Bum Wrap Winner!

Sorry for the week-late announcement, due to a glitch.

Congrats to Kristi T.  … hope Baby A’s bum is happy in the wrap!

— Mama Kate

Add comment July 27th, 2010

Bum Wrap! WIN one!

Check out the new resuable Sprout Change diapers available from The Willow Store, located in Verona, Wisconsin.

Who knew a single diaper could be so many things? They are reusable and thus washable, reversible, organic, local (they’re made here in Wisconsin), and, best of all, one size fits all (5 to 40 pounds), so no need to buy, NB, SM, M, LG wraps!

They’re also about convenience and comfort. The shell is made of waterproof fabric and features multiple-options snap closures for the right fit, gusseted leg openings to keep the messy stuff inside the diaper,

The SoftSleeve insert is made moisture-wicking microfleece or organic cotton fabric. Essentially, you slide a Sprout change Inside diaper (made of an organic hemp/cotton blend) into the sleeve, then insert the whole thing into the shell.  The diapers are reputed to be twice as absorbent as cotton.

Willow Store’s SuperWipes are well, pretty super, too. I love that they are thick, and two-sided—one side is super soft, the other made of gripping terry to tackle sticky messes.

I’ve also been thinking about buying stock in a paper toweling company, since we use so much of the dang stuff around here. Forget it. I can go local and just buy a few packs of organic hemp fleece/hemp terry Willow Store’s Forever Cloths—one side is soft enough for your skin, the other is for scrubbing … just like the dipe wipe—in large or small sizes. Use. Then re-use. I like it.

Win a free Sprout Change dipe with insert and SuperWipe!! Just visit the Willow Store web site and email me at MamaKate@momappeal.com 

with your favorite product from the company. We’ll draw and announce a winner on Monday, July 19, 2010.

—Mama Kate

Add comment July 11th, 2010

TEA TIME!

If you ask me, and Maleah Moskoff, there is nothing so welcoming as a good cup of tea.

Where to find one? Check in with Moskoff’s Madison-based Cha Cha Tea, an online tea purveyor site. One of her business’s mantras—“Take Time for Tea”—captures the beauty and benefit of tea: It makes us slow down. I think we all need a little of that.

Moskoff is a tea enthusiast. And, when she’s not busy caring for her young son, she’s working bringing the good stuff—locally blended high-quality, organic and fair trade loose teas from around the globe—to the masses, at least in this part of the world. (World-wide, tea is the #2 consumed beverage.)

She recently schooled me in the particulars—the fact that tea is like wine, influenced by terrior, how to brew a perfect cup and in the most economical way, and most importantly what NOT to do when preparing that cup (do NOT heat your water in the microwave!).

I love the Earl Gray Black Organic & Fair Trade, a rich, citrusy mouthful; Citrus Mountain Oolong, which is light and floral with jasmine flowers, lemon myrtle and essential orange oil; and Blueberry Rooibos, safe for the kids, it contains no caffeine and packs a refreshing, fruity, sugar-free punch (I am thinking of long cool drinks of it on ice this summer).

Worried about minutes and torn between the perceived coffee-pot convenience and the tea-brewing process? Moskoff aims to dispel the myth that a great cup of tea takes too much time to brew. Put your water on the stove to boil (or thereabouts, depending on your tea choice), add tea to your filter, then steep for 3 to 5 minutes. I added that time up—really, it was just about how long it takes my coffee maker to brew me a nice hot cup. And, you know, I find that a cup of tea is just a much gentler way to contemplate my day.

Cha Cha sells more than 50 outstanding teas, as well as tea pots, tea cups, and other artisan-made items for serving, preparing and enjoying tea.

Want to learn more? You can have ‘Tea with Maleah,” your own private tea party during which she guides you in tastings and even parings that highlight the beverage.

Now that I’ve discovered Cha Cha Tea, I don’t think I’ll buy a box of pre-packaged tea bags from the grocery store again! SO glad that this mompreneur has enlightened me.

— Mama Kate

Add comment May 25th, 2010

We have a winner …

Drum roll please …  Amanda U. has won the Little Miss Ann CD. Congrats Amanda.

Hope you and your kids enjoy singing along as much as my fam does.

—Mama Kate

Add comment May 25th, 2010

Sweet Bites @ Bloom

If you haven’t yet been to Bloom Bake Shop in Middleton, then you need to head on over. Now. The pics above—of some of Bloom’s nibbles—should be enticement enough!

Annemarie Spitznagle bakes up absolute deliciousness in her quaint corner store. She’s all about organic, sustainable, locally grown and just being green. We definitely like that, especially when it comes to eats for us and our kids.

A visit there is an exercise in the limitations of will power: I find myself standing in front of the case saying, “You can only have one, no two. OK, maybe three.” It’s hard to decide just which cupcake or bar or brownie or cookie or truffle to walk off with. Ahhh, if only she offered flight bites—mini bite-sized cupcakes and cookies, so I could try them all at once!

Among our favorites are the “Be Classic” vanilla and rich chocolate “Be Deep” vanilla cupcakes. And the Whoopie Pies! They’re huge and moist with marshmallow creme filling. Those are among her list of standards, with other flavors appearing seasonally.

I try to avoid wheat and dairy, so I’m a big fan of Bloom’s “Be Kind” gluten-free and vegan offerings. The pink velvet cupcake was perfection: moist and flavorful, not dense and gluey like the gluten-free goods that have come out of my kitchen and other bakeries. (Bloom is more than happy to bake up a big batch for you to store at home. Spitznagle is also willing to try things out: If you have a fave gluten/dairy free recipe or flavor, she wants to hear about it!) I also dream about the gluten-free, vegan chocolate chip cookie. It’s die for, especially if you like the taste of coconut with your chocolate, as Bloom makes them coconut oil instead of butter.

Hmmm, can you tell that we love the sweet bites at Bloom? And, as always at MomAppeal, we love her sustainable/local focus, and that it’s an example of another Madison-area mom putting her creativity out there to make great things happen—for the rest of us to enjoy!

—Mama Kate

Add comment May 22nd, 2010

Win a FREE CD from Little Miss Ann!

In celebration of her Madison gig this Saturday morning at High Noon Saloon, Little Miss Ann is giving away a free CD to a lucky Mom Appeal reader!

To enter the random drawing, please send a comment with:

1) The answer to this question: Where’s Little Miss Ann from? (Hint hint — read the recent blog post below by moi…)

2) Your full name and e-mail address.

Drawing is Saturday, May 22. I’ll be in touch with the lucky winner, and post about it.

—Mama Kate

Add comment May 19th, 2010

Moms … this one’s for you

Mamas!

Add this to your must-do list for Mother’s Day (uh, if it’s not already on your calendar, that’s Sunday, May 9):

After brunching it with the fam, grab your partner, favorite mommy pals, and maybe even your own mom, and head to “Listen to Your Mother.” It’ll be an afternoon of readings from some of “us”—12 Madison-area writerly “moms in the trenches” who read about the “beauty, the beast, and the barely rested that is motherhood” as we know and know and usually love it.

“Listen to Your Mother” kicks off at 3 pm at the Barrymore Theater on Atwood Avenue in Madison. Tickets are $10, available at the door, via phone, or online. Given the nature of some of the readings (aka “the beast” of motherhood), this is a perfect opp to line up a sitter and enjoy a little mommy time sans kiddos. A portion of the proceeds will go to “The Road Home,” a Dane County organization that finds solutions for homeless families.

Event sponsor Happy Bambino is hosting a giveaway—worth $300—that includes brunch for two, tickets to the show, a Happy Bambino gift certificate, and other goodies. Check out Happy Bambino’s blog for more details.

—Mama Kate

Add comment May 3rd, 2010

An Event for Moms With Things to Say

Mamas-

Check out this cool new event … think about submitting/auditioning if you’re a writerly type. There’ll be humor, poignant moments, and just motherly comaraderie. Ann Imig, a cool mommy/writer pal is organizing it. She’s HILARIOUS by the way, and if you don’t yet read her blog, you should! Check it out:  www.annsrants.com.

Hope to see you there! Wear your corsage!

—Mama Kate

Dear Friends, Loved ones, and People who may/may not be interested:

I’m directing and producing a show on Mother’s Day: LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER will be an afternoon of readings by Madison writers on Motherhood at 3:00 pm, Sunday 5/9/10 at The Barrymore.

Auditions are scheduled for Saturday April 10th by appointment, and full details can be found here.http://www.listentoyourmothershow.blogspot.com

I am so excited about creating a new Mother’s Day Madison tradition. After brunch and seeing the lilacs, why not celebrate yourself or your Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Best Friend, or hamster by listening to authentic voices from women who know the beauty, beast and the barely-rested that is MOTHERHOOD.

Thank you for your help and I really hope you’ll come. Now, back to your regularly scheduled screen-time.

With fondest regards and appreciation,

Ann

Add comment March 18th, 2010

Fun in the Kitchen

                            Hot off the griddle!

I just nabbed a copy of Bean Appétit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food, and can’t wait to put it to work in the kitchen with my kiddos.

Dynamic duo Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen—co-owners of Bean Sprouts Cafe and Cooking School, a kid friendly restaurant serving healthy fare to Madison, WI, families—have filled their book with fun, fun, fun. What grown-up cookbook has instructions that tell you to spin in a circle three times before beginning or to waddle like a penguin around the table or shake your hips while the blender’s a whirling?

   The book’s design is bright and colorful, filled with a mix of illustration and engaging “food as art” photography kids will love perusing. The recipe instructions are easy for families to follow together, and feature ingredients lists that are reasonable in length and with easily attainable items. Though they run the gamut from breakfast to snacks to outdoor eats and sweet bites, recipes are organized in clever new ways—food fun for a wintry day, book-themed eats, making music and munchies.

The book’s overriding philosophy: Encourage kids to “play” with their food, and you’ll instill a lifelong interest in preparing delicious healthy foods. It’s good for kid giggles, and frustrated parents. Because they’re engaged in the process and having so much fun prepping food in the kitchen, that should translate to fun at the table for mom and dad, as the kids gobble up the new yummy recipes they’ve helped make—perhaps out of foods their tastebuds had previously rejected. Amen to that.

I also dig the cookbook’s fun extras: questions to inspire table talk, games, crafts, and factoids, like favorite pizza toppings, birthday treats, and table manners from around the world. It’s also got handy conversion charts and tips, on top of its just plain good ideas.

So, get cookin’ with your kids. Pick up your copy at a bookstore near you, or order online.

Our Mom Appeal kudos go out to these two busy and creative mompreneurs, who have got the mojo thing going on! Successful cafe and cooking classes, now the fab cookbook, and also a cooking show that’s in the works! Whew! I don’t know how they do it!

—Mama Kate

Add comment March 3rd, 2010

Win a pair of Nowali Moccasins!

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

Add comment February 24th, 2010