All posts by Cat Baker

PRODUCTS

MUTSY??? YES…MUTSY.

There are so many choices when purchasing the necessities for the new addition to the family…Cribs, diaper genies, bouncers, high chairs and of course, strollers…

Well, for me, I thoroughly researched to find the right product for my needs and the brand that stood out from all the rest for a high chair and stroller possessed the oddest name…MUTSY. Believe me STOKKE and BUGABOO was a close second (the name and stroller)…:)

EASY GROW CHAIR – The chair that grows with your child (up to the age of 12). How cool is that??? The amenities??? The ability to tilt the bumper bar and dinner plate, which allows the child to easily be placed in the seat, the seating surface and foot rest are adjustable and it comes in an array of colors…

SPIDER STROLLER – The thought of climbing 3 stories with an oversized stroller made me cringe…Luckily, I found the Spider stroller. Why is it called a Spider??? Well, with one pull of the handle the entire stroller collapses like it’s namesake. So compact…So simple. Perfect for a New York City apartment. Furthermore, the Spider includes an adjustable push bar, a canopy and can be fitted with a car seat.

FASHION

XANDER’S FAVORITE THINGS…

Hey…Oprah’s not the only one that has a favorite things’ list!!! I’ve noticed that my son is a bit particular about a certain items in his wardrobe…These are just a few of his fave’s:

LEVI’S – Honestly…This may be one of MY favorites…Presently, Xander is between the 24 months & 2T size chart, so since his 24 month jeans are adjustable in the waist, but shorter in the leg, I just cut off the hem to create mid – calf shorts…They are SUPER cute and he still gets his wear out of them.

OSHKOSH B’GOSH – This conductors hat is the perfect little cap…With a touch of pattern, I consider it simple with a twist :)…It pairs well with almost anything and when we’re walking out of the door, he yells, “HAT PLEASE!!!”.

RAY – BAN – When Xander was 4 months old, I would be walking down the street with him either in the Baby Bjorn carrier or the stroller and people always asked “where did you get his sunglasses”. At that time it was just basic shades, but now we’ve stepped it up a notch. Sunglasses are a must for him too…As soon as I put on my shades, he asks for his and yes, he keeps them on.

POLLIWALKS – He has a few pairs of POLLIWALKS, but the yellow ducks are his main choice when running out of the door. I get the “Where’d you get those CROCS??? I’ve never seen those”, statement all the time…No, these are POLLIWALKS…Made from a similar material as the Croc brand, but every style has a different theme or animal. Too CUTE!!!

MIGHTY FINE – Who doesn’t LOVE the classics…Of course I’m speaking of Sesame Street (Big Bird/ Elmo/ Grover/ Cookie Monster/Oscar, etc.) Well, the designers over at Mighty Fine have created a Sesame Street collection with all your favorite characters coupled with perfect “POPS” of color to spruce up any wardrobe.

RECIPES

FUN & FRESH FRUIT!!!

Since we’ve been experiencing hot summer days for the past week, my goal was to find fun and easy snacks to make without any cooking, fuss or an overabundance of cleanup.

This recipe is fresh, simple and most importantly, healthy!!!

FRUIT KABOBS:
  • Yogurt or Cottage Cheese
  • Fruit (Oranges/ Grapes/ Apples/ Cherries/ Peaches/ Blueberries/ Kiwi/ Watermelon, etc.)
  • Skewers
  • Bowls
Choose your favorite fruits and thoroughly clean. Cut any fruits (oranges/ kiwi/ apples, etc.) into quarters (depending on the size). When you’re ready to create the kabob, use skewers to pierce and layer the fruit to finish the preparation of the snack. Place yogurt or cottage cheese in small bowls for dipping.  ENJOY!!!
ACTIVITIES

“UNDER THE SEA”

One great way to teach your child to appreciate ECO – friendly products is to incorporate them in daily lessons. One of our craft projects this week was creating an octopus with a cardboard toilet paper roll…

He had a blast painting the roll and kept asking “What Are We Doing Mommy”…Of course I explained it continuously, but I could tell that it all sank in as soon as I cut the octopus arms. How was the clue??? His shrieks of  “OOOOCTOPUS…OOOOCTOPUS!!!”

SUPPLIES:
  • Toilet Paper Roll
  • Paint
  • Glue
  • Construction Paper
  • Wiggle Eyes
  • Chenille Stem

First step, paint the toilet paper roll (any color will do). After the toilet paper roll dries, choose any color for your mouth from the chenille stems, cut a small piece and along with the wiggly eyes, glue both to create the face of the octopus. When the eyes and mouth have dried, cut around the toilet paper roll to create the legs…As you can see, we were extra creative by accidentally adding extra legs. 🙂

EDUCATION

IS YOUR CHILD A GENIUS TOO?!?

I believe all parents think their child is a “Little Einstein” and they can brush up on their IQ with plenty of practice with the Baby Einstein collection.

The product list includes DVD’s that cover colors and sounds to classical music and sign language or even shapes, art and words. I began these lessons with Xander at 2 months, simply because the music for each DVD was soothing and calming. Not to mention, he paid attention and began applying the sign language by 3 – 1/2 months, which I found astonishing….

Yes…My son IS a genius!!!

BABY EINSTEIN

FASHION

SHARE THE “HUGS”…

For your fashionable tot, this diaper is just what he or she needs in the summer…Jean shorts with a twist!!!

HUGGIES Jeans Diapers are back! For a limited time this year, the cutest little diapers are cute for a big cause. For a limited time, for every pack purchased HUGGIES will help diaper a baby in need.

Shaped to fit the most happenin’ babies on the go, HUGGIES Jeans Diapers are a classic style…”P & P” for a purpose…And if you really want to complete the look, there are also HUGGIES Jean packaged wipes to accompany the look.

HUGGIES

FASHION

STELLA McCARTNEY – KID STYLE!!!

The 2011 Spring/ Summer Stella McCartney collection is chock full of staple pieces for your child’s warm weather break…

The line includes looks for boys/ girls and toddlers. Amid organic fabrics sprinkled with pops of color and details spanning from textiles to design, you’re sure to find a FAB look that will be an extension of your their mother’s eye on style.

STELLA McCARTNEY

Girl’s – “ZIGGY” Star Denim Pant Skirt
Boy’s – Joplin Organic Tee
Girl’s – “Rosie “Striped Dress
Toddler – Poppet Baby Dungarees
EDUCATION

“LEAP” INTO LEARNING!!!

A few months ago, I decided to purchase a couple of Leap Frog DVD’s that would entertain my son with it’s cute graphics, but enable him to learn as well…

By the time he was 11 months old, he knew his numbers by heart and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to learn something new a bit earlier than suggested…The DVD’s are listed for ages 3 to 5 and although my son is 2 years old, he LOVES them…

As the tape says, “MATH IS EVERYWHERE” so why not learn it sooner rather than later…His favorite??? Math Adventure to the Moon…

He’ll walk up to me and say “Mommy, ‘MAF’ please…” How adorable!!!

LEAP FROG

RECIPES

PEANUT BUTTER & BANANA JAM

I believe all kids LOVE peanut butter and jelly and my son is no exception…When it’s time for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack, I’ll hear, “Mommy ‘wich’ please”…And, since I’ve only made him PBJ sandwiches for the past 6 months or so, I know that what he means…

Recently, I’ve been sneaking fruits and vegetables in his diet because he outright refuses them when he sees something that’s not familiar…One way that’s worked wonders is adding a bit of banana to his PBJ. Here’s how I do it:

PEANUT BUTTER w/ BANANA & JAM
Ingredients:
  • Wheat or White Bread
  • Peanut Butter
  • Jam or Jelly
  • Banana

This is so easy, I slice a few pieces of banana, place those pieces in the microwave for 20 seconds and combine it with the jam. Spread the “banana jam” on one slice and peanut butter on the other, slice and serve. YUM!!!

ACTIVITIES

ALL IT’S “SHAPED” UP TO BE…

My son was extremely excited with this activity…It must be the idea of me allowing him to be a bit messy :). Nevertheless, this project was simple, easy and most importantly…FUN!!!

Usually, I try to convert our daily routine and activities into learning tools. Exploring and creating was on the top of my list, but reviewing shapes and colors was a close second. Luckily, it all worked out perfectly.

SUPPLIES:
  • Construction Paper
  • Paint
  • Styrofoam Plate or Shallow Container
  • Sponges

After purchasing a 4 pack of sponges, I cut one shape for each…For the paint, I use a separate plate per color. The next step??? Dip the sponge in the paint, making sure to saturate the tips of the shape, place on the page and press firmly to make the unique print.

After drying, the project was placed on the refrigerator along with the “Black Cat” activity and now, as he walks past, my son still yells “CAAATTT” and then quickly screams “SHAAAPES”…He’s so proud!!!

PRODUCTS

BABY “SPA” DAY…EVERYDAY!!!

A spa for your new baby??? I’d say… This European “SPA” bathtub is obviously different from all the rest. Yes, as always, I researched and read so many reviews of the lie back tubs and how baby’s were uncomfortable and cried throughout their bath time.

Well, when I came across the Spa Baby, I was immediately intrigued and decided this was the best choice for my little one.

True, it looks like a plastic bucket…But, the upright position is said to remind babies of their fetal position while in the womb. The water stays warm and the baby is comfortable.

Expecting my son to scream and cry as soon as his toes touched the surface, I was elated when the only thing he expressed was joy and laughter. From the very beginning, my son LOVED the Spa Baby. During the 8 to 9 months of use, he never cried or complained.

Durable and eco – friendly, it was the perfect beginning to his introduction to bath time.

I HIGHLY recommend this product. It served us well.

SPA BABY

HOW - TO'S

CONTROL THE MESS…

Oh the joy of feeding solid foods to the growing child!!! If you’re a neat freak and loathe all things messy, this chore will drive you NUTS!!!

Personally, I’m not a neat freak, but I don’t like gooey messes either…While I was still breastfeeding I decided to search for products that would make the transition easier when the time came and luckily, I found a couple of items that were ideal for feeding.

First find…BIBS…I noticed that all of the bibs I received at my baby showers did not have a plastic backing. Apparently, manufacturers had stopped the practice and this drove me crazy because my son’s clothes would be soaking wet!!! It took a while, but I finally found a bib that was made  of a taffeta fabric (similar to plastic), was a snap to clean and with it’s Mod graphics, trés chic.

Second find…FOOD DISPENSER…Heaven sent!!! This baby food feeder is sooooo easy to handle…Just fill it up, squeeze and the it doles out the perfect spoonful for baby. Traveling??? This will be your best friend…It makes feeding your child easier while riding in a car, train or airplane.

Believe me…Both are MUST HAVES.

BOON – Baby Food Dispenser

KUSHIES – Taffeta Bib

PRODUCTS

“STOKKE” THIS…

Having a baby??? One of the “Rites of Passage”, in my book, is choosing a sleeping berth for the new addition to the family.

During my crib search, I had NO idea what to look for…There were choices at every turn, non – convertible, portable, convertible, etc. My first thought??? I don’t want to spend a fortune, after all, it’ll be no time before they’re bouncing in a twin bed…Right???

Well, after scouring the most popular sites (Target/ Macy’s/ Walmart/ Toys ‘R Us/ Pottery Barn, etc.), I compiled a list of brands and styles that piqued my interest. Then, I came across the Stokke brand…

The Stokke Sleepi is four beds in one. Yes, there are other conversion beds, but the Sleepi begins as a cylindrical shape (AKA the “Mini”), which caught and held my attention, then converts to an oblong bed. The crib grows with the child from newborn to 10 years of age…FABULOUS!!!

No, it’s not considered a bargain by any means, but when the shelf life is compared to other convertible beds, to me, it’s worth the price!!!

STOKKE

RECIPES

ANTS ANYONE???

Need a quick snack for your little one after their afternoon nap??? By including fruit and vegetables, “Ants On A Log”  is a great option!!!
PREP TIME: 15 Minutes
INGREDIENTS: Celery Sticks/ Peanut Butter / Raisins
PREPARATION: Fill the center of the celery stick with peanut butter. Place a few raisins, cranberries OR tiny chocolate chips on top to be your ants…ENJOY.
FASHION

GUCCI “BEBE” GARB…

It was bound to happen, after all, we’ve been admiring the cute accessories and were patiently waiting…Well, it’s finally arrived,  the GUCCI children’s collection!!!

With the inclusion of bomber jackets, trench coats, frilly frocks, toddler tees, jazzy jeans, shoes and accessories, your toddler will win the best dressed on the school playground…Don’t fret…They wouldn’t DARE play!!! 🙂

The best part??? Proceeds from the collection benefit UNICEF’s Schools for Africa, which aid in education for children in the territories of Malawi and Mozambique.

A premiere idea from Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini and actress Jennifer Lopez, FABULOSO!!!.

GUCCI