Plain Mary: Breast Cancer Awareness

I wrote about Plain Mary's amazing Kensington Baby Play Mats last year. And for Hazel's first 9 months of life, not a day went by that she wasn't on her amazingly soft and quilted mat. And despite the spills and spit up it encountered in it's daily use, there is not a stain on it. Everything washed right out! The fabric is practically bullet-proof...while being the softest thing in the house!

The other great thing about the Kensington Baby Play Mat, now looking forward, is that it's something that I will always have. I'm debating whether to make it an heirloom, or if it should be a parade/soccer game watching mat. But whatever I decide, it will definitely continue to be used for years and years!

But now, in addition to it being a wonderful product, there's another great reason to purchase one...20% of the proceeds from the sale will to go the National Breast Cancer Foundation! In fact, 20% of all sales of Plain Mary products found on their PINK page, will be donated through October 31! This includes their super cute miniature suitcases, burp clothes, bibs, and shirts!

Visit plainmary.com/brcaawgi to view their PINK collection! You'll love your products, and you'll be giving to a good cause!

Küster JellyBaby

When Küster's JellyBaby changing pad arrived at our house my family couldn't stop touching it. It is made of this great memory foam that is ergonomically shaped to fit your baby. It's also easy to wipe clean and is incredibly soft and warm to the touch...and is PVC-free.

The JellyBaby changing mat comes with a 100% cotton and towelling, machine washable liner as well as a travel bag. The elevated and rounded sides assist with wiggly little ones while the three soft colors will fit any decor.

Visit kuster-usa.com for more information. Available for $49.99 at amazon.com.

BOB Revolution Stroller

If you're looking for the perfect crossover stroller that will take you from city streets to shopping to light jogging...the BOB Revolution stroller is for you!

The Revolution's revolutionary pivoting front wheel swivels for quick, easy, all-wheels-on-the-ground turning...it's as easy as steering your bike. Plus it can be locked forward for maximum stability for running and straight-ahead walking on exercise paths or city streets.

In addition, this stroller features suspension, quick and compact folding, a roomy seat, and storage space which is important for the before-mentioned shopping! Another must is the rear wheel brakes for easy locking and reliability...you don't want little Johnny to go rolling off when you're preoccupied at a shoe sale!

Available in a handful of stylish colors to match you and your child's personality at babycenter.com starting at $389.00. And it SHIPS FREE!

Serena & Lily

Serena & Lily is a company created by two women named, as you may have already guessed, Serena and Lily. Together, they create the most luxurious bedding and gifts for babies (and their parents).

I received one of their Market Slings to use with my upcoming bundle due in November and want to share my detailed review...I'll start with the packaging. It comes in an amazing keepsake box...the type I've purchased for each of my children to safely store their hospital bands, first hair clippings, infant hat, etc. The box is perfect for repurposing as such, which is just what I plan to do!

I had seen photos of the Market Sling online prior to receiving it and was anxious to experience the hand embroidery and feel the organic cotton and brushed interior. And when I opened the box, my high expectations where blown away! The first thing I saw was the the delicate color (I have the flax and sky combination) which I adored and that set off the hand embroidery perfectly! And when I picked it up, I couldn't believe the softness of the fabrics...especially inside the sling where my baby will lie in a few short months!

So you can now confidently believe that Serena & Lily creates products that will not only live up to high expectations, but super-exceed them...something that rarely happens for me! And it's important to know that in addition to their superior baby textile products, they are a company that gives back. They support organizations that advocate for underprivileged and at-risk women and children with a portion of their proceeds. Not only will your baby feel good about you purchasing Serena & Lily, but you and those you help will too!

Visit serenaandlily.com to see their full bedding lines as well as other color choices for their Market Slings, Sausalito Baskets and Take Me Home organic gift sets.

Must Have: Baby Seats (Part 1 of 2)

Baby season is just around the corner and I know many of you are either pregnant or invited to a baby shower this Spring/Summer. At the top of my Must Have list for new parents is a baby seat. I thought I would review the two leading brands for you to help make the decision of which to add to your registry or buy your expecting friend a little easier.

These seats hit the market when I was pregnant with my daughter. I loved having another piece of baby gear to put her in where she would be happy and have a different view. They're great to keep at grandma's house in lieu of a highchair. They also work well in restaurants as a booster seat-alternative (I'm a bit of a germaphobe). On with the reviews...

First up is the bebePOD Plus by Prince Lionheart. This seat is really soft, sturdy and easy to clean. It's easy to pick up by the knob in the middle. The tray locks into place and is really sturdy...and once locked, you can either put on a mat (two are included) or you can clip in the Sassy-brand toy (also comes with the bebePOD Plus).

This seat is a safe place for little ones to get a different perspective of their surroundings. And I love the three colors it comes in: orange, kiwi, and watermelon (along with with corresponding fruit trays).

The bebePOD Plus retails for $59.99 and is available to purchase at princelionheart.com.

Must Have: Baby Seats (Part 2 of 2)

The Bumbo with Tray is the second seat I'll review. This seat is the one I believe most people are familiar with. It is very soft and squishy and also comes with a tray.

I do, however, see some drawbacks with this seat: The tray isn't as securely fastened as it is on the bebePOD Plus. The texture of this seat is a bit bumpy which would be more difficult to clean. Also, the leg opening aren't as wide. My children are only in the 40th percentile for weight and they're thighs are pretty chunky (which I LOVE!)...I imagine the Bumbo is less comfortable for little, I mean chunky, thighs!

But this seat is also safe and colorful and a great place for baby to see the world from a different perspective.

The Bumbo with Tray is $49.90 and is available at bumbobabyseat.com.

So there you have it...two different baby seats at two different prices. If the $10 difference is going to break the bank, know that you will get a descent seat in the Bumbo. But for $10 more, you will get a better seat in the bebePOD! I'm a firm believer in the old adage you get what you pay for. Post a comment if you have a specific question I can answer for you in regards to the seats...I'm here to help!

UPPAbaby Vista Stroller

Spring is finally reaching Wisconsin! My kids and I have been taking daily strolls and I must tell you about my new favorite companion...no, it's not a new dog...it's the UPPAbaby Vista Stroller!

I absolutely LOVE the hip style of it (I've noticed people turning their heads to sneak a peak)...it's urban and fun and just feels right in my hands. And speaking of feeling right, this stroller must have cruise control built into it or something...it seems to just glide on it's own! (That allows me to walk above-mentioned dog with one hand and push with the other.)

The seat of the stroller sits high up so my daughter Martha isn't forced to look at people's knees as we walk along, she sees faces! The sunshade really does a great job of covering not only her face, but her whole torso. The legrest and back seat adjust to fit her body and state of consciousness...if she's sleeping, the back goes down and the legs go up! Alert? Back comes up, legs go down! And it all adjusts easily and quietly so you're not waking your sleeping child.

Some of the other features I really appreciate are the one-step folding of the stroller (and it folds small), the reversible seat (with additional three positions), the one-button handle adjustment, and the full-size, easy-access basket underneath.

But the best part is the price: you get this stylish, functional and safe stroller for only $599.99 (unlike similar companies charging $1,000 and up!). Included in the purchase of the stroller is not only the basic stroller frame and seat, but the bassinet, a sun/bug shield and a rain shield...no need to purchase these individually at an additional cost.

If you're still not sold, I want to mention UPPAbaby's environmental initiatives. They recycle materials in old and used strollers, donate functional but not "A-grade" strollers to charity, operate a warehouse on each coast to reduce truck delivery emissions, allow "work at home" opportunities for moms and heavy commuters, are located in a primarily non-climate controlled, historical factory building with window AC units that are used sparingly, and UPPAbaby encourages the use of 4-cylinder or hybrid vehicles for their employees...even their co-owner who is 6'3"!

I encourage you to visit UPPAbaby.com to see all of the color options, to learn more, and to purchase the stroller if you're in the market for one or simply want an upgrade! You won't be disappointed!