Great Deal on Ergo Baby Carriers TODAY ONLY 6-23-10

The incredibly popular but never on sale Ergo Carrier will be featured TODAY on BabySteals.com. This carrier is all the rave with Moms (and Dads) across the country. It has been featured in several parenting magazines and was listed on the Today Show as the number one, best carrier to own. Last time they were on sale close to 50% off (reg. price is $105 to about $150). They’ll be sure to go fast, so be ready at 8 am. PST (11 a.m. ET) if you want to get in on this deal. Great for yourself or a gift for first time parents.

Blockbuster Express FREE Movie Codes

Uh-Oh Spaghettios: Massive Spaghettios Recall

Campbell’s Soup has issued a major recall on these Spaghettio products for possibly containing undercooked meat:

• “SpaghettiOs” with Meatballs in 14.75-ounce cans;
• “SpaghettiOs” A to Z with Meatballs in 14.75-ounce cans; and
• “SpaghettiOs” Fun Shapes with Meatballs (Cars) in 14.75-ounce cans

The cans will have a use by date of June 2010 and December 2011 with the plant code EST4K on the can. You can return any cans to the store where the Spaghettios were purchased for a exchange or refund.

FREE Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards Codes

Does your Gifts to Grow account need a boost? Rack up over 50 pampers points with these promotional codes. As of today, June 15, 2010, all the codes are working, but they could expire any time! Hurry and enter your Pamper Points codes today. There is some really good stuff available in the rewards catalog right now. Enjoy!

25GTGSUMMER2010

15GTGSUMMERFUN

XKCMYXFVD96VXVK

GROWWITHVILLAGE

THRIFTYMOMMYGTG

OHAMANDAAWGTG08

WELCOME2VILLAGE

Planning a Picture Perfect Baby Shower

Welcome to Baby Showers 101! If you think baby showers have to be planned around tacky party games like guess the poop, then think again! There is absolutely nothing wrong with games at a shower or event, but many soon-to-be-moms and their hosts are taking a more sophisticated and fun approach to planning baby showers and leaving the games behind. Showers these days let the mommy-to-be spend more time socializing and, of course, include many presents to shower mom and baby as the main focus of the party. Here are a few ideas and planning tips we have to help you throw a great baby shower!

1. Have a “Baby-que”~This low key backyard bbq is a great idea for a couples shower. Throw on some hamburgers and hotdogs, throw some bottled beverages into a galvanized party tub, make some virgin daiquiris for the expectant mom. Throw on your favorite tunes, hang up some party laterns or string some lights, and have some fun. This is a more low key kind of party, but a guaranteed good time and a great way to include men at the event.

2. Talk it up~Be sure to ask the mom-to-be about a guest list. If she is having more than one shower you may be planning for a small gathering vs. a larger one if your shower will be her only one.

3. Choose great invitations~Part of party planning fun is choosing a great invitation. If you are crafty, you can make invitations with scrapbook supplies. Other hosts will opt to order invitations in bulk. We love printed invites for guests because they give a nice clean look. Don’t forget to include all the details and a map/address to the event. Do some research online. We’ve found some of the best deals are online and not a your local shops. Order invitations 8 weeks in advance and be sure to send them out no later than 6-4 weeks in advance.

4. Plan the party schedule~Most showers will only last 1.5-2 hours so keeping time is important. As the host, greet guests as they arrive and allow 30-45 minutes for mingling and eating. At about 30-45 minutes into the party, cut the cake with the mother to be (or serve cupcakes, depending on what you choose). Then delve into the presents. If you have alot of guests this part could take up to 30 minutes or more. After presents are opened, usually there is more time for socializing and eating. Be sure to help the mommy get all her loot to the car before she leaves.

5. Decorating~Rather than picking a theme, we suggest choosing a few colors to work around. For boys we like brown/baby blue, brown/blue/mint green/orange/white, or red/yellow/blue/green. For girls we think pinks, greens and yellows are a good fit. You can always add jungle animals as a center piece or cake topper for a litte more fun, but finding paper products to coordinate with a color scheme will be easier to find. You can always jazz things up a bit with stripes, dots, paper lanters, pictures of the mommy-to-be, etc.

Am I Pregnant? Sure Signs That a Baby is on the Way!

Think you might be pregnant? If it is too early to take a pregnancy test and you think you might be pregnant, look for some of these signs.

1. Sore Breasts: This is a tell-tale sign and will usually appear within the first few weeks of pregnancy. Your breasts may feel sore or heavier than usual.

2. Cramping: It may feel as though Aunt Flow is knocking on your hormonal door, but it is just your uterus stretching and therefore causing some period-like cramping.

3. Spotting: Many women mistake early pregnancy spotting for a period. If your period seems lighter and shorter than usual, take a pregnancy to see if your “period” actually means pregnancy.

4. Extreme Fatigue: Okay, we all know tired, BUT if all you can think about is a nap, and isn’t even 9am, you might be pregnant. Tiredness is a big symptom of the first trimester.

5. Nausea: Certain smells turning your stomache? Can’t eat your favotite snack? Nausea is a sure sign that you are pregnant. Morning sickeness plagues about 85%of pregnant women.

6. Bloating and Constipation: Can’t zip your favorite pair of jeans? Bloating may be the cause. While this sympton is also a characteristic of PMS, it can be a major side effect of pregnancy.

7. Peeing more often: Getting up at all hours of the night to tee tee can also be a sign that you are pregnant. Your kindneys kick into high gear when you conceive and this can also be a problem near the end of pregnancy as well.

8. Headaches: Increased blood volume and hormone changes can trigger lots of headaches during the first trimester.

9. Mood Swings: Hormomes are raging and added fatigue can cause a lot of moodiness. If you notice that some things are bothering more than before, take a pregnancy test.

10. Increased Basal Body Temperature: Charting your BBT can usual help you tell when you ovulate. However, if your BBT stays elevated this is a good sign that there is a bun in the oven.

While many of these symptons mimic PMS, it can be hard to tell if you are acutally pregnant. If you think you are pregnant and have not had a period in 40 days, take a home pregnancy test. You know your body best and will be the best doctor when it comes to knowing if some things are not adding up.

Short List of SharpMom’s Summer 2010 MUST HAVES

With summer right around the corner, we thought it would beneficial to make a list of the things we feel are essential for every SharpMom to have this summer. These are things you must have at home or shouldn’t leave home without!

1. Clinique Bamboo Pink Lipstick: This lipstick is sheer, shimmery, and PERFECT for summer. No mirror needed! Just dab on before running out the door (or at the nearest red light) and add a little glam to your look. The best part: It’s only $14.50. This is a must have item for your make up bag!

2. Old Navy Striped Dress: We totally blogged about this dress back in April, but with some styles on sale for $10.99 (YES!) we thought it was worth mentioning again. For the price, this IS a summer essential. We know all moms are super busy and this dress will work around your schedule. It’s a great  choice for a casual day at work or a wonderful alternative to a tee shirt and shorts. Perfect for your day at the park, a trip to the mall…AND for this price we think you need TWO!

3. Suave Mango Mandarin Body Wash: Smell spectacular without breaking your bank. This body wash smells so good, you won’t be able to tell the difference between this brand

and the high end brands at specialty boutiques. Extra Bonus: CLICK HERE for a Suave coupon.

4. PBK Diaper Bag: We love this bag for many reasons. 1) It doesn’t look like your typical diaper bag. 2) There are a variety of patterns to choose from. 3) You can also use this a multifunctional tote the whole summer (for those of us with older children). 4) You can monogram the bag for just $6.50 extra with 3 initials or just 1 initial. Prices range from $39.00-$59.00 and we think for the style and functionality it is worth every penny!

5. Metallic Sandal: Don’t be shy about bold metallics. They are in again this season.

Metallic sandals can dress up a plain black dress or add a little flare to a pair of shorts and a cute top. We really like these strappy sandals from

American Eagle, $29.50 or, for our SharpMoms on a budget, try these at Old Navy for only $12.99.

6. A Little White Dress: Every woman has their go to little black dress, but what about a crisp, flirty white dress for the summer? We did some deep digging through many stores and boutiques and found two super cute dresses. Our first dress is a lightweight Jersey cotton dress by C & C California, $46.99. We like this dress because it is pleated so it will hide your tummy, if that is your trouble area. We also liked the price. Not too cheap, but not breaking your bank account either. The second dress is by GAP and retails for $69.50. Both of these dresses are perfect for date night, a day at the beach, lunch dates with your girlfriends, or a bar-b-que with friends. And, won’t both dresses go so well with those metallic sandals? We LOVE this look!

7. One Go-To Tee: For those moments when you don’t have time to think, we love this scoop neck tee from Banana Republic, $24.99. Available in a variety of colors, this tee is perfect with khaki shorts, a jean skirt, or jazzed up with your favorite necklace, earrings, and jeans for a night out. Why we love, love this tee? It has a hint of spandex for great comfort and fit.

8. Silver Hoop Earrings: Why do we think this is a must have? Well, for starters, it is a timeless looking addition to a solid tee, sundress, or many wear-to-work styles. It is a great little item to stow away in your glove box or purse. If you want a great pair, check out these hoops available at Macy’s. For a less pricey version, try this pair which can be found at Kohl’s.

9. Partyware: We all love a good time and, if you love a good drink every now and then, you must have this seven piece glass set available at Target, $24.99. This will be perfect for your next patio party-break out the blender!

10. Beaded Necklace: There is no stopping this trend. Wear it with your favorite solid dress. Wear it with a ribbed tank. The options are endless. The great things about a big beaded necklaces is that they can be found in a variety of styles, for a variety of prices.

These are just a few of our favorite things for summer. What are your must have items? Drop us a line and tell us about your essential pieces. If you try out some of our suggestions, let our other readers know what you think and leave a comment as well. We’d love to know how you would rate some of these items. HAPPY SUMMER 2010!

Free Nursing Cover!

Hey SharpMoms, if you are nursing this super fabulous freebie is JUST for you!

Visit uddercovers.com for a FREE patterned nursing cover! (if you’re not currently breastfeeding they make great baby shower and holiday gifts)!

These regularly retail for $32, you can get one for free. You just pay the shipping. The code is “Family2010“.

Go to uddercovers.com, click on “Shop Now”, select the product you would like and you will automatically be directed to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code! Type in “Family2010” and it will pull up the ones available. They are selling out fast. You can use the code more than once – you just have to open a new browser/window to do so. Good Luck!

This promotion gives you a $32.00 discount off your total order no matter what you put in your cart! This promotion code is valid once per transaction, so you can order as many times as you would like!

Make Mother’s Day Memorable

While most of us will be the ones getting pampered this Mother’s Day, we know that there are still Grandmas and other mommy figures in our lives that will deserve a special treat on Mother’s Day. We’ve got some great gift ideas and some other tip to help you (and Dad) make this Mother’s Day a very memorable one.

SharpMoms Short List of Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

1. Something from the heart: Every Grandma loves something handmand from their number one grandchild. Try letting your little one get creative. A handmade card is a great way to start. Pull out your craft box and let your child make a work of art for a special mom in the life.

2. What’s cookin’? Hit up your local Hobby Lobby or craft store for a blank canvas apron and some fabric markers. You can let you child decorate the apron or take it upon yourself to spice up a blank apron and turn it into gift that will be cherished forever.

3. Rest and Relaxation. Let Dad help the kids serve you breakfast in bed and do all the chores for the day. Better yet, push for a spa day package/getaway and then invite a few of your girlfriends to tag along for some added fun.

4. Keep it Traditional. Send her favorite flowers to her front door or compile a “beauty basket” with bath salts, lotions, candles, a bottle of wine and new paperback read.

5. Name it. Monogramming is always a fun and personal touch to gifts. Engrave a keychain, picture frame, or piece of jewelry. Add her initals to a make-up case, travel duffle, or beach bag filled with some summertime goodies like a fun new towel, sunhat, sunscreens and pool passes to a local pool.

RECALL ALERT: Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl

Attention Moms: This may the biggest medicine recall yet! Medications affected are Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec AND Benadryl. Please check your medicine cabinets and review the information below!

**Consumers can contact McNeil at 1-888-222-6036 and also at www.mcneilproductrecall.com.**

To see if your Tylenol products qualify for the recall click here.

To see if your Motrin products qualify for the recall click here.

To see if your Zyrtec products qualify for the recall click here.

To see if your Benadryl products qualify for the recall click here.

Ole! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home!

Let’s face it: Cinco de Mayo falls on a weeknight, some of us work, and sitters will be hard to come by. Celebrate with your family at home! We’ve got a yummy, super easy Cinco de Mayo recipe that is sure to please the whole family! Don’t forget to pick up a pinata and some sombreros at the party store for some extra family fun.

Burrito Supreme-o

What I Need:

-1/2 lb. ground beef

-1 15 oz can spicy chili beans, undrained

-1 tsp ground cumin

-4 10 in. flour tortillas

-2 1/2 cups shredded Mexican chees blend

-1 cup mild taco sauce

-3/4 cup sour cream

-shredded lettuce if desired

Fix it Fast:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 15×10x1-inch pan with cooking spray.

2. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat until well browned. Drain. Add chili beans and cumin; mix well.

3. Place tortillas, overlapping, down one side of pan. Spoon beef mixture down center of tortillas; sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the cheese.

4. Roll tortillas over sausage mixture to create 1 large burrito, seam side down. Spoon taco sauce over burrito; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.

5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. To serve, cut burrito into slices. Serve with sour cream.

Toddler and Schoolage Birthday Party Ideas: UPDATED

Guess what Moms? Our party idea list has been expanded! Check out a few of our newest ideas for great kid birthday parties. Don’t worry all of our original ideas can be found here.

Still planning for infants? Don’t miss our birthday party ideas for babies click here!

A HARD KNOCK LIFE PARTY

If you love the movie classic Annie, this party is perfect you! First pick movie themed invitations. A lot of party stores are carrying these now so they are easy to find. Be sure to tell the guests in the invite to dress the part as an orphan. This does not require buying anything new, just get creative! Suggest wearing button-down shirts, cardigans over a sundress, boots, and do a little “dirty” makeup to make your guest extra scruffy. You’ll want your little darling to be the star, Annie, so save that part or her. Serve popcorn in classic containers (also available at many party supply stores) and have a showing of Annie playing for your guests. The kids will have fun dancing to the songs, especially “A Hard Knock Life”. Serve cake and juice boxes, open presents, and your classic Annie party is complete!

A DAY AT THE ZOO

What child, especially toddlers, doesn’t love animals? A day with their friends at the zoo would be a perfect way to spend a birthday. Many zoos offer birthday party packages that include cake, drinks, and zoo passes for you and your guests. This idea is a little pricey but, if you can afford it, it makes for a very memorable party. But, what if you want to do the zoo on a budget? This is a great theme for an at home party too (or even a party that can be held a local park). To plan a zoo party at home, get crafty. Create a game of “pin the nose on the lion” and provide bowls of peanuts in the shell for guests to snack on. Fill cute treat bags or boxes with zoo themed favors. We love, love, love the treat box we have pictured (find it at birthdaydirect.com). For added fun, send your little explorers on a safari hunt. This can be done through a scavenger hunt (don’t forget to let the adults help if it’s a toddler party). The objective can be to find the lost tiger, lion, etc. and the winner will get to keep their new stuffed animal treasure! Facepaint tiger whiskers on the girls and zebra stripes on the boys. If the neat freak in you doesn’t like the mess of facepainting, check party stores for animal masks that the guests can color on their own. The party animals will all love getting wild with your little one at this party!

TAKE A TUMBLE

Is your little one an aspiring gymnastics star? A party at your local gymnastics studio is a great way to celebrate another milestone. It is good gender neutral them and good way for all your party guests to get their wiggles out. This party is super easy to plan because there is minimal planning involved. Find some cute invitations (lots of variations are offered at many paper product vendors online) and then let your guests have fun tumbling around. After they’ve all had their fill of jumping and tumbling, open presents, and eat cake with your guests. For favors keep it simple. We love the idea of making ribbon dancers for guests. Just hit up your local craft store for 12″ wooden sticks and colorul ribbon. Cut the ribbon into 3 ft. long pieces and hot glue one end to the top of the wooden stick-VOILA! Instant ribbon dancer! We love this party idea because it is great for a boy or girl! Who wouldn’t love to rough and tumble with their friends for their birthday?!

ICE SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!

This delicious idea is a wonderful party theme for spring and summer parties. We think it’s most ideal for ages 3-7. You can host it at home or once again take it to your local park and keep the mess out of your house. You can buy invitaions, but if you want to be thrifty, search clip art through your word processing program and print out an ice cream cone with one or two scoops on top. You can type your details on top of the scoops before you print. We like “I scream, you scream, {Child’s name here} scream’s for ice cream!”. For party favors buy cone shaped party hats and cover them in brown paper. Use pink blown up balloons for girls and white blown up balloons for boys. Turn the party hats upside down to make a cone and place your balloon scoop on top (keep in place with tape). Write party guests names on the cone. The kids are sure to love their own personal “ice cream cone”. Don’t forget to give the guest of honor extra scoops (3 scoops for 3rd birthday and so on).  For fun, have an ice cream relay. Three teams will compete: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. You can pair up the kids and let a few compete at a time. The winners can go make their sundaes/cones first. Have an ice cream station set up on a table and be sure to include bowls filled with all the toppings-sprinkles, M&M’s, nuts, syrups, etc. Wind down the guests with a story that goes along with the theme. We like Curious George Goes to the Ice Cream Shop!

Starbucks Make a Difference Campaign Freebie

Calling all coffee lovers! On April 15, bring a reusable travel coffee mug to Starbucks and receive a free cup of coffee.  Starbucks is making this offer as part of their Make a Difference campaign.

Spring Cleaning in a Snap!

It’s that time of year. Time to dust in places that haven’t been touched in months. Wash things that never get washed. Time to take the old out and bring in a little something new. Spring cleaning is a little overwhelming for some, but if done right, can be rewarding in the end. SharpMoms has a few ideas to help you make spring cleaning a not so big chore on your to-do list.

1. Keep a binder or portable file handy. Fill it with note cards, bills, and other things you need to review and complete. Take the binder with you and work on things while you wait in the pick up line at school or hang out at the dr.’s office.

2. Make something old new again. Don’t hide that old bowl or serving dish in your cabinet. Bring it out and use it as a catch-all for pens, mail, your watch, etc. or even use it as a dish towel or pot holder container.

3. Pile it up. Designate a laundry basket or bin for clothes that no longer fit. As you empty the dryer to the smaller clothes into the bin. When it’s full, haul it off to charity.

4. Create picture perfect photo albums. Rather than developing or ordering digitals of all your photos, make a CD of all the photos and only develop your favorites. Store the CD’s in a case and create a CD timeline. Then, put your best photos in an album. This is a great way to showcase your favorite memories.

5. Tang anyone? Sprinkle a few drops of Tang drink mix into your toilet bowl before leaving for work in the morning. When you come home, flush and VOILA! Sparkling bowl!

6. Save the date. Keep a day planner handy. You can find one that is as big or as small as you like. Keep track of your child’s activities, appointments, date nights and playdates.

Our first giveaway winner: Lauren R.!

We recently ended our first giveaway. The prize was a $25 R Us giftcard. SharpMom Lauren R. was the winner! Lauren lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She is a mom to one little boy and has another on the way. She plans to use the giftcard towards the purchase of a Moby Wrap to use with her new little one. Thanks to all the SharpMoms who entered our first giveaway. Remember, you will automatically be entered into our next contest! Enjoy your giftcard, Lauren!

SharpMoms First Giveaway! FREE Toys R Us/Babies R Us Giftcard

Our FIRST giveaway is here! Entering is simple. Just follow these few easy steps and you could be the winner of a $25 R Us giftcard, good at any Toys R Us or Babies R Us retail store and online! It’s FREE to one SharpMom! Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit our homepage (or look to your right) and grab the official SharpMoms sticker.

2. Add the SharpMoms sticker to your blog or website (and, if you have a blog, add us to you blog roll).

3. Email melissa@sharpmoms.com with a link to your blog or site donning the sticker.

**All entries must be recieved via email by Friday, April 9, 2010 at 9:00pm EST. One SharpMom will win and recieve email notification, so make sure your email is sent from a valid account.

Freebie from The Disney Store

Every Mom loves a freebie, right? SharpMoms thought their readers might be interested in this free gift from The Disney Store. All you have to do is go into any Disney Store on Earth Day, April 22nd. Bring 6 empty plastic water bottles or soda cans to be recycled, and receive a FREE Eco-Friendly Baseball Cap. There is a limit of 1 cap per person.

Egg Carton Caterpillar Craft

This is a super easy spring craft that is great for school age children ages 4-8. Best of all, the end result is cute caterpillar!

What you’ll need:

cardboard egg carton

scissors

green craft paint

6 small yellow pom-poms

pipe cleaners

2 small green pom-poms

2 stick on eyes

Instructions:

With an adult’s help, remove the lid of the egg carton and cut the bottom in half. Trim away excess. Paint the egg carton green and let it dry completely. Glue small yellow pom-poms to the top of each of the six egg cups. Cut two 2-inch strips from the pipe cleaner. Glue the pipe cleaner pieces to the top of the first egg cup to create the antennae. Glue the 2 small pom-poms on the front of the egg cup for the eyes. Finally, glue the eyeballs to the green pom-poms.

Start Planning Spring (and Summer!) Fun!

It isn’t too soon to begin thinking about how to spend those lazy summer days. In fact, it is warm enough now in many parts of the country to begin enjoying many outdoor, spring activities. Here are a few SharpMom ideas for spring and summer fun:

1. Create an Obstacle Course: For some fun on the cheap, use hula hoops, jump ropes, bounce balls, blow up baby pools and water hoses to create an outdoor obstacle course. Your kids are sure to love the challenge!

2. Animal Fun: Visiting a local petting zoo or even a local pet store. Kids love animals so this is sure to be a fun outing. For information on what your state has to offer, visit www.pettingzoofarm.com.

3.  Bring on the Neighbors: Host a game night indoors and take the activities to the streets. Create games to play for just the kids or team up kids vs. parents, mom vs. daughters, etc.

4. Online Game Time: When April showers or summer storms rain on your parade, hop online with your child for an hour or two of fun. Some of our favorite sites are nickjr.com, pogo.com, and funbrain.com.

5. An Afternoon at the Movies: Many movie theaters offer a free movie viewing every Tuesday and/or Wednesday throughout the summer. To check your local theater visit regmovies.com.

6. Get Crafty: Many home stores such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Lowe’s and Home Depot hold kid workshops at least once a month. Many times these are FREE! Check your local store for event times.

Recall Alert: Infantino LLC., infant slings: Sling Riders & Wendy Bellissimo

We’ve added Wendy Bellissimo slings to the recall list…

This recall includes all Infantino “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” infant slings sold at retailers nationwide and online at Amazon.com from January 2003 through March 2010 for between $25 and $30.

CONSUMERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THE SLINGS AND CONTACT INFANTINO FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT PRODUCT.

(866) 860-1361
(Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 4:00pm PST)
Or register online at
www.infantino.com

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