I may have the perfect gift for you, your friend, your mom, or just about anyone who celebrates Mother’s Day.  

Mother’s Day is so much about cherishing our mothers and giving our gratitudes to them.  Wouldn’t it be would be nice to give them something that would directly impact the lives of pregnant and new mothers, and save lives?  Giving the gift of life. 

mothers2mothers is honoring Mother’s Day by giving anyone who donates $50 or more, a special Mother’s Day card and a music video on DVD created by 17-year old rising star Rachel Eskenazi-Gold entitled “Save An Angel” (created in tribute to mothers2mothers moms).

mothers2mothers (www.m2m.org) helps pregnant women and new mothers in Africa learn how to prevent the spread of HIV to their children, saving hundreds of thousands of lives a year.  Moreover, nearly all of m2m babies are born HIV-negative (which is quite amazing!).

For more information about mothers2mothers and how you can give a gift in your mother’s honor, please go here. Gifts must be made by April 30, 2010 for your recipients to receive their cards and DVDs before Mother’s Day.

To celebrate the arrival of the new Angus Gold Rush Steak, Coco’s is giving away over $10 million in prizes! Everyone wins something from food to discounts to the Grand Prize of $100,000.  Go to your local Coco’s to receive your scratch card.  It would be awesome if one my readers went home $100,000 richer!!!

Living in sunny Southern California, sun protection is something very high on my list.  With skin cancer on the rise and more studies on sun exposure being released, I want to make sure that my family and I are protected from the sun’s harsh rays.  In my early twenties, I was guilty of trying to lay out in the sun, with the hopes of getting the perfect bronzed tan (I did not lay out much, but I did try).  I’m grateful it was only a phase and I did not continue to expose myself to the sun.

One day I saw a walking example of what sun exposure could do for a person.  At a local market, I came across an older lady who looked completely cooked or may I say baked to a medium dark brown.  She reminded me of how a baked potato looked like after baking in the oven for a good amount of time.  Brown and shriveled.  Not sure your views on that, but to me, it’s not attractive and you almost want to run up to them and slather on some SPF 50+ sunscreen.

Having children, you constantly think about a whole array of things, and sun protection is one of those things you cannot ignore.  I personally think, you could never go overboard on sun protection.  Our child’s skin is[[ so fragile and sensitive that getting a sunburn during their childhood, not only increases, but doubles their chances of developing melanoma later in life. Now, that’s scary!  So what I don’t do now, can have a direct impact on my children’s health in the future (like everything else).

So what do I do to protect my children?  I use a good sunscreen with a high SPF (no chemicals), I have sunshades in the car, they wear sunglasses and hats, and to my best ability, have them stay in the shade.  I try my best, but with research and new products on the market, there is always something more that I could do to protect my children.

Protect-A-Bub Classic Sunshade is a highly effective solution to having your child covered, whether they are riding on their stroller or sleeping in the car seat while you travel.  When my preschooler was a toddler, she used to always pull down her canopy shades because the sun would blind her eyes.  Our solution was to take a thin blanket and put it over the canopy and stuff it under her toes.  Well, it looked ghetto.  But more importantly, she was hardly protected from the sun’s rays.  The Classic Sunshade has a rated UPF 50+, which is the highest rating possible for UV sun protection (that’s pretty impressive).  Since it’s made of woven polyester microfiber, it’s breathable and doesn’t retain heat (a biggy for my daughter, as she always complains about being sweaty).

The Classic Sunshade was very easy to attach to the stroller and I liked that the frame was durable.  Even though my baby’s Orbit Infant Seat had a paparazzi shade, I attached the sunshade to see how my baby would react to it.  She didn’t whimper like she usually does.  She could still be protected from the sun, not have an extreme glare, and still see the outside world.  Like anything in life, it’s a choice, and I choose to protect my kids.  For me, extra sun protection, preventing sun damage, and reducing the chances of melanoma, is priceless!

(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.)

Petit Confection, a French inspired children’s clothing line is holding a virtual fundraiser from now until MAY 1st to support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a charity that raises funds to support pediatric cancer research.  Their goal is to raise $10,000 within the next week through online donations.  
 
Supporters just need to make a minimum $5 donation to qualify for Mother’s Day grand prize worth $1000.  Gifts include Isabella Oliver dress, Mamamio boot camp kit, Tali Gillette mama necklace, and more…

For more information on the charity and how to donate:

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer blog: http://blog.cookiesforkidscancer.org/?p=348
 
Online FUNDRAISER: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108513119188434

What an honor to be featured on Cafe Mom as their Baby Mama of the Week.  With all the ups and downs throughout the week and questioning if I’m being the best mom that I can be, sometimes it feels good to get a pat on the back.  I’m sure all you mommas out there know what I am talking about. 

This week was just as adventure packed as last and by the end of the night, my body went into it’s own state of levitation.  One of the mom’s at my daughters preschool (who has had no sleep herself for starting her own French cafe) told me to stop doing all the household chores and get some naps in for myself.  But for me, it’s easier said than done. 

I admit that sometimes I feel like a walking, talking, cleaning zombie, and I should drop everything to regain my sanity back.  However, I just feel like I’m going through my own parental developmental milestones.  Everything is a process and soon I will look back and say, “those were the good old days!”

If you get a chance today, please stop by The Stir on Cafe Mom, to see me featured as the Baby Mama of the Week and my answers to five questions!

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and everyone around the world will be celebrating this eventful day.  You don’t have to be a treehugger to be a part of the celebrations and it’s a day where we can reflect on our habits and how it directly impacts the earth.

Throughout the year, before Earth Day, my family and I try our best to be green and eco-friendly.  Whether it’s using reusable bags to carry our grocery items or walking to the bank (rather than using the car), we try to make a conscious effort in the little things we do on a daily basis.

When I see others loitering freely on the streets, it irritates me because I’m trying my best to take care of the world we live in, and the person over there thinks Wilshire Boulevard is his ever-so convenient landfill.  But what can I do, except keep doing what I do and hope that those that don’t care, will be educated.

I ’m no saint when it comes to being green and eco-friendly (I have glitches here and there), but I do make a conscious effort in trying my best to be gentle to the earth.  I think at the end of the day, what matters is that we make a collective effort in trying to do our part to help the environment thrive and like our bodies, stay healthy.

These are some of the simple things my family and I do to be eco-conscious:

• Use reusable bags for grocery items (if you go to Whole Foods you received a 5 cent refund for every bag)
• Use water bottles free of BPA (we use Kor and Sigg)  instead of buying plastic bottled water. Not only is it eco-conscious, it’s healthy as well. 
• Walking to the grocery store, post office, bank, restaurant, park, or anywhere that you go on a daily basis.  You will be getting good exercise, saving money, and being good to the environment!
• Receiving paperless bill statements that are directly emailed to you.  Not only does it save trees, it also saves time and energy.
• Use energy efficient appliances.  Doesn’t seem like much, but it saves energy and your money.
• Use cloth diapers and biodegradable inserts (we use GroBaby).  Disposables take up to 50o years to break down.  Since biodegradable inserts are plastic-free, it takes about 50-150 days to break down in a landfill. Cloth diapers, zero break down, just wash and reuse.
• I pack my preschooler’s lunch in her lunchbox (we use Yubo).  By using a resusable lunchbox, you save trees and the energy needed to produce disposable ones.
• My blog is carbon neutral.  If you have a blog make it carbon neutral by going here.

There are so many things you could do to be green.  It’s not meant to be difficult.  Start by using reusable bags and in a matter of months, it will become your lifestyle.  Happy Earth Day!!!

I think back to my childhood and remember how the first day of school was the biggest day of the year.  Months before, I would pick out my outfit, my new backpack, my shoes, and a whole bunch of other things, including my lunchbox.  Everything had to be just right. It would be the day that everyone would see what the other had or didn’t have.  Thinking back, it was such a stressful day.  I wanted the day to end before it even started!

I remember when I had to transfer from my Catholic preschool (where lunch was served) to my new public preschool (where lunch had to be brought), I did not look forward to lunch time.  It was just an awkward feeling of having to figure out where to sit, when I didn’t know a single person.  After I figured out where I was going to sit, I took out my lunchbox from my backpack, and that’s when the party started.  All the girls circled me at the table and it was because of my fabulous Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox.  I instantly went from a nobody to a celebrity, in a matter of a second.

As a little girl, I was so proud of carrying my Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox.  Now flash-forward twenty some years and the lunchbox that brings out that same feeling for my daughter is her Yubo lunchbox.  Before her Yubo, she was carrying her lunch in this little bag that her grandmother purchased from a local artist in Thailand.  Although it was cute, she wasn’t at all interested in lunchtime because lunchtime felt more like a task than showtime (a food event).  Presentation is very important!

Yubo, is such a kid friendly lunchbox that your kids can customize to his or her own taste.  With a variety of faceplates and the option to use your own pictures, this lunchbox can be different everyday of the year, depending on you and your child’s needs.  On top of that, it’s bpa free, antimicrobial, recyclable, and dishwasher safe.  It comes in two configurations to meet your lifestyle and budget.  Overall, it’s a perfect lunchbox for any kid, even the kid at heart, to take their lunchtime goodies in.

With Earth Day nearing and consumers getting more educated on eco-friendly goods, the Yubo is on the top of my list.  The design is sleek but cute and child-friendly.   It’s very durable and functional, and most importantly, eco-friendly!  At $21.95 for the Standard and $29.95 for the Deluxe, it is competitively priced.

Parent Tested Parent Approved has the BEST fans. We have a tight-knit community of parents who:
 
a) Wait in anticipation for our Award Winners to be announced
b) Register to become a parent evaluator so their voice and opinions are heard
c) Spread the news to other parents about our program and products
d) Provide continual feedback about our Award Winners, our featured products and contests
 
And for this, we just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU!
 
Every Friday throughout the month of April, we’ll hold a different quickie-contest on our Facebook fan page. The fans who participate will have the chance to win FABULOUS prizes, donated by PTPA Award Winners! Our first contest was held on April 2nd, and 10 lucky winners are now super excited to receive their Parent Approved goodies! Last week, we welcomed 500 new fans thanks to suggestions from our loyal followers.
 
Want to be in on the fun? Make sure you’re a fan of PTPA on Facebook, and tune in each Friday to see what you need to do to qualify for the Fan Appreciation contests. It’s almost too easy to win!

For a chance to win and be a fan on Facebook please go here.

I don’t know about you, but I am always losing numbers, misplacing information, and have problems remembering the smallest things I need to do for that day (major brain freeze).  I’m a normal mother who use to be super-organized, but the two kids I have, got the better of me.  Now my bestfriend is the top blank portion of my grocery receipt or a bill envelope where I write down all my phone numbers, doctors’ information, and even directions from Mapquest (I know, I should be with the in-crowd and start using a GPS).

One day when my friend came over to take care of my baby for about 2 hours while I went away for a meeting, I wrote down all the necessary information and instructions on an old art project my preschooler did.  I looked completely ghetto, but it was my friend, and that’s how we roll, feelin me?  I know my friend had a hard time reading all the information, as it was intermittently interrupted by crayons, scribbles, and little faces of princesses.  I realized I needed one place where I could store all my important phone numbers, information, and even the smallest reminders, as I am sometimes taken over by ‘mommy brain’ (if you’re a mommy, you know what I am talking about).

Introducing, Baby Everywhere Information Station.  A simple solution for my everyday problem.  I can hang it on the fridge and have all my pertinent information right there, all in one place.  A great resource for babysitters, nannies, grandparents, caregivers, and definitely myself.  It’s a sanity saver!  Out with the old (receipts, envelopes, art projects, etc…) and in with the new (Information Station).

Speaking of Earth Month, this is a great way to reduce any extra paper usage (you have a write-and-wipe surface).  Also, because all the necessary information is intact in one place, you wont have to bother or waste time writing down the same information over and over again.

Information Station also comes in English and Spanish (great fo dual language households).  At $19.95, it doesn’t break the bank, and is quite affordable to the masses.  I like the fact that I can have everything in one place and also have the option to write down reminders for MYSELF!!!                                                                                                             

• Recommended by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• Voted by iParentingMedia.com as one of the most outstanding safety products of the year
• And now a PTPA Winner!!!!

(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.)

And now for the Giveaway!

• Subscribe to Mommas in the House
• Follow @Mommasinthehous on Twitter.
• Tweet about the giveaway and link back (unlimited entries)
• Comment on other posts
• Refer a friend to Mommas in the House and comment
• Sign up to become a Parent Evaluator through PTPA – http://www.ptpamedia.com/register_evaluators.php

Giveaway ends April 30, 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. Open to US and Canadian residents only.

Thanks and Good Luck to all my readers!