Mutsy Grow-Up!
I remember when we first bought Little AG a high-chair. It was one of the items I didn’t receive at my baby shower, and it didn’t feel like it was that pressing of a purchase to make since I much preferred to feed her while she was sitting in my lap. We did eventually take the plunge and purchase one, and I’ll never forget how excited she was just to have the independence to sit on her own and watch us. I took a coupla stabs at cooking while Little AG sat in her high chair and munched on a teething biscuit, watching me with unmasked curiosity (wondering why she’d never seen me cook before, I’m guessing…). Sadly, those days are long gone, and by that I mean my attempts at cooking.
Oh, ok. The days of me trying to coax her to sit in a high chair are long gone as well.
Every time I try to sit her in the highchair, I hear loud protests of “Mommy, ouff! Ouff!” (Translation: Out…or off. I’m not sure, but I know it means she’s not happy in there!) I figured out pretty quickly that our highchair days were over – it was time for a big girl seat. When I began my quest for a booster seat, I discovered that not all boosters are created equal. I mean, they all have the same basic functions, but you know — some of them are just not that cute. Apart from safety and functionality, I’ll just be honest in saying that the aesthetics of things are important to me. If it’s not cute, I’m probably not buying it. Just sayin’.
Mutsy was kind enough to send Little AG a Mutsy Grow-Up Booster – and I couldn’t get it out of the box fast enough. It straps down safely to any “grownup” chair, and has a really cool harness that goes over the shoulders as well as around the waist to keep my squirmy worm of a daughter securely in place. You can use the Grow-Up as soon as your child can sit unaided – which means you can skip the highchair altogether and just buy a booster. I wish I had realized that before I purchased our highchair, since our love affair with it is clearly over! Plus um, did I mention how COOL it looks? My favorite part, apart from the fact that it looks like a booster seat you would have found the Jetson’s using, is that the molded seat is soft and squishy, and very comfortable. And yes, I do know this firsthand. Curiousity killed the cat, and almost broke the booster, because I sat in it myself! Ok, it didn’t seem like it was breaking, but considering that it’s for use only for kids up to 4 years of age…well…I’m sure it wasn’t meant for my adult frame. But, like I said…very comfy!
Mutsy makes some really cool products, all of which I find asthetically pleasing. The Mutsy Grow-Up retails for $60, and you can get 10% off any Mutsy order if you use the code “cscmu”.
Baby Needs Kidneybeenz! {Giveaway CLOSED}
Well hello once again Chic Shopper Chick Readers! It’s Sarah from over at Bio Girl back with a review for a great new baby item. I had our sweet Henry four weeks ago and I am finally getting my feet under me enough to have time to do important things like going shopping and writing product reviews for CSC! So, I am here today to tell you about my new love; the Kidneybeenz burp cloths. They have quickly become one of my very favorite and most used baby items!
The Kidneybeenz are the genius creation of Jillian over at Kustom Baby Stuff. They are 100% cotton burp cloths which are perfectly shaped to sit right up against your neck and still cover the most area under the baby as possible. They are covered on one side with a fabric of your choice, and her selection is 
HUGE! The other side is a plush white chenille, which makes the clothes both soft on your baby’s skin and super absorbent. They are the only burp clothes I use. Seriously. I actually started out with three, and then got three more so I have plenty for the rotation of feedings. I have washed mine a ton (man babies go through a lot of laundry!) and they are holding up great.
They are really reasonably priced and always adorable. Jillian will do gift sets and wrap them up as a set of three, which make them perfect for shower gifts or a gift set for a new mom. If you have a theme in mind and she doesn’t have a fabric to match, she will find something to work for you! She put together two kidneybeenz for me that have owls on them. SUPER CUTE! She made us a UK wildcat one because they are our home team. She can do anything! I am telling you, they are great.
While you are at her site, check out some of the other great items Jillian has made. If you have a personalized item in mind, she is the girl to talk to. She is amazingly easy to work with and always comes out with great products! We have a pillow she made Henry which is incredible (you can see it on her site!). Just let her know what you are looking for and I am sure she can make it happen!
Jillian is offering a 10% to all Chic Shopper Chick Readers. Just let her know you heard about her over here at CSC and you will be set to go!
Win It! Jillian has generously offered to give away a set of three Kidneybeenz to one lucky CSC reader! To enter, visit Kidneybeenz and then come back here and let me know which pattern you like the most. Blog about this with a link back here and to Kidneybeenz for an extra entry, or tweet about this contest, subscribe to CSC, or stumble CSC – all for extra entries. Be sure to come back and leave an extra comment for each one! That’s it, good luck! This contest ends June 25th, 2009 at 11:59pm CST.
It’s A Boy! (Congratulations Sarah!)
My dear friend Sarah from Bio Girl and her husband Nick have finally welcomed their sweet little bundle of joy. Sarah is a contributor here at Chic Shopper Chick, as well as a dear friend of mine. Sarah and Nick elected to wait until the baby was born to learn if it was a boy or a girl, and a week ago Sarah delivered a gorgeous, healthy baby boy named Henry.
Please go over and tell Sarah and Nick congratulations, and welcome sweet baby Henry to the world. You can see the video of when Nick told their family that it’s a boy (sooo cute) and also check out Henry’s official birth announcement. So g’won then – head over and leave them some comment love! Congratulations again Sarah and Nick – I wish you all the happiness in the world as your family grows!
Have Your Cake, But Don’t Eat It!
Hello all! Sarah here again with another great baby product! Have you all seen how adorable Diaper Cakes are? I had heard of them, but when an amazing creation by Diaper Cakewalk showed up on my doorstep I was completely blown away. These things are precious! Diaper Cakes make an amazing addition to any baby shower as a decoration, but more that that they are a wonderful gift for a soon-to-be mom. The Diaper Cakewalk Cakes are of course full of diapers (sizes 1-2), which is a much needed gift for any mom, but they are also covered in useful baby items! My cake has wash cloths, a pacifier, a rattle, a precious stuff bunny that plays music, lotion, baby powder, shampoo, an adorable pacifier clip ( to keep the pacifier attached to the baby rather than on the dirty floor…someone is very clever out there), and more! It’s like it’s very own mom’s survival kit all wrapped in a perfect package!
Diaper Cakewalk goes the extra mile to make them an easy choice when ordering a diaper cake. First off, they have Sampler Diaper Cakes. This is simply a cake made from the top three brands of diapers. This allows first time moms to try out the different brands and find what they like best for their sweet baby! They also have Eco-Friendly Diaper cakes, which lots of environmentally aware soon to be moms will love. They even have Do-It-Yourself diaper cakes, which basically come as the ready made cake without the decorations and goodies so you can design your own theme! If you are on a budget or just want something small, they do have mini-diaper cakes which are just as cute as their big brothers. Did I mention they make diaper castles? They do. And they are amazing.
Diaper Cakewalk seems to have covered all angles of making the perfect diaper cake for your soon-to-be mom. Take a look at all the themed cakes over at their site as soon as you have time. I am sure you will fall in love with them just like I did!
Born Free Rawks Baby’s World
Hi CSC readers! Sarah here again with a new baby product review! A couple of months ago Nick and I went to do our pre-registering-scouting-trip-so-that-we-won’t-be-overwhelmed-with-registering thing (what? It’s a thing, right? All soon-to-be first time parents take the scouting trip…I am sure of it!) The Born Free product line caught my eye as soon as we entered the bottles and pacifier section. I am not going to lie, it caught my eye originally because the word FREE cracks me up when it comes to this baby. After all of our infertility struggles I gotta say that this baby will most definitely be Born Loved, and Born Desperately Wanted, but really not Born FREE. So in my head I planned to register for some of the products just as my own personal joke with myself. I am easily amused.
Anyway, imagine my surprise when I get to actually review some of the Born Free products! This was stuff I was going to buy anyway, does life get any better? I have now learned that there are TONS of great reasons to buy Born Free products, most of them well beyond the fact that the name amuses me. The actual key to the line is that it is BPA and PVC free. If you have been reading Erika for long, you know she is a huge advocate for all things natural and especially BPA free. Her focus on the issue made me very aware of the plastic containers I owned, and I knew I wanted all BPA-free products for the baby. This means that Born Free was perfect!
The company has a full line of bottles (both BPA-free and glass) along with BPA free nipples, training cups and 
drinking cups. The newest addition to their line of products are their pacifiers and teethers which are the two official products I am reviewing. Both products seem wonderful. The pacifiers are for day and night use and have a cute little flexible handle so to not inhibit sleep. They are orthodontic and collapsible to encourage the natural development of baby’s teeth and gums and a breathable shield to reduce skin irritation. The teether is designed by a pediatric dentist so that it stimulates and soothes baby’s’ gums and allows for easier teeth eruption. It can be stored in the refrigerator and features a built-in cavity for anesthetic paste, an easy-grip handle and five different textures to keep the baby entertained.
What it comes down to for me is that these are basic must-haves for all babies. If you are going to buy pacifiers and teethers, why not get the best? Get the ones that will have no chemicals for you to worry about later, and that are designed by dentists in the pedeatirc field. Seems like the obvious choice to me. So if you are in the market for some wonderful baby bottles, pacifiers and teethers, then check out Born Free. You can find it pretty much everywhere!
You Can Never Have Too Much Flair! (Giveaway CLOSED)
Take a look around here really quickly. Yup, that’s right — look around. Any guess as to my favorite color? Hmm, if you’re thinking it’s blue you get a big red x, my friend. So, let’s see, what could it be…do do do…um, oh yes! Pink! I love pink, and my tendency to purchase clothing in all shades of pink actually earned me the nickname “Pinky” in college. As Elle from Legally Blonde would say “It’s my signature color!”
In case you’re wondering why I’m suddenly talking about my favorite color, I’ll just go ahead and explain where this is going. Last week I got an email from one of my favorite companies, Boon Inc. detailing all of their newest products. (If you haven’t already noticed my love for Boon, you can read my reviews of the Frog Pod, Animal Bag, Snack Ball and Flo, and their new Bug Pod and Flo in Pink) So, I’m scanning this email and suddenly I notice that the super-modern, super-cool Flair High Chair is now being offered in Pink! I swooned, and immediately emailed the folks at Boon to tell them that I am “utterly in love” with the newly-tinted Flair. Little girls everywhere will be able to rock the Flair in Pink just in time for Valentine’s Day!
The Flair is truly the crème de la crème of highchairs and, as with all Boon products, proves that you don’t have to sacrifice style for functionality. A pedestal highchair, the Flair has a pneumatic lift that makes adjusting the height virtually effortless. The seat is seamless, which is fantastic for clean-up because I SO hate cleaning in all of those little crevices (well, I so hate cleaning in general, but that’s a whole ‘nother post…). The Flair has a chemical-resistant, waterproof pad that can be easily removed for cleaning, a five-point harness, and an adjustable tray. The pedestal base slides smoothly in any direction on six urethane casters that will not scratch your floors, and has a hands-free braking system that quickly and simply locks the chair in place. It’s also non-toxic…the Flair is BPA-free, PVC-free, and Phthalate-free.
Did I mention that it’s fantastic to look at? Seriously, where highchairs are concerned, this one rocks!
The new Pink Flair is being released soon and will start shipping from Boon’s website and Amazon starting in the middle of this month!
So, are you feelin’ the pink Flair? Boon has generously offered to giveaway one of their new Pink Flair Highchairs to a very lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader!
For your initial entry, visit the Boon website and tell me what other product, besides the Flair, do you like? After that, every other (pertinent) comment left on this site on other posts from now through February 15th will count as an extra entry each. In other words, if you really want the Flair you’ve got great odds! As usual, extra entries are also available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here. Please put all extra entries in separate comments and leave those comments on this post. Good luck, and get commenting!
US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 15th, 2009.
CSC Welcomes Sarah To Our Team!
Chic Shopper Chick has really grown over the past year, and for that I am very grateful! I’ve met great friends along the way, and really have grown so close to some of them that it is almost crazy to think that we don’t actually know each other in real life! That is the case with Sarah, who, along with her husband, offered to open their home to us back in September when we had to evacuate our home away from the path of Hurricane Gustav. We had already made plans to drive out to stay with family somewhere else, but the fact that they offered to have 3 people they had never met stay with them really stuck with me, and truly is just an example of what a great friend Sarah has become.
Sarah’s blog, Bio Girl, was the first blog I ever read. It has remained my morning go-to blog, and one I read daily just to keep up with her life. She and her hubby are expecting their first baby in early June, and she is just glowing with excitement. Seeing as how Little AG is turning 2 on Monday, I figured it might be time to enlist the help of a new mom to review infant products. Sarah immediately came to mind, and I was thrilled when she agreed! So please welcome Sarah, CSC’s newest contributor! I’ll shut up now and let her tell you about herself in her own words. Look for her product reviews rolling out in the next few weeks!
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Hi! My name is Sarah and you will usually find me writing over at my personal blog, Bio Girl. I have been writing there for two years now, and when it began I had no idea it would become such an important part of my life. It has gone from a place for me to write random stories about my life, to being a personal journal of our struggles with infertility and now the joys of our first pregnancy. Bio Girl is full of day to day randomness nestled in beside the most important moments of our lives. I couldn’t be happier with what it has become!
I was born and raised in Kentucky (Southern enough to be addicted to gravy and biscuits…Northern enough to get all four seasons!) My real job is working as a Biologist in an environmental laboratory, which in my opinion is one of the best jobs around. I have a wonderful husband and a pretty perfect dog and cat. Lately we fill our days with friends and family, or getting our little house ready for our sweet baby to come home in early June! I am so excited to be joining Erika over here at Chic Shopper Chick to work on infant product reviews. It is an amazing opportunity for me to allow myself to get all wrapped up in the newest baby products and gear, and share what I find with all of you!
Celebrate the Firsts – Earth’s Best Giveaway!
When I was in college I was a nanny for a family that had 3 amazing little boys, aged 6 and under. Both of their parents were athletes, so their house was filled with healthy foods – and it was at their house where I was introduced to the world of organic foods. I scoffed at their need to buy organic everything, though I would have never dared breathe a word of that out loud. One day, the boys were sleeping and I sat down in the kitchen to study for a test with a glass of organic milk and an organic cookie (or 3). I was almost completely engrossed in French History when I realized that I was having the most fantastic-tasting milk and cookie snack EVER.
I was sold. (Yes, leave it to me to like it because it tastes better, not because it’s better for me.) I went home that night and spent a couple of hours on the internet, researching and discovering the benefits of organic foods. Since then I have been buying organic for myself, and eventually for my family. Naturally, having Little AG brought a whole new set of concerns to light – first and foremost I wanted to be sure that what I was feeding her was the absolute, top-of-the-line best thing for her. I didn’t want anything in her little body that was less than perfect. I eventually settled on Earth’s Best – we used their cereal, teething cookies, fruit bars, and baby food (and um, ok, I may have even eaten a few of their Sesame Street cheese crackers myself in a moment of weakness). Little AG and I both approved.
Naturally when Earth’s Best approached me with their “Celebrate the Firsts” promotion I felt really comfortable jumping on board. Not only do I love their products, but this new campaign is a receipt redemption program that enables parents to save money on organic baby products including formula, jar foods, juices, cereal, teething biscuits and pastina by sending in receipts for the Earth’s Best products they purchase. With our economy as it is, everyone could use a way to save a little money without compromising quality!
Here are the rewards:
$5 in coupons and bib for receipts totaling $25.
$10 in coupons plus travel size Jason Organic baby body care for $50 worth of receipts.
$15 in coupons plus Fisher Price Tubtime Friends for $100 worth of receipts.
Win it! You can win a First Foods Gift Pack (pictured above) from Earth’s Best! To enter, leave a comment here (and a little effort is required. No “enter me” or “I wanna win” type entries are accepted, but you don’t have to write a book either. It’s all about balance people. kthxbai). As usual, extra entries are available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here.
US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on January 28th, 2009.
Something to Whistle About
We are quickly approaching something that I know that I can’t put off. Moving to a big girl bed has my 
stomach in knots, mainly because I know that Little AG will be up and running around our house in the middle of the night, and I have the feeling I will be hearing shrieks of “Mooommmeeee, Dadddddeeeee” from a little person who is actually standing next to my bed. Either that or she’ll be sipping some milk on the couch watching the Imagination Movers.
While the move to a “big girl bed” might not be fun logistically, choosing bedding for her new bed certainly is! I have recently discovered the awesome and chic bedding sets for kids over at Whistle and Wink. The company was born from the passion of veteran designer Bridget Kelly hand in hand with Vitamins Playwear the well-established fine infant and children’s apparel manufacturer. With over 25 years of experience in Textiles and Fashion, including her most recent position as Creative Director for Pottery Barn Kids, Bridget Kelly, Co-creator and Vice President of Design and Merchandising understands the meaning of good design and functionality. The patterns are fun and whimisical, but not overpowering, perfect for an understated kid’s room that will allow the personality of your child to shine through!
I had the opportunity to check out the amazing quality of the Whistle and Wink Line (We love the Butterfly Party pattern) and I can say, without hesitation, that the workmanship and quality will not dissapoint. The pieces are well-made and look like they will hold up to years of wear and tear. Check out Whistle and Wink to see all of the patterns and looks that you can choose from — they even have nursery bedding!
What would you do with $30,000?
Things I would do with 30,000 dollars (assuming that I didn’t have to do anything responsible with it like pay off loans, invest it, or put it in a college fund) :
1) Put in the in-ground pool that I’ve wanted, literally, my whole life.
2) Make a down payment on a plane. (This Cessna 400 or Skylane 182 would do.)
3) Go into a Chanel store and plunk down the cash for whatever I’d like, for a change.
What would you do with 30,000 dollars? Well, Huggies is giving you the opportunity to win 30,000 dollars during their Generation Huggies celebration! Did you realize that Huggies has been around for 30 years now? I was one of the orignial Huggies babies! Now I have my own little one in diapers, and it’s truly crazy how quickly time flies!
I wanted to let you know that Generation Huggies is hosting a video contest as well as the Generation Huggies Sweepstakes. They are currently touring through major cities where moms will be able to create their own video at designated Video Creation Stations for a chance to be part of their national ad campaign. Moms can also join the Huggies Baby Network where they will be the first to learn about new Huggies product information, mom-to-mom tips, fun activities and games, message boards, expert advice and special offers. If you are interested in entering, the information and guidelines are below!
Now through November 20, 2008, there are two ways for moms to create a video reflecting on “What Motherhood Means to Me.”
1. Videos can be uploaded to www.GenerationHuggies.com
2. Alternatively, moms can create a video on-site when they visit a local Generation Huggies event.
3. Videos should be no longer than 60 seconds in length and no larger than 5MB.
4. Everyone can participate by giving a hug, or vote, to their favorite video through November 30, 2008.
5. Judging ends November 30, 2008.
Also, anyone can enter the Generation Huggies Sweepstakes for a chance to win $30,000.
1. From now until Nov. 30, 2008, enter online by visiting www.GenerationHuggies.com.
2. The grand prize winner will receive $30,000 and will be chosen in December 2008. (wouldn’t that make Christmas shopping SO much less stressful?!?!)
So go on, hop on over to Generation Huggies and enter to win 30,000 dollars! And, if you win, don’t forget who tipped you off! I really need that pool…
So tell me, what would you do with 30,000 dollars?
