Momma's Gone City REVIEWS

Review: Two Flowers One Bear Secure Blanket

2010-07-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

When my kids were born I coveted soft, cozy blankets. We had a ton of them and still use many, especially with the cold winters that we now live with.

The Two Flowers One Bear secure blankets are not only vibrant and super soft, they have a unique feature in that there are security links to attach to strollers. This is especially handy, especially when walking out on the streets in the wind.

The secure blankets make a really beautiful and affordable gift, as they retail for $42.

plush flower print fabric on one
side and a solid cord style fabric
on the other.

Size • 29" x 35"
100% Polyester
Machine Wash Gentle Cycle
Made in the USA

Two Flowers One Bear has a really sweet line of products ranging from adorable jackets to hats and booties and can be purchased in their online store.

Disclosure: I received one secure blanket to review for this post.

Get MOGO-The Magnet Charm Bracelet

2010-07-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

As a teenager, I was really big into slap bracelets, and the best friend necklaces where each "friend" got half of a heart. I'm sure I would have gotten into the silly bands too (though, truth be told I bought 3 packs thinking they were hair ties. One word: OUCH).

I think my world would have been rocked if there would have been these fantastic Get MOGO-The Magnet Charm bracelets. They. Are. Fantastic.

The lovely folks at Get Mogo sent me a super cute set, complete with magnet charms that matched my initials. I am in love, and I'm 31 years old.

They are recommended for children ages 8+

Choose blue, pink, black, orange, or gray grosgrain.
Silvertone hardware.
Eight charm holders.
Loop-and-ring clasp allows bands to easily link together.
7"L adjustable band.
Each band, sold separately

The charm bands retail for $15 each, and the charms are sold three in a pack at $12 each. The bands and charms can be purchased at Nieman Marcus.

Celebrity fans include Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and the Jonas Brothers

This will be on my gift list for my tween family and friends for sure!

Disclosure: I received a set of Get MOGO-The Magnet Charm Bracelet to review for this post.

Review: I'M OK! Mini First Aid Kits

2010-07-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's their age or what, but my kids are obsessed with band aids and "ouchies". The second they fall, whether or not they actually injure themselves, is always an excuse to demand a new band aid. In fact, we've been going through them at lightning speed due to some new shoe-inflicted blisters.

So, you can imagine how excited we all were to receive these adorable mini first aid kits to review.

Retail $14.00

Here in the city, when we leave the apartment we are gone for a while. We need a first aid kit in the diaper bag at all times in case something happens when we are not close to home. This is the perfect size kit, the exact size of an iPhone actually, and fits snugly in pockets, diaper bags and purses.

The I'M OK!Mini First Aid Kit includes:

Patented pocket case
Emergency information card
I'M OK! cold pack (for bruises, bumps, headaches, fevers and insect bites)
24 I'M OK! bandages
6 non-sting antiseptic wipes

Retail $12.00

The I'M OK! Mini First Aid Pocket Kit includes:

Patented pocket case
Emergency information card
8 I'M OK! bandages
2 non-sting antiseptic swabs

The cold pack's cooling gel is safe and food-grade and its membranes are now made of extra durable material.

The I'M OK!Mini First Aid Kit comes in 4 beautiful colors and designs: Orange Bear, Pink Princess, Blue Pirate and Green International.

The sets are very handy, really cute, and were a hit with both of my children. Birdie has been getting her k-9's in the last week and the cold pack has really saved some major meltdowns.

The I'M OK! Mini First Aid kits can be purchased at Kabaproducts.com

Disclosure: I received an I'M OK! Mini First Aid Kit, regular set, pocket set, and refills to review for this post.

Review: DinDins Toddler Food

2010-07-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Let's face it. Feeding toddlers is difficult. Feeding toddlers in the city has proven to be even slightly MORE difficult that "normal" because it's not always easy to find readily available organic ingredients. For us, it's a trek to Whole Foods, green markets, and even our local organic produce store is a 15 minute walk away.

I've been introduced to the perfect alternative option. DinDin's is a children's food delivery service for here in Manhattan and now DUMBO.

The food is all organic and is packaged in 75% recycled (and recyclable) material boxes. It arrives in a handy reusable red shopping bag and is all labeled clearly for fridge/freezer storage.

When we received our order, I immediately put it all in the freezer for later use. As you may know, I recently left my family and traveled to Utah for a conference, and my husband couldn't have been happier to have this fantastic food on hand for the kids (and maybe even himself). Both of my children loved it- and they are usually fairly tough sells on everything that is NOT ice cream. I was happy that they were getting healthy, nutritious, organic food when I wasn't there to cook it for them. Such an easy, affordable option ($2-$3 PER MEAL!) -DinDin's will become a standard in my home.

Cranberry Zucchini Mini Muffins
Ingredients:
organic zucchini, organic whole wheat flour, organic wheat flour, organic dried cranberries, natural free roaming eggs, organic sunflower oil, organic sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt

Spinach and Parmesan Crustless Quiche
Ingredients:
organic spinach, organic wheat flour, natural free roaming eggs, organic canola oil, organic onion, organic parmesan cheese, baking powder, organic parsley, organic dill, salt, pepper

Zucchini, Chicken and Jack Cheese Quesadillas
Ingredients:
organic whole wheat tortilla, organic zucchini, organic monterey jack cheese, chicken raised without antibiotics

If you live here in Manhattan, DUMBO, Brooklyn, or happen to be traveling to these areas with children, I highly recommend that you try DinDin's.

We're offering $10 off your first order with code MOMMASGC. It will be good from now through July 16th.

Disney Preview (First Peek!)

2010-07-07T13:26:00.000-07:00

Like most other little girls, I grew up loving Disney stories. I loved Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, and even Ariel and Belle even though I was getting a little too old when those movies came out to covet Disney heroines. I used to fantasize that I would grow up to be a princess, and sometimes when I fell asleep at night, visions of princes kissing me would slowly lull me into a magical dreamland. I didn’t have the dolls, or the matching princess gear and dresses to go with them though, all I had was my imagination.

When we were invited to the Disney Holiday Preview at the Ritz Carlton at South Central Park, I was thrilled. You can imagine how I felt walking into a princess tea party in one of the beautiful suites, with views from 14 stories up reaching straight down the park. It was an absolute treat to be one of the first groups to preview Disney’s new Princess & Me collection, complete with the new Rapunzel doll and all of the matching accoutrement.

The new Princess & Me collection. Photos courtesy of Vera Sweeney, Lady and the Blog

The new Rapunzel, Princess & Me doll

The Princess & Me dolls are absolutely beautiful. With stunning features, soft bodies and high quality materials all the way around, they make for the perfect little treasure and gift. The princesses, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Tiana and now Rapunzel are made for girls ages 5-8, and offer a full line of matching dresses, sleepwear, and ballet recital gear for girls to wear, along with furniture and more for play. Prices range from $14.99-$49.99.

There was so much to look at this event, which was showcasing each line that Disney offers from bedroom décor, to tween and maternity fashions, to food collections, online games and books. It was really mind blowing how big the Disney Empire really is. It’s easy to get sucked up in it, just like being at Disneyland.

Tron Photo courtesy of Vera Sweeney, Lady and the Blog

The Tron room really grabbed my attention, and I’m sure Kim (Mom in the City, whose place I took at the event) would have really enjoyed checking the games and electronic toys. Based on Walt Disney Picture’s TRON: Legacy, Disney released a line of electronics and toys that feature light projection technology. All of the toys light up and even the action figures illuminate moving faces onto the helmets.

This particular car, the TRON Zero Gravity Light Cycle actually drives on the wall. Includes controller, geared for ages 8 and up and priced at $34.99

TRON also featured headphones, iPod docks, PC games, game controllers and Apple accessories. It was a young gamer’s heaven!

I recently received an iPad for my birthday, and have been on the look out for books and a few interactive games to use with my son and/or daughter to use on occasion. I was able to test out a couple of Disney’s iPad apps, and found them to be really amazing. The graphics are visually stunning, and the read-along books are very engaging. We particularly loved the Toy Story 2 read-along book that flips pages and highlights words as it goes along. My three year old is very interested in reading already, so I actually am happy when he wants to take a quiet moment to listen and watch the story.

Both of my kids get a kick out of Disney’s Fairies Fly app, where you move the iPad back and forth to get the fairy to fly up and down, popping bubbles and accumulating fairy dust. Really beautiful graphics, again, and will be something I use on long road trips.

There was so much to see and learn about Disney while we were there, but I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites from the event. It’s really neat to be able to live somewhat vicariously through children, and enjoy all of these things as if we were that age again- only it’s much more fun. I am looking forward to seeing what else Disney has in store for us, as there is something for literally every age.

I covered this event on behalf of Kim Coleman of Mom in the City

Giveaway: iGo Charge Anywhere

2010-06-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

I like to think that I'm not very techie. I really like gadgets though, and am realizing that I'm really just a closeted techie. I love my iPhone, and have had one since they first came out (I also had a T-Mobile Sidekick that I personally bedazzled and before that a beeper that was actually a recorder). The one thing that I do not like about it is it's short battery life (especially when using the 3G network). So when I attended the SVMom's New York City Mom's Blog Symposium event at Tribeca Cinemas and was given an iGO Charge Anywhere- many of my techie prayers were answered.

The iGO Charge Anywhere is fantastic. iGo is a company that specializes in: "Go Green Technology™ automatically reduces standby power by up to 85%, conserving resources and saving money". The Charge Anywhere, when plugged into the wall and attached to your device, actually charges itself as well as charging the device. Remove it from the wall, and you can throw it into your purse and truly, charge anywhere. It saved me on my flight to Utah this past weekend when I attended the Evo Conference. My flight was cancelled and while waiting for the next one, I quickly ran out of battery in my iPhone. The iGo saved me on the flight so that I could let my family know that I arrived safely in Utah- much longer after they expected to hear from me. I'm also a frequent Tweeter, so during the conference itself I was really happy to have the charger when I wasn't near an outlet. There are countless reasons why this charger is so handy!

Features & Benefits:
Works as a wall charger to charge almost any device while simultaneously charging its integrated battery for device charging away from a wall outlet
Two USB outputs for simultaneous device charging
Includes iGo USB charging cable for even lighter travel
Small and lightweight - fits in your pocket
Includes foldable wall blades that easily store away
Works with multiple devices, including mobile phones, Bluetooth headsets, smartphones/PDAs, MP3
players, portable gaming devices, digital cameras, GPS devices and more
No need to buy a new charger when upgrading your devices; compatible with the latest models
Works worldwide; no need for a voltage converter when traveling

GIVEAWAY ENTRY DETAILS:

I'm thrilled tell you that I have one of these chargers to give to one of my readers. To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling me about a time that you lost battery power in your cell phone when you really wish it wouldn't have (we've all been there!), OR tell me a situation where you think an iGO would come in handy.

For more entries you can follow me on Twitter, "Like" Momma's Gone City on Facebook, and (if you really want to) subscribe to either Momma's Gone City or Momma's Gone City Reviews. You may also do the same for iGo- on Twitter and Facebook. FOR EACH ACTION YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST. You may tweet about this giveaway once per day on Twitter, linking both @mommasgonecity, @iGo_inc, and a link to this post (http://tinyurl.com/396fvyb) in the tweet.

One winner will be chosen randomly using Random.org on Wednesday, July 7th at midnight. GOOD LUCK!!

UPDATE:

Random.org chose #3, Kristiina! Congratulations! Please send me your info ASAP!

Thank you to all that entered, told stories, and subscribed :)

Review: Joovy Caboose Ultralight

2010-06-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

I have an obsession with strollers. Since moving to New York City, that obsession has increased tenfold because it is our primary mode of transportation. We need something to get our two toddlers around the city, on the busses and subways and to and from parks comfortably and easily.

When I received the Joovy Caboose Ultralight to review, I was really excited. It folds up compactly, holds two children comfortably, and has big wheels that make pushing and steering fairly easy. There is a large storage area in the bottom of the stroller that is large enough to hold a diaper bag and a few other little things.

Weighing 21 lbs, the Joovy Caboose Ultralight is pretty easy to carry and fold. It comes with an infant carseat adaptor, removable snack tray, and parent organizer (which holds water and cell phone perfectly). There are double wheel brakes and four wheel suspension, was easy to push with at least 55 lbs worth of children in it, and narrow enough to get through narrow city grocery aisles.

The front seat has three reclining positions, there is a seat in back for one child to sit, and a platform for another child to stand. I've seen this stroller frequently around the city holding anywhere from one to three children at a time, including lots of cargo. Overall a smooth, comfortable ride that I would primarily use for shorter trips around the city. Both of my children tend to sleep in the stroller if we are out for over three or four hours, so it wouldn't be the best option if we were walking from, say, Central Park to our house in Murray Hill. It's a great, easy, city option for strollers and we'll use it frequently.

You can also find Joovy on Facebook, they are very interactive and parent friendly! I love the way they immerse themselves in the community... very important when you're dealing with children products.

Disclosure: I received a Joovy Ultralight Caboose to review for Momma's Gone City.

Chicco: Fashion in Focus

2010-06-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, I was invited to check out Chicco’s new products and styles at their “Fashion in Focus” event. Being that I have a background in fashion and marketing, I really loved seeing the beautiful patterns and vibrant colors that Chicco has to offer.

Being an Italian company, you can really see the care and effort that goes into their two toned, cross woven fabrics. Easy to clean, vibrant and really beautiful, Chicco definitely sets itself apart from other strollers and accessories with its fabric. One of the things that I look for when searching for baby gear is it’s designs and look. I don’t want something that is pastel or gender specific, and cleaning ability is a must (think spit up, crumb stains and milk droplets all over the seats and handles).

The Liteway Stroller

By now you all know of my stroller obsession. The Liteway Stroller by Chicco was definitely a good surprise.

Weighing 17 lbs, it has a built in carry handle and removable canopy. It fully reclines and comes with a boot to cover the baby’s feet for a cozy ride.

My favorite part: The storage basket actually turns into a backpack.

Birth-40lbs, SRP $129.99

Keyfit Strada Booster

For ages 4-10 years old (33-100 lbs) AAA height and weight requirements have changed, so check your state’s new regulations!

Fabric cover is removable and machine washable

“EPS” Energy Absorbing Foam provides impact protection and comfort. Side wings and triple side protection: head, shoulders and lumbar.

SRP: $179.99

360 Rotating Hook On Chair

This was one of my favorites. You know that I live in Manhattan and have a small apartment, so this particular product is perfect for us, or for picnic table lunches out at a park (for example).

The seat fully rotates, so the baby can be sitting facing wherever you are sitting.

Serving tray snaps on and is dishwasher safe.

Folds for easy travel and storage (comes with a carry bag).

For ages 6-36 months, up to 37 lbs

SRP $69.00

I was generally impressed with Chicco's products, they seemed high quality and very well thought out. As a mom, I look for those little things that make the every day tasks that much easier, and it seems that Chicco had that in mind when researching their designs.

Corolle Doll and Stroller GIVEAWAY for BOYS!

2010-06-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Before birdie was born, when Bubba was about 17 months old, we bought him his first baby doll. I wanted to introduce him to the idea of babies, and bought a little bottle to go with it. This particular doll was Corolle Calin, and came in blue pajamas and had a little pacifier to go with it. He smelled yummy and Bubba particularly like the fact that he could put in and take out Calin's pacifier- since Bubba was still pretty hooked on his own pacifier.

We've been hooked on Corolle ever since. I wasn't going to be a gender specific parent that only bought their boys baseballs and dinosaurs and only pink princess-y things for their daughters. Bubba has always enjoyed playing with dolls, and Birdie likes to play with baseballs and race cars, albeit tucking them into her baby doll crib.

We had an impossible time finding a stroller for him to push his baby around in that was more neutral colored. So, you can imagine how excited I was when Corolle contacted me with the opportunity to offer a giveaway of their new blue/green stroller and blue Suce Pouce blue baby doll. Their campaign "Boys playing with dolls" focuses on encouraging more nurturing and compassionate play in boys so that they will grow up to be understanding adults.

SO! In honor of Father's Day, one of my readers will win one of each of the following Corolle items:

Blue/Green umbrella stroller for ages 3+

Blue Suce-Pouce baby doll in blue for ages 2+

TO WIN:

Head on over to the Corolle website and leave a comment stating your favorite Corolle doll or product. Do you have a story involving boys and dolls?

FOR MORE ENTRIES:

Follow @Corolle and/or @MommasGoneCity on Twitter and leave a comment(s) stating that you did so.

On Facebook, "LIKE" the Corolle Dolls and/or Momma's Gone City pages and leave a comment(s) stating that you did so.

I'd love it if you would subscribe to the RSS feed of either or both of Momma's Gone City's sites (and leave a comment that you did so). I really just want you to subscribe if you like what you see! (Extra entry, of course)

You can TWEET about this contest using the following phrase once per day, and leave a comment stating that you did so. " I've entered to win a @CorolleDolls BOY doll and stroller set from @MommasGoneCity! #Giveaway ends 6/30 http://tiny.cc/k6lsj "

The winner will be chosen randomly at midnight, Wednesday June 30th.

UPDATE

The winner, chosen randomly, is #23 ANDREA! Congratulations! Email me your address and info as soon as possible, please!

Corolle Doll and Carriage GIVEAWAY!

2010-06-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

Bubba's first doll was a Corolle Calin doll. They are the softest, sweetest, most beautiful dolls- and they even smell wonderful. Ever since we bought Bubba "Colin" as he calls him, we've been hooked on the brand. We now have four Corolle dolls in our home, and surely many more to come.

Corolle is one of the leading doll/toy manufacturers from France. Their commitment to quality and safety standards is evident, as all of our dolls look, smell and feel like new (even after three years. I'm not kidding!).

I'm am so thrilled to be able to offer one of their gorgeous Red/Fushia Carriages and one Bebe Charmeur doll to one of my Momma's Gone City readers.

The Carriage is lightweight, is easy to push, soft and vibrant. It features a lift-out baby carrier and fits up to a 17-inch baby doll.

Bebe Charmeur is an adorable soft-bodied baby doll, dressed in a pink striped pajamas with matching bonnet and white lace-up bootees, can sit up and comes complete with pacifier, bib and baby bottle. Even though she is made for ages 2+, the weight and size seem just right for our little Birdie (20 months). The carriage suits her well too- as you can see!

Enter to Win:

Head on over to the Corolle website and leave a comment stating your favorite Corolle doll or product.

FOR MORE ENTRIES:

Follow @Corolle and/or @MommasGoneCity on Twitter and leave a comment(s) stating that you did so.

On Facebook, "LIKE" the Corolle Dolls and/or Momma's Gone City pages and leave a comment(s) stating that you did so.

I'd love it if you would subscribe to the RSS feed of either or both of Momma's Gone City's sites (and leave a comment that you did so). I really just want you to subscribe if you like what you see! (Extra entry, of course)

You can TWEET about this contest using the following phrase once per day, and leave a comment stating that you did so. " I've entered to win a @CorolleDolls Bebe Charmauer and carriageset from @MommasGoneCity! #Giveaway ends 6/21 http://tiny.cc/yfq8d "

The winner will be chosen randomly at midnight, June 21st.

Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED

Random.org chose #100 - CONGRATULATIONS, ABRA of Better Than Cupcakes!!

Thank you to all that entered, followed, tweeted - I wish I had one for each of you lovelies. Really.

Abra- please send me your address/contact info ASAP! xo

Trapeze and TD Bank

2010-06-04T20:43:00.000-07:00

I've been invited to do a lot of really neat things lately. I think this one makes the top three though- if not the COOLEST. TRAPEZE! This is one of those things that I probably would have never considered doing-just because I wouldn't have thought of it. Turns out there is a Trapeze school right across town from where we live! That's NYC for you.

I didn't think I would be scared until I started climbing the ladder, and then when I actually go to the platform above- I was really nervous. I don't do well with heights. When I finally jumped though, it was really exhilarating and I loved it. I can't wait to go back and maybe take a lesson or two.

TD Bank invited us to learn the trapeze as a part of their
TD Bank's "Checking Worth Flipping For" Campaign.

Open a checking account and get a Flip UltraTM camcorder, plus a whole lot more:
A Visa® Debit Card – Get it on the spot
Use any ATM – No withdrawal fee from us
Online Banking – with FREE Bill Pay

How can you get your Flip Ultra?
Use your Visa Debit Card for 8 purchases; and
Make 2 payments with Online Bill Pay within 45 days of account opening
Find out more about qualifying transactions and payments

I'm actually looking to switch banks anyway, so this was really helpful to me (moving bank accounts across country is NO fun). There is even a phone number on the back of the debit card that sends you to a PERSON every time.

If you're interested in seeing how the trapeze actually went, here is a video:

Sandlot Sluggers, ATARI Event

2010-06-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

Our family with the fantastic Beth Feldman

A couple of weeks ago, the family and I were invited to a really fun event at the Atari Headquarters for the launch of Backyard Sports Sandlot Sluggers. They had decorated the office like a baseball game, complete with hot dog and popcorn stands, pinatas, and plenty of areas where the game could be tested on various systems. We have a Wii, so my husband was really happy to take the 2 hours out of his busy schedule with dental school to play some baseball.

It looks a great game, really colorful and easy to play. Geared for the 6-12 age group. Or my husband. ;) Bubba's eyes were as wide as saucers watching daddy play this fancy video game. I'm sure we would have a mini gamer on our hands if we let him.

I for one, happen to know absolutely nothing about video games, so here is a little blurb on the game itself: Backyard Sports™ is back with the all new Sandlot Sluggers™, an action-packed, arcade-style baseball game featuring super charged Power-Ups, new interactive fields, mini-games and more that will keep you on your feet with non-stop fun and excitement. Available in Nintendo DS, Wii, XBOX 360 and XBOX LIVE

Birdie just wanted to eat popcorn

It was so much fun to be in that atmosphere- I miss baseball games SO much! Some more pictures from the event:

More check-ins at Atari

Couture Parties GIVEAWAY!

2010-04-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things from the Baby Issue event was Stephanie Frazier Grimm and her Couture Parties booth. She has created a way to throw parties, events and weddings with a custom look and feel. I've always wanted to do this for my children's birthday parties, but never had the time or budget to do it. We end up going to a major party store and stocking up on trademarked character themes, begrudgingly (and even THAT is no less than $100!). Stephanie's designs are original, sweet, beautiful and so incredibly tasteful- and get this- AFFORDABLE! I cannot wait for Birdie's birthday... my favorite is the retro pink tricycle theme.

I am thrilled to announce that Stephanie and I have teamed up to offer one of you, my lovely readers, a party pack and a set of matching invitations! The party packs include a set of eight of the following: Paper plates, plastic cups, rolled napkins with utensils, favor bags and twelve cupcake picks with coordinating theme. Prize also includes eight coordinating theme invitations!

How to Enter:

Each comment on this post counts as ONE entry. Please leave me a comment telling us which one of the Couture Parties themes/designs that you like the best.

For more entries, you can do the following (leaving a comment for each different one you choose!)

Become a fan of Couture Parties and Momma's Gone City on Facebook (if you already are, let me know!)

Follow Couture Parties and Momma's Gone City on Twitter (Again, let me know if you already do)

Tweet about the contest, including @CoutureParties and @MommasGoneCity, including the URL. Every tweet & comment counts as an entry. ( Example: I've entered to win a theme party pack by @CoutureParties at @MommasGoneCity HERE: http://tinyurl.com/26r9s9f )

I would love it if you would subscribe to Momma's Gone City as well, but again, only subscribe if you genuinely want to!

Contest starts tonight, and ends on Thursday, May 6th at 11:00PM EST. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced the following day. Good luck and thank you to all!!

UPDATE! WINNER CHOSEN!

The winner (chosen randomly, of course) of the Couture Parties theme party pack is The Huwe Boys! Congratulations! Please email me with your info and I'll forward it on to Stephanie at Couture Parties.

Thank you so much to everyone that entered and checked out Couture Parties. I know that I will be ordering from them for my daughter's second birthday, and I cannot wait.

More Giveaways coming soon... thank you for your interest! Have a great weekend!

Shutterfly Photobook GIVEAWAY!

2010-04-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

I love photos. There are very few possessions that I treasure as much as I do photos, and Photobooks are the perfect way to organize them and keep them nice. They are so easy to create online at Shutterfly.com, and are made in the USA.

They make the perfect gift. Beautiful mementos of times shared, life celebrated. They look perfect on any coffee table, and are sure to be a treasured time piece.

I am thrilled to offer FIVE, TWENTY PAGE, 8x8 Shutterfly PhotoBooks to you, my fabulous readers!

TO ENTER:

Please leave a comment about your favorite photo. Each comment counts as ONE entry.

For more entries, you can:

Become a fan of Momma's Gone City on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so.

Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you did so.

Tweet about the contest, and include the URL and my handle (@MommasGoneCity) and leave a comment telling me you did so.

I would love it if you would follow or subscribe to Momma's Gone City as well, but I only want you to do that if you want to!

You can do these things once per day, and on Monday of next week, April 26th at 11:00 PM, the contest will be over and a winner will be chosen randomly.

Thank you for stopping by, and GOOD LUCK!

UPDATE! Winners announced!

Loukia of LouLou's Views

Abby Smith

Nowhereman

Momma Cakes of The McCool Gang

Debbie @MommaKoala

Please send me your email addresses and either I, or my friend at Shuterfly will drop the codes in an email to you!

Thank you so much to everyone that entered, tweeted, fanned, joined my blog, etc. I really, truly appreciate it! I wish I had one for each of you.

Tomorrow I'll be posting another giveaway for Couture Parties!

The Baby Issue Event

2010-04-17T13:57:00.001-07:00

Last week, I was so fortunate to be invited to Jayneoni Moore's Boom Boom Room: The Baby Issue Event. When I received the invitation, I didn't know if I would be able to attend due to our minor issue with not having a babysitter, but I actually FOUND one that the kids knew and she was able to come over! It was absolutely worth it.

The event itself was a beautiful gifting suite open to celebrities, media and journalists where many of the top parenting products on the market now were being displayed. All the brands and products were absolutely fantastic, and I've highlighted some of them here. Many of these will be sponsoring giveaways for me, so please let me know what ones pique your interest the most!

The first table I stopped at was the Couture Parties table, and between the fabulous idea and the delectable cake pops, I was immediately smitten. The owner, Stephanie Grimm Frazier's background is in professional party planning, which comes as no surprise. Where else can you find gorgeous custom party packs for children and adults for $38? I absolutely thrilled to announce that I will be offering a Couture Parties giveaway in the coming weeks... so stay tuned!

Shutterfly's table was full of really neat things as well. Their do-it-yourself photobooks and new Wink filmstrips are fantastic gifts for family or mementos for yourself. Not to mention easy to create. I'm looking forward to giving away 5 of these fancy books starting on Monday of next week!

Shea Kelly has an absolutely genius idea in her DaBib company. She figured out how to make a bib with a soft neck area that prevents leaks, and a pouch that is wide enough to catch most anything. They are machine washable, non-toxic and lead and PVC free.

Have you ever heard of Teething Bling? I had seen it at some boutiques after I had Birdie, but apparently I almost missed the boat. Smart Mom Amy Maurer Creel has created wearable teething jewelry, and they are really beautiful pieces! I couldn't believe they were made out of (phthalate-free, federally approved) silicone. Birdie has been thoroughly enjoying the bracelet we received, especially with her new tooth.

When her grandson was born, the adorable Tomi Heard came up with the ingenious idea of a breathable car seat cover that could double as a paparazzi shield. While most of us don't have to worry about the paps, it is SO great to have the Turtle Toppy which functions as a blanket cover (think Dr. office visits, sleeping babies). I definitely hope to be using this with our next child.

Finally! A classy, beautiful, and Eco-Friendly option for personalized stationary! I was entirely impressed with Christopher Wu's company, Paper Culture. Their beautiful, premium quality greeting cards, personalized announcements, everything is printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper (including envelopes!) and is a carbon free company. One of the greatest featured services is they will mail them for you, and keep your address book on file for easy use online. I cannot wait to try them myself.

Christopher Wu with Melissa Joan Hart at The Baby Issue event

When I came across the Jack's Harvest table, I didn't actually realize it was baby food. The samples of What A Pear, frozen into little hearts, looked and tasted amazing. I am always looking for great, easy and organic baby food options. I loved the concept of this company, and I absolutely loved the founders. Free shipping on Amazon makes it a no-brainer for me!

When Birdie was a baby, she used to carry around her Sophie Giraffe everywhere we went. And we dropped and lost Sophie many, many times. So when I came to the TutimNYC table, I was really happy to see their Toy Sitter, wrapped around Sophie herself. Michal and Irit created a bunch of different products like this, including the Paci Sitters, Bottle Sitters and Sippy Sitters. All of them in beautiful, bright designs, and some offered in organic.

One of the UK's top selling bottles has finally come to the United States. The Steri-Bottle is a 100% recyclable and BPA free, disposable bottle. They are sterile and ready for use, whenever and wherever. I know this would have come hugely in handy during our airplane trips, and any other time there didn't happen to be a clean bottle handy in an emergency.

There were many, many great products at the Baby Issue Event. I thouoroughly enjoyed my time walking around and meeting all of the people and learning about their products. A few more that I recommend checking out:

STOKKE - I love their Xplory Stroller
and Tripp Trapp High Chair. I hope to own some of my own STOKKE products in the near future!
Zoli - The entire line of BPA & Phthalate free products are super cute and functional.
Apirca This stroller is a Japanese staple, coming now to the US. Love what I saw, seemed perfect for travel.
Puj Their new bathtub fits nicely into standard sinks- something I will definitely need with the next baby. Soft and easy to clean.
Jenerations Baby - Natural and organic shampoo and bath wash. Smells lovely and is effective, without the sulfates, parabens, or harsh chemicals.
Momma Couture - Fully insulated, chic, and easy to clean diaper bags.
Skip*Hop - I love every single one of their products. Their Dash Deluxe diaper bag has been my best friend since moving to NYC. Next on my shopping list: Their Central Park blanket and cooler bag.

I'm really looking forward to sharing some of these products with you! Even when my baby is 18 months old, I love learning about all the new baby products out there that make mother's lives easier.

(Disclosure: Some samples received)

ERGObaby Carrier

2009-12-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

So most of you know that I don't have a car. Many people in Manhattan do not have cars, and many of them have children. Getting around from anywhere to the grocery store, to the pediatrician, to Central Park is interesting to say the least. It's been a learning experience for me, figuring out how to get around on the bus, subways, taxis and most often on foot to the places I need to go and having the kids be as comfortable as possible during those adventures.

Birdie has basically been quite literally attached to me since birth. I was chasing after a 19 month old and needed my hands free almost all of the time, so it wasn't much of an option for either of us, but I can't say that we minded that much *wink*. She still to this day, at 14 months old, will nap in a carrier for over an hour. This is so awesome, especially when we are walking around all of the time, but finding the right carrier that will comfortably hold a 23 lb baby is tricky!

After struggling to find a carrier that will hold a toddler and not destroy my back, I was beyond thrilled to receive an ERGObaby carrier to review a couple of weeks ago. I can now safely say that one of my biggest regrets is not having one of these a long time ago.

The ERGObaby carrier was designed by a mother who started this company in 2003 on Maui, Hawaii (of course my husband's ears perked right up when I told him this, being an alum of University of Hawaii at Manoa), and has been family owned and operated there ever since. "The significance of the ERGObaby logo has several layers. The Nautilus symbolizes both the continuum of life and the Continuum Concept that so directly influenced Karin (Frost) and the development of the ERGObaby Carrier. The Nautilus also symbolizes the new wave of awareness guiding parents across the world: changing the old paradigm to the new parenting paradigm of holding our babies close to our hearts, and being willing to recognize and respond to their needs on demand." I truly believe in the concept of baby wearing and can tell that there was a ton of time and thought put into the development of this product. The ERGObaby completely fosters the bond between the parent and child through baby wearing.

The carrier is made so that the weight of the child is distributed evenly on the person using it. It has a nice, wide base that is comfortable and sturdy around the waist, and the shoulder straps are very padded. The hood is one of my favorite details, as it not only supports the head and neck while the child is sleeping, but it is adjustable and easy to use even when the child is on the adult's back. No detail was left out; Even the adjustable straps have a piece of elastic to keep them from dangling. Other features include:

* Ergonomic design
* 400 threads per inch cotton poplin lining and hood
* 100% cotton batting in body of carrier to soften edges
* One inch, high density foam in shoulder straps
* Quarter inch high density neoprene foam in waist belt
* High Quality buckles tested by SGS
* Waist belt circumference from 25" to 43"
* Fits from 5' to 6'5" body height with adjustable shoulder and chest straps
* Sleeping hood with elastic, adjusts in length to growth of baby
* High quality webbing, matched to carrier color
* Reinforcement stitching used at all fabric intersections
* Interior rip-stop reinforcements at critical intersections
* Durability/strength tested up to 90 pounds
* Machine Washable - cold, gentle cycle

Infant insert sold separately.

Great for men as well! This is the first time my husband has offered to wear one of my carriers.

I tested this carrier out on the night that we went to see the balloons for the Macy's Day Parade being inflated. I strapped Z in and we took the subway to the Upper West Side, by Central Park. We both stayed comfortable and happy for roughly 2 hours with her in the carrier on my back, so I used it again the next morning to catch the end of the actual parade and for grocery shopping on the weekend.

With any other carrier that I have used, I have felt significant strain on the left side of my back. This was a huge concern, considering I really need to have one child tied on me while I do my grocery shopping (I use the back of my stroller as a makeshift shopping cart). I am truly beyond thrilled with the ERGObaby carrier, and am so lucky that I have the chance to spread the word.

I am an affiliate of ERGObaby, and if you are interested there is a pretty little box ad over there to your right if you would like some more information. I am also happy to answer any questions as well, just email me! MommasGoneCity@gmail.comhttp://www.mommasgonecity.com/