By
Maria on March 10th, 2010
My son now nurses three times a day. The last time is pretty much a comfort thing. What does all this mean? He’s finally getting most of his liquid nourishment from sources other than my boobs. (I say finally cause he’s 16 months old.)
As a result, we’re knee deep in sippy cups around here. Both my kids have always preferred straw cups and have never quite figured out the regular spout kind. I use two brands that both have various straw pieces that are seriously the bane of my existence right now. (Sippy straw cup review to come, trust me.)
Between trying to keep the straws from melting in my dish washer and trying not to lose the multitude of tedious little pieces, I’ve started to wonder why I was glad to cut down on nursing. My boobs don’t have any interchangeable parts and I don’t have to worry about cleaning them.
Sippy Straw Cleaner sent us one of their nifty sets of cleaners last month and they’ve been a lifesaver. When I remember to do it, I can quickly clean the straws in the sink. That way I avoid trying to use the dishwasher with the small parts, which actually doesn’t work all that well anyway.
This is a no-frills product. It’s basically just a nice little pipe cleaner type device that bends a little and works great with both varieties of straw cups I own. If you’re using disposable straws, get reusable straws and get to cleaning them with this handle and super inexpensive little tool. Dudes it costs less than a latte, so get on it.
Free Stuff Alert
Win a Sippy Straw Cleaner of your very own. For a chance to win, you can do one or all or as many as you’d like of the following. Remember to leave an individual comment for each:
- Visiting the Sippy Straw Cleaner site and tell us something you learned.
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product.
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A total of two entries are possible. One winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents only. Contest is open until March 17, 2010 at 12 p.m. Eastern.
By
Maria on March 2nd, 2010
Remember Nowali Moccasins? Turns out they’re still being made. Apparently they’ve pretty much stayed the same since they started out in Sweden in 1950. A couple of months ago, Nowali sent us a pair of Moccasins in the “Frogs” print for my 15-month-old to try out.
As I’ve written before, I’m a huge fan of soft-soled shoes. My son has been walking (and now running) since he was eleven months old. But I still like putting him in soft-soled shoes, especially when we’re inside or out somewhere where he’s going to be in my arms or in a stroller.
The Nowali Moccasins fit him perfectly from the moment I slipped them on. (We went with the 18M size.)
- Because they’re basically big socks attached to a soft suede sole, they slip on as easily as socks do.
- My son has played in them for hours and has only been able to get them off once, and that took quite a bit of effort.
- The fabric is soft and stretchy, conforming to his pudgy little legs without constricting or leaving marks.
- You can machine wash them! I love this, because I don’t use these as outdoors shoes but that hasn’t stopped my son from running out the back door and right into a puddle.
Sometimes I pull the sock portion up over his soft pants. If he’s in baby jeans, I pull the sock up underneath. I LOVE the bright colors. They seem to match every single outfit I put him in. (If you’re not a fan of bold colors and stripes, I’d check out a different pattern.)
While the weather is still cool, I’d highly recommend these for little walkers on tile or wood floors. We use soft-soled shoes and regular shoes and socks, but nothing keeps my son’s feet as warm as the Nowali Moccasins.
At $26 or so, they’re a little pricey for shoes you’ll probably only wear indoors. However, the machine-washable part makes them reasonable for me, especially if your house is consistently a little chilly in the mornings and evenings and your toddler can’t keep regular socks on. Our affiliate Amazon.com currently has a bunch of Nowali Moccasins and a few are eligible for Free Super Saver shipping.
Free Stuff Alert
Want to win a pair of Nowali Moccasins? To enter you MUST:
- Leave a comment here telling us which kind of Nowali Moccasins you love the most.
For extra, optional entries:
- Tell us what YOU wear around the house (on your feet) when it’s cold outside.
- Follow YourMamaReviews on Twitter. Comment to let us know that you did or already do.
- Tweet, blog or Facebook about this giveaway. Comment with a link.
A total of two entries are possible. One winner will be selected. Open to U.S. residents only. Contest is open until March 9, 2010 at 12 p.m. Eastern.
By
Maria on February 26th, 2010
I actually bought some of these (a set with birds) last Christmas but I gave them all away. So technically I’ve used them but I totally want more because I am REALLY BAD at wrapping gifts and these tags make everything look awesomer.
I’m usually not into super folky/crafty stuff on Etsy. But Jamie’s store, A Forest Frolic, has a wonderful indie sensibility. Her items are handmade but they don’t look like something on your Grandma’s Christmas tree or like something your preschooler came home with.
Try using these stylish gift tags on a plain brown package or tied to a little “thinking of you” gift or a bottle of wine. Instant awesomeness! I’m serious.
Follow Jamie on Twitter and tell her how pretty her stuff is. You can buy these gift tags and much more at A Forest Frolic on Etsy.
My son now nurses three times a day. The last time is pretty much a comfort thing. What does all this mean? He’s finally getting most of his liquid nourishment from sources other than my boobs. (I say finally cause he’s 16 months old.)
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