Mama Speaks

Coming Soon at Mama Speaks!

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the amazing success the past 4 months here at Mama Speaks have been! Our readership has exploded, we've had the honor of working with some amazing companies and we love the fun and always friendly messages we receive from you gals on a daily basis.

Now that we've settled into our skin a little bit, we'll be revamping the site and adding more features. This is where you come in! We want to bring you things you want to see, things you want to share, so in addition to our daily product reviews if you have any bright ideas or suggestions for our new categories let us know!

Coming soon you'll see:

• Website of the week. From blogs to boutiques we'll spotlight one shining gem out there in the great online abyss.
• Cause of the... Always looking for ways to help us all give back. We'll be a little more er, consistent in highlighting charities and causes we believe in.
• Brick & Mortar. We're often asked where you can find the products we feature in your neck of the woods and so we'll be bringing you some physical stores- maternity and baby boutiques, kid shops and toy havens where you can go get your shop on.
• Green Speak & Eco Friendly. Practical, do-able solutions to help raise a healthy family and leave as little negative impact on the environment as possible.

Oh, and our Holiday Gift Guide is just around the corner, you're gonna love it!

xoxo,
Ashlee
Mama in Charge

Email your ideas and suggestions to reviews[at]mamaspeaks.com by midnight October 31, and we'll enter you to win The Dancing Pumpkin and Maya & Miguel's Funny Fix-Ups on DVD

Excuse Me! A Burp Cloth, Only Better

Those of you with gassy babies know the feeling of spit up down the back of your favorite shirt all too well. And why does it always happen two minutes before you're about to walk out the door? Unlike most burp cloths, the Burp Catcher lives up to it's name with a pocket at the bottom to catch any surprises that come with that burp. Mother's around the world are going to be wondering why they didn't think this up sooner!

You can choose from several "designer" prints,  snuggly fleece or modern flannel and at $12-$16 you can afford to get more than one. You can bet my Burp Catcher is always in one of two places...the washing machine or my diaper bag. I've learned the hard way to always be armed and ready.

Win it!
A burp catcher in bloom anyone? Send an email to reviews[at]mamaspeaks.com by midnight October 31 with the name of the mama behind this invention.

-Jaymi

Ciao Bella

A Mother-to-be’s body goes through some beautiful changes, as well as some not so lovely stretch marks and aches & pains. Bella B Natural Bodycare by Mother’s Intuition has come to the rescue!

Bella B Natural Bodycare, made of clinically proven ingredients free of petroleum, mineral oils, and parabens, is designed to be gentle for your body and peace of mind.

To prevent stretch marks, Tummy Honey Butter [$20] will sweeten your skin with its thick, non-greasy, oil-based formula that maintains the skin’s moisture and elasticity. And you can take it on the go with the Tummy Honey Stick [$20] For stretch marks that have already made their appearance, apply Tummy Honey Cream [$25] as it includes a unique plant extract proven to fade stretch marks typically 30-50% or more! Go for it all with Body Buzz [$25], proven to even firm skin and reduce cellulite!

Breastfeeding Moms will find comfort with Bella B’s Nipple Nurture Butter [$10] and Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads [$10] designed to clean nipples before and after breastfeeding. The pads help heal and protect the entire area, while being completely free of animal by-products.

Bella B’s Tummy to Toes body cream [$19] will cool and revitalize tired legs and feet- something not just for pregnant Moms. By the end of a long day, we all need a little tingle in our step and I found this to be just heavenly! 

Be natural with Bella B Natural Bodycare and treat your skin just as you would care for your precious baby’s- with only the best!

Win it!

We're giving away a container of Bella B's Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads! Just send an email to reviews[at]mamaspeaks.com with Bella B as your subject and answer the following question. What year was Bella B founded?

-Steph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Table Full of Grace

There is something insanely cute about my 2 1/2 foot tall offspring sitting at our dining table. From his legs dangling in the enormous chair  to his eyes just barely peeking over the table top, it seriously makes me smile. Unfortunately, it makes him crazy.

He used to ask to sit at the big table, in a big chair to "do art" and practice puzzles, but would get frustrated after a few minutes. (I can only assume that was the time it took his arms to fall asleep from reaching over his head.) And so he'd get down and unabashedly wonder aloud where his table was. Hint, Hint, Mama!

The Grace Table by designer extraordinare (and Mama) Jennifer DeLonge perfectly fits the bill for both of us. The clean lines and muted, yet lively, colors meld beautifully with our existing decor and the formaldehyde free wood and low VOC paint won't infringe on a happy healthy home.

Toddlers and preschoolers will love having their own space for projects, play or snack time and it's big enough to comfortably sit four with no boundary wars. The matching stools (sold separately, $59 each) are sturdy enough for Mom or Dad to join the little ones and they'll slide underneath the table when not in use cutting down on stubbed toes.

At $299 this table may not work for all budgets, but if you remind yourself that it's a real piece of furniture and will double as the perfect coffee table when the kids out grow it, it's sort of a steal. In the meantime, you'll be begging to sit at the kiddie table.

Mama Speaks readers can get 20% off your purchase with code "mamaspeaks"!

My Robot

Oh, Roomba, where have you been all my life? I must say that my carpet had never been so clean before Roomba came to my house. How many times have you thought I need to vacuum, and by the end of the day it still didn’t get done? The whole idea and design behind iRobot’s Roomba [$100-$400] is to make clean floors happen even in our busy lives- with just a touch of a button!

I could be washing dishes or just lounging on the couch while my little robot was vacuuming away. And it does a good job, probably maybe even better than me. Your friends and family will be amazed- as the Roomba will definitely draw a crowd. It goes under coffee tables and chairs with ease and the carpet really does look cleaner after the Roomba’s made its rounds, as it concentrates harder on the dirtier areas that you can’t even see.

It is not only a powerful vacuum, but it even will roll up its sleeves and dig into hard-to-reach places including accumulated debris along kickboards, cabinet edges and corners with its innovative spinning side brush. I love how the Roomba moves about from carpet to the kitchen floor without any need for special floor settings.

If only it had hands that sprouted out to pick up all the toys on our floors, or could scrub the toilets, then I’d be in heaven!

-Steph

On the flip side, I (Ashlee) just couldn't resist letting the Roomba take a spin on my floors as well. We have hardwood and this thing called a dog. A dog that sheds like crazy. Oh, and a toddler who gets enormous satisfaction out of the offense I call the "crumb and run". It was heaven, crumbs and doggie hair vanished without a trace and I didn't have to do a thing. Unfortunately, in my carpet free, bare-walled abode our little robot friend was crazy loud and succeeded not only at impressing me, but at terrifying said kid and canine.

Thankfully it's intelligent enough to find it's own way home an added bonus since our robot has been banished to doing floor duty while we take our daily stroll. But did you catch that? We head out for some sunshine and fresh air and come home to a clean floor. Believe me, you really need one.

-Ashlee

Barefoot and Bookwormed

I started reading to my son the day I found out I was pregnant. Yes, that was me. (Ok, so it was a relief actually, I'm such a dork, I was always reading to myself anyway, being pregnant, just made it sweet rather than strange.) So, whether it was an actual children's book, my latest novel, or the instructions on the side of a box, I was always reciting something to my growing bump. And when that little human inside my belly decided to make his grand entrance 12 weeks early and we spent all our time sitting beside him  in the NICU, there wasn't much we could do but stare at him, and so we read to him (and stared) and read some more.

So whether it's in his genes or our not so subtle grooming, at nearly two the kid loves to read. Unfortunately, we've been less than enthused with the state of children's literature. Sure there are some great books out there if you look hard enough, the classics are always promising, but most new books are full of television characters or just seem to be trying to hard.

Barefoot Books is on a mission to change all that. Created in 1993, moms Nancy Traversy and Tessa Strickland left the corporate world and set out to reinvent the children's book. I am happy to report their sweet succees. With a focus on introducing other cultures and language to even the youngest of kids, every book available from Barefoot is full of beautiful artwork that brings the enchanting tales and messages to life. These books are fun and have substance. And their selection of bilingual and foreign language books is amazing.

With one of current favorites, We All Went On Safari- A Counting Journey Through Tanzania [$16], you'll find yourself on an adventure with the Massai characters walking through grasslands encountering lions and monkeys and wildebeest. As you count from one to ten with your little one in English and Swahili you might just forget your sitting on a sofa somewhere in America.

Many of Barefoot's books also feature cd's or online activities and you'll often find that a portion of the proceeds go to a cause related to the title. So head on over, kick of your shoes, and get reading.

Oh, and if you and yours are as crazy about books as we are, you might want to pick up a tee from Havins Originals that says it all.  Their Hardcore Reader tees and sweatshirts will make the perfect statement for any budding bookworm. 

Win it!
How would you like your very own copy of We All Went on Safari and a Hardcore Reader tee? Tell us the title of your favorite children's book, by emailing reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by midnight October 28.

Nice Legs

They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well, my name is Arianne, and I’m addicted to Baby Legs. There, I said it. I do feel better, but if this addiction is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.

Baby Legs [$12-$20], created by stay-at-home mama Nicole Donnelly, are the latest invention to join fashion with function, and do so brilliantly. Created as a way to keep Nicole’s daughter’s legs warm during nakey time, these baby leg warmers have evolved into something of a revolution. They can be used to protect little knees while crawling, to prevent “gapiosis” (that little gap of exposed skin babies get between their pants and socks when someone picks them up), or to add style and flare to legs, and even arms, of all ages. My littlest sweetie loves to play with his Stone Crop Baby Legs while practicing sitting up, and we found them particularly useful when making a quick run to the store recently. Instead of having to search high and low for his socks and shoes, I simply pulled the Baby Legs he was already wearing down over his little piggies, and off we went. Usually his pants are riding up to his armpits, old fogie style, but this time the Baby Legs kept him warm and comfy in his car seat.

Beware: It only takes one pair to get addicted. Thankfully, Baby Legs come in so many styles and colors, you’re sure to get the fix you crave. From punk to prep, all maniacs (sorry, couldn’t resist) will be jonesin’ for these little pieces of flare.

Win it!
We have 4 pair of Baby Legs for 4 of you! Just send an email with Baby Legs as your subject to reviews@mamaspeaks.com by midnight October 27 to enter.

-Arianne

Don't Knock It 'Til You Klip It

Raise your hand if you love bibs. Anyone? Didn’t think so. It’s near impossible to find a bib you can tolerate, much less one you love, right? If you’re like me, and you can’t find a bib that doesn’t make you cringe from cutesy over-load, you’ll love the idea of Kipiis bib clips [$12]. You simply take the two round clips, attach them to anything spill-worthy (napkin, towel, tarp, etc.), and you are good to go. Your little sweetie is covered for meal-time, finger-paint time or drool time, and all you had to keep handy was the Kipiis. Instead of feeling guilty over all the cartoon character bibs saying “Mommy’s Cutest Angel EVER”, which are collecting dust back home, keep Kipiis in your diaper bag, purse, or car and you’ll always have a clean and dry babe. We may not love bibs, but we do love Kipiis.

Win it!
We're giving away a pair of Kipiis Bib Clips to one lucky Mama. Just send an email to reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by midnight, October 26 and let us know what color Kipiis are available.
-Arianne

Because Everyone Poops, They Just Aren't Born Knowing Where To Do It. A Potty Training Guide

There comes a point in our little one's lives when we must introduce them to certain processes that us grown-up folks take for granted. Alright, I'll drop the pleasantries, we're talking toilets here people. Isn't it amazing how that transition to parenthood removes all taboos that come with talking about bodily function?

There are methods galore from raising diaper free babies from birth, to slowly following your child's lead and interest, to waiting until your babe is not such a babe and taking care of the whole diapers to toilet process in one day. We know that different methods work for different families, so we're not here to push any one your way. But speaking from experience with our pooping prodigy, naked booty's and LOTS of cleaning supplies are a good start.

If you're in need of little help, we've put together some fun stuff that should make this stage a little easier.

Essential #1: Reading Material
  Judging by hubby's mini-library next to the commode, this is one area to be taken seriously.   

One of our favorite parent reads Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Potty Training  Solution. This easy to read guide by a true parenting pro provides gentle guidance in making potty training a simple pleasant process.    

For the kids we're huge fans of Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops, because well, they do. And the great Mo Willems Time To Pee, provides positive prose for your little whizz-ard. (that was too much wasn't it)

Essential #2: The Perfect Throne
Accommodating your bathroom for it's newest occupant is a must in successful toileting. There are tons of options out there, (we even spied a potty that lights up, sings and does a little dance) but we think simple is good.

The Baby Bjorn Little Potty is a favorite amongst EC guru's and we love it's sleek simplicity. It's the perfect height for your little one to keep her feet firmly planet on the floor and the built in splash guard helps keep little boy's sprinklers at bay. Best of all the one piece design makes dumping and cleaning a breeze.

Similar in styling to the BBLP is the ingenious Clear Potty by Babywunder. Sometimes it's hard to tell if your tot is done doing his business, mama lifting him up in the middle can be annoying and sitting there until he tells you he's done can mean spending hours in the bathroom. For obvious reasons, this one makes things pretty clear.

If you're looking for something a bit more substantial the Boon Potty Bench is for you. A favorite of modern moms this complete potty features side storage perfect for special books, toys or wipes and even features it's own toilet paper holder. We found the "deflector" a bit awkward as our little one sat down but it can easily be removed. Our favorite feature is the fold down lid that transforms the Boon into a sturdy stool, making it fun to go from wiping to washing in one simple step.

For those that would rather use the "big" potty the Flip N Flush will easily attach to any standard toilet creating a smaller seat for smaller bottoms. Best of all it's made of non-toxic, recyclable plastic and can be folded away when not in use.

The creme de' le' creme in the realm of potty seats, however, is Kohler's  Transitions Quiet Close Toilet Seat with Quick Release Functionality. This all in one seat has a standard size ring for adults and a smaller one for the kids. The quiet close feature means it won't slam shut squishing fingers or scaring children and the quick release hinges allow for easy cleaning tough to reach spots.

Where to go on the go? Public restrooms can be a little frightening to little ones, with the shared space and auto-flush toilets I don't blame them. We recommend keeping an extra Baby Baby Bjorn Little Potty in the car for pit stops. We were, however, at a loss at what to do with the pee until we got home, I guess you could dump it on the side of the road but that's just not acceptable in the grocery store parking lot.  Travel John to the rescue! The disposable urinals are a little advanced for our toddler to use as is, but it's perfect for dumping the potty into on the go. The spill proof bag is non-toxic, biodegradable and is safe to toss in the trash.

Essential #3: Ditch Those Diapers

Your potty trainee will love the big kid adventure of going diaper free. If you're not quiet ready for undies a few pairs of good training pants are a must, they look like the real thing with a little added protection for accidents. Good ol' fashioned Gerber's will do, but we love Bright Bots colorful options and Fuzzies Fleece are super soft and snuggly.
And when you are (finally) ready to completely ditch those diapers, celebrate by crowning your King (or Queen) of the Throne with a special tee from Cute as a Bug, a cute little tee shop from one of our favorite bloggers. Oh, and these Tiny Undies are just way too precious not too mention.

Win it!
We're giving away 3 potty training packs including a Flip N Flush Toilet Seat, Travel John Jr. and Toilet-Time Targets! Just send an email to reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by Midnight October 25 with "Number 1" as your subject

Time For A Change? Put That Booty On A Pedestal

If you live in a house with more than one room it seems there's always the problem of where to change the baby. Sure there's that lovely padded, well stocked changing palace, but it's in the bedroom. Upstairs. And this baby can't make it through that flight.

I felt like I was always dumping diapers in random rooms and quickly discovered that a "simple" diaper change on the couch or the floor is anything but. Seriously, the next time they open submissions for new Olympic sports I'm first in line. Eventually I bought an extra one those cheap foam pads for down stairs, but it was an eyesore that got tripped over more that it got changed on.

Aren't you glad us mom's think alike? Also, tired of the diapering Olympics, mama Sue Wong set out to find a solution and ended up inventing the Ubi Modern changing table [$90]. This baby is make you gasp gorgeous, and best of all it delivers. The low slung, bent plywood table gets baby off the floor and positioned perfectly for a change. The retro-mod (is that an oxymoron?) fabric selection is easy on the eyes, a breeze to clean and resistant to germs.

Thanks to the belly buckle baby won't be going anywhere and the fastener strips keep will keep that fresh diaper where it's supposed to be. The verdict is still out on the deluxe version's [$119] spring loaded diaper dispenser,  but we're pretty sure we're sold.

Win it!
Who wants one? We have one Ubi changing table for one of you! Send an email to reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by midnight October 24 and let us know what fabrics are available. We'll choose one winner at random and your table will ship directly early December.