101st post contest: Celebrating with "Flair"

Yes, I know it is Tuesday's post and therefore time for my Tuesday Ten feature, but I'm sure you'll all forgive me for rescheduling my interview for next week so you can WIN A HIGH CHAIR this week...

Am I guessing right? Yeah, I thought so...

So listen up, peeples. Up until now, I have actually tested each and every item I have reviewed and or offered up as a prize on Berrie Sweet Picks. This time, though, we're gonna go on faith. And since boon pretty much rocks, I'm sure this high chair rocks, too. (And I'm already jealous of whoever wins!)

Here are the specs on the goods: Boon's site says the Flair has a chemical resistant waterproof pad (nice...), a five-point restraining harness (really nice...), and an adjustable position, compact tray (yep, I want to have another baby just so I can buy one now!).

Also sounding pretty cool are the urethane castors that make it easy to slide the Flair anywhere without a scratch on your floor. Awesome!!! Oh, and dare I mention that this bad boy seats a child up to 4 years and 50 pounds?????

The Flair retails for $229.99 and comes in either blue and white or orange and white. ONE lucky winner gets to choose their color scheme when I randomy choose an entry at midnight, EST, on October 7. To enter, leave me a comment telling me why you would love to the Flair High Chair. You get an automatic extra entry if you thank boon in your comment for providing this awesome chair as a prize. Ready?? Thank you, boon!

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

I'll pick one name at the end of the contest and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected.

101 post contest: A shout out to the Tree Huggers

Remember me? The accidental tree-hugger with a toddler on her hip?

Yeah, I'm the chick who admits to not bothering to go out and get a recycling bin in the six years we have lived in our home until Buttercup was born. Then all eco-friendly-hell broke loose and I suddenly found myself shunning disposable diapers for cloth, making my own baby food, chasing after my husband in the house to TURN OFF THE LIGHTS when he left a room, and of course, went out and got that recycling bin.

And now, I have one more notch to add to my green belt (right next to that notch for the 100 posts, and all...): The Act2-Green Smart line of laptop jackets, messenger bags, and totes---all ingeniously made from 100 percent recycled pop and water bottles. (I'm a Michigan girl....you may call it "soda" but we call it "pop" here. But I digress...)

I got to take a look at the vertical messenger bag and the tote, and am plenty impressed with both. I review a lot of things, and not all of them make it into my daily repitoire of Things I Actually Use, but both of these bags certainly did.

The messenger, which retails for $74.99, is a (much needed) far cry from the standard black bag I used to use for my laptop, and features padding to protect said laptop, easy access pockets under the flap, a zip pocket in the back, and magnetic flap closures. Both the vertical and horizontal styles are made to hold a 15.4 inch laptop, and feature carrying handles to give your shoulders a break when needed.

And according to Act2, one messenger bag uses 30 bottles, which saves the equivelant of 236 laptop hours of energy!

If that's not enough to make you feel good about buying one of their products, try this one on for size: Since sugust of 2008, Act2 has saved 493,320 plastic PET bottles and 3.8 million hours of equivelant laptop power. And that just flat out rocks.

The Tote has become the surprise favorite because since arriving, it has been delegated for use as "Buttercup's Library Bag." Every time I went prior to getting the tote, I found myself wincing as the librarian handed me a plastic shopping bag with our weekly selection of board books, and I vowed to find something better.

That's where the tote came in. So far, I've shoved it full of 7 board books and 10 CD's at one, and with room to spare.

Another good use would be as a green diaper bag. With plenty of space and an organizational panel and a zippered pocket, this is a perfect choice for taking baby essentials along for a shopping trip. Or use it as a gym bag. Just USE it! And by the way, the 10 bottles it is made from saves the equivelant of 78 laptop hours of energy.

You can check out the rest of the Act2 gear and get a sweet 20 percent off here by using code Fall08. You also can enter to win one of two totes in your choice of color, by visiting the Act2 site and leaving me a berrie (read: comment) telling me which product you'd like to see reviewed next on the blog.

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

I'll pick two names at midnight (EST) on Oct. 5 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected.

101st post contest: The InMat Prequel

I have more surprises coming (well, to be specific, I have TWO more surprises coming) but for now, ya'll are going to make do with a contest for a limited edition Chocolate Bar InMat from Go Baby.

I know...I know...talk about a chore, right? I mean, who would want one of these rockin', take-anywhere, mommy must-have ultra-plush mats designed to stay exactly where you put it for Mommy and me exercises and tummy time? I know, right?

So I just know that all of you are going to have to be making up excuses on why you want one of these Chocolate Bar InMats as my (and Go Baby's) first token celebrating my triple digit posting status. And it would have nothing to do with the fact that it's currently priced at $39.99, is machine-washable, rolls up tight with a magnetic closure all easy-peasy, and fits right into the diaper or gym bag, right?

Right...

So here's your chance to win one for yourself! Just visit the Go Baby site and tell me what else on their site looks worthy of my berrie divine attention, and you are entered into the contest!

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

I'll pick one name at midnight (EST) on Oct. 2 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected.

I'm 100 posts old!

OMG, Becky, it's, like, my 100th post! Can you believe it? I mean, really? Like, I had 100 chances for "me time" since I started this blog and decided to use it for well, blogging?

Hmmmm...I may need to re-evaluate that.

But for now, I'm going to take you all on a berrie (read: trip) through memory lane of my favorite posts. I've looked at a lot of things for babies and kids and moms...and while everything I have posted deserves its place here, there are a few that stand out.

Drum roll, please! And here are the top ten posts, in no particular order...

Chew on this featuring Smart Mom teething Jewelry


My Sentiments, exactly, featuring Circle of Sentiments Classic Mommy Necklace


Say hello to Bob featuring the Bob Revolution Stroller


Accidentally attached featuring the Baby K-tan baby carrier

The berrie best baby carrier, ever featuring the Ergo baby carrier

Plastic water bottles go eco-friendly featuring Primo water

From baby food to algebra featuring the Keekaroo High Chair

The prettiest Flower: A CD review featuring Danielle Sansone's "Two Flowers" CD

How sweet it is featuring Honeychunks organic baby wipes solution

I heart Fuzzi Bunz featuring Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers

Oh, and don't think I'm letting this little milestone pass without a celebration. Stop back by tomorrow for a few "101st post" celebration giveaways!

Me & my Mimobot

I am not a techno geek by any means and my computer knowledge extends to the point of what I need to know...ie: email, word, blogger, iTunes, Twitter. And life is grand.

But I'm married to a self-professed computer geek, so some of that is bound to rub off after a few years, no? Hence my drooling-with-excitement reaction to the Star Wars edition of the cult-classic designer USB flash drives from Mimobots.

Haven't heard of them yet? Don't worry, you'll want one when by the time you finish reading this.

Who wants a plain ol' USB when you can have one of these? They're freakin' C-O-O-L, attach to your keychain, and can store between 1G and 8G of info.

When I was asked what series I wanted to check out, I hemmed and hawed over the various designs like the Super Malfi, Fu, Pupstar, or the Fairybit. I'm all about the girlie-stuff, and these are all way cute, but I decided to take the high road and request Star Wars for Sweeter.

Mimobot sent us the C-3PO and Boba Fett, and when they arrived, Sweeter gave me the man-happy version of squealing with excitement when he stopped so I could hand him the package, looking and then proceeding downstairs to place them on the shelf next to the rest of his unopened Star Wars collector items.

And in man-speak, that prety much means he's thrilled with his new toy.

If you're interested in one of the Star Wars characters for yourself, your kid, your friend, your grandmother, or your man, I'd highly suggest getting one while you can; with limited editions and sold out R2-D2's, the force ain't gonna help you if you wait too long to make up your mind! Prices for Mimobots range from $34.95 to $104.95, depending on series and storage capacity.

The Tuesday Ten: Go Baby's Robin Shane

I was introduced to Go Baby products when I was reviewing mom and kid products for a local magazine, and I've been in love ever since. And Go Baby showed me some lovin' in return when they came on board as my official sponsors for Buttercup's First Birthday Blog Bash back in June!

I get to return the favor now with my next Tuesday Ten edition.

Go Baby co-owner Robin Shane is a 36-year-old wife and mother of two, with an interesting background in costume designing for theatre, film and television. Read on to find out more.

Q.: So many good ideas never get past the idea phase...how did you make your business a reality?
A.: Not to butter her up, but I really need to thank my partner Gina for the encouragement to do this. I had great dreams for the business, but I had no know-how on what to do to start. Gina came along at the perfect time, and we moved forward from there! I also had great support from my father who had contacts for factories to make our first lines, the InMat and OutMat, so we were able to cut through the manufacturing obstacle very quickly. :)

Q.: How did you come to decide to pursue this type of business?
A.:I was a costume designer for 12 years before my first daughter was born. When she was born I had to give up that schedule because it didn't allow me to be home with her during my favorite times (dinner time, story and bedtime) so I needed a creative outlet somewhere. As an artist I am always brimming with a need to create, whether it's a quilt for home or a new product for the mass-market. Go Baby allows me to channel this creativity and also be home with my children.

Q.: What's your favorite part of owning your business?
A.: The ability to take my crazy creative ideas and make them a reality. Also, the ability to take a task, go through the steps, and then complete the job. So many aspects of mommyhood are so "go-with-the-flow," which is counterintitutative to my way of thinking - I love making lists and checking things off. With Go Baby I can design products that help me in my role as a mom, play with fabrics and color from my costume designer days and still be home for my girls - not to mention being a role model for them.

Q: What's your funniest mommyhood memory to date?
A.: Oh, there are just too many...I guess the funniest I can think of right now is when I had gated my second daughter Miranda in her room while I took a shower...she was about a year old and was whining that I had fenced her in, but I had to get ready. Suddenly things got really quiet, and I went around the corner to check on her, and she was trying to eat a piece of poop (where it came from, who knows!?)...I immediately pulled it out, of course, but I just had to laugh. At least I know it was hers! I guess that's the difference between first and second kids- if it had been my first child doing it I think I would have run to the emergency room!

Q.: Glass half empty of half full? Or can you not tell because it already got spilled by one of the kids?
A.: Wow, interesting question. I suppose it depends on the circumstance. With my kids and family, definitely half-full. With Go Baby, half-full. With myself, half-empty. I'm a pessimist by nature, but I'm lucky to be married to an optimist, so we even each other out.

Q.: Secrets to success? Tips for making it through to tomorrow with our sanity intact? (read: how did you do it?
A.: A great husband, a great therapist, a great sense of humor, great friends, and when all else fails, a great anti-depressant.

Q.: What press have you received since you started? what's the coolest, berrie sweetest press you have gotten to date? (answer carefully....*wink wink*!)
A.:Our products have been well received by both print and web blogs. Hybrid Mom, Baby Couture, TONYKids, offered some great reviews but what really matters to us are the mom bloggers who use the product in their everyday lives and praise the items in their blogs. To us it is a real testament to the work and love we have put into our products. Thanks to Berrie Sweet Picks for being the first to feature us!

Q.: The best part of being a mom? And what's the hardest?
A.: The best part of being a mom is watching these two little people experience the world and looking at it through their eyes. The wonder, the new experiences, the excitement about the simplest things. It's a great lesson in being present and living life in the moment. The hardest is when they have worries or hurts that I can't fix- my older daughter has minor physical disabilities and, as she gets older, kisses and songs won't be able to fix the difficulties she faces every day.

Q.: If you could have one mommy superpower, what would it be?
A.: The ability to bend and stretch time- to bend it to shorten those long rainy afternoons with two stir-crazy kids, and the ability to stretch time so I could get more sleep and more work done!

Q.: What's on the menu for dinner tonight? (and can I come over?)
A.: Turkey burgers, whole wheat rolls, french fries and salad. We eat at 6:00....c'mon over!

Have baby, will go biking

The sky is blue.

The sun is yellow.

Birds have feathers.

And I'm the most indecisive being ever to exist in the universe.

Seriously. You can ask anyone I know! Sweeter (the hubby) has a rule when we go out to eat that once i make up my mind, I must hand over the menu. If I do not, he takes it. This prevents me from changing my mind 37 times and then wishing that I got the menu item that caught my eye to begin with.

The sad thing is that it works...so you can only imagine how long it took for me to decide on a bike trailor for me and Buttercup. It really wasn't pretty. But after researching and comparing and buying and returning two, I finally found my perfect Kidarooz Bike Trailor.

I love biking in the early fall when the humidity is gone and that little bit of chill is just beginning to cool the wind. So why do I love my Kadarooz?

It's got a great, integrated weather cover, a safe and low center of gavity, is easy to attach (ON MY OWN!!!!), fits one or two kids, has protective bumpers, AND even has extra COVERED storage space in the back. And that last one pretty much sold me since I like to bike to the grocery store and farmer's market and want what I bought to make it home with me!

I got mine from Costco for $159.00 and definitely think it has the biggest bang for the buck. Keep your eyes peeled for one if you're in the market, and enjoy the ride.

Havin' a ball

Buttercup is in love with anything round that resembles a ball, so she just about flipped when she saw my open up the new boon snack ball we just received. It's white and cute and oh-so-brite that I have no fears of losing it in the bottom of the diaper bag, so that makes me happy, too.

It's slightly smaller than I expected, but is big enough to hold a nice size serving of dried cereal for travel (a much better option than finding nothing but crumbs in the bottom of the diaper bag because you used a sandwich bag, I can tell you from experience!)

Since Buttercup is all about bite-sized snacks on the go, I pretty much rely on the snack trap she loves to lug around, with the boon snack ball playing the all important role of Carrier of The Next Snack. And when it's time to fill 'er back up again, I simply pop open the snack ball and pour Buttercup's little snacks into her cup before putting the snack ball away for safekeeping.

Notice I said "put away." I didn't say that I hand it to Buttercup to use as her actual snack container, nor do I allow her to play with it. Sure, it's only $6.49, but I'd like to it last! Besides that, the opening is just big enough for her to get her hand in and out right now and she is only 15 mths old...and since she is not old enough to understand the concept of "pouring" to avoid a stuck-hand, I'm just playing it safe and keeping it with me.

I do, however, like that it's BPA-free, pthlatelete-free, and PVC-free (all the major no-no's!) and that it's round shape allows for easy blind grabs out of the diaper bag or purse.

Of course, Buttercup loves that her cereal doesn't get smashed up by anything other than her little chompers!

And yes, you know the drill! More often than not, my posts end up announcing the chance for you to win more free stuff! So, if you want in on the chance at your own boon snack ball, you need to visit the boon site and leave me a berrie (read: comment) telling me which combination of three items you'd think would be worthy of a contest prize celebrating upcoming my 100th post. I'll tally the votes and then send off an email to boon, and the top choices will be offered as a combo prize for my 100th post!


Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

I'll pick one name at midnight (EST) on Sept. 26 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected.

I heart Fuzzi Bunz

I think by now, you all know that Buttercup's fluffy butt is a direct result of the fact that I fell in love with cloth diapering when she was about 4 months old.

Thanks to my former magazine product review gig, I was lucky enough to get to try Fuzzi Bunz diapers, and eventually got a few samples of the new and improved design.

And yes, I heart them, too.

Before I go on, let me be the first to say that I HATED cloth diapering when I had to help change my lil' sisters' diapers. And thanks to many nasty, smelly, grossed-out memories of pins, poked fingers, wiggling babies, and soaking poopy diapers in the toilet while holding my breath, I was pretty sure I was never EVER going to use anything other than disposables on my own children.

But that was before I had my own. Because then things changed.

I suddenly found myself wanting to set a good example and all that Hallmark-gooey goodness that comes with becoming a mother. So when Fuzzi Bunz showed up on my doorstep and I suddenly started realizing the benefits to the environment AND to my bank account, I was pretty much hooked.

Here's the deal: In cloth diapering circles, you'll learn that Fuzzi Bunz are referred to as "pocket diapers" due to the waterproof outer layer with the pocket-style opening which allows for you to customize the absorbancy level by insterting one or more microfleece inserts.

In a nutshell, they are easy to use thanks to the adjustable snaps (did I mention "no pins?"!), beyond cute with tons of colors and prints to choose from, and actually help reduce (if not eliminate) diaper rashes!

After my traumatized teen years spent trying to wrestle a squirming baby into an antiquated prefold without sticking a pin in her tummy, this was seriously a walk in the park.

I use Fuzzi Bunz on Buttercup all day at home, and eventually got brave enough to venture out of my home with a bunch in tow for changes when out and about. I do, however, keep a few disposables on hand for the occassional diaper rash, as creams are not recommended for use with the Fuzzis.

Another point I'd like to bring up for parents of super heavy night wetters is that I have stuffed these diapers with three inserts at bed time and still had soak-throughs. But then again, my little water-horse can pee through a trusty disposable in the first half of the night alone...so don't take that as a sign that the Fuzzi Bunz aren't worth their weight in gold. I've spoken with plenty of cloth-diapering friends, and can confirm that their babies stay happy and dry with nothing but Fuzzi Bunz in the home.

You can get a starter kit of 12 diapers from Fuzzi Bunz direct for $227.40, which might sting a bit up front, but will save you gobs of money in the long run. Individual diapers are available for $19.95, with price drops available if you purchase a three-pack. And if you re-use the diapers for more than one child as I plan to, the diapers pretty much pay for themselves.

If there is one item I have ever reviewed that I will talk up so much that I drive even myself crazy, it's my Fuzzi Bunz. And coming from me, I'd say that's a pretty kickin' testimonial.

Fuzzi Bunz is generously offering one lucky reader a $40 gift certificate to Fuzzi Bunz Direct! That's enough to get you started (or help you add) to your collection! To enter, visit the site and leave me a berrie (read: comment) telling me what designs or colors are your favrotite AND tell me if you already cloth diaper or if you are interested in trying it out.

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! Oh, and sorry, but U.S. and Canadian addressed only on this one!

I'll pick one name at midnight (EST) on Sept. 24 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Good luck and happy cloth diapering!

The Tuesday Ten: singer Danielle Sansone

Normally, I don't consider myself the startstruck-type, but that's because I don't usually interview the people I listen to on my iPod. So when I opened up my email to find Danielle Sansone's Tuesday Ten interview responses in my inbox, I about squealed like an idiot---and have not stopped smiling since!

In case you are new, or (gasp!) forgot, Danielle is the magic behind the "Two Flowers" CD (Azalea Records, $14.00) I reviewed here. Go ahead and take a peek for a quick refresher, but don't forget to head back here for a great interview with the singer I'm totally all Mommy-fan-gushing over right now.

Q.: So tell me a little about your CD and the inspiration behind it.
A.: I suddenly discovered that I was ready to write again, but initially I did not have any plans for which direction I wanted to go. But because being a parent has been such a huge part of my life for the past 8 years or so, I was not surprised that when I sat down at the piano it was these songs that, in a way, just tumbled out.

Q.: So many good ideas never get past the idea phase...how did you make your dream a reality?
A.: I was so fortunate to meet the producer Will Robertson when I did. I was carrying some of these songs around for a while, trying to decide what to do with them. When my path crossed with Will's, I trusted his talent and his approach right away. Trust was a great place to begin.

Q.: I hear the DNA for musical talent runs in your family. Would you mind sharing?
A.: I was definitely fortunate to grow up in a home that celebrated music. My mom is an amazing vocalist, mostly jazz and a little blues. My paternal grandmother was a vocalist as well, and had a celebrated radio show in New Orleans in the early 50's--singing mainly standards. My brother, Pat Sansone, who also lends his talents to 'Two Flowers', knew from an early age that he wanted to spend his life in music. He now spends most of musical time as a member of the alt country icon Wilco.

Q.: What's your favorite of composing lyrics and singing for children?
A.: I love it when a parent comes up to me and tells me how their child loves to sing along to a certain song, or that they find them humming a certain tune all day, or that a parent loves to listen even without the kids around.
I am also facinated by the variety of favorites. I think it's wonderful and amazing how music can speak differently to each one of us--how it can help support existing connections, or even spark new ways to connect to one another.

Q.: Are those your daughters singing with your on the "Two Flowers" CD?
A.: Yes, Aria and Ava Rose. I took them into the studio one afternoon so they could see where I had been spending so much time. I asked them if they wanted to bring their instruments along as well. We ended up with The Sleepy Mile. Aria was excited to experiment, and Will persuaded Ava to sing into the microphone by promising her some playtime with his cat. It was a fun afternoon.

Q.: Glass half empty of half full? Or can you not tell because it already got spilled by one of the kids?
A.: What's in the glass? Water, milk, wine?

Q.: Why do you think your CD hits home with moms and kids
A.: Well, when we got started with this record, we made sure that we weren't going to think too much about who the record was for. Was it for kids, was it for adults, was it for adults with kids? We just wanted to let the songs take us where we needed to go with them--without a specific listener in mind. I like to think that both kids and parents are just responding to its honesty.

Q.: What press have you received since you started? what's the coolest, berrie sweetest press you have gotten to date? (answer carefully....*wink wink*!)
A.: I absolutely adore what you said in your review, "If the love a mother has for her child could be described as a sound, it would be Danielle Sansone's CD." That put a really big smile on my face, so thank you!

Q.: Five more words: Describe my blog. (shameless, I know. But that is why you love me.)
A.: fun, smart, informative, cutting-edge, pink (I thought if was so bold of you to change the 'Two Flowers' cover art to match your blog!)

Q.: The best part of being a mom? And what's the hardest?
A.: Best part--the hugs. Hardest--seeing your child in pain.

Q.: If you could have one mommy superpower, what would it be?
A.: I would love to have the ability to stay completely present and totally focused on the moment at all times--no matter who I am with.

Q.: What's on the menu for dinner tonight? (and can I come over?)
A.: Veggie tacos and we'd love to have you--6:00 p.m. Please bring Buttercup!

Q.: Where can my readers find you online?
A.: You can always visit me at www.daniellesansone.com . 'Two Flowers' is also available through www.pokeypup.com , www.cdbaby.com and itunes.

Q.: Berrie Blast (read: final thoughts)
A.: Thank you Pauline for getting in touch. I am honored to be a berrie sweet pick!!

Danielle is wonderful, isn't she? Yeah, I'm totally mom-crushin'!

Oh, and "Two Flowers" officially debuts on September 23, so get your credit card out and order one. You can thank me later.

Don't forget to visit next week for my Tuesday Ten interview with Robin Shane, co-owner of Go Baby!

Have a healthy Halloween with Primo Water

Let me be the first to say that I hate the commercially driven need to begin celebrating every holiday six months early. It seriously drives me insane when I hear "Jingle Bells" on the store speakers while I try to plan for Halloween (in August, of course.)

But me and my fragile mental state are neither here nor there. But what does matter is that while I might tweak out because of seeing a Christmas tree display next to the Halloween costumes, I'm not above doing my part in the spirit of the holidays.

Remember my Primo water bottles review here? In case you're new, the short story is that the bottles are made from plants grown in the United States and are totally renewable.

Genius, I know.

Well, I had a genius moment of my own when I approached Primo reps about offering a berrie kickin' contest for one winner to walk with ten cases (yeah, you read that right...TEN CASES) of Primo water bottles to be used to pass out on Halloween!

Think about it: the childhood obesity epidemic is still a major factor, and every little thing we can do as parents and adults setting healthier examples is something we need to try to embrace. And what could be better than water to quench the thirst of the trick-or-treaters and their parents with eco-friendly bottled water? Just do me a favor if you win and ask that they recycle their Primo bottles, okay?

To be considered for the random drawing, leave me a comment telling me why you'd like to offer a healthier Halloween for the kids in your neighborhood, and of course, in your family.

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! Oh, and sorry, but US entries only on this one!

I'll pick one name at midnight (EST) on Sept. 19 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected. Please note that shipping may take 2-4 weeks.

Good luck and healthy Trick-or-treating!

Sling it on

The food in my shopping cart is organic, the milk I buy (all three kinds for me, Buttercup, and her Daddy!) are organic, all of Buttercup's baby food was homeade, and I'm going to start making my own household cleaning products. So where's that leave me on the eco-friendly scale with my baby carrier?

The Zolowear sling in Sustainable Hibiscus, Khaki, or Sable. is an eco-friendly option made from 100-percent certified organic cotton priced at a very reasonable $89.00. With a little help from the included instructional DVD you will soon be basking in the glory of a happy, snug, and secure baby held safe and close while you go about your daily businesses. You will be able to enjoy six hands-free carrying positions, and even breastfeed quite comfortably.

But your comfort depends on making sure the sling is positioned properly. Trust me on this; as comfortable as it is when you followed the instructions is as uncomfortable as it isn't when things are a bit off-kilter.

All slings are independently tested, made in the good-ol' U.S.A. and are recommended for toddlers up to about 40 pounds, which gives me plenty of time since Buttercup just topped the scales at 23 pounds. It's lightweight and gender-neutral, which might make it easier to get Dad to try it out for himself.

Every sling, be it silk, cotton, or Solarveil, has a zippered pocket on the tail for a diaper, your keys, or your sunglasses and the tail even acts as a cover for a nursing or sleeping baby. Just make sure to follow proper washing instructions for years of use. Oh, and lesson learned from me to you: hang dry this baby, 'cuz serious shrinkage can occur in the dryer.

Get rowdy with your diaper bag

As a former newsroom journalist, I about fell over myself with excitement when I saw this newsboy-inspired diaper bag. Finally, a bag that my husband would be willing to carry himself!

I’m a self-professed diaper bag-a-holic. And if I were to seek treatment, I’m sure I would be told that the only way to cure myself would be to… well, stop getting more of them.

But that would just be too easy, wouldn't it?

One of my favorites is The Scoop News Bag by Rowdy Products.

This is a H-U-G-E (and super cool) bag perfect for overnights or for moms (and dads) of multiples in need of portable storage. Not only is the bag perfect for the laid-back jeans and T-shirt set, it’s wonderfully uni-sexed, goes with everything, and is large enough to carry most of the belongings in your house along with you on any given day.

Now, I'll admit that the fact that this bag is large enough to transport a small child actually turned me off...at first. When I first started using it, I was not yet cloth-diapering full-time, and the fact that disposables left enough room in the bag for "just one more thing" made it way too easy for me to over-fill, resulting in a trip to the mall with a bag packed full enough to look like I was on a week-long vacation with Buttercup. So I put the bag away.

But when I changed over from disposables to cloth on my outings and wondered why no one made a bag big enough to accomodate a cloth-diapered baby, a little light-bulb went off in my head and I remembered the Scoop News bag I had squirreled away. And viola! I was back in business.

My only complaint is the fact that the included changing pad is pretty much a joke, and not really usable at all when trying to protect against germs on public changing tables, but that is easily remedied by replacing it with a larger one I picked up at Babies R US for cheap.

Bonuses include the snazzy little attachable purse/wallet, which is big enough for a check book and a few other essentials, and, of course, the the cell phone pocket, insulated bottle holder, and the included water-resistant changing pad. And when you add the fact that The Scoop News Bag will long outlive your diaper-bagging days since it by no means screams I HAVE A BABY!!!, and well, it’s certainly worth every penny of the $69.99 they retail for.

The Tuesday Ten: Circle of Sentiments' Jamie Dadant

It's time for my newest Tuesday Ten interview with Jamie Dadant from Circle of Sentiments. Remember the way cute Classic Mommy Necklace I reviewed here? I absolutely love this necklace, and wear it all the time!

Don't forget that Jamie is offering my readers a 10 percent discount at checkout
with code "circle 10"!

Jamie took a few moments to tell us a little bit about herself, her company, and even invited me over for dinner. Read on to find out more.

Q: So tell me a little about Circle of Sentiments and the inspiration behind it.
A.: Circle of Sentiments offers an extensive collection of personalized hand stamped jewelry. Perfect for any proud mama, our "mommy jewelry" is custom made with children’s names, initials or favorite phrases.
I always wanted to have my own business. The inspiration for taking action came after I quit my corporate job to be a stay at home mom. I started my first business, an online baby boutique. One of the many items sold on my site was a line of hand stamped jewelry that I made. Due to the demand and popularity of the hand stamped necklaces, I decided to switch my focus to just jewelry. And thus, Circle of Sentiments was developed.

Q: What's the nitty-gritty on you!?? Come on! I want age, rank, and serial number!
A.: As of today, I’m 30. Come tomorrow, I’m 31 (Happy Birthday to me!). I love being a mom, wife, homemaker, business owner, etc. It all suits my personality so well.

Q.: What's your funniest mommyhood memory to date?
A.: Oh my gosh, I don’t know how I can choose just one! Ok, this just happened recently, so it’s still fresh in my mind.
I was out to dinner with my family, and I took my 3 year old son to use the bathroom. As we were washing our hands, another lady next to us came to the sink and quickly rinsed her hands. She went to grab a paper towel to dry her hands when my son starts yelling “you forgot to use soap!”. It was very embarrassing!

Q: Glass half empty of half full? Or can you not tell because it already got spilled by one of the kids?
A.: Half full. And, usually half full of wine.

Q: If you could have one mommy superpower, what would it be?
A.: I need more hands for all the different directions I get pulled in.

Q.: Who's the brains behind the operation?
A.: I am. As of right now, my business is still a one-woman operation.

Q.: What press have you received since you started? what's the coolest, berrie sweetest press you have gotten to date? (answer carefully....*wink
wink*!)
A.: Aside from the obviously cool berrie sweet press that we’ve received, we’ve also worked with many great online sites that have done reviews of our products. Coming up, we were also invited by Mini Me Baby Gear/ Hot Moms Club to participate in a baby shower that is being hosted for Alison Sweeney (host of biggest loser/ soap star).

Q.: Five words. Describe yourself. go!
A.: Organized, Neurotic, Loving, Passionate, Silly

Q.: The best part of being a mom? And what's the hardest?
A.: Best part is watching my boys grow up. It amazing to see how much they change everyday. Oh, and I really like the snuggling too!
Hardest part is balance. It’s a constant challenge to try and balance my time between family and work.

Q.: What's on the menu for dinner tonight? (and can I come over?)
A.: We are barbequing…. Come on over. My boys would love to play with Buttercup!

Don't forget to stop back for next Tuesday's interview with the woman behind my fave baby carrier, the Ergo!

Honestly, baby...

There are times when I wonder if my contest sponsors can read my mind.

Take, for example, the berrie sweet T-shirt that Mom 4 Life sent over to me recently.

"Not sleeping through the night."

It's perfect. And I may have to buy one of these Honest Baby shirts in every size they have until Buttercup decides to stop tormenting me and her father with three a.m. wake-up calls.

But this isn't the only gem Jill has at her shop to help you and your baby tell the world to back-off in a "funny, funny, ha, ha?" kind-of-way.

Tired of getting "the stink eye" from your stay-at-home neighbor through her kitchen window as you and your kids rush out the door five minutes late for daycare (and work) again? Then the "Working moms rock" is all about you.

Are ya ready to clock the next mom at playgroup who gives you crap about your still crawling 13-month old? (Because trust us, we all know that Suzie was walking at 9 months. Can we please just move on?) I'll bet that no one will say a word if you show up next week with Junior sportin' his new "I'll walk when I'm good and ready" tee.

And there's more. With the perfect pint-sized comeback for most "Mommy needs a martini" moments, it's really a great way to light-heartedly address some annoying situations. They are also just plain hilarious.

Honest Baby T-shirts run in size from newborn to six years. Prices vary, depending on if you want long or short-sleeves and if you want the plain or thought-bubble patched saying, but you can use Buttercup's $28 shirt as a good reference. (And yes, this is definitely one instance where I'd gladly pay up for a cute and quippy baby shirt!)

And Jill? May I suggest a few more? How about "Happily attached?" for us baby-wearing mammas? Or "What crib?" for Buttercup and her co-sleeping baby friends? Or there's always the classic "Fluffy butts are eco-friendly" tees for the cloth-diapered set. I have more. In case you haven't noticed, I'm plenty full of snappy comebacks!

And now, for the real reason you are all still reading this post (even though I let myself believe it's my mad writing skillz that keep you coming back), yes, we have a contest! But hold on to your hats, people, because this one is going to be just a little bit different.

If you'd like to win an Honest Baby tee in the size and design of your choice, all you have to do is tell me (and Jill from Honest Baby) which available saying has "you" written all over it and why! And we want details!

One winner will be personally selected by Jill, so creativity and brutal honesty are major components here. No extra entries. No random drawings. Are ya up to the challenge?


Entries will be accepted in the form of a comment to this post until midnight (EST) on Sept. 15. And make sure your email address is included in your comment if you want your entry to count. As always, the winner must contact me within four days of the announcement date or a runner-up will be selected.

And there you have it.

Now I'm off to co-sleep with my attached, cloth-diapered 15-month-old who, coincidentally, only sleeps through the night when she is snuggled safely between me and her daddy. Got a T-shirt for that?

Ode to SIGG

Isn't it pretty? Seriously, I am so in love with my water bottle that it is actually disturbing.

For those of you who have been following this blog since I started it oh-so-long ago in May of this year, you may have noticed that I seem to be edging more and more to the greener side as days go by.

Our SIGG experience didn't start until I began researching the BPA scare for an article I was writing. That one story lead to replacing all of my baby bottles (even though I only had 2 months left until transferring to a sippy cup!), going through every piece of plastic-ware in the house and tossing any that did not meet standards, and bucking up to drop $25 each on water bottles for me and every member in my extended family.

Sure it was pricey. But I looked at it the same way I looked at my cloth-diapering investment. Money now means savings later, for both myself and the environment.

And so far, I think I got my money's worth. It's made from a single piece of extruded aluminim (no plastic!), leak-proof, the interior coating will not leach into fluids,and it's recyclable after you've dropped it for the 10,000th time.

These things are pretty tough to come by right now, with the current BPA-free hype, but we were able to get ours from REI's web site, and patiently waited three months for our back-ordered choices.

Mine? It's the unpronouncable Maharadsha.

What do you think of the SIGG and what's your favorite design?

How sweet it is

Whether you cloth diaper your baby or find yourself wishing for a clean rag to wipe your child's dirty hands off at the park, reusable baby wipes might just be what you are looking for. With a variety of eye-catching designs and your choice of fabrics to choose from, there is bound to be something to match you and your child's style. Want something to match your little darlings nursery or bedroom set? Honey Chunks owner Rachel Mayer will customize a pattern or design to compliment your look. But if you're gonna go green to protect the environment and reduce waste with reusable wipes, you can't get very far in cleaning up without the Honey Chunks Foaming Cleanser created by Mayer. The all-natural foamy organic mix is all hand-made by Mayer. Simply squirt to moisten the wipe (it smells heavenly!), clean baby up, and toss the wipe in the wash!

I've been using this stuff for Buttercup when she was just a few months old and am beyond hooked! Plus, I love that I'm supporting a WAHM (read: work at home mom) and not contributing to the coporate bottom dollar.

At just $6.99 for a Honey Chunks Foaming Cleanser and $1.25 per handmade wipe, the upfront cost is off-set by the savings you will no longer be throwing away.

The Tuesday Ten: Ma! Motherhood with an Attitude's Janalee Chmel

Remember the hilarious Ma! Motherhood with an Attitude contest and review I did here? Well, hold on to your seats because I've got a great Tuesday Ten interview with Janalee Chmel, the writing half of the hot mammas duo! Read on for some mom-pranuer insights and laughs.

Q.: So tell me a little about your company and the inspiration behind it.
A.: When my daughter, Delaney, was about 6 months old, I became really frustrated by the lack of greeting cards that expressed what I was going through. All the stuff out there seemed to be way off the mark. It’s like all the card companies out there were in a conspiracy to make motherhood look easy… it’s like the June Cleaver image of wife-hood. All the items were pastel, contained cute ducks, and talked only about the deep joy. While I was experiencing profound joy, I was also experiencing a huge shift in priorities, isolation, confusion and frustration. So, I started writing the greeting cards I wanted to receive! However, I am about as artistic as a mop so, for years, I sought a partner who was artistic and shared my sense of humor. Enter (business partner)Tiffany!

Q: So many good ideas never get past the idea phase...how did you make your business a reality?
A.:I must say that this little biz never would have gotten off the ground without the incredible synergy that Tiffany and I share. We not only complement each other, but we honor and respect our different approaches to business and art. The result has meant that we can tackle many different projects and goals simultaneously. We use every inch of our left brains and our right brains! If I had to slog through this alone, I guarantee it would be moth-balled by now. That’s not to say it’s EASY! Being mothers, freelancers AND entrepreneurs is incredibly challenging. To that end, we also allow pause in our business for when motherhood and life become overwhelming. In that way, I think, we are able to maintain forward momentum!

Q.: Your products tell it like it is for moms everywhere. It's kind of like the crap-filter is turned and the writing on your products is just so honest and funny! Where do you get your ideas?
A.: THE CRAP FILTER IS TURNED OFF! I LOVE THAT! Well, my muses are clearly my children, but I also get a lot of ideas from other moms. I also see stuff that makes me mad (perfect parenting propaganda) and I try to write about the opposite – such as the joy of imperfect mothering!

Q.: The pictures are priceless...tell me how you decide which to use on your stuff.
A.:I’d really love Tiffany to answer this one, too, because she’s so incredible at matching words, art, and photos. I must say, though, that asking moms everywhere to send us their best shots really inspires us. Of course, we get some photos that are precious but just not “ma!” and we can’t use those. However, we get some that make us bark out loud with laughter and sometimes we figure out ways to use them. Ultimately, our goal is to always let our customers (fellow moms) be PART of who we are. We will never be some big, glam, aloof card and gift company because our very business model requires that we stay in the nitty gritty with our mom customers! We need them! We ARE our market!

Q.: Okay, back to the sayings...We've all seen what made it past the cutting board stages. Share a few gems that got ditched.
A.:Oh, good question! Let me go back to my files… Here’s one that we may still use (All our work is copyrighted, folks!) We want to celebrate MOMS on their kids’ birthdays, so we may do a line of cards for moms that celebrate THEIR accomplishments on their kids’ birthdays. Here’s one: (outside) It’s your baby’s birthday! (inside) Today, we celebrate the day that destroyed your sleep forever.

This is just a quip I wrote to myself about carpooling:
“Carpooling: A world in which she who owns the biggest car has the most ‘best friends.’
She who owns the four-seater hybrid is the social equivalent of a high school theater geek.”

We plan to cover just about every phase of motherhood, from birth to empty nesting. One mom said, “You need to do a card for Motherhood after Menopause!” I loved that.


Q.: What's your funniest mommyhood memory to date? A.:Seriously? I think the whole damn thing is a laugh riot if you tilt your head the right way!

Q.:The best part of being a mom? And what's the hardest?
A.: I think those two go hand-in-hand. The harder something is, the more I value it. Of course, it ain't hard to get snuggles and that may be my very favorite part of mothering. I just dig snuggles!

Q.: If you could have one mommy superpower, what would it be?
A.: Hormone Eraser! I fear the teenage years with two daughters!

Q.: Sneaky chef or eat-those-veggies-now! What's your parenting style?
A.: Eat those veggies now. Totally. And guess what? My girls LOVE salads!

Q.: What's on the menu for dinner tonight? (and can I come over?)
A.: Penne pasta with grilled chicken, pinon nuts, and cherry tomatoes. You may come over if you bring wine!

And there you have it! And in case I forgot to post this already because my head is up my wahoo I've been so busy, let me get you all in on the sweet 10 percent off code for Berrie Sweet Picks readers over at ma! Just enter code "berriesweet."

Who's up for my next Tuesday Ten? I'll let you know as soon as I do!