I gave up on “new car smell” a week after we purchased the newest addition to the family debt load.

New car smell, are you kidding? I am a mom. I firmly believe in the “the car’s clean if you can’t see the French fries, Cheerios and dried out raisins lurking under the car seat” theory. We opted for the brown interior for a reason.

We were no more than a week into new car ownership when that drab interior proved its mettle – Jillian fell asleep with a half-empty Minute Maid bottle in her little hand. I glanced in the rear view mirror just in time to see her mouth droop open as she let out a snore that sounded acutely like her daddy’s . . . and just in time to see the bottle slip from her loosened grasp.

I never meant to stomp on the brakes. It was a reflex reaction – the reflex that sent the bottle flying forward, spraying the back of my seat with the remnants of her lunch. Cut up pieces of cold pizza slipped out of the doggie bag and covered the floor. Watered-down lemonade coated the cup holder and the center console and soaked into the carpeting.

Ahh, the smell of my new car – but at least it’s lemony fresh.

Splitting my work week so I spend just two days in the office and the rest of the time carting my daughter out on the road with me has turned our car into a home away from home. Considering the playroom explosion inside the house, it’s no easy task keeping the chaos that could be at bay inside the car.

I was channeling my practical mother when I placed my order for the Backseat Car Organizer from Lilly’s Kids. In a pink so bright you’d find it in a snowstorm (very un-practical-mom-like, I’m proud to report), the organizer gives Jillian easy access to all of her essentials with slots for her crayons, storage for coloring books and her princess sunglasses, and a deep pocket for me to stash extra sunscreen, baby wipes and snacks where she doesn’t think to look. With free personalization, I made sure to have her name emblazoned across the two (yes, we bought two – one for both the driver and passenger seats) so she knows they’re just for her special things.

Of course taking up the bulk of that super-deep pocket in one organizer are Jillian’s Melissa and Doug Fairy Fantasy and Pirate Adventure puzzles. With the wooden frames just the right size for spreading across her lap or on the seat beside her, I sometimes catch a glimpse of her little tongue sticking out of her lips – a study in concentration – while her hands work their magic. She’s got these two so memorized it takes seconds to bring the picture together, but she’ll do them over and over again. And the beauty of the frame is that it holds the pieces just so for storage – no bulk box necessary.

Perched on the seat beside her, taking in all the action, is the softest bunny I’ve ever laid my hands on – and this was before he went through repeated washings to make up for bouts with fruit punch, ketchup and kitty cat hair. Named – get this – bunny (what can I say? She was 2 when she got him), the Jellycat Scrumpty Bunny from Monkey Bean Toys is a frequent ride-along companion.

Unlike her puzzles, Bunny gets to spend time in the Jeep All-Weather Umbrella Stroller that’s weathered the roads like a champ since Jillian graduated from the travel system stroller to her “big girl” stroller. Light enough for me to handle alone and easy for me to fold with one hand while I hold tight to Jillian in a busy parking lot, I literally never leave home without this thing. We were stuck with basic black because it was all that was in stock when I begged for something that would fit in my car and leave me a little room for groceries! But we added a bright colored bag to the back, and off we went . . . and we’re still going.

OK, so we’re always going. It’s all part and parcel of being a mama on the move!

We love handmade and we love personalized gifts so naturally we LOVE Burpbees, a line of handmade, personalized, and oh-so-cute burp cloths, tote bags, and more!

Perhaps the reason we love them so much is that this delightful company was started by a fellow hip mom…of twins!  The Burpbee’s line is fun, functional, and pretty darn fabulous!

So of course, we can’t wait to share it with you!  One lucky reader will win a personalized set of 2 burp cloths and coordinating tote.  Win it for yourself or for the next baby shower you attend (we’re sure you’ll be the hit of the party!)

To enter, click over to www.burpbees.com and check out this adorable shop.  Then, leave us a comment telling us which fabulous burpbees product is your favorite!

You have until midnight PST Wednesday July 23rd to enter.  Winner will be announced on July 24th along with our next Summer Swag Giveaway!

Thank you Burpbees!

Oops, a little late on posting this winner…we were re-cooping from our weekend of traveling.  It was really fun to read where all of you will be traveling and hopefully you found some fun stuff at Madallie to throw in your child’s suitcase!

Congrats to our winner, Commenter #74 Veronica Garrett who said:

We will soon be going to Massachusetts. We would love to take along the vintage stamped luggage!

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Be sure to check out our new Summer Swag Contest which starts TODAY!

Thank you Madallie for sponsering this Fab Swag Giveaway!

As a nurse with over 8 years of experience working with infants, it may come as a surprise to you that I prefer natural, homeopathic alternatives to Western Medicine. The birth of my son led me to extensive research on mainstream medical practices and while I find the medical model to be useful and valid in treating many illnesses, I try to find natural solutions when possible. This week we’re talking about ear infections, and I’ll preface by encouraging you to consult with your Pediatrician before trying the following remedies. While antibiotics are the most common remedy they may or may not be necessary. It is always best to consult with your physician regarding an ear infection to avoid unnecessary complications and delays in treatment. The Sears’ docs have a wonderful article that may be beneficial in determining if your child has an ear infection.

Weighing Your Options

Half of all pediatric antibiotic prescriptions are written for ear infections. While in some cases they may be beneficial, many clinicians are implementing the practice of watchful waiting for a period of time before initiating a course of antibiotics. According to the Sears’ docs, 80% of uncomplicated ear infections will resolve within four to seven days without antibiotics (AAP). Unpleasant side effects, antibiotic resistance, and recurrence are inherent risks that must be contemplated and discussed with your pediatrician. I highly recommend the following articles that highlight the risks and benefits of antibiotic use.

Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work

A Welcome Revolution in Ear Infection Treatment by Dr. Alan Greene

The Antibiotic Alternative

An Ounce of Prevention…

Breast is best! My son just turned one and has never had an ear infection. Perhaps that is because we are still breastfeeding. Breastfeeding, for any duration, boosts your child’s immune system thereby decreasing his susceptibility.

Chew on this! If your child is old enough to chew gum, it may help to relieve pressure in the ears. Xylitol, a naturally occurring wood-derived sugar used in your favorite gum, has been found to inhibit bacterial growth, particularly the organism most commonly isolated in ear infections (AAP). Bonus: Xylitol prevents dental cavities.

Boot the bottle! I struggled for months to get my son to take a bottle only to be told at his 9-month wellness check that it was time to introduce the sippy cup. Babies who drink from a bottle, particularly at bedtime when they are lying down, are at an increased risk. Milk can irritate the Eustachian tube thereby contributing to ear infections.

If your child is suffering with ear pain, regardless of whether or not it has been diagnosed as an ear infection, the following methods may be helpful in providing some relief.

Of note, many herbs are hypothesized to aid in the relief and treatment of ear infections, however I purposefully avoided their mention. Federal regulations regarding appropriate dosing, safety, or efficacy are lacking. If you do decide to use any of the recommended herbs, I encourage you to consult your pediatrician. Check out Mothering Magazine’s article Healing Ear Infections: Why Antibiotics Are Not the Best Treatment.

Well Worth a Try

Warm it up! The American Academy of Pediatrics and The Sears’ docs recommend the use of warm compresses for pain relief. Try a warm washcloth, water bottle, or rice sack heated in the microwave. Be sure to test the temperature of the heat source on the inside of your arm.

Oil…Not just for the car! Placing several drops of warm (but not too hot) olive, vegetable, or garlic oil may relieve the pain and discomfort of an ear infection (Dr. Sears’). Of note: Do not put anything inside your child’s ear when drainage is present.

DIY? Check out this article on Healthy & Green Living

Check out the following alternatives to conventional pain relievers, available in your local natural market:

Similasan’s Children’s Earache Relief

Herbs for Kids’ topical oil

Hyland’s Homeopathic Earache Tablets and Earache Drops

4 Healthy Kids’ Otalgin

If you’d like to read a wonderful book on all-natural remedies for ear infections, pick up Michael Schmidt’s book entitled Healing Childhood Ear Infections.

Stay tuned next week as I wrap up my series on all-natural children’s remedies.

As the summer travel season starts to heat up, we thought it only appropriate to do a travel-inspired Summer Swag Giveaway!  We all know traveling with children can be challenging at times, so when we found Madallie: A Children’s Travel Store, we were delighted to see a one-stop shop for children’s travel accessories plus lots of fun goodies and suitcase must-haves!

So today, we’re excited to swag one lucky reader with these 2 fabulous finds courtesy of Madallie!

Oil Cloth Chalk Mat/Blue
This wonderful Oil Cloth Chalk Mat is the perfect travel toy for the wee artist. This durable Oil Cloth Mat measures 17 x 12 and rolls up to tie closed. Perfect for travel.

Wanderlust Travel Journal
Troy M. Litten
Featuring images and icons of foreign travel, this hip gift will inspire both intrepid wanderers and armchair travelers to record and share tales of wanderlust adventure, and discovery. Travel encompasses more than arriving in a new place - it’s about the view through an airplane window, the colors of the phone booths and the unique mementos collected along the way. In this journal, you’ll find evocative travel images plus plenty of room to record your experiences and space to paste in ticket stubs and postcards. The durable vinyl sleeve will withstand time, weather and children. Write on!

Fun stuff, right?!  To enter, click over to Madallie.com and check out their fabulous selection of travel goods.  Then, leave us a comment telling us where you are traveling to soon and what product at Madallie you would love to take along in your journey!

You have until midnight PST Sunday July 20th to enter.  Winner will be announced on Monday July 21st along with our next Summer Swag Giveaway!

Good luck and thank you Madallie!

As a mother of two young children, I constantly feel as if I’m being pulled in several different directions, and I’ve come to appreciate anything that saves me time and energy. Therefore, I adore products that serve double (or even multiple) purposes, allowing me to save my sanity for my things that really matter, like my family. Things like slow cookers, beautiful yet comfortable shoes, and uncomplicated hairstyles appeal to me.

While I desire simplicity, at the same time I crave excitement and stylishness. I want to feel hip, feminine, and chic, but still comfortable and sane. Thankfully, simplicity doesn’t necessarily have to be boring. There are so many products out there that help moms like me to keep things simple and still feel funky and fun. Today, I’d like to bring two such products to your attention.

Beckons Organic:

When some people think of organic clothing, they picture scratchy fabrics that are baggy, wrinkly and none too stylish. These people have obviously never tried Beckons Organic clothing! The Love Yoga Skirt is very appropriately named, because I am smitten with this wonderful garment! When I received my Love skirt, the first thing I noticed was the incredibly soft fabric. Then I tried it on and I loved the fit! Have you owned a piece of clothing that just makes you feel good? When I wear my Love Yoga Skirt, I feel comfortable, cute and feminine, and I must admit that I find myself making frequent trips past my full-length mirror so I can watch myself twirl around! And I don’t have to worry about showing off my underwear, because there are cute built-in shorts beneath.

The skirt is very versatile. I’ve worn it for moderate workouts, get-togethers, and running errands around town. All my friends want one! Recently, I wore this skirt to a barbecue, and was very upset when my daughter spilled cranberry juice all over it. All I could do was dab it with a wet rag. I was sure my Love skirt was ruined! The next morning, I soaked the skirt for a couple hours and threw it in the washer. Unbelievably, the stain came out perfectly! The Love Yoga Skirt  from Beckons Organic is my new favorite item of clothing!

cinda b Bags:

Looking for a gym bag that is stylish, and can also be used for a trip to the park or shopping with the kid? Look no further! The cinda b Overnighter is the perfect size for carrying all your necessities, whether you’re planning a trip to the gym or an overnight at the in-laws. This quilted bag comes several very cute colors and it has a "big mouth," which enables you to cram it as full as possible, and also makes searching for that elusive binky a heck of a lot easier! The material is a mother’s dream: soft, squishy, lightweight, water-resistant, and machine washable! Why settle for a granny purse or a generic duffle bag when you can purchase something as fun and hip as a cinda b Overnighter?