Remember the old school personalized magazine covers you’d find at the local amusement park where they basically put your face on someone else’s body? No matter how great the job it was always a little off. Well, say goodbye to fake bodybuilders and beach babes and hello to real life cover models. And let me tell you, the real life version is awesome!

I had more fun reviewing YourCover’s Personalized Magazine Covers than I did inhaling a bucket of Trader Joe’s Dunkers. With our little one’s first birthday this week I had the perfect reason for creating a keepsake to celebrate this big event (she’s our last, what can I say?). With her pinchable cheeks and chunky thighs it was easy to turn that baby girl into a cover model. The process was super easy using the online design studio. I simply uploaded my favorite photo (vertical works best) and then cropped the image so her face was front and center. Next I created personalized headlines (font style, size and color) unique to her and her special day. The back cover had room for more photos (didn’t find this out until later, dang!), an Editor’s Note, masthead and sections for additional personalized text. I threw in Livi’s 10 favorite things and Top 10 Ways to Party.

If you’re not a big writer don’t worry; YourCover offers helpful suggestions for the various sections. Just tweak it a bit, proofread and you’re good to go. Your personalized magazine cover is printed on a heavyweight glossy paper and full bleed, which means the color goes to the edge of the paper so it looks like a real magazine cover. It arrives in a deluxe acrylic frame so everyone can see both the front and back, plus you can order extra copies to share with friends and family. I ordered two extra so both sets of grandparents could take one home. (Our grandkids are their favorites so displaying the magazine cover is a given…right, Mom?)

Typical of my life these days I waited until the last minute to order so Livi’s issue of First Birthday magazine has not yet arrived, but if it looks anything like the proofs it’s going to be fabulous! A personalized magazine cover from YourCover runs around $50 (additional copies are only $4.50) but let me tell you, I feel a lot better about spending that amount on this unique and beautiful keepsake than I do on a pathetically small amount (about three) photo sheets from Kiddie Kandids. My babies never made headlines there. –Emily

** Giveaway!!! YourCover is giving away one free personalized magazine cover! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: August 13, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Promotion! YourCover is offering Daily Dish readers $5 off their purchase! Simply enter code BC5 at checkout. Offer expires September 30, 2008.

The container we use to store our markers often reminds me of the laundry basket on top of my dryer. Where one holds a collection of single socks missing their mates, the other holds a collection of dried-out markers in desperate need of their caps. Though my kids may enjoy the challenge of finding the handful of markers that still work, I don’t enjoy throwing away the handfuls that don’t. If your markers are suffering from MCS (missing cap syndrome) then you’re going to love The Cap Trapper from Savvy May Creations.

Designed by a mom with a teaching background The Cap Trapper is a simple yet ingenious way to keep your caps together and organized. Caps don’t go AWOL and markers don’t dry out. The flexible material allows The Cap Trapper to fit any cap size from super skinny Color Wonder markers to those chunky, perfect-for-toddler, washable (or so they claim) markers. The minute we received our Cap Trappers I had them out of the package and attached to the few working markers we had left. My kids thought they were pretty cool and I loved knowing I wouldn’t need to stock up on markers from the back-to-school bins. Though they take up a little more room in the bucket, you actually don’t need as much room since you can eliminate half your markers. (When only one out of five green pens actually work you can really downsize.)

The Cap Trapper isn’t just for home and school. Savvy May Creations also has a line of professional Cap Trappers perfect for dry erase and flip-chart markers. You can keep your dry erase markers in one place so you’ll know just where to find them when called upon to present at that last-minute meeting. No need to steal markers from the conference room down the hall because you’ll have your own, full, moist set!

With back-to-school shopping here you’ll want to add a few sets of Cap Trappers to the list; be sure to throw in one or two extra for yourself. Even if you’re not a crafter or teacher you’ll find they come in handy for organizing those pens and markers you have hidden on the top shelf (right next to your favorite pair of “good” scissors). You can purchase Cap Trappers from Amazon.com or from Little Angel Baby boutique.–Emily

** Giveaway! Savvy May Creations is giving away one two-pack of their fabulous Cap Trappers! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: August 11, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

And I know it works because I tested it out in one of the least fresh rooms in our home, our older girls’ room. Because we have not yet moved any of our kids to the basement our two older girls share a small room upstairs. The close quarters combined with sweaty girls and laundry baskets of played-in clothes make for a rather musty, less-than-fresh smell. I was anxious to see if Ionic Pro’s Therapure 100, their smallest air purification system, would make even the slightest difference.

My girls actually set up the Therapure 100 in their room all on their own. (Mom was taking too long to get around to it I guess.) The Therapure air purification system is actually a three-part cleaning system. First, it removes allergens and pollutants including mold spores, pet hair and dander. Second, it kills bacteria and germs such as viruses and mildew. Third, it removes toxic fumes caused by things like household cleaners, paint and new carpet. Integrated into these three parts is its ability to rid the air of unwanted odors from smoking, cooking and pets (i.e. kids). So did the Therapure 100 “provide clean, crisp, pure air indoors?” According to our noses, it did!

My girls noticed a difference within a couple hours after plugging in the Therapure and we only had it on the low setting. I noticed it the next day when I opened their door and wasn’t knocked out by the typical sweaty-girl smell that greets me most mornings. The air in their room really did feel cleaner, fresher and purer (yes, purer is a word). An added bonus about this system is it has a permanent filter that never needs replacing, only periodic vacuuming. Wish I could say that about our humidifier.

Because the EPA has recently said indoor air may be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air, you might want to take a moment and learn more about Ionic Pro’s line of Therapure air purification systems. With the dramatic increase in allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses, it’s worth your time…especially if you have your own set of sweaty kids sharing a room! –Emily

If your little girl channels her inner princess 24/7 then she is going to love the treasures hidden among the shelves at My Princess Closet. This site is a princess’ dream with its royal collections of tutus, fairy costumes, sparkle shoes, fabulous hats, blinged-out shirts, enchanted clothing and even princess-y toys. All of this in just one (online) closet!

My Princess Closet sent me the Debbie Dress by Fable & Lore. This beautiful yet delicate white cotton dress is truly fit for any princess (size 2, 4 or 6), but what beautifully embroidered dress wouldn’t be? What makes this little dress suited more for a fairytale than your basic tea party is the magic “woven right into the fabric.” When worn in the sunlight the embroidery along the bottom turns shades of lavender, pink and light green.

Though my little girl is still too small to wear the Debbie Dress that didn’t stop me from taking it outside to watch the magic, and watch it I did…over and over again! It was rather hypnotizing watching it change color and then fade once I brought it indoors. If you want your little princess to be the queen of the next tea party, have her show up in the Debbie Dress by Fable & Lore. (Now if I could just figure out where to find a magical dress like that in my size I could be queen of the next barbecue!)

Some of my other favorite treasures found at My Princess Closet are the Flower Power hat, Princess Ballerina Onezie, Woodland Fairy costume, and the 4 Tier Crochet dress. And when your little girls goes from channeling her inner princess to her inner fish, My Princess Closet even has a great selection of UV swimwear. Their Gifts that Give Back help you give others the royal treatment, and with $5 shipping you can afford to add a tiara or tutu (or two) to your princess’ closet! –Emily

Lamas Beauty is a line of earth-friendly beauty products created using certified organic botanicals, herbs and vitamins. They are all vegan and free of parabens, sodium lauryl, laureth sulphates, DEA and TEA and the company never uses animal-derived ingredients or tests their products on animals. With an impressive resume like that I felt Lamas Beauty needed no other introduction.

I was sent the Soy Hydrating Shampoo and Soy Balancing Conditioner, Pumpkin Spice Polish and Lash Masque. Sadly I was not able to test the shampoo and conditioner but I have given the Pumpkin Spice Polish and Lash Masque thorough testing and these products are as impressive as the list of harmful ingredients they don’t include!

Let’s start with the 3-in-1 Instant Facial you’ll find in the Pumpkin Spice Polish. This is by far one of my favorite exfoliating scrubs. The polish includes pumpkin enzymes, natural fruit and nut enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells and pore-clogging debris; apricot grains and micro-spheres to gently removed dead skin cells and polish the skin’s surface; pumpkin oil, soy protein, aloe vera and Vitamin E to leave skin hydrated and protected; coconut oil to dissolve makeup, excess oil and pollutants while leaving the skin’s natural pH intact. All of these fab ingredients make for one effective yet totally yummy facial scrub. (I had to remind myself not to lick my fingers while massaging it onto my face, it smelled that good!) Read the rest of this entry »

I first featured SkirtSports when I reviewed their ToughGirl winter running skirt in January. It was my first taste of just how flattering yet sexy fitness gear could be, even in 20-degree weather and combined with earmuffs and sweat crystals. SkirtSports is continuing to change the way women look at fitness, striving “to give the everyday woman extra attitude and style and add inspiration to their workout.”

If you look at their product line you’ll find it no surprise their gear often sells out mid season, and not just to runners and triathletes but to cyclists, tennis players and fashionistas. Check out the 4th place winner of Live with Regis & Kelly’s High Heel-a-thon. Jill Stamison not only set a world record but did it in heels and SkirtSports’ Footloose running dress in Pink Crush.

And that brings me to my own review of the Footloose running dress and coordinating Shorties. Now, I’m no record setter but that doesn’t mean I don’t get to look like one, and you can’t help but do so in this dress. I received it in Sapphire Blue and have only had one opportunity to wear it so far, but I’m sold! I’ve never worn anything like it and yet it took very little getting used to. It was a heck of a lot more flattering than my typical t-shirt and cut-offs, especially since there’s no waistband for my love handles to roll over (and jiggle as I run…not a pretty sight). I worried it might make me sweat a little more but I shouldn’t have; the lightweight fabric felt great and I rather enjoyed the updraft. <wink>

Speaking of updraft, that brings me SkirtSports’ UnderSkirt collection. Because the Footloose dress is on the sassy side (i.e. short) you’re going to want to wear something underneath (my husband begs to differ, but that’s no surprise). Whether you prefer the panty-style Spankies or the butt-lifting Shorties (their most popular product in this collection–you’ve got to read the product description on this one!), you’ll be covered. SkirtSports has even thought to include pockets for your workout needs such as gels, music or IDs.

Though the Footloose running dress and Shorties are fabulous in and of themselves, what I love even more is their effect on my attitude about exercising. I’m actually entertaining the idea of running outdoors. (Don’t tell my treadmill; its feeling are easily hurt.) SkirtSports is a firm believer that “girls rule; boys drool,” and how could those boys not drool when they spot you at mile 14 in that Mojito Green Footloose dress. –Emily

Over time my interest in the celebrity lifestyle has seriously faded. Where I used to read gym copies of People and Us Weekly from cover to cover, I now find myself only glancing through an issue if it’s highlighting the best and worst beach bodies (sorry, it’s true). When I was sent a copy of Mother Nurture: Life Lessons from the Mothers of America’s Best and Brightest I wondered what I would find in its pages. Would it be Lindsay Lohan’s mom sharing her wisdom on parenting the inner child or Bruce Jenner’s advice on setting reasonable allowance limits for the Kardashian kids, say, $100 a week?

Thankfully, no. This book was a refreshing reprieve from not only People but also the plethora of parenting advice with which we are inundated on a daily basis. Written by fashion designer and entreprenur Stephanie Hirsch, the book started from a mother’s desire to raise her son to be “generous, family-oriented, loving, courageous, and professionally accomplished–maybe [even] turn out like Steven Spielberg.” After a conversation with Spielberg’s mom more interviews with mothers of “America’s best and brightest” soon followed.

I love many things about Mother Nurture, the first being that it offers common-sense advice from mothers who’ve helped raise successful children in a variety of fields, from sports and politics to music and business and everything in between. Though I recognized most of the names I found a few I hadn’t heard of but enjoyed reading nonetheless. Another great things about these “vignettes of maternal instinct at its best” is you can read them in bits and pieces. Each portrait is only a couple pages so you can read two or twenty depending on how long you can hide in the bathroom before the kids find you.

The best thing about Mother Nurture is how down to earth these mothers’ words of wisdom are; I might even be able to implement them in my own parenting “vignette.” I love Terri Augello’s advice to her daughter Alicia Keys: “It’s a fickle world out there. They could love you today. They can hate you tomorrow. So…make sure that you keep your family and friends close around you.” And Linda Armstrong Kelly’s dose of common sense for all moms: “If you shelter your children, you don’t really do them any favors.”

We are all doing our best to raise America’s best and brightest, so why not get some help from those who have some experience doing so. Mother Nurture: Life Lessons from the Mothers of America’s Best and Brightest does a fabulous job uplifting, encouraging and inspiring, something even non-celeb moms need. –Emily

* Giveaway!! HarperCollins is giving away one copy of Mother Nurture! Please leave a comment telling us your favorite parenting words of wisdom and include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July 31, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Mmmmmm…smell that? It’s the refreshing, invigorating mix of rosemary and mint I’ve enjoyed sniffing for the past couple weeks every time I’ve showered. No, I wasn’t showering in my neighbor’s herb garden (I could do without those fifteen minutes of fame). What I was doing was using Organics by Noah’s Naturals’ Rosemary Mint Travel Kit while on vacation, and its fresh, stimulating smell did a great job reviving me after the 10-hour drive (made by myself with four kids in the car).

Organics by Noah’s Naturals is setting a new standard in organic bath and body care with its line of products, which include organic blends like rosemary mint and coconut vanilla. But they don’t just smell good; these products help cleanse, revive and condition skin and hair with good-for-you formulations. For example, their Rosemary Mint Shampoo has Vitamin B5 (great humectant) and cone flower extract (natural healing properties, while their Coconut Vanilla Lotion has Vitamin A (improves texture, firmness and smoothness) and safflower seed oil (replenishes moisture). All I know is my travel kit (rosemary mint shampoo, conditioner and body wash) left my skin, hair and senses feeling fabulous!

Along with Organics, Noah’s Naturals offers an original line of bath and body products including an impressive lineup for facial care. I was sent their Hand Salve but was only able to test it once. (If it were winter I’d be all over it on a daily basis!) I don’t use a lot of wax-based hand moisturizers because I don’t love the often greasy feel, but Noah’s Naturals’ hand salve, which contains soy wax oil and beeswax, absorbed quickly and even the smallest dollop did a great job with moisturizing my scrubbed-the-house-all-day hands.

Noah’s Naturals is committed to being good for you and good for the environment. Besides only using nutritionally fortified formulas (e.g. pure essential oils, organic plant oils and emollients) and staying away from harsh chemicals (e.g. petroleum, parabens, propylene glycol), the Noah’s Naturals is also a member of One Percent for the Planet. The company donates 1% of their sales to environmental causes worldwide.

You can find Noah’s Naturals online and at select Wal-Mart stores. I’m basically saying you can purchase a high-quality product at an affordable price and donate to a worthy cause all at the same time. I love it when I’ve got a great excuse to shop! –Emily

I originally wrote about Arbonne when I reviewed their fabulous NutriMinC RE9 skin care line. (I am still faithfully using the eye cream–my favorite!) The company’s skin care products were originally developed in Switzerland in 1975 by Petter Mørck and a group of leading biochemists, biologists and herbalists. Like I said in my previous review, I love it when science meets skin care in a successful partnership…all for my benefit! Arbonne’s SeaSource Detox Spa line is no different.

The company’s SeaSource detox products use botanical sea extracts such as spirulina, sea kelp, and sea fennel and combine them with nourishing ingredients like sunflower, safflower, hazel seed, grapeseed, and jojoba oils. You’ll also find vitamins E and F, which help your body regenerate and purify itself. The SeaSource Detox product line includes everything from a 5-in-1 Massage Oil to a Sea Mud Face and Body Mask to a Re-Mineralizing Body Lotion 24H and quite a few products in between.

These luxurious products come with a bit of a luxurious price tag (all the more reason to use the special offer below) but take into account you’re averaging 12 fl oz per bottle. Plus I highly doubt your current exfoliating body wash helps release toxins and increasing microcirculation. I’m most intrigued by the 7-Day Body Cleanse dietary supplement. Also infused with marine botanicals it claims to stimulate, strengthen and support health and beauty from the inside out by flushing out excess fluids. I could definitely use that once a month! Read the rest of this entry »

I jumped at the chance to review Writing Motherhood on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish for two reasons: one, I am a mother, and two, I love to write. Both mothering and writing are still a work in progress so I was anxious to read what insights, advice, tools, and guidance Writing Motherhood had to offer me. It had all that to offer with an added kick in the pants to start writing again (not easy to do when a recent manuscript has already been rejected numerous times).

I have not made my way through the entire book, and I’ve learned it’s not the type to be read cover to cover in one sitting. The book is a tool and a guide to help intertwine writing and mothering, teaching readers like me that inspiration can come from the everyday. I usually have a bit of a harder time reading non-fiction books but the author Lisa Garrigues’ wit and writing style (no surprise) had me from page one. Here are a couple passages I’ve starred in my copy so far:
Garrigues’ take on the students (a.k.a. moms) from her first writing class:

My first Writing Mothers arrived feeling physically exhausted and emotionally spent–in some cases ‘brain-dead,’ their imagination and creativity anesthetized by the rigors and routines of daily life. (Sound familiar?)

Her thoughts on taking the first step:

Carl Jung would call it synchronicity. A priest might call it fate; a romantic, serendipity; a skeptic, luck. However you choose to explain this phenomenon, know that one step always leads to athe next. This is how mountains are scaled, deserts are crossed, and whole journeys are made. (Feeling inspired?)

Garrigues, a writer and a mother, takes what seems like an overwhelming task at times and turns it into a welcome journey. An excerpt from WritingMotherhood.com put it perfectly:

Whether you are a new mother or a grandmother, someone who has long aspired to write or someone who has never written before, in Writing Motherhood Lisa Garrigues will show you how to use writing as both a tool for recording your life and a path to understanding your experiences. In just fifteen minutes a day, your Mother’s Notebook will be a keepsake, and your daily writing will keep you sane.

Are you ready to recapture the sanity you thought was lost long ago? Me too. Take a minute to read a little more about the book and Lisa Garrigues. I guarantee it won’t be long before you’re standing in Barnes & Noble picking out the perfect Mother’s Notebook. I’m planning to go tomorrow. –Emily

** Giveaway!!! Simon & Schuster is giving away 10 copies of Writing Motherhood! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: July 25, 2008 (midnight). The winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to all ten winners of the Writing Motherhood giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Looking for a great solution to keep your kids hydrated in a healthy way this summer? I know personally the woes and struggle it can be to keep your children’s beverages healthy but still drinkable. Bot beverages are a parent’s best buddy, I can’t wait to tote them around for my kids in the heat of our holiday time knowing that they aren’t injesting a ton of sugar.

Bot was created in 2006 by a husband and wife team (Cricket and Brian Allen). As parents of twin daughters, these savvy parents wanted to find a healthy, low sugar drink for their girl, but they weren’t able to find any on the grocery store shelves. That’s when mother invention stepped in, and they decided to create with a tasty and “good for you” drink that will hydrate kids without the sugar high.

I was sent several bottles of the Bot beverages to test with my team of taste testing critics (my kids). Let’s face it, if the kids won’t drink it then no matter how good for them it is it won’t fly. We tried them both chilled and room temperature, the consensus was that everyone preferred the chilled Bot in our family. They come in subtle flavors of Lemon, Orange, Grape and Berry. The kids loved the Orange and Grape the very best. For my husband and I who also took our taste test, I loved the Lemon and he was a big fan of Berry.

Bot really stands out as fortified water with 75% less sugar than juice, but still boasting a lovely flavor to entice your children to drink up. The packaging is outstanding and definitely branded to appeal to kids and parents alike. Finding bot beverages is easy peasey, just visit their website and place your zip code in their handy store locater web page.

I don’t know the exact number of DVDs we have but I do know they take up way too much room in our cold storage. Between A Bug’s Life to Zorro is some prime shelf space I’d rather use for more important things like Girl Scout Thin Mints and Keebler Grasshopper cookies. But how to downsize? MMDesign Studio’s DiscSox are the perfect solution for saving space when it comes to multimedia storage.

DiscSox’s DVD Pro storage sleeves hold 2 DVDs plus the DVD’s graphics and wrap. These thin yet sturdy matte vinyl sleeves (with integrated fabric for extra protection) let you store over 65 DVDs in just 12 inches of space! Their side-loading feature keeps DVDs free of dust, and the aforementioned fabric actually helps clean the disc every time you put it away. My favorite option is the DVD Pro Storage System, which includes 50 DiscSox DVD Pro Sleeves, a DiscSox tray, at least 5 DVD Pro Dividers and 96 movie labels. I wish I could have reviewed this before Father’s Day, as it would have made the perfect Father’s Day gift!

MMDesign’s fabulous multimedia storage products aren’t limited to DVDs. They also offer similar solutions for music, data, game and photo storage. If you’re multimedia storage looks anything like mine (i.e. basket next to the TV, vertical towers of games, shelf after shelf of DVD cases) then DiscSox may be the answer to your space-saving prayers! –Emily

I’m always on the lookout for a great picture book or two to freshen up our current collection, and if you’re on the hunt as well you’ll be excited about today’s review! Blooming-Babies.com, a boutique for “moms and kids of all ages” brings you the First Picture Book series from Usborne Books.

First Picture Books, recommended for ages nine months and up, is a collection of award-winning picture books featuring everything from numbers and letters to fairytales and trucks. But these aren’t your typical, often cartoonish, children’s books. Usborne First Picture Books are larger than your average picture book and filled with wonderful eye-catching and colorful illustrations. We received First Picture Fairytales and First Picture Trucks, and let me tell you, I knew the trucks book by heart after just a couple days. My son had me reading it before every nap and every night. Fortunately I enjoyed the real-life type illustrations as much as he did!

Our 10-month-old is finally old enough to look at books at more than just teething toys and I can’t wait to share First Picture Fairytales with her. It includes eight favorite fairy tales filled with engaging illustrations and its board book construction means even if she needs to teethe the board book will survive. Looking at the other books in the collection I’m finding it hard to decide which book to buy next, First Picture Action Rhymes or First Picture Nature. –Emily

* Promotion! Blooming-Babies.com is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their order! Simply enter code “DailyDish10″ at checkout. Offer expires August 10, 2008.

Back in August, 2007 we reviewed the popular line of Oh Mama! snack bars. The bars, created by a mother of three with a Masters of Health Science in Health Policy and Management and experience in maternal and child health, are all natural and complement your prenatal vitamins without running the risk of over supplementing. They also include DHA and omega-3 fatty acids. Impressive! Now the same care and attention that goes into Oh Mama!’s snack bars is in Oh Mama!’s latest product, their Ginger Ale Elixir.

This new Elixir is definitely not your typical ginger ale. This sleek and portable drink is specifically designed to help alleviate specific symptoms of morning sickness and soothe the stomach during pregnancy. To do so the drink is infused with nature’s top-three nausea calming ingredients: ginger, lemon and vitamin B6. It’s also fortified with 100% RDA of folic acid. Check the label on your 2-liter of ginger ale. You’ll find carbonated water, citric acid and caramel coloring but no ginger, no lemon, no vitamin B6 and definitely no folic acid. Perhaps the theory that typical ginger ale soothes stomachs is from back when you could actually find ginger in it!

Because I’m done with the morning sickness thing (whew!) I could only test the drink for its taste. I actually enlisted my kids’ help in taste testing as well. After my 8-year-old made sure she wouldn’t “turn pregnant” from drinking the Elixir, we all took a sip…and then took a few more sips. Everyone, including myself, thought it tasted just like ginger ale and one daughter thought it tasted even better. I had to agree with her. Oh Mama! Ginger Ale Elixir with its nausea-calming ingredients and folic acid was a big hit! Perhaps the company should start offering it in a 2-liter size. We could all use some stomach soothing after a stressful day at work or crazy day at home, right?

With its great taste and stomach soothing abilities, Oh Mama! Ginger Ale Elixir is a must-have for expectant moms with morning sickness. You already have a lot to worry about during those first couple trimesters (which carrier to buy, how many onesies you’ll need, just how you’ll survive on 4 hours of sleep)…morning sickness shouldn’t be one of them! –Emily

I once bought a wonderful Thai food cookbook hoping to make yummy Thai dishes for my husband but as soon as I learned all the work and preparation that went into creating an authentic Thai dish, I closed the book (and have yet to make a single recipe). Tonight that all changed when I tested one of CurrySimple’s line of gourmet, restaurant-quality Thai sauces.

CurrySimple’s sauces have received rave reviews from a variety of customers and publications alike, and that’s probably because they’re actually prepared in Thailand from scratch using fresh, natural ingredients. The company’s products are so authentic, so yummy they sell to restaurants, caterers and private chefs and package their sauces in smaller sizes so people like me can cook gourmet Thai food at home. And that’s just what I did tonight!

Using CurrySimple’s Yellow Curry Sauce and their Yellow Chicken Curry recipe I created a dish that got its own rave reviews here at home. The recipe was super easy to follow and preparation was a minimum–just some slicing and dicing, sauteing and simmering and about 15 minutes later dinner was ready. I served that yellow chicken curry over brown rice (another favorite) and my husband was in Thai heaven!

Don’t be turned off by CurrySimple’s basic-looking packaging; it is probably the most advanced packaging in your pantry (this stuff is even space-shuttle ready!). Unopened, CurrySimple sauces need no refrigeration or preservatives and have a 1-year shelf life. This is a great lesson in how you definitely can’t judge a Thai sauce by its cover! CurrySimple’s product line includes curry sauces (red, green, yellow and masaman, Thai tea concentrate, Pad Thai sauce, Thai stir fry sauce and Coconut Soup (Tom Kha). I have a few more CurrySimple sauces to “review” and my husband’s mouth is watering in anticipation of more yummy Thai recipes! –Emily

* Promotion! CurrySimple is offering Daily Dish readers $10 off their best-seller, The Best Coconut Curry Combo. Use coupon code “boutique” at checkout. Offer expires July 31, 2008.

There’s a cool new company on the playground and they’re dishing out dinosaurs and other curious creatures with peculiar personality. Meet Playground Partisans, a business with tees for your entire family. Now there’s no excuse for Dad, Mom, Junior and your beloved dog Rover not to get in on the fun!

Being a Mom to four children, I can certainly attest to the draw of anything and everything dinosaur. Playground Partisans offers some of the most adorable and charming dino-rrific characters for your little tot to wear with pride. With character names like: Karl, Hildegard, Horst, Wolfgang and Dorthea you immediately will bond with your favorite new friend. I was especially drawn to Karl, a ferocious and friendly TRex, as well as Hildegard who looked so pretty and precocious riding on her bike.

The shirts are 100% cotton, and are sturdy quality tees. Playground Partisans offers baby sizes from 6-24 months, Toddler sizes from 3t-7t. They also offer matching Karl tees for men and women. If you’d like to see how other dino-lovers are sporting their tees, you can stop by their customer photos page.

Playground Partisans would make a tremendous gift for your family and friends with abounding personality! - Daria

**GIVEAWAY - Playground Partisans is offering an adorable Hildegard tee in yellow size 3 for one of our readers. To enter simply leave a comment and tell us “Who your Favorite Playground Partisans Character is” . Please include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July 10, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen. miss this!

If you’re a breastfeeding mom you’ve probably looked at numerous options for covering up while nursing. Most covers, though made out of fun fabrics, are a bit on the bulky side while blankets tend to slip leaving both of you exposed. That is why I love the idea behind MoBoleez, hats specially designed for the breastfeeding mom and baby.

MoBoleez nursing bonnets fit snugly on baby’s head so once it’s on, it stays on. No worries about flyaway blankets or messing with a nursing cover. The oversized floppy brim gives just the right amount of privacy yet lets you “celebrate” breastfeeding. The best part about these hats are the designs. I received the popular Cafe au Lait design and it was so sweet and such a great concept I almost wished I were still nursing!

Each hat comes with a cute graphic on the top of baby’s head, a fun little “YUMMY MUMMY” on the brim, and a sweet little “hi mummy” on the underside. My other favorite designs include Milky Way, Time to Tweet, and their holiday bonnets. ). MoBoleez hats come in pink, blue, green, cream and red so there’s definitely the perfect bonnet design for you and your baby.

MoBoleez are Canadian made and eco-friendly (like you need another reason to buy one!). They are made from all-natural, super soft blend (and I can tell you firsthand these hats are super soft!) of cotton/bamboo (60% cotton, 40% bamboo). The company is also now offering their cream hats in 100% organic cotton knit and their red/green colored hats in a blend of 60% organic cotton and 40% bamboo. Machine washable, a MoBoleez bonnet is the perfect baby gift for any mom looking for a unique, fun way to cover up while breastfeeding. –Emily

** Giveaway! We’re giving away a MoBoleez Cafe au Lait nursing bonnet! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July 9, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Promotion! MoBoleez is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their order. Simply use code “boutiquecafe” at checkout.

* Congratulations to Jennifer B, the winner of the MoBoleez giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Being an entrepreneur and a mom I find my business permeates many aspects of family life. My kids have seen huge screen printing machines up close, made numerous trips to the post office, and asked a ton of questions about just what it is Mom does. I find it important to help them understand the basics behind a business to fuel their own entrepreneurial spirit, and now there’s a site that can help your girls learn a bit of what it takes to run their own business, more specifically their own fashion boutique!

GirlSense.com is an online fashion community directed at teens and tweens where girls can design their own line of clothing, create a boutique, and even advertise to help draw others to their boutique. These virtual boutiques are helping girls (and boys) use their imagination to create fun and fashionable designs all while learning a little bit about what it takes to run a business.

Along with collaborating with real designers to create virtual fashions, girls can make new friends, shop at other boutiques, and communicate in a safe online community. Once users have created their fashions they can save them in their online boutique and share them with their friends. Members can even buy and sell clothing to each other using g-cents money (no actual dollar value). If their designs sell, the designer will earn a lot of g-cents to shop at other boutiques.

As soon as I showed my older girls the site they were hooked! They had a ton of fun designing numerous, very creative outfits and checking out other fashions on the site. I enjoyed seeing them channel their energy into something other than the TV and non-entrepreneurial endeavors. GirlSense.com is a site that teaches some real skills, and your girls won’t even know it because they’re having way too much fun! –Emily

I never shy away from trying new bath and body products, especially when they’re not only good for the body but also good for the environment. Pure & Natural’s products are just that. Created by using ingredients of 98% natural origin, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and packaged in recyclable packaging, their soaps make you feel good inside and out!

We’ve already almost used up our rosemary & mint liquid hand soap, and that’s probably because it smells so good. I think we’re all washing our hands more often than we used to, and that’s not a bad thing by any means! According to the site, rosemary is known for its cleansing and stimulating properties and mint extract is known for its cooling and refreshing effects. The combo, which also includes pure glycerin, is simply fabulous!

I’ve also been thoroughly enjoying Pure & Natural’s almond oil & cherry blossom shower gel. Also enriched with pure glycerin, almond oil is a natural emollient with excellent moisturizing properties and cherry is great at soothing the skin. My favorite thing about their shower gel is that a little, and I mean a little, goes a really long way. I know some are anti-lather, but I love loads of creamy, rich bubbles when I shower and Pure & Natural has perfected the lather. I’m anxious to try their grapefruit & pomegranate; I need all the rejuvenation I can get!

Even better than their lathering abilities is their care for the environment, and I just learned how much they truly care when I visited their site for this review. Pure & Natural doesn’t just use biodegradable products and recyclable packaging; the company also donates at least $100,000 a year to the World Wildlife Fund. They are truly nurturing the world–all the more reason to nurture yourself with their products! –Emily

You can find Pure & Natural at a variety of retailers including Target and Wal-Mart.

** Giveaway! Pure & Natural is giving away one of their fabulous bath & body sets! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July 7, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Kristin M, the winner of the Pure & Natural gift set! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

I first reviewed a Tike Tech stroller in January when I featured their 2008 Sport Series ATX All Terrain jogging stroller. My favorite features about Tike Tech’s ATX single were its lightweight yet sturdy aluminum frame, easy assembly (just pop on the wheels and go), 5-point harness, comfy reclining seat (good on a stroller; not so good on Mom), and multiple storage pockets along with a generous basket. The thing I missed the most was a swivel wheel, which I had on my previous jogger. When Tike Tech heard about that they immediately sent over their Trax360 in Canyon Orange for review–now that’s service!

The Trax360 is basically the same stroller but with 12-inch wheels and the ability for the front wheel to swivel a full 360 degrees. The smaller wheels mean this stroller lends itself more to urban outings rather than 5k’s, but who says you have to own just one Tike Tech stroller? I had forgotten how easy this company’s strollers assemble, but the Trax360 was just as read to go as its counterpart. I simply popped on the wheels (okay, my husband popped on the front one…those swivels can be tricky!) and attached the canopy. Now the canopy took a little more umph than I had (and almost more “umph” than DH had) but we eventually got it to slide into place. The ergonomic handle is one of my favorite features, and when I found this one to be almost as tricky to adjust my husband simply replied, “That means it’s sturdy!” Sounds good to me!

Because I’ve had a few months to thoroughly test our ATX single jogger I know Tike Tech makes a great stroller. I’ve found lots of things to like, including the little mesh pocket on the inside of the seat so our toddler can store his pretzels, toy car and other treasures. I’m still loving the lightweight frame and generous, reclining seat with its 5-point harness that includes a chest strap. Those chest straps are nice because they keep the shoulder straps from slipping (and the aforementioned toddler from escaping mid jog). And guess what? While testing out the Trax360 I not only discovered I like a little swivel action (and Canyon Orange better) but also that both strollers have a removable rear seat cover. Who knew? It came attached on the Trax360 and I thought to myself, I wonder if the ATX has one as well. Lo and behold it did, tucked nicely away in a zipper pocket behind the seat!

For some closeup shots of the Trax360 and a full list of its features you’ll want to visit Tike Tech’s website. I should probably do the same in case I’ve missed any other features on this fabulous stroller! –Emily

When was the last time you sprayed something under your tongue that rejuvenated, relieved ailments, restored balance and rebuilt your body? The answer is probably never..unless you’ve discovered Sprayology, a line of homeopathic and vitamin oral sprays that “promote beauty and well-being from within.”

Why an oral spray? When you swallow the typical capsule or liquid, the processes that break it down in the digestive tract and stomach often reduce its overall effectiveness and restorative properties. Sprayology’s oral sprays are sprayed under the tongue and are more readily absorbed into the bloodstream. And because Sprayology formulas are designed in FDA-approved laboratories by both doctors and homeopaths they offer a well balanced, holistic and fast-acting homeopathic approach to health and wellness.

The Sprayology line, which includes 20 homeopathic sprays and four vitamin sprays, can be broken down into four groups:

• Rejuvenates–6 sprays that help give back youthful energy, muscle tone and a fresh complexion (e.g. BrainPower, ManPower, DietPower and MenoPower)
• Relieves–6 sprays formulated to alleviate the symptoms of everyday ailments (e.g. AllergEase, Party Relief and Travel Ease)
• Restores–8 sprays that help restore vital nutrients depleted by a hectic lifestyle (e.g. Acne Tonic, City Life Detoxer and PMSupport)
• Rebuilds–4 reinventions of the common vitamin (e.g. AgeWell Anti-Ox, B-12 + Folic Acid and Daily Multi)

I had my choice of spray to try so of course I chose WomanPower from the Rejuvenates line, which claims to “relieve the symptoms of low female energy, including decrease in sexual desire and vitality, low physical energy, irritability and the blues.” I sprayed two sprays of WomanPower under my tongue twice a day (I could never remember midday) and waited to see if anything would happen. Read the rest of this entry »

…and I’m so totally serious! I’ve reviewed a few double strollers in the past; non-joggers include the Joovy Caboose tandem, Baby Planet Unity and phil&teds Sport with double kit. I feel like I have a little double-stroller experience under my belt and have quickly learned what features are important to me in a double stroller: compact fold, reclining seats, fairly large canopies, easy-access basket space, easily adjusted straps, a drink holder or two, easy maneuverability, and most importantly the ability to fit in the back of my ol’ school Honda Odyssey.

Maclaren’s Twin Techno stroller stole my heart when all I had to do was turn it vertically with the handles down to fit perfectly in my small trunk space. It stood only about 18″ wide and freed up the rest of my trunk for two black travel suitcases and an overnight bag. The Caboose fit laying on its side only if I removed the canopy; the Unity only if I collapsed the car’s backseat before putting it in; the phil&teds required removal of the tires. If it weren’t for the Twin Techno all five of us would’ve had to share one black suitcase for our week-long trip to Disneyland! Okay, enough about its amazing space-saving capabilities. Let me tell you what else the Twin Techno has to offer.

The Twin Techno’s all-important features include:

• Height-adjustable 5-point harnesses (you can cover these in 8 different “comfort pack” options)
• Removable/washable seats
• Front-wheel suspension
• Independent 5-point recline (it’s a little tricky to recline but once you figure it out it’s easy as pie)
• Independent and water-resistant canopies with UV-protective windows and sun visors plus pockets on the back for added storage (loved the window but we did have to cover it now and then with a small blanket when the sun was overhead; pockets were perfect for camera, cell phones, and extra snacks)
• Extendable leg rests (used this all the time so our littlest once could sleep comfortably)



• High-performance aluminum frame (a.k.a. the ability to hold a diaper bag, beach bag and Disney bags without tipping…see photo)
• Lightweight (at only 25 pounds this stroller is competitive with others on the market)
• Compact umbrella fold (already covered this one; note: the more you use it the easier it gets to open)
• Double mesh shopping baskets (easy to get to and good sized)
• Removable cup holders
• Carry handle (loved this feature)
• 5-second, one-hand fold (um, not sure I could have folded it this quickly with one hand but perhaps with two)
• Ergonomical foam insulated handles (my hands never felt tired even when pushing the kids from Disneyland to California Adventure, back to Disneyland, and then off to Downtown Disney)
• Lockable, front swivel wheels (didn’t review this feature as I totally forgot about it! LOL)
• Reflective accents for safety at night (these give off a nice glow during the Electric Parade)

Maclaren’s already too cool Twin Techno fits through a standard door (and an amusement park’s stroller entrance) and is suitable from birth up to a total of 110 lbs. I absolutely LOVE this stroller! If it can fit in my van, still allowing us to pack a clean change of underwear, and survive a 3-day park hopper pass to Disneyland and California Adventure, it deserves all the love I can give it! –Emily

My daily energy boost is Dove dark chocolate and a can of Diet Coke–probably not the healthiest option even if dark chocolate has those great antioxidants. I ought to try getting a full night’s rest, but because that’s probably still a few years away I was excited to try FRS, a new line of energy products I found via the Hungry Girl website.

The FRS (Free Radical Scavenger) formula was created in 1997 after 7 years of research into the benefits of plant-based antioxidants on human health. You can read more in-depth research here. FRS Healthy Energy combines quercetin, which is a natural, powerful antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables, with 7 essential vitamins. “Quercetin helps extend your body’s natural energy and fight fatigue caused by oxidants that build up in your body from daily activity, exercise and stress.” One can of FRS Healthy Energy has the same amount of flavonoid antioxidants as 3 servings of blueberries, 8 servings of red onions or 10 servings of raspberries. (Kind of reminds me of the Total cereal commercials…why eat 10 servings of raspberries when you can drink just one can of FRS Healthy Energy!)

FRS Healthy Energy comes in four different variations: cans, concentrate, powdered drink mix and soft chews. I was able to review all four, and I have to say the Low Cal Orange and Peach Mango concentrates were my favorite, followed by the same flavors in the cans. I wasn’t a big fan of the powdered mix but they’re a great way to take your Healthy Energy with you. The Orange soft chews tasted almost like an orange Starburst, but because I’m a calorie counter I had a hard time wasting 40 calories on a soft chew even if it was for added energy. Though I didn’t have scientific research to back it up, I felt like I got the quickest energy boost from the concentrate. FRS says you should feel the effects within about 30 minutes, but the company says it may take some people a few days to start to feel the positive effects

FRS can also enhance your focus and alertness and support overall weight management. My favorite use for FRS was to take it about 30 minutes before a workout so I not only had the energy to get on the treadmill but had the energy to exercise just a little harder (so I could have an extra Dove chocolate or two later). On what I think is an impressive and important side note, Lance Armstrong recently joined FRS’ Board of Directors and chose FRS as the exclusive beverage he represents worldwide:

… FRS fits in line with me wanting to live to be ninety, wanting to keep running marathons, riding my bike, being fit and having fun. A lot of people just reach for a coffee or supercharged energy drinks when they need a little pick me up, but I believe our lifestyles and the daily choices we make are some of the most important decisions we face.As an athlete and a cancer survivor I’ve got a responsibility to myself to think about my long term health when I put something in my body. After studying the antioxidant science behind FRS, I feel confident in making it a part of my daily routine.

Sounds like a quality endorsement if you ask me! If you’re tired of the low that comes after the Diet Coke and chocolate high then incorporate FRS Healthy Energy into your daily routine. It’s a tasty way to get your “daily allowance of enhanced mental focus, increased performance and the energy to keep you going”…and we could all use some of that! –Emily

* Giveaway!!! FRS is giving away a 2-week supply of Healthy Energy (a $60 value!) to 20 very lucky Daily Dish readers (yes, I said 20)! Please leave a comment telling us which Healthy Energy product will best fit into your lifestyle (and if you’re willing to admit it, the unhealthy energy “supplement” it will replace!). Please include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: June 30, 2008 (midnight). The winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to all the winners of the FRS giveaway (too many to list)! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

No intro needed for this review…I love, love, LOVE sticars! Sometimes The Big Idea is right on–sticars are fantastic! Slated as the “hippest car magnets to hit the road,” these babies help you “express your inner artist on the open road.” (Note: I like to quote when I couldn’t say it better myself!)

sticars are basically magnetic graphics designed for your car’s exterior but there’s nothing basic about them. Just check out their fun and funky designs, many of which come in a variety of colors. My Odyssey’s gas flap is now the mini canvas where I display my small birds sticar. (I’d have included a picture but the car is in major need of a thorough washing.) I was actually sent a few different designs, and though I loved the random dots, peace sign and monsters my inner artist felt it might be too much to have them all on the car at the same time.

I love the online catalog because you can get a feel for how the sticars will look on different styles of cars before you buy. Plus they have a great photo gallery, which is helpful for those of us whose creative juices don’t flow as readily as others. And don’t think sticars are just for the open road. Because they’re magnetic you can also place them on other magnetic surfaces like school lockers, refrigerators, even your washing machine!

The best part about sticars is they’re an affordable way to give your car flames without the permanent paint job, which is a very good thing once that midlife crisis passes! “Express yourself in the fast lane” by getting your own set (or two or three) of sticars. You’ll never look at your car the same way again! –Emily

* Promotion! sticars is offering Daily Dish readers free shipping! Simply enter code MOMSHIP at checkout. Vroom, vroom!

Though I don’t have a huge hat collection I love hats. I love beanies in the winter and floppy cotton hats in the summer, but I’ve never owned a hat with super sun-shielding power that was also super stylish…until now. Wallaroo Hat Company actually has me excited about wearing a wide-brim hat this summer, especially since I’ll be the envy of every beach- and pool-goer this summer!

Believe it or not many of Wallaroo’s fashion-friendly hats are UPF 50+, which means the fabric has been tested and block 97.5% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. As cute as my floppy Old Navy bucket hat is, it definitely doesn’t have a UPF rating, nor does it protect my face from the sun’s harmful rays as well as my new Nantucket hat. But as much as I love the UPF rating, what I truly love about this hat, along with the other two I’m lucky enough to own (the Victoria Diva and Casual Traveler) is that they look good even with my short hair (yep, that’s me!). If you have short hair you may have the same problem I do: hats just don’t look as good as they did when I had long hair. All three styles looked fabulous no matter the angle (trust me, I checked).

So you’ve got great sun protection and great style–what more could you ask for? How about the variety of styles for the whole family (love the women’s Tamworth, men’s Explorer, and children’s Platypus) plus fabrics like canvas, microfiber, and the new polystraw that make the hats washable, crushable and oh so versatile. Plus (yes, there’s another plus!) each Wallaroo hat has an internal or external drawstring to make it one-size fits most. (By the way, this drawstring comes in handy when walking along Huntington Beach Pier in the wind…)

Wallaroo hats are the most fashionable way to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays (i.e. the wrinkles and sun spots). I doubt my motherly, gave-birth-to-four-kids figure will turn heads at the pool but my Nantucket hat sure will! –Emily

* Promotion! Wallaroo Hat Company is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their order! Just call the company to place your order and mention this review. Offer expires July 30, 2008.