How much is your mobile phone bill?  For me, it pretty much rivals my car insurance premium, so at a money standpoint, it doesn’t look smart (I pay a high premium for living in the beautiful city of Los Angeles where most people can’t drive).

For years, the one reason that kept my mom from getting a smartphone was the additional costs associated with it (you know, the data charges).  She wouldn’t be using much of anything and still have to pay for everything.

With money-savvy customers in mind, like my mom, T-Mobile introduced the $50 Monthly4G plan where you get unlimited talk, text and web (first 100MB at up to 4G speeds and no annual contract).  If you’re not much of a talker, but want to maximize your web usage, then you can opt for the cheapest plan which is $30 and includes 100 minutes of talk time, unlimited text, and unlimited data (first 5GB at up to 4G speeds).

After hearing about the $50 plan from my aunt, my mom quickly signed up and got herself a smartphone.  The best part was that she actually saved $10 off her monthly bill with unlimited everything (her previous plan only included talk time).

As I was contemplating my own switch, I found out about the Walmart Family Plan (monthly post-paid and no annual contract).  For only $45, you get unlimited talk, text and web (at up to 3G speeds).  If you’re a 4G user wanting to maximize your speeds up to 4G, then you may want to pay that extra $5 for the Monthly4G plan.  But if you’re looking to get your foot in the door and try things out, then this is the plan for you.  Plus, it’s only an additional $35 to add a line, so it’s perfect for a family.

As a T-Mobile user, I’ve definitely had my ups and downs.  But every time I’m about to call it quits, they come out with a better plan that saves me even more money. For now, I’m going to call T-Mobile and go through all my options (including the Walmart Family Plan).

SIDS Awareness Month is 6 months away, but as we know SIDS can happen at anytime, anywhere and to anyone.  Because of that, as parents and caregivers, we should educate ourselves how to best prevent it.

The CJ Foundation for SIDS has been at the forefront of educating the public about SIDS.  Parents and caregivers to infants can now get the newest and most updated information about SIDS through their newsletter.

In order to continue their efforts in educating the public, they have partnered with aden + anais once again, to give away a swaddling blanket or sleeping bag, to one of my readers.  Please sign up for the newsletter to get an entry into the giveaway.

For additional entries (each entry must be a separate comment):

• Comment on 1 thing you learned about SIDS.
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet about the Giveaway
• Subscribe to Mommas in The House

Giveaway ends April 28th, 2011 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.

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!

It’s every parent’s nightmare to lose their child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, otherwise knows as SIDS.  As parents, there are things that we could do and measures we could take, to reduce the possibility of this happening.  Once known as ‘crib death’ because the infant would be found dead after being put to bed with no signs of suffering, SIDS is the last thing any parent wants to face.

So what can we do?  First and foremost, educate ourselves about SIDS and learn about things we could do, in our power, to reduce the risk of SIDS .  Also, passing on information to other parents and caregivers about SIDS.

Halo Innovations, makers of the Sleepsack is joining the fight against SIDS.  They recently launched a campaign on their Facebook to spread the message about SIDS.  On their facebook page, you can test your Safe Sleep IQ quiz and send Safe Sleep Tips to your friends. 

By following these simple steps, parents and caregivers can help their baby survive and thrive:

• Place your baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and night time.
• Use a safety approved crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress.
• Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers and positioners).
• Use a SleepSack™ wearable blanket to replace loose blankets in your baby’s crib.
• DO NOT put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (sofas, chairs, water beds, quilts, sheep skins, etc.).
• Room sharing is safer than bed sharing.
• DO NOT dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
• DO NOT let anyone smoke around your baby or be in a room where someone has recently smoked.
• Educate relatives, baby sitters and other caregivers about these important safety tips.
• Tummy time is important for babies while they are awake and being supervised. Place your baby on his or her tummy for playtime to help strengthen their upper body muscles.

Help raise awareness about SIDS and spread the word.  There is nothing more scarier to a parent than to see their child lifeless.  I myself, check on my baby multiple times during her naptime, just to hear her breath.  Let’s join in the fight to reduce the risk of SIDS, so that parents do not have to face the harsh reality of losing a child.

Just a few days ago, I received one of the best emails that I could receive.  With Earth Day right around the corner on April 22nd, 2010 , I was happy to receive an email from kaufDA (a German based company) about making my blog carbon neutral.  Over the year of my blog’s existance, I have been talking about reducing my carbon footprint, trying to be conscious, and going green.  However, I never really thought about my blog being carbon neutral.  I guess I just assumed that my blog was carbon neutral.  So when I received this email, it immediately got my attention.

Were you aware that a blog with 15,000 visits a month has a yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 8lbs?  Wow!  I would have never thought that a blog could do that.  So in order to neutralize my blog’s carbon footprint, I am taking part in the campaign “My blog is carbon neutral.”  For every blog that participates, a tree will be planted by the Arbor Day Foundation in Plumas National Forest in Northern California.  You will be helping to rebuild the Plumas National Forest which was destroyed by two fires in 2007.  For every blog that participates, one tree will be planted.

Make a difference and make your blog carbon neutral!  For more information on participating, go here.

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

• 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

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.

Thanks and Good Luck to all my readers!

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 (37x20x33), comes in 5 colors, and you can find yours at www.giggle.com.

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!

Yesterday, I woke up and as usual, checked my emails as part of my daily morning routine.  One email I wanted to share with you was from Happy Heinys.  With the recent earthquake in Haiti, and all the help that is needed, I thought we could all help out in the relief efforts.  I know some people are skeptical when it comes to donations because sometimes you wonder if your donations are going directly to those that are affected.  Also, it doesn’t help that there are Haiti relief scams going around the web (very unfortunate).  Please read the email from Happy Heinys below and see how you can help.

We have been very saddened to hear that due to the recent earthquakes in Haiti in the Port Au Prince area, a couple of the orphanages we have worked closely with over the last fews years have been completely devastated.