Posts filed under 'shopping'
As spring edges closer, the snow will begin to melt, the ground will thaw and plants and trees will suddenly spring to life again. But, that doesn’t mean cold weather is behind us. For those chilly mid-winter days, or cool spring nights, Nowali is making sure little feet are protected with four new styles of their award-winning Swedish moccasins.
The four new styles are inspired by spring and include a flower, frog, dot and boat style. Each traditional Swedish moccasin is hand-stitched, and made with yarn and foxing materials that meet the Öko-Tex Standard 100, an ‘eco’ standard which ensures they contain no harmful dyes or substances—AND they are washable!! No worries if your tot trots outside…
We have the adorable blue frog style that is pictured above(alongside the brown frog style), and they are sooooo soft and sweet on our little man’s feet! The flexible soles that are non-slip keep him steady as he learns to take his first steps!!
I just love these moccasins and the fun designs they come in.
Nowali is offering one lucky MomAppeal reader a pair of moccasins for their little one! Perfect while cozy-ing up and watching the Olympics! To enter to win, you need to visit www.nowali.com and choose your favorite design of the four new styles released (flower, frog, dot or boat styles) and email mamajen@momappeal.com with your favorite and we will randomly choose a winner!
Good luck!!
Mama Jen
February 24th, 2010
French company Peau-Ethique beautifully offers the trifecta in responsible clothing. Handmade–check. Fair trade–check. Organic–check.
They carry lovely soft lingerie and pajamas which you can peruse for yourself…They have also added a knit collection for babies that will have your little one singing “La Vie en Rose!” These Peruvian knit outfits are absolutely gorgeous and perfect for baby…The entire Peau-Ethique site is full of beautiful items that are good for the planet and for the people who make them.
Mama Jen
November 20th, 2009
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
So, what is Mama Jess—one of MomAppeal’s original founders—up to these days, besides chasing around her busy 4 year old? Exploring one of the best careers you’ve probably never heard of! She’s launched a virtual assistance business from her Madison, WI, home. We’re proud to say that Jessica Maes is fast becoming a guru and has just published a book on the subject, Exploring A Career As A Virtual Assistant and she is currently on virtual tour to promote it!
The book is drawn from Jessica’s own experiences as a virtual assistant, as well as the class she’s taught on the subject via the University of Wisconsin’s Minicourse department. A virtual assistant provides professional administrative, technical, or other specialized assistance to other businesses from a remote location, such as a home office; most have previous administrative experience. The book explores the industry, examples of successful practices, and how to make the leap toward starting your own Virtual Assistant practice.
If you’re looking for an outlet for your skills, one that allows you flexibility a busy mom needs, or maybe looking for a new career, then read a free sample from Jessica’s book by clicking here; to purchase in downloadable eBook format or hard copy, click here. To celebrate the book’s launch, Jessica has a few goodies to offer us. The first is a 20% discount off the purchase of the book. Simply use the promo code THANKYOU during check out.
Also, as part of this tour stop, Jessica is available to us today to answer your burning questions about the Virtual Assistance industry! Post your question by leaving a Comment below. Jessica will respond in the Comments section so be sure to check back!
The second goody from Jessica is that one lucky MomAppeal reader will receive a free copy of the eBook version of the book! To be eligible to win, you simply need to post a question about virtual assistance in the comments section of this post. She’ll choose the winner at random and announce here in a couple of days.
Kudos Mama Jess!
—Mama Kate + Mama Jen
August 3rd, 2009
I gotta say, I am digging Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP website/newsletter, whose mission is to “nourish the inner aspect.” It’s filled with lots of ideas, both hip and helpful (well, and some not so at the moment—though I do love anything foodie oriented, I, sadly, don’t envision I’ll be lunching with the kids in Barcelona or London any time soon, or purchasing any designer fashions until my next life …). About every week or so, I get a nifty, conversational email about the idea of the week (and hey, it’s from Gwyneth, no less!). GOOP is wrapped around six main categories: Make, Go, Get, Do, Be, See. And, Miss GP includes plenty of family- and mommy-friendly ideas. GOOP features expert advice aplenty. And, there are lots of celebrity hooks—recipes and restaurant ideas from GP buddy Mario Batali, Cameron Diaz’s “green list,” DJ AM’s party jam picks, gal pal Madonna’s fave books, and so on—and that’s kinda fun. Essentially, though, I find it a great resource and collective of ideas—info on things alternative (healing modalities, for example), travel ideas (for my future files…), general food for thought (parenting ideas from experts). Back on that foodie note, I absolutely love the recipes GOOP features—a great variety that runs the gamut from family friendly to vegan, dairy-free, meat-free, super healthy deals that sound truly delicious. One friend had great success with Gwyneth’s detox diet (minus 6 lbs in one week) … that’s one aspect of GOOP I’ve not yet checked out, but hope to soon!
—Mama Kate
July 3rd, 2009
Do you find your little girls attracted to body products that smell of candy and youth but are loaded with synthetics that are harmful for their skin?
Sparklehearts bridges the gap between the amount of all natural baby products you can find and the all natural beauty products for women. Somewhere in there, natural based companies seem to have forgotten about the needs of young girls. They need youthful qualities in their products—smell, packaging, maybe a sparkle or two…and please can it also be healthy???
Sparklehearts says “”No way,” to the icky chemicals and toxins that make up the majority of make-up, bath and beauty products, and say, “Yes” to all natural, all safe, practically edible, but seriously glamorous.” You’ve got to love that!!
And—the lotion SPARKLES–with wonderful all natural mica!! Not only does it feel fabulous ( I got to feel it after I had to pry it from my daughter’s hands!!) it has subtle youthful sparkles…not ala Halloween…very hip and subtle! It also smells like dessert which is a bonus!
Sparklehearts currently carries a fun line of hair and body products that are priced right, “rocking some serious style in 100% recycled packaging,” and are made in the USA by two moms!
Thank you Sparklehearts, for recognizing such an important product consumer who also deserves all the health and glam that natural products can bring!!
I posted on this a few weeks ago and for some reason, it has disappeared, so if you feel like you are having deja vu…that’s why 
Mama Jen
June 8th, 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
The other day, a rainy day hit and my little lady’s raincoat that got us through 2 yrs of rain was definitely too small. Poor thing put on the hood and her neck was being pulled backwards. Wow they grow fast!! Maybe I am in a French state of mind since returning from the fabulous French Quarter in New Orleans…I am half French after-all—but I found my girl a cute little raincoat yesterday at A Classic Tale by the designer Pluie Pluie (which is Rain Rain in French).
The coat is PVC free 100% cotton with a nice flexible waterproof coating to make puddle jumping comfortable as well as a blast! The coat is also knee length so that there is good coverage! Sizes run from 1/2 through youth 7/8 for girls and boys and the styles are hip, hip and more hip…
So, if you find yourself on the same hunt I was on last night, Pluie Pluie may be just right for you!!!
Mama Jen
March 26th, 2009
Two parents, who were having trouble getting their 5 yr old to want to eat anything other than hot-dogs and macaroni and cheese (we’ve all felt those struggles), came up with the aptly named Food Game to banish their mealtime issues!
This game is easy to use, teaches kids the different types of food (proteins, starch, vegetables…) and keeps kids engaged and not bored while eating —they get to spin a spinner and find out what to eat next! Kid’s love that! Also, look at the great way the board fits into mealtime. There is an orange spot where your child’s plate sits on the gameboard !
After using this game, many parents who could not get their kids to sit at the table, or eat broccoli have been amazed to see that this game actually has helped their child to do just that. I bet this game would absolutely keep my daughter eating the whole variety of foods offered to her as well as keep her wanting to stay at the table for longer periods of time.
Phenomenal!!!
Mama Jen
February 18th, 2009
Multipurpose is the smarties’ mantra in these economic times. If you haven’t yet uncovered the Stokke line in your search for necessary kid furniture that’s built to last, then here’s a quick chance for enlightenment.
Our first Stokke pieces were the Sleepi crib and Care changing table. We just couldn’t swallow purchasing a crib that for $800 served no purpose beyond a sleeping space for tinies and, if were were lucky, would expand to suit a toddler before collecting dust in the attic. Imagine our thrill in finding the Sleepi, which starts as the Mini bassinet, then converts up to larger crib, a toddler bed, a full-sized children’s bed, then ultimately breaks into two chairs. How’s that for ultra useful, and getting incredible bang for your buck?
The Stokke Care changing table grows right along with your kids, too. Use it for books or storage, or convert it to a small or large desk.
We love the ergonomic Tripp Trapp highchair, too. We never had room, either in our small kitchen or more minimalist design sensibility, for a big, bulky high chair. The modern look suits our taste, plus the chairs tuck right under the table, just like grownup chairs. We’ve now got one for each kid. They’ll be siting in them until they’re in high school — the highchairs also adjust to grow with your kids — or decide to belly them up to the changing-table-turned-study-desk.
Stokke’s multipurpose/expandable designs are a boon to those of us who like to avoid the excess packaging and “disposable” mentality of so many products today. These things Stokke are made to be used — for a long time, by a lot of kids. Hooray.
— Mama Kate
January 19th, 2009
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