Review: Uncorked Ventures Gourmet Gift Baskets

When I was a girl I practically dreamed of the day that I'd be able to travel around, and I thought I'd spend my vacations traveling the country and seeking out the best of the best.

And I did... for a while anyhow. I used to hop into the car on any given weekend for a getaway on a local winery route, or a shopping and dining spree in Chicago or Toronto. Sure, I was always on a budget, and I was definitely looking for discounts, but I thought I was living the life!

So what happened to my whimsical spontaneity and my love of traveling? Kids happened. Don't get me wrong, I still love to travel and definitely love to be spontaneous - but I just can't imagine lugging two little ones along a winery route! Our travels include trips to the local playground, or visits to the zoo. This is great for family time of course, but I miss the romance a trip for two can create, and it's definitely been a long while since my husband and I got out to have a glass of wine alone somewhere!

However, I've always loved a DIY challenge, so when I was asked to review a gourmet wine basket from Uncorked Ventures recently, I took on the task of turning my dining room into the sort of romantic setting I would have found in an out-in-the-country wine bistro. Although I did receive the wine basket free of charge in order to do my review, please understand that this in no way affects my opinion. (For more on my disclosure policy, please see the tab marked 'Let me disclose to you'.)

My efforts to make the night a good one included broiling delicious rib-eye steaks in the oven and lighting candles to set the mood. I knew that the wine basket included tasty treats that would go well with bread, so I stopped by a bakery and even picked up a couple of artisan loaves! A few hunks of cheese from a deli completed my end of the contribution to the evening, and we opened up our gourmet box to inspect our new treats!

The Gourmet Gift Basket we received came with a bottle of 90+ point quality boutique wine, signature chocolates from the well-known San Franciscan maker TCHO, jam and mustard from Hurley Farms, a tin of pistachios from Fiddyment Farm, and two small bottles containing EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and balsamic vinegar.

I think the thing that amazed us the most about this entire box was the EVOO and balsamic vinegar combination. We made a mix to dip our bread into, and I have never had anything quite like it! I have definitely mixed EVOO & balsamic vinegar to make a dip before - but never using ingredients that were this high-quality. The taste was completely unexpected and my husband and I were incredulous at how much we'd been missing out on simply due to the make of the oil and vinegar.

The second biggest surprise (for me at least) was the apricot jam included from Hurley Farms. I had read somewhere on the Uncorked Ventures website that the owner's son delights in this jam, but I took it with a grain of salt. I have never been big on jam or preserves myself (regardless of the make) and I'm not a big sweets-lover. Oh my goodness though... the flavor and texture of this jam was spectacular. It was tangy and sweet at the same time, and the crusty Tuscan bread paired with it magnificently. I ate the whole jar within a week.

For my husband, the second best part was the chocolate from TCHO. As I said before, I'm not big on sweets, but that shouldn't be held against the sweets themselves! Luckily I have my husband's taste buds to help me out most days, and he adores a good piece of dark chocolate. He was both surprised and amused by some of the flavors the chocolates came in (such as citrus) but overall very pleased with the rich bittersweet taste provided by the high level of cacao in each bar. I had a few bites myself, but I'm not as much of a chocolate lover as he is, so I went back to stuffing myself with bread and jam.

The wine that was included in our box was a 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon from Zerba Cellars. I thought it had a nice woodsy flavor to it and my husband (who is very picky about the wines he drinks) was happy that the finish was smooth. While neither of us are what I would call 'wine connoisseurs', we certainly can tell a good wine when we taste one, and this was a great one.

We spent the rest of the evening together watching a movie while we drank wine snuggled up on the couch, and we were so full that we decided to try out the pistachios and mustard another time. Needless to say, they also lived up to the 'gourmet' standards - we devoured the pistachios together the next night while watching a re-run of Chuck, and we've been using the savory herb mustard from Hurley Farms on our sandwiches and in my super-secret egg, ham, chicken, or tuna salad recipes.

All in all, the gift basket was fantastic. I was able to have a romantic evening with my husband at home, which meant I spent my time with him enjoying myself instead of worrying how the kids were behaving for my mother-in-law. Plus, there is nothing quite so cozy as being able to relax after a fine meal and have a glass of wine (or two) on the couch with your spouse!

Want to know how you can get a gift basket like this for yourself (or a friend who is in need of a special treat)? You can connect with Uncorked Ventures and find out more about this family business started by two brothers-in-law on their website at www.uncorkedventures.com or their Facebook for special deals and information. Love Twitter? You can follow the owners Mark & Matt by clicking the links!

Miami Culinary Tours Launches The Wynwood Art District Food Tour

Wynwood has become an epicenter of well-known street art & galleries and hosts some of the most talented chefs and one-of-a-kind restaurants that are now part of the Wynwood Food Tour.

Miami, December 2013 - The same group of passionate food concierge guides who brought you the South Beach Food Tour and Little Havana Food Tour have launched the Wynwood Art District Food Tour. Miami Culinary Tours is keeping their promise to showcase the best restaurants in Miami by expanding to the up-and-coming neighborhood of Wynwood.

"This tour has been designed to encompass the creativity and variety (in food and art) of Wynwood. We are very proud to include a worldy perspective by sharing the secrets behind the art and treating guests to tastes ranging from Russia, Japan, Peru, Puerto Rico and even some very local dishes." states Miami Culinary Tours founder, Grace Della. Stroll through the vibrant neighborhood of Wynwood learning how the area came to be, admire countless works of art and eat your way through it all. In a few hours you'll visit up to seven different locations, making it the most unique and only dining experience in Wynwood. Meet chefs who will explain their savory dishes, discover hidden shopping for unique artifacts and gallery gems - and even catch a few artists working on their street murals.

"Our tour guides are all locals and therefore they grew up experiencing the change in art and food reflected in this world-known part of town. With a focus on 'street art' and it's evolvement, we assure our guests will finish the tour with an abundance of knowledge regarding murals and their concepts." says Della.

The Wynwood Food Tour stops at some of the best restaurants in the area including Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, located at 2550 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127, where guests will have a juicy empanada with a side of creamy cilantro sauce and sweet, fried plantains sprinkled with cheese crema. The tour will then visit The Butcher Shop, located at 165 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127, where a beautifully presented cone filled with a variety of seven cold meats randing from a smoked polish kielbasa to peppered salami will be served accompanied by a dark, Russian beer. The next stop is at Jimmy'z Kitchen, located at 2700 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127, where guests will enjoy a traditional Puerto Rican dish, the chicken mofongo - composed of mashed, fried green plantains, garlic, olive oil, crunchy pork rinds, and chicken. Across the street you'll find the newest addition to Wynwood, SuViche, located at 2751 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127, where a spicy Japanese-Peruvian fusion causa will be served. Cross back over to the west side of N Miami Ave to Pride & Joy, located at 2800 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127. This stop will serve the most divine deviled eggs topped with tender pulled pork. The final stop on the Wynwood Food Tour is at the hidden location of Fireman Derek's World Famous Pies kitchen, 2600 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127, where guests will take delight in the perfect ending to a food tour - a creamy, decadent and chilled key lime pie.

About Miami Culinary Tours

Miami Culinary Tours, founded by entrepreneur and dining expert, Grace Della, has been running food tours since 2010. With a concentration in Miami's historic neighborhoods, the guided cultural walking food tours present these experiences in several locations. The South Beach Food Tour runs twice daily at 12:00PM and 5:00PM in the bustling streets of South Beach at $59/person. The Little Havana Food Tour takes place every Saturday at 12:30PM in the charming area of Little Havana at $59/person. The newest addition to this assortment of walking tours, the Wynwood Food Tour, runs every Saturday at 12:30PM at $69/person. These tours are excellent for travelers and locals alike, offering personal historical, architectural, cultural, artistic and epicurean insight from highly trained and passionate local guides. For more information or to mak reservations, please visit www.miamiculinarytours.com. Miami Culinary Tours gladly accomodates private groups and customized tours for alternative days and times. E-mail info@miamiculinarytours.com.

For media inquiries please contact Grace Della at (786) 942-8856 or by e-mail info@miamiculinarytours.com. Additional pictures can be provided.

Grab a prize pack perfect for a cozy day indoors!

I lived next door to my grandparents when I was a young girl, and their home was constantly filled with visiting family. It's no wonder that I spent a lot of time with my many cousins because of this, and we spent many wintery afternoons playing or drawing indoors. I remember that one of our favorite activities was coloring. My cousin Tina and my Granny taught me their special way of coloring - dark borders on the outside with a lighter inside - and I would color for hours if no one disturbed me. If someone had asked me what my favorite pastimes were, I certainly would have named coloring as one of them - I thought I would never stop!

Well, we all grow up unfortunately, and I did stop coloring as I grew older. Apparently, however, my fondness for it didn't completely go away. A few weeks ago my son asked me to color a few pages with him, and I was surprised at how quickly I fell back into my 'special' method, and how involved I got in my drawing. It's amazing how childhood pursuits stay so close to our hearts!

Imagine my pleasure when I was asked to do a coloring book review just a few days after that! Sometimes the timing for things like this seems as if the universe is trying to remind us to slow down and remember who we used to be. I was more than happy to accept, and a friend of the artist behind the book's concept sent me a copy of Le Chateau Bidaine. Although this post has been sponsored (meaning I received money, goods, and/or services in exchange for my writing) please know that my thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own.

For more on my disclosure policy, please see the tab marked 'Let me disclose to you'.

Before we go further, let me outline the premise of this very special coloring book. Unlike the typical coloring books you might find, this one is detailed to the point that it could be a collector's item. The home (or chateau) in the book is actually an elaborate miniature house that was created to look like the real Chateau Bidaine in France. The miniature version was created by the artist I spoke of earlier, Suze Perry-Hinkle. 

Suze is famous for her minature art and love of all things French; and this book is meant as a token of recognition to her mentor in French art, Lillian Williams, who owns the home the book and miniature are based on.

Although I had investigated the book a bit before it arrived on my doorstep, I was still a bit taken aback as I leafed through the pages - nothing had prepared me for the detail that was involved in the drawings! I had originally intended to let my son color a page or two in the book and ask him how he liked it, but I couldn't bring myself to allow his childish-scribbles to sully what could only be called a work of art.

It should be noted that this book is recommended for children 8+, since this is really more for children who want to create something special and have a love of drawing or art.

I decided to call my sister-in-law and have her bring my 12-year-old niece over since she is in a good age range for this book, and she absolutely loves to draw and color pictures.

I wasn't disappointed when, as soon as she opened the book, she exclaimed at the pictures and took it over to show her mother. I happened to have a beautiful set of art markers on hand, and she happily spent an hour coloring at the kitchen table.

When she was done, she told me that she liked the book very much, but she had a bit of trouble getting the shading correct since some of the markers were so dark that they covered up a the lighter areas of the drawing. For this reason, I would suggest using lighter markers, or a nice set of colored pencils. Many of the illustrations have delicate features to them, and I recommend gifting this book to a child who likes to take his or her time with their artwork. As a bonus, the pictures have wording in French and English, so this would also make a fun workbook for a child who wants to learn another language.

I have been trying to pull away from the technological gifts that are becoming ever-more popular with children these days, and focus more on the types of gifts that I would have received as a child. Although video games are fun, it is becoming more and more obvious that too much time in front of the TV is a problem for many families. Why not toss in a traditional present such as this one now and again to even things out?

Do you think this would make a great present for someone you know? You can purchase the book on Amazon at this link! Find out more about Suze and her incredible career here, or connect with her on her Facebook page or her Etsy Shop!

Wait, there's more! In remembrance of all the wonderful winter days I had with my much-loved Granny, I'm offering a giveaway to my readers! The winner will be able to cozy up with this prize pack featuring a copy of Le Chateau Bidaine and everything else you need to have a great time indoors! This would be perfect for a 'Mommy & Me' day, whether for yourself or as a gift to someone you know!

(The giveaway for this product has expired, check out our Giveaway page for any that might be available.)

Cartoons of our Childhood

Does anyone else feel like today's cartoons just aren't as good as the ones we watched as a child? Even the Christmas specials of nowadays are generally passed over for classics like Rudolph or the Peanuts' Christmas.

This afternoon as I was thinking back, I decided to look up a couple of my favorites to see if they were available to watch on the internet: A Claymation Christmas Celebration, and the Garfield Christmas special from 1987. When I was younger, we watched these so many times that I could still recite most of either one.

There were two huge differences that I noticed in both of these cartoons from the cartoons of today. First of all, a great deal of effort had been put into both of them - and not just because of the work that had to go into the animation back then. The dialogue was intelligent, and even though it was a cartoon for children, the jokes weren't about farting or dumbed down to the point that every other line was childish. I actually remember as a child that I would have to think about the jokes to get some of them. And some of the jokes with bigger words prompted me to ask my mom what they meant. Sometimes I figured out the meaning by thinking about the way the word was used. The cartoons made me think, and that made me smarter. The creators weren't worried about whether or not their entire audience would get every joke, every time - and that's part of what made them great.

The creators also weren't worried about the other big difference I noticed: being politically correct. The family in Garfield's Christmas prayed, and grandma bopped Doc Boy in the head with a spoon when he started to protest about being picked as the prayer-giver. The Claymation Christmas featured carols that sang of Jesus and His birth, and the Joy to the World carol included imagery of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. Personally, I never noticed the inclusion of God or Jesus in our cartoons when I was younger, but now that I am older and looking back, the exclusion of Him in today's cartoons is starkly felt - and it isn't a good feeling.

I find myself wishing now that I could replicate the way the world was in my childhood for my kids. How am I to do that though when it seems like our government is bent on freeing us from religion rather than giving us the freedom to have it? I don't think that a religion should be shoved down everyone's throat - that would be wrong, and that isn't the point of having a religion or faith. But if we are forced to endure a society where everyone is forcing non-religious beliefs at every turn, isn't that just about the same thing?

I myself have never minded seeing other religious symbols in public, such as the menorah or the Buddha. Those items don't represent my personal faith, but I've never taken offense at them and can't understand why anyone would. That's not to say that there aren't people from every religion who are overbearing and try to force others to believe the same way that they do - I can understand how someone who is Buddhist may take offense from another religious person mocking them, or how an Atheist may take offense from someone who tries to convert them everyday with rude tactics. Those things are inexcusable and aren't a true reflection of the great majority of people within a religion. But generally speaking, I don't see why we can't all get along in this great country.

Was our country in a great turmoil during our childhood? Was there massive animosity between us all due to the inclusion of religion on tv, or on store-posters, or even in school? I think in the end, a handful of noisy people spoke for our country, before our country was allowed to have a voice in the matter, and being 'politically correct' grew out of hand before anyone could stop it. Wouldn't you like to go back to a time where you could say "God Bless You" when someone sneezed without worrying that they would bite your head off afterwards? Is it such a bad thing for a person to wish a blessing upon you? Has anything bad ever come of being blessed, regardless of who is doing the blessing? I would welcome someone of a different faith blessing me from their religion. I would see it as a sign from a beautifully harmonized country, where people from all faiths can live together peacefully rather than being purposefully set at odds with each other by rules and regulations in our government.

For the sake of our children, people - let's go back to that time if we can. Drop your petty squabbles and learn to live peacefully. Don't take offense the next time someone says something to you that isn't your personal belief. Let someone bless you if they want to bless you.  And please, someone bring back the good cartoons!

Stop Worrying: Umbilical Hernias

Have you or someone you know expressed concern over an extremely "outie" bellybutton on a newborn? If so, the infant is probably one of many babies that has an umbilical hernia. About 10 to 20 percent of all babies will have a herniated bellybutton, with increased risk for those who are premature, girls, or African-American. Although the herniation is most common in newborns, they can still appear suddenly up until a few months after birth.

A herniated bellybutton is simply a ring of muscle that has not closed together. Think of your child's abdomen as a sheet of muscle covering their intestines. The umbilical cord goes in through a small opening in this sheet, and a hernia is formed when the umbilical cord detaches prior to the muscles closing back together. The lining and fluid around the intestines (not the actual intestines themselves) are usually what is poking through to cause the skin to 'poof out' where the bellybutton is. Most umbilical hernias are less than an inch across and may become more or less evident when the baby moves.

Many people fear that their child is in pain from the hernia, but in actuality they are rarely even bothersome. As a matter of fact, your doctor may push the hernia back in when checking it, and this also causes no pain. Unless the hernia becomes infected, swollen within the herniated area, or changes color, your doctor will probably tell you that it is nothing to worry about.

This may seem like a tall order for parents who were hoping to view their perfect little bundle of joy with their perfect baby bellybutton. Fortunately, most umbilical hernias go away on their own by the child's first birthday, and the rest of them usually heal before five years of age. If your child is one of them who still has a hernia after the age of five, your doctor may recommend a small surgery to close the gap. The surgery is relatively easy and your child will likely be released home the same day. There are almost no complications following this type of surgery, but many doctors will not do the surgery until at least age 2, and then only if the hernia is causing problems.

Don't be afraid to wash the herniated area gently with soap and water, just as you would with any other newborn. There is no evidence that the hernia will go away quicker if you tape a nickel over their bellybutton (as it used to be suggested), but the tape may give your child a rash. If you think pushing in the hernia will help, a pair of normal-fitting elastic band pants will do the job just as well, but without causing your baby unnecessary discomfort.

Make sure to alert your doctor to the hernia at well-visits so that he can check the area and give you an update on its progress. Herniated bellybuttons in newborns are mostly just a cosmetic issue, and should go away on their own. For now just relax, and be thankful that your child is happy and healthy!

Disclosure: I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV either! I don't claim to know all the facts or have all the answers. Please consult with your doctor or your child's doctor before making any big health decisions. I received no compensation for this post.

Ready to clean out old medicine?

With the beginning of another year coming up, it's the perfect time to go through your medicine cabinet and figure out what to keep, and what you need to replace. Most people are surprised to find that when they go through their cabinets, they find over-the-counter medication that is long past the expiration date. Lots of times bargain hunters (myself included) will go for the big bottle of OTC pain relief because it's the cheapest per pill. However, unless you are a constant pain sufferer, or you have a very large family, the chances are that you won't finish that big bottle before it goes bad.

Many people believe that their medication can still be used after it is "expired", and that the manufacturer puts an expiration date on that shortens the life of the medication for safety reasons. This is only partially true. While some medications can technically still be used with a benefit after their expiration dates, in most cases the date the manufacturer puts on the label is an expiration on the potency of the medication, not a date of use for safety. The FDA requires drug manufacturers to determine how long it takes their medication to reach 95% of their original potency, and that is what becomes the expiration date.

Obviously with some medications, such as a tablet of acetaminophin for instance, it may not matter too greatly to you if you take the medication at 94% of it's original strength. The problem with that though is that drug companies aren't going to needlessly spend money trying to figure out how quickly their medications deteriorate after they've reached the 95% mark. Some medications could reach a third of their original efficacy within weeks, some months, maybe others years. Because that data doesn't exist, taking expired medication becomes a gamble.

Some medications should never be taken after the expiration date. Medications that are controlled, and need to be taken at a constant level should never be taken if expired. For instance, taking a less-than-effective dosage of medication could cause severe damage if the medication is life-saving, and could cause a dangerous chemical imbalance if the medication is taken to control mood swings. Children's medication should also never be taken after expired. Not only do children have under-developed metabolic systems, many of their medicines come in suspension form. Suspensions are another medication that should never be taken after expiration. They can turn rancid, or worse - grow bacteria after expiring due to the decomposition of the medicine. Finally, never take anibiotics after their expiration date. Not only does the decreased efficiency of the medicine allow a reprieve for the bacteria (which can make fighting it take much longer), but tetracycline - which is a very common antibiotic - has actually been proven toxic after it's expiration date.

Once you have made the decision to throw out your expired medication, you have to dispose of it properly. Simply tossing it into the trash can is no longer the best way to do this. Not only are there children and pets to think about (should the trash bag accidentally break), but if you have prescription medications to get rid of, there may be FDA regulations regarding how you dispose of your medication.

A popular myth is that flushing medicines down the toilet is the best way to dispose of them. This is not always true. There are some medications that the FDA has determined should be flushed down the toilet, due to the danger they could cause if someone other than the prescribed individual were to take them. The list of medications that are to be disposed of by flushing can be found here at the bottom of the page. This list is updated as needed and should be checked whenever you think you have a controlled medication to dispose of.

Due to concerns that the environment could be damaged if everyone starts to flush their medications down the toilet, unless your medicine is on the FDA's list, everything else should be thrown out in the trash, but with the following precautions:

First, peel off the label and destroy it. Although the chances of someone going through your trash and stealing your identity through a prescription label are probably not high, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Next, find a plastic bag and place the pills you are disposing of into it. If the trashcan liner does break, this will ensure that the pills don't fall out someplace where someone or some pet could accidentally eat them.

Now find something gross to put in the bag so that even if the bag was found, the contents are unappetizing enough that no one will want to take one. Good things to put into the bag are: used kitty litter, coffee grounds and rotten food (like that mystery item in the fridge that is growing a nice layer of mold).

If you have a small child, dirty diapers are the perfect place to dispose of old pills. Just drop them into the diaper, roll it up and stick them in a plastic bag as usual before dropping it into the trashcan.

Finally, put the empty medicine containers into the recycling bin.

If you had to get rid of a lot of over-the-counter stuff, don't forget to buy more when you next go shopping or you could find yourself making an emergency trip to the pharmacy the next time someone in the house gets a bad headache or runny nose!

My Most Memorable Christmas

When I was around 10, my whole family got the flu over winter break. Now, this doesn't sound like anything extraordinary - and it definitely doesn't sound like fun - but it ended up being my favorite Christmas.

Although no one else in my family may remember that holiday season, I remember it quite clearly for two reasons: First, it was the only time I had ever seen my mother sicker than my dad. Secondly, it was the only Christmas that we spent so closely confined to one another.

My mom had just finished shopping for the last of the presents when my brother started getting sick. Not fearing that an impending Christmas 'disaster' was upon us, my mom tucked him into bed and kept at the holiday preparations. Within a day, we were all feeling so ill that we could barely get up. By Christmas morning we had passed through the worst of it, but we were nowhere near our usual festive mood.

The grandparents didn't come over that day, and I watched in awe as my dad prepared our holiday lunch - soup - as if I was seeing a true Christmas miracle. My mother was sitting back in the large easy chair in the basement as we unwrapped our presents, every single one of us huddled up into blankets to keep the chill off. To this day I can remember the sweet look of love that passed between my parents as my dad handed my mom a hot mug of soup. She wasn't at her best that day, but my dad's face said it all: she was his beautiful sweetheart. I never got that look out of my head, and I spent a good chunk of my adulthood searching for a husband who would look at me that way when I was down and out!

After we had settled into the most quiet Christmas-opening we would ever experience in that house, I realized that we were all snuggled up together. Everything was subdued, cozy, calm. The entire scene spoke of peace and tranquility, entirely the opposite for our usual happily-noisy selves. When we had finished opening the gifts, there wasn't much for us to do but settle into the rest of the afternoon, and we spent it watching Christmas movies together and looking through the 'bonus' gifts in our stockings.

I can remember every moment of that day; from what we watched, to the threadbare look of my mother's childhood Mickey Mouse blanket. The feeling I get when I recall that Christmas is one of pure love from beginning to end and I realize how very blessed I have been to have grown up in the family that I did.

This Christmas, think about what it really means to you, and to your family. The true meaning of Christmas is about love, peace, joy, and happiness. If we let the noise and bustle of the holiday season overtake us, and stress us out, we're losing out on the most wonderful part of Christmas that there can be.

So don't be afraid to take a few minutes for quiet this holiday season, whether you watch a movie or just tell one another that you are thankful to be a family - capture the peace of the moment together, and your Christmas will certainly be filled with love.

And from our family to yours... have a very Merry Christmas this year!

(The giveaway that was associated with this post has expired, please check out our giveaways tab for a list of available contests!)

The Secrets of Toys"R"Us

Did you know that you could be getting a great deal at Toys"R"Us (or Babies"R"Us) and you might be skipping right over it? Although I won't disclose the name of my contact at the popular children's retailer, let's just say that she and I share a love of finding a good deal. Here are a few small tips that she has shared with me about when and how to shop at Toys"R"Us:

1. Look carefully at the price. Did you know that you can spot close-outs at Toys"R"Us just by looking at the price? Anytime a product is going to be discontinued from their stores, the price will end with "98" instead of "99". This can be very helpful if you are trying to get a good deal, and especially helpful if you are trying to decide whether to buy now or later. This is also something to keep an eye out for if you are thinking about buying something that comes in the set. Make sure that the items you want are still going to be carried before you invest a lot of money in them! Examples of things that you don't want to start buying when they are about to be discontinued are bottle sets and re-useable diapers. If you happen to need a new bottle top, or extra liners for your diaper set, you might be out of luck!

2. Not all stores carry the same deals. Although the retailers are commonly thought of as being basically the 'same' company, Babies"R"Us & Toys"R"Us run their deals separately. When I popped into the local Toys"R"Us a few months ago to purchase a booster seat for my son, my inside-friend quickly informed me that I should head over to Babies"R"Us instead because they were running a deal on it! Don't be afraid to ask a store clerk if they happen to know (or have a way to find out) if the closest Babies"R"Us is selling what you want for cheaper!

3. Clerks can check inventory from other stores. Shopping for a necessity item that you need fast? Don't settle for a design or color that you don't want just because you gotta-have-it-now. Head over to the customer service counter and ask if they can search through the inventory. You could be just a few miles away from the item that you really want.

4. The coupons have limitations. Heading to the store with your coupon book in tow can be an exciting prospect, especially when you think you're about to get a great deal. But uh-oh... don't forget to check out the fine print on those "R"Us coupons! Almost all of the time, there will be a laundry list of things you can't buy, which more often than not includes things like toys! Don't get to the check-out station without thoroughly inspecting your fine print. You could be setting yourself up for an embarrassing moment at the check-out register when the coupon you thought was going to land you a big discount ends up not working at all!

5. Don't have any coupons? Ask for a discount. Shhh. You aren't supposed to know this... but the check-out clerks can frequently give you a discount, even if you don't have a coupon. And this isn't just limited to the "R"Us stores. Anyone who has worked in retail can tell you: they have the power to give a discount. The coupons that float out the door on the end of receipts and in flyers never all make it back, but the same discount button is used for all of them. Asking nicely and being polite to your check-out clerk can make a world of difference when it comes to the total on your bill. More often than not, they will be more than happy to give you the same discount that they are giving to those who remembered to bring a coupon from home.

6. Stay in the loop. You can learn a lot just by checking up on the Toys"R"Us website from time to time. Keep their info center book-marked so that you can click through it once a week. See a great deal or sale coming up on something that you want? Put it on your calendar so that you remember to take advantage of the savings.

7. Buy in bulk for the biggest discount of all. Did you know that if you take out a credit card with Toys"R"Us, they give you a discount that isn't subject to the same rules as the usual coupons are? You can get a huge (and immediate) savings by waiting until you are ready to take out a credit card to make all of your purchases. Get your one-time discount to really matter by making your big purchases or buying a year's worth of gifts all at once. Don't want an extra credit card? Make sure to pay off the balance when you get your first statement, or break it up into three equal payments and get rid of the balance in three months' time - just like layaway!

You can connect with Toys"R"Us or Babies"R"Us on their website. Or stay connected with them through social media on their Facebook and Twitter accounts!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post, and as always, my opinions are purely my own.

(The giveaway that was associated with this post has expired, please check out our giveaways tab for a list of available contests!)

Socks for a dollar? Bring it on!

If you've ever been to Target, then you most likely know that they have an entire section at the front of every store that is dedicated to dollar deals. Although they've recently added a few $2 & $3 items to the section, the majority of items can be snagged for just a buck.

The thing that I stock up on the most when I head over to Target? Socks for the kids. The bins are always full of socks that start at newborn-sized and end somewhere around kids 14. And the socks aren't 'lame' either... they're the kind that kids zero in on and beg for. They're also socks that I can get behind because they are sturdy, cute, and cheap. The sock designs change up frequently - we always see new ones whenever we shop. The thing I love most about it though is that they come out with awesome holiday designs. We picked up this adorable pair of black kitty socks for my daughter right around Halloween.

Socks for a dollar, just one of the many reasons I love Target. Check out a Target store near you to see what sort of socks you can grab this holiday season - they make awesome stocking stuffers, shop before the Christmas rush to get the best selection!

You can see more of what Target has to offer on their website, or you can stay in the loop by following them on social medias such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post, and as always, my opinions are purely my own.

(The giveaway that was associated with this post has expired, please check out our giveaways tab for a list of available contests!)

Love Disney Classics? Check Out This Box Set

Recently I was given the opportunity to participate in a blog post campaign from One2One Network and Walt Disney Records. I receive compensation for my sponsored posts, such as this one, in the form of goods, services, or money, but my words are 100% my own! For more information on my disclosure policy, please click here.

I was able to sample a CD from the box set this week, and when I started to play it, I was surprised at how many fond memories it brought up! I knew all of the songs, word for word - even though it had been years since I'd seen some of the movies. The first song, from The Little Mermaid, brought up some especially happy recollections since that was my favorite video when I was younger. I still remember that my grandma got it for my birthday (on VHS of course) and I played that tape until my mom begged me to watch something different!

My son, who hadn't seen all of the movies that correlate to the songs, was equally happy with the CD; although his happiness was mostly due to the fact that I was dancing around like a crazy person with him and singing all the songs in funny voices!

I've really been trying to peel my son off of the lure of technology lately, but at the same time I don't want him to feel like he's being punished or disallowed to do something. I think that if he knows there is a mini-ban on anything (like movies or TV), he's just going to want it more. CD's like this really help, because he knows that they are attached to some of his favorite movies (which appeases his need for TV), but at the same time I can get him interested in doing something else - like building his train set into a mini-city, or even pretending that he IS the Lion King.

CD's make a great gift for kids (and adults too!) not just because they are fun to listen to, but because they call out to us to use our imaginations and unwind for a little while. In today's ever-so-busy world of technology, that's really important!

You can check out the details on this box-set through Amazon at http://bit.ly/DCBoxSet. The box set officially released on November 12th, and is available for purchase wherever music is sold. There are 4 discs in the set with 94 original recordings. As a bonus, some box set purchasers will be able to download a new medley of Disney hits by the a capella YouTube sensations Peter Hollens & Alex G for free. You can check out the amazing way they recreate the Disney sound using only their voices at this link!

For more on Disney and their selection of music, visit their website at www.disneymusic.com, or connect with them on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Wondershare Review - Save Old DVDs and Upgrade The Quality Your Videos

There comes a point in every person's life when they use a tool and think "How did I ever get by without this?". Whether that tool is a car with remote start for those hot sweaty days or snow-cold mornings, a drill that bends any way you need it to, or an automated baby swing that finally allows you some sleep; convenience is key to less stress, and anything that makes a task less stressful is worth it.

I recently was given a free copy of Wondershare's Video Converter Ultimate in exchange for my review. Over the many years that I've been using computers, I have learned to treat every computer product cautiously until proven safe or relevant. I've concluded that while not every tool in this program will be useful for every single person (some may be too complex for the average user), this software is something everyone can get some good use out of in today's ever-growing digital age.

For those less savvy in the tech world, don't fret just yet. Wondershare does a wonderful job of keeping its software very user-friendly to install and very user-friendly to play with. After following the instructions to install the program on your machine and registering your product, it looks like this:

You can see how user-friendly it is right off the bat. The interfaces are conspicuously shown and its clear what each button is for. You can start converting videos, music, and pictures within minutes of installation.

How this software can save you money:

Now as a parent, and I'm sure many parents have gone through this ordeal before...there is always that one DVD your kids love but never seem to take care of. Before you know it, their favorite movie you paid $20 for is all scratched up and unreadable. (The result being a waste of $20 and what would have been an otherwise occupied and happy child watching their movie.) The situation is mostly inevitable but luckily Wondershare helps us with that.

If you click on the menu options in the top left, then hit "Tutorial and FAQ" button, the program will open up your default browser to their tutorials page. From there you can select the option on how to make backup copies of DVDs you already own into virtually any format. Sounds simple enough, right?

And it can do even more:

Saving DVD movies isn't all this program has to offer though. In this advanced digital age, we capture life through cell phones, video cameras, voice recorders, and a plethora of other devices. Many of them have different ways of saving those precious or funny moments and what ends up happening is that a file made by one device can't be viewed on another. Again, Wondershare to the rescue. For instance, if you recorded a video on your iPhone and it can't play on your computer or Android device, you can just change the type of video it is to a type that can be played on any device.

As if that wasn't cool enough...

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate can also download a webpage and make an audio or video file from it. For instance, with this function you can copy the address or URL of your favorite YouTube music video and paste it into the "Add URL" of the program. You then have the option of having the program make a file of the music video on your computer or just the music by itself as a mp3. This is all made easier by downloading the Wondershare Video Converter add-on if you use the Firefox Browser.

My favorite part?

You can increase or decrease the quality of a video. Why would you want to decrease it? Well, videos with less quality don't take up as much space on a computer or cellular device, and they are also more easily uploaded to a website like YouTube. By the same token, there are times you want the best quality of a video, such as for making DVDs or making copies of movies you already own on the computer. This program can make a subpar video captured with a cell phone and increase it to DVD-quality. Examples of this are shown in the pictures below.

As you can see from the screenshots above, the pictures on the left are from the original source while the pictures on the right are after they have been increased in quality by the program. It eliminated the blur almost completely and added more detail.

The list of utilities of this product go on and on. Burn DVDs of your videos, burn music CDs, edit videos with special effects, take multiple videos and merge them into one video, 3D conversions, add subtitles, edit music, screen recording function, or convert audio and video files to different sizes and types depending on your needs.

I was pretty impressed with this software and the obvious time & effort that the people at Wondershare have put into their product. I did not encounter any problems or bugs (glitches) while using it.

Bottom line?

Whether you are a new-comer to a product like this or a tech-savvy software junkie, the Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate is a program that I fully recommend.

For a more in-depth look into the technical specs of this software, click here.

Where to purchase?

If you're considering buying this software, we'd love it if you would help us keep our blog running by using one of our affiliate links to make your purchase. You can find this software on Amazon HERE.

Connect:

You can find out more about Wondershare on their website at www.wondershare.com. You can also follow them on social media through Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

What do you think of this software? What feature do you think you'd use most?

Chat with me in the comments below, I love talking with my readers!

Wondershare Review - The Technical Details And More

For the computer geeks like myself who are interested in Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate, I wanted to list some of the great technical features here as an addendum to my original review. I was given this software for free in exchange for my opinion and review, but please understand that my words here are 100% my own. (For more information on our disclosure policy, please see the tab marked 'Let me disclose to you' at the top of this page.

First off, let me say that I was genuinely impressed by the different utilities of this program. My only real disappointment was that it lacked transitions in video editing, however, this isn't what the program specifically is for. Though I must add that for what video editing options it does have (cropping, gray-scaling, start/stop timing selection, etc.), it's quite good when you consider that this isn't the prime function of the software.

While the type of CPU and hard drive account for a large percentage of determining the speed when converting videos, the software does make a noticeable difference. When compared to other similar programs I have used in the past, Wondershare comes out on top in terms of reliability, ease of use, and its speed of conversion. My personal desktop, for which I used the program on, is equipped with a i5-3570k CPU, 8GB of DDR3 memory at 1600, x2 GTX 560 ti 1GB on SLI, and a 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD running Windows 7 Ultimate. Having a quad-core or higher CPU will definitely decrease the time of video conversion, especially if it is a CPU with its own video processor (such as any 3rd or 4th generation Intel processor or AMD APU processor). Although such specs aren't necessary, as the system minimum requirements are as follows:

For Windows:
Supported OS: Windows NT4/2000/2003/XP/Vista/7, and Windows 8
Processor: >750MHz Intel or AMD CPU
Free Hard Disk Space: 100 MB or more
Memory: 256 MB or above

For Mac:
Mac OS X 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9
1GHz Intel processor or above;
At least 512M physical RAM

Now to get down to the bit more of detail I mentioned before, this converter program has a lot of options. The following output video formats are available for conversion (And their HD version if available):

.mp4 (HD version available)
.avi (HD version available)
.wmv (HD version available)
.mov (HD version available)
.m4v
.mkv (HD version available)
.xvid
.asf
.dv
.mpeg-1
.mpeg-2
.DVD-Video
.webm
.divx
.3gp
.3gp2
.mpg (HD only)
.ts (HD only)
.trp (HD only)

The picture examples in my original posting of this product were the results of converting a 720x480 video with an audio bit rate of 256kbps (2 channel stereo) to a high quality H.264 container 1920x1080 video with an audio bit rate of 320kbps (6 channel surround). The results, as you saw, were elimination of ghosting and some blurred pixels. The best all-around container you can use at the time of this writing is H.264 mp4.

Additionally, this program offers a way to convert audio files as well as converting video files to audio files. This means turning that favorite movie clip into a soundbite or that iTunes song into a universal mp3 format. The following output audio formats are available for conversion:

.mp3
.m4a
.ac3
.aac
.wma
.wav
.ogg
.ape
.mka
.au
.aiff
.flac
.m4b
.m4r


Before I wrap up the last part of this review, I do want to mention this software has no bloatware and no background processes. Its drain on your computer's resources are minimal until you begin a conversion process. However, as I mentioned before, how well your computer performs during that task depends on the hardware in it.

To see my overall review along with the pictures of the software in action, please click here.

You can take a look at Wondershare and the rest of their products at www.Wondershare.com or connect with them through their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Elli & Nooli Recordable Pal Review

As some of my readers may know, my husband and I had our sleep schedule severely disrupted after we brought our daughter home from the hospital. Although this isn't uncommon in most families after a new baby enters their lives, our sweet little girl had a bit more trouble than usual when it came to sleeping alone.

Not only was she diagnosed with colic at around two months of age, but she continued to have difficulty being separated from us - especially when it came to me. This began to have a severe impact not only on my life as far as personal time goes, but emotionally and physically - I was drained. More than once a week, I would be so frustrated with the situation that I cried; often pouring my heart out to my husband even though he couldn't fix the situation.

I needed help in a bad way. Anything I did, if it involved setting my daughter down, she cried. We tried just about everything that was suggested to us to solve the problem, but in the end, we just had to ride it out and wait for our daughter to out-grow the colic.

Naps were one of the hardest struggles during this time period. In order for her to take a nap, someone had to be holding her, or she had to think someone was holding her. This was never easy, and we tried all sorts of things to trick her into thinking we were close by when she napped - the longer she slept, the better. This was our sanity time, and it was usually the only time I got during the day to get anything done!

Even after she outgrew the colic, naps remained our greatest struggle. Unfortunately she also outgrew most of our methods to get her to sleep... I couldn't nap with her on the bed and then quietly sneak away after she learned to roll and crawl... I couldn't stick her into the snug little baby swing so that she thought I was holding her after she surpassed the weight rating... I couldn't even put her in the baby sling across my chest anymore because she no longer fit!

Thankfully, sometime around her eighth month I had gotten an email from someone over at Elli & Nooli asking me if I'd heard about their Recordable Pal. I hadn't heard of it before, and I explained to them about our colic situation, and how discouraged we had been lately with our daughter's sleep issues. They were so kind and understanding of our problems, and offered to send us their Recordable Pal in exchange for our review on it. Please know that although they were good enough to send us this item for free, by no means does that have any influence on my opinion of their product. (For more on my disclosure policy, please see the tab at the top of this page marked 'Let me disclose to you'.)

I was so excited when I received the package in the mail. It came much faster than I had expected it to, and my husband and I opened the box on the way home from the post office. We were immediately impressed by the soft, cuddly appearance of the Recordable Pal and the sweet stitching around the eyes and nose reminded me of the homemade toys my great-grandmother used to make. I was pleased at how easy it was to use; the instructions were so simple and the buttons were very straight-forward. Plus it came with the batteries already in it!

On the right, there was a button to record my voice, or a song, or whatever I thought my baby would enjoy hearing. On the left, there was a button to play the sound I'd recorded. At the bottom, two little feet indicated the symbols for volume up or volume down. After pushing play, the directions indicated that the recording would play for half an hour in a loop before automatically shutting off. All I had to do was record my 20 seconds, the Recordable Pal would play that sound track in a loop, and (if all went as planned) the sound of my voice would allow my little sweetie to feel secure while she was sleeping!

It seemed perfect. I planned to record myself singing 'Jesus Loves Me', the same song I had sung to my son when he was younger to soothe him, but there just wasn't enough recording time for me to sing it all the way through. I had to think for a while about lullabies that were short enough to sing in 20 seconds, and finally chose 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'. It was short and sweet, and the melody was calm enough for a sleeping baby to listen to.

The results were amazing. I laid my baby down for her nap as usual after her feeding, and immediately clicked the button to play the song. She stirred for a few moments - getting ready to fuss - and then calmed. I held my breath as she tilted her head and then sighed in sleep.

Then I went into the hall and cried. I was so overjoyed at the thought of having a moment, a minute, maybe even an hour to myself. Unless you have lived through the colic experience, you just can't imagine the relief that accompanies a successful nap.

After using it for a while, I've found that my daughter often wakes up when the 30-minute auto shut-off kicks in, but I usually sneak in to manually restart the recording time before it can turn off, thus giving me another half hour on my 'nap-timer'. I love the fact that I can hang the Recordable Pal wherever I want using the convenient tie-straps, and I adore knowing my daughter will be able to keep this as a loveable stuffy as she gets older. I even wish I had one of these for myself as a child - my mother used to sing the Rubber Duckie song to me when I was little, and a keepsake of her singing it to me would be something I could cherish forever.

My final recommendation? Although I would have liked a longer recording time, there is no end to the amount of gratefulness I have for this product. If you want your child to have a solid nap (especially if you have a colicky baby), this is a wonderful and charming device to let your little one know that you are nearby. I love this item so much that I'm putting it on my 'must-have' list of recommendations - out of everything we've received for the baby so far, this has been used more than anything else. 

This product is a wonderful idea, has been a true sanity-saver for our family, and my extreme thanks goes out to the people at Elli & Nooli for sending us the Recordable Pal.

If you want to find out about the Recordable Pal for yourself, you can check out Elli & Nooli on their website at www.elliandnooli.com. Or, you can connect with them through social media on their Facebook and Twitter pages. Looking to purchase one now? Head over to their Amazon page here and you can buy one today!

Want a demo? Check out the short video below of me getting ready to test the Recordable Pal on YouTube.

Tips for Keeping Up With the School Year

Did you get back-to-school in style this year? It can be difficult to get back into the swing of a regular routine, but usually by the time the harvest parties start up, everyone has gotten comfortably settled into their school-year patterns. This also means, however, that it can be easy to slip into bad habits that lead to missed homework or last-minute shopping trips.

Here are five great tips for facing the world year-long with as much spunk as you do during that first back-to-school month:

1. Stick to the bed-time.
This one seems like it would be a real no-brainer, but things aren't always so black & white. Everyone has the occasional situation come up where letting your kids stay up past their school-night bedtime is practically a necessity, but that doesn't mean it should become a habit. If you let your kids stay up for something special, try to make sure that it's really something one-of-a-kind that couldn't be done during other hours. As long as you make a big deal out of the bedtime rule, it will be a big deal to your kids too. Not only will they appreciate the times you allow them to stay up late even more, but they will be plenty rested for the school day. As a child who frequently had trouble falling asleep at night, I can certainly testify to the fact that there are few things at that age as torturous as trying to stay awake during class!

2. Ask your kids if they need anything for school at least once a week.
Kids can be funny sometimes. They will put up with half-broken pens or a 'lucky' pencil with no eraser for months but will insist on new folders every time you go to the store. (Even though their current ones are just fine, the problem is that they aren't as cool as their friend's new folders. Duh, mom.) Then there's what I like to call the 'surprise-project' - usually a crucial poster or diorama presentation that they didn't tell you about, put off until the last minute, and then realized they needed supplies for the night before it was due. School-age children usually have a lot of distractions, so don't count on them to tell you if they need something, because it won't always happen. Help them out by checking in with them once a week just to be sure that they don't need something (other than folders with horses or Batman on them) and you'll be doing everyone a favor.

3. Try to cook up at least one make-ahead meal during the weekends.
School years can be a ridiculously busy time for parents. A lot of people jokingly start the school year by talking about parental freedom, but really it can be just the opposite. For homes where both parents are working, it can be a huge stress to get the kids ready for school and on the bus in the morning. And if you have young children? That means an added commute to pick the kids up from daycare or the after-school program. Plus you have to worry about extra-curricular activities, which usually only increase as children get older. Ever have one of those pick-up-the-kids-drive-to-practice-rush-to-gymnastics-late-to-the-dance-rehearsal-and-don't-forget-to-grab-the-dry-cleaning nights? It happens to all of us sometimes. Making at least one meal ahead of time means that even if your evening is crammed full of activities, you'll still be able to give your family a healthy meal without adding to your to-do list.

4. Keep a 'bring-home' folder, and don't stop using it.
Everyone has heard the tip about keeping a folder in your child's backpack for things they need to bring straight to your attention, homework information, and other miscellaneous important items. But let's face it - that folder usually only gets used for about a month. And that means that eventually you are going to fall out of the information loop. When I was younger, my mom would always put that little folder in my backpack, and I would never use it. I'd stick stuff in there for the first week or so, but my mom didn't check it after the first couple of days, so she frequently got surprised by such announcements as, "Oh, mom, before I brush my teeth, I forgot to tell you that there's a pumpkin painting contest tomorrow, and we didn't do mine yet." Or even worse, I usually did my homework in the mornings on the bus. If mom asked if my homework was done, I'd just say yes, and she believed me. Yes, I was naughty. Yes, she should have quizzed me on it to make sure I wasn't lying. But because I wasn't putting my homework in the take-home folder, there was no way she could ask for proof! Make sure your child uses the folder, and make sure you inspect it every night - it will save everyone some hassle.

5. Go into 'vacation-mode' at least once a month.
While I'm certainly not suggesting that you should take your child out of school every few weeks to jet off to Disneyland, it never hurts to have a little fun. School can get so boring for a child, and there's rarely anything to look forward to other than the next big holiday or teacher's day (anything for a day off of school!). Think of what makes summer-time so special for your family and then get creative with making a special night or weekend at home or nearby. Do you like to go to the beach? Head to an indoor waterpark. Frequently spend time at family BBQ's? Invite the relatives over for a potluck dinner. Invest some money in an annual family pass for a local attraction that isn't far away. It doesn't have to be anything big; museums, zoos, and aquariums are all great ideas, and usually relatively cheap. Plus, places like those are educational, which means that your kids will get the added bonus of learning some extra knowledge. You'll be able to spend some fun bonding time with them, and they'll think you're an A+ mom. What can be better than that?

(The blogger opp that was associated with this post has expired, please check out our blogger opps tab for a list of available opportunities!)

Things Mommyhood Has Taught Me (Be prepared to laugh...)

Oh the joys of being a mom. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's downright scary! Luckily, no matter what your days bring, you can be sure that there is some humor (and wisdom) to be found in just about all of it.

So read through this (short) list of things you can learn from being a mom. Laugh a little and then add a comment to share what you've learned in your mom-journey. (Dads are welcome to post as well, many of these things apply to both parents!)

Things Mommyhood Has Taught Me

1. Sometimes the best way isn't the "right" way.

2. The people with the most advice on how you should raise your children are usually people who do not have children.

3. No matter how many kids you have had or have been around, they can always come up with a situation you weren't prepared for.

4. If you give a baby raspberries on their tummy right after they've eaten, you will soon have baby throw-up in your hair.

5. Having poop on your fingers is not the grossest thing you will encounter as a mom. Not even close.

6. People will giggle at you because you have Cheeto-handprints on your butt. Only another mom who has been there will be kind enough to wipe it off for you. (Or at least point it out, am I right?)

7. You're going to get every bodily fluid you can think of in your hair or on your skin or clothes during the course of raising your kids.

8. Kids get thirsty directly after being put to bed.

9. Sometimes "No" means "Yes" and "Yes" means "No".

10. A child will tell the most outrageous lies, and actually think that we might believe them.

11. The older you get, the harder it is not to laugh at kids trying to talk their way out of trouble.

12. Sometimes, ice cream IS dinner.

13. Kids will fall asleep when you don't want them to, but will stay up for hours when you most need them to go to bed.

14. Your kids' need for you will magically increase whenever you lock a door for privacy.

15. Small children only remember they HAVE to go to the bathroom about a minute after you sit down on the toilet yourself.

16. Babies that are good and quiet and stay asleep in front of strangers are usually the ones that refuse to go to sleep at home.

17. Kids eat bugs. It's not the best thing, but it isn't the worst thing either.

18. It's okay to pick a booger out of your kid's nose if it's just hanging out there.

19. Having a baby bump is like having a sign on your back that says, "This is my first day on planet Earth and I've never seen a baby before. In need of advice, please help."

20. Strong men become weak at the sight and smell of green and/or yellow poopie.

21. Before you are a parent, you KNOW how you're going to parent your child. After you're a parent, you realize the only way to outsmart your kids is to wing it.

22. There is no reasoning with anyone under the age of four.

23. A screaming child throwing a public tantrum is the best incentive to use birth control that there ever was.

24. You can't stay angry with a kid that's giving you puppy eyes and purposely saying ridiculous things to butter you up. You can pretend to be mad, but inside, you're laughing.

25. You could be the mellowest person in the world, but if someone messes with your kids, you turn into a crazy-lady.

26. Everything must be thoroughly sanitized for your first child - shopping cart handles, swing-sets, doors, tables, playgrounds. By the time the second child comes around, you aren't even sure where your giant-bottle-o-sanitizer is.

27. Purse size increases according to how many children you have.

28. Mommy's pants are just as good to wipe your hands on as a towel is.

29. Kids will climb on your lap, hug you, pass horrible gas, and then leave the room while you choke on the stink, with absolutely no regrets or feelings on the matter whatsoever.

30. Something in your house other than a bed mattress will eventually be peed on. Not necessarily on purpose, but it's going to happen.

31. Expensive furniture becomes inexpensive furniture if your kid finds markers.

32. A coffee-maker is a mom's best friend.

33. The only thing you'll really want for Mother's Day is a solid nap. You won't get it though. Even if they try to let you sleep you'll keep jolting awake because of your "I'm-supposed-to-be-doing-something" mindset.

34. The best artwork is always done on the floors, walls, and cupboards.

35. If your child is lovingly nosing your shoulder, you should check to make sure they weren't actually wiping their boogers and snot on you.

36. If your kids are being quiet, you had better go see what they've done.

37. Even the most loving of brothers and sisters will fight like they hate each other sometimes.

38. At some point you will stop using your "mom-voice" on your kids to answer the phone in your most-pleasant-I-am-the-Perfect-Mother voice... which will lead to your children pointing that out as soon as you've finished your phone call.

39. Your children know the best time to get your attention is when you're already having a conversation with someone else.

40. Sooner or later, someone is going to poop on the toilet seat, and you're going to be the one that has to clean it up.

41. Plain old lotion can also be used as a "miracle" cream when treating invisible boo-boos. Seal it with a kiss and it's good as new.

42. Baby poop that isn't contained at the time of projectile can get a distance of four or five feet. Hopefully this isn't something every mother has to experience first-hand, but those of us who do get a special I-Survived-The-Explosion badge to pin on our sashes. (Not really, but how cool would that be?)

43. It will seem to take eons to potty-train, but when you look back it will feel like it was only a few days.

44. If your kid gets mad at you now & then and tells you how unfair you're being, you're probably a pretty awesome parent.

45. Your kids won't judge you for licking cake batter with them. So go ahead. Enjoy the moment.

46. The best bed-time stories are the ones you get to hear your kids tell. One of my favorites is The Lorax... as retold by my three-year-old's imagination.

47. Making the bedroom rounds and checking to make sure your kids are "okay" at 2 or 3 or even 5 in the morning is totally normal.

48. A mom can want nothing more than to be left alone for a few minutes, only to miss her "babies" as soon as she gets that alone time.

49. Every mom will feel guilty at some point about some thing. It's natural, it's normal, and as long as you're doing your best, you shouldn't let it get to you.

50. The only thing better than being told you're a great mom when you're trying hard is being told by your child that you're a great mom, especially when you don't think you've been.

51. Motherhood is messy.

52. Mothers are imperfect people with a perfect calling.

53. "Do as I say, not as I do" is just as good an excuse as any when your kids ask why your bed isn't made.

54. Repeat after me: "Because I said so."

55. Toilet plungers: The best thing there is to retrieve Spiderman from inside the toilet.

56. Sometimes, it's better if you don't know who did it.

57. Every so often during parenting, you will recall a time during your younger years when you said, "I'm never going to parent this way, I'm going to remember what things were like and treat my kids differently!" Then and only then will you realize that your mother had the right of it all along.

58. Babies only fall asleep after you've given up trying to get them to fall asleep.

59. The stuff on mom's plate always tastes better than the exact same food on a child's plate.

60. When you're raising kids, it seems like it will be easier "some day", but when you get to that point, you decide it was easier "back then".

61. A penny saved isn't a penny earned. It's a down payment towards the tooth fairy.

62.. Little kids get bad morning breath too... but they don't have the social skills not to say "Helloooo mommy!" right in your face.

63. It's okay to ask yourself if you're being crazy now and then. As long as you're still asking yourself if you've lost it, you haven't.

64. It doesn't matter what your kids promise. You will eventually become the caregiver for all living creatures that are brought into the house to keep as pets.

65. Nothing is forever. Not the bad times, not the good times. You have to enjoy it as it comes, because you'll be looking back on all of it before you know it.

Website Review: PishPoshBaby.com

Any momma can tell you, if you're expecting or have a little one at home, everyone seems to have "the best" baby gear that they got some place or another for "the best" price. The truth is, there are lots of great deals out there, but not all of them are for high quality baby gear. And even when you do find high quality baby gear at the store, it's hard to find a good selection. I personally like to shop around online when I'm looking for something that no one else has, and I think that you can not only get the best selection that way, but the best price as well.

I came across Pish Posh Baby after working on a giveaway opp with fellow blogger Darci over at Everything Mommyhood. Since then, I have really had a chance to check out and browse around the site and I think it's a real keeper.

Some things that I love? They aren't just some random online store - they have their own brick & mortar store up in New Jersey. As a matter of fact, PishPoshBaby is renowned for their in-store demonstrations and mommy reps who are just waiting to help out anyone who walks through their doors. They don't just provide help in-store though... they actually have a hotline that you can call to talk to one of their reps, and you can get some pretty good deals that way! And because they have an actual store, that means they have store set-ups of their products. And of course, as with all store set-ups, that means a discount when they decide to sell their displays! They have a clearance section online specifically for these great bargain items!

The price range is about what you'd expect to see at a Babies R Us store, but the selection is immense. They have tons of high quality brands at good prices, and they regularly have sales or special events going on that can enable you to snag a spectacular bargain.

You can even do a baby registry through this site, which is really important for new moms - with everything there is to do with a baby coming, it's nice to be able to consolidate all of your baby needs in one place, then send the registry link through an e-Vite. You can connect with PishPoshBaby through their Facebook or Twitter accounts, or check out their website at www.PishPoshBaby.com.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post, and as always, my opinions were purely my own.

(The giveaway that was associated with this post has expired, please check out our giveaways tab for a list of available contests!)