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May Must-Haves…

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Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

Mama is like a teenager these days…counting down the days until summer vacation arrives. Mama can feel it…it’s almost here but not quite soon enough. Take it from Mama and appreciate those preschool and toddler years where you don’t ACTUALLY have to be some where on time and when you can take the kids out of school anytime you want. You can be five or ten minutes late and not have to worry about your kids getting detention for your being late in the morning. However, in Mama’s defense…it’s never actually Mama’s fault we’re late (of course not…right?!). The kids are the ones dragging their feet in the morning to get out of bed, can’t find where they put their shoes and don’t know how to eat toast, drink OJ and make sandwiches for lunches all at the same time (that’s Mama’s job).

In fact our weekday mornings are so routine now that it almost seems like Groundhog Day…everyday…all day. Hmmm…makes you think how Everyday Mama came to be! So summer is on the horizon and Mama can’t wait for the freedom of the alarm clock, free of daily scheduled activities and the freedom to just hang out…where we want…when we want. It will be awesome. Now Mama is not entirely crazy because while we are looking forward to no scheduled activities, one week alone with the three kids is enough to drive anyone insane so we did schedule a few camps to keep the kidlets busy and Mama away from the crazy farm.

Oh, and how could one forget Mother’s Day which is coming up quick…more on that later. For now let’s think sunny days, blue skies and lots of mini-vacations in our near future for our May Must-Haves!

Must-Have: The beach. Mama loves the beach. Mama and the kids love building sand castles, watching the waves break and sometimes if it’s really warm out…going in for a quick dip. The beach is the place to go to have some summer fun and frolic. However, one cannot forget all the items one must bring to the beach for all the littles. Mainly lots of towels and shade are in order…not to mention snacks and sand toys for ultimate digging. Mama is L-O-V-I-N-G the idea of a new beach bag and this one is not only personalized but it’s also budget-friendly too!! Check out the beach bags from Simply-Bags.com and pick your favorite one to be personalized just for you. From striped boat bags to paisley prints to cooler bags, you can get a personalized bag for $21.99!! That’s the best deal of the month. Take a look at Mama’s…guess Mama won’t be incognito with this gem but that’s okay no-one will be tempted to steal it either. Order yours at Simply-Bags.com and come summer…you’ll be ready to hit the beach, pool or park in style without being set-back in the bank account.

Must-See: Has Mama ever told you how Mama loves musicals? So does the hubs. In fact, when we met…Mama thought it was a little odd that he knew so much about show tunes…if you know what Mama means. He loves to sing them…mainly in the shower or the car so only Mama gets the pleasure of hearing his vocal stylings (no American Idols around these parts). If you’re in San Diego or perhaps in a town where the touring production of Chicago is coming to town — go see it. Starring Christie Brinkley and John O’Hurley, the production is in town for a limited engagement starting TODAY, May 8-May 13, 2012 at the San Diego Civic Center and tickets are still available. In fact, Mama has a discount code for you which is a perfect reason to go see the show and take your favorite Mama to celebrate Mother’s Day. Use code: MAMA at checkout at ticketmaster.com. It’s the perfect way to treat yourself this month! Plus, Mama thinks Christie Brinkley looks amazing for her age and can’t wait to hear her sing…is it a hidden talent of hers?!

Must-Read: So last month one amazing Mama that Mama knows decided to start a book club for her first grade daughter. They all read the same book (Junie B. Jones), invited the kiddos and Mamas over, had snacks and beverages (wine for the Mamas) and chatted and acted out scenes from the book. How fun!! Lily-girl loves the idea so this summer Mama will be initiating one with her class and it will be a blast…hopefully. Since everyone is so busy reading Fifty Shades of Grey and the other two that follow in the series from Mama’s recommendations last month, let’s make this month about the kids. Lily-girl went into kindergarten knowing how to read and sound out the words, however, not everyone will. For summer reading and learning, Mama highly recommends the getting a few BOB Books sets that teach your child to read and sound out the ever important ‘sight words’. Sight words are repetitive words that are in every story. For example: the, what, at, if, my, out, in, up, down, etc. Adding to their already popular sight word sets, BOB Books has just released early reader books that are actual stories with flash cards in the back. They were helpful in getting Lily-girl to start reading and we loved Cupcake Surprise! and The New Puppy. Order a few today to take on vacation with you and get your little tikes reading and not only that…excited about reading! Available at scholastic.com, $2.79 each — best money you ever spent!

Must-Do: This might seem so gross but…when was the last time you actually cleaned out your underwear drawer? Or your kids underwear drawer? It’s one of those things that you just don’t do often enough. Well, it’s time and there is no time like the present to clean out those old undies and trade them in for new ones. Don’t donate them by the way…you may want to just dispose of them. It’s one of the few things that Mama doesn’t recommend upcycling as there was a study done that says that germs live on them for years and years to come…ick! So treat yourself and your kids to some new, clean undies for the summer…Lily-girl just pulled out a few that were 2Ts…oops! Mama highly recommends the brand Hanky Panky…so comfortable!

Must-Have: You already know how much Mama loves designer collaborations…remember Missoni for Target?! Targets newest collaboration with The Webster, one of Miami’s hip boutiques, is sure crowd-pleaser and Mama is pretty sure that you’ll be able to find your size online because it isn’t as well known as some of the other big brands they’ve collaborated with. Mama picks for the collection are the Wedges, $31.99 per pair, that can only be found online and not in stores and this maxi dress which Mama is pretty sure she’s wearing to a beach wedding this summer…all for the great price of $44.99. Fantastic finds at target.com!

Happy Shopping Mamas! What are you craving this May?

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April Must-Haves…

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Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Well, hello April…thanks for dumping Easter, Passover, spring break and tax day on us all in one month. Not to mention Earth Day and a few special birthdays that all seem to happen in succession in one week. It sure made for one busy bunny…er…Mama. Last year Mama was full of great ideas, crafts and yummy treats for you to indulge in with your crew — not happening this year, is it folks?! That’s alright, you’ll forgive Mama just this once…Mama knows it.

After our un-relaxing trip last week, Mama has decided that it is high time to kick this family into high-gear on healthy habits. Being in the warm weather last week, it was so nice to not crave comfort food and to want to eat FRUIT. So much FRUIT. And luckily, it wasn’t just Mama…it was all of us indulging in the ripe, sweet fruit of the islands like papaya, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries…yummy. So this week we’re starting a new tradition of breakfast smoothies and breakfast treats like whole wheat toast topped with peanut butter, sliced strawberries and a drop of honey. Oh…maybe, Mama did just give you a little recipe!

Let’s get started on these must-haves because really, by the time you read this…it will be May already because time really does go by that fast!

Must-have: Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month. Any Mama that has a son or daughter or family member with autism knows that it is not easy to deal with. It’s painful to see someone you love struggle with something that they can’t really understand and to see their frustration on achieving things we often take for granted that are so easy. High-fives to any Mama that deals with this day-in-and-day-out. While there is still a debate out there on what is causing a rise in autism, what we do know is that continuing the research to find a cure and find the cause is needed. Show your support for those families with the Sole Bracelet, Toujours Bracelet or the Revival Bracelet from Stella & Dot in which 20 percent of the proceeds from the purchase goes to Autism Speaks, the largest national organization for autism research and support programs. Get yours here: www.stelladot.com, $39. Who doesn’t love fashion for a good cause?!

Must-read: It’s official, Mama is dropping everything to read Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. Mama has heard it’s poorly written but the content is…ahem…intriguing to say the least and perhaps will give a spark to your marriage! Don’t take Mama’s word for it…they’re dubbing it “mommy porn” across the Internet. And now…it’s more than just an e-book (if you’re not too embarrassed to be seen toting it around town), $9.57, at amazon.com.

Must-do: So Mama was noticing the other day that we never change the photos in our house. We have the same photos and frames that we’ve had for years — before the kids and even before the dog. That would be almost 10 years of pictures gone unchanged…just moved from house to house and dusted from time to time. It’s time to give the photos a facelift and perhaps, include some photos of my other two children that have come along in the years since Lily-girl arrived. Seriously, it’s that bad. You should take a look around too and see which photos might need updating…if you don’t do it now, it could be another ten years before you get around to it!

Must-have: Oh yes, we’re doing the healthy habits…but one must be dressed the part in order to get the job done. So Mama is going with a work-out theme and one must, must, must-have these kicks to go running, jumping, walking or just to look like she is. OMG…Tiffany Blue Nikes!!! Look for them on Mama’s feet coming soon…Nike Free Run 3 Running Shoe, $100, at nordsrom.com. Well and since you’re there you might as well check out the Zella line of athletic wear which is like Nordstrom’s version of Lululemon but much more budget-friendly. Loving the Zella Back Cutout Layering Tank, $38.

Okay…off to blend smoothies…what are you craving this month?

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Must-haves for baby survival…

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Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

So the quote of the week comes courtesy of a Mama at Lily-girl’s school: “Mama, you also have a son?”

Guilty.

Mama clearly doesn’t take Baby Boy out in public enough or at least to drop-off and pick-up Lily-girl from school. The Mamas at the school all know about CeCe because there was no denying Mama’s giant stomach four months ago but Baby Boy…he gets to stay at home where he is happy playing his cars, playing with Play-Doh or taking a nap because he really, really needs it. As you know all too well Mama is sure, that dining with a three-year old is a less than pleasant experience and so is school pick-up when you’re half dragging him up the hill while pushing a baby stroller with one hand past the speeding cars and speed bumps. So Mama prefers not to do it and then cart him all over town while Lily-girl does her gymnastics, tennis, dance…you get it. He likes his cars and rather be home sleeping with them or crashing them into our walls.

Perhaps Mama will try taking Baby Boy this week for a pick-up…just for fun…so then Mama can remember why we actually leave him at home.

Last week was a big week, CeCe turned four months and Lily-girl turned six. It was a crazy week full of baking treats, celebrations, doctor’s appointments and survival. Mama actually loves going into survival mode because then it means that stuff is getting done and at the end of the day you actually accomplished something…which is a fantastic feeling. However, those lazy days where all you do is eat, sleep and watch movies are nice occasionally too and don’t come around nearly often enough. So Mama got to thinking…these past four months with CeCe have gone by so fast and there’s not much to show for it. A few pictures have been snapped here and there but Mama really thought we’d be able to capture more and so far…it hasn’t happened. Always good intentions…never enough time to actually execute it!

So now as Mama starts to pack-up and giveaway the newborn items and the baby-baby things, a tear is rolling down Mama’s cheek and a list is forming of the five things that Mama used to survive the four months with CeCe and as a Mama to three.

Mama’s Must-haves for Baby

SLEEP: This is the bassinet that Mama used for all three kids. CeCe at four months is still in it as she’s not yet turned over but Mama knows that it’s on the horizon soon. You can wheel it close to the bed at night and move it everywhere else during the day. It gives a slight elevation for those with acid reflux or stuffy noses and has a HUGE storage basket underneath for burp clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes, extra clothes or anything else you may need at your fingertips. While this isn’t the original one that Mama had with the Lily-girl, they each got their own new one (long story…), but Mama can’t wait to pass this on to another expecting Mama as it is the perfect bed for your perfect new little bundle of joy. Mama will be sad to see it go! First Years 5-in-1 Bassinet, $89, at walmart.com (Mama bought ours on Amazon.com but Walmart has it for almost $60 cheaper…go figure).

BATHE: When CeCe was first born, Mama thinks it took at least three weeks for her to get her first bath. Even then it was a huge event getting everything together to do it. While Mama definitely gave her a wipe-down everyday (especially in the neck…it gets smelly!), a bath was a different story. Now we’re in more of a routine where she gets a bath every other day and she loves to splash and dance in the water. However, she has now taken to push and arch her way out of the best tub invention ever for newborns — the Puj tub. It is a lifesaver and again something that Mama can’t wait to pass on because it makes giving your baby a bath so easy. It stores flat and snaps together to make a seat for baby to nest in while you bathe them in your bathroom sink. Truly…they fit, it works and all is well with the world. Worth every penny and much, much more comfortable for them than those large plastic tubs that you have no where to put. Puj Tub, $39.99 , at amazon.com.

PLAY: Babies don’t really play that much when they’re just born but they do love looking at you and staring a few colorful objects. Mama’s go-to place for CeCe to play is a soft, plush mat that she can lay flat on but also do tummy time. We pull it out every day and now Mama is thinking about getting one for downstairs too because although she’ll grow out of soon, it is something we’ve used since day one and everyday since. We do diaper changes on it and just gather around as a family to read together to her on it. It comes in all different animals like a cow, bear, hippo, monkey, giraffe and frog. Bestever Infant Play Mat, $44.99, at buybuybaby.com.

WEAR: Only one word needed here — pajamas. As cute as the clothes are for babies…you just don’t have the time nor the need to change them in anything but onesie footie pajamas. Mama’s go-to place for the cutest and most comfortable (and reasonable) pajamas is…Carter’s. Cotton Snap-up Sleep and Play, $9, at carters.com. All three of the kids lived in these for the first six months and Mama thinks they turned out okay…don’t you?!

EAT: This is one of the most difficult things for any new Mama to get used to because it’s constantly changing. They eat so often that both YOU and baby must be comfortable for it to happen — whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Mama has always had to do both in the beginning with Lily-girl and CeCe as they just weren’t proficient eaters or suckers when it came to breastfeeding but Mama always, always uses the Boppy for feeding to prop up Mama’s own arm for comfort and their little body and heads for easy eating. Mama has three of them…one upstairs, one downstairs and one for travel. It’s a necessity and again…Mama will be so sad to part with them when we’re beyond the infant stage. Boppy pillow with slipcover, $45, at amazon.com.

Mama survived thanks to these five things…what are your must-haves for baby survival?

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March must-haves…

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Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

How is it that it is already mid-March and Mama has yet to write about the must-haves for the month? Yesterday, CeCe turned 4 months and dear Lily-girl turns 6 tomorrow. SIX!! The day that changed Mama’s life for all eternity…for the better, of course. While they drive Mama insane most of the time, they are the best part of Mama’s life. Mama is just soaking up every baby cuddle and giggle because this could very well be Mama’s last little baby…sniff, sniff…

However, the hubs has a different point of view. You know men…they always have something to complain about and while us Mama’s enjoy every moment of the baby stage, for some reason…he does not. Mama gets it, the third time around is not as exciting as the first time but he is anxious to take them somewhere and do something and breastfeeding in a chair or feeding her a bottle is not really what he has in mind. So every time Mama leaves and comes back, Mama is greeted with a grinning, giggling baby outstretched in his arms reaching for Mama before one can even take off their shoes, wash their hands or go to the bathroom. As the hubs put it so politely a few weeks ago…“Mama, don’t act like this is your first rodeo. Babies are your thing and the older kids are mine! My boobs don’t make milk and if they did, I probably would help more.”

However when the other kids are away at school and it was just him and the baby, Mama did catch him tickling her, laughing with her and cuddling with her. Perhaps it’s the multi-tasking thing that men aren’t fond of…because they sure do love their babies!

Let’s have a look at what Mama is craving this month (besides SWEETS which Mama gave up for the Lenten season and is counting down the days until Mama can bite into a Sprinkles Cupcake again)…because it’s never too late to treat yourself!

Must-see — Mama is so, so, so excited for release of The Hunger Games this month starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth (Miley Cyrus’ boyfriend), Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks and Lenny Kravitz that one cannot see straight. Mama’s book club read the book a few months ago and so it will be a girl’s night out. If you haven’t yet read the book — DO! While it’s filed in the Young Adult section, it was one of the best stories Mama has read in a long time that you just couldn’t put down. The characters were developed, the story was intriguing and it wasn’t something Mama thought she would normally like. Grab a few friends and go see the movie, read the book and then come back and tell Mama how much you loved it (or hated it)…!

Must-do — if you’re like Mama and aren’t smart enough (or just don’t care!) to bring the outside toys in out of the rain or snow during the winter months then you probably have a few dirty, moldy and weathered toys on your hands. Now is the time to start thinking about throwing away the moldiest toys (especially the ones that you can easily replace from the Target Dollar Bin) or getting down on your hands and knees and scrubbing them until their sparkly, clean and new again. Mama started on this project last week and managed to salvage a few of the toys and scrubbed the water table clean so it should last one more season. However, anything that is too black full of mold…just throw it away because it’s really not worth it when your kids end up sick because of it! Also, if you have a new baby like Mama…consider investing in an outdoor playmat so everyone can enjoy the outdoors this season. Mama is loving this one…Skip Hop Zoo Foam Playmat, $60, at amazon.com.

Must-read — just the other day Mama and friends were talking about the way the world is changing and if there is still a “class system” still in place here. Maybe not here in the U.S. as much but definitely abroad and India is one of the first places that comes to mind where this is happening. You have beautiful buildings and skyscrapers built in the city that look right down upon piles and piles of garbage and poor people dying of starvation. Journalist Katherine Boo captures it all in the book Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity. Boo lived in the slums of Mumbai for three years and captures every daring and heartwarming story that will make you thankful once again for the roof over your head and the food in your refrigerator (even if it is only moldy cheese). A great pick for a book club too! Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, $16.20, at amazon.com.

Must-wear — if you know Mama, you know that Mama is a flats girl. Sometimes you’ll see Mama in a wedge or heel but rarely. So these are in Mama’s virtual shopping bag right now, Franco Sarto ‘Whip’ Flat, $49.95, at nordstrom.com. They go with everything and are so easy to put on and off as you run your million, zillion errands a day. In fact…treat yourself to two pairs for the price!

What are you craving in March?

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February Must-Haves…

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Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Oh dear Mama…where does the time go?! Everyone has moved on from Apres Ski clothes to hearts, flowers and love. Yes, it’s time to celebrate Valentine’s Day, have a four day weekend to celebrate our past U.S. President’s birthdays, do a little Mardi Gras, start the season of Lent and give up something that you L-O-V-E (if you do that sort of thing), and have one extra day in the month this year. It’s Leap Year so that means if you’re lucky enough to have your birthday on February 29th, you actually get to celebrate it this year. While February is such a short, short month…it seems that there is so much that actually happens. Not to mention the Superbowl but really, since the Chargers weren’t playing…Mama just let that one fly right on by.

As always in Mama’s life….there is so much to do and just never enough time. Mama is still working one-handed these days and while at times feels like a either a cow or an octopus, we’re still managing to remain sane. Mama is still trying to organize the house a little better and get rid of all this paper that seems to be piling up everywhere. Mama for some reason can never quite get a handle on going paperless…Mama loves her paper….it’s either that or dig through e-mail to find things and Mama can’t imagine having to do that either.

And have you not joined Pinterest yet?! Well, Mama has been on there for awhile now and while Mama adores it in every single way…it now seems that everything Mama makes or does is never a surprise anymore. This is the new quote, “Oh, I remembered you pinned that on Pinterest!” Isn’t that a party spoiler?!

Speaking of parties…Baby Boy has been three for a month now and no updates on the potty training front…at this point, Mama would pay someone to do it — a lot of money if there’s any takers out there! Oh and the party planning has begun for Lily-girl’s birthday for next month…one can never plan too much in advance, right?

So here we go again, into February and everything we must, must, must have to make our lives complete this month…what are you craving?

Oh and tomorrow is some FAB V-day ideas so come back…okay?!

Must-Have: Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?! They come in six vibrant colors and Mama wants one of each color…for what…who knows but it’s a must-have for sure! Zig Zag Strapping Baskets, $49 for set of 3, at landofnod.com.

Must-Do: Know someone that needs a haircut? Well send them on down to Quality Social in Downtown San Diego tomorrow night, Feb. 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to sign-up to be a part of the 4th Annual St. Baldrick’s Shave-a-thon to raise awareness and funds for children’s cancer research. What could be better than getting your head shaved for a good cause?! Details are below…are you brave enough to look like Sinead O’Conner?! For details check out the St. Baldrick’s Facebook Page…give them a like too while you’re at it!

Must-Have: Mama is always on the search for the perfect pair of shoes, the perfect hair tie and the perfect skin regimen. It’s true, something is always wrong. Now that we know that it matters what we put into our bodies and that organics are, of course, better for us. Same is true for what we PUT onto our skin as well! Why wouldn’t a holistic, organic approach to our skincare be better for us?! So now Mama is two weeks into a 30 day challenge to prove just that. Sponsored by Naturopathica, the holistic health skincare regimen has proved wonders for Mama’s winter dry skin making ruddiness something of the past and giving Mama a glow that only seemed to come during pregnancy (seriously). The 30-day regimen kit comes with everything you need to give your skin a wake-up call and Mama loves that it comes with a Plant Stem Cell Serum (which Mama is obsessed with!) and an Oat Facial Polish that gets rid of all the dry, flaky skin of winter. Mama has never looked better (well, maybe when Mama was 18 but we’ll never get those years back…). Mama challenges you to give it a try the challenge and see if it makes a difference in your look. Naturopathica, $65 for 30-day regimen kit.

Must-Wear: What must one wear in February…RED, of course! Not only is it the color of love and hearts but it’s also Heart Health Month so eat your oatmeal for breakfast while wearing this fabulous gem. Pleated Chiffon Crochet Blouse, $49, at piperlime.com.