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?

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.

Parenting Tip - Extras, extras!

One of my favorite things about being a Baby Planner & Consultant is that I get to share all of my experiences, knowledge, tricks and tips with parents. 

So, today I'd like to share one of my all-time favorite tips with you.  It is something that took me quite a few months of lugging around a way-overpacked-can't-zip-it-full diaper bag. 

And that was when I only had one baby! 

So, this favorite tip of mine is:

To have a bag of "extras" packed in your car. 

You'll have your regular diaper bag for regular day-to-day outings and you'll keep your usual stash of stuff in there.  So, why would you need this bag of extras? 

Hypothetically (of course) let's say you (or your husband, partner, or whoever) took that last diaper out of the bag and did not replace it.   

ACK! 
It's one of the biggest fears I think new parents have - not having what they need when they need it.  Well, it was one of my biggest fears.  I mean, sure, you can stop at any local store to pick up diapers, wipes, a pacifier or whatever you are out of. 

But face it - it's painful to pay top dollar for convenience when you have more at home! 

However, if it's in your car in that *magic* stash of the "extras" bag you have at all times - no more panics or wardrobe catastrophes - or pooptastrophes as I like to call them.  (Yes, those blowouts that no stain remover can save!)

So, here is what is in my "extras" bag in my car right now:

1. Four or five extras of the current size diaper/pull ups/ underwear my children are wearing.  KEY HERE IS CURRENT SIZE!  Every time you go up in the size of diaper, change out your "extras" stash! 
2. An extra bag or package of wipes.
3. Two spare changes of clothes for each child - again change as your child grows AND by the season!  Don't forget socks, too!
4. Extra snacks (packaged i.e. granola bars), juice box and bottled water.
5. Tissues and napkins.
6. Sunblock.
7. First aid items - band aids, antibiotic cream, alcohol wipes for boo-boos on the go.
8. Hand sanitizer for me and the kids - a kid-friendly kind and Purell for me - alcohol in kid sanitizer is a no-no!
9. Crayons, coloring books and a few random toys.
10. An extra hat and sweat shirt for each child.  Now that it's Spring here, it can be unexpectedly chilly or we could make an quick stop at the park - and either way, I'm prepared if I don't catch the weather forecast.
11. An extra outfit for myself. 
12. "Bribe" items - a few lollipops and two containers of mini M&Ms.  These are kept on-hand for my toddlers when I'm out and need to get something accomplished and they're just not in the mood to cooperate. 

Now that my kids are older, my "extras" bag is smaller.  That wasn't always the case.

Here are the items I used to keep in the bag when my kids were babies:

1. Extra pacifiers.
2. Pacifier wipes for cleaning if they fell or were dropped and was not near hot water.
3. More of a selection of toys - rattles, musical toys, soft books, etc.
4. More snacks and extra baby food based on current stage they were on - i.e. puffs, yogurt melts, a few extra spoons and containers of pureed baby food.
5. Extra diaper cream.
6. Extra burp cloths.
7. Extra bibs.
8. A light swaddle blanket - can be used for a burp cloth, extra changing pad if you forgot yours, a nursing cover, etc.
9. A heavier blanket.
10. More "extra" clothes/outfits - again changed seasonally and as their clothing sizes changed.

So, there you have it.  Genius?  I'd like to think so - but no, it's just common sense.  I see parents all the time with these gigantic, overflowing diaper bags they are struggling to stuff underneath the stroller in that tiny basket. Or worse, trying to carry a child (or two) with this monstrosity of a bag. 

So, do you have any other tips to make going out-and-about with baby easier?  Would love to hear them! 

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.