Rebecca's Reviews

A few years ago we were in search of a toy kitchen for our daughter. We don't have a huge house, and the kids already had a lot of items for Christmas so we didn't want to spend a lot of money. We were at Walmart and stumbled upon this kitchen. We decided to purchase it and figured if she liked it and used it we could always upgrade in a year or two.

Well we still have that kitchen and our 4 year old still uses it. If you are on a budget I would definately consider this kitchen.

Here is what Walmart has to say about the product:
Cook up some fun with the American Plastics Homestyle Kitchen Play Set. This play set features a realistic child-sized countertop with light-up burners and a "ticking" timer with bell. When pots and pans are placed on the burners, the play set activates bubbling and sizzling sounds. There are seven reinforced doors on the refrigerator, oven, microwave and several cupboards, adding a sense of organization and allowing for hours of play. Other features include a sink with a removable sprayer-faucet, storage shelves and a play microwave.

Kitchen measures 34" x 37½"
Assembly Required
6 eating utensils (2 spoons, 2 knives, 2 forks)

1 cell phone
2 drinking glasses
2 plates
1 sieve
2 cooking utensils
3 casserole dishes
2 lids for casserole dishes
1 pot
1 lid for pot
1 measurement cup

Requires 2 "AA" batteries (not included)

There are only 2 negatives about this kitchen. One is the assembly time and the other is that our oven door rarely stays closed.

If you choose to purchase this kitchen allow yourself plenty of time to put it together. All the pieces are still attached to the plastic molds, so you have to break off or cut all the utensils, plates etc in addition to the kitchen itself. To prevent the oven door from falling open be sure not to trim too much around the door or oven opening.

* This is my personal opinion for a product that we bought at a retail outlet. I have not been paid or received any other incentives to write this review.

Our son has been in a Britax Boulevard since he was around 1 year of age. He is on the smaller side so he could technically still be using the Boulevard, but at 6 and in First Grade we thought he might like to be in something a little older.

As soon as I mentioned Booster Seat my husband started panicking and asking hundreds of questions. So I began to research the options available. There are a few seats available that have a 5 point harness for children up to 80 lbs.

We decided on the Frontier because we know and trust Britax safety standards. We also liked a lot of the features including:

movable arm rests

retractable cup holders

5 point harness to 80 lbs

seat positioning booster to over 100 lbs

latch and tether available (check with vehicle manufacturer for latch limits)

Side impact protection

9 yr expiration date

The seat can be used for children over 100 lbs. as long as the vehicle shoulder belt guide places the belt in the proper position for the child, and the top of the child’s ears are below the top of the head restraint, and the child physically fits in the seat, and is not being used beyond its expiration date (9 years from date of manufacture).

If you are looking for a car seat for a child who is at least 2 and 25 lbs then I would strongly recommend this seat. For a more detailed description of the Frontiers features and for testimonials visit Britax.

I believe that all children should be in a 5-point harness car seat as long as possible. If you have a child who you think is ready for a booster seat and the car seat belt please read this Is My Child Ready for a Booster Seat first.

I have been fortunate this week to have a savvy business woman from Connect2Mums review 2 body products from Arbonne's line. As an Independent Consultant with Arbonne I personally love these products, but it is always nice to hear how much others enjoy the products also.

Here is the review as it appears on Connect2Mums

Arbonne NutriminC RE9 Body Serum & Body Lotion
review by Monique Nickalls

For the last week or two I have been using the Arbonne REactivating Body Serum and the Arbonne REfinish Hydrating Body Lotion as part of my daily body skincare routine – these beautifully presented products are available online from Arbonne Independent Consultant Rebecca Doll at www.try.myarbonne.com

The first thing I noticed about these products was the lovely light orange scent. It is not overpowering or overwhelming, and it still allows the wearing of perfume without clashing (which is brilliant, I find creams that have a strong scent hard to wear as I like to use my favourite perfume in the day, and I don’t like any strong scents at night).

Following the product instructions, the Body Serum is used first. A quick couple of pumps and it takes just seconds to smooth over a little of the Body Serum. The Serum is absorbed super quick and feels quite refreshing and silky.

Next is the application of the Body Lotion. Because of using the Serum first, I found I only needed to use a tiny bit of the Lotion. It is very rich and creamy (but not at all greasy), and soaks in quickly so you don’t have to stand there for ages trying to rub it in. Using the cream each day has left my skin feeling very hydrated and smooth - even my husband has commented how soft my skin feels! And its great to use on feet too!

Even though you use the Serum and the Lotion as a 2-step product, I have found it is just as quick to use as other creams, which I was a little surprised about. Even though my skincare routines are practically non-existent being busy with children and businesses, I didn’t mind using these at all – in fact they brought a little luxury into my day using such gorgeous products each morning.

Overall, I found the Arbonne Body Serum and Body Lotion to be luxurious and effective products. The set would be a perfect treat for yourself if you need a body cream, or it would make a fantastic gift for a Mum or Mother In Law!

Visit www.try.myarbonne.com to read more about these lovely skincare products.

I am honoured to be conducting this review as part of the “Product Review Team” at CONNECT 2 MUMS.

Monique can be found at her site packed with unique handcrafted gifts for bubs, toddlers & Mums, www.YourCheekyMonkey.com.au

If you have ever struggled with potty training a boy, then you need to take a look at this product.

When I found the Peter Potty I had been battling with an almost 3 year old who was either OK with being wet or wanted to stand like daddy and just wasn't tall enough.

I needed him to be potty trained for preschool and I really wanted him to be succesful at staying dry for longer periods of time.

What the manufacturer has to say about the product:

No more training your little man to sit first and stand later

Start him out right - teach him to stand from the beginning

Little girls need to sit, but with the new Peter Potty, little boys can stand like Daddy

Benefits

Allows child to urinate by himself

Sized to fit and grow with your little boy

Can be wall mounted, free standing on supplied base or placed directly on floor

Our son loved this product and I finally convinced him he no longer needed it after about 18 months. It really helped him feel like he was accomplishing something special by being able to stand up like daddy. Being able to flush the urinal was very novel as well.

We used it with the base, and adjusted the height as our son got taller.

With a RRP of $39.95 in the US I think it is a wonderful option that is practical and easy to clean for parents potty training little boys.

I belong to a interactive online magazine for Aussie Mums, called Connect2Mums. This site is filled with hundreds of MumPreneurs and an unending number of products. In this post I would like to share a review by Rachael Stott.


The Importance of Dad’s

I recently spent an evening handing out information to new Mothers at the local hospital. It was only 12 months ago that I was in their position and so I had anticipated the empathy I felt for the slightly dazed, sleep deprived and sore mothers. What I hadn’t expected was the empathy I felt for the fathers.

Being a mother my bias is obviously female and I would not, for a moment, say that the Dad’s have it worse than the Mum’s in early parenting. But what I noticed for the first time was that there is no support for the Dads.

Dads’ miss out on all the good stuff. They aren’t as hormonally charged to nurture the baby, which is not to say they are less nurturing, but that they get far less biological help to do so. Fathers don’t experience the hormonal shifts that aid in returning to sleep after being woken mid sleep & they have fewer feel good hormones raging through their bloodstream that help mothers out in the early months.

Dad’s even miss out on a lot of the ‘stuff’ that goes with a baby. There is really no male equivalent to a traditional Baby Shower, and even if there were what would you gift to a father-to-be? They really don’t have any use for body creams, re-usable breast pads or spa treatments. At best Dad’s get the practical things like a baby carrier- but nothing really cool. Until now that is.

Last week I met Alan Jones and was introduced to his very kool product for new Dads’ – The Milkooler. Yes that’s right it’s a stubby holder for a baby’s bottle. Aside form being super cute there is more to this product than the novelty factor. It keeps Milk warmer, or juices cooler for longer, it is far easier for little hands to hold, it prevents the sun getting to the contents inside and when children are in the mimicking phase it is just like an adult stubby holder. They are inexpensive, fit most bottles and scrunch up easily in a nappy bag.

My son is totally breastfed but still uses his on some of his sippy bottles and bottles of expressed breast milk. My partner loved this product and it went straight to the top of his ‘Great kids gear’ list. We have ordered a few more for expectant friends.

http://www.milkooler.com/

You can read more of Rachael Stott at http://www.rachaelstott.com/





I also had the pleasure to meet Alan Jones and to see the Milkooler myself. As our children are no longer using bottles or sippy cups I gave one to my brother as he has 3 children under 3. The kids all wanted to try it, and dad thought it was cool too. The Milkooler is an Australian product that can be shipped to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, UK and Ireland, Canada and the US.

When we had our first child 6 years ago, we got the Graco infant seat that attaches to the stroller. I didn't give it a lot of thought as it had a high safety rating and came with the stroller I wanted.

When we had our second child the same Graco infant seat was used for the new baby, but as we now had 2 vehicles and one of us was dropping children off and the other picking up, we really needed another car seat for the baby.

Without any hesitation we purchased the Britax Boulevard. We were already using the seat for her older brother and we were very happy with the features for an older child. To our surprise this seat, that can accomodate a child up to 49 inches and 65 lbs, is able to provide a lot of support for a little girl who wore premmie clothing until she was 10 weeks old. How? There is a removable infant body pillow that helps with positioning infants and provides a truly custom fit.

There are 2 main features that we love about this car seat.
1. Side Impact Protection and
2. No Re-thread Harness Adjustment allows you to adjust the harness height without having to re-thread the harness straps

There is a knobb near the side of the head rest that you turn when you want to raise or lower the harness height. You never have to remove the seat to adjust the harness height.

Our son is almost 6 and has still not outgrown his Boulevard. Our daughter is 4 and she is still in the same seat she used as a newborn. Both seats look like they could last for many more years. They are very easy to install with the latch and the fabric is easy to remove and wash. A seatbelt installation is possible; it just took a little longer for little me.

Here's a list of the many other features of these great car seats.
- Rear facing until 35 lbs
- Forward facing until 65 lbs or 49 inches tall.
- Energy-Absorbing Base deforms in the event of a crash to absorb impact forces
- Plush, Premium Cover Set with matching belly pad provides extra comfort
- Front Harness Adjuster provides effortless front adjustment when loosening the harness system
- Small Contoured Base ensures a tight installation in all types of vehicles
- Convenient Harness Holders keep harness straps out of the way while placing child in the car seat
- Built-in Lock-Off(s) secure the vehicle seat belt so that the child seat does not move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path
- HUGS™ (Harness Ultra Guard System) reduces forward head movement and cushions the chest in the event of impact
- Infant Body Pillow for infant positioning and a custom fit
- High Density Comfort Foam provides an extra layer of padding to gently cushion the child
- Energy-Absorbing Foam Liner (EPS) absorbs and distributes crash forces
- Rear and Forward Facing Recline for child comfort and positioning
- Premium, Push-Button Lower LATCH Connectors for a quick, simple, and tight installation
- Patented, Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether with staged-release tether webbing, anchors the top of the child seat at two points to minimize forward movement in a crash
- Five-Point Harness makes contact with the strongest parts of the body

If you have a newborn, a baby who has outgrown their infant seat or a child who has outgrown their convertible car seat you really should take a look at this seat.

If you are worried about the cost of this seat then I recommend you read the testimonials at the Britax site. We have purchased 4 of these seats over the years and they are worth every penny.

I believe that all children should be in a 5-point harness car seat as long as possible. If you have a child who you think is ready for a booster seat and the car seat belt please read this Is My Child Ready for a Booster Seat

I am so excited that this site won the 'USA Award' as part of the ausMumpreneur Awards at Connect2Mums

The site was up against some great USA sites so I feel very honoured and blessed at the moment.

I would like to congratulate all of the other entrants and also all the winners of the other categories.

I feel quite honoured to be included among them.

I belong to a interactive online magazine for Aussie Mums, called Connect2Mums. This site is filled with hundreds of MumPreneurs and an unending number of products. In this post I would like to share a review by the Editor and Founder, Paula Kuhnemann.





When I first saw the ‘denim totes’ available for women at ‘Your Cheeky Monkey,’ I instantly wanted one! Being the ‘Imelda Marcos of bags’, I knew straight away that that these were unique, chic and very LA cool. Monique Nickalls, designer of kids clothing & toys, mumpreneur & ‘YCM’ owner, immediately suggested that I wait as she was constructing four unique totes made from genuine MOSCHINO recycled cotton jeans. Oh, I was like a kid waiting or Christmas! As you can see from the pic, the Moschino makes up the quirky front panel and the sides, bottom and back of the tote are from animal print upholstery off-cuts, giving my tote a luxurious, velvety, winter feel. The bag lining is 100% cotton quilting Cheetah Swirl fabric, in a gorgeous silver/grey/taupe colour. The only ode to this being from a ‘kids label’ is the cute ‘doggy button toggle’ between the handles, which works with the quirkiness of this piece!

Handmade by Monique, the craftsmanship is superb and has banished any thoughts of 'handmade equals second best' from my mind once and for all! The ‘Your Cheeky Monkey’ label inside the tote gives the bag a professional finish, as do the ‘Your Cheeky Monkey’ care instructions. My tote is roomy without being obscenely large, dimensions being approx. 32cm W x 29cm H x 9cm D.

If you are a woman who loves the ease of entry and exit of items into a bag, you will love this one. I took it as my ‘afternoon bag’ on a recent hospital stay and 12 handy items, including a book and small items of clothing were easily accommodated...mind you I nearly lost it five times to Nurses! It could easily double as a ‘tres cool nappy bag’; it’s comfortable to wear and in my book, ticks all of the boxes. A steal at $39.95 for a unique, handcrafted tote, be quick as there are only 3 more available with the MOSCHINO panel, at http://www.yourcheekymonkey.com.au/

I have also subscribed to Monique’s newsletter so that I am kept updated on more hot products like this one and I follow her blog at http://yourcheekymonkey.blogspot.com/



This product receives ‘Paula’s choice Award’. Paula Kuhnemann is the Editor & Founder of ‘aussie mums interactive online magazine’, www.connect2mums.com.au

I love to go to the beach and be out in the sun, but after growing up in the Australian sun I really need to cover up.

For us, going to the beach is a bit of a treck so we end up spending a good part of the day in the sun. The kids are happy in their sun shirts with SPF and I now spend most of my time in our Cabana.

I have used this at the beach, fully closed to take and nap and shield the cool sea breeze, at the park to shade the kids whilst they played in the sandpit, at baseball to keep little miss and I out of the sun and the heat. As you can probably tell by now I really like the Cabana.

I can carry it on my back with the included bag and still have my hands free for all the other items I need to carry.

It instantly pops up when you remove it from the bag which makes set up a breeze. My only recommendation would be to practice packing it up at home before taking this to the beach. It is one of those items that needs to be folded in a specific way to get it back in the bag. I am on the small side and not very strong so the first few times were a struggle until I got my technique right.

There are instructions but I think I may have over analysed them... Here is what I do. Undo the zippers, fold flat by pushing both sides together. Put one hand on either edge of the floral print at the bottom, holding firmly cross both arms in front of your body and the cabana will spring closed. Tighten the circle and place in the bag and you are done.

I can now do this on my own in a couple of minutes. It was well worth the few practice tries as this Cabana is going to be part of our summers for years to come.

If you are interested in purchasing this Cabana it is available exclusively through One Step Ahead and can be purchased here .

Juice boxes and little kids don't mix well.

The juice box gets squeezed too much as it is being poked with a straw or the kids think it is like a sippy cup or drink bottle and tip it upside down.

Without a doubt they can be very messy.

We found a solution with the Juice Pal, the only juice box caddy that holds all sizes of juice boxes or juice pouches from One Step Ahead.

We have been using these for a few years with our kids and love them. These get tossed in the bag when we go out for the day and especially on long trips. Who needs juice accidents when you are away from home?

To purchase visit One Step Ahead

If you ask my family I have had hormone issues since I was around 11. To be honest I have to agree with them. Fortunately for all involved it is not always bad but since having our youngest I have found myself struggling with lack of sleep and hormones that are out of wack.

Our youngest is now 4 so I think that my body should have recovered to some degree by now.... I have tried oral contraceptives, changing diet you name it and nothing worked. In fact some of the things I tried made me worse... and I didn't think that was possible.

When my sponsor mentioned that Arbonne had creams for hormone balancing I was intrigued. I had read about the idea online a year before but have never been brave enough to try it. So when I placed my first big order as a Consultant I decided it was worth a try.

Well I LOVE IT!! When used regularly I feel like a completely different person and I feel much calmer. Application is based on your personal situation. Please contact me prior to ordering and using so that I can provide you with the correct information for your situation.

The natural balancing creams are applied to soft tissues including, chest, inner arms, neck, face, palms of hands and soles of feet, with the best results from rotating applications to different soft tissues.

I am using the Prolief which is for women who have not gone through menopause. For those that have there is PhytoProlief which contains phytoeostrogen herbs.

Both of these creams are botanically based and come in a metered pump to ensure accurate and consistent application.

If you have any questions about these products or any other Arbonne product feel free to leave a comment or you can sign my guestbook and I will respond via email.

Rebecca Doll.
Arbonne Independent Consultant
try.myarbonne.com

Note: This review is a personal opinion of an Arbonne product that I have tried and at the time of publishing am currently using. Any claims are purely those of the author and not those of Arbonne International.

This review is for anyone who loves to have plants living on a patio or deck but can't seem to get the watering right.

Living in Southern California the wind and sun during the summer can leave my plants underwatered. With 2 small kids I have been known to forget to water my plants on occasion, only to look out onto my patio at some very sad vines or flowers.

Last year I decided to look around for some better options for my larger climbers. I stumbled across these great square and trough planters.


They have the look of a wooden planter but are made of UV stabilized polypropylene and won't crack, peel or fade. They also have a large soil capacity and deep reserviors with aeration. I love how lightweight they are as I am able to move mine around with ease, after I added the optional casters. The casters are not visible once installed which ads to the visual appeal.

If you like climbing plants there are iron trellises that you can add to the planters that fit securely in the back corners of the planter. The trelisses come in three sections that slide together making it easy for a one person installation.

To see dimensions of the Tarrazza Square Planter, Tarrazza Trough Planter and Tarrezza Planter Trellises visit Gardeners Supply Store.

I have a few health conditions that have left me a little weak in the hands.

Using a normal metal can opener was becoming harder and I really didn't want to keep hurting my hands all the time.

I decided to give the OXO Good Grips can opener a try as I have some of there other products and have had great success. Well they delivered again!

Not only is it easy to use but there are no sharp edges. It cuts differently to a traditional can opener in that it removes the top of the can. There is even a little gripper that you can use to pick the lid up.

With an MSRP of under $20 I think this is a very wise purchase for parents and those who need an easier way to open cans.

Products


Your Cheeky Monkey - Gorgeous handcrafted products and gifts for baby showers, new babies, and children that you will not see in the shops. We stock great stuff for mum and dad too, as well as Cuski comforters, organic skin care, handmade gift cards, infant clothing & more! Visit our store to find out what the current special offer is & to sign up for our newsletter.

Lunalei for Kids that Rock - Punk Rock baby clothes, Unique Toddler, funky, hip, trendy & cool kids clothing & gifts.

Fairy Dust Design - beautiful and unique range of personalised printed products

Be Ba Bo - baby toys, games, toys, room decor - hiqh quality european products for kids

Pure Earth Noosa - All 100% Australian Made & Owned Natural Organic products. Baby, Skin, Body & Hair. Men's, Soaps, Pet, Cosmetics, Household Cleaning, Aromatherapy, Gift Packs & more.

Annette Piper Dip. Gem. Handcrafted Jewellery - Designer gemstone and pearl jewellery. Elegant...sophisticated...one of a kind... just like you!

Scamps Eco Boutique - Earth Friendly Products for the whole family

I Want Fabulous! - Designer Childrenswear From Around The Globe

Chickadee Baby Slings - Baby Ring Slings and pouches and organic baby skin care.

Green Chickadee - environmentally friendly products. reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups, organic skin care, soap nuts, lunch bags and sandwich wraps/pockets

Services

Childcare :: Finding a babysitter or nanny
BabySitterDirectory.com.au connects parents directly with babysitters and nannies across Australia. Includes Job posting, Babysitter Alert and a Forum.

Visit connect2mums.com.au

I cannot say enough good things about the Hilton Honors Rewards program.

We have an American Express credit card that we use for all our purchases and pay off in full each month. That card is linked to our Hilton Honors rewards.

In 2007 we were able to use our points and stay at the newly renovated Sydney Hilton for about 10 nights of our stay. Due to our card level we were able to get upgraded to the concierge level and enjoy the wonderful bonuses that comes with. Breakfast, snacks throughout the day including sodas; cocktails at about 5pm daily along with appetisers and free Internet access.

This past week we have been looking into another trip back to Australia to see family and friends and to our delight we have enough points for 2 weeks at the Sydney Hilton. There is a possibility that we may even get the same room as last time! It allows for two separate sleeping areas by closing a sliding wall, which means that the kids can sleep in the lounge area and we can go to bed a little later and all get a good nights sleep.

Would we stay at the Sydney Hilton without the points? Probably not. It is a wonderful luxury to be able to enjoy and it seems much more special when you have the privilege of not having to pay for it.

Do you have a child doing swimming lessons?

Are they shivering the entire class even though the water is heated?

Have you ever wished they could wear a wetsuit for swim class?

I did. And I thought about it and realized that the sleeves of the wet suit would make it impracticle for proper swimming arm movements for a 2 and 4 year old.

I searched online for hours trying to find something, especially our youngest who has very low body fat and whose lips were almost blue at the end of class.

Eureka!!!! I found it. A wet suit without sleeves that allows arm movement and adjusts in size so you don't have to buy a new wetsuit every few months.

It is hard to tell in the photos but there are large strips of velcro on the shoulder straps that allow you to adjust the size of the suit. Our kids did winter and summer swim classes in the same suit and I am pretty sure they still fit.

Take a look for yourself. We think they are worth it. Warm Belly Wetsuits

.