When it’s time to take pictures, a lot of planning goes into it.  You pick out that perfect outfit for the special occasion, you match it with the perfect pair of shoes, and you finish it off with some hair accessories (for girls).  But what happens when your baby’s hair becomes fussy?  It begins to have a mind of its own and can be as stubborn, if not more, than your own mother.  You start to panic and wonder if you should put that chemical gel or the artificial spray on your child’s buttery soft head.  In comes, Le Baby Hair Gel.  An alternative hair gel made for babies in mind and eliminates the worries of any harsh chemicals touching your child’s head or hair.

I don’t put any gel, spray, hair product on my hair because I don’t like to put in any unnecessary chemicals in my hair that I don’t have to.  When my daughter had her school pictures, I literally had to bobby pin her hair in place because of all the flyaways that made her look like a cute mess (Like Annie, pre Daddy Warbucks days), rather than a polished magazine-esque child.  Of course, my child is precious regardless of that perfected image, but I know I want my child to look put together, rather than having the after effect of a good night’s rest (messy/slept in hair).

With Le Baby Gel, I was able to tame my daughter’s tresses, and style it into the hairstyle of her choice (Minnie Mouse Up-Do).  I loved that it kept her hair in place, didn’t have those harsh chemical smells (fragrance-free), free of paraben/sulfates, and did not leave the hair stiff or sticky.  Plus, when it came to wash her hair, it rinsed right off.  It also moisturizes and thickens baby-fine hair (what more do you need).

I actually started using Le Baby to tame my own flyaways and love it.  It does the job and leaves you feeling like a more polished version of yourself.  It’s perfect for anyone who has sensitive skin.  If you have a little boy, give them the adorable mohawk that seems to be the “in” thing at this moment.  Le Baby keeps my daughter’s hair in place, the right way!  Price: $9.95

(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.)

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has become a major topic, as it is the leading cause of death for infants between 1 and 12 months (over 2,000 babies in the U.S., each year).  It’s a sad reality that becomes the nightmare of any parent who has to mourn the loss of their child from SIDS.  More and more research is being done in this area and now one of the leading risk factor is overheating.  As parents and caregivers, we are inclined to crank up the heat, place thick/plush blankets, to keep our babies warm.  However, now research is saying that infants who are overdressed and or covered in heavy blankets are at a higher risk for SIDS.

aden + anais, the creator of the original muslin swaddling blanket, is sponsoring the CJ Foundation for SIDS, as they continue to educate parents the importance of not over bundling and over-heating their infants.  Recently, the CJ Foundation launched its Sleep in Safety, Grow in Style (SSGS) campaign to educate parents in creating safe sleeping environments for their babies.  Some of the ways that we can do this is:

• Consider the use of fans to increases ventilation
• Room temperature should be comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult, approximately 61-67 degree Fahrenheit
• Cribs should be totally free of all loose blankets, stuffed animals and crib bumpers
• Lay baby to sleep in an improved crib, on a firm mattress; do not let the baby sleep on soft things, like a couch, pillow, sheepskin, foam pad or waterbed
• No smoking when pregnant or near baby
• If possible, breastfeed baby
• Offer a pacifier at bedtime
• Co-sleeping should be in the same room but not the same bed or other sleep surface as parents

I would suggest going to their site, and really taking the time to educate yourself because it can be the difference between life and death.  Our children are the most precious beings that really rely on us to take care of them.  Spread the word to your friends and family, so that we can educate everyone, and not become that statistic.

aden + anais Cozy Sleeping Bag Giveaway

As aden + anais sponsors the CJ Foundation for SIDS to continue their efforts in educating the public, they are giving away the Cozy sleeping bag which consists of four layers of aden + anais’ signature, breathable, muslin cotton in modern, fun prints to one of my readers.  In order to enter, please go to the CJ Foundation site, come back and comment one thing that you learned about SIDS.  For extra entries:

• Go to aden + anais site and tell me another product you would love to have
• Subscribe to my blog  from the sidebar on the right
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet about the giveaway and link back
• Comment on another post
• Refer a friend to my site and have them comment.

Giveaway ends February 12th, 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.

Thanks and Good Luck to all my readers!

UCLA Commons is a great community center where the family can come and relax.  I always feel great leaving there because I feel like I have gained an ounce of sanity back.  The center offers everything from Mindful Awareness, Family coaching, Martial Arts, Mommy & Me Yoga, Infant Massage, to my favorite, Mommy & Me Eco-Crafting.  It’s a very laid back atmosphere with a warm and caring staff and offers something for the entire family to enjoy.

I love to get my hands into different projects, and the Arts has been a major part of my life since I was very little.  When I heard about the Mommy & Me Eco-Crafting classe, it brought all the curiousity out in me.  Crafting?  Hmm…I didn’t every consider myself a crafter, probably more of a freehand sketch artist or a painter.  Eco?  I am always trying my best to be as green as possible, so this was definitely a thumbs up.  Eco-Crafting, like its name, is crafting but in an eco-friendly manner.  I really enjoy my time there, making hair clips, necklaces, bracelets, bags, scarves, and anything else you can think of.  Sonya Nimri teaches our class, and not only is she super creative and talented (author of two books), she has such a warm spirit.  It’s a very relaxing environment, where us mommies can unleash our creative side, while still being able to interact with our child.  If your baby needs to eat, you can literally pull out a boob to nurse (TMI, but keeping it real), and go about your daily business. 

Hair Clips made by me

If you haven’t gone to the UCLA Commons, what are you waiting for?  If you want a place where you can go and relax, meet other moms, have your children in a safe social setting, or just want to interact with other adults, this is the place to be!  I have been going there for about 3 weeks, and I cannot praise it enough (and no, I am not paid to write this).

UCLA Commons is having their Grand Opening Party on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 from 4-7pm.  They are going to have tours of the facility, live entertainment, food, product demos, and speakers.  If you can, get all your friends and family, and head on down to the party.  We deserve to have some fun, or a lot of fun, and support a neat community center that is made for US!

UCLA Family Commons
1221 2nd Street
Santa Monica, CA

I have been on a hunt to find a really sleek and modern looking water bottle for the longest time.  While many on the market are very cute (I have some of those), they are hard to wash, and with a drop, a giant dent seems to appear.  I searched all over the web and when I came across the Kor One Hydration Vessel, everything came to a sudden halt.  It was like a match made in water heaven.  With its cutting edge design, I was immediately seduced by its handsome exterior (how vain of me), and when I looked more into the “Kor” of it, I was immediately drawn in by what it stood for.  A bottle that has the looks and the character to match, it was a total package.  I know this probably sounds like some Victoria Steele Romance novel, but in all honesty, I am keeping it real.

I think the design speaks for itself and really doesn’t need a thorough explanation.  What really got my complete attention was that when you purchase a Kor One bottle, part of the sales (1%) goes to a water cause that they are supporting.  Each color of the bottle corresponds to a different water cause.  I received the bottle in Ice Blue, and the water cause that it supported was Ocean Protection.  The company is beyond making the sales quota, they clearly want to help the human life and Earth, by focusing on the core of the physical life, which is water.

I love the fact that I can see how much water I have left in the bottle, without having to guesstimate or trying to look into the bottle under good light.  The bottle is made of BPA-free Tritan, health-safe materials, so you can steer clear of recent research linking BPA to Cancer.  For functionality, it has a hinged cap for easy usage (no more cap to hold onto).  Moreover, the thread-less spout makes the drinking experience a silky smooth one and since it doesn’t retain or impart flavors, no more yucky metal or plastic taste (this definitely gets my thumbs up).  For full on specs and features please visit their site.

On a recent trip to the park, I took the Kor One Hydration Vessel with me.  I was like any Ferrari or Aston Martin owner who was proud of their goods.  Excited about my new companion, I wanted it to be in the spotlight and shine.  I wanted people to see it, stare at it, and salivate over it.  After laying out my park picnic with my kids, the Kor One literally took centerstage.  I mean of course, I wanted it to be the star, but I didn’t think it would takeover the picnic.  The group next to our area happened to be a weekly Mommy & Me playgroup. I started conversing with them about pre-schools and what not, and then one of the mom proceeded to say that she loved my bottle.  After that comment, it turned into a pass-me-around group fiesta.  For the first time, I was happy to hear my daughter whine because it meant it was time to go home.  I was able to retrieve the bottle back safely and vowed never to be so open about my bottle, at least in an open area like that.  Of course, the story doesn’t end there because once my husband laid eyes on it, he wanted to take it to the gym.

If you are in the market to buy the sleekest and sexiest bottle with a core that has substance and one that has a clear mission (a future UN ambassador), check the Kor One Hydration Vessel out here.  Plus, it has a great “Register and Recycle” Program (Currently for US residents), so you won’t be increasing your carbon footprint with this bottle!

(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.)

We have a responsibility at hand.  Even doing very little can help a lot during this crisis.  I think many of us have seen images, documented video footages, read the newspaper or an online media site, and have seen the devastation of this one nation.  Do we shut our eyes, turn our heads, or cover our ears? Or do we confront the task at hand and try to put our best foot forward and open our eyes wider, put our heads forward, and lean in closer?  I would have faith that most people would do the latter.  Some may feel that their $5 or a donated shoe may not go a long way, but if we all come together and do something to help, a little will add up to a lot, and help the nation get back up on its feet.

Today, I put my 6 month old in an Ergo and took my 3 year old, to take part in helping out in Haiti’s relief.  We first started out by going to Sports Chalet to donate 10 gently worn/almost new shoes for Souls 4 Souls.  It felt good to know we would be letting 10 individuals, both men and women, and kids have some soles for their feet.  After that we headed to Whole Foods to get some snacks before we went to the post office to drop off baby clothing for orphanages in Haiti.  After we got our snacks and came out, we were approached by a girl that was fundraising for Save the Children.  I ended up sponsoring a classroom for an entire month for $80 which includes 125 children and teacher training.  I wanted to make sure the majority of the money went to the children and I was told that 94% goes directly to the children, and the rest covers fundraising and administrative costs.  After sponsoring a classroom, which I am really excited about, we headed to the post office to send off our boxed baby clothing to Happy Heinys.  They are taking donations of new or good condition used baby clothing, small items, and diapers.  These items will be put in suitcases and missionaries will be taking it to the orphanages on the outskirts of Haiti, which hardly receives assistance, if any at all.

It felt good to make our Saturday, a day filled with service.  Remember, it’s not Haiti’s story, it’s our story!

Today, I drove all the way from the Westside of Los Angeles to the city of Tustin-Irvine, in Orange County.  Why in the world would I drive an hour out to Orange County? Well…to attend a luncheon with fellow mommies and it was hosted by…STOKKE!  I don’t know if you are aware of their products but I sure am because well made, well designed, and standout baby products are like deep, dark, luscious chocolates to me.  When I was invited to go their luncheon it didn’t take too much for me to be there, even though it was a trek to get there with two kids.

I wanted to stop by the Babies “R” Us before we went for the luncheon, to get the full demo, but I got lost, and ended up going their directly.  When I went to the luncheon I was greeted by the wonderful folks at Stokke.  They are pretty wonderful!  I loved that they were so welcoming to not only me, but my children.  They made sure we were comfortable and taken care of.  My 3 year old sat in their Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair, which by the way, is wonderful.  The design on it was steller and the fact that you could use it from baby onto adulthood, you definitely get your money’s worth!  My 6 month old sat in the Stokke Xplory stroller which also can be a highchair (<—how awesome is that!).  The design on it was extraordinary and my daughter sat their ever-so comfortably.  The seat reclines back and you can switch it from forward facing to back facing and vice versa.  If you could ever have an in-person demo like this, take advantage of it because I ended up loving the products.

My baby laying back in the Xplory

During our games of Bingo and Multiple choice game, other mommies got to win Stokke Table Tops.  My daughter was devastated when she didn’t win the game of Bingo.  I taught her a lesson that it’s not about winning and enjoying the experience (you always teach them a lesson in life).  We had a wonderful time with the other mommies and Stokke team. 

The Stokke Event at the Babies “R” Us in the Tustin Market Place off of Jamboree Road will run from today-Sunday from 11am-4pm.  I highly suggest that if you are local to the area, head on down to Babies “R” Us and learn about a great product that is now currently selling in your store.  If you RSVPed before the event started (like my readers) you will receive a $20 gift card.  I decided to use this gift card towards the purchase of reusable diapers for orphans in Haiti!

So we went back to the UCLA Baby Lab.  I didn’t know what to expect this time, but thought it would be the same thing that we did last time.  Hopefully, now that she was a couple weeks older, there would be more involved.  The last time we went in, they told us what they were doing, but as in results, there were none.

We were taken into a room with a darkroom/booth with the monitor screen in it.  The setup was the same as the last time, only this time, we were in a different room.  They adjusted the monitor so that it would detect the baby’s eyes very well and then tested it by playing the muppets (which by the way, my baby has no interest in).   She sat on my lap and they began the testing process.  They flashed images with tools, faces, animals, furniture, etc.  The testing was approximately 15-20min, which was a lot longer than the last time.  Between images, they had this image of an orbital module flash inwards and outwards with a galactic sound, as well as a rattle that went back and forth.  Every time they lost my baby’s attention, they would play this to put her back on track.

After the testing was over, the research assistant asked if I would like to watch the playback of what my baby was looking at.  When she played back the test, she explained that my baby had really great focus and was looking at faces of people.  Most babies her age cannot do this well, but she did (I admit that I did have a proud momma moment).  It showed that she was going to have great social skills.  The study was tuning into social skills between boys and girls at that age.  Boys look mostly at tools, while girls tend to look at social images, such as faces.  I found that to be fascinating at such a young age.

I think if you get the opportunity to be involved in their researches, you should definitely consider it.  Also, I was happy to see on their wall of pictures (which are all their babies that have participated in their studies) that some new celebrity mommies have brought their babies in for research.

I came across the Cybex Callisto Stroller when I was searching for my second stroller, which would be my everyday go-to home stoller. With my first daughter, that happened to be my Maclaren.  I always like to have one stroller for my everyday use while running errands with my car and one for my home, that I use while running errands around my neighborhood or simply strolling.

At first glance it was very easy on the eyes. A stroller that was sleek and sexy.  I have to compare buying strollers to buying a purse. Whereas my husband would compare it to buying a car.  For me, like buying a purse, it has to look nice, last long (durable), and be able to hold everything nicely and in place.  I see a stroller as a long term purchase, as I will be seeing myself using it at least for 2-3 years.

There are so many qualities that I look for in a stroller that fits my needs on a daily basis.  First, the design on the stroller is very important to me.  The look of the stroller, in many ways, will represent my style sense.  Second, the durability is of maximum importance.  If it looks like it will break in half after a month of use, I will pass.  I am not looking for something that will become a high risk situation that requires a trip to the ER.  Third, manueverability, how easy is it to handle going down a neighborhood sidewalk to a more steeper hill, and does it make smooth turns.  Fourth, ease of use, closing/opening of the stroller, the brakes, and setting the stroller up.  Fifth, storagibility, it needs to be able to hold my nursing cover, baby’s jacket, a diaper clutch, and possibly a little bit of grocery when I walk over to my local Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.  Sixth, stroller’s mass, I don’t need anything that weighs over 25lbs that will strike up my sciatica at a moment’s notice.  Seventh, all the extras, things that I didn’t think of or things that I feel are added bonuses.

When I received the Cybex Callisto and took it out of the box, it was almost too simple to setup.  I literally just snapped in the wheels and I had a working stroller.  I then did a visual inspection of the stroller and loved the sleek design and how secure and durable the stroller felt.  The stroller was also on the light side as I didn’t have to break my back to carry it up the stairs.  

The day I received the stroller, it was raining outside (wow!), which was surprising because it hardly rains in Los Angeles.  I busted out the rain shield cover which came with the stroller.  I had to take it on an immediate test-run.  Attaching the rain shield was almost too simple, I had to double check to make sure I didn’t miss anything. It was as easy as placing it on top of the stroller hood and securing it with velcros.  When we placed the baby inside the stroller, the shoulder straps were very secure and padded (central one-pull harness system), and the seats were padded comfort.  It took 2 seconds, okay, maybe 3 to recline the seat to fit my baby’s comfort (5 reclining positions, one hand operation).  Another added feature was the 3-position canopy with retractable visor (you can’t get enough protection from the sun).

For the test drive, we took my baby and stroller out in the rain.  The first thing I noticed when I started to push the stroller was how smoothly the aluminum wheels (extremely soft comfort suspension) moved up and down our hilly street.  Also, the handles were adjustable, so I was able to pull it up, and custom tailor it to my height.  The turns around the corner were silky smooth and were completely free of any sudden jerking movements.  Another plus was that I didn’t have to take a diaper bag with me.  I put my wallet and keys in the storage pocket right behind the stroller and put the diapers, nursing cover, baby’s jacket, and blanket in the storage bin below.  Everything fit perfectly and had just the right amount of space for my local run to the stores.  After we came back home, strolling in the rain for about an hour, the baby was completely dry and rain-free. 

We have been using the stroller on and off for about a month, and it never fails to impress me.  I have been stopped in the streets by other mothers who ask me where I got the stroller and the common consensus was that they loved the design on it.  It’s too bad I have to return it after my test drive.   I would definitely recommend this to parents who want a reliable stroller that has almost everything you need with the style to match.  My only suggestion that would make this stroller even better, is adding a drink holder.  I always need something to drink and because I didn’t have that attachment, I was holding onto the water bottle while I was strolling.

UPDATE: As I posted this review, on Twitter (@cybexbaby) there was a tweet about the new Cybex Cupholders.  So now you have one complete stroller!

(Disclosure: A test stroller was sent to me for review purposes. This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)