just a calendar! A shopping list, essentially your grocery list, a journal and a to-do …

These are the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) recalls that have been issued recently. As a reminder: In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts. Be sure to check old hand-me-downs for this!
You can find even more detailed information on all recalled products mentioned below on CPSC.gov, now on SaferProducts.gov, and the CPSC widget on the right-side column of this page!  In an upcoming post I will showcase how the SaferProducts.gov site is a tool for every Smart Mama!
All information below comes directly from the CPSC website.
1)      Britax Recalls B-Nimble Strollers Due to Risk of Brake Failure
a)      Name of Product: B-Nimble Strollers
b)      Hazard: An audible click heard when …

It’s summer.  No excuses now.  It’s time to kick back and relax.  True as that may be, it is also time to keep up the learning at home!  I’m not suggesting textbook or formal classes, just ways to sneak in some educational skills in between swimming lessons and afternoon movies! Here are 5 ways, in no particular order, you can provide your child some learning opportunities, making him/her even more ready for school in the Fall!

READ! You’ve heard it a million times!  Reading to your child is one of the most important activities you can do.  Head over to the library or bookstore on rainy days and find lots of book together.  Dedicate time each day, (doesn’t have to be before bedtime) to read.  The story may even inspire some activities!
JOURNAL! Purchase a basic composition book. Each day, or as frequently as …

It’s the 1st day of summer!!! Woo Hoo!  Actually, summer means heat, ridiculous humidity and 100% chance of afternoon thunderstorms in South Florida!  That aside, there are summertime food treats that we all love 100 degree heat and all!  Popsicles, watermelon, sherbet, corn on the cob, burgers & dogs….Yes, I’m getting hungry.  As Ragú’s Mom’s the Word series continues, let’s keep up the conversation about dinnertime!  Although the dinnertime setting maybe different (more outdoor dining) the story is still the same…getting kids to eat a quality meal!
How are you incorporating some summertime foods with dinner?  Do your kids enjoy them?  Is it easier to conive your preschooler to eat salad with the ambiance of the outdoors and threats of no upcoming beach day if she doesn’t have a bite?  Remember the Mom’s the Word conversation with Kim Tracy Prince …

This past week I had a very proud moment, I welcomed my husband Tom to the land of blogging.  Drum roll please….here’s Smarty Pants Dada!  He’s chock full of stories, advice and more that he hopes to share with you and the dads in your home!  Head over the SmartyPantsDada.wordpress.com and take a look!  Follow him on Twitter too!  @SmartyPantsDada
For his 1st guest post, he is sharing his(our) experience with Harmony Valley Foods and a fantastic contest they are holding!  Please enjoy his post!
Never in a million years did I think I would try a dehydrated veggie burger mix, until a unique opportunity presented itself, my wife Smarty Pants Mama received a package of Harmony Valley Vegetarian Hamburger mix to try.
I was incredibly skeptical at first, I am a meat and potatoes kind of guy.  Then I thought about what …

Texting and driving.  It’s one of the deadliest combinations.  We think teens, but in reality it’s all age groups reacting to the text beep on their phone while driving down the highway.
The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) is launching, what I believe, is a Smart Mama campaign, “No Texting and Driving Day” on Father’s Day! It is an excellent opportunity for Smart Mamas, Dadas, and teens to pledge to end this preventable deadly combination.  Over 440,000 are killed or injured each year as a result of distracted driving.  How scary is that?!  Think of each time you pick up your phone to read or respond to a text from a friend while you’re not only driving yourself, but innocent children as well.  It’s scary. Most of us have done it.  It’s so hard to ignore the text beep.  But, we must.
I invite you to join in with MDX …

Want to head over to Dublin to buy yourself a beautiful claddagh ring or a quality Irish sweater for the winter months?  Or how about finding a beautiful gift basket full of Irish treats for a friend’s birthday?  If life could afford us with those possibilities wouldn’t that be great?  In reality, Smart Mamas will probably shop the small shops of the Irish countryside in their own homes rather than across the pond.
Thank you to the online retailer Siopa.com, purchasing authentic Irish crafts, from jewelry to lambswool sweaters can be done with a point and click and at an affordable price!  Siopa’s inventory has it all.  Birthday gifts, new baby, Father’s Day, and of course gifts for yourself (yes, your deserve it!) make up their site.
I can attest to the quality of their goods.  I recently received a pair of their

Using leftovers can be a challenge.  Serving them the same way can often be a bore. Earlier this week I made tacos for dinner, feeding my husband, father in law, 4 ½ year old & myself.  The 2 pounds of ground beef proved to be much more than we needed.
Does that ever happen to you?  Maybe it is an intentional extra vat of ground beef, chicken or shrimp that you make in hopes of using a portion for a future meal.  Other times it’s more of a woops, where you really overestimated the tummy sizes of your dinner guests!
Thank you to the fabulous readers of SmartyPantsMama.com, I have a great list of ways to use the taco meat (ground beef) leftovers!  What do you think of the list?  Which leftover creation would be 1st on your list?
1.  Katie suggested…

to add it to beans and make chili. …

In an effort to have enough taco meat to feed 3 adults and 1 hungry child I made 2 lbs of taco meat for last night’s dinner.  Lots of tacos were eaten…soft and hard, plus a yummy taco salad filled my plate!  After all tummies were full I realized that I overestimated the amount of taco meat (ground beef) that would be consumed.  With a little less than a pound of seasoned taco meat sitting in a storage container in the fridge, I’m left figuring out how to use it for tomorrow night’s dinner – and it CAN’T be TACOS!
Please use the comment form below to submit ideas for using leftover taco meat!  I will share the ideas in an upcoming post, being certain to give you each credit!
THANK YOU to all the great responses!  See here for a awesome list of ways to use leftover …

I like things simple.  I like things that work, get the job done and won’t take ten years to figure out how to use.  I spend countless hours in front of the computer, writing posts, finding recipes, playing on Facebook or uploading the latest pictures of my newborn.  I need, because I don’t have time for the alternative, to know that my computer is running at its best speed and doesn’t have any hidden quirks waiting to destroy my day!
If you too are spending time reading this post, you are probably also a Smart Mama who relies on her computer for everything like me!  And, like a Smart Mama, time is of the essence.  You don’t have time for the 20 minutes it takes your PC to start up when your kids are screaming and dinner hasn’t been started.  You need a housekeeper for the computer (maybe even one for …

It’s National Tire Week – bet you didn’t know that!  You have 4 wheels sitting in your driveway and the most attention they ever get from you is

when you remind your husband, or even yourself, to add some air!
Summer driving season has officially arrived and while we are all concerned with safety on the road, we often forget one of the most important components: our tires.  According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 660 highway fatalities are caused by underinflated tires annually. Here are some great Smart Mama tips provided by Michelin to keep us safe on the road!

Check you tire pressure – Check your tire pressure at least once a month and before and after a long trip.  Tires can lose 1-2 psi per month.
Examine your treads – Always make sure your tires have at least 2/32” of tread depth (the penny trick). Examine the …

This Smart Mama family has been to Disney 14 times in the last 5 years. Yes, we know Disney. But, Julie & Mike Neal, authors of The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 know better, having tallied over 1500 visits!

Most guidebooks focus on the magic of Disney but their guide goes beyond that with great tips like how to reveal hidden levels on Toy Story Mania and how Tomorrowland should be avoided during hot afternoons because of the absence of trees. New this year is a Character Guide, detailing over 80 Disney characters and where to find them throughout the parks! This guide has certainly met the Smart Mama standards and has replaced our former guidebook!  I look forward to using it on our next trip!
The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 is available at bookstores and online.  The MSRP is $24.95 but I saw it listed …

Omaha Steaks® is hosting an “Omaha Steaks Father’s Day Giveaway” where moms, can come together with their children for a chance to win the grand prize The Ultimate Backyard Cookout for Dad that includes:

A Char-Broil RED 3-Burner Gas Infrared Grill
12 Custom Cut Omaha Steaks (choose from Filet Mignon, Boneless Strips, Ribeyes or Top Sirloins)
16 Omaha Steaks Stuffed Baked Potatoes
2 Trays of Broccoli & Cauliflower with Garlic Oil & Herbs
12 Omaha Steaks Caramel Apple Tartlets
2 lbs. of World Port Seafood Coconut Shrimp
Omaha Steaks Complete Grilling Kit

Second place winners (two total) will receive:

4 Omaha Steak Filet Mignons
16 Omaha Steak Gourmet Burgers
16 Omaha Steaks Gourmet Franks.

Simply tell Omaha Steaks in 200 words or less why your dad is your hero and feel free to upload your favorite photo with your dad. Contest ends on Sunday, June 5th at 11:59 p.m. CT
To enter the contest and for all contest details go to http://www.facebook.com/omahasteaks …

We’re Floridians.  We carry sunscreen in our bags like others may carry chap stick.  Gooey, greasy lotion is a thing of the past.  Thankfully sun block companies have gotten the spray lotion down to a science, but the challenge that still remains is making lotion applying something a bit more enticing for the kids.  I recently tried the Dora the Explorer Sunbow Sun Stick, SPF 45.  This pink sun stick was the easiest thing for me to apply on my 4 ½ year old.  Two main reasons for this:  #1 the lotion was pink, #2 Dora!  I also must mention that the bubble gum flavor was an added bonus!
PS – SpongeBob Squarepants is also available!
Sunbow products are available at SunbowSunscreen.com , Amazon.com & Drugstore.com.
Disclosure: Product sample was provided.  All opinions are of Smarty Pants Mama.
 
 

So the unofficial start of summer 2011 was this past weekend.  It’s time to get the summer to-do list organized!  What projects do you need to get done?  Which ones are more optional but would be awesome to have crossed off the list?  Although summertime is typically filled with kiddies home from school, family vacations and more, it is still a set time to get Smart Mama tasks done before the school year arrives!
My 1st list revolves around projects in my preschooler’s (Isabella) room.  Here I go, proudly admitting the disasters that lie in my home! (Yes, it will be your turn next!)

The Closet: This is a bit of a disaster zone.  With her Nana being a bit obsessed in buying her any and every outfit, the closet is jammed packed with old dresses, stained dresses and outfits that should be front and center and worn …

As Smart Mamas, staying on top of the latest Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) latest product recalls is essential. A few years ago I shared the story on how a parade toy that Tom bought for Isabella appeared on the CPSC list a month after attending the parade.  It was scary to learn that this somewhat innocent looking toy could pose such a danger.  Have you ever come a across a recalled product in your home?
This week the CPSC has recalled the following bicycle helmet.  Review the information below that comes directly from the official CPSC posting.
Name of Product: Full-face bicycle helmets
Hazard: The plastic buckle that connects the chin straps can fail, causing the helmet to come off the wearer’s head. This poses a head injury hazard to riders in the event of a fall.
Description: This recall involves Bell Exodus full-face helmets with a …

A little newborn sits in my arms.  She’s beautiful.  She’s perfect.  I love her.  What I don’t love, is the newborn dry skin that is plaguing her little feet and hands.  I asked her pediatrician at our 2 week visit what I should do.  She explained that although her skin looked uncomfortable, it bothered my eyes far more than it bothered the baby.  I didn’t need to do anything but could use a fragrant free baby ointment if I felt I must.  Aquaphor to the rescue!

This ointment had been part of the diaper rash solution of my now 4 ½ year old (recommended then by the pediatrician) so it was something that had the doctor’s approval!
Aquaphor Healing Ointment is available where baby items are sold as well as online retailers such as Amazon.
Disclosure: Product sample …

A few weeks ago I shared 4 of our favorite places to get a quick easy breakfast in Miami. Today, using a new tool, LikeList from LikeList.com, I’m making it a more shareable list, one that can be updated with tips from me, you and complete strangers! What do you think? Have a list you want to create?

Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Dinnertime….
Perfect and peaceful….right?  Ha!  I know your home resembles mine.  At least I hope it does.  We have mini battles here, not every night.  Just often enough to drive this Smart Mama over the edge at times!
When my 4 year old is eating solo because daddy isn’t home yet, the 1st battle is in regards to where she’s eating.  If it were up to her Dora or the Wonder Pets would be her dinner date every night.  I’m not much of a fan of this technology infused dinner.  However, if it allows me some peace and quiet to feed the baby or honestly, just chill on Facebook, I’m all about it!  (Hey, I’m being honest; I’m not a “perfect” Smart Mama!)
The second battle begins when she looks down at her plate.  If it isn’t something she knows and has come to terms with, she will instantly state, …