When Ashley Mohr on behalf of Church & Dwight contacted me to let me know she was sending a slew of products for me to test out I was excited. Little did I know that I would have a new best friend! I am not talking about the human kind I am talking about the "what would I do without this product" kind. Some of the products Ashley had sent I was already familiar with so I dispersed those to my girlfriends in which they will do their own review. There was one teeny tiny product that I had never tried, the Oxi Clean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover. So I kept it. It claimed to "POWER OUT STAINS INSTANTLY" (can you hear that booming commercial voice?). OK so that would be cool! Now it was just a waiting game until a stain occurred. Normally stains occur for me when I wear white so I did. Stains are always occurring when my son Brennan eats or drinks anything but this time, it was like the stains knew I had a tool to fight them and it just wasn't happening. Until the day I put on my brand new white shorts! Let's call this STAIN DAY. My friend Cindy (Cindy don't get mad at me please!) came over with her kids and while hovering with a chip loaded with salsa over my "NO KID" couch (yes I have a no kid couch but don't worry I also have a very friendly kid couch too) she completely missed her mouth and the salsa landed right there on the cushion. AHA! No problemo I have Oxi Clean Spray Away! This little tiny purse size spray bottle covers the entire stain with one spray! Stain instantly disappears and my beautiful straw colored cushion looks brand new. It worked WONDERS later that evening when (still wearing new white shorts) my glass of red wine landed in my lap! Thanks to my husband bumped into me (don't get mad hubster you know it's true!) That was the true test. White shorts an entire glass of red wine, if this Spray Away Stain Spray works on this it will be my new best friend. So there you have it, Oxi Clean Spray Away Instant Stain Remover is my new best friend! This product is a MUST HAVE! I give it a 10 out of 10! I dare you to find a stain this sucker can't remove! Pick up a few on your next trip to the store (they are only $4.99)and keep one in your car, your purse, your "junk" drawer (you know you have one). Go get a few more and give them to your friends, they may think it is a weird gift but trust me they will thank you later!
After cutting pattern after pattern after pattern each and every day, my studio can quickly be overcome with fabric scraps. To some sewers and crafters this can be quite burdensome, but for me it is a wonderful opportunity to be anything but wasteful. Never does a scrap go to waste! These annoyances can easily become works of beauty and works of art! I save my scraps in clear bags assorted by color and stored. When the bags begin to overflow or the urge to use them arises these scraggly pieces full of strings and raw edges are cut and pieced together to be come functional items! This particular assortment (shown) will become a very funky, one of a kind, gender neutral quilt soon to be available for purchase in the A.B. Baby Boutique! We will be sure to post it when completed!
With school about to start, my kids suddenly become almost unmanageable. Too much fun in the summer and not enough structure? You think it would kill them to be home for just one day. They are bored, they have nothing to do (yeah right). So what does a Mom who happens to be an artist with all this crafty stuff at her fingertips do? Does she dare take out the acrylic paints and Oh My Gosh (gasp) let the kids use them? Yes, she does and you know sometimes these little boogers can really surprise her! Oh no did my kids inherit the artsy gene? Yup they did, but hey that is not such a bad thing! Sometimes you just have to channel all that boredom and turn it into creativity. Sometimes it works and sometimes they just make a mess that only Mom can clean up completely. In this case, the art turned out fabulous and yes, Mom has a lot to clean up. You gotta give my little guy credit though he did try. The soap dispenser is proof of that now that it is covered in paint. The sink and counter and drips from the table to the sink are proof that he meant well right! That is all that matters. Throw him in tub (before the mess travels through the entire house) amd give that boy a good scrubbing. You can deal with the mess in the kitchen later because you first have to admire the great works of art your little one created! These two Picassos are going up on the wall for sure! Not bad for a 6 year old don't you agree? The top is a pirate ship (like Mommy's Painting he says) and the bottom is a car out for a drive!
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Urban Baby Slings to our Boutique! As you know we only offer items made or invented by moms so let's get to know Rencie!
Meet Rencie, the Owner, Mama and Designer of Urban Baby Slings! Born and nurtured in Chicago Illinois, Cortez and Company started as a one woman operation. After much local demand for Rencie's pouches, she decided to open an on-line store in December of 2005. Now the very tiny one person operation turned in a small business which is steadily growing. Rencie is striving to bring the same convenience to families everywhere at affordable prices. Cortez and Company makes sure that every family could own there own Urban Pouch by offering discounts to parents who participate in low-income programs such as W.I.C. They also donate pouches to a variety of organizations and local offices.
Buy from Cortez and Company and know that every purchase allows them to help families a less fortunate than others. Rencie, What makes Urban Baby Slings exceptional?
Our line of fitted pouches and adjustable ring slings express the many sides of today’s mama in a most attractive way. Just because you became a mom doesn’t mean you lose your style. Urban Pouches and Urban Baby Slings are all about expressing the true life of today’s mama, while dipping into the fabulous world of glamour.
Features of an Urban Pouch:
Secure deep pouch area allows a secure snuggle with your newborn while offering a comfortable carry for your toddler
Easy on – Easy Off
Fitted pouches are known for their "pop-ability" action. Just toss over your shoulder and you are ready to wear your little one!
Easy-Access Hidden Pocket
Stash your cash, credit cards, or even a folded diaper for a quick run to the market. It’s secure, hidden yet easily assessable!
Key Keeper
Great for carrying keys, toys, or even a pacifier Optional lightly padded leg rail. We realize that some baby's skin is more sensitive than others. A lightly padded leg rail is just enough cushion to add some extra comfort when in the hip, back and belly positions.
What do the experts say about Baby Wearing?
Here are a few things Dr. Sears says about babywearing. You can verify this @ www.askdrsears.com. 1. Sling babies cry less. Parents in my practice commonly report, "As long as I wear her, she's content!" Parents of fussy babies who try babywearing relate that their babies seem to forget to fuss. This is more than just my own impression. In 1986, a team of pediatricians in Montreal reported on a study of ninety-nine mother-infant pairs. The first group of parents were provided with a baby carrier and assigned to carry their babies for at least three extra hours a day. They were encouraged to carry their infants throughout the day, regardless of the state of the infant, not just in response to crying or fussing. In the control, or noncarried group, parents were not given any specific instructions about carrying. After six weeks, the infants who received supplemental carrying cried and fussed 43 percent less than the noncarried group. Anthropologists who travel throughout the world studying infant-care practices in other cultures agree that infants in babywearing cultures cry much less. In Western culture we measure a baby's crying in hours, but in other cultures, crying is measured in minutes. We have been led to believe that it is "normal" for babies to cry a lot, but in other cultures this is not accepted as the norm. In these cultures, babies are normally "up" in arms and are put down only to sleep – next to the mother. When the parent must attend to her own needs, the baby is in someone else's arms. 2. Sling babies learn more. If infants spend less time crying and fussing, what do they do with the free time? They learn! Sling babies spend more time in the state of quiet alertness . This is the behavioral state in which an infant is most content and best able to interact with his environment. It may be called the optimal state of learning for a baby. Researchers have also reported that carried babies show enhanced visual and auditory alertness. The behavioral state of quiet alertness also gives parents a better opportunity to interact with their baby. Notice how mother and baby position their faces in order to achieve this optimal visually interactive plane. The human face, especially in this position, is a potent stimulator for interpersonal bonding. In the kangaroo carry, baby has a 180-degree view of her environment and is able to scan her world. She learns to choose, picking out what she wishes to look at and shutting out what she doesn't. This ability to make choices enhances learning. A sling baby learns a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver. 3. Sling babies are more organized. It's easier to understand babywearing when you think of a baby's gestation as lasting eighteen months – nine months inside the womb and at least nine more months outside. The womb environment automatically regulates baby's systems. Birth temporarily disrupts this organization. The more quickly, however, baby gets outside help with organizing these systems, the more easily he adapts to the puzzle of life outside the womb. By extending the womb experience, the babywearing mother (and father) provides an external regulating system that balances the irregular and disorganized tendencies of the baby. Picture how these regulating systems work. Mother's rhythmic walk, for example, (which baby has been feeling for nine months) reminds baby of the womb experience. This familiar rhythm, imprinted on baby's mind in the womb, now reappears in the "outside womb" and calms baby. As baby places her ear against her mother's chest, mother's heartbeat, beautifully regular and familiar, reminds baby of the sounds of the womb. As another biological regulator, baby senses mother's rhythmic breathing while worn tummy- to-tummy, chest-to-chest. Simply stated, regular parental rhythms have a balancing effect on the infant's irregular rhythms. Babywearing "reminds" the baby of and continues the motion and balance he enjoyed in the womb 4. Sling babies get "humanized" earlier. Another reason that babywearing enhances learning is that baby is intimately involved in the caregiver's world. Baby sees what mother or father sees, hears what they hear, and in some ways feels what they feel. Carried babies become more aware of their parents' faces, walking rhythms, and scents. Baby becomes aware of, and learns from, all the subtle facial expressions, body language, voice inflections and tones, breathing patterns, and emotions of the caregiver. A parent will relate to the baby a lot more often, because baby is sitting right under her nose. Proximity increases interaction, and baby can constantly be learning how to be human. Carried babies are intimately involved in their parents' world because they participate in what mother and father are doing. A baby worn while a parent washes dishes, for example, hears, smells, sees, and experiences in depth the adult world. He is more exposed to and involved in what is going on around him. Baby learns much in the arms of a busy person. 5. Sling babies are smarter. Environmental experiences stimulate nerves to branch out and connect with other nerves, which helps the brain grow and develop. Babywearing helps the infant's developing brain make the right connections. Because baby is intimately involved in the mother and father's world, she is exposed to, and participates in, the environmental stimuli that mother selects and is protected from those stimuli that bombard or overload her developing nervous system. She so intimately participates in what mother is doing that her developing brain stores a myriad of experiences, called patterns of behavior. These experiences can be thought of as thousands of tiny short-run movies that are filed in the infant's neurological library to be rerun when baby is exposed to a similar situation that reminds her of the making of the original "movie." For example, mothers often tell me, "As soon as I pick up the sling and put it on, my baby lights up and raises his arms as if in anticipation that he will soon be in my arms and in my world."I have noticed that sling babies seem more attentive, clicking into adult conversations as if they were part of it. Babywearing enhances speech development. Because baby is up at voice and eye level, he is more involved in conversations. He learns a valuable speech lesson – the ability to listen.Normal ambient sounds, such as the noises of daily activities, may either have learning value for the infant or disturb him. If baby is alone, sounds may frighten him. If baby is worn, these sounds have learning value. The mother filters out what she perceives as unsuitable for the baby and gives the infant an "It's okay" feeling when he is exposed to unfamiliar sounds and experiences. FATHERS WEARING BABIES As a father and certified babywearer, I feel that it's important that a baby get used to father's handling, too. Father has a different rhythm to his walk, a difference that baby learns to appreciate. The snuggle hold and neck nestle are favorite wearing positions for father. BABYWEARING THE PREMATURE INFANT A premature baby, especially one with medical problems needing weeks or months of intensive care, is deprived of those final weeks or months in the womb. Instead, baby must grow in an outside womb. The problem is that outside wombs are static. They don't move. Research has shown that a premature baby whose "womb" moves gains weight faster and has fewer stop-breathing (apnea) episodes. Specialists in newborn care have fabricated a variety of moving wombs, such as oscillating waterbeds.A group of newborn-care specialists in South America made an ingenious discovery. Some hospitals could not afford incubators and all the technology needed to care for prematures. They were forced to use the mother. These preemies were wrapped around their mothers in a sling like wrap, a custom called "packing." To everyone's amazement, the babies thrived as well as, or even better than, the technologically cared-for babies.The researchers concluded that the close proximity to mother helped the babies thrive. Being close to mother entices baby to feed more frequently. Mother's warmth kept the baby warm; mother's movement calmed the baby, enabling the baby to divert energy from crying to growing. Mother's breathing movements stimulated baby's breathing, so that these babies had fewer stop-breathing episodes. Mother acted as sort of a respiratory pacemaker for baby's breathing.As soon as a premature baby no longer needs oxygen and intravenous therapy and enters the growing phase, we encourage mothers to wear their babies as much as possible, a practice called "kangaroo care" . BABYWEARING HANDICAPPED INFANTS Parents often spend more time and money on infant stimulation techniques and better-baby classes when the best stimulation available at the lowest possible cost is right in front of them—babywearing. The handicapped baby especially profits from being worn. Picture the stimulation baby gets: He hears what you hear, sees what you see, moves like you move, because he is near your eyes, ears, and mouth. Baby is in constant touch. Babies with cerebral palsy who arch and stiffen are greatly helped by babywearing. The contoured, bent position of the cradle hold and kangaroo carry competes with baby's tendency to arch backward, and lessens this annoying back- diving posturing. BABYWEARING FAILURE-TO-THRIVE INFANTS The infant who fails to thrive also benefits from babywearing. Some babies, for a variety of medical reasons, are very slow to gain weight, the condition called "failure to thrive". In our pediatric practice, and for one of our own babies, we have used babywearing as a therapeutic tool to stimulate thriving. My doctor's orders to parents are very simple: "Put your baby on in the morning and take him off at night. Wear him down for naps and to sleep. Wear him when you go out and about the house. Take long relaxing walks while wearing your baby. This will help both of you thrive."How does babywearing help babies thrive? Motion does good things for growing babies. It has a calming effect on infants. They cry less and therefore divert the energy they would have wasted on crying into growing. Also, proximity increases feeding frequency, another reason that babywearing stimulates growth. Frequent feedings are a potent stimulus for growth. Perhaps babywearing promotes growth hormones and body enzymes that enhance growth. This has been shown to be true in experimental animals. I believe that in addition to these growth- promoting effects babywearing helps babies thrive because of the organizing effect on baby. The baby's overall biological system seems to work better when she is worn.
In the past we have held special giveaways at the A.B. Baby Boutique. Usually by placing an order you would automatically be entered into a drawing to win the product of the month. Well, while the concept was great it sometimes did not end so well for everyone. You see, it had a glitch. Let's say you placed an order and were entered into the giveaway automatically. Let's say the giveaway product was a bib and your child is 5 years old! Bet you would not have use for that bib! If you were to win, you would get the bib! Others who were entered and would have loved to win the bib would lose out! To fix this, we have decided to host the product giveaways right here on our blog! Even better, you only enter if you are interested in winning the product posted! All you have to do is send an email to kristen@abbabyboutique.com and let me know that you are interested in entering. Please put in the subject line "Product Giveaway" and be sure to put the name of the product that is up for the week! To kick off the first FREE PRODUCT we are offering one pair of Getting On Argyle BabyLegs! If you would love to be entered to win this fabulous pair of babylegs, plese send me an email with "Product Giveaway Argyle BabyLegs" in the body of the email, please put your first and last name along with your address and if you win, you will be notified via email and on the blog! Good luck to all!
 When I saw these fabulous hand painted wooden knobs by Mickie Calascione of La Rysch Designs, I had to know more! They are gorgeous! Each knob (there are dozens to choose from) is 1.5" in diameter and is coated with 3 layers of non-toxic clear acrylic. They are ready to install with hardware included. Why not spruce up the bedroom with these works of art for a perfect finishing touch! I asked Mickie to tell me more about herself and how she began creating these fabulous little paintings on wooden knobs!
Here is her uplifting story:
"As a former elementary school teacher, kids, color and fun have always played an important role in my life, and of course, getting a little messy along the way. After the birth of our 4th child, teaching was not an option any more. Our 4 yr old at that time(now 8 and healthy as a horse), suffered from chronic croup , constant asthma attacks, scary visits to the emergency room in the middle of the night, treatments under my desk at school, and "my" calling more subs than I care to imagine; so we said, "enough already". I was finally "just a mom". A role I had wanted to play for a long time. I won’t say that it  was easy, financially it was hard, but worth every penny we didn’t have any more. God has blessed us 4 times with the most perfectly, wonderful children anyone could wish for, and no amount of "Gold" in the world could replace the riches that we already have in them.
Since then, four years have passed; our children are older, happy and healthy; our 2 dogs have turned into 3dogs plus 2 cats; and our pennies are still pennies, but now I have more time to "do something with that art thing", my husband, whom I love dearly, likes to say. My dream has became reality, "La Rysch Designs" is here to stay . Born out of the love of my family, and  named after my children (Ryan, Lauren, Shelby, and Cheryl). My business allows me to be a mom and wife first, and do what I love to do daily- create, enjoy life, and dream a little.
I believe that if anyone has a dream out there, no matter how big or small, believe in it and it will become reality. So many of us wait for the perfect time, save for the right amount of money, wait to have children, etc, and then the "perfect" time has already come and gone. If "we" had waited for any of the above, than our perfectly, wonderful children would still be waiting up there on their stars, La Rysch designs would still be a dream, and no one would be able to have any of these cute, little, whimsical creations of mine! "
~Mickie Calascione
What an inspiration! Thank you Mickie for sharing your talents and wonderful story with us! If you are a boutique or store owner and would like more information on how you can add these fine knobs to your inventory, please contact Mickie directly at: laryschdesigns@hotmail.com
Where oh where have I been? You may have been wondering that. Let's see, school let out, the kids are home for the summer and I decided to take a break for 2 weeks. Sort of. Well I did for the most part. I mean orders still came in that I had to fill and ship, but for the most part I did my best (the best any business owner can do) and stayed mostly out of the office (studio) and played with the kids. Some necessary fun is always good for you. So after 2 weeks at the beach, on our favorite island, on the boat and in the pool, I am back with tons of ideas, a re-charge of motivation and a tan I am hoping won't age me too much. Up today is a new line of fabulous cozy and gorgeous Textured Quilts. Modeling my favorite one, is Alexa, the adorably cute daughter of my best customer and biggest fan Alessandra. I know the baby is just edible, but no, she is not for sale. If she was well, let's just say I would take her (remember I have boys)! However, the blanket is and you can find it right here! These blankets are full of texture, something babies crave and actually need to develop their senses. These Textured Quilts come in a few different sizes from mini lovey sizes to full crib quilts and nap blankets. All are of course handmade and double washed for softness and to give it that textured frayed quality. Look for many new styles to come in the next few weeks. These Textured Quilts make a fabulous baby shower gift or gift for yourself. They are great to take on road trips, cozy to take on your next flight and are just as wonderful placed on the floor for tummy time! As always I love to hear your comments so if you have something to say, please do! See you tomorrow & Happy Summer! Kristen :)
Toymaker announces recall of Thomas the Tank Engine trains due to lead fears
Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2007
WASHINGTON — A massive toy recall could have millions of parents taking their children’s favorite toys away.
On Wednesday, RC2 Corp. recalled about 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine wooden railway toys in Canada and the United States, due to concerns that the paint used on them may contain lead.
Thomas the Tank Engine is a wildly popular toy among young children, especially boys.
The toy recall includes wooden vehicles, buildings and other train set parts imported and distributed by RC2 Corp.
The toys in question were sold from January 2005 through June 2007.
Toys marked with the letters WJ or AZ are not included in the recall.
Patty Davis with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says lead can be toxic if ingested by children.
It may have been quiet over here, but it has not been quiet over at the A.B. Baby Boutique! The "My Little Crayon Roll-up" is in the spotlight once again, this time at Babytv.com as the Editor's Pick. What a fantastic review, you just have to read it!
Babytv.com is the latest website venture of BabyUniverse, Inc. (NASDAQ:POSH), the leading content, commerce, and new media company in the pregnancy, baby, and toddler marketplace.
BabyTV.com is also the very first Internet-based television network for moms. BabyTV.com has frequently partnered with major media companies like Oxygen and Alpha Mom. I highly recommend checking it out. It is a fantastic resource for moms and families!
In case you missed the link above, here it is again. Go read the fabulous review by Cheryl mom of two twins age 5. Her account of our Crayon Roll-up is superb and thus our Crayon Roll-Ups are flying off the shelves!
Thank you Cheryl and everyone at Babytv.com!
 Enter for a chance to win a baby shower basket valued at over $1000!
Did you know that in the United States, more babies are born in the summer months than any other season? And the most popular month for babies to be born is July!In celebration, we are giving one lucky mom-to-be a Baby Shower Basket filled with all the essentials that every new mom will need. It is so easy to enter. Just click on the links to visit each sponsors' website and look for the answer to their question.Be sure to answer all 32 questions because only complete and correct entries are eligible to win.While you are at the our sponsors' site, be sure to check out all the beautiful products and save with the special discount codes offered! Have fun and good luck! ENTER NOW!
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