Sittercity is a service that allows you to sort through potential sitters by distance, types of services, certifications, skills, and more.  I can quickly get a sense of whether or not a candidate is worth interviewing based on how carefully she fills out her profile and the reviews from other families.  I’ve found this to be an efficient system for locating new babysitters–which leaves me more time to get my work done and enjoy my family.

And Sittercity is military-friendly, too.  They have partnered with the DoD to offer funded Sittercity memberships to military families.

You can get $20 OFF an annual membership or $5 OFF a monthly membership to Sittercity.com with promo coupon code SITTERSAVE

Photo courtesy of Airwear

I have a very strong eyeglass prescription. That means that I’m always wearing glasses. It also means that regular eyeglasses have to be rather thick at the edges. Fortunately I’ve been on good vision care plans for years, so I’ve had the opportunity to try a number of innovations. For my prescription it has always worth paying for “high-index” lenses, which enable glasses to be ground thinner.

Even better are high-index plastics, since they are significantly lighter than glass lenses, and they naturally block 100% of UVA and UVB light. My husband, who is always looking for excuses to play with dangerous tools, explicitly asks for polycarbonate lenses to protect his eyes: Polycarbonate is so strong that it is used for supersonic jet canopies. However, like all optical plastics it is more prone to scratching than glass.

Traditionally consumers had to choose between scratch-resistant (SR) and anti-reflective (AR) coatings for their lenses, since each has to be on the top layer to be effective. In fact some AR coatings seem to highlight even the tiniest smudges. But the newest coating on the market manages to combine both features: Sold as “Crizal Avance with Scotchgard Protector,” this is a remarkable product that combines anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and dirt repellent properties all on the same lens.

I had the opportunity to try a pair of Essilor’s Airwear polycarbonate lenses with this new coating. They are less than half the weight of my glass lenses, and their coating really works as advertised.  Ask your eye care provider about Airwear lenses or visit LighterSaferGreener.com for more information.

The quality sold me on Airwear lenses, but I’m also pleased to see that Essilor has made an effort to go green. The Airwear lens packaging uses 100% recyclable cardboard instead of the standard plastic packaging. The lenses are manufactured using recycled water, and the company even recycles the waste produced from the manufacturing of Airwear lenses. These small changes can make a big impact on the environment, and they explain why Essilor markets Airwear as Lighter, Safer and Greener.

(Disclosure: Airwear provided the lenses for free. I wrote this review while participating in a MomCentral.com blog tour.)

The newest Disney Princess is set to make her DVD debut next week when the The Princess and the Frog is released on March 16.

In the meantime, we have glamor from Hollywood Royalty.  Which of these fabulous designs may have drawn inspiration from the brave, bright, and bold, and always fashion-forward, Disney Princesses?

Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab and Amanda Seyfried in Armani Privé may have slimmed down Cinderella’s iconic ball gown silhouette but they both chose the icy and flattering colors of her classic dress.

Too much of a stretch? I’m not sure anyone will be rocking the Jasmine harem pants on the red carpet anytime soon but Zoe Saldana in Givenchy had a similar profile.

Miley Cyrus went for the layers of tiered petals in 2009 and this year she kept the Belle choice of gold in Jenny Packham but simplified the style.

Princess Tiana, our lady of the hour, may have inspired Jennifer Lopez’s asymmetrical bustle with her own side bow and floor-length sparkling gown.

So, who did we miss?  Which celebrities could double as Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White or Aurora…maybe even confident enough for an Ariel-esque fishtail?

Two new DVD releases will send you right back there, complete with breathtaking views and knock-the-wind-out-of-you emotion. Neither The Fantastic Mr. Fox or Where the Wild Things Are is really a children’s film.  Although both preserve the whimsical and quirky moods of the original tales, you would be far better off reading the books to kids.  Taken off the page and onto the screen, complex, dark, and even sometimes brutal, psychological forces become a bit too palpable for these adaptations to be kids’ stuff.

In The Fantastic Mr. Fox, the title character, voiced by George Clooney, tries to sublimate his animal nature in the name of domestic tranquility. The stop-action animated Mr. Fox visibly bristles with his predatory energy.

The characters are beautifully brought to life, no doubt, and the voice work helps to complete the world initially created by Roald Dahl (Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl). Like most movies with anthropomorphic critters however, Fox suffers from the difficulty of rendering animals of vastly different sizes as part of the same community. I am willing to commit to a fox writing a newspaper column but a rat the same size as a fox just throws me right out of the suspension of disbelief.

When assimilation begins to destroy Mr. Fox from the inside and embracing his true nature threatens his family and friends, he seeks a subversive third path of bending the rules to his advantage. The end result is a complex compromise that parents might recognize in their own choices.

Older children able to follow the non-linear plot threads and digressions will enjoy this film along with their parents.

Dahl is a master of subtle eccentricity and film adaptations of his work run the risk of caricature.  For the most part, Wes Anderson’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox resists the urge to vamp, creating a clever, if frequently convoluted yarn.

Where the Wild Things Are expands the shadows of the menacingly charming tale of childhood intensity by Maurice Sendak. (Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak)

The original is a deceptively simple story of a childhood tantrum taking a flight of fancy into a land of monsters and mayhem.

Spike Jonze takes this short book and develops it into an entire world.  After exploding in frustration, Max journeys across the sea to an island of creatures where houses are literally torn apart and limbs actually lost–though the consequences in this imaginary world appear no more dire than your typical tempestuous day.

The alternately petulant, naive, cruel, credulous, playful, and petty monsters seem to have internalized and personified the insults adults sometimes carelessly toss at children.  Unable to control the emotions inside of himself or understand the adults around him, Max projects his internal life onto the island.

An attention to detail and an ethereal light pack an emotional punch. The CGI animation of the puppet faces displays a deft restraint often lacking in computer animation. The movie is a full actualization of the inner turmoil all but the most freakishly-well-adjusted will recall from childhood.

With great bravado, Max becomes king and sets out to be a more benevolent ruler than the adults in his life.  In the topsy turvy world of his own creation, however, he finds himself in a precarious position.  He completes his journey with a bittersweet homecoming that has both the joy and the loss of growing up.

Ultimately, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and Where the Wild Things Are are adult fantasias of their memories of childhood, told through two beloved childhood stories.  Darkness will always have a place in children’s stories.  In the theater of a child’s imagination, dimming the lights can help develop the storyline.  The difference between these two releases and a movie like Coraline, the adaptation of the Neil Gaiman book, is a matter more of audience than tone.  Children don’t need to be reminded what it is like to be young but adults cannot get enough of nostalgia.

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WANT IT: The Fantastic Mr. Fox (due out March 23, 2010 – $18) and Where the Wild Things Are ($17 on DVD; $24 on Blu-ray)

Now they have come up with HAPPYMELTS, an organic, freeze-dried, yogurt snack, which is a great for toddlers if you can pry it out of mom’s hands.

I’m serious.  I ate half the bag.

The people at HAPPYBABY assure me that HAPPYMELTS are low in sugar and high in protein and are the only baby food fortified with prebiotics and probiotics.

They are also yummy in a big way.

My kids gobble up yogurt every day but I have never been much of a fan until now.  These little bites are addictive.  My favorite flavor is the banana-mango and my 18 month-old son agrees.  My three year-old daughter is partial to the mixed berry and the strawberry.

They do stick to your teeth a little but an extra session with a toothbrush seems like a small price to pay for a delicious on-the-go treat that delivers so much nutrition.

Toddlers can be finicky eaters, devouring everything on their plates one day and then refusing to sit still for meals for several days straight.  Healthy snacks like HappyMELTS can help end food power struggles and power your baby up for a full day of play.

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WANT IT: Right now your should look for Happy Melts at your local natural food market or at one of the many retailers that carry the brand. Expect to see Happy Melts ($3.20) soon at the Amazon Grocery–buy in bulk and get free shipping!

Side Impact Protection

“According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, approximately one in four of all motor vehicle crashes that involve children occur from the side, and these crashes result in a significantly higher injury rate than front or rear crashes.”

Britax sent us two new seats, including Advocate CS, a convertible toddler car seat.  The advocate is very similar to the Boulevard CS, with an additional “Side Cushion Technology”.

High Weight Ceilings

As with their other seats, Britax has done the research and pushes the ceiling upward on weight limits–allowing you to keep your child rear-facing and buckled in a five-point harness as long as possible. My toddler son is rear-facing in the Advocate CS at age 18 months’ and he can continue to be up to 35 lbs.  Sitting rear-facing protects a child’s head and neck. Once we are ready to turn him forward, we can use the seat up to 65 lbs.

Ease of Installation

Britax is also very aware that convenience and ease means that a car seat will be installed properly and used correctly. My husband, our resident car seat installer, installed both the Advocate CS and the Frontier in under 20 minutes, combined.  He reported that the Advocate CS is one of the easiest seats he has ever installed, along with the Boulevard CS.

Should you encounter any difficulties, Britax has installation videos linked from the product page.

Convenience Features

One of my favorite unique features on the Advocate CS (and the Boulevard CS) is the “Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator”. You tug on the belt and hear a “click” when the tension is correct.  According to a Britax press release, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that found 59 percent of harness straps to be dangerously loose. This feature is an audible reminder of how snug the harness needs to be–especially useful when the adult in charge is not as familiar with current car seat safety guidelines and has a tendency to keep the straps too loose.

Older toddlers also quickly learn that the “click” keeps them safe, which minimizes resistance to being snugly buckled and also serves as a reminder to the person doing the buckling.

Another great convenience is the quick-adjust knob that adjusts the head restraint and harness height.  This way you do not have to remove and reinstall the seat to get the right fit.

Choosing the Right Toddler Car Seat

The best car seat is one that meets or exceeds safety standards and your child’s needs and will fit properly in your car. So, a different size car seat may work better in your vehicle and Britax has plenty of options in a variety of sizes (check out their car seat comparison chart). For our needs, the Advocate CS is an ideal toddler convertible car seat.

Britax has done the research to ensure that its seats employ the latest safety and convenience features so I feel confident trusting them with my children’s safety.

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WANT IT: Britax Advocate CS convertible car seat at Niche Retail ($296), Amazon ($326), Babies R Us ($369). Prices subject to change.

I have the perfect cure…shoe shopping! Of course, shopping for chic adult shoes can put a real dent in your wallet, so how about some of the cutest, most stylish children’s shoes on the planet?

At Vincent’s Shoes Winter Sale you can get 35-75% Off. You may still need them for this year–or stock up for next year. Plus use exclusive Mamanista Vincent Shoes coupon code MAMA25OFF, valid for 25% off on all Closeout Cubby items through Monday night.

You could even welcome Spring in these darling Blomma style rain boots for children ($25.50 PLUS the extra 25% OFF).

And if something that isn’t on clearance catches your fancy, don’t worry!  Use promotion code MAMA-15 for 15% off full priced items at Vincent Shoes or Save 10% on all Vincent Kids Shoes. Use Code: VIN-SWEET-10.

Strawberry Shortcake 5-inch Doll

Its Strawberry Shortcake’s 30th anniversary, too, and Hasbro is celebrating with a 5 inch doll ($9.99), which was the height of the original Ms. Shortcake back in the day. I have a soft spot for Ms. Shortcake and her aroma-therapeutic friends, not just because from my childhood, but because my husband confessed to having adored his Strawberry Shortcake when he was a boy. She’s sweet and wholesome and better than one of those pine air fresheners hanging from the rear view mirror when you need to get a stinky odor – not naming names, but it does happen in long car rides – out of your nose.

Want to know why weebles wobble but they won’t fall down? Nicole’s perfect answer to her children’s demands for a pet? Which Hasbro game has a new way of getting kids moving? And which customizable toy her husband would play with for hours? Head on over to A Mom Amok to get the scoop on Toys! Toys! Toys!

We’ve written before about the benefits of bilingualism.  Watching a language video, like the ones from Little Pim, with your older toddler, preschooler, kindergartner, or grade-school age child can help boost proficiency–especially if you discuss the video with your child. And if you are not a native speaker, DVDs and CDs in foreign languages are absolutely essential as part of your language program.

Whether you have adopted a child from another country, want your child to know more about your heritage language, or just want to give your kid the opportunity to develop the flexibility of mind that comes with multilingualism, learning another language is a great activity to do together.

Plus, multilingualism lends a person of any age a certain je nes sai quoi–Angelina Jolie uses Little Pim to help Shiloh Jolie-Pitt learn French.

Little Pim bilingual videos are a perfect compliment to your language learning. I’ve reviewed a number of language videos for children and I’m a huge fan of Little Pim.

First, Little Pim is available in a wider variety of languages than most other DVDs–Spanish and French are fairly easy to find, but Little Pim also has videos for children in Russian, Chinese, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, and German.

And Little Pim is an integrated system, with three DVDs available in each language, and a CD and flashcards available in some of the languages.  There are coloring pages and other parent and teacher materials available for each language on the website.  Plus there is a plush Little Pim panda who speaks the international language of cuteness.

There is substantial research that shows that children, and even adults, learn best when they encounter concepts in multiple formats.

Each of the three 35-minute videos–Eating and Drinking, Wake Up Smiling, and Playtime–shows short five-minute segments of objects and activities that are familiar to children. So, you can pause and discuss or just show one short segment for younger children.

The adorable Little Pim panda introduces each segment with funny antics.  Then, live-action footage of children and adults is narrated in the target language. There is a lot of repetition and review to reinforce the vocabulary but with enough variation to keep the interest of older children and adults.  I really appreciate that the narration frequently uses complete sentences to give the audience a feel for grammar in addition to the simple vocabulary.

You can check out short clips of the video on the website.

With all the research that went into building such an impressive language learning system for children, it is no surprise that Julia Pimsleur Levine is behind this series. Julia Pimsleur Levine is an award winning documentary filmmaker who, mother of two, and the daughter of Dr. Paul Pimsleur, a pioneer in foreign language learning.

We are very selective about which videos my three year old daughter watches and “Spanish Panda” and “Russian Panda” as she calls them have become favorites in our household.

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WANT IT: Visit Little Pim to purchase online (individual DVDs are $18, set of three is $50).

WIN IT: Little Pim is offering one lucky reader a DVD of choice (any of the three DVDs in any of the 10 available languages) and a Spanish or French Bop CD. To enter, please visit Little Pim and then leave us a comment with which DVD you will select and also please tell us why you want to share that language with your child!

Contest ends 11:59 PM EST, March 4, 2010. Winner Chosen at Random. Shipping to US addresses only.