My two little guys have now graduated from babies to toddlers. But believe it or not, they still love to cuddle with their fuzzy, soft baby blankies. Jaden, my two year old, especially loves his soft blankies. There's something about their fuzziness around his face that helps him feel relaxed. It's never hard to put him to sleep at night as long as he's cozied up with his soft little blankie!
So I was glad to have the Blue Camouflage Baby Blanket for Jaden from Baby Lala. This luxurious plush baby blanket is so cozy and the blue camouflage design is uber cute- perfect for my soft blankie-loving little guy! :)
We love our baby blankie from Baby Lala that we take it on trips and playdates too! Jaden loves to have it in his car seat and toddler stroller whenever we're out. And the best thing, this blanket is machine-washable and very easy to care for. I mean, who has the time or money to run to the cleaners for soiled baby blankets? Not me.
Anyway, if you're looking for some really cool, hip baby gift ideas for a shower or birthday, Baby Lala not only offers these super-cute baby blankets- they also got matching bibs and burp cloths that are super-absobent. Check out the fun, stylish fabrics and colors while you're browsing through the store website. There are so many to choose from I had a hard time picking the fabric I wanted. And it's nice that you can also search products by price- if you're on a budget.
Visit: http://www.mybabylala.com/ today to learn more about Baby Lala. 
*Win this beautiful Copper Butterfly Bib & Burp Cloth Set from Baby Lala! Featuring whimsical butterflies, these super-absorbent set will make feeding and meal time easy for you and fun for baby!
To enter this contest, leave a comment with your email address by September 17th, 2009 at 12MN, EST. US and Canada addresses only, please. One winners will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post.
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Button" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar.
2. Tweet this event on Twitter with a direct link to this URL page:
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2009/08/wrap-your-baby-in-style-and-luxury-with.html
3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook (again using the URL page address above)
4. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address above
5. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter
6. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook
You will have seven (7) total entries when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Goodluck!
** ~~~~~~ CURRENT REVIEWS, DEALS, FREEBIES AND GIVEAWAYS ~~~~~~ **
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wrap Your Baby in Style and Luxury with Baby Lala Blankets- Review and Giveaway
Sunday, August 30, 2009
8 Classic Beauty Products You Still Worship
TotalBeauty.com readers prove you can never go wrong with these timeless makeup, hairstyle and skin care buys
Whether it was your first grown-up purchase or a secret passed down through generations, some classic beauty formulas just can't be beat. Read on to see which oldies but goodies fans continue to adore. Did your favorite make the list?
24/7 Medial Alert Monitoring for Seniors
Imagine your parent or grandparent who lives alone, falls, and there's no one around to help. Even if she/he has an emergency help button, he/she may not be conscious enough to push it. 
BrickHouse Alert- the only Medical Alert provider- now offers BrickHouse Alert Home to give your loved one complete protection, 24/7, in the event of a fall- no matter where they are in the world. Wearing this device during any sudden fall will send an alert to live help, instantly. So in the event your loved one cannot push the emergency button, help is still on the way.
The BrickHouse Alert Home System is so easy to use and will give you the peace of mind while you're away from your loved one. It's like having a personal helper at home, watching over them.
Here are the special functions of the BrickHouse Alert Home System:
* Calling for help by using an emergency pendant transmitter
* Speakerphone (hands-free) when communicating with Monitoring Center or when answering an incoming call by pressing the pendant
* The system supports up to 29 users (pendant transmitters and smoke detectors).
* Two-way voice communication
* Computer control and data download/upload
* Remote control by telephone
* Remote diagnostic and event log
* Visual and audible announcement
The BrickHouse Home Alert System is not only used as a Medical Alert, it also has the Intruder Alarm Motion Detector to automatically alert police if intruders are detected, and the Monitored Smoke Detector.
For more information on the BrickHouse Home Alert system and other home security products, visit www.brickhousealert.com or call 1-877-63-ALERT today!
Deep Clean Your Way To Perfect Skin
Say good bye to bad skin for good with these tips and tricks
Whether we admit it or not, we all want flawless skin. But getting it can be quite the challenge for most of us. That's why we put together this guide, so you can finally get the skin you want.
Custom Flash Drives to Promote Your Business
If you own a business and want to make it known to the public, one important factor to consider is to have promotional items created for you to distribute to consumers. You've seen companies giving away free t-shirts, mugs, pens, etcetera - with their company logos in them as a way to promote their products or businesses. Recently, I saw this really cute customized flash drives. With everyone using the computer nowadays to store or transport files or programs from their computer to another, I think this is one ingenious product to use as a promotional item for businesses.
If you need to have custom flash drives with your custom imprinted logo created for you, check out FlashDealer.com.
FlashDealer.com can customize promotional flash drives in any color and any material of your choice. Think about a Promotional USB Drive encapsulated in wood, leather, metal or aluminum. Whatever suits your style best, FlashDealer.com can create it for you!
FlashDealer.com is a reliable web retailer of promotional USB flash drives and have been in business for many years. They offer more than just corporate and company logos printed on a USB flash drive – they offer complete outside of the box customizations as well. Their business motto is, “You dream it, we can build it”.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Top 13 Drugstore Hairstyling Products
Flawless looks come cheap with these products
Turns out, the commercials were right: you actually can get salon-worthy hair with drugstore hairstyling products. At least, that's what TotalBeauty.com readers say about these gels, serums, hairsprays and mousses. All of them gave our readers gorgeous 'dos -- without breaking the bank.
No. 13: Herbal Essences Shimmery Nights Shimmer Spray Gel, $6.29
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9
"If you want hair that glows and shimmers all night long, making your friends jealous, this is the perfect product ..."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.1
"I have wavy hair so this mousse helps to maintain what curl I have for the whole day without feeling heavy on my hair ..."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.2
"It makes blow drying a breeze, and leaves a nice sheen on your hair without weighing it down ..."
A Healthy Snack Alternative: Funky Monkey Snacks
In the next couple weeks or so, our kids will be heading back to school. Have you started stocking up your pantries with school lunches and snacks?
If you're tempted to stuff your kids' lunch boxes with high-calorie, sugary cookies or candy bars for snacks, don't be. According to a recent study, almost 17% of American children are considered obese. So when choosing food for your children, try healthier alternatives.
Have you heard about "Funky Monkey Snacks"? They are freeze dried fruits packed in 1 ounce pouches for grab-and-go convenience. They are 100% natural, with no added sugar, preservatives, colors or flavors. They're also gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free and come in four yummy flavors: Bananamon (banana and cinnamon- my kids' favorite!), Carnaval Mix (banana, pineapple, apple, papaya and raisins), Jivealime (pineapple and lime juice) and Purple Funk (banana and acai berries).
What's good about Funky Monkey Snacks is that every ounce offers 3 servings of fruit so your kids are really eating healthy.
We tried all four delicious flavors and my kids love them! These snacks are good for everyone- not only for kids! My personal favorite is the Carnaval Mix. And I like the fact that it only has 110 calories per package.
Funky Monkey Snacks are now available online at Amazon.com or GoodPantry.com or in-store at Super Target, Whole Foods Market and select grocery stores nationwide. Highly-recommended healthy snacks for everyone and the price can't be beat as well (about $2.40 per 1 oz. bag).
Summer Skin Rehab
Dermatologist Heidi Waldorf explains how to treat discoloration, breakouts and your last (hopefully!) sunburn of the summer
According to Waldorf, "pigmentation and acne" are the two most prominent skin issues women face at the end of the summer. Here she explains how you can erase these signs of summer and more with the help of over-the-counter products, prescription creams and in-office treatments. Follow this advice and you'll say hello to fall with gorgeous, glowing, spot-free skin.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Photo Holiday Cards from 123Print.com
Christmas is not that far away and if you're anything like me, I like sending out greeting cards to family and friends afar on holidays. I usually don't like the boxed greeting cards at the regular card store. In my opinion, they are too commercialized. I like my cards with a personal touch- something that would show a cute photo or two of our kids, blank inside and with our handwritten greetings in it.
I know it's still a few months away. But already, I've started shopping around for affordable and classy personalized Christmas cards. One online store I found recently was 123Print.com. They got a wide array of unique photo holiday card styles to choose from, and the prices aren't bad either.
Recreate Jennifer Aniston's Tousled Waves
Follow this video step-by-step to master one of our favorite celebrity hairstyles
Creating Jennifer Aniston's casual, tousled style is a snap with this video. Because hair that looks this easy-going shouldn't be difficult to style, right?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
GoPicnic Meals- Review and Giveaway
Summer days are busy, busy days for me and my family. We love going outdoors to play at the park, watch soccer games, and swim at the community pool. We travel a whole lot too and as a busy mom with two active toddlers, there are times when I wish there were convenient ways to make things easier for me- like packing snacks or lunches for traveling or when heading outdoors.
Recently, I found this really ingenious, quick, grab-and-go meal idea: GoPicnic Meals.
GoPicnic Meals are ready-to-eat meals that are filled with natural ingredients that require no refrigeration or preparation. Simply open the box and enjoy!
I have had the wonderful opportunity to test out five of the Go Meals: GoTrek, GoEnergy, GoSavory, GoPower and GoDeli. So far, my two favorites are the Gotrek and the GoSavory. 
For my kiddos, we sampled the SportsMunch, AquaMunch, JungleMunch from their Mighty Munch Meals collection. Although my two year old Jaden didn't like most of the food items, my four year old Gabriel was quick to devour both the SportsMunch and AquaMunch- especially the turkey pepperoni slices and cinnamon twists. :)
GoPicnic Meals are compact, convenient and are small enough to carry in regular-sized picnic bags. There are about five or six individually-packed choice food items plus, plastic utensils and moist towelette already included in each box. So, no need to bring those necessary utensils anymore!
So instead of of making a run to the fast food drive-through for convenience's sake, I think the GoPicnic meals are a healthier alternative. They're just as quick and convenient for play dates, camps, schools or for when you don’t feel like cooking! They even offer their meals gluten-free, vegetarian, kosher or halal for people who are in those specialty type of diets.
*Win one of each GoPicnic GoMeals and Mighty Munch Meals for you and your kid to try!
Three winners will win one box each of the GoPicnic GoMeals and the Mighty Munch Meals of their choice!
To enter this contest, leave a comment with your choices of flavors you'd like to try from the Go Meals and the Mighty Munch Meals collections, along with your email address by September 6th, 2009 at 12MN, EST. US and Canada addresses only, please. Three (3) winners will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post.
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following:
1. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Button" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar.
2. Tweet this event on Twitter with a direct link to this URL page:
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2009/08/max-spaniel-dinosaur-hunt-book-review.html
3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook (again using the URL page address above)
4. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address above
5. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter
6. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook
You will have seven (7) total entries when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Don't forget to mention the extra entries you have done in your comment.Goodluck!
Wordful/Wordless Wednesday: Our Epic Summer Adventure in Colorado
*This was a post I wrote yesterday that I thought would be a great entry for WW.
My honey (Dan) and I just came back Sunday night from our Epic Summer Colorado trip. It's Tuesday morning and I'm still not totally unpacked. My ears are still popping a bit from the different elevations, so this won't be a long post.
Here are a few photos we took of "Rocky Mountain High". I can just tell you all, it was such an amazing experience. We've never done so much in three days! :)
I will post more about this trip in the next few days.
*For more great photos, go to Wordless Wednesday, 5 Minutes for Mom, and Seven Clown Circus.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Gorgeous Mother's Bracelets and Kids' Safety ID Wristbands by Belly Charms
I was on a leisure trip in New York City with my sweetie two weeks ago when I received an email from Sonya Mattey at Belly Charms with an attached photo of my new mother's bracelet. Yes, she created one especially for me! :)
I couldn't help but wish I was home to receive Sonya's package.
So when I got back home a few days later, the first thing I looked for- guess what- was Sonya's package! Oh, wow. I couldn't be any happier with my new beautiful, personalized mother's bracelet. It's a labor of love- so elegant and very well-made.
My gorgeous Swarovski Pearl Double Strand Mother's Bracelet from Belly Charms (photo as shown) is made of sterling silver alphabet beads and spacers. I love how the names of my boys "Gabriel" and "Jaden" are surrounded by Swarovski Pearls in vibrant colors of cream rose and light silver. The antique silver beads add a touch of elegance. I love this mother's bracelet so much I was proud to wear it at the welcome dinner for our Epic Summer Colorado adventure trip last Thursday evening. :)
Belly Charms also offers other types of customized, hand-made jewelry such as anklets, maternity belly button rings, baby shower jewelry and accessories, medical alert IDs and kids' safety ID wristbands. 
I ordered two of these kids' safety ID wristbands from Vital IDs by Belly Charms for my boys too and they're definitely a must especially when traveling or going to public places. These wristbands contain your child's personal emergency information to keep them safe at all times. They're comfortable, adjustable, and are water-proof. 
Sonya Mattey- a mom of two beautiful boys- owns and manages Belly Charms. Sonya says, "you have to really have a passion for what you do and enjoy it". What a true mom inspiration.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Quiz: What's Your Shaving Style?
Are you a nick waiting to happen or smooth razor operator?
Take this quiz to discover your shaving style, and we'll help you conquer any of your shaving problems (ingrown hairs, nicks and lots more) with expert tricks.
SimplyBe Plus-Size Women's Clothing and Accessories
When in the U.K. and shopping online for the latest in plus-size fashion for women, think Simply Be.
Simply Be offers a wide variety of styles and brands of fashionable clothing, shoes, and accessories for plus-size women ranging from size 14 to 32. Make your own style statement with Simply Be's fabulous collection of dresses, jeans, tops, tanks, tunics and more! They offer popular brands of women's fashion that you find in the latest Women’s Clothing Catalogues such as Anna Scholz, Jeffrey & Paula, Lonsdale, Reebok and many others.
The online store is so easy to navigate as well so finding the particular brand, style, size, and even length you're looking for is just a click or two away! I like the way the items are categorized for ease and convenience. Like, if you're shopping for a particular dress for a certain occasion (casual, evening, work wear), just click on that particular category and it will take you to the page where you can select the perfect dress for you! Do you find yourself spending so much time clothes-shopping online because you can't find the exact size you're looking for? Simply Be will make it super easy for you just by searching their online store for your desired size.
So for your most fashionable, affordable one-stop plus-size shopping experience, go to http://www.simplybe.co.uk/.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Best and Worst of the Real Housewives
Check out these looks -- proof that money does not always equal style
If attending charity galas and going to designer ateliers for fittings is your idea of being a "real housewife," then we know a certain cable channel that would like to hear from you. The "Real Housewives" have all the resources needed to look fabulous. Yet they frequently, and rather spectacularly, miss the mark. Here are some of the best and worst of the "Real Housewives" looks.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Trip Confirmed: Epic Summer Adventure in Colorado
Just glad to share to you all. My honey and I are confirmed to leave for our Epic Summer Getaway in the beautiful Vail Resorts of Keystone, Colorado tomorrow for four days!
I still can't imagine that I won this trip! :)
What's so cool is that everything is provided free- airfare, shuttle to the destination, hotel accommodation, and even meals! I didn't have to provide any credit card information when they booked our flight for us.
Anyway, we're flying United Airlines straight from Washington Dulles airport in Virginia to Denver- which is really sweet! I honestly hate getting on and off the plane multiple times in one trip.
So anyway, once we get to Denver, we will ride the shuttle to Vail Resorts which will be about 90 miles. We should have enough time to rest at our hotel room in the afternoon before the welcome dinner at 5:30 PM.
So here's a little overview of this very exciting Epic Summer Colorado adventure! :)
The second day will be spent exploring the beautiful sights and sceneries of Keystone and Breckenridge. There will be opportunities to enjoy a scenic guided walking tour of the mountains (and a picnic while up on the mountain), shopping and feast on Mexican food at Mi Casa- a local's favorite hangout.
On the third day, we will be in Colorado River the first half of the day for whitewater rafting. Then a picnic lunch is packed for us to enjoy when we get to the take-out location. After that, we will re-board the vans to go back to Vail. Vail is supposed to be a really picturesque town and the Vail Village offers an abundance of free activities like shopping, nature watching, and riding the gondolas up the mountains for fun and adventure. I would love to do all of those and visit the Ski Museum and the Ski Hall of Fame while we're there! :)
Our itinerary also mentioned about a fabulous dinner at The Lodge at Vail on our third day there. This is interesting because Dan (my honey) used to have a friend who works there as a restaurant manager. Dan has been to the Vail Resorts before so he is pretty familiar with the place. That's a bonus, right?
The fourth day will be our last day and at 8:30 AM, the Wranglers will be taking us to a scenic one hour trail horseback-riding adventure in White River National Forest. Oh gosh, I'm so psyched at just the thought of it! ;)
Our flight leaves in Denver at about noon so we should have all the time before we have to leave Vail.
Anyway, I will be sure to post photos of this very exciting trip. I feel so blessed to have won it! Okay, I gotta go finish up my packing. :)
Book Review: Daniel X: Watch the Skies
James Patterson, the New York Times bestselling author and the father of an eleven-year-old son, is getting his young fans excited again with his new book- Daniel X: Watch the Skies- a second novel to the young adult series, Daniel X.
The first book in the series, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, tells a story of a teen with secret powers who hunts aliens and protects the Earth. This book was well-loved by adult and kid readers alike.
In Daniel X: Watch the Skies, the main character Daniel finds himself on a quest to stop a devilish outer-space outlaw named Number Five. Number Five comes to a town on Earth called Holliswood whose purpose is to eliminate every human in the name of fame and what he calls "endertainment". Daniel X, together with his imaginary family and friends, attempts to fight alien Number Five and his malignant crew to the very end to save Earth from destruction.
Synopsis:
All's quiet in the small town of Holliswood, the television sets a-glow in every home. But not all is as perfect as it seems.
A terrifying outlaw has just arrived in town, with the goal of throwing it into chaos—and filming the pandemonium for the fellas back home.
Only one person can stop him and his thugs from destroying the city and everyone living there. Daniel X assembles an all-star team of his own creation, but not even he could imagine the enormity of this made-for-TV-villain's powers.
Daniel X: Watch the Skies is a fun, fast-paced book intended for young adult audiences. While this type of action, made-for-video-game science fiction does not particularly thrill me, I think young teenagers would be.
Daniel X: Watch the Skies is now available at Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and other leading book retailers for the suggested retail price of $19.99. Although I just saw on Amazon today that it's on sale for $12.73.
*Thank you, Mother Talk for sending me a copy of this book to review!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Breastfeeding Awareness Month 2009 Giveaway Winners!
Happy to announce our Breastfeeding Awareness Month 2009 Giveaway Event winners. Here they are! (Names of winners are in bold).
-Mama Mio Bootcamp for Boobs Skincare Kit ($99 Value)- Shop with me Mama
- The Essential Breastfeeding Log Book- Kristine
- Melinda G Beautiful Soft-Cup Nursing Bra (not available in size va-va-voom)- CarolSue
- Melinda G Tee-Shirt Soft-Cup Nursing Bra- The Jacobsen Family
- Boob Design Summer Paisley Nursing Dress (in Small size only)- carolpie
- Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover and Matching Burp Cloths Gift Set ($50 Value in your choice of fabric)- Cherry Blossoms
- Blush Topless Undershirt of your choice of color and size- CanCan
- Belli Motherhood Pure Comfort Nursing Cream (US addresses only)- Garner5
- Belli Skincare Body Firming Serum (US addresses only)- sarasophia
- momAgenda 2009-2010 Desktop Planner (in Fuchsia) - Jennifer Bogart
- Swarovski Crystal Bracelet from Belly Charms (Valued at $50)- Abby
- PishPosh Mommy Pull-String Purse in the Lombard Swirl Fabric- Marin
- Baby Bump Body Polish- ktanjk
- Baby Bump 2 and 1 Face Mask & Scrub- Huguette E.
- Kid's Safety ID Bracelet of your color choice from Vital IDs from Belly Charms - Tammy
If you see your name on the list, please send your full name and address (no P.O. boxes, please) to: hipmamasplaceatgmaildotcom for your prize. Otherwise, you will receive a notification by email within 48 hours of this post. Thank you and congratulations to you all!
Avon's ANEW Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion
As the years take their toll on our skin, we all try to learn everything we can about anti-aging skin care. It's really not uncommon to wake up one day, look at yourself in the mirror and find facial lines and wrinkles that weren't there before. (Yikes!)
Avon had that thought in mind when they created ANEW Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion- the latest anti-aging breakthrough that's both luxurious and powerful. Infused with Gold Polypeptide Complex and Pro-Sirtuin TX, this anti-aging treatment works to improve moisture and strengthen the skin, while fighting against deep wrinkles.
In fact, a recent clinical and consumer testing showed Avon ANEW Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion delivered the following results:
* Immediately, skin’s moisture levels surge by more than 400%
* In just three days, the look of deep wrinkles begins to soften
* After ten days, skin looks supported and more resilient
* In two weeks, skin looks up to five years younger
* Over time, density is restored to skin by up to 25% and skin is more cushioned and younger looking
Personally, I am on my sixth week using this product (thanks to Avon for letting me test it out) and already, I've seen a significant difference in my facial skin's elasticity. This is not my first time using an Avon ANEW product, but I can say that this one delivers almost immediate results. My skin looks clearer, softer and more moisturized.
Want to try it out for yourself? ANEW Ultimate Age Repair Gold Emulsion is now available for purchase exclusively through your Avon Representative for $34 (1.7 fl.oz.). Or you can locate an e-Representative by visiting www.avon.com.
*Good news! Avon is giving away 5 jars of these skin-savers to 5 lucky Hip Mama's Place readers! Read on for details. :)
To enter this contest, leave a comment with your email address by September 1st, 2009 at 12MN, EST. US and Canada addresses only. Five winners will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post.
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following:
1. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Button" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar.
2. Tweet this event on Twitter with a direct link to this URL page:
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2009/08/max-spaniel-dinosaur-hunt-book-review.html
3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook (again using the URL page address above)
4. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address above
5. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter
6. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook
You will have seven (7) total entries when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Don't forget to mention the extra entries you have done in your comment.Goodluck!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Simplify Your Daily Breastfeeding Routine with The Essential Breastfeeding Log
Two moms Suzanne Schlosberg and Sarah Bowen Shea have combined their years of expertise writing for publications such as Fit Pregnancy, Women’s Health, Shape, The New York Times, Parenting, Glamour, and now they just came out with a new book, THE ESSENTIAL BREASTFEEDING LOG.
THE ESSENTIAL BREASTFEEDING LOG is perfect for:
• A first-time mom. Keeping tabs on eating and sleeping can foster confidence for nervous novices.
•A mom with older kids. They can see how the new baby’s habits differ from the other kids, helping treat each child as an individual.
•A working mom who pumps. Keeping the log on the desk will remind a mom to pump on schedule in order to keep the milk flowing.
•A mom with childcare. It’s a great way to keep tabs on what happens when others are in charge and to succinctly communicate important information to babysitters.
•A mom of multiples. This log is a lifesaver for women who have to keep track of feeding and sleeping schedules for two or more babies.
Marc Weissbluth, MD, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and a baby-sleep guru, recommends using the Essential Breastfeeding Log "to keep track of how much and when your baby eats and you’ll be well on your way to establishing that most precious of things: a daily routine! Furthermore, using this log will free you of the burden of remembering all the details so that you can spend your time enjoying your baby.”
In addition to breastfeeding, Suzanne and Sarah share helpful tips on getting your body back, the benefits of breastfeeding, and recommendations for the proper gear, and much more in-depth advice and guidance.
Below is a glimpse into their Top Ten Tips for Successful Breastfeeding:
1. Remember: Just because it’s natural doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy
2. Educate yourself: The more you know about breastfeeding, the better
3. Remind yourself of the benefits (for the baby and for you!)
4. Get the gear
5. Call in the pros
6. Set short-term goals
7. Involve your husband or partner
8. Involve relatives, friends, and neighbors
9. Find your own system
10. Stay hydrated, get your rest, and eat well
The Essential Breastfeeding Log is now available on Amazon and at your leading book retailers. Suggested retail price: $15.00
*We're giving away a copy of this valuable breastfeeding book to one lucky winner. Enter the giveaway contest by CLICKING HERE. Contest ends tonight at midnight, EST.
13 Ways to Stress Less and Have More Fun
Want to live a free and easy lifestyle? You can with these quick tips
Are you bogged down by the mundane details in life? Does it feel like you never have any time for yourself? That's no way to live! With these tips we'll show you how to inject some fun into every day, in a minute or less. So toss out that to-do list and have some fun -- you deserve it!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Compare Web Hosting Services at WebHostingRating.com
Are you in the market for a web hosting service for your business or personal website? There are a million options to choose from, but if you want to simplify your choices for the best web hosting service that will best serve your needs, check out WebHostingRating.com.
At WebHostingRating.com, you will find a listing of the top ten web hosting companies rated independently by current users. Not only they feature web hosting companies that are rated for their customer satisfaction, affordability, reliability, up-time and technical support- they also offer the biggest web hosting directory where you can search updated and complete information on all web hosting providers. So it's easier to find what those providers offer such as web hosting plans, promotional and discount coupons and honest reviews by real customers.
When you're shopping for anything, don't you do comparison shopping first? I do. So if I'm looking for a new web hosting service, I would be doing my research and do a comparison shopping at a site like WebHostingRating.com. They even feature helpful articles on just about any topic related to web hosting. So if you're a beginner, there are many tutorials and informational articles such as hosting, domain names, ecommerce, servers and the like.
Top 10 Ways to Repair Hair from Summer Damage
Sun, chlorine, air conditioning and more can suck the life out of your strands -- use these tips to resuscitate them
With summer fun unfortunately comes post-summer hair damage. After spending time in the wind, sun, chlorine, salt water and air conditioning your hair may be dull, brassy, frizzy, dry or brittle. Follow these expert tips from stylists Rodney Cutler, owner of the Cutler salons in New York City and Barry Reitman of the Kevin Josephson Salon in Beverly Hills, Calif. to make your hair look healthy and gorgeous again.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
10 Worst Hair Straightening Products
Want to get rid of frizz or curls? Steer clear of these products
Looking for a smooth, sleek, straight style? Well, don't attempt one using any of these hair straightening products. TotalBeauty.com readers say the ones on this list left them with poufy, frizzy or worse -- greasy -- hair. Check them out so you know what to avoid.
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.5
It "made my hair knotted and frizzier than before I had showered..."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.3
"When using as directed, my hair looks great for about two hours after styling. Then poof [frizz]!"
No. 8: Got2b CrazySleek Hot Smooth Flat Iron & Blow Dry Lotion, $3.89
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.2
One reader says, instead of straightening, this product "made my hair CURLIER..."
Friday, August 14, 2009
Shocking Celebrity Hair Makeovers
Bleaching, extensions, and head shaving, OH MY! Check out this year's most shocking celebrity hair changes
Rihanna rocks the mohawk! Michelle Obama chops her 'do (or so we thought)! They may not be our nation's most pressing news stories, but these celebrity hair transformations certainly had our heads turning in the beauty-sphere. Craving a hair makeover but afraid to pull the trigger? Follow these style tips and tricks to make sure your next hair transition goes smoothly.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Taking A Little Break
Friends. I will be in New York City for a few days starting today. Yes, taking a much-needed "time-out". :)
This week and the next, my two little monkeys are in Los Angeles, California with their father to visit relatives. Yeah, I already miss them a lot. But I'm sure the leisure trip to NYC will do me good. My honey and I will be taking a tour around the city, go shopping (want new black sexy high-heeled sandals!), maybe see some nice play. Whatever we do, I'm sure we'll have a blast. The last time I went to NYC was eight years ago, so I'm quite excited to visit again.
Anyway, I will have my very good friend named "laptop" with me on this trip, so I will be on and offline here checking in with you all. ;)
If you leave me a comment and I don't comment right back for a few days, I apologize ahead.
Have a wonderful rest of the week, my dear blogging friends. I'll be sure to share some photos of the trip when I get back.
Wendy’s New Boneless Chicken Wings
Wendy's is well-known for their burgers and healthy, hearty salads. This summer, they've added restaurant-style boneless chicken wings to their summer menu- a great alternative to the usual burger fare. 
So my honey and I went to Wendy’s last weekend to try their new boneless chicken wings. We tried the Sweet & Spicy Asian Chicken but they also come in two other flavors: Bold Buffalo and Honey BBQ. I admit we were a bit skeptical about boneless chicken wings from a fast food restaurant but they actually tasted better than we expected. Wendy's boneless chicken wings almost equaled the quality and taste of boneless wings we get from our favorite sit-down restaurant. They were flavorful and the all-white meat is tender in the inside. I have not taken my kids to Wendy's to try their boneless chicken wings yet, but I'm totally sure they will like it as much as we do.
Disclosure:
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog and giveaway campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Wendy’s and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Monday, August 10, 2009
Beauty Quiz of the Day
| See if your shaving and moisturizing routine is up to the touchable test with this quiz |
 Shaving is a fact of life and while you can get away with the far away glances without shaving every day, it's likely you wont pass the touch test if you skip a session. Answer these questions to find out if you need to ramp up your shaving and skin softening routine. |
Friday, August 7, 2009
Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt Book Review and Giveaway
My two and four year old boys love reading. Reading has always been a part of our daily morning and bedtime routine so to keep them interested in reading, we introduce them to new books whenever we can. At their current ages, they're very much into books with colorful illustrations, big bold letters, and fun, easy to read words.
Recently, we received an advance reader's copy of the new picture book Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt by writer and illustrator David Catrow. What a very fun read and definitely very appropriate for my kids' reading levels!
This picture book is just a chock-full of amusement! This is definitely a book that will entertain and inspire your child's sense of adventure. The texts are very easy to read for beginning readers and the fantastic illustrations and watercolor artwork in each page will keep them reading until the very end. 
And oh, the silliness and wild playfulness of the main character who is a dog named Max Spaniel! Definitely a good "laugh out loud" book for young kids.
My boys are enjoying this book very much- especially my four year old who is somewhat an advanced beginning reader and definitely into anything dinosaurs right now. This book has been a wonderful addition to my kids' reading library!
MAX SPANIEL PRODUCT DETAILS:
Max is no ordinary dog. He is a great hunter! His prize of choice? Dinosaurs! But Max simply can’t hunt dinosaurs inside. For that, he must go on a true adventure to the unexplored wild of the backyard. As this zany canine prowls the yard, he encounters bicycles, toys, a rake, and a gardening hose. But to Max, the intrepid dinosaur hunter, these items are no mere playthings and grooming implements–they are dinosaur bones! Piece by piece, the bloodhound puts together a towering display of dinosaurian strength that he is sure will strike fear into the hearts of any trespassers!
Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt is recommended for kids ages 4-8. You can get your own copy now at leading book retailers and at Amazon for $6.99.
*BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! Once again, I'm happy to offer you all my dear readers a great giveaway of this new-released picture book.
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive:
* Autographed copy of Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt (by illustrator David Catrow)
* Jumbo kids magnifying glass
Four(4) runner-up winners will receive:
*A copy of Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt
To enter this contest, leave a comment by August 25th, 2009 at 12MN, EST. US and Canada addresses only. Five winners will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post.
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following:
1. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Button" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar.
2. Tweet this event on Twitter with a direct link to this URL page:
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2009/08/max-spaniel-dinosaur-hunt-book-review.html
3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook (again using the URL page address above)
4. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address above
5. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter
6. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook
You will have seven (7) total entries when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Don't forget to mention the extra entries you have done in your comment.Goodluck!
