Product Review & Giveaway!

Hello!

I'm really excited about this product review & giveaway from PRK Products, Inc.!

I also had the opportunity to review their Baby Food Organizer last year which fortunately I still have to make this review and giveaway double the fun!  Now, you have the opportunity to own BOTH to keep yourself organized!

Wooohooo!

Last week, I received the Universal Bottle and Sippy Cup product from PRK Products, Inc. and I was so excited that first and foremost, it's an organizing product - and secondly, it's compatible with almost every brand of bottle and sippy cups that are widely available today. You can go here to view the full list of bottles and sippy cups it works with.

With two young kids now, I feel like my cabinets (and the house in general) are a sippy cup disaster area!  Something is forever falling out of the cabinets determined to kill me (death by sippy cup parts!) or lids go missing and straws or tops get misplaced.

Yeah - you know what I'm talking about.

Well, this product completely takes care of that!  It will take you from the bottle phase of babyhood right through the toddler years for organizing your cups and parts.

Image courtesy of PRK Products 

From PRK PRoducts, Inc. web site, the features of the organizer are as follows:

• Stores up to 12 bottles or sippy cups
• Loads horizontally and uses gravity to dispense bottles one at a time
• Takes up less of a footprint in your kitchen cabinet
• Compatible with over 30 brands of bottles and sippy cups 
• Adjustable, so you won’t have to buy a new product when your baby outgrows a bottle
• Dishwasher Safe
• Can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer
• Comes with basket to hold accessories

The organizer with some cups
on my kitchen table

I had a lot of fun fitting the different brands of cups I own currently - Playtex, Munchkin and Gerber.

However, I totally missed the part of the box which CLEARLY states that it's adjustable.  So, at first none of my cups fit.  (I blame mommy-brain!)

Doesn't Elmo look so happy sitting on the BPA-free plastic :)  I also love the PRK logo of the happy baby face smiling back at me.

Okay, okay - On to the fun part!

Again, you can win these two amazing products!  Just follow the easy steps below.  Good luck!


Remember, see my review here of the baby food organizer.

To enter the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

'Tis the season

No - not Christmas!

'Tis the season for Spring! And it sure has sprung here in Connecticut. For me, that means Summer is closer and it's time for Spring cleaning, gardening, fresh fruits and veggies and one of my favorite things - tag sales!

'Tis the season for tag sales!

Since it's a gorgeous day here and we've been on the lookout on Craigslist and some stores for a few things, we came across a few tag sales happening in our area. So, after breakfast, my husband and I loaded the kids into the double stroller, leashed up the pup and off we went for a long walk to the tag sales.

This is where I stumbled upon one of my items I've been wanting for quite some time from the Ballard Designs Catalog - a stair basket.

Image via Google search

I've wanted this for quite sometime. I love the idea since our steps act as a dumping zone at times. I place things on steps that need to go up and down everyday - and I end up making a mess on the stairs which can be a hazard. Since we've been making some changes here at Casa Kirsch, we have been using the stairs much more during the days then before now that the kids are older.  (more on that this week!)

So, one of these would be perfect for me to load up and bring back down - and up and down - or to simply contain my stair mess ;)

I love Ballard, but it's $45 and not something that's at the top of the priority list.

Back to the story of the coveted stair basket. :)

As we approached the house of the tag sale, I did the once over as we got closer to see what I could see - and just as I began to feel a slight sense of disappointment when my eyes fell on nothing that struck me - suddenly, I saw IT.

My tag sale score - cleaned and happily awaiting
to be filled with stuff!

All of a sudden,  I gasped and squealed all at once and said quietly to my husband "They have a stair basket!" so that no one else would spot my treasure.

I snatched it and frantically looked for a price.
No price.

So I walked over to the woman who was busy with another tag sale attendee and waited patiently to find out the asking price on my fab find.

After waiting for what seemed like a small eternity, I calmly asked "How much?" and she thought for a second and I started guessing what she might say.  I figured at least $10-15.

"Um, a $1.50?" she replied in a questioning tone as if it was too much to ask.  I think the look of delight on my face may have been making her question it.  Quickly, I called back to my husband and the kids and said "Give me two bucks!" and then happily handed both dollars to the woman. She went to reach for change to give me back and I shook my head.  I already felt like I was stealing this away from her despite the fact she clearly didn't want it.

It's true - one person's trash is totally my treasure!

The only downside was we then had to walk around the rest of our long walk with the stair basket clearly on display across the canopies of the double stroller - but I didn't care.  I was super excited.

It's the little things, remember?

While my tag sale find lacks the front slot to easily grab it and some of the other organizational features the Ballard basket has, I couldn't care one bit! It did come with two built in hook eye holes that I could easily tie some string or attach a strap to if need be.

But after lugging around two kids - what's the hassle of my pretty little step basket? Pshhhh.

Do you love tag sales?  What's been some of your biggest finds?

Babies, toddlers and TV - finally, a solution!

Ahh, yes.  It's one of those hot topics in the parenting world.

The age-old question:

"How much TV is okay to let my baby/toddler/child/teenager watch?"

And the answer you hear from every parent will vary.  Some say "none".  Some will say "too much".

But the TV/No TV debate is not the point of this post.

Whether you choose to let your babies/toddlers/kids watch TV is YOUR choice and WHAT you let them watch is also up to you.  I'm Pro-Mom, remember :)

Anywhoooo - as a side note I will share with you that both of my children have been watching TV - meaning DVDs and age-appropriate shows on toddler-friendly channels - since they were young.  My now 2 year old son was exposed to it earlier than my 3.5 year old daughter was at the same age, but that's just a result of being in the same room with the older sibling and being a work at home parent.

On to the point - the solution!

One day, when we were a one kid household, my daughter was asking for "Da-Da"- she was around 13 months old.  As he works out of the home, there was really no way for this to happen (obviously before FaceTime on iPhones).  And, since I work from home, something came up where I really needed to do something work-related that was time sensitive and needed my daughter to be entertained so I could just get something accomplished.

As I searched through the selection and debated which DVD to put on for her that would really captivate her attention for longer than the usual 5 possibly 10 minutes. Then, just as I cringed at idea of her watching more TV that day than had already been "allowed"- I came across a "genius" idea.

Genius I tell you!

It was our wedding DVD.  It was perfect for a few reasons:

• It was something she had never seen before 

• It had music, motion and people in it

• She could watch our wedding DVD and therefore see her Da-Da

• It exposed her to a new language (Hebrew) from the Rabbi who married us

With fingers crossed, I popped in the DVD and hopped on my conference call and she was mesmerized!

Aside from screaming Da-da at the TV every few minutes, I was able to get done what I had needed to do while she was entertained by the TV but with something that was family-related and a part of our family history.

Of course, now I'm even more glad we paid a bazillion dollars for the wedding videographer :)

Now, when I need to get something accomplished my kiddos are now older so it is easier to avoid using the TV as a distraction - but there are days when I need to do something urgent or cannot be interrupted every five seconds.

This is now one of my four go-to DVDs.  Since our wedding DVD worked so well, it prompted my husband to create three additional DVDs of our kids and they are a compilation of everything from us in the hospital with each of them to themselves as babies playing with toys, taking their first steps, eating their first foods and enjoying cake on their first birthdays and beyond.

So, yes, it's watching TV.  But they are watching and experiencing our family moments.

Also, watching their faces light up while watching themselves is just adorable, too.

And the award goes to....

Yay!  It's a big day for the baby planning world because they announced the winners of the 2012 Cribsie Awards!  


(It's like the Oscars of baby products)

I love the brands that won but am sad a few of my personal favorites did not.


Either way, congratulations to all the winners!


Looking forward to the year ahead and the 2013 award season :)

Simple & easy ways to go green in your home

Hello!  I hope this post finds you well :)

It's a snowy morning here in Connecticut after topping the thermometer here at nearly 60 yesterday - crazy!

As it's been a fairly mild Winter here in the Northeast, we typically spend quite a lot of time indoors.  Like most people, you consider your home to be one of the safest places for you and your family, right?  You keep things tidy and as dust free as possible - but did you know that indoor air can be more "polluted" than outdoor air?

I came across a company's web site called GreenGuard with some information that was a bit shocking to me.  After reading it, it made sense, but like a lot of things in life - you really don't view things or realize things that seem like common sense until you read it!

For example (straight from GreenGuard's web site):

Facts You Should Know

Children breathe in a greater volume of air than adults relative to their body size.

Children's organs and respiratory, immune and neurological systems are still developing.

Children are much closer to the ground, and as a result, breathe in more of the heavier airborne chemicals than do adults.

Infants and young children breathe through their mouths, more so than do adults, which increases their risk of pulmonary exposure to particulates and fibers, that would otherwise be filtered out in the nose.

So of course, I wanted to share and write about this (in case you're just like me and have an A-Ha! moment or a OMG I should have known that!).

There are some incredibly simple and easy ways to keep your home as green as possible by doing just a few things differently in your home - which thankfully we already do, but it's never too late to start!

1. Take off your shoes - we have a no shoe policy in the house.  Think of ALL the places you walk during the day - public places, public bathrooms (blech), sidewalks, shopping centers, etc.  Do you really want those traces of these places tracked throughout your home?  Methinks not.  Not only does it keep toxins and grossness out of your home, it keeps your floors cleaner, also.
2. Get some green - Add some green houseplants to your home. Plants are amazing at removing toxins in the air and replacing it with cleaner air.  Here's a post from TreeHugger that I found on the best air filtering plants.  I personally love Gerber Daisy, Bamboo and the Peace Lily plants.
3. Don't be smelly - Steer clear of scented air fresheners, candles, harsh perfumes and other "smelly" products that you may use in your home.  They can inject harmful toxins into the air.  Try using things that are fragrance-free. 
4. Use non-toxic cleaning products - I am quite the clutter-bug, but I do love having a clean home.  Foreverrrrr, I thought clean meant brands like Clorox, Lysol, Windex, etc.  But harsher chemicals does not equal cleaner things.  I still use the "strong stuff" for certain places such as disinfecting the kitchen sink and the toilet where the germiest things may be - but everywhere else I use "green" products or natural products wherever possible.  A few products I love are Bona Floor Cleaners, ActiveIon, Shark Steam Mop and Seventh Generation.  You can also go to The Smart Mama for more information on making your own cleaners from Vinegar, Baking Soda, Lemon and more. 
5. Just be more aware - Read the ingredients and just increase your awareness.  Simply opt for bringing products into your home that are as natural as possible - use safe laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos and other products that you put on, in or near your body.  

One last resource I love is the Environmental Working Group and their Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.  You can search thousands and thousands of products in tons of categories for harmful ingredients and they rate them on their safety scale.

Thanks for reading and stopping by and please feel free to share this with your friends and family!
~Carly

Love Me Some Blogs

I don't know about you, but I could spend all day on Pinterest and reading blogs. 


I just wanted to share with you a few of my favorites - but I'm always looking for new ones to subscribe to and check out, so please, tell me your favorites!


Parenting Illustrated with Crappy Pictures - Hilarious.  


Baby Rabies - Love Jill - she's a moms of two, like me and her writing is exceptional.  She writes honestly and from the heart and she does some great photography, too.


Thrifty Decor Chick - Sarah is awe.some. I wish I could be crafty and I LOVE her style and decor and her thrify-ness. 


Young House Love - These two are super cute and their daughter is adorable and they have a sense of style and do tons and tons of home improvement projects.  Their posts are informative and super funny to read.


Mama Cheaps - Great for saving money and time as it compiles some of the best prices and deals from stores and on the web. 


BabyCheapSkate - Breaks down great diaper deals and coupons and offers, also!


Baby Gear Guide - this is a site byThe Baby Guy NYC aka Jamie Grayson - I "met" Jamie on Twitter and I love him - he is the ultimate baby gear guy - he's single, gay but knows more about pregnancy, parenting, babies and of course, baby gear.  He has great contests, product reviews and more.


I'll have more to add, so check back soon!
Have a great weekend!

Product Review: Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner - free & simple

First, so sorry it's been so long for a post - things have been crazy around here! 

Anywhooo - I had an amazing opportunity from  Healthy Child to use and review Bona's new free & simple product from their line of products. 

I was introduced to the Bona brand a few years back when I did some freelance work for a hardwood floor company.  The owner provided me with a sample and I was hooked.  At the time I had much less mess to clean.  :sigh:  

image courtesy of Bona web site



Fast forward to life now with a bigger home, more to clean, two kids and a dog - it goes without saying that our hardwood floors get messy fast. 

Fortunately, I have some wonderful products that make cleaning these messes easier - and that includes this new line from Bona. 

The free & simple cleaner is quite effective and powerful - despite the misconception that green cleaners are not as effective as those with harsh chemicals.  The free & clear product is just as it's name states: free of dyes and scents, hypoallergenic and is non-toxic and completely biodegradable. 

I can use this product and not have to wrangle my two toddlers to ensure they are at a safe distance from where I'm cleaning.  And, if the dog walks through a wet or freshly cleaned area (as she always does!) I do not have to worry about her tracking her chemical-laden paws through other areas of our home.  I don't have to worry about her paws being irritated by harsh cleansers, either!

After using the product on my floors, the wood felt so fresh and comfortable to walk on - you know that feeling of freshly cleaned floors.  Even though I couldn't "smell" the clean as it is unscented, I surely could feel it underfoot.  I'm truly trying to dis-associate that smell association with cleaning products! 

As I type this review, I am thinking of my list of to-do's for the week and beyond and cleaning our hardwoods is on that list.

So if you're in the market for a new cleaner or know someone who may benefit from this product, please share and let them know about it!  

And, if you have questions about any easy and simple steps to greening your home, visit Healthy Child for some excellent information! 

NOTE: I was given the Bona free & simple product for free.  However, I was not paid to write a positive review.  This review is of my own experience and honest opinion.  

Product Review & Giveaway!

I'm convinced that some of the baby products, gear and toy companies design certain things just to make life miserable.  For example - the toys that have a zillion pieces to keep track of or the crazy beeping noises some toys make.  Today, I'm specifically also referring to the odd shape and inability to stack jars of baby food.  

I still clearly remember how completely annoying it was to keep the containers of baby food organized in the small space I had allotted in our kitchen cabinets.  Keeping them organized, let alone stacked, in any sort of fashion was pretty impossible.  Reaching around to grab a specific one while desperately trying not to knock them all over was never easy.  Needless to say, I had broken quite a few jars over the years.  

However, I'm thrilled to share with you there is now no need for you to experience the frustration and disorganization I had to deal with!  

I've been given the opportunity to review (and give away!!!) an amazing product by PRK Products, Inc. called the Universal Baby Food Jar Storage & Organizer. 



Image courtesy of PRK web site

It is was designed by a mother of four who created this for us fellow mommies to make our lives easier!  

Aside from home use, I can see this being very helpful if used by day care providers or households where there are children who are close in age but eat different foods.  This could keep it very simple and organized for everyone!

I can also see this being a wonderful gift idea for a baby shower, family members, relatives or even for a co-worker. 

(I don't know about you, but I love giving the not-so-run-of-the-mill baby shower gifts - and this would be great!)

Here are some of the features of the organizer:

• Easy to assemble
• Holds all sizes and stages of jars  - up to 16 jars
• Can even organize the smaller plastic square containers
• Made of BPA-free materials
• Sturdy construction with ability to stack multiple units
• Has four rows for ease of organization
• Rows are slanted so jars easily slide forward for access to next one
• Space saving vertical design
• On their site, they even offer labels to be printed for even better organization

I truly wish this product was available for my family years ago and could have saved me the hassle. 

So, one lucky person will win the Universal Baby Food Jar Storage & Organizer!

All you have to do to enter is "like" Newly Nested on Facebook - do that here. 

Once you've done that, just leave me a comment here letting me know you've done so.

The contest closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 8th.

It's that simple!  I like simple things, don't you?

For more information on the organizer, please visit PRK Products, Inc. web site here.

Just a click away!

Sorry it's been awhile since my last post.  This warm weather has us out and about more.  I'm not going to complain, though. 

Anywhoooo - a recent article for my gig over at Patch for my weekly Mom's Talk column featured some great online resources that helps make life a bit easier.  That's why the Internet exists, right? Errr, something like that ;p

Either way, here's the article!

Clickable Resources - Saving you money, time and yes, even your sanity!
By Carly Kirsch, Mom's Talk on Patch.com

In this digital age that we’re in, you would think that all the technology in our lives should theoretically make things easier, right?  Well, yes…and no. 

Yes, because it makes life easier on the go with mobile phones, smart phones, iPads, iPods, and of course lap top computers.

No, because at times, the Internet can be overwhelming with so many web sites.  Not knowing where to look or start can eat up precious time or can sometimes lead to misinformation. 

To save you the hassle of figuring out where to start, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite web sites that will save you time, effort, money – but most importantly, your sanity! 

Social Sites

1. Meet Up – This web site allows you to find groups to join based on specific interests, topics or hobbies.  For me, it was a lifesaver for finding a local playgroup when I had my first child.  It’s free to sign up but some of the groups may charge a small yearly fee for membership.   There’s truly a Meet Up for everyone!
2. Babble –  This is not just another parenting board.  Babble is loaded (I mean LOADED) with blogs and useful information for you that offers a real take on parenting, cooking, life and more.
3. Facebook – Yes, you may already have an account, but are you using it to your fullest potential?  If you “like” certain businesses and local places, you can find some good discounts or special promotions.  It’s a great way to stay in touch with family and friends.  Just make sure your privacy settings are up to date!  Go here for the article about Facebook safety.
4. Twitter– Twitter is a fast-paced version of Facebook with much more opportunity for networking.  You can follow any of the local news channels and even Cheshire Patch to stay up to the minute with news, weather and more.  It’s saved me a few hours of time I otherwise would have wasted in traffic since I checked my Twitter timeline once or twice! 

Money-Saving Sites

1. Baby Cheapskate – This web site, or daily email, provides you the inside scoop on lots of sales, coupon match ups and more for baby and kid gear.  There is always information on holiday sales and sneak peeks as to what will go on sale and when. 
2. Mama Cheaps– Looking for deals on diapers?  This site has all the inside information for diaper deals both online and in store, coupon codes and a lot more.  Their tagline is "Where frugality meets family."  I've got quite a few great deals from reading this site on a number of occasions.
3. Amazon Mom – This program gives you amazing deals on products for baby and kids with fast shipping because when you sign up you receive Amazon Prime shipping with subsequent purchases!  Millions of products are available on Amazon Mom with as-expected low prices and great customer service.
4. Groupon - It's just as it's name says: Group Coupons.  Deals in Connecticut are offered via Groupon and if it's a restaurant, business or product you want, simply buy it for the group discount rate.  It's a great way to keep your eye on your inbox for some great local deals for the family.  I have a feeling as summer approaches there will be some really great family fun opportunities!
5. Living Social– A little different than Groupon, Living Social states that they can save you anywhere from 50-90% on local business offerings - but deals are usually only offered for one day.  So, once they've offered it and it's gone, it's gone! 

Time-Saving & Helpful Sites

1. Evernote – This really neat web site (and application for your smart phone) allows you to sync your smart phone with your computer for notes, voice notes and pictures so you never forget a thing!
2. Pinterest– It’s an online pinboard for ideas, crafts, places, books, fashion and so much more.  NOTE: It is currently by invite only so if you need an invitation, email me at carlykirsch@gmail.com.  It’s highly addicting so at first, you may curse me, but then love me for introducing it to you.  It’s okay, I can live with myself either way!
3. Hulu – A web site to view your favorite shows that you just can’t seem to watch during the day, or stay up for at night – right from your computer! 
4. Allrecipes – I mentioned this site last week in my Picky Eaters column, but aside from that, this site can save you time by looking up recipes based on ingredients you have in the house and it can save you the hassle of figuring out if the recipe is tasty or not based on their reviews.  You can also create an online recipes book to keep all your favorite ones! 
5. Real Simple – I have a subscription to this magazine, but you can use their web site for free and have access to all the articles and more.  They have this section titled “New Uses for Old Things”to re-purpose common household items – and some are pretty genius.  They also have fast and easy recipes, useful cleaning tips and tricks and more.  Sign up for some of their newsletters to have it sent right to your inbox. 
6. Disney Family Fun –This web site is packed with crafts, ideas to do with the kids, printables and so much more.  I could spend hours on this web site looking for ideas – good thing I have Pinterest!

Miscellaneous Sites

1. One Step Ahead – Also Leaps & Bounds, has some really innovative and unique products for babies, toddlers and kids that work the way they say they will. 
2. Mashable– This site is great because it offers some really useful shortcuts for programs like Gmail and has some other useful tips for social media as well.  I consider myself to be technologically savvy (while others would beg to differ), but this site has taken my savviness to a whole new level.
3. iPhone Apps – I’ve got to tell you: I just got an iPhone.  And, I love it.  So if you also have an iPhone, there are some really great apps for parents.   Additionally, Time Magazine came out with their 50 Best iPhone apps here.
4. Sesame Street Online- This site has free games for your kids with their favorite characters.  They also have printables, online episodes, activities and more to keep your kids busy so you can have five minutes to check your email or something that needs to be taken care of.  (Or check out some of these other sites I’ve suggested!)   
5. Swagbucks– It’s a search engine that you sign up for free and accumulate points which can then be turned into gift cards or redeemed for thousands of other things.  So, instead of using Google, you’d create your homepage as Swagbucks and earn as you search.  There are also surveys and other things to participate in.

So, there you have it!  Do you have any time saving or fun web sites?  If so, I'd love for you share with us.

Tackling Toy Clutter

If you have a toddler (or in my case two toddlers) you have often wondered or said the following:

"Why does it look like Toys R Us threw up in my living room?"

"How can such a small person make such a huge mess?"

"Ugh!  I just cleaned in here! Why do I bother?"

You get the picture. 

A personal favorite quote of mine is: "Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." ~Phyllis Diller

Unfortunately, cleaning is a necessary evil.  I know I personally can't go to sleep at night knowing that there are dirty dishes in the sink (soaking pans are okay in my book).  

I literally will not be able to fall asleep if the play room is a mess and there are toys strewn about everywhere.  So, pretty much every night, without fail, I tidy up before I go to bed.  

Wait!  Before you think I'm a complete neat-freak and obsessive, I promise you, I'm not. 

I just can't stand walking downstairs first thing in the morning (un-caffeinated) to a huge mess!  And lord help someone if I happen to *step* on a random toy -ouch! 
That's the worst - you know!

After doing this for a few years now, I do not consider myself an organizational queen by any means, but I have picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. 

I feel it is my duty as a fellow Mommy, baby planner and human being to share my toy organization with you.  It has made cleaning up easier - and most importantly, my kids can HELP with the clean up process. 

Here is how I organize our toys:

1. Categorize your toys that you need containers for ex. balls, blocks, cars, etc.
2. Go to the local dollar store and pick out some colorful buckets and baskets.
3. Find some construction paper or index cards.  (I used old holiday cards I wasn't going to use and cut them in half)
4. Pick out a few crayons, markers and sharpies.
5. Grab a hole punch and some sort of string or some scotch tape.
6. Dig deep into that elementary school part of you and draw some pictures!

The the end result of the six steps above should look something along the lines of this:

Please ignore the horrible drawings! 
Art clearly was not my strong suit.

Ball basket

This three drawer was bought at a Target, but I actually had
this before we had our kids.



Cars and Little People 



Kitchen Accessories & Food
(Um, yes, those mini M&M's were
purchased as bribery for something!)



Full view of one set of shelves



Phones, Keys & Remotes
(As we all know, they always want the REAL one anyways)

Musical Instruments
(This is the Parents brand Bee Band - super cute!)
*Sorry, I could not get this picture to be centered
for some formatting reason! Grrr!

So, as you can see, everything has a place for the most part.  This not only allows the kids to help put things away as they are labeled with words AND pictures - it also helps when you have friends over, a play date or a party and people don't have to bother you every five seconds to find out what goes where! 

Genius.

Of course, I can't take credit for inventing this system - it's not original.  However, it works for us.  And that's really the key to parenting, isn't it?  Finding what works for YOU.

Don't forget to also periodically go through all those toys and pass them along to friends, organize toy swaps, sell at tag sales or place on Freecycle.  I frequently do all the above and also pass along toys to local charities.

This "system" for lack of a better word was not expensive to create, either.  You can even use containers, Rubbermaid storage bins (I used one for the kitchen toys) or whatever you have laying around.  But I do love the dollar store!

Do you have any toy organizing tips?  If you do, I'd love to hear them.

A "Onederful" Idea

When I see products, I sometimes wish "Damn, I wish I thought of that!"  Well, this product is one of them.

Just as you find favorite outfits in a certain size, your baby starts growing out of it and into the next biggest size...seemingly overnight!  As you've quickly come to realize - baby stuff can be expensive!  So, I'm always happy to find some money-saving products to get any extra use or get more longevity out of the items I purchase for baby. 

Add A Size Onesie extenders
from One Step Ahead web site

And that's why I love these extenders because they allow you to continue to get the most wear out of those cute little onesies.  Well, that is until the diaper and clothes changing begins to become a battle royale - then I recommend separates rather than onesies.

It just so happens that I was able to keep both my kids in their size 3-12 month clothes for a little extra time by using these little miracle snappy contraptions. 

They are compatible with just about any brand, including my faves, Carter's, and also Gap, Old Navy, etc. 

And not having to run out and buy new, bigger clothes each time your child gains an ounce is a wonderful thing. 

So, why not get more use out of the clothes you already have?

If you are interested in buying them or giving them as a gift, go here.

Brilliant, just brilliant!

Munchkin Mesh Feeder
image taken from Munchkin web site

When I discovered my son was a self-feeder, I desperately needed to find a way to get some food in him.  The spoon just didn't work.  He saw it coming and turned his head away.

So what's a Mom to do? 

Enter the Munchkin Mesh Feeder....Wait...Shhhh.  Do you hear that sound? 

It's that wondrous music that plays in my head when I find something that makes my life easier!!!! 

Anywhoooo - it's great - you can put just about anything in it and let them chomp away at it.  It's perfect for apples, melon, carrots....seriously, anything!  And you don't have to worry about bits and pieces or any other hazardous choking material that may come into contact with your precious baby's mouth.

Oh, and when he's teething, it's great to put frozen things in there to soothe his red, irritated gums.  And at least you know what they are chomping on rather than some toy that you have no idea where it's been or what it's touched - the feeder is BPA free.

If you're like me, you'll get your hands on one ASAP.  Click here for more info.

It's the little things

It's the little things in life....isn't it so true?!

Here is one of my favorite things, products, etc. that just make life a little more wonderful to live!

My Shark Steam Pocket Mop

image taken from shark web site

I know, I know - it screams INFOMERCIAL...but seriously folks, it works and it's awesome. 

With a toddler, a baby, a husband and a dog - it gets pretty messy en la casa de Kirsch (Of course, I don't make any mess!)

So, this Shark thing works without chemicals because it uses tap water and it actually works!  The pads are removable, washable and highly reusable so in the long run it saves money while providing a green kind of clean that's safe for my babies to put their precious little hands and feet on - or even eat off - the floor.

Oh, and did I mention this thing actually works.