dear kayla and liv, you are my music

first guitar dear kayla and liv, you are my musicMusic is, in many ways, a foreign language. It takes skill and practice to learn it – to dream it, to feel the tones and rhythms in your blood.

I never took instrument or voice lessons as a child. Even so, my childhood was not without music. I heard the leaves rustling, the birds twittering, the classical greats as I leapt across dance floors, the pounding of my heart at soccer games, and the sweet soprano of my mom’s voice as she strummed her guitar.

I don’t know what the future holds for my little girls – if they will embrace singing or art or science or rock-climbing. But I do know I want to open doors so that they can see the possibilities. To give them the chance to try.

To look inside themselves and see what music they find there.

future singer dear kayla and liv, you are my music hand drum by hohner kids dear kayla and liv, you are my music my first acoustic guitar hohner kids dear kayla and liv, you are my music

Hohner Kids recently sent us their beautiful My First Acoustic Guitar (~$50) and a Hand Drum (~$10). The guitar is adorably-sized – perfect for little fingers (ages 4+). It’s a miniature version of the real thing. The drum is super fun too – with nice tones for exploring and creating music.

Hohner Kids also offers a variety of other musical instruments: cymbals, accordions, maracas, harmonicas, etc. 

Stephanie Likes…the dyson digital slim

stephanie likes the dyson digital slim Stephanie Likes...the dyson digital slim Living in a small space? [We probably have you beat this year at just over 300-sqft].

We have to think smart when it comes to the number of cleaning products we keep. Dyson sent me a Digital Slim vacuum several months ago and I have to tell you: It totally sucks – in the best possible way! It’s powerful. It’s cordless. It’s compact. It’s…Super Vacuum!

dyson digital slim1 Stephanie Likes...the dyson digital slim This modern and sleek vacuum comes with three different attachments and a motor that “spins up to 3 times faster than conventional motors.” We’ve tried other cordless vacuums and this one cleans up the competition.

* Stephanie Likes is a space where I share pithy paragraphs on products that I…like.

running – back at it

hands on the hip before a run running   back at itTim and I sat down a few weeks ago to put together a fitness schedule. We’ve been running on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. We also try to add in a “bonus run” on the weekend – either that or a hike/long walk.

Tim pushes the girls in the double jogger. I run alongside. We’ve been running 2.5 miles; the second half uphill. Killer.

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crossed arms before a run running   back at it

Skirt Sports recently sent me the Tough Girl Skirt ($90) and Happy Hour V-Neck ($65)…and I feel like I’m on-top-of-the-world as I run.

The Tough Girl Skirt is especially awesome. It has the perfect amount of stretch, the flared leg is super flattering, and the skirt keeps my bum covered. I know I’m going to wear it all 4 seasons.

Do you have a weekly fitness “schedule”? What is your exercise of choice?

Spiffies: a natural teething remedy for babies & toddlers

hello smiley Spiffies: a natural teething remedy for babies & toddlersWhat’s your solution for teething discomfort for your baby? I tend to breastfeed the pain away (and it works quite well).

I also try to avoid all those numbing agents in the baby care aisle. Because they scare me. It just doesn’t seem sensible to put chemicals right into a baby’s mouth.

Recently, I learned about a natural way to soothe a baby’s sore gums (and prevent cavities at the same time!). Spiffies toothwipes are a research-backed product, created by a Tucson-based Pediatrician. The secret ingredient? Xylitol (a natural sweetener found in many fruits and plants – click on the link to read all about it).

The Spiffies Teething Kit is still in marketing development, but should be available for purchase at select retailers and on the Spiffies website by the end of the year. The kit will include an assortment of toothwipes, plus a mini booklet about teething. Just stick the wipes in the freezer and then gently rub baby’s sore gums, as necessary. As of right now, there are 3 flavors – grape, apple, and mango. Both of our girls (19 months and 4 years) enjoy using the wipes on a nightly basis (our 19mo has a whole mouthful of teeth coming in).

spiffies Spiffies: a natural teething remedy for babies & toddlers

Spiffies is looking for 20 moms of teething babies/toddlers (4 months to age 3) to provide feedback about the packaging and messaging on the teething kit box (which is not yet available for purchase).

Interested? Leave a comment on this post by Friday, October 22nd, at 11:59pm. I’ll select 20 names at random. All 20 moms will receive a free teething kit, plus 100 refills. After you’ve had a chance to try it, I’ll ask you to fill out a brief questionnaire about your experience. Then, I’ll have Spiffies send you a $20 gift card to buybuyBaby. Easy as pie.

How do you soothe your teething baby’s sore gums?

UPDATED: The twenty selected moms are: #42 Csixberry, #50 Amy Martin, #37 Kris, #47 Elizabeth, #38 Elisabeth, #43 Meg T, #41 Kristen, #10 Becca, #49 Sarah, #35 Audrey, #16 Tiffany, #14 Kara, #6 Renee, #24 Vanessa, #15 Marissa, #22 Kate, #34 Autumn B, #23 JulieK, #45 Jenny @ mamanash.com, and #32 Janelle.

* I received compensation for this post as part of a custom campaign for Spiffies. As always, all opinions are my own.

The Outdoor Family: ERGObaby Performance Carrier

ergo performance in action The Outdoor Family: ERGObaby Performance CarrierTim & I like to hike. When we began having babies, we had two options: (1) Stop hiking and wait until all of our kids were old enough to hike on their own (that might be a long time coming…) or (2) Carry the little ones. We decided on the latter.

For shorter hikes, our 4-year-old can hold her own. She’s quite an able hiker for being so young. For longer hikes, Tim carries her part way in our Kelty carrier.

When our baby was younger, I carried her in the ERGO on my chest. Now that she’s a toddler, I prefer to carry her on my back (The only downside of carrying her on my back is that it’s harder to get her situated without help from another adult. Once she’s in, though, she’s content.). She also likes to get out and do a little hiking herself when we are on flatter surfaces.

hiking with a toddler on my back The Outdoor Family: ERGObaby Performance CarrierERGO recently sent me their newest Performance Carrier ($120) in Spring Green to review. I was giddy when it arrived. You see, this is the “ERGO for outdoor people.” It has all of the same great features as the original ERGO, but it’s lighter in weight, has a more durable exterior, and is lined with mesh for better breath-ability.

I haven’t used it on any long hikes yet, but it’s proven itself to be awesome on shorter hikes.

ergo performance back carry The Outdoor Family: ERGObaby Performance CarrierSo. I bet you want to ask me, “If you had to choose between the organic carrier and the performance carrier, which would you choose?” That’s a tough one because they are VERY similar. I almost couldn’t tell the difference. If you intend to use the carrier at least semi-regularly in outdoor pursuits, I would say to get the performance.

Do you have any babywearing questions for me? Feel free to ask.

WIN IT! One winner will receive an ERGObaby Performance Carrier ($120). To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Monday, October 11th at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

* ERGObaby sent me a sample for review purposes and is also providing 1 carrier for the giveaway.

*UPDATE* The winner is #28 Tiffany. Congratulations!

The Outdoor Family: Syncline GTX by The North Face

syncline gtx womens The Outdoor Family: Syncline GTX by The North FaceThe first time I wore these hiking boots, I kept saying, “These boots are comfortable!” “I am so steady on my feet!” “My ankles are totally supported!” “Look! I’m tromping through the water and I can’t feel any water seeping in!

It was kind of like I was in a commercial for The North Face. Except my hair was messy, I barely had any make-up on, and I was carrying a baby.

womens syncline gtx The Outdoor Family: Syncline GTX by The North FaceIn all seriousness, the Syncline GTX boots ($150) are outstanding. I give them a solid five stars when it comes to construction, functionality, and…cuteness (they don’t look huge and masculine like some boots do). Another plus is that these boots require almost no breaking in – I slipped them on and my feet were immediately at ease.

If you’re considering a reputable pair of boots for light hiking and outdoor adventuring, I highly recommend the Syncline GTX.

P.S. Want to keep up with The North Face? (They make awesome outdoor apparel and gear for men, women, and kids). Follow TNF on Twitter or Like TNF on Facebook.

WIN IT! One winner will receive a pair of boots from The North Face. To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Monday, October 11th at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

* The North Face sent me a sample for review purposes and is also providing 1 pair of boots for the giveaway.

*UPDATE* The winner is #52 Christine. Congratulations!

CAbi Fall 2010 {they sent me clothes…like I’m a celebrity or something}

black knot shirt cabi CAbi Fall 2010 {they sent me clothes...like Im a celebrity or something}Here’s a fun trivia fact for all of my new readers: I used to do more product reviews back in the day (okay, last year…).

I was never a “review blogger” per se, but I did enjoy sharing fun new finds through my Themed Weekend series. (And I still think product reviews by bloggers can be extremely useful because they tend to be thorough & personal – and they often come from a trusted source).

I have to say, though: I am so glad I made the transition from productville…to simply blogging the “everyday extraordinary” of my life. It’s meant more engagement (thanks for your comments, ya’ll!), closer friendships, and better content on my blog.

looking left pink coat CAbi Fall 2010 {they sent me clothes...like Im a celebrity or something}All that being said, the PR company for CAbi [Carol Anderson By Invitation] recently asked me if I wanted to sample some clothing from their Fall 2010 Collection. I took a look at the website, picked my jaw off the ground, and said, “Yes, please!” The collection is sophisticated, without being stuffy…modern, without being juvenile.

Apparently, Carol Anderson used to be a designer for Nordstrom, but now exclusively designs for CAbi. The pieces are upscale and trendy, while still retaining classic sensibilities.

Here’s the catch: you can’t buy CAbi online or in stores. The collection is exclusively sold through house parties that bring women together for fashion & fun. To find a Consultant near you, check the CAbi website.

If you’re interested in the career side of things, there’s a website specifically for that. Essentially, you sell clothes to your friends – and receive a commission.

Here’s a sample of the Fall collection:

cabi sparkle top CAbi Fall 2010 {they sent me clothes...like Im a celebrity or something} cabi speckled trousers CAbi Fall 2010 {they sent me clothes...like Im a celebrity or something} cabi tea coat and skirt CAbi Fall 2010 {they sent me clothes...like Im a celebrity or something}

Do you ever attend (or host) “house parties” for products? Do you enjoy them? What do you think about the CAbi collection?