Metropolitan Mama

Wordless Wednesday: Up and Down

metropolitanmama — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:28:51 +0000

Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web

metropolitanmama — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:06:29 +0000

Welcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, freebies, deals, and reads for moms on the web…all in one convenient location.

Contests

We own a Dirt Devil KRUZ and, although it is not super powerful, it IS convenient and attractive too (for a vacuum, that is). Amanda has one up for grabs until NOV. 19.

These BUMMAS cloth wipes are *perfect* for bath time. Enter to win a pack at The Laughs Will Go On. Deadline: NOV. 19.

I’m always a fan of “practical” giveaways. All Because Two People Fell in Love is hosting a contest to give away two coupons for a free jumbo pack of Huggies diapers. Deadline: NOV. 21.

I’m not usually a big fan of capris (perhaps because I’m on the shorter side at 5′5″…), but these Gracie’s Gear workout ones look really chic…and comfortable too! Leave a comment at Fitness for Mommies before NOV. 21.

Amanda has not 1, not 2, not 3…but FIVE pairs of See Kai Run shoes up for grabs on her blog. What are you still doing here? Enter before NOV. 22.

Fresh juice is my favorite beverage (aside from water)…which is why I’m entering to win the Lexen Healthy Juicer that is currently up for grabs at Just a mom’s take on things. Deadline: NOV 22.

Win $50 to Sugarplum Dreams - a boutique shop with a fine collection of baby/toddler products - over at Seeyrus Mama. Deadline: NOV. 22.

Another pair of See Kai Run shoes up for grabs! Enter at State of Confusion before NOV. 25.

I have heard that Ergo baby carriers are the BEST, but they’re also a little bit pricy. Read all about the carrier and enter to win one at Northwest Mom Finds before NOV. 26.

Just in time for Christmas! 5M4M is giving away a $100 gift card to Sears. My husband would be SO happy if I won this. He’s a huge fan of Craftsman tools. Deadline: NOV. 28.

Announcements

YOU’RE INVITED to the Mom 2.0 Summit (”An Open Conversation Between Moms and Marketers“), which will be held in Houston, TX, between Feb. 19-21, 2008. I would definitely consider going…if I wasn’t going to be eight months pregnant at that time!

BlogHer ‘09. The big announcement has been made. The 5th annual conference will be held in Chicago between July 23-25, 2009. Chicago is a LONG way from AZ and I will have a 4-month-old so I won’t be there…WILL YOU?

Interested in participating in online surveys, online focus groups, and/or in-person focus groups to let companies know what you think about their products? Check out Alpha Mom Labs! You will get compensated for your time.

Good Reads

Shannon {Rocks In My Dryer} sends out an encouraging word to parents of wee ones (infants and toddlers) in her post: It Gets Easier.

CBS News reports: France Bans TV Shows Aimed at Tots (Aug. 20, 2008). Maybe the U.S. should do the same thing…

Nell {Casual Friday Everyday} recently wrote about her family’s decision re: vaccines and I love her second to last paragraph, “I want to make it clear I’m not anti-vaccine. I would like to see them cleaned up…greened up. I would like to see less of them and would like to see them on a much more spaced our schedule, but I’ve never been against the idea of vaccines.” My thoughts exactly.

The Family Bed Destroys Married Life…or does it? I just read this insightful post on a forum on mothering.com. I tend to agree with the premise of the post. You don’t have to choose between co-sleeping and your marriage. They really can be quite compatible.

Miscellany

Here’s a cool way to document your baby’s growth during the first year: Babies by the month {GoodyBlog}.

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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

Winning Sweepstakes: Mere Luck…or not?

metropolitanmama — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:30:35 +0000

Do you enter sweepstakes/contests? I think contesting is a fun hobby and I have won some great prizes in the past, but I don’t spend an excessive amount of time on it. When I do enter, I tend to enter blog contests (a great way to show support to fellow bloggers!) and merit-based contests (essays, photos, etc.). I’m what you might call a “sporadic sweepstaker” because I am definitely not systematic in my approach.

But some people are sweepstaking “pros.”

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing two people who fall into that category - Ken and Diane Carlos of Sweepstakes Advantage (”The Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes, Freebies, and Contests“). Read on for their best tips.

Q. How does Sweepstakes Advantage compare to other sweepstakes sites?

A. Some sweepstakes sites are charging an entry or membership fee nowadays, but one way we strive to separate ourselves from other sweepstakes sites is by continuing to be a free site. Our members are important to us, so we are constantly making changes & improvements to accommodate those who make suggestions. Also, one of our goals is to add more new sweepstakes every day than our competive sweepstakes sites to give our visitors the winning edge.

Q. What things have you personally won from entering sweepstakes?

A. I starting entering sweepstakes in 1996 before creating sweepstakes advantage with my husband in march of 1997. While he was at work and with my being a stay-at-home mom at the time, I thought maybe I could help out financially by entering sweeps. I was amazed when the wins started rolling in. The most fun prize to win was a sony playstation kiosk gaming center worth close to $4,000. We also won a 4-day trip to the Bahamas. Another favorite win was $1,000 worth of toys from amazon.com.

Q. What kind of sweepsakes/contests are most “lucrative” in your opinion?

A. Your best odds of winning a sweepstakes by entering our very own SA member sweepstakes that we offer occasionally. We pick our winners randomly and in some cases have only a small amount of entries so your chances could be like 1 out of 25 or 1 out of 100. Also, merit-based or essay type contests are more time consuming but you have a better shot at winning. For example, one contest I simply wrote a 1 to 2 line sentence to say why my husband is the “best hungry man” for those hungry man dinners. I couldn’t believe I won 2nd place for $500!

Q. What are your top contest tips?

A. Enter as often as you can & use roboform to make things easier. It’s a good idea to read the rules so you don’t disqualify yourself. Patience will be your best friend in this hobby.

Q. In your opinion, are sweepstakes “mere luck” or can you take steps to become a more frequent winner?

A. Being consistent & taking steps to be organized will definitely help you in the long run and will give you the better odds of winning. You can gain a lot of tips and knowledge by visiting the forum, where you can ask questions and get answers that can give you some insight on what will work best for you personally. Some of these folks are experienced veterans and can be very helpful. And most importantly, you can only get lucky if you enter! Have a winning day!

YOUR TURN: Do you enter sweepstakes/contests? If so, have you won anything fun?

Utterly Yours: A Different Kind of Pregnancy Pillow

metropolitanmama — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:13:03 +0000

I thought about buying a pregnancy pillow for my entire first pregnancy. I was uncomfortable pretty much from the beginning - tossing and turning - wedging pillows behind my back and in between my knees to seemingly no avail. I think I used four or five pillows every night. My husband joked during that time that he couldn’t even see me behind the giant mound of pillows.

I wish I had known about the Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow.

When I first saw the pillow, I wondered if it could actually work. After all, it looks nothing like other pregnancy pillows on the market. Most pillows out there are massive “body pillows” that you curl around your body - contortionist-style. But the Utterly Yours pillow is compact, just “two simple triangles with distinct densities that offer balanced support to the back and abdomen.”

You may know that sleeping on your side - specifically on your left side - is often recommended by doctors as it takes pressure off the back, keeps the uterus off the liver, and optimizes blood flow to the baby. The Utterly Yours pillow keeps me comfortably positioned on my side throughout the night…and it even allows me to lean back a little bit on the strong support and shift positions if my side starts to get “tingly.” It really does help and now I never want to sleep without it!

Available in six different color combinations, the pillow is a great find for pregnant moms! And - if you happen to be cosleeping with a toddler or younger child for part or all of the night - you’ll absolutely love the “smallness” of this pillow because it still allows you to snuggle with your little one throughout the night.

Want to buy one for yourself or a pregnant friend? Use discount code UYMM1108 for 10% off your order from now until NOV. 30.

WIN IT! One winner will receive an Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow in the size and color of her choice ($39.95-54.95). To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Monday, November 24 at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

It’s okay to be counterculture

metropolitanmama — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:13:26 +0000

The first year of a baby’s life is no cakewalk. There are a multitude of decisions to make…

hospital or home birth
breastfeed or formula feed
cry-it-out or comfort-quickly
crib or family bed
homemade baby food or jars of Gerber
disposable or cloth diapers
AAP vaccinations or no vaccinations at all, and…
everything in-between.

Each family has to find their own way. With the first child, I think that journey is be a bit more painful than with subsequent children. When my firstborn was a newborn, my tendency was to feel uncertain about my own instincts, to rely on “the professionals” with greater trust, and to look around timidly at other parents…wondering if I was doing things “right.”

With our second child on the way, I feel more confident. I won’t feel the need to “apologize” about my baby not being in a crib or about breastfeeding past the 1-year mark or about not leaving my baby in the church nursery. I’ll be able to brush comments off with grace and a smile. It’s okay that I won’t birth in a hospital. It’s okay that we don’t believe in crying-it-out. It’s okay that we don’t even own a crib. It’s okay that we opted for the convenience of disposable diapers. It’s okay that we don’t like leaving our baby during the first year. That’s what works for us.

Some of our decisions are unconventional in mainstream USA. Most of the popular parenting magazines tend to describe parenting in the traditional hospital-birthing, bottle-toting, AAP way. But Mothering Magazine (”Natural Family Living“) has a slightly different “voice.” In a typical issue, you might find articles about green living, breastfeeding, homebirth, babywearing, and vaccine alternatives. You’ll also find photos of moms breastfeeding their babies (and toddlers) and of actual births. The ads you’ll see are for cloth diapers, natural oils, baby carriers, and co-sleeping aids (not baby formula and Huggies).

Which magazine “fits” our family? Well - neither…and both. Perhaps we lean more toward the natural way of living that Mothering espouses, but they’re also a bit more bohemian than we are (I don’t breastfeed in public, for example, and we do vaccinate our children to some extent…).

The thing that I like about Mothering is that it’s different. It is unashamedly counterculture. It provides parents with new perspectives and thus encourages thoughtful decision-making.

Most parents don’t fit neatly into a particular parenting box. Decisions related to parenting are many - they’re not always easy and sometimes they change. That’s why I’m glad Mothering exists. Because its pages provide new ways of looking at things and also give parents “peace” who might be doing things outside of the prevailing societal norm.

WIN IT! One winner will receive a 1-year-subscription to Mothering Magazine ($22.95). To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Sunday, November 23 at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

Themed Weekend: Waiting for Baby, Part I

metropolitanmama — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:23:40 +0000

I’m just about to enter the final month of my second trimester and I’m already feeling the “come-on-out-baby, I-want-to-meet-you” bug. Of course, I know that she still has a lot of growing to do and I want her to stay in there until she’s good and ready. I’m just not a huge fan of pregnancy. I really love the marvels of motherhood, but am not as thrilled by the bun-in-the-oven part.

That said, I know there are plenty of things to be doing right now…before baby #2 makes her debut. For example:

I want to make the most of the time with my sweet Little Beauty. Just the two of us.
I want to enjoy the freedom of going out with friends or my husband. Soon enough, I’ll have a nursing baby who needs me.
I want to take care of my body as much as possible to make my L&D and the postpartum healing period easier.

This weekend is about what to do while waiting. Some of the products/articles will be specifically related to pregnancy/baby stuff. Some won’t. So stay tuned for an eclectic array of giveaways and articles regardless of your current maternal “state.”

Mouthwatering Homemade Chili {with a touch of sweetness}

metropolitanmama — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:16:59 +0000

I just made the most delicious homemade Cincinnati Chili*.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 large onion, coarsely chopped
1 14-16 oz. can whole tomatoes with their liquid
1 16 oz. can red kidney beans with their liquid (use a variety without added sugar, if possible)

Directions:

In a large stockpot over medium heat, saute the meat in its own juices until it is browned.
Add the other ingredients in the order above. Simmer the chili gently for at least 30 minutes and up to one hour.

The chili was hearty and scrumptious with a hint of sweetness - and it filled our house with the most wonderful fall smells.

I served it up with plenty of cheddar cheese on top and cornbread on the side.

* Recipe taken from The Six O’Clock Scramble: Quick, Healthy, and Delicious Dinner Recipes for Busy Families by Aviva Goldfarb. Check it out for other fast and easy recipes for your family!

Wordless Wednesday: Belly @ 22 Weeks

metropolitanmama — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:16:45 +0000

Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web

metropolitanmama — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:14:55 +0000

Contests

Bits and Pieces from My Life is giving away a $30 gift certificate to Expressiva (a company that specializes in nursing bras and clothing). I’d love to purchase a nice nursing nightgown or PJ set for when our sweet little baby arrives in March. Deadline: TONIGHT @ midnight.

Teach your kids (and perhaps yourself…) more about that historic house on the hill. Marissa at Mama Sparkles is giving away a copy of the book, “Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out.” Deadline: TONIGHT @ midnight.

Groceries are so expensive lately and I could use a little help. What about you? Enter to win a $25 Kroger gift certificate over at All Because Two People Fell in Love before Nov. 14.

Mama Speaks is a fun blog that features reviews of products that fall into the baby/family categories. Right now, they’re searching for a new tagline…and they need YOUR help! Submit your idea and you could win $50 to Vie Maternity or Amazon.com. Deadline: Nov. 15.

Win a Karmin Titanium Hair Straightener Iron, courtesy of My Hairstyling Tools and A Mom in Red High Heels. I have curly hair and I think it would be fun to straighten it from time-to-time so I’ll be entering before Nov. 17.

See Kai Run offers shoes for the littlest of babies too…their Smaller line is just way too cute! Enter to win a pair of your choice for your 0-18 month-old over at SassyFrazz before Nov. 20.

I LOVE my GymGirl running skirt from SkirtSports, but it’s too scanty to wear it during the winter months. I’d love to win this cozy ToughGirl outfit (retails for $190) to give myself a little extra motivation for when the air is crisp. Deadline: Nov. 30.

Submit a photo of your little cutie (newborn to 24 months) and he/she could end up on the cover of Dr. Robert Sears’ newest book, Happy Baby: The Organic Guide to Baby’s First 24 Months. Plus, you could win over $1,000 in other prizes too! Enter before Dec. 30.

Announcements

Do you know a family who can’t afford to buy Christmas gifts for their kids this year? Nominate them for 5 Minutes for Mom’s 2008 “Under the Tree” program. It’s completely private and selected families will receive age-appropriate gifts to put under their tree. Nominations are open until Nov. 20.

Stop by Bass Pro Shops between Nov. 9 and Dec. 24 and enjoy over 3,500 square feet of Christmas Magic…all for FREE! Get a photo with Santa, test your skills at a red ryder laser arcade, take a test drive with remote control cars, see old-time model trains, color a Christmas picture, or play at the soft gun arcade. Plus - on select weekends - you and your kids can decorate cookies, make reindeer hats, and participate in other fun activities! Again…it’s all FREE! I so wish there was a BP in my area…

Here’s another great reason to purchase a pair of shoes for your baby or toddler from See Kai Run. For every pair sold on seekairun.com in the months of November and December, See Kai Run will donate a pair to a child in need through Soles4Souls and local organizations in their area.

Root & Sprout, an online magazine for parents that focuses on natural and healthy living, will be looking to hire three writers in early 2009. Selected writers will be paid $90/month. Check the link for more details…

Submit articles to the Tea Collection blog and - if selected - you will receive gift certificates to their fun and internationally-inspired kids clothing catalog.

Good Reads

PsychMamma gave me somethin’ to think about in her recent article, “Vaccinations for Kids: The Shot - Or Not?”

Speaking of vaccines…get up-to-date information about the flu vaccine for the 2008/2009 season on Dr. Sears’ blog.

Should kids be able to graduate after 10th grade? (TIME, 11-7-2008). New Hampshire education officials think so…and I think I tend to agree.

Miscellany

Barack Obama is the new pres! Check out “The historic night in pictures” (The Sun, 11-5-2008).

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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

There’s A New Printer On The Block…and it’s very cool

metropolitanmama — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:11:53 +0000

Epson just released their newest printer…the Artisan 800 All-in-One ($299.99)…and it is fabulous.

It’s a 5-in-1 printer, meaning that you can do all of the following with just one machine:

print
copy
scan
fax
ultra HD photo

It also prints photos in as fast as 10 seconds (a fantastic feature for a scrapbooker like myself) and you can print CD/DVD labels too.

Best of all, this is a Wi-Fi printer…no wires needed. Just put it anywhere in your house, set it up with your wireless network, and -kaboom! - you can print.

Want to buy one? Check it out at B&H or a variety of sellers across the U.S. and the ‘Net.

Want to win one? 5 Minutes for Mom (Deadline: November 28) and Kirtsy (Deadline: November 30, I think…) are both giving one away right now!