"Hannah Banana Tutus & Oh So Much More!"

While researching handmade baby items, I came across an amazing online store where you can find the most affordable, adorable, and unique items for your precious little one. Whether you're looking for a unique pillowcase dress, tutu, or hair accessory for your little girl or a personalized bib, burp cloth or an adorable John John for your little boy, Hannah Banana Tutus is the place to shop. Her prices are fabulous! The products are beautiful! And your baby will get so many compliments in whatever gorgeous item you order from http://www.hannahbananatutus.com/

I contacted the owner of the online store and she so kindly and generously sent me a couple of her quality, handmade, large boutique bow crocheted headbands. My adorable niece Emma was my test model. The crocheted headband stretched easily while still keeping it's shape. It slid right on to Emma's head with no problem at all. The pink headband stayed on her head for the entire time and she didn't seem to notice or mind the headband being around her head. The beautiful brown bow is made of sturdy material and did not change its shape at all. A little tug on it from her cutie pie of a brother, L.J. did not disturb this adorable accessory. Another awesome fact about this headband is that the bow easily detaches to wear as a clip. It's like a two in one hair accessory! I am so pleased with the overall look and quality of these headbands. The extra soft crochet headbands come in white, light pink, or hot pink. You choose the color of the bow (available to see on the website) to match. They fit newborns to 12 year olds. You can purchase one for $7 or two for $12. This is a product that I feel is, "Worth Every Penny!"

I will leave you with one last sentiment from the owner of Hannah Banana Tutus, "The beauty of childhood fades so quickly…Make the most of it! A special look can turn any day into a special occasion for your little one."

Be sure to check out http://www.hannahbananatutus.com/

Entertain Me, Mommy!

The Town of Brookhaven has a fabulous Ecology Site with an amazing Park & Animal Preserve. It is located in Holtsville, NY and the amenities include a triple pool complex, an exercise/trail fitness course, a nature preserve and ecology center, that features mountain lions & eagles, ecology exhibits, tours and a picnic area. The best part of this place is the zoo that is open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., seven days a week. The cost for admission to the zoo is FREE! For more information on the Ecology Center, call 516-758-9664.

Get Rewarded!

My son loves his pacifier but now that he's getting older, he loses them all of the time! It drives me crazy and I refuse to buy a pacifier clip because I plan on trying to take away the pacifier before he's a year old. The pacifiers that he loves are the ones made by MAM. At times they are on sale at Babies R' Us but if they're not, it's about $3 a pacifier. I never see coupons for them and have been buying a lot lately so I decided to call the 1 800 number on the back of the package to see if they have coupons. It turns out they did and the lovely MAM representative sent me 3 - $1 off coupons for any MAM product. Here are some 1 800 numbers that I called to ask for coupons.
Playtex - 1-800-222-0453 (Received 1 - $3 off any Playtex baby item)
Aveeno - 1-877-298-2525 (Have not recieved coupons yet.)
MAM - 1-866-949-1174 (Received 3 - $1 off any MAM product purchase)

30% Off Coach Factory Outlet Valid til 6/27

Heading to the outlets this weekend? Dare I say, "Starting your holiday shopping extremely early this year?" If so, click the link below to print out a 30% off your purchase at Coach Outlet Factory Stores.

https://e.coach.com/servlet/formlink/f?JhHJoQSAUSVGf6beX6990G11VOthgnxklmKLglQmuHkkQLKmVijpglyHnLVljmL

Celebrity Quote

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn

Gifts to Grow

Below is the lastest ten pointer from Pampers. Enjoy!

ENJOYYOURSUMMER

Picture Worthy

Uh oh...I guess it's time to babyproof!

Rear vs. Front Facing Car Seats

Attention all mommies and daddies of infants, babies and toddlers. Please take a few minutes to watch this eye opening Utube video about rear facing and front facing car seats. It really makes me rethink my original car seat plans.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQ8gU9zzCGA8&h=6cbfcOGxWMR7g62bKDKNus775Ew

Worth Every Penny

In previous posts I've spoken about my baby boy's lovely skin! It's pastey white, dry and is prone to eczema. When he was three months old, we're not sure exactly sure what caused it, but his skin was peeling off of his body. My amazing pediatrician recommended using CeraVe Moisturizing Cream two times a day. It's available at your local drug store and costs about $15.99 for a 16 oz. jar. It provides all-day moisturization and increases skin hydration. Obviously it costs more than your typical baby moisturizer but it is a product that I feel is worth every penny!

Entertain Me, Mommy!

Did you know that there is a National Association of Mothers' Centers? They recognize the challenges, realities and value of being a mother. Their programs offer mothers and other caregivers a sense of camaraderie, peer support, empathy, information, and resources. Their website is http://www.motherscenter.org/ and they have a lot of helpful information, including a list of mothers' center locations. I was so excited to find out that at certain locations they offer Mommy and Me classes at a low cost, as well as discounts for great places like Great Wolf Lodge for NAMC members. The annual fee is $35.

LI Mommies - check out the Farmingdale location at http://www.midshoremotherscenter.org/

Get Rewarded!

Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards has added some new videos to watch, polls to take and articles to read to add points to your account. Don't forget to print out any coupons they may have linked up to their articles and websites. Check out www.enjoytheriderewards.com to create an account or add points to your existing account.

Celebrity Quote

"At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a parent or a friend." -Barbara Bush

Picture Worthy

Baby Boy in his Huggies Blue Jean Diaper!

Huggies says, "It's the coolest you'll look pooping your pants!"

Worth Every Penny

Sassy Diaper Scented Sacks are one item that I could not live without! Forget those expensive diaper disposal systems and pick yourself up a package of these awesome little blue baggies! My son has a stinky diaper at least two times a day and since my garbage is located in the basement, throwing them out immediately is not an option for me. The Sassy Diaper Scented Sacks have a baby powder scent so when I place a stinky diaper in it, the baby powder scent overpowers the scent of poo! I then throw the filled baggy out in my kitchen garbage and the smell of stinky diaper is gone!

Holy Pampers Points, Batman!

Can you say, "Chah Ching?"

These two codes will ad forty points to your Pampers Gifts to Grow account!

25GTGSUMMER2010

15GTGSUMMERFUN

Entertain Me, Mommy!

I love spending time outdoors with my family but those rainy days can really be a killer! Now that I have an official "crawler" on my hands, I'm always searching for reasonably priced activities to do with my baby boy to keep him busy. I recently found Once Upon A Treetop in Plainview, NY. Below is a description:

There is so much to do at Once Upon a Treetop, why stay home? Gather together a group of friends and come join us for some fun in our little city. Kids will have the opportunity to explore through interactive play and climb through our tree house play unit. Though kids MUST ALWAYS be supervised by a parent or adult, rest assured that there will be plenty of staff available to interact with kids and show them how to have fun safely and courteously. * Kids and adults must wear socks in our little city. No shoes, sneakers, bare feet or strollers will be allowed in our play area. We like to keep it clean and safe!

For more information, check out their website at www.onceuponatreetop.com You'll want to check it out for their open play time schedule and to see if they have any coupons to print out before you go. The cost is $6.00 per crawler and adults and infants are free!

Old Navy Coupon Valid Thru 6/20

If you're planning on shopping at Old Navy this week, don't forget to print out this Old Navy coupon. $10 off your $50 purchase from now until June 20, 2010. Happy Shopping!

http://oldnavy.shoplocal.com/oldnavy/default.aspx?action=detailbrowselarge&storeid=2601181&title=$10+OFF+ANY+PURCHASE+OF+$50+OR+MORE+&img=http://akimages.shoplocal.com/dyn_li/600.0.90.0/Retailers/oldnavy/100611_Back_CPNrcb.JPG

Get Rewarded!

From Bumbo seats to Pack and Plays, it seems that you can really fill up your entire house with all of the baby gear you think you need for your little one! I love anything that makes my life as a mom easier but I hate to spend so much money on an item that I'll only use for a short period of time. My Boppy was great for the first 6 months of my baby's life. Now it's tucked away in a nice little box until I have another baby. Don't get me wrong, I love my Boppy but if I had a nickel for every baby gear item that got tucked away after only a few months of use, I'd be loaded!

I recently found out about a second hand store called, "Once Upon A Child." They have a huge selection of gently used kids clothing, toys, furniture and baby gear at up to 70% off retail price. Everything they have is in fabulous condition. They only buy and sell next to new, good quality, and clean items. Everything is checked for safety standards. Once Upon A Child will buy your unwanted baby items from you for cash on the spot. Check out http://www.onceuponachild.com/ for more information and for the location nearest you.

To be completely honest, when I first visited the Hicksville location I was a little sceeved out. How could I give my precious angel used items? Once I realized that I was able to buy a practically brand new walker toy that is originally $40 for $10, and a spotless $23 Sesame Street toy for $4, I got over it real quick! I recently sold them a grocery bag full of onesies, booties, and pajamas that were either brand new or used once. They gave me $7.12 for all of it. Was it a fabulous deal? Not really but for things that I was never going to use anyway, I enjoyed a few days worth of Starbucks, compliments of my sale at Once Upon A Child!

Celebrity Mom Quote

"Hugs can do great amounts of good — especially for children."

- Princess Diana

Sweet Tooth Events

Now that we are mommies and daddies, planning parties isn't as easy as it used to be. First came the baby shower, then the arrival, then the dedication, christening or baby naming ceremony and then the treasured first birthday party. Sweet Tooth Events helps you to plan your upcoming event, while going to work, taking care of the house, running errands and watching the kids. Sweet Tooth Events coordinates and assists you in that hectic process! They can make your little one's party the most memorable event you will ever have. Event Decor and management is their main business but as an added bonus they specialize in decorative dessert tables that will definitely add some extra flair to your event! Please contact Maria from Sweet Tooth Events at mtmascia@gmail.com for more information.

Worth Every Penny

The Children's Place socks are my absolute favorite socks for babies and kids. When my son was first born, he used booties but they always ended up on the floor. When he was about 3 months old I bought him his first pair of "big boy" socks. The Children's Place sells "Place" Socks in many different colors. Below is the description -
A basic necessity that goes great with any outfit!

In a soft blend of cotton/polyester

With a touch of spandex for added stretch and a shape-keeping fit

Logo grippers on bottoms provide extra traction for sure-footed steps

Rib-knit elasticized triple-roll cuffs for stay-up style

Imported

The smallest size they have is 6-12 months but I put them on my tiny son at 3 months and he wore them under his pants as knee highs. I never had a problem with them falling off and I never had to worry about his feet getting cold. You can purchase 3 pairs for $6 but don't forget to print out a coupon before you go!

Gifts to Grow

Here is a 5 point Pampers Gifts to Grow code. If you are expecting a baby and have not set up a Pampers Gifts to Grow account yet, I encourage you to do so now! Check out pampers.com for more information. The points do add up, slowly but surely and the rewards are all very useful.

GTGSUMMERFUN5PT

Entertain Me, Mommy!

I am speaking for myself when I say that I gained way too much weight during pregnancy! I've tried to eat well and get out walking at least three times a week but have a hard time with staying motivated. Thankfully I have a couple of very good friends that get me up and out. It makes it so much easier to get out and walk when you have a good support system. Stroller Strides is a total fitness program for moms that they can do with their babies right beside them. It is offered at indoor locations as well as outdoor locations. The best part about Stroller Strides is that your first class is free! For more information, check out http://www.strollerstrides.net/

Get Rewarded!

As many of us know all too well, your little one grows up very quickly. One minute you're sterilizing bottles and the next you're buying baby food to spoon feed your baby. If you have not done so already, sign up at beechnut.com to receive exclusive coupons by email. There are only two ways to get Beech Nut Baby Food coupons - The first is through email and the second is to save the bar codes from their jarred foods and cereals. Once you have 46 bar codes, go to the website, print out the voucher to send in, mail away the bar codes with voucher and wait for your 4 $1.00 off the purchase of 10 jars to come in the mail.

*****Thinking Like Mommy Contest to Win Beech Nut Coupons*****

Attention all Facebook fans - Email me all of the names that you suggest the Thinking Like Mommy page to. The person who refers the most amount of people to "like" my page will be sent eight $1.00 off Beech Nut coupons. My email is thinkinglikemommy@gmail.com

Celebrity Mom Quote

"As a working mother, the last thing on my mind when I'm trying to get my son out the door and to school on time is how I look. I still love clothes, but they just don't fit into my life the way they used to. For work, I get to dress up and somebody does my hair and makeup, and its like a little holiday for a few hours. But for everyday, it would be foolish to spend more time on my outfit than I do on my son." -Sarah Jessica Parker

Facebook Fans

So far my Thinking Like Mommy facebook page has 78 fans. My goal is to reach 100 fans by next week. Please suggest this page to all of you facebook friends. Be sure to have them "like" the page so that they can be entered into my end of the month "Worth Every Penny" giveaway.

Carters and Children's Place Coupons

Carters Coupon Valid Thru June 9th
http://view.e.carters.com/?j=fe6016737d6004757314&m=fefe1671706100&ls=fde41d747d6c0c7c721c7376&l=fe5a157672670575761c&s=fe0715757562067e74177375&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe25167776660774731777&cm_mmc=ETCarters-_-Retail%20Weekly-_-Retail+Weekly+Inactive+2010+06+03-_-view+in+browser


The Children's Place Valid Thru June 20th
http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/EmailJump?langId=-1&catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&jumpId=cpn-060310-sump2-v2

Picture Worthy Events

As you may know from my previous posts, I'm not a huge fan of spending tons of money on photographs of my son. I'd rather go on vacation with my family than spend hundreds of dollars on a photo session but I must admit that I recently found something that sparked my interest. A colleague's husband has a photo studio in his home and I was checking out his website http://www.chrislobellophotography.com/ and found that not only is he a fabulous photographer but he also makes "Kiddie Films" which are absolutely adorable! I have not even called yet to find out the cost but will keep you posted as to if I have to break the bank to have this truly touching video filmed of my son.

10 More Pampers Gifts to Grow Points

JUNFACEBOOK2010

Worth Every Penny

Like many young women, I thought about my baby long before he was even born. I envisioned an angelic, cheerful, beautiful, olive skinned baby. Well I was right about the beautiful and cheerful part but the olive skin...not so much....more like pasty white! My beautiful, cheerful baby boy is as white as the snow! Needless to say, I'm a wreck when I have him out in the sun! Protect-A-Bub Compact Sunshade has made going for long walks on the boardwalk a little less stressful. Here is the description below:

Compact Sunshade
A sleek, more streamlined design… perfect for smaller strollers.
Rated UPF 50+; Highest rating possible for ultraviolet sun protection
25% smaller than Classic Sunshade
Specially woven polyester microfiber is breathable and doesn’t retain heat
Additional Features
Fits all single strollers and joggers with a canopy
Mesh sides reduce glare and promote air circulation
Easily attaches to stroller frame
Wind resistant frame
Includes carry bag

I use the Protect-A-Bub all of the time! It is lightweight, folds/rolls up quickly into its matching carrying bag and easily ties onto the handles of my jogging stroller and my umbrella stroller. It keeps my son from those harmful sun rays and that makes me very happy! I bought my Protects-A-Bub at Buy Buy Baby for $24.99 and was able to use a 20% off coupon.

Entertain Me, Mommy!

Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program. It caters to babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners and the family members and friends that love them. Music Together is based on the principle that all children are musical. Classes are offered throughout the U.S. in many different types of locations. Check out their website http://www.musictogether.com/ to find the location closest to you. Many locations offer a free trial class with no obligation to sign up for future classes. Check it out (at least once) and enjoy this special time with your little one!