Posts filed under 'parent'
Tot rock hits the High Noon Saloon this weekend!
Little Miss Ann and her Chicago band make their Madison debut. She’s 5’2″ (hence the name) and tall on fun. My kids are groupies — they love her latest CD, “Clap for Love.” Her style: overall fun and engaging, a little bit folk infused with some lilting melodies, rocking-out songs, world tunes, and even indie aspects, too, for parents to love. You can listen to some of her tunes on Land of Nod’s web site. To learn more about Little Miss Ann, check out our September 2009 blog (or search for Little Miss Ann). Or visit Little Miss Ann’s web site.
The cool thing about these daytime shows at the High Noon is that:
A) Thus, because it’s really a kid gig, you don’t need a babysitter,
B) We parents actually feel like we’re hitting the town, in part because
C) The gig is at a bar, and the bar is open — hello Bloody Marys!
D) It’s a blast to watch a whole gaggle of kids get down to some great music.
Showtime is 11 am. Cover: $10 grownups, $5 kids.
See you there!
— Mama Kate
May 18th, 2010
A little bird, who is in the know, alerted me to the amazing Adorable Kinders. Handmade in the US, these classic rag dolls are also culturally diverse – available in a wide variety of nationalities. My husband and I recently adopted an amazing little 11 month old boy from Ethiopia, so representation of other races and cultures in our household just became even more important than it already was.When I saw Adorable Kinders, I got excited. And I was right to be… Zachary arrived under our tree this year, and is a welcome addition! The craftsmanship of this handmade doll is awe-inspiring. Its sure to be an heirloom passed down through generations.This fantastic mom-owned business is absolutely amazing and has been a long time in the making. Originally, Aranza, the mother who makes the dolls, began the company and it’s vision with her son Ivan after he graduated highschool. Unfortunately, Ivan passed away unexpectedly. Understandably, Aranza ceased to work on the handmade dolls.Years later, Aranza decided to make Adorable Kinders Ivan’s legacy while creating local jobs and helping the US economy.The rag dolls are vintage looking and absolutely beautiful. It doesn’t end there…part of Ivan and Aranza’s vison to have the dolls be educational has also come to fruition. Your child can take their new doll to “eSchool” with the unique code that comes with your doll. The eSchool is fantastic!!!!Education, imagination, handmade and local? Perfect.Mama Jen
January 4th, 2010
For years I’ve struggled to put my diaper bag into the basket of strollers, and I have had no idea that there was a solution out there… I bet you have found yourself in the same position!!
Leave it to Skip Hop, a company that makes hip and stylish diaper bags to have a bag, called The Saddlebag which attaches to your stroller frame for hands-free stroller time—like blue-tooth technology for your diaper-bag! Fantastic!!!
I adore mine and got it at 
, a site that will have you drooling all over the place…great stuff there!!! Mama Jen
November 3rd, 2009
Nanny Connections has some great new programs that we thought our fellow busy Wisconsin moms in the Madison, Milwaukee and Fox Valley areas would want to know about. Check out how they can help:
It’s back to school time and you know what that means… room mom duty, soccer practice, parent teacher conference (… without the kids… ugh!).
Or, maybe you’ve got season tickets to the Badgers or Packers—and don’t want to miss a game.
Nanny Connections can step in and guarantee you’ve got child care coverage, so you don’t have to miss a big game, or an important school or social event. Nanny Connections does makes it easy—they match your needs with appropriately experienced nannies. Nanny Connections does initial interviews, evaluations, and reference checks; and completes various other background checks—whew! That’s half the headache of finding a good sitter or nanny!
The fee schedule is pretty easy to follow:
Option #1: Purchase a membership to Nanny Connections for one year for access to our pre-screened pool of On Call Nannies. Yearly Membership Fee: $150.00. Each time you need an On Call Nanny, the fee is $15.00.
Option #2: You can also forgo the $150 membership fee and pay $25 each time you need an On Call Nanny. (A credit card is required to be on file.)
Nannies are paid the same day in cash usually ranging from $10-12 per hour. A four-hour minimum pay is required for on call services.
We’ve told you about Nanny Connections services in the past (from houshold managers, and housekeepers, to dedicate childcare professionals) but love to share updates on businesses masterminded BY moms, FOR moms. Our kudos to founder, president, and director of placement Tiffanie Kinder, the mompreneur extraordinaire who brainstormed this great company!
— Mama Kate
August 27th, 2009
Not sure what to do this weekend? Problem solved. Head to Madison this Sunday, August 30, 8am – 2pm, for Ride the Drive, a family-friendly event celebrating the city’s commitment to healthy living. A 6-mile loop from John Nolan Drive to East Washington will wrap around Capitol Square, and you can hop in at any point—on foot, bike, or skates—on the “car-free care free city streets.” Along the way you’ll find great events: kids’ bike rodeo, bike/stroller decorating and parade, art cart and obstacle course; adult group exercise classes; tunes in the tunnel underneath Monona Terrace; a block-long picnic; demonstrations; bike tune-ups; workshops with Suzy Favor Hamilton—and too much more to list here. Check out the Ride the Drive site for complete details.
— Mama Kate
August 26th, 2009
I have never felt like I wanted to spend a lot on a stroller, but in the search for a stroller that would allow my tall husband to push comfortably , I have been led to the Maclaren Techno XT and Techno XLR. Two fantastic strollers that have handles that are adjustable in height. They move wonderfully, are well made, hold resale value should you want to sell it when finished, and they are fab looking!
I also stumbled upon the slick Grand Tour promo from Maclaren and wow!!!! They refer to it as a “crossover” stroller…they also refer to it’s “chassis” and “dashboard.” A real baby vehicle and I can’t help but think of Ralphy in “A Christmas Story”since it also has “this thing that tells time.” When I watch this I do feel like Ralphy probably felt when he laid his eyes on the famous Red Ryder B B gun for the first time. Looks like an amazingly fabulous stroller!
You certainly can tell how these strollers began in the mind of a former aeronautical engineer who became a grandfather and wanted his grandchildren and their parents to have a functional, safe, durable and well designed strollers.
Okay—I am going to go wipe the drool off of my face…
Mama Jen
April 15th, 2009
My husband and I have been spoiled with the most amazing cousin who lived in town and was available to watch and love our daughter when we needed to get out on a date or run errands etc…we were so happy for her graduation and subsequent move out of town, but then there we were…no babysitter to call…
I found a few here and there, but nobody has been reliable, or near like our Anna—those of you with amazing people who watch your children will know what I mean…the bar has been raised!
Now, how do I go about finding this person since my informal searches have left me frustrated and feeling like I will never find one…I’ve come home from a date night only to be up cleaning for two hours after a baking experiment occurred in my kitchen, had no-shows, found my daughter up and running around at 10:30, people who are impossible to reach or inspire a call back from…fun…lots of fun.
Enter Babysitter Connections from Tiffany Kinder, who also runs the phenomenal Nanny Connections . Nanny Connections is a must stop if you are looking to get in touch with outstanding, pre-screened nannies , but I had no idea there was this amazing Babysitter Connections available to those of us who need a sitter, but not a more fully scheduled nanny. By the way, I have met one of the nannies who came from Nanny Connections since she works for my friend. I didn’t know that she was the nanny for a while because I thought she was a family member! That is how unbelievable she is!
So I decided to give Babysitter Connections a whirl!
There is a small fee required to access information on available sitters that includes their reference contact information, picture, personal contact information, background check, wage desired, experience and little bio.
Wooohooo! Unbelievable…I am babysitter shopping!! I have heard back from most of the girls I have emailed this week and will begin some face-to-face meetings tomorrow. I am giddy over the fact that I may have someone I can call, rely upon, and trust with my little one soon. Thank you Babysitter Connections for such a phenomenal service for Wisconsin and what looks like is beginning to reach out farther than that!!
Feel free to take a peek before you sign up. You can see which sitters are in your area and/or are available at a specific time prior to joining. You just don’t have their contact information until you pay the small fee to have access. Helping parents be successful in their sitter hunt??? Now, that has MomAppeal!!!
Whichever you are looking for, Babysitter Connections and Nanny Connections are sure to give you a HUGE leg up!!!!!
Mama Jen
July 24th, 2008
Finding the right nursing chair — ugh, it’s a cunundrum. With decidedly modern taste, I looked high and low to find the right chair. Never did for baby #1; instead, we rocked in a rickety, noisy, rattan number I’d bought right after college. No amount of pillows made it just right comfortwise. And, after my c-section, and then later when great with child #2, it was darn near impossible to get out of. Yeah, there are lots of gliders out there — and they are probably the most comfortable option — but I just could find anything that didn’t scream “traditional.”
If only I’d found Glam Glider (above) by Jennifer Delonge. With a 360-degree swivel and rocking capacity, too. The chair and ottoman come in hip colors (including celery, steele blue, apple green, as well as several more subdued selections). Frankly, I think they’ll fit with any decorating style. Check out the site’s other offerings. The retro-inspired furnishings, kid-size Grace table and stools are just plain fun.
I must tell, you though, that what we did find, right before #2 arrived, was the awesome Storytime Rocker (below, in mocha) and ottoman made by Lawson-Fenning for Nurseryworks. We love it’s solid square aspect and swoop of the wooden legs, and the fact that it’s double-wide — it fits mama/daddy and child, side by side for those long sessions with the Richard Scarry tomes and other faves — and customizable in terms of colors, materials and leg finishes. There’s also a Sleepy Time version, with a higher back that’s perfect for nursing moms, especially during those zombified wee hours of the morning when junior’s at his hungriest and mom’s at her most tired.
Hoping to outfit your nursery in a modernist way? You’ll swoon over some of Nurseryworks other offerings — from cribs and dressers, to bedding and accessories and even super-cool letterpress posters (above) made for for the company by Onethread. Makes me want to have baby #3 just to reoutfit the baby’s room (just kidding, Dear!).
Mama Kate
July 17th, 2008
The FDA has warned against the use of Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream, an all natural nipple cream that helps soothe sore nipples that result from breastfeeding. Certain ingredients in this cream can cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants exposed to it.
More information can be found in the above link, and if your child has been exposed to this product, you should contact the FDA’s MedWatch at 800-332-1088.
May 26th, 2008
Like the rest of you parents out there, I think some of my kids’ artwork is super cool. Now I can have it with me constantly (around my neck or wrist, on my keychain) and show it off at will. All you have to do (dads, this means you) is upload a scan of your child’s artwork and, vóila, the gals at Mommy Tags will emblazon it on a 1-inch-wide circular tag made of recycled silver. Last step is to order a chain — silver or leather — and wait for the masterpiece to arrive. And, you get a professionally mounted rubber stamp of the artwork as well — great for making cards, Ts, etc.
Mommy Tags is very clear that YOU own the copyright to your child’s artwork; they will not use or distribute it.
Tags are $95. Chains start at $15.
And, dads, while your order probably won’t make it by Mom’s Day at this point, you at least can frame the original artwork and let Mommy know what’s on the way.
Mama Kate
April 27th, 2008
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