Okay, today marks a day that I have to take my daughter to the dentist office to do a major procedure.  At least for me, it is major.  A couple weeks back, my daughter complained that her tooth hurt.  I looked in her mouth to see that one of her molars was looking a little dark, so I assumed it was a major decay.  Since our family’s dentist was not available because it was a Saturday, I frantically searched for a dentist that was open on that day.

I literally called my own dentist, googled, went onto local mommy boards, and even went on Yelp.  After seeing multiple high recommendations and extremely positive reviews from all the moms on Yelp for this one particular dentist, I made a call that morning.  The office was open, but they were quite booked.  I let them know that it was an emergency and she had to be seen that day.  Thankfully, they squeezed her in as an emergency.

My daughter and I went into this pediatric dentist office, not knowing what to expect, since it was the first time she complained about tooth pain.  After waiting for a little bit, she was taken into the room, and was examined by the dentist.  She ended up having to fill 5 cavities and needed 2 baby root canals on her molars.  What?!!!  I was blown away.  While my daughter enjoys sweets (I am definitely guilty of that) I make sure she has good oral hygiene.  I never expected for my daughter to have so many things going on with her teeth.

When I was a child, I lived at the dentist’s office.  So when I found out about her tooth, I felt really bad because she inherited my genes, or shall I say my teeth.  When the dentist went over what needed to be done, it almost became a huge blur.  She said that we would have to put her under, fill her cavities, and perform two baby root canals.

After hearing all this, I was scared for my daughter and also confused as to why my daughter had to go under (as in general anesthesia).  I called the dental office multiple times to speak with the dentist, got a second opinion, and also sent x-rays to other dentists to find out if this was necessary.  The common consensus was that the teeth needed to be taken care of and because of her age (shy of being 4 years old), general anesthesia was highly recommended.

So after 2 weeks to educate myself about the anatomy of the tooth, speaking with multiple dentists, and a lot of thinking and praying, the day has finally come.  Today, this early morning, my daughter will be going in for her first major procedure where she will be put asleep for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.  I am super nervous but like anything else, I am staying positive and strong for my baby.

My baby will NOT take the bottle for the life of her.  Since she nurses at the breast, it’s really not a major issue that she doesn’t take the bottle, but I also want to be able to sleep through the night.  It would be great for my husband to experience the bonding that a mother and baby gets during feeding times, and for that to happen, the baby needs to take the bottle.

We have a whole container filled with new bottles that are just sitting there because my baby absolutely hates them.  She automatically recognizes that they are artificial and wants nothing to do with them.  I will continue to nurse her until she is over a year old, but I would love for her to take a bottle, for occasional times, when I would like to run an errand sans baby. 

--the Very Hungry bottle--

With amazing baby products on the market, I knew there had to be a bottle that would mimic the breast.  And guess what?  I found it.  mimijumi’s –the Very Hungry bottle–  is the closest experience a baby will get to breastfeeding.  Of course, the first time, I put it up to my baby’s lips, she tilted her head backwards and stared at it for a moment.  After the initial introduction, I continued to slip it in her mouth, and she actually took it for about 30 seconds.  With my baby, that is a miracle! 

The bottle’s nipple mimics the breast in color and texture which helps because babies are also very visual.  It is made of the safest food grade silicone and the bottle is BPA free.  The bottle is finished off with a curvacious cap that keeps the dust off and keeps the leaks in, and a no-skid bottom made with the same silicone as the nipple.  The mimijumi is the second best thing to nursing at the breast!

(Disclosure: Product was provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

When I think of Coco’s Bakery, the first thing that comes to mind is “family” then “pie.”  Of course, the establishment offers more than that, but I think it’s safe to say that it’s a family friendly restaurant that offers a diverse menu for the entire family, child and grandma included.

Wine & Appetizer Pairings

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Giveaway ends March 10th, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Please make sure you leave a valid email address so that we can notify the winner. We will notify the winner, and the winner has 48 hours to respond. If the winner fails to respond within that time period, we will choose a new winner.

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Or shall I say I need to stop putting my hands into Nature’s Hand Granola because I am eating it like a bag of potato chips.  Obviously, way healthier than potato chips and definitely more filling.  Granola is such a great multi-purpose food item.  You can snack on it, eat it as a cereal, put it on some yogurt, add it to your soft serve, even make your own granola bars.  It’s one of those special food items that you can do a gazillion things with and you’ll never get tired of it.

I recently sampled some granola from Nature’s Hand and I have to say that it was wholesome, just the right amount of sweetness, and definitely filling, but my hands kept reaching in for more, more, and yes, more!  The great thing was that it was healthy and filling, so the combo left you satified in both the taste and hunger department.

Originally being from the midwest, I was definitely excited to see that Nature’s Hand was from the midwest, with a German heritage.  The taste and feeling you got eating Nature’s Hand granola was like eating sugar from the sugar cane. Pure, natural, and yummy.  While I thought all six flavors were delicious, my favorites were the Original Recipe and Cinnamon Apple. 

I enjoyed the Original because the taste and texture were very simple but harmonious.  A granola wedding of oats, wheat, almonds, and sunflower seeds, married by brown sugar and honey. Um…um…goodness.  The Cinnamon Apple tasted like granola apple pie, if that makes any sense.  It was the perfect combination of granola and cinnamon apple chips.  I loved the fact that the cinnamon did not overpower the taste, and it was the perfect hint of apple to the whole concoction.

Not only was it yummy, it was very nutritious and perfect for my family (and yes, kids included).  The fiber content came in at 4g (good for regularity) and the protein content was at 4g (keeps the body content).  Speaking from experience, eating Nature’s Hand granola made the mouth happy, the stomach full, and the bowel, let’s say “clearly” content.  With a good size bag coming in at only $4.99, it’s a win-win situation!!

(Disclosure: Samples were provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

Massage is such a great thing for anyone.  If you have ever gotten a massage (I won’t assume that everyone has) you know that feeling of being refreshed, the tingling sensation running up and down your entire your body, and a certain feeling of lightness.  It’s such a great feeling and I wish I could have it done more often.

Growing up, since the time I can’t remember (when I was a newborn), my parents massaged me.  I just remember being so excited for that massage because it was calming, soothing, and by the end of it, I usually passed out.

Now flash forward thirty some years, and I am doing the same with my own children.  I started with my older child, when she was an infant, and now all she wants is,”mommy massage me.”  My new little one and I currently take an infant massage together and it does wonders.

There are approximately 5 mom/baby duos in our classroom and we learn about touch, as well as tuning into our baby’s needs.  We always start the massage by asking permission.  Even though babies cannot talk, we are building a foundation through communication.  Our instructor goes around the room and places her hand on each mother’s back, to make sure that the mother is in tune, and to release any tension the mother may have.

As we introduce different massages on the baby, we make sure that the baby is okay by continually communicating with the baby.  Through this communication, you learn the baby’s wants and needs, and by doing so you establish trust.

Infant massage has so many benefits physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Studies are finding that massage helps with sleep and colic, as well as building an infant’s immune system, motor skills, and intellectual development.

It not only gives you time to bond with your baby, it gives you time to check in with yourself and how you are feeling.  Being conscious is such a powerful thing.  When I leave the infant massage class with my baby, I feel that our body, mind, and spirit have gotten lighter and stronger!

Want to learn more about infant massage? Can’t go to a class? Here is more info.

My daughter and I test driving the Taga (Bliss!)

Just the other day, I had the opportunity to test drive the wonderful, amazing, and droolicious Taga bike.  As I researched online to find alternative ways to take my two children around the neighborhood, I came across Taga.  While I was doing my research some other companies did come up, but Taga offered more, and it looked way better in design (I live in a city where design is top priority).  I really don’t know where to start in describing this awesome vehicle/bike/stroller/grocery cart/carrier (<–the features/usage are endless).

Taga sideview

First and foremost, I was looking for something that could hold my two children.  While I love my Orbit System, the chief request from many parents that I have seen was that double stroller option.   Taga allows you to to have that double stroller option by having the extra seat attachment behind the front seat.

Taga Seat

Sometimes driving around the neighborhood gets time consuming, as you park the car, take individual kids out of the car seat (thank goodness I have the Orbit, which helps), put them in their strollers, go into stores/banks/post offices, take them out of their strollers, put them back in the car seats and then repeat (you get my point).  It’s not only time consuming, you use gas, which is not “green”, and its just too much energy spent.  Well, Taga let’s you eliminate all that time-wasted, as it lets you ride your children around (what a great workout), and be “green.”  How cool is that?  We have the babywearing fashion, the stroller mama fashion, and now, the ride your kids around fashion.  I can’t call it a trend, but its something that is definitely trend worthy (which will last very long).

Taga frontal view

When I told my friend about the Taga, after I went completely ga-ga over it, my friend was like, “someone is going to steel the bike, when you go into the store.”  Well, Taga is one step ahead of the game.  There ain’t no stealin this Taga.  Within 20 seconds you can transform the bike into a stroller that can glide easily into the market, like nothing ever happened.  I know it sounds unbelievable, but I saw it with my own two eyes.  So unless someone tries to steal it right before my eyes (I will karate chop their heads off at any attempt of theft), I can rest assure that it will not happen.

Taga with basket attachment

The bike also comes with some attractive attachments such as the market basket, the Graco/Maxi Cosi car seat adapter (I requested one for the Orbit), and even a wagon with a canopy.  The Taga standard can be used from 6 months-6 years of age, and the wagon attachment goes up to 7 years old.  On top of that, when your child outgrows the Taga at 6, they can start riding the bike and take the younger child around for a ride (of course in safe places such as the park).  When you think that’s where it ends, after all your kids outgrow it, you can use it to go to the market.  Talk about the usage you will get out of this sucker!

Taga Graco car seat attachment (also compatible with Maxi Cosi Mico)

It comes with the higher price tag of $1495, but considering what you get, it’s a small investment for a product that will last you a long time.  If you were to use it for 6 years, it would be $249.17 a year (rounded-up), $20.76 a month, and $0.68 a day.  So it’s quite reasonable, as you can see by the math I did.  Plus, it comes with a 2 year warranty and since they are just launching in the US, they will take very good care of you (*wink-wink*).

I was very lucky that the CEO of Taga (from the Netherlands) and the U.S. General Manager was in town for an event.  They literally brought the Taga (attachments and all) to show me and you, what we should be drooling over. Not fair!  It’s like having an ice cream sundae in front of you, and you can’t eat it (not just yet)   I do hear that they are taking pre-orders now, but the products will be in around April (so pre-order now because there is a chance of a sellout and then a backorder to follow).

First, the Taga looks absolutely stunning.  It gave me the feeling of seeing my first Aston Martin in Beverly Hills, when I first moved here.  The feeling of being a kid on a bus that looks out the window, to see something special, something that is incredible.

Since the bike looked really sturdy and durable (made of aluminum alloy), I expected it to be a really heavy ride.  I was wrong.  I felt like I was on a cloud (probably cloud nine) and the wheels were so smooth, I had to make sure I was really pedaling.  Plus, it passed the hill test.  I live in an area that is filled with hills, and it went up and down, like there were no hills.  The brakes were superb, as it stopped without any issues and absolutely no jerking involved (Shimano internal gear and advanced breaking system).  To keep it in stop mode, you literally just had to pull back one of the brakes and press a button.  The Taga also has a cute bell which made me feel like a little girl every time I rang it (it brought me back to my childhood days).

Taga Brake and Bell

Okay, so with every droolicious product, there has to be some downside, negative aspect to it.  There is one major one! When you ride that Taga around your neighborhood, people will constantly stop you!  Why?  Because they will be amazed about what they are seeing before them.  Even, when I test rode the Taga in front of my local Trader Joe’s people stopped and looked at it, and it definitely became a conversation piece.  So if you are not ready to “own-up” or “woman-up” (man-up) to those responsibilities, then look the other way.  But I’m sure you will be just as excited to talk about it, as much as you want to ride it.

So now my next question is:  Who wants to join me in a Taga Stride?  Let’s all meet on the boardwalk by the beach and take a stride/playdate with our kids.  Couldn’t you just envision the stares, the awes, and the gawks?  But more importantly, let’s bond and have some fun playtime with our kids on this amazing new bike/everything else (I won’t attempt to repeat all of its functions).  I want this bike SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much, I can taste it!  So once I can get it (plus all of its attachments), let’s meet up!  I can see a Taga Revolution happening all across America!

(Disclosure: I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

My baby’s best friend is the carrier.  Even in the midst of an unbreathable cry, when I pop out that carrier (like magic), she will stop and start to giggle.  Being a momma on the constant go, I am always looking to see the different options out there when it comes to babywearing.  So this time I wanted to look for something that would fit the lifestyle of a busy momma.  The perfect match, Cybex 2.GO Baby Carrier.  Perfectly fit for the metro mommas on the go that want a sleek stylish look and the functionality that meets any busy schedule.

2.GO in purple

I was fortunate to have tested the Cybex Callisto which happened to be a stellar on-the-go stroller.  Their matching baby carrier is nothing short of those standards.  Having been spoiled by the Callisto, I had extremely high expectations for the baby carrier.  Once I opened up the box and got a glimpse of it, I knew I was liking what I was seeing.  Note: I believe what companies need to do to stand out during this economy is to pay attention to fine detail.  First, if the design is something in between, I call it blah (neither pretty nor ugly, just average), even if you told me it had ten million options, I wouldn’t give it a second glance.  I find it sad when I see great products out there, but the design is just a little, let’s say “Little House on the Prairie.”

Living in a happening city filled with glitz and glamour, my eyes do gravitate towards the finer things in life.  Obviously, I am not going to buy everything I see (quite the contrary).  My point is if item A and item B were almost identical in fuctionality, safety, durability, and price, but item A had a nice stylish design, I would go with A.  In this case, the Cybex 2.GO is product A, and it has more versatility to it’s competitor’s only two positions (2.GO has 5 carrying positions).

The 2.GO is literally a snap-and-go carrier.  My baby goes in and out without any problems, and the straps don’t dig into my shoulders or my hips.  When I wear the carrier, I literally feel like I could go on a jog with it, but I don’t think that would be a smart idea.  Since my daughter is over 6 months now, I put her in the forward facing position when she is awake, and she definitely loves to look out into the world.  More importantly, she is securely in place (adjustable width and length, plus a nice headrest) and she looks very comfortable (the ergonomic cut molds to the baby’s naturally rounded back).  Not all carriers are made equal, as different carriers serve different purposes.  The 2.GO like its namesake is one of those ‘right out the door’ type of carrier.  It keeps you and your baby moving with ease and grace (hassle-free)!

(Disclosure: Product was provided free of charge for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

A brand that is well known in the UK, is now making a mark in the US.  Of course, before I had the opportunity to review the product, I had never heard of it before.  My initial reaction to the name Tommee Tippee, was “how cute” and “catchy.”  First and foremost, my 6 and a half month old won’t go near anything that seems to be artificial to her mouth.  Since she has been exclusively nursing at the breast, although I pump and store breastmilk in the freezer, she does not like the bottle.  We have attempted many a times and we flunk with a big F each and every time.

explora truly spill proof trainer cups

When we received the 2 pack of the Tommee Tippee explora truly spill proof trainer cups, I looked at it thinking that it would never get close to my baby’s mouth.  She doesn’t like bottles, she hates pacifiers, and she spits out the teething rings.  All odds are against us, right?  I looked at the packaging and it said for 6m+ which meant that it was perfect for my baby since she was 6 and a half months.  The cup was on the first stage of flow, Stage 1 which matched her age.  I filled the cup with breastmilk because she doesn’t drink water or juice, so breastmilk is all that she will get, plus the solids that we just started her on.

Since she is not a bottle-fed baby, she doesn’t know how to hold it up to her mouth, but she was able to hold onto the handles and keep her grip.  The next step was to see if she would actually drink out of the cup, maybe she would skip the bottle entirely and graduate to the sippy cup (with kids you never know, they do what they want to do).  My 3 year old has been feeding the baby solids, so she wanted to place the cup in front of the baby’s mouth, to see what would happen.  First, my 3 year old did a demo for her baby sister, and then she proceeded to insert the tip of the trainer into the baby’s mouth.  At first, I was cringing and waiting for “disaster” to happen.  To my surprise, she actually sucked on the tip and swallowed some of the breastmilk.  I was amazed.  However, I think a lot of factors played in the intake of the breastmilk from the sippy cup. 

We just started her on solids about a week and a half ago, so she was getting used to a spoon entering and leaving her mouth.  The sippy cup tip was very similar in feeling and curvature.  Therefore, it was an easier transition from spoon to sippy cup.  She was able to get a couple sips out before she pushed it away, but I have to say, for my baby, that was an amazing moment.

There are many things I like about the explora truly spill proof trainer sippy cups such as:

• BPA-free and Phthalate-free
• Patented advance-flo valve for guaranteed easy drinking
• Super-sensitive Active Sensor valve (spill-proof and leak-proof, still allowing liquid to flow on demand)
• Soft spout to protect child’s gum and mouth
• easy for little hands to hold
• hygiene cap
• dishwasher safe

The Tommee Tippee line has a variety of products.  The explora truly spill proof trainer cups sell at $4.99 for 1pk (9oz) or $7.99 for 2 pk (9oz).  The price is very affordable compared to what is currently on the market.  The cups are well made and the design and color combo are very cute and suits any little princess or prince.

(Disclosure: I am a reviewer for the Mom Bloggers Club.  Product was provided free of charge by Tommee Tippee for review purposes and does not affect my views or feedback of the product. This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

We all deserve some time to go away, reflect, and bond with loved ones.  Of course, I spend time with my loved ones everyday, but it’s refreshing to go away and see things differently.  My husband wanted to go fishing in Santa Barbara, so we decided to pack up “a lot” of bags, and take a nice drive to the coastline.  First, the weather couldn’t be any more perfect, and the sun hitting the ocean waves with the mountains in the backdrop, was divine.

Santa Barbara- Central Coastline

I think it’s amazing to see things through my children’s eyes.  My daughter loves being near the ocean and loves playing with sand (what kid doesn’t).  It brought me back to those days of making sand castles, having my friends bury me under a huge pile of sand, and splashing around in the water.  Watching my own daughter run around gathering sticks, shells, rocks, and trying to make her own sand art concoction, was fascinating.

start of a sand castle

The baby was fascinated by the water and the birds flying above, she was stimulated in so many ways (all 5 senses).  Seeing how she played was incredible to me because she was at ease, just like the rest of us.  It amazed me how the ocean waters could be calming, soothing, and quite stimulating to all of us. Within that short time period, as a family, we were able to get back in touch with our own individuality, and connect together as a family.

baby looking out into the water

We live in such a busy, constantly-moving, on-the-go society and sometimes it gets the better of us.  Sometimes, we need to slow down, reflect, and take care of our own needs as well.  If you have the opportunity to take a mini-vacation, I would highly suggest it because it did miracles for my family.  It doesn’t cost a lot of money and or time.  We drove an hour and a half north, packed up some lunch and snacks, and spent about a half a day there.  We had so much fun and was able to reconnect to our own needs, which in turn let us see the important things in life.

If I was going to have a baby shower anytime soon, the new Bloom Alma (bassinet to crib) would be on the top of my list of must have items.  Bloom’s products are considered to be on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to affordability, but in turn, they deliver high quality items that are droolicious!

The Alma is something very neat, as the design is in line with their other products (modern/sleek) , and the functionality (portable around the house or take it to nana’s house) makes it a bassinet/crib that you want to purchase.  Plus, at $400, it makes it semi-affordable.  Our crib was double in price and does not move around the house, fold up, or even half as attractive as the Alma.

Info:  No tools assembly (take the folded Alma out of the box and open it, wallah), fits in small spaces (37×20x33), comes in 5 colors, and you can find yours at www.giggle.com.