Word Up

Smart, smart, smart. This is one of those "duh" products.

Word Lock has created combination locks using words instead of numbers. You pick the word from a minimum of 10,000 choices, and you can always re-set the word. Their collection includes bike/cable locks, padlocks, and luggage locks.

The padlock above sells on Amazon for only $9.99. No useless number sequence to memorize, no keys to keep track of (remember the really old padlocks?), just a simple word of your choosing. This is perfect for kids and adults.

As Word Lock says, "Easy to Set • Never Forget™, Wordlock®, Inc."

Thank You

Recently, Emily Allyn participated in a baby gift basket for Angela Kinsey from NBC's The Office. She was kind enough to personally thank everyone with a quick note.

She had a baby girl born on May 3rd, Isabel Ruby. Her husband is Warren Lieberstein.

It was fun to receive!

Thought I would leave you with this for the weekend. Yes, I moved the post!

Sigh of Relief

Talk about ingenious. These hip wrist bands, called Psi Bands and pronounced Sigh Bands, are a drug free solution for the relief of nausea. Most women who have been pregnant have dealt with some level of morning sickness, but it can also be used for motion/travel sickness, chemotherapy, and anesthesia. Now that is what you call versatile, plus it covers basically every human being out there.

The band uses acupressure by placing (you guessed it) pressure on a specific point in your wrist. You can control the amount of pressure by adjusting the colorful band. If you need a visual, you can watch a 17 second clip on the informative Psi Band website to see how it works and to answer any other questions you may have.

Next time your best friend tells you she's expecting you can buy her a Psi Band. She just might think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Never Out of Style

Animal prints will never go out of style.
I just bought a Dooney and Bourke Giraffe print leather handbag. I absolutely love it and I can't tell you how many compliments I've received in the past few days alone. I have to admit, I've never owned a Dooney and Bourke bag before. Their collection always struck me as bags for the older crowd. So either I've entered that older crowd or I'm wrong. They carry a ton of different style bags within the Giraffe print family. Dooney and Bourke also make a very fun Zebra print as well, if you are looking for something with more black. I've even seen some with some red accents.
Love, love, love this bag!

Where is Matt Now?

Here is a good reminder that we really are all in this world together:



I am a part of HARO, where Peter Shankman released this on his site. You can also find the video and more information about Matt at Where the Hell is Matt dot com.

I hope this video makes you smile so much your face hurts :)

10 Years and Counting

Today is my 10 year anniversary! I can hardly believe it. For the most part, I still remember that day pretty clearly - which is a feat in itself considering I can't remember much. Today I was doing some "preparations" like getting a pedicure and manicure. A wedding party came in for their appointments. The bride was so happy and so excited. I couldn't help but think to myself how lucky the bride-to-be is and what she has to look forward to for the next 10 years, plus. I've had 10 amazing years with my husband and we now have 2 wonderful boys. I'm thankful in so many ways and I can't wait for the next 10 years!

My husband and I are sending the kiddos off tomorrow to celebrate. One thing I'm excited for... waking up on my own, no kids pouncing on me!

Have a great weekend. I know I will :)

Windows Movie Maker

I know you are wondering just where in the heck I've been. I know you have spent many sleepless hours worrying whether I was ok or not. And I know you have been missing your weekly fashion fix a la me. Well... the wait is over and here is my story.

I can now add movie editor and movie producer to my laundry list of skills and credentials. (Remember my so-called geek squad days?)

I have found something amazing on my computer that I didn't even know was there. Windows Movie Maker. For Mother's Day, my brother made a "movie" for his wife. The movie contained pictures from their life together - their trips, their kids, their friends, their celebrations, etc.

So, I decided to follow suit. For Father's Day, I made a movie of my own for my husband. Only I included pictures from our childhood as well. It was a hoot! However, making it was not such a hoot. And that is what I was doing all last week, scrambling to get it done by the eleventh hour.

It is an amazing tool, really - The Windows Movie Maker. I know it automatically comes with Vista and some XP editions. (But if you don't have it you can download it here.) It's quite intuitive and very fun to make. I will say my two main complaints are:
1) For some reason, 90% of the time I added a picture or moved a picture or created a transition (from one pic to another), my Windows Movie Maker would pause in Not Responding mode. Very frustrating, actually, because it would literally take 1-5 minutes to come back. This is no exaggeration. It could be because I'm on a laptop, I have no idea. I'm sure it doesn't happen to everyone or this product would be out the window (no pun intended).
2) Once the movie is complete, if you want to create a DVD (as opposed to watching it on your computer), it's actually not that easy... unless you have Vista Home Premium or better. I have Vista Home Basic, so I had to go through some trial and error to figure out what was going on and then do a little research on Google to figure out how I could download this movie I had spent (no joke) at least 25 hours making. I wasn't going to spend that amount of time on something, only to have it work on my computer damn it!

Disclaimer: the hours do include me scanning older pictures, many of them in fact. But nonetheless, the process was very time consuming. I must admit it was worth every minute and I know my husband appreciated it very much. The movie is 20 minutes long. I added music to it, so the whole ensemble was so fun to watch. A walk down memory lane. I highly advise using the program, unless you don't have the time. Then pay someone to do it!

There are quite a few features. If you have a microphone for your computer, you can narrate (or you could pretend you are Ralph Edwards from This Is Your Life and go from there). There are effects you can add to your pictures like zooming, panning, fading in/out, a ripple, sepia, and many more. And there are transitions you add which are fun ways to get you from one photo to the next. And of course, you can add movies from your video camera or computer. I think you can even capture still moments from those movies. So, there is a wealth of possibilities for the novice movie editor.

Now the question remains, can I add movie star to my resume since I am in the movie? Right...

Kate Spade Private Sale

You heard that right! Private Sale. Well, how private can an internet sale be? But let's go with it people.

June 17-20, enjoy up to 60% off. I've checked it out and the prices look terrific.

Now you check it out!

As to what I've been up to the last week... that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Comfort After the C-Section? Yes!

Czela Bellies - Fabulous fun and flirty underwear for the recovering C-section mom!

Talk about finding a niche market. The owner of Czela Bellies has designed something I have never seen before - which is refreshing, to say the least.

New moms who have just gone through a C-Section can still feel fabulous underneath... even if their abdominal muscles are screaming. The design, which is patent-pending, provides comfort and style for the new mom. Comfort and style? You don't hear those two words in the same sentence very often.

I absolutely love this print pictured above. And if you are lucky enough to have a hubby who thinks pregnancy is beautiful, he'll be digging these little pieces of eye-candy too. However, depending how you feel (remember you now have a newborn and just underwent surgery), you might want to keep these little treasures your own secret... for a few weeks anyway.

In addition to all the cute boutiques and maternity stores that will be fighting to get their hands on these, we also hope to see these in hospitals across the globe.

Once A Year

I link to Creative Kidstuff quite a bit on this blog. The store is awesome and the people who work there are amazing. It's a wonderful concept. However, you don't need to live in the Twin Cities to get the perks. They have an online shop as well.

June 5-8, they have their "Once, and only once a year" sale where you can take 25% off everything in the store (and online).

What kid doesn't love the Parachute? It's a hit with all children. And this one even comes with balls to pop around. When you take the 25% off, it's only $37.49!
A take on Bocce ball, Boochie looks like it would be much easier for kids. Only $25.50 after your 25% off.
Rain, rain, stay here today. We have to paint our boots all day. $30 on sale day.
Simple toy. Great backyard fun. Especially if you have a hill! The See Me Tunnel. Will be $27.
Start the brainwashing young, is what I say. Maybe pretend play will turn into reality with this Breakfast in Bed Tray. This thursday only $13.75! Let the brainwashing begin.
Keep the Math fresh in the kid's heads this summer with these addition flash cards. Then it won't take them a month to get back into the swing of things. Also comes in subtraction, mulitplication, division, fractions, time, and money. Great concept. Each only $7.50 after 25% off.
And so, so much more.

If You Need A Good Laugh...

To All Mothers:
Check this out... OMG, love it!
I leave you with this chuckle for the weekend.

Unfathomable

Awhile ago my cousin sent me an email with a link by artist Chris Jordan, Running the Numbers.

Warning: the site takes a very long time to load, but be patient. Walk away and complete a task while it loads. I promise you will be blown away by these pictures.

I don't even know how to describe these pictures, so I'll let the artist do it for us: "Running the Numbers looks at contemporary American culture through the austere lens of statistics. Each image portrays a specific quantity of something: fifteen million sheets of office paper (five minutes of paper use); 106,000 aluminum cans (thirty seconds of can consumption) and so on... This project visually examines these vast and bizarre measures of our society, in large intricately detailed prints assembled from thousands of smaller photographs... I hope to raise some questions about the role of the individual in a society that is increasingly enormous, incomprehensible, and overwhelming." ~chris jordan, Seattle, 2007

I can not even fathom the pictures depicted on this website. For example,

Plastic Bottles, "Depicts two million plastic beverage bottles, the number used in the US every five minutes.

Cans Seurat (pictured above), "Depicts 106,000 aluminum cans, the number used in the US every thirty seconds.

Plastic Bags, "Depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US every five seconds.

And it goes on.

Makes you think about the footprint we will be leaving on this amazing place we call home, Planet Earth.

Travel Light

Summer is around the corner and it's a great excuse for people to jet off to Grandma and Grandpa's house, take a trip to Disney World, head up to the lake, see Yellowstone, or whatever tickles your fancy. As a mom, I know full well how these preparations go. You pack everything from clothes to junior's travel Nintendo to snacks (oh Lord, do not forget the snacks) to books to more clothes to shoes to jackets to... you get the picture.

Packing is now easier with the Trunki. This special suitcase for little ones eases the stress of packing (and getting places for that matter). The suitcase is so cool maybe little princess will want to pack for herself for once. In your spare time (did I say that?), draw some pictures on index cards of what she needs and how many. For example, draw a picture of a short sleeve shirt and write the number 5. Little Miss Independent might want to travel more often.

Getting through the airport is now easier with the Trunki. You know the drill - walking as fast as one can walk with toddler in tow, trying desperately to get to the security line and make your flight. You are weaving in and out of people holding on to your toddlers hand for dear life. Somehow you juggle lugging your suitcase, purse, and your toddler's suitcase behind you. How do you do it? No more; the picture above explains it all. And I truly believe they will have smiles on their faces just like the picture shows. Who wouldn't be smiling when riding on their suitcase while someone else pulls them and does all the work? I would. And their little feet will be ready to run when you arrive at your destination.

Be sure to check out the Trunki website for other ideas to keep the kiddies busy. They have a holiday journal, a memory game, are we there yet tickets, and some fun postcards to download. It's all about keeping them busy. Your boy-scout-of-a-husband will be so proud with your new motto - be prepared.

How Lazy Have We Become?

I saw this so-called product today on Daily Candy. The Spinning Cone.
I can't believe someone even thought this product up. What's more unbelievable is that a store would carry it. I mean, come on. How lazy are the adults or children who use this?

If I'm going to reach for an explanation, I'll say it could be a white elephant gift, a joke gift.

And I love the description: "The answer for lazy lickers! This motorized ice cream cone will have your whole family fighting for them…" Fighting for them, really? Well, I guess if my family is wrestling each other to the ground for them that would involve some exercise and we wouldn't be considered lazy. Just lazy lickers.

Clarification: This blog is about Amazing Finds for Moms and Tots. I obviously don't think this product is amazing. I do however, think it is amazingly lame.

She Blinded Me With Science

Summer is around the corner and you are starting to think "Cr*p, I need some activities for us to do this summer." Here is an idea that is sure to keep the kiddos busy for hours. You like the sound of that don't you!

Howtoons. Now, how do I explain the world of Howtoons? I guess Amazon does it best: "Part comic strip and part science experiment, Howtoons shows children how to find imaginative new uses for common household items like soda bottles, duct tape, mop buckets, and more–to teach kids the 'Tools of Mass Construction'!"

Sounds like a good time, eh? Wait, did they say duct tape? You might want to rip that page out. No need to teach your little one about the skills of hazing - that pastime is fizzling.

Howtoon also has a blog with even more science experiments. Plus a library for their content.

Grab some activities, the necessary household items, and relax while your children go crazy with fun. (Editor's Opinion: You mght want to be within watching distance, just to keep that eye in the back of your head tuned in on them.)

Crazy Busy

I have a crazy, crazy busy week ahead of me.
I am going to take this week off from blogging, but I will be back next week!

Have a great week and weekend.

Winners from April Contest!

I'm happy to announce that Shelli from Oklahoma and Anna from New York are our winners from the April contest! WOO HOO. You go girls. Way to take those 2 whopping minutes out of your life to enter the contest and win, win, win!

We have the same contest going on during May. Go to Emily Allyn and click the contest image to find out all the dirty details... oh sorry, this isn't the National Enquirer, I guess the details aren't exactly dirty. I would describe the details as... easy. Yes, super, super easy!

Good luck.

Icy Hot

"What?" You are saying to yourself. "Icy Hot? How can something be Icy and Hot? Doesn't make sense, Emily. You have finally fallen off your rocker."

Not so fast there, Superwoman. It will make sense once you check out Icy Bag. As Paris Hilton would say, "It's hot." Sorry to disappoint you, I'm still rockin' away.

As a mom, have you ever reached for the bottle of water in your car only to find it all warm from sitting in the sun? Or when you've been traveling have you wondered how you are going to keep that Amoxicillin cold for baby Joe's painful ear ache? Icy Bag has the answer for you. A compact soft sided cooler-bag to keep those small items nice and cool.

It's perfect for a whole slew of things from cosmetics to snacks to medication to creams and lotions. "IcyBag is the perfect accessory for travel, the beach, golf course, mom's on the go, gym, car, shopping, anywhere you're heading where it's hot, hot, hot! Our bag is big enough to store all your essentials yet small enough to fit in your handbag, diaper bag or travel bag."

And they start at only $14.99. Bargain.

It's Polite To Share

I've finally arrived to the 21st century and added the Bookmark/Share button at the end of each post! Now it is easy for you to share the posts on your favorite social networking sites. And there is always the little envelope icon at the end of each post if you want to email the post to your friend.
Pssst... pass it on, please!

Athleta

Here is a picture of me during my morning routine.

And if you believe that, I have some real estate over yonder I'd like to sell you! I wish I could do that. For those who can, no need to rub it in. My yoga capabilities are getting much better, but still...

I have officially started my countdown to Mother's Day. My countdown doesn't actually include me counting down, it just means there's no holding back on purchases for myself - especially things I don't love spending money on. Wait, is there anything? Yes, yes there is. Workout clothes and beachwear. I like to buy workout clothes, it makes me feel better to wear a little something new, but I wouldn't put it in the love-to-buy category. And swimsuits... is there anyone on the face of this planet who has had kids that loves to buy swimming suits? Especially those of us who live in Minnesota where our thighs haven't seen sunlight in 6 months. Nice thought, eh?

If you have been searching for some summer clothing for the beach and Yoga, try this website, Athleta. I like that you can shop by sport (towards the top); it's not just for yogi's and beach-goers. And I will admit their suits are pretty dang cute. Their pitch - The Combinations are Endless. It's actually true. Wait until you see all the styles and prints. I think this Summer Shade Tee looks very comfortable and this Swim Coverup Crochet Hoodie is darling.

Going to a crazy pool party? Try this Printed Shoreline Skirt. Worthy enough to wear to the party and if you get thrown in the pool towards the end of the night, you won't care because it's made of swimsuit fabric, bonus!

You're it. Your turn to find some things.

Oh, and the picture above is from the Athleta website.