Mommy Must Have: Quality shoes for kiddos - See Kai Run

Some fun shoes and plenty of options
to match any outfit!

Fun, functional and comfy!

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I read somewhere that shoes were not a good idea until around age 1 and walking. Before then, they may be cute, but their feet are still developing and shoes aren't a natural thing for the kids.

However, living in the desert, feet still need covering! That's where soft-soled shoes come into play! My daughter's first shoes are in a memory display, and they were the most beautiful shoes by See Kai Run, from their line "smaller."

I like that they have various types of shoes and so we've pretty much stuck with this brand shoes for both kids. The shoes are cute, functional and the shoe "type" grows with the child's development.

Saving those first "Smaller" shoes by See Kai Run.

In addition they carry some sandles, dressy shoes, "sneakers" and even some boots at times! I love that they keep some classic styles but always have something new out there! Knowing that they change things up, I've even purchased the "same" shoe in two sizes because I loved them so much!

See Kai Run shoes definitely are a "must have" in my book!

They have the "Smaller" line for up to age 24 months and non-walkers

For early walkers their line is called "See Kai Run," and

For Big Kids, they have a nice line and variety of shoes in the line, Kai.








Buy a pair for your little one at See Kai Run.


This post is part of the Mommy Must Have Series. Read more and possibly win some prizes, by clicking here.

Pink shoes can be for sport too!

Comfy cozy athletic shoes for little boys too!

Disclosure: I was given shoes to review in exchange for this post but it does not change my view or impact what I write.

Mommy Must Have: Mama Cloth with MotherMoonPads

I know many of my readers use cloth diapers on their baby's bottoms. They do it for the environment. They do it for the cost savings. They do it because they are weary of chemicals in paper diapers. They do it because of convenience.

Did you know, mama cloth is a great option for women today? What's that? Yes, MotherMoonPads is one option for today's woman who wants convenience, comfort and a more environmentally friendly option for their periods.

The pads are comfortable, easy to wash and come in a variety of sizes to have adequate coverage.

MotherMoonPads is giving away a starter set to one of our readers!

It includes 1, 8" pantyliner, 1, 10" normal flow pad, and 1, 12" heavy flow pad, perfect for those just starting out and not sure about committing to cloth as well as those who need a small boost to their cloth stash.

Pantyliners are approximately 2.5" wide when snapped
Normal Flow Pads are approximately 2.5-2.75" wide when snapped.
Heavy Flow Pads are approximately 2.75" wide when snapped.

The mama cloth pads are topped with cotton velour and are backed with anti-pill fleece to protect you against leaks.

You will receive the exact pad set shown. It is in stock, and ready to ship (as is everything else in my store!) Please note that both the front and the back of the pads are pictured.

Benefits of MotherMoonPads™:

MotherMoonPads™strives to create high quality, yet affordable products that will last you for years to come!
I only use the highest quality fabrics, such as organic bamboo velour, minky, cotton velour, zorb, and anti pill fleece.
All fabrics are prewashed so your pads come ready to use and won't shrink in the wash!
All winged pads close with professionally applied KAM snaps
All edges are serged
All pads are backed with polyester fleece to protect you from leaks.
Normal, Heavy, and Postpartum pads come with the first letter of their absorbency embroidered onto the wing so you will always know the absorbency of the pad you are grabbing. No more guessing!

How absorbent are MotherMoonPads™?
*Pantyliners are meant for very light days and are trim enough for use as an everyday liner
*Normal flow pads have a Zorb absorbent core, and are meant for most normal days
*Heavy flow pads have an absorbent core of organic bamboo fleece and Zorb. They are meant for most heavy flow days.
*Postpartum flow pads have two layers of Zorb for the absorbent core, and are meant for very heavy days or for postpartum use.

Please review my policies and mama cloth buying guide before making a purchase: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MotherMoonPads/policy

Want to learn more about MotherMoonPads™? Click here!


See what they offer on their etsy site. It may just be the next best thing you never heard about!


This post is part of the Mommy Must Have event. Find more information and enter the giveaways here!

Mommy Must Have - Soft, WAHM custom cloth diapers:

Cloth diapers are not only eco-friendly, they are fun AND functional. Cloth diapers come in a variety of options. From the old-school flats or prefolds to today's waterproof all in ones... There really are endless options.

Five years ago I bought my first cloth diaper. In fact, cloth diapering was one of my first parenting decisions. I wasn't sure if I'd breastfeed, but I knew I'd use cloth. My skin is sensitive and I wanted to put the best on my baby's bottom!

I purchased a variety of diapers and one of the first was from Kiera at Made with Love Diapers. I loved her options and I loved that I was supporting another mom with my purchase. It has been just over 4.5 years since I purchased a diaper from her and she's a maker I've come to trust. I like to order diapers for pregnant friends (who are open to cloth, and I generally assume everyone can use a few back up, just in case!), and Made with Love Cloth Diapers are some of the top ones.

Made with Love Cloth Diapers really are great - lots of options, stylish, and great customer service. 

For one of our lucky Mommy Must Have with Attached Moms winners will get an awesome diaper from Made with Love Cloth Diapers!

Specifications:

One Size Fits Most 10-35 pounds
2 Step Adjustable Rise 
Organic Cotton & Bamboo
Snap In Soaker for Quick Drying
Retail Value $21
Learn more at www.madewithlovediapers.com 

Visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MadewithLoveDiapers

Buy the Diapers at www.ecocheeksboutique.com/etsy

Mommy Must Have a Quality Carrier - Boba review

Those who have followed this blog know that I'm a strong advocate of baby wearing. Baby wearing has a multitude of benefits, and coming into International Baby wearing Week, many moms will be telling you all about those benefits, which include:

• bonding
• convenience
• having use of your hands for say another kid, or shopping, or (the list goes on)
• breastfeeding (baby is near for prolactin and for convenience, and a built in cover if one desires privacy
• helping baby sleep

5'10 skinny man with 2 year old on a hike.

The fact is there are a lot of carriers out there. Many will do the above, but not all are easy to use and not all are good for baby OR mom (dad/caregiver).

Boba has some specific benefits. I like that me, being short and stout, can wear it and we can easily adjust it within seconds for my husband who is tall and lean to wear it.

Boba has a higher shell than other soft structured carriers - this is great because my husband likes to take our 2 year old out hiking and he (as in the 2 year old) likes to walk up and then sleep on the way down. It also works nicely for our 4.5 year old as well.

I'm working on learning the foot straps, but I've seen them in use and it makes sense. You can see in the photo here that my daughter isn't in a full sitting position, so for a long day out, this would be beneficial. I know that since my daughter wasn't walking until 14 months, we had some time when this would have been especially nice to have!

From Boba Family website:

Boba is a Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) that is intended for babies and children between 7-45lbs. Boba offers several innovative features not seen on other carriers:

The foot straps attached to the waist belt keep older children comfortable while enabling a healthy sitting position. The footstraps not only give tired little legs a rest, but support the legs in a flexed abducted (froglike) position which naturally tilts the pelvis, fills out the hip sockets and aligns the spine.

The new infant conversion option allows you to use the Boba Carrier 3G with babies over 7lbs. The best part is that there is absolutely no insert or accessory needed! Simply follow the instruction booklet included with your Boba Carrier to learn how to use the new Boba Carrier 3G for your newborn.

Boba has a few extra inches of height to keep your center of gravity closer to your body and support your little one’s back. The Boba Carrier 3G is approximately 2-3”  higher than other soft structured carriers.

The new 3G design is made to fit parents of all shapes and sizes without purchasing an extension belt or accessory. All straps are fully adjustable, and elastic bands are provided so you can comfortably tuck the straps away once you have the carrier adjusted for you and your child.  

You can see the same carrier on someone under 5' tall and extra padding, um, ah... fluffy and someone thin and tall. It works nicely and I love that it is comfortable.

Even my husband, who at first didn't see a difference, LOVED this carrier. He indicated it was much easier to hike with our two year old on his back, especially the support that the higher shell offered when our son fell asleep.


This is part of the Mommy Must Have Series. Read more reviews on great items and enter giveaways here.

Disclosure: I received a Boba to review for this series. This does not impact my opinion or what I write here.

Mommy must have - Pedicure date with daughter - Piggy Paint

Mommy daughter time is important to keep the bond and also give both parties a chance to reconnect. I'm finding this to be especially important now that my daughter is in school and I'm still working.

Piggy Paint is a more natural option for families: formaldehyde- and cruelty- free, it is great for kids and pregnant moms. My daughter loves to paint her fingers each a different color. I love that with two coats, it stays nicely on my toes for a while as well! For the sensitive nose, it doesn't smell bad either. My favorite part is that

In love with her sparkly toes.

You can buy piggy paint at some select stores, but buy through www.piggypaint.com and save 15% with code WELOVEGABBY

This is part of the mommy must have event - please visit the main page to try to WIN $25 gift card to Piggy Paint and other great prizes and read about more awesome mommy must have items!

Proof that this stuff is thick!
This is how my 4 year old paints my toes
 (not just the nails!)

Disclosure: I received test bottles to use for this review. It does not impact my opinion or what I write here :)

Mommy Must Have... Reviews, giveaways and a guide for parents

Mommy Must Have .... 

Time in a day,

Presence of mind,

a group of supportive friends,  and

Enough love in her heart to make it through the day.

Sometimes it is hard to know what those MUST have items are! AttachedMoms.com and A little Bit of Everything picked a few of their favorites and are excited to share them with you!

The first must have is a great system for organizing. Why not check out an Organizing Utility Tote by Thirty-one Gifts.

One of the basics supplies out there is soap. It Is Well Soap is family-made from a very loving family based in Phoenix.

The next must have is a baby carrier. Babies need that touch and mommy will have things to get done. Unfortunately some of those take a hand or two and a baby carrier like the Boba is a wonderful option!

The next must have is great shoes for the kiddos! See Kai Run offers cute shoes for both boys and girls, and their crib shoes are a definite must have!

Once your kiddos start eating food, it will be important to introduce them to fruits and vegetables. Copy-Kids DVD is a great way to help that picky toddler see other kids enjoy vegetables and likely get your kiddo on the route to good eating as well!

Now, don't forget about aunt flow! I tell you, even with TANDEM nursing on demand, I had less than 6 weeks between post-partum flow and aunt flow. To get yourself covered, consider reusable mama cloth. Really, it works awesome! MotherMoonPads are top of the line!

When baby is here, and perhaps elimination communication isn't cut out for your family, may I suggest cloth diapers? There are tons of options out there from upcycled t-shirts on the "old fashioned" prefolds to factory made waterproof diapers. Right in between that you have work-at-home-mom made diapers. One of my favorites is Made With Love Diapers.

Finally, kiddos know that mama needs relaxing, and one great way to relax is with a pedicure. Well sometimes getting that time alone isn't possible so kiddos can join in with the fun with Piggy Paint!

And to carry all your stuff, you need a nice bag. Fans of Attached Moms are eligible for a free gift from Thirty-One gifts with Amanda McMahon, Independent Consultant!


In the end, don't forget that a good mom isn't defined by the things she has or how together she appears. Just be the best mommy you can be and your kiddos will appreciate it :)

Thanks again for following this event! Feel free to use those share buttons!

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Copy-Kids - A mommy must have -

Whether your child is a "good" eater or not, there are times when eating vegetables becomes a chore for kids. Here in my house, it seems to be on just about any given day - it could be because the kids are too busy, it could be because they're in the mood for something else, or it could be because they don't "like" something.

I really believe that we need to introduce vegetables to children early on. We did baby led weaning for the most part and this helped introduce our kids early on, but it doesn't mean our kids say yes to every fruit or vegetable every day!

We were lucky enough to receive a copy of Copy-Kids: Eat your Fruits and Vegetables DVD earlier this year and even months later, we pull this movie out to watch. Sometimes the kiddos even ask for it... and then it means they HAVE to eat the bell pepper like an apple like one of the kiddos on the dvd. I guess sometimes positive peer pressure is just worth while. Visit my previous review here.

Buy the Copy-Kids DVD here!

This is part of the Mommy Must Have Review and Giveaway series. Find out more here! You may just win a copy for yourself!



Copy Kids Info
Copy-Kids has won another children's excellence award:
Parent Tested, Parent Approved

Copy-Kids is approved by the USDA and added to their Education and Training Materials Database for pre-school nutrition:


Find out more about Copy-Kids on
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Get to know It Is Well Soap

When at a big box store, or even a health food store, we often pick the soaps and moisturizers that are on sale or that have a special character our children like, or even a smell it has, even if the smell is something potentially harmful. I know I'm guilty of it at times!

When we have sensitive skin, we may realize the issues with "regular" products, but really, it is important for all of us to know what we're using and what it may do to our body. In all reality, the EPA and the Environmental Working Group has told us of the dangers of many of the items in these products and it is time to make a change.

It Is Well Soap is a creation of a Phoenix-couple who really wanted to be able to do more for their family and have a great product. Here's what they had to say to Attached Moms

Deodorant by It is Well Soaps

Thank you for your interest in wanting to know more about us. We are a family of 6 dedicated to serving Jesus Christ and fulfilling His will for our family. Our goal is to glorify God through this business adventure by fully utilizing the talents and knowledge that He has equipped us with. We are also dedicated to providing our customers with a superior, high quality product.

We decided to go forth on this adventure because we could not find quality skin care products that were natural and effective. We also wanted products without harsh chemicals that would damage our skin. We had all sorts of rashes and cracked skin that was irritating and would not go away. These issues were on our hands, bottoms, cheeks and lips. We tried to treat these issues with different lotions and creams but as soon as we would put them on, our skin would burn. So we started to research ingredients to make our own lotion to help with these skin issues. We use natural ingredients that would moisturize our skin and not burn when we put it on. The lotion is very good and did help to heal the dry cracked skin that we were experiencing but the problem would consistently return.

Instead of just treating the symptoms, we wanted to figure out what was causing the problems. We tried all different soaps for washing dishes, bathing and daily hand wash but nothing was working. With having 4 young children, there is always someone or something that needs washing. We decided to start researching and learning how to make our own soap. We were very happy with the lotion and thought that a good home made soap would be icing on the cake! Since we have been using our home made soap and lotions, we have not had any skin issues at all!
The products on this site are the result of our research along with the knowledge that God has provided us with. We are praying that these products will be a blessing to you and your family as much as they have been to ours.

Visit It Is Well Soap on the web at http://itiswellsoap.com.


This is part of the Mommy Must Have Blogger event





Disclosure: I received nothing for this review/presentation - I just believe in their cause and the people behind the wonderful products!

Free Blogger Event!

Attached Moms is hosting a major giveaway and review event in October! If you have a blog, you can join free!

If you do not have a blog and want your page promoted, you can do so by paying the fee and putting information regarding this in the comments.

And you could win $10 for referring other bloggers!