My son just turned two and has shown a great interest in potty training (bless him). What am I going to do now that I won’t need my diaper bag anymore? Petunia Pickle Bottom has made that answer easy. Buy a Petunia Pickle Bottom handbag!

Yes, you read that right!Petunia Pickle Bottom has introduced a new line of handbags, the perfect answer to any fashionable mom who no longer needs to carry a diaper bag but still needs a purse.

Here are some facts on the new line-

The new line of handbags will be released in June under the name Petunia.

These gorgeous bags will come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and patterns.

While these bags will not have any of the diaper bag goodies like the wipes case and changing pad that their diaper bags come with, they will still have the signature Petunia Pickle Bottom look with gorgeous patterns similar to that of their diaper bags.

You can sign up for exclusive sneak peeks and an exact release date when you go to the handbags new site at www.handbags.petunia.com

Here are some fun sneak peek photos of the gorgeous new handbags that will be out for sale soon!

So tell me, will you be buying a Petunia handbag? Are you phasing out of the diaper bag and in need of a new handbag?

The post A Look At Petunia Pickle Bottom’s New Line Of Handbags appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

Then one day, I came across the Gerber Graduates Kiddy Cutlery Fork Set, by NUK, while out shopping.

They looked different from the other toddler forks we had tried, so I threw them into my cart. I also picked up a Kiddy Cutlery Spoon Set.

That night, I set plates of macaroni and cheese and peas in front of the boys and handed them their new forks. And suddenly, it was like a light bulb went off in their little heads. They easily speared their food and placed it into their mouths, even picking up and devouring individual peas. The next morning, I gave the boys their new spoons with their bowls of yogurt, and they had the same success. I went back to the store and stocked up on the utensils, and we haven’t turned back since. Even now that my boys are nearly two and have mastered eating with utensils, these remain the best ones for them. Here’s why:

1. The rubbery handles are soft and perfectly sized for little hands, making it easy for toddlers to hold them. I found that a lot of other toddler utensils had handles so skinny, my boys had trouble gripping them.
2. The stainless steel tines of the fork are not sharp enough to hurt kids, but are long enough to easily spear food. (My son, in fact, was picking up broken pieces of crackers with one of them.)
3. The spoons are deeper than adult spoons, making it easier for toddlers to scoop food and for the food to stay on the spoon. The spoons are also just the right size to fit into little mouths.
4. Since the forks and spoons have stainless steel tips, they look like adult utensils. This is a huge deal for my boys, who want to eat like grown-ups. They would refuse to eat with plastic utensils and instead whine and reach for our utensils, which were way too big for them to use.
5. The utensils are definitely helping the boys transition to adult utensils. Now if we go to a restaurant, the boys are able to use a salad fork or a teaspoon more easily because they’ve had such great practice with their NUK cutlery.
6. The utensils are dishwasher safe and still look brand new despite the tons of wash cycles I have put them through. And they are very sturdy! My boys have flung them onto the floor numerous times and they have come out unscathed.
7. They are inexpensive, averaging about $5.00 for a set of three. How could you go wrong?
8. They are BPA free!

NUK also has a Kiddy Cutlery Set that includes a fork, a spoon, and a knife.

I am going to wait until the boys are a little older to let them try using knives, but reviews I’ve read on various websites have shown that people love the knives just as much. They are not as sharp as adult knives, so they are safer for kids, yet they are sharp enough to cut soft foods.

The utensils come in blue, green, and pink, so you can stock up on a nice variety. Such simple products have truly saved mealtimes for my family. Go grab some and give them a try!

The post Product Review: NUK Gerber Graduates Kiddy Cutlery appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

What kid doesn’t like Rice Krispie Treats? I’m sure there are a few but the majority probably loves them. I know I do and I’m a big kid at heast. My mom used to make the traditional Rice Krispie Treats when I was little and I now whip them up for my kids. Sometimes it’s fun to think outside the box and make something more. Put a new spin on the traditional treats! That’s why today we have rounded up 10 of the best Rice Krispie Treats recipes to get your ideas and baking juices flowing.

Stuffed Rice Krispie Treats

These Peanut Butter Pretzel Krispie Treats from Love from the Oven are to die for. Krispies, caramel, pretzels, and chocolate – how could can you go wrong?!?

Rainbow Rice Krispie Pinwheels

How can you not want to run to your kitchen and make these Rainbow Rice Krispie Pinwheels by Center Cut Cook? To be fair these aren’t “Rice Krispies” but Fruity Pebbles, but hey, the kids will love them!

S’Mores Rice Krispie Treats

These S’More Rice Krispie Treats are great for Memorial Day, 4^th of July or for any summer snack.

Butterfinger Rice Krispie Treats

Recipe Girl combines my favorite candy bar with gooey krispie treats with these babies.

Oreo Rice Krispie Treats

Can’t decide between cookies or krispie treat? Have both with these Oreo Rice Krispie Treats from Chef in Training.

Avalanche Bars

Cookies and Cups nailed the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory treat with these Avalanche Bars.

Killer Crunch Brownies

Brownies or krispie treats? Have both with these Killer Crunch Brownies from The Farm Girl.

Chocolate Dipped Caramel Rice Krispy

Yes, we agree that anything dipped in chocolate is better. These Chocolate Dipped Caramel Rice Krispy treats by Dip it in Chocolate are amazing!

Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispie Treats

These delicious treat from Cooking Classy combines the deliciousness of cinnamon rolls and krispie treats. Yum.

Dark Chocolate Guinness Rice Krispie Treats

The Sweet Chick makes it clear that Rice Krispie treats are not only for kids with these 21+ Dark Chocolate Guinness Rice Krispie Treats. These will be a big hit with the men!

The post 10 Great Rice Krispie Recipes appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

Tip 1. Get moving. Move more. Walk instead of drive. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Skip watching a 30 minute episode of a show and go for a 30 minute walk instead. The more you move, the more calories you burn, and the healthier you are.

Tip 2. Eat less. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about going on a starvation diet or anything here. I simply mean stop eating so many sweets and treats and don’t eat massive portions. Limit yourself to one cookie a day, or go sans sweets all day if you can. Our brains trick us into thinking we need to eat, eat, eat.. And while those sweets taste good, that sweet taste is gone in an instant but the calories aren’t! My dad always says- “A moment of pleasure on the lips, a lifetime of misery on the hips.”

Tip 3. Have sugar free gum on hand. For those of you who are snackers, you may greatly benefit from having a stick of gum on hand for times that those sweet cravings kick in.

Tip 4. Find an activity you truly enjoy. You may not know that there is a hidden activity or sport out there that you love but you won’t find what it is unless you try new things. Go to the gym and try some different classes. You may learn you’re a yoga lover or a cycling wiz.

Tip 5. Get outside more. Take your children to the park, go on a nature hike, go swimming at the local public pool. Get a group together to go play frizbee golf. So many activities that take place outdoors are so good for you! It never hurts to get some fresh air and breathe in that sunshine, either.

Tip 6. Embrace who you are. Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes and that’s wonderful. That’s what makes the world go round. Stop comparing yourself to others and instead, be the best YOU that you can  be. Part of healthy living means not only being healthy physically, but being healthy mentally, too!

Tip 7. Use your time wisely. While all of us moms want to kick up our feet, turn on our favorite TV show, and veg out while our kids are napping, doing an at home work out DVD or getting on our treadmill is a much better use of our time. It’s going to be tough at first, but it gets easier with time.

Tip 8. Get into a routine. Routine is amazing. The more you stick with it, the easier it becomes. If you like to walk, make walking part of your daily routine. If you want to start eating healthy, don’t just do it for one week, make it a routine and keep at it. Commit to doing 100 sit ups every night. This is something I just decided to do. Sometimes I really, really don’t want to do it but I remember that I promised myself I would, and that it’s part of my routine, so I don’t skip a day.

Tip 9. Stretch. Stretching is such an easy and relaxing thing to do and you can easily do it while you watch TV, read your child a book, or talk on the phone. Stretching not only burns calories, but it releases pressure, strengthens your muscles, and makes you feel good.

Tip 10. Take care of yourself. Go to your regular doctor check ups and physical exams. Take your vitamins. Drink your 8 glasses of water a day. Remember to take care of yourself. Sometimes as mothers, we put everyone before ourselves and we forget that we need to take care of ourselves, too! Set aside “me” time and remember that you are important and deserve to be well taken care of as well!

Always remember that in order to live healthy, you need to make lifestyle changes. Eating healthy, exercising, and having a positive mindset isn’t just something you do for a couple weeks until you’re tired of it. You need to make small lifestyle changes that will stick with you forever. You owe it to yourself!

The post 10 Tips On Healthy Living appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

Cobb Salad – This is one of our family faves because…well…it has bacon in it. Seriously, this recipe is delicious and has a nice variety of options so everyone in the family will be able to find some combo they love.  My 3 year old loves the bacon and hard boiled eggs.  The 1 year old loves the blue cheese and avocado. It is also a great way to use leftover roasted chicken from the night before.

Photo Credit: Smitten Kitchen

Bread Salad – Tom Douglas is a Seattle chef who makes our favorite bread salad. His is a twist on a classic panzanella salad and it is pretty much magic in your mouth. I add more bread than the recipe calls for in order to make a meal out of this.

Photo Credit: Cooking in Kirkland

Pasta Salad – Now, this recipe requires some cooking, but most of it is done on a grill so I still get to be outside and happy. Because this salad is best if it sits overnight, we usually throw the veggies on the grill after we make burgers on a Sunday night and combine the salad after the kids are in bed.  Monday dinner is ready with no extra work!

Photo Credit: Everyday Maven

Southwestern Salad – This is a nice, light salad and is the perfect way to end a hot summer day at the beach. Jicama is one of my favorite low cost salad additions and there is something about its crispness that screams “summer!”

Photo Credit: Weelicious

Greek Salad with Chickpeas – Feta and I have been having a pretty solid love affair for the last 20 years. Big blocks of it stole my heart on a trip to Greece and it has had a special place in my heart ever since. This Greek Salad has plenty of my soul mate cheese and adds chickpeas to upgrade the starter into a main course.

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart

Strawberry Spinach Salad - We have shared this salad before, but it is SO worth sharing again. It is easy, delicious, and healthy.  AND it gets your kids to eat spinach.

The post Salads for Dinner appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

After the Disney Moms Social Media Conference last week, my family chose to extend our trip and move from The Contemporary Resort to the new Art of Animation resort for three extra days. While we had a fabulous time at The Contemporary, we were looking for a little more room and to save a little money. Even though we didn’t originally know much about the Art of Animation besides that it is only about a year old, it fit the bill for our two requirements. We could get a family suite with two rooms that would comfortably sleep our family of five and it was about $100/night cheaper than The Contemporary. Plus, as an official Disney resort, I figured how could we go wrong.

You know we have a hard time going anywhere without “bringing you along” so we had our special Baby Gizmo guest host show you all the things that the Art of Animation resort has to offer families in our latest Baby Gizmo Video review. (After the video, we’ll also share photos of the resort below.)

The entire Cars room was decked out in Cars details from the lamp shades to the couch. They thought of everything! This is the main sitting area. If you look close, you’ll even see that the carpet has racing cones on it.

We had plenty of places to sleep as the couch above folds out to a bed and a murphy bed pulls out of the wall and the table below turns into a second bed.

The room had a mini refrigerator, microwave and a sink for snacks. Look at the cars detail! Even my husband was excited about this room!

The bedroom featured a king size bed, flat screen TV and a second bathroom. Yep, this Cars suite had TWO bathrooms!

My kids loved all the Cars outside that they could touch and explore. (You can’t open the doors though)

Three pools and a splash pad at the resort give your little fish a choice of where to swim with the biggest pool in the center of the Finding Nemo section.

The resort also has a large cafeteria, arcade, and playground to enjoy. The only things we missed from the Contemporary were the view of the Magic Kingdom (and the fireworks) and the fact that the monorial literally went through the hotel making traveling to the parks a breeze. Guests have to take the Disney buses from the Art of Animation to the parks. Not a big deal because we never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus but still not as convenient as being on the monorial system.

Overall, the Art of Animation is an amazing resort. Disney classifies it as a “value resort” but besides skimping on the price, they didn’t skimp on any of the details! It’s great for families!

The post Baby Gizmo Travel Review: Disney Art of Animation Resort appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

Jermaine Jackson named his son Jermajesty.

Ocean is the name of Forrest Whitaker’s daughter.

Not only does Sylvester Stalone’s son have an odd first name, he has an odd middle name, too. Sage Moonblood.

Alicia Silverstone’s son is named Bear Blu.

Blue Ivy is the daughter of Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z. It has been said that she was named this because of the beauty of the color blue and Ivy because of the roman numeral IV which was the date the couple was married and the title of a Beyonce album.

Holly Madison just had a baby girl named Rainbow Aurora.

Milan Pique Mebarak is the name of Shakira’s baby. The name Milan means dear, loving, and gracious.

Matthew McConaughey’s sons name is Livingston which may have something to do with the family’s Scottish roots.

Reese Witherspoon spent her early days in Nashville, Tennessee so this may be the reason she named her son Tennessee James.

Alyson Hannigan named her daughter Keeva which means beautiful.

Suri Cruise, the daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s name means princess in Hebrew.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter Apple was named this because ” It sounded so sweet and it conjured such a lovely picture for me.”

Mark Ruffalo’s son is named Keen.

Sunny is the name of Adam Sandler’s daughter.

Richard Gere’s son is named Homer James Jigme Gere. Homer is Richard’s father and Jigme means fearless in Tibetan.

Meg Ryan’s daughter is Daisy True. Meg originally named her adopted daughter Charlotte but changed it when she realized it didn’t suit her.

Bringham Hawn Bellamy is the son of Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy. Bingham is Bellamy’s mother’s maiden name and also the name of Kurt Russell’s dad. Hawn is in honor of Kate’s mom, Goldie Hawn.

50 cents son is named Marquise.

Steven Spielberg’s daughter’s name is Destry Allyn.

What is the most unusual celebrity baby name you’ve ever heard? What do you think about unusual, over the top names? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Photo Source

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A few days ago I gave you my Cloth Diaper 101 spiel. Exactly what I’d tell my friends if they asked me about taking the plunge into cloth diapering. Today, I’m going to delve into some of the wants/extras you may consider when cloth diapering. These things are by no means necessary. If you’re on a budget, skip them. But, if you’re adding cloth diapers and their accessories to your baby registry or have a generous grandparent or some mama money in your secret stash, here’s what if recommend …

Diaper Sprayer | You won’t need this until closer to your little one’s first birthday, when they are eating more and their poo reflects that fact. At that point, it is a definitely blessing to have!

Extra Diapers in Fun Prints | Kind of like clothing, cloth diapers have become a style statement. As much as you don’t need more than the basic 24 diapers, it’s fun to have some fun and pretty extras and if you ever get behind in laundry you don’t have to sweat it.

Funk Rock and Deodorizer | I mean, we are talking about diapers here, so sometimes the smell can be a little ripe. Funk Rock by Rockin’ Green is an extra soaking mix that gives your diapers a deep clean. their pail deodorizer helps keep the smell at bay between washing.

Wool | Wool shorties and longies are some of my favorite accessories with cloth diapering. It’s a whole other means of creating a waterproof layer and is great for all seasons. You’d be amazed at the properties of this natural fiber. In 2011, when I started using it I wrote all about the wonders of wool in case you are interested in learning more. Best part of all, you can totally make your own woolies if you don’t want to spend a bucket of dollars on these beauties (which I still don’t own, but really would love to add to my stash).

Clothesline| Your diapers will inevitable end up with some stains. An outdoor clothes line will fix that in a jif with a day or two of sunning.

Drying Rack | I live in the Pacific Northwest so the majority of the year I air dry my diapers indoors. This rack from IKEA has been a perfect addition to my laundry room.

Cloth Wipe and Wipe Warmer | If your cloth diapering it makes no sense to use disposable wipes. Making them is one of the easiest sewing projects, but you can purchase them as well. These cloth wipes from Punkin Butt are my favorite to buy and when I’ve sewn a few batches I’ve done one side a fun flannel and the other side a soft bamboo. Etsy have a great selection so don’t forget to check them out! For wetting the wipes you can either use a spray bottle of wipe solution or a wipe warmer. I love the a Prince Lionhart warmer.

Swim Diaper | Rather than spend much too much on disposable swim diapers, consider buying a washable pair. I’ve had great success with this Kushies swim dipe.

That about wraps up all my cloth diapering wants and the extras you may want to consider. I know there are quite a few of cloth diaper mama experts reading so please, chime in with your wants and others cloth diapering knowledge!

Oh, and before I forget, I wanted to share these great resources that I find myself referencing over and over again:
What to look for when buying used
Cloth diaper safe diaper cream
Cost savings over the course of diapering with cloth
Cloth wipe solution

The post Cloth Diapers 102 appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

-Hide it. If your child isn’t into fruits and vegetables, hide them. Hide them in quesadillas. Hide them in a homemade pot pie. Hide them in a casserole or hide them in a soup. Do what you gotta do.

-Talk it up. I’ve noticed that the way I phrase things really makes a difference in if my son will eat that thing or not. Right now he’s obsessed with pirates. If I tell him Captain Hook likes peas, the kid will eat his peas. Watch how you say things, and talk those fruits and vegetables up.

-Set a good example. Eat more fruits and vegetables yourself. Chances are, if your child sees how much you’re enjoying these healthy foods, they will start to enjoy them, too.

-Find their favorites. Not everyone likes every kind of fruit and every kind of vegetable. I know I don’t. We all have our favorites and then the ones we hate. If your child really hates one, keep offering new fruits and vegetables until you find their favorites.

-Blend it. Smoothies, juices, and shakes are all the rage these days and for good reason. They provide an excellent amount of nutrients and they taste delicious. Smoothies are fun and kids love them. If you’ve got a picky eater, blend up their food and try serving it that way.

-Get them in the kitchen with you. If you get your child in the kitchen with you to help prepare their meal, they may like eating the things they make more. Give it a shot.

-It’s all in the presentation. Try making the fruits and vegetables look more appealing. Present them on a fun plate, cut them a different way, season them.

-Grate them. If you’ve got a really picky eater on your hands, be extra sneaky and grate vegetables on top of their soup or inside of their quesadillas. They won’t even realize they are there.

-Give them options. Instead of saying- “Do you want peas?” Ask them, “Do you want peas OR carrots?” Sometimes all it takes is giving your child an option and letting them feel like they are in charge.

-Serve them frozen. This may sound weird, but I’ve tried and tested it and it works. My son often times will ask for frozen corn or frozen strawberries out of the freezer. They are new and different and I had never served them to him before because, umm, they were frozen! But he wanted them and who was I to turn down a child politely asking for fruits and vegetables? For some reason, this worked and I’ve heard it works for lots of people.

If you don’t manage to get your child to eat the recommended amounts of fruits and veggies one day, don’t beat yourself up. It happens to all of us. Just try again tomorrow.  On those days that didn’t work out so great, you can always give them Voots^® Veggie-Fruit Tarts.  The greatest thing about Voots^® Veggie-Fruit Tarts is that they contain real apples, cranberries, oranges, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchinis and green beans. Those fruits and veggies are dehydrated and blended with Vitamin C and other ingredients to be an added bonus to your child’s healthy diet. It’s not a substitute but a supplement to give your child the antioxidant power of three servings of fruits and vegetables. Voots^® can be found in Target and Walgreens nationwide and on Amazon.com.

Do you have a picky eater on your hands who refuses fruits and vegetables? What’s a great sneaky way you’ve gotten your children to eat healthy foods? Leave us a comment and let us know!

*Please note that our founder, Hollie Schultz, is a paid spokesperson for Voots^® Veggie-Fruit Tarts.

The post Smart And Sneaky Ways To Get Your Kid To Eat Their Fruits And Vegetables appeared first on Baby Gizmo Blogs.

I make the batter the night before and just pop them in the oven while I take a shower. They are super simple to make and even simpler to serve on those busy mornings where we’re eating breakfast in the car…yes, we have those mornings also! You can add a variety of  fixings to the batter such as fruit or chocolate chips.

The kids love anything they can just pop in their mouth and fits into their little hands. I bake a bunch at a time and keep them in the fridge for breakfast for the week. So next time you get a request for pancakes in the morning try these pancake muffins for a change.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of flour
1 cup of milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1 banana pureed
1/4 cup of chocolate chips

METHOD:
1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Spray a mini muffin tray with non-stick spray.
3. Pour pancake batter into muffin tins.
4. Bake pancake muffins at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes until baked completely.
* Makes approximately 24 mini muffins store extra in fridge or freezer for another day.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins

 

Print

Cook time

12 mins

Total time

12 mins

 

Author: Yummy Tummy

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• 1 banana pureed
• ¼ cup of chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Spray a mini muffin tray with non-stick spray.
3. Pour pancake batter into muffin tins.
4. Bake pancake muffins at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes until baked completely.
5. * Makes approximately 24 mini muffins store extra in fridge or freezer for another day.

3.2.1230

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