Categories
Products

Bugs Be Gone

I’m not one to take a hike in the deep woods but lately we have been enjoying the outdoors on these summer nights and the topic of bug repellent has been coming up a lot lately.  We have been trying more natural repellents. Some say only DEET will work to repel mosquitoes and ticks. Some would never use DEET and opt for natural oils. Here are a few we tested:

I am liking this OFF!® Clip-On™ repellent as you do not have to apply anything to you skin.  The battery-powered fan circulates repellent all around you. Batteries are included.  It says it provides up to 12 hours of head-to-toe protection.

Avon Skin So Soft bath oil spray – this can work for some people but not for others. We joked at a recent barbeque as we sprayed this on our dry skin (directions say to apply to wet skin) and thought that the mosquitoes would slide right off!   I like how it moisturizes too. However it does contain mineral oil.

Avon also has the Bug Guard Plus Picaridin. Don’t really like the smell but worked for me. Just be careful with the one with sunscreen as with picaridin as well as DEET you do not want to keep re-applying. Just read the labels and follow directions.

Purple Prairie is a new line of botanical soaps, lotions, sunscreens and more.  Their bug spray provides a natural, safe way to keep gnats, biting flies and mosquitoes away. They sent us a one ounce sample to test out. It contains a special blend of essential oils and plant extracts and is DEET free.  It also soothes bites and poison ivy. It smells so good – very herbal with ingredients like peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass and eucalyptus oil. I found it worked very well and was great for my daughter’s sensitive skin.

We also like Buzz Away Extreme which is a DEET-free formula in a spray bottle that combines essential plant oils with soy bean and geranium oil for long lasting natural protection. The web site says it works for up to 4 hours against mosquitoes, up to 2.5 hours on ticks, and also repels fleas, gnats and flies. If you don’t mind smelling like a citronella candle this one works well for us!

natural insect repellent
Natural insect repellent
Categories
Products shampoo

Hot Tot: Salon quality styling products

I buy a ton of hair products not only for myself but for my kids and I try to look for more natural products. Sometimes it’s hard to find products that work well, smell good and are all natural.  Hot Tot is a new line of styling products created for babies and children that are made with safe and organic ingredients.

The company sent us some samples to test out. These included styling gel, structure whip, sweet pea serum and the conditioning detangler.

What I like is that they are all formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, formaldehyde, petrolatum or synthetic coloring.

The conditioning detangler is perfect for sensitive skin and helps with knots and tangles. The styling gel does not feel stiff or sticky and the structure whip is a cream that helps with the trickier hair styles like ponytails, sleek styles and cowlicks. The sweet pea serum is for the littlest babies helping to deal with cradle cap and skin conditions.

The company also sells gift sets and infant onesies.  All the products smell great, work well and have no yucky ingredients plus the company donates a portion of their proceeds to several different charities including Save The Children and the Ronald McDonald House.

Hot Tot salon quality styling products for babies and kids
Categories
Products shampoo

Hot Tot: Salon quality styling products

I buy a ton of hair products not only for myself but for my kids and I try to look for more natural products. Sometimes it’s hard to find products that work well, smell good and are all natural.  Hot Tot is a new line of styling products created for babies and children that are made with safe and organic ingredients.

The company sent us some samples to test out. These included styling gel, structure whip, sweet pea serum and the conditioning detangler.

What I like is that they are all formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, formaldehyde, petrolatum or synthetic coloring.

The conditioning detangler is perfect for sensitive skin and helps with knots and tangles. The styling gel does not feel stiff or sticky and the structure whip is a cream that helps with the trickier hair styles like ponytails, sleek styles and cowlicks. The sweet pea serum is for the littlest babies helping to deal with cradle cap and skin conditions.

The company also sells gift sets and infant onesies.  All the products smell great, work well and have no yucky ingredients plus the company donates a portion of their proceeds to several different charities including Save The Children and the Ronald McDonald House.

Hot Tot salon quality styling products for babies and kids
Categories
books Uncategorized

Summer Reading: WGBH-TV & Bark About Books

What a day!  We had the opportunity to attend the kickoff event for the Bark About Books initiative at the Tadpole Playground in Boston Common.  Mayor Menino, Billy Costa of Kiss 108 FM and Susan Meddaugh – Martha Speaks author/illustrator, and Creative Producer of the TV show Martha Speaks helped kick off the event. Ms. Meddaugh spoke about her wonderful series Martha Speaks.  She along with Mayor Menino read to the kids. It was fun! They also talked about the importance of having your kids continue to read in the summer!

WGBH-TV partnered with ReadBoston and WGBY to provide readers in Boston and Springfield with access to high quality children’s books, coupled with activities and reading incentives. Over the summer the Bark About Books! Massachusetts Summer Reading Initiative will distribute more than 5,000 books to children in Boston and Springfield communities.

So happy reading to you and your family!

WGBH-TV event with Boston Mayor Tom Menino
WGBH-TV event with Kiss 108 FM's Billy Costa
Susan Meddaugh of WGBH-TV Martha Speaks
Categories
books

Summer Reading: WGBH-TV & Bark About Books

What a day!  We had the opportunity to attend the kickoff event for the Bark About Books initiative at the Tadpole Playground in Boston Common.  Mayor Menino, Billy Costa of Kiss 108 FM and Susan Meddaugh – Martha Speaks author/illustrator, and Creative Producer of the TV show Martha Speaks helped kick off the event. Ms. Meddaugh spoke about her wonderful series Martha Speaks.  She along with Mayor Menino read to the kids. It was fun! They also talked about the importance of having your kids continue to read in the summer!

WGBH-TV partnered with ReadBoston and WGBY to provide readers in Boston and Springfield with access to high quality children’s books, coupled with activities and reading incentives. Over the summer the Bark About Books! Massachusetts Summer Reading Initiative will distribute more than 5,000 books to children in Boston and Springfield communities.

So happy reading to you and your family!

WGBH-TV event with Boston Mayor Tom Menino
WGBH-TV event with Kiss 108 FM's Billy Costa
Susan Meddaugh of WGBH-TV Martha Speaks
Categories
opinion

Happy Summer: mini golf, sandcastles, ice cream, grilling

I have been on vacation and had a lot of catching up to do! Lots of emails, getting back to blog posts and product reviews and I missed a lot on twitter!   Usually it takes me a bit to settle into vacation mode and by the time I am relaxed it is time to go home.  We had great weather on cape cod and lot of beach time and fun activities. We made kites, played mini golf, built sand castles and of course visited our favorite place: Sundae School!

They have the best Sundaes!  Back celebrating the 4th of July we had a family cook out and when we arrived at my dad’s house we had to laugh as this was the grill he was going to use!  Believe it or not my sister had a one time use grill in her car that we used as well. My hubby said it was a great grill to cook on (and he is a grilling expert!) Here is a similar one  here. So if you are in a pinch and need a portable, throw away grill, especially for smores check it out!

Categories
TV

Educational TV: Martha Speaks PBS and WGBH Kids

The other day I posted about the countdown to the kids’ summer vacation and how it’s important to take a breather. I am all for letting the kids watch TV during some “down time” but I think it’s worthwhile to mention that not all kids TV is educational.  Oh sure they can learn some things from a few unmentioned shows (some sass and backtalk) but that is why we love Martha Speaks.

They are celebrating the end of the school year with a week of new episodes.  WGBH also released a study highlighting the positive effects of Martha Speaks on kids’ vocabulary – yeah!  A TV show that is really educational (and cute and funny too).

The fun begins on Monday, June 27 with the brand-new two-part episode, Martha’s Slumber Party of the Weird, featuring Martha and the gang sharing eerie science fiction stories. Then on Tuesday, June 28 through Thursday, June 30, enjoy Martha Speaks episodes featuring Martha and her friends enjoying outdoor activities including camping, canoeing, and watching fireworks. The adventures conclude on Friday, July 1 with another brand-new episode, The Long Rotten Summer, featuring everyone’s favorite summer activity…spending the day in school?

Plus there are some fun online activities you can do with your kids AND The Martha Speaks website is now mobile-optimized for the iPhone and iPad, offering families another way to bring the educational content from Martha Speaks to kids wherever they are. The Martha Speaks website is premiering two new games for kids on the go this summer: Summer Scenes and Magic Word. Both games help strengthen vocabulary knowledge by using target vocabulary from the show. Additionally, kids can download the Martha Speaks Dog Party App for the iPhone and iPad.

Online fun, games and new shows – what’s not to like?

PBS' Martha Speaks TV show
Categories
TV

Educational TV: Martha Speaks PBS and WGBH Kids

The other day I posted about the countdown to the kids’ summer vacation and how it’s important to take a breather. I am all for letting the kids watch TV during some “down time” but I think it’s worthwhile to mention that not all kids TV is educational.  Oh sure they can learn some things from a few unmentioned shows (some sass and backtalk) but that is why we love Martha Speaks.

They are celebrating the end of the school year with a week of new episodes.  WGBH also released a study highlighting the positive effects of Martha Speaks on kids’ vocabulary – yeah!  A TV show that is really educational (and cute and funny too).

The fun begins on Monday, June 27 with the brand-new two-part episode, Martha’s Slumber Party of the Weird, featuring Martha and the gang sharing eerie science fiction stories. Then on Tuesday, June 28 through Thursday, June 30, enjoy Martha Speaks episodes featuring Martha and her friends enjoying outdoor activities including camping, canoeing, and watching fireworks. The adventures conclude on Friday, July 1 with another brand-new episode, The Long Rotten Summer, featuring everyone’s favorite summer activity…spending the day in school?

Plus there are some fun online activities you can do with your kids AND The Martha Speaks website is now mobile-optimized for the iPhone and iPad, offering families another way to bring the educational content from Martha Speaks to kids wherever they are. The Martha Speaks website is premiering two new games for kids on the go this summer: Summer Scenes and Magic Word. Both games help strengthen vocabulary knowledge by using target vocabulary from the show. Additionally, kids can download the Martha Speaks Dog Party App for the iPhone and iPad.

Online fun, games and new shows – what’s not to like?

PBS' Martha Speaks TV show
Categories
fashions food

Discount: The Pink List: Deals, Steals & Little Squeals around Boston

Oooh do I want to be on this list…parenthood with a taste of the good life – The Pink Listâ„¢

Members of  The Pink List get exclusive rewards around Boston as well as access to members-only opportunities.  From clothing boutiques and eateries to mommy and me classes and family photography it’s like having insider access to all of your favorite Boston shops, spas, kids activities, and indulgences.

If you become a card-carrying member of The Pink Listâ„¢ you’ll receive:

  • Up to 20% off at all participating businesses, just by showing your Pink Cardâ„¢
  • Member-only deals throughout Boston, on such things as fitness, health & wellness, home & garden, beauty,  fashion, special occasions and more
  • Access to insider resources and tips from the Boston boutiques and businesses you adore
  • Opportunities to win in the “Pink with Delight” giveaways

What’s even better is if you join a portion of the proceeds will go directly to Room to Grow, an organization which is dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty in the Boston area

A Pink membership costs $75 a year, but for trendymommies readers  Use code “summer10″  to receive 10% off!

The Pink List Boston
Categories
Products shampoo

The pool/beach bag!

As you head to the pool or beach this summer season there are some fun essentials you will need.

Our friends at babo botanicals, supergoop and scout bags send us these products to review.