Happy Mother's Day!

Have a great Mother's Day!

XOXO

Robeez weekend & sandal collections

Shoes, shoes, shoes.  I think Madelyn has more shoes than I've had in my entire life.   She has pink shoes, red shoes, black shoes, striped shoes, shoes with flowers on them, shoes with x-bones on them, and so many more. 

In the photo to the right Madelyn is wearing a pair of shoes from Robeez's new Weekend Collection.  They are super easy to get on and off with the help of a tab on the heel, and the multi-colored striped elastic on the sides makes them wearable with almost any outfit.  There are five striped colors choices and four solid color choices in the Weekend Collection.

I also like the new line of Robeez sandals.   Madelyn has the classic style (to the left) which reminds me of sandals I'm wearing in photographs from the late 70's. 

They may look like the sandals we wore as children but they are not nearly the same.  They aren't stiff as thick wooden boards, but instead have soft leather soles and Velcro straps take the place of the buckles that were on the 1970's sandals.

I've always liked Robeez shoes.  They offer both classic and trendy styles and more importantly, they are made to be comfortable for little feet like Madelyn's.  Robeez shoes are available for babies up to 24 months but I have found that they run a little big. Madelyn will be 2 May 9th and I'm sure she will be able to wear the sandals through most of this year and she is not a smaller than average child.

WEBSITE:  Check these collections out at Robeez.

I need homeschooling advice!

I hate public school.. hate it, hate it, hate it. I've been saying for about 3 years now that I want to homeschool Sebastian, now 8. So, what's the problem? I work from home and have an almost 2 year old sitting in my lap 99.9% of the time. My job requires that I answer a lot emails every day, take phone calls, research and test products for review, write proposals, prepare marketing campaigns, etc.. Oh, and my other job (you know.. the mommy job) requires that I cook, clean, and bathe the kids. UGH!

How does a mom get it all done? I can say all day that I will come up with a routine for Sebastian, Madelyn, and I that will make working, keeping house, and homeschooling happen but I have no idea what that routine would possibly be. Am I being un-realistic in thinking that it could be done? I have to work, I have to pay attention to Madelyn, and I would have to help Sebastian with his lessons and take him places so he will have some social interaction with other children.

I can't really explain why I don't like public school. Maybe it's the lack of individual attention or the lack of communication between the school and parents. I don't know if I just want to shelter Sebastian from bully's even though he doesn't seem to have a problem with bullying, or if I feel like he is not getting a great education in public school. Could I do a better job than his teachers? I don't know.

If you homeschool or have homeschooled PLEASE let me know how exactly you managed. Email me at alicia @ themommyinsider.com or leave your thoughts via a comment below.

If Sebastian's teacher is reading, sorry.. it's not you!

Thanks for reading and letting me vent. Enjoy the new product reviews below.

Norton 360 - All in one security

If you are reading this you are using the Internet and if you are using the Internet your computer is at risk of being attacked by any number of viruses and other security issues which can ultimately cause your computer to crash. i.e. lose all your data. I never leave Madelyn unattended around my computer but in the case that she was able to get to it, I don't doubt that she could do some serious damage, deleting, and crashing. Yikes!

I recently learned about one product that takes care of all of these threats, Norton 360. Norton has been providing consumers with top notch security and anti-virus software for years. They have taken it a step further by offering a product that allows us to protect our computer and backup our files.

Norton 360 protects you from spyware and phishing sites, and by screening against online identity theft as you 'surf' and also helps you back up and de-clutter your computer. Norton 360 will automatically back up data and files and remove the clutter that inevitably builds up by surfing the Internet. When all of this is done, you have a faster, more reliable system.

I installed and set up Norton 360 in very little time and have been happy with its performance and capabilities since. You can customize the way Norton 360 works for you.

Norton 360 is a great solution for those of you who have a family website, blog, or work at home on your computer.

Norton 360 is ideal for new computers and for computers that have a lot of available memory as it tends to use a lot of the computer's resources while in use.

WEBSITE: Norton 360

Proud Tots - leather baby & toddler shoes

Proud Tots is one of my new favorite shoe suppliers. I'm finding it impossible to express in writing how cute their leather mary jane baby shoes are. Proud Tots leather baby shoes are truly one of a kind and unlike other baby shoes I've seen and Madelyn has worn.

Madelyn adores her Mary Janes and seems to be very comfortable in them. Not a flimsy shoe, most toddlers should be able to get these shoes on by themselves. I have found that some toddler shoes have a flimsy heel which makes them difficult to get on all the way. I find them very easy to put on Madelyn and when she wants, she puts them on without help. I love the wide base. I don't have any proof of my statement but it seems as though a wider base would help new walkers be more stable? The Velcro fasteners are much appreciated as most parents (ok, it's me) don't want to mess around with shoe laces while their toddler is turning in circles waiting for you to finish getting her shoes on so she can go outside.

Proud Tots Mary Janes look great with both dressy and casual outfits and are perfect for indoor and outdoor use. They even have a little pair of black leather shoes for the little boys!

As if getting a super cute pair of Mary Janes isn't enough, they are packaged in a clear tote bag with a handle. Madelyn loves to put her 'makeup' and other 'accessories' in her tote bag. Priced at just $20 these are a GREAT shoe for the baby or toddler in your life.

Proud Tots is giving two lucky readers a pair of leather shoes! Subscribe to our newsletter (link above) to be notified when we run the giveaway contest.

COUPON CODE: Use our exclusive coupon code 'shoes20' to get 20% off your Proud Tots purchase.

WEBSITE: Proud Tots - Unique leather baby shoes

Capri Sun, now with 25% less sugar! Every mom's dream.

When we recently asked 20 parents what kids beverage they have in their refrigerator, 16 of them said Capri Sun.  When we asked 25 children what their favorite drink is, 19 of them said Capri Sun, 2 of them said milk (huh?), and the other 4.. well, we won't go there.

Capri Sun has been a staple in our fridge for going on 8 years and I am SO thrilled that all 14 Capri Sun flavors now have 25% less sugar than other leading juice drinks and pulled this off without the use of artificial sweeteners or flavors.

When we received samples of the new 25% less sugar Capri Sun, I gave them to my two kids without mentioning the difference.  Both kids drank their Capri Sun in about 2 minutes flat and neither noticed a difference.  What a relief!  I assumed that less sugar = less flavor.  I was wrong.

I appreciate that my kids are getting a good source of antioxidant vitamin E to help support/maintain healthy cells and tissues and are not getting artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Each thirst satisfying pouch is 6.75 fl oz., enough to tame Sebastian's thirst after a baseball game. In fact, I didn't hear one peep when I brought these for the after-game drink a couple of weeks ago.

Already green or going green?  Eco-friendly innovator, TerraCycle converts your used drink pouches into unique fashion bags, tote bags, and pencil cases for kids and adults!  For every pouch you send to TerraCycle they give $.02 to the charity of your choice.  Simply sign up at TerraCycle.org to get started.

WEBSITE: Capri Sun

Can't get enough coupon codes? I'm there with you.

Even when we have money to throw out the window (rare for us) I still do what I can to get a good deal. Especially on items that cost more than $5.00. :) There are obvious ways to save money when shopping off-line. Go to department stores when they are having a sale, and shop at the grocery store on triple coupon day. Did you know you can also save a ton of money by visiting Best Online Coupons before you make a purchase online?

Best Online Coupons lists thousands of coupons codes which are searchable by merchant name and category. Categories include, Baby & Kids, Arts & Crafts, Automotive, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden, and more. Around 700 different online merchants are featured here. I find the site very easy to navigation and you don't have to click link after link to access the coupon code you are after. On just about my 3rd click into the site I came across a 20% off coupon code for the Disney Store, tried it out and it actually worked!

Daily updates, a special "New Coupons" section and an "Expiring Coupons" section make this a great site to bookmark and visit often so you are on top of your money saving game. You can even see what coupons are most popular in the "Hot Coupons" section.

On several occassions I have purchased something online that I could have got at our local toy store, just because I don't want to get out in traffic. Usually I have to pay a shipping fee which sort of makes me feel stupid for not driving to the store that is 10 miles away instead. One great thing about Best Online Coupons is that you will often find 'free shipping' codes like the one I found for Toys R' Us. And for those of us who operate a business from home you know how much of a hassle and how costly buying office supplies can get. Check out the great discount office supply store promotional specials to see what all you could be saving on!

As a busy parent, I really appreciate not having to take the time to register and then login to access their coupon codes. The site is absolutely free to use and is a breeze to navigate.

WEBSITE: Click on over to Best Online Coupons and start saving money at your favorite online shops!

Station Wagon buyers guide - Spring 2008

Best Family Station Wagons: A Buyer’s Guide By The Car Family

Starting from its humble beginnings carrying passengers and their luggage from railroad depots, the “station wagon” emerged as an incredibly versatile and easy to live with family vehicle. In recent years its status has diminished with the availability of cheap gas and drivers who chose to drive tipsy SUVs. Too bad. The station wagon offers much better fuel economy, is safer, is less costly to maintain and offers more usable family friendly cargo capacity.

Here is a review of all the station wagons we have tested and each one was a delight, unlike driving overweight, gas swilling SUVs that are so unsafe that the industry created a special safety category to evaluate them called rollover rate.

Go Green with your own Soda-Club home soda maker!

Green, green, green. Everything is going green these days but who would have thought there was a 'green' way to drink soda? I recycle my soda cans so I thought I was doing about the best that could be done as far as soda cans are concerned. I was wrong! I recently learned about the Soda Club home soda maker from which you can make your own delicious soda while helping to cut down on the energy and resources it takes to recycle millions of aluminum soda cans.

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical at first. There was no way the Soda Club home soda maker could reproduce the flavor of my favorite soda's with just a few simple steps. Huh, I was wrong again! Two times in one day.. yikes.

The Soda Club home soda maker does not require batteries or use power making it easily transportable from house to house or room to room, depending on how you entertain. Imagine how impressed the play group moms will be when you bring a soda maker to your next play group meeting!

There are a few easy steps. First, you set up the soda maker by inserting the included tank of compressed air into the back of the machine. Simply slip the tank into the back of the machine and screw the top to the machine so the air can be used. Then, assuming you have already washed one of the included bottles, fill it with cool water and place it in the font of the soda maker and screw it to the top of the machine until it is tightly attached. Next, push the carbonation button on the top of the machine in short, firm pushes until you hear a loud buzzing noise. This step is what carbonates the water.
After that it is time to add flavor. There are several flavors to choose from. I recommend buying the value pack so you can try all of the flavors. My favorite is the 'lemon lime' which tastes exactly like 'you know what'.

If you buy a Soda Club home soda maker, please don't follow my instructions as they aren't complete! Watch this demo video to see how easy it really is. You will be amazed.

Using the soda maker is so easy, my 8 year old can make his own soda. I have a video of Sebastian talking about the Soda Club home soda maker (he was so excited about it) but it doesn't want to upload. I will keep trying. So far, we have made root beer, lemon-lime soda, and the energy drink which are all included in the value pack. Soda Club hasn't left those of us who prefer diet soda out. There are several diet soda flavors available all of which are comparable to the big brand diet soda's.

A few Green facts:

- No batteries or electricity
- Reduces energy used to manufacture bottles and cans
- Reduces gas and pollution from shipping packaged beverages
- Eliminates pollution from batteries

Empty carbonators are returned to Soda-Club to be cleaned, inspected and refilled with CO2 drawn naturally from the air.

Imagine the money and resources you will save when not buying 4 12-packs of soda a week. It's mind boggling.

Visit the Soda Club home soda maker website here to learn more and buy yours!

Teething Pendant from Smart Mom Jewelry

Madelyn turns two May 9th and still loves to chew on her 'SmartMom Jewelry' Teething Pendant. Granted, I get to wear the pendant but she loves to clamp her teeth down on the pendant as if she was eating a the best, most rare, absolutely delicious caviar in the world.

These teething pendants are beautifully crafted and are made from food-safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone.

With several shapes and colors to choose from you are sure to find a pendant fits your style. Keep in mind that these teething pendants are for mom to wear, not baby!

SmartMom Jewelry's innovative teething pendants are sure to help soothe even the fussiest of teething babies. Give one to Grandma so your baby has the same soothing comfort when away from you.

Learn more about SmartMom Jewelry's Teething Pendants here.