If there is one thing I always have on hand in my diaper bag, it’s the Bamboo Leg Huggers.  My mom bought these for me when I had my first child and it’s the one thing that I actually use all the time.  They are a must have item in my household, considering the varying temperature in Southern California (our mornings/nights are cold and days warm).  Most of the time my daughters are in tanks, t-shirts, and shorts because it’s regional appropriate.  However, when the clock strikes 5 pm, the weather tends to get a little chilly.  The soft leg huggers are such a life saver because when my daughter says she is cold, I can take those suckers out and she puts a pair on her legs and a pair on her arms.

I love the Bamboo Leg Huggers because they are 100% sustainable, breathable, UV Protective, odor resistent, antibacterial, chemical and pesticide free, and so very comfortable.  It has everything a parent wants and takes out everything a parent doesn’t want!  My daughter loves the leg huggers because she can pick out the designs that represent her style and therefore create her own fashion identity.  My 11month old baby started to wear the leg huggers since she was a newborn and it’s been so perfect and gentle on her knees, while she crawls away on our hardwood floors.

Both of my daughters love wearing their leg huggers.  I too love borrowing them from my daughters on my cold nights from sleeping.  They are super-soft and comfortable, and knowing that they are eco-friendly makes me a very happy mommy!

(Disclosure: This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

Wow!  It’s almost summer and it’s that time of the year to announce PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Summer Campaign Winners.  I am always curious to see who made the cut because parents (like you and I) decide the winners!  If you haven’t signed up to be an evaluator with PTPA, you can go here to sign up.  Who knows?  You may be the next parent to try out something really special for your child and in turn, give your PTPA stamp of approval.

Summer Campaign Winners included are:

Encouraging peel & post mirror notes: Thought spots are encouraging messages that you can put on your mirrors, windows, and other clean shiny surfaces.  It’s a great way to encourage you child and also bring a smile to their face.  (I put “I believe in you” on my bathroom mirror and it brings a smile to me everytime).

Dora the Explorer Talking Digital Camera:  The camera has a very cute design, perfect for the little Dora fan, and it says three different encouraging phrases. (I think my preschooler will go gaga over this.  She already has the talking backpack.)

Boba 2G: A soft structured carrier designed to meet the needs of children 15-45lbs. Boba features patent-pending foot straps, which keep the child’s legs at a natural 90-degree angle, promoting proper circulation and posture. (I would love to try this out and see how I like it compared to my Ergo that I use on a daily basis).

Dyson 25Animal: A vacuum cleaner that actually looks like an animal but also made for homes that deal with stubborn pet hair.  Dyson known for it’s innovative ball technology has definitely come out with something super innovative.

Click here to view the full line-up of winners.

As always, I will bring you the inside scoop on some of these products and will give you my honest feedback.  If you are trying to decide on a baby shower gift, a gift for your own child, or even something for yourself and your just not sure, take a look at PTPA’s growing list of great products ( I always reference the site).

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.

When I was younger, my mom would pack my lunch and she would write me letters of encouragement, telling my how special I was, how proud she was of me, and how she wished she could do more for me.  Thinking back to those days, bring tears to my eyes.  My mother was right, you don’t know a mother’s heart until you become a mother yourself. 

The letters always brought a smile to my face and I always looked forward to the next one.  Now that I am a mother myself and I pack lunches for my daughter, I want my daughter to have her own special moments.  For a child (even adults), there is nothing like opening up a lunchbox and seeing that special message from your mother or father.  The message is for you and only you!

Who would have thought that you could buy pre-made message cards, just for your child?  Lunchbox Love® for kids gives any child’s lunchbox that special needed touch.  The notes come in volumes which contain 10 cards and 2 blank cards.  They have special phrases such as “I Love You” and “You can do anything you set your mind to.”  Behind each card are some fun facts like “The average bed has over 6 billion dust mites.”  Okay, yuck!!!  Sometimes, as parents we may get writer’s block or shall I say parent’s block, and these cards are perfect for those times.  With many phrases that could fit any day, sad or happy, these positive words will brighten and add a spark to any child’s lunch.

I put the cards in my daughters lunchbox and although she could not read yet (her teacher reads them to her), she loved them.  Every morning before we go to her school, she makes sure that there is a card in her lunchbox.  The other day, she looked at me after peaking in her lunchbox, and gave me a thumbs-up.  We both looked at each other and laughed.  Those are special moments that cannot be bought.  It’s just as exciting picking out the messages, as much as she enjoys getting them.  When she starts to read, I’ll be filling those blank cards with my own special messages, just for her.

At just $3.99 per volume or $15.96 (free shipping) for volumes 1-4 or volumes 5-8, the price can’t be beat.  Seeing that sparkle in my daughter’s eye for a message in a lunchbox was priceless.  I feel very special knowing that I could give my baby what my mom gave me!

(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.)

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Giveaway ends April 13, 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!

I do.  When I am making weird odd noises, contorting my face into different facial expressions, and doing my own version of Cirque de Soleil, I wonder what goes on in my baby’s mind.  Is she really liking it or is she laughing at me because she thinks I’m a freak show?  For all that I do, and I do A LOT, I want to be able to see things from my baby’s perspective.

Look no further, Just Ask Baby gives you just that.  It’s an online video membership service that let’s us parents, take a glimpse into our baby’s world at different months (from birth to age one) or developmental stages (perceptual, cognitive, and social development) and use that tool to help us nurture our own baby’s full developmental potential.  Why did I not come up with this first?

The second you log on, right before your eyes, the categories are divided by your child’s senses.  The videos are divided by age (in this case months), so you can see what your baby is currently like, or take a peak into his or her near future. With these videos, I learned so many things and got answers for things that I never even questioned, as I thought that it was a form of rebellion.  I never knew that a baby throwing toys on the floor was a form of developing ideas. To see the science behind the child’s actions was very refreshing and educational.

Even though these videos were science-based, they were not educational in the boring sense.  They kept me engaged and was informational in a fun way. I loved seeing the baby’s viewpoint of the mom and dad, and even the little detail of the baby blinking the eyes, made it so much more real.

The monthly membership cost is $9.95 and if you sign up for longer periods, you get some great discounts.  You can also get a free trial membership to test it out.  Jusk Ask Baby is also a great baby shower gift and just to let you know, it recently won the PTPA stamp of approval!

(Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this review and used their free trial membership.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

Hi Everyone!

As many of you know, I am part of the PTPA Panel of Moms.   At this time PTPA is trying to reach 2000 followers by Christmas and you can help PTPA reach it’s goals.   All you have to do is go to Twitter and add @PTPA. Each time PTPA gains an extra 100 followers, there will be a prize giveaway, by random draw.

See you on Twitter!
Follow me @Mommasinthehous
Follow PTPA @PTPA

As parents, we count on each others’ opinion when it comes to making choices on products, a caregiver, a ballet class, a local preschool, even down to what child-friendly restaurants to eat at.  As a mother, I definitely like to see what other parents have to say about certain things that have to do with our children.  Before buying my expensive Orbit stroller, I looked to see what other Orbit users thought about the stroller, the pluses and minuses, and then decided on the purchase.  Even when I was looking for my midwife, I went on local message boards to find my match. In order to make smart conscious decisions, we really rely on one another’s opinions as a society (I mean that’s why message boards are so successful).

One place I went to seek great information on child/maternity/nursing products was PTPA Media.  This is not a publicity plug on my behalf.  I truely liked to see what products were out on the market and why they were so outstanding because they were chosen by parents like you and me (Parent Tested Parent Approved).  I actually purchased a lot of the products that won the seal of approval because they were super child-friendly, user-friendly, and innovative.

After being the person that was on the other end, who got to see what other parents liked, I finally got to be that parent-evaluator.  On top of that, I became a part of the PTPA Panel of Moms.  I get to evaluate all different kinds of products where I can offer my honest feedback.  It’s pretty much a tell all say all and that’s what I love.  When you see a winning product on PTPA’ s site, you know you are looking at a great product that’s been tested and approved by parents like you and I.

As part of being on the PTPA Panel of Moms, I got to evaluate Cloud B Bamboo LullaBag.  It’s a perfect and safe blanket alternative to keeping your baby warm and comfortable. Plus, it’s made of bamboo, so it’s very eco-friendly.  The LullaBag is very well made and the fabric is soft to touch.  The two way zipper offers convenience which allows easy access without waking the baby.  Last but not least, using the LullaBag vs. regular bedding/comforter reduces the risk factors associated with SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and suffocation.  The Bamboo LullaBag won the PTPA seal of approval and its great to know that I tested the product.

Be a part of the evaluating process and visit PTPA Media online.

Just wanted to let you know PTPA Media recently announced their Spring winners. I love referring back to the PTPA Media site for product information, as well as what innovative products are on the market. Most recently, I became a part of the PTPA Panel of Moms, and I am very excited to be a part of it. All the products that are on the site have been evaluated by parents like you and me, and we give our very honest opinions. If you like evaluating products, I would suggest you join the PTPA Media by signing up to be an evaluator.

KINeSYS offers a line of sunscreen sprays and creams that are designed with your active family in mind. Included in this prize pack is a large bottle of their NEW SPF 30 Girl’s Sunscreen Spray . This performance sun block is even better with the addition of Vitamin E and a new Vanilla fragrance in a cute pink bottle! Also included is a travel bottle of the SPF Girl and their award winning KINeSYS for kids. All of their sunscreens are gentle non-irritating sprays that go on easily and dry fast for little athletes on the go. They are alcohol free and continue to use the highest quality recyclable materials for their packaging and non-aerosol pumps for their sprayers. Their products are never animal tested.

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Giveaway ends June 14th, 2009 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!

I came across this site about a year ago when I wanted to know more about good products on the market for my daughter. The company is called PTPA Media Inc., which also stands for Parent Tested, Parent Approved. Just like the name, it’s reviewed by parents like you and I, and then we decide if the product is worthy enough to have our seal of approval. I found this site to be very informational and I got to learn about products that I would not have otherwise. They review everything from bibs, lotions, lunches, dvds, to books. The site pretty much covers the entire spectrum of products. If you have ever thought about becoming a tester/evaluator, you can sign up to be in their database, which has a library of 12,000 other parents. Please visit their site at: http://www.ptpamedia.com/