MumsTheWurdUnique finds for hip parents and cool kids

There are so many new and exciting things going on over at Bee Simple (formerly Flip Flop Mamma’s Place).

I have started dabbling in children’s tees [$22] and have a couple of rockin’ designs, with a couple more taking shelter in my head for the time being. Currently the Little Monkey tee is only in pink, but will be coming in other trendy colors soon. Don’t ever be afraid of requesting a custom order!!

November is Prematurity Awareness Month and Bee Simple is donating 20% of all sales to Project X, a project that brings food and gifts to parents with babies in the NICU during the holidays.

We’ve introduced Shea Butter into our Bee Good To Your Body Butter, Bee Good To Your Body Lotion bar, Deodorants and Bee Good To Your Baby Butter. Shea Butter makes it so rich and creamy, your skin will beg you for it.

Right now all Fall/Winter scents are on sale in our Lotion bars and Lip Balms!! Don’t miss this chance to stock up for the winter. Yummy peppermint, Coffee and more!

If you would like to recieve Bee Simple Newsletters to keep up with anything new happening, Contact me flipflopmamma(at)gmail(dot)com with Subscribe in the subject box.

If you haven’t heard of smartbargains.com you’ve totally been missing out! This website is awesome, and is your link to brand name shopping at amazing prices. Smart Bargains has you covered, from kids toys to men’s clothing to women’s shoes to bedding. You name it and you can probably find it there, and at a discounted price.

I just purchased these amazing low wedges by Steve Madden, in purple, and my feet have never been happier (seriously, I think this is the first pair of name brand shoes I’ve ever owned!).

The site is so user friendly that even your tech-unsavvy grandma could order from it. And you know I was skeptical. Was I really getting a deal? I had to look into it, so I went to the actual Steve Madden website to check it out. I was so happy to find out that I actually did save money at Smart Bargains!

I know you don’t want me to bring it up this early, but Christmas is just around the corner. Keep smartbargains.com in mind this holiday season!

Win it!

Want a $50 coupon code to Smart Bargains? Enter here and tell us your must-have from the site! Winner will be chosen randomly Monday November 10th and contacted via email.

Have you noticed that we have another new Mum?  Jaymi, better known as FlipFlopMamma, has joined the awesomeness that is MumsTheWurd!  She is the bomb.  Welcome her!  Jaymi is another babywearing mamma of 3 cool kids that you’ll see from time to time on Mums.  

While we’re on the topic of babywearing, I have to tell you about the pouch from Rockin’ Baby Sling!  Well, first of all, they’re gorgeous!  Secondly, all the pouches and slings are named after songs, and really good songs, at that!  Check their huge selection of slings and pouches.  You are bound to find one that suits your style!  My issue with the pouch has always been that it seems to snug.  Not the Rockin’ Baby Pouch-these slings are generously sized.  My Medium/Large “I’ll Stop the World and Melt With You” fits me on the smallest setting for carrying Lennon, and on the biggest size for carrying Noel (it’s happened a couple times).  Like a sling, this pouch allows you to hold your baby in a variety of ways.  Find a way that is comfortable for both you, and your child, and start babywearing!  Want another reason to buy from these two Rockin’ Mamas?  They give 3% of their profits to Heifer International.

Do you enjoy babywearing, but find that it takes time away from doing certain things, like exercising (as if hauling around your baby isn’t exercise enough…)?  Well, the gals at Chicks-n-Chickens found a way to make it easy for you to get a little workout in while cuddling on your little bundle.  The Chicks Lullaby Exercises is a great way to get a little exercise for yourself, keep your baby close, and get them ready to nod off to dreamland.  I’ve done Lullaby Exercises with Lennon a few times, and it was pretty great.  It was a fun workout, without being too over the top.  I really enjoyed the sleep set, which was very relaxing, and did indeed put Lennon right to sleep!  Want to try it?  

Win it!

Enter here and tell us how you enjoy getting exercise with your kids! Winner will be selected randomly, and contacted via email. Contest ends October 26rd at 10pm (CST).

We now bring you the first in our new series of posts geared toward the Dads, brought to you by the spouses of The Mums.  Here’s one by The Father of the Year!

I have, for the most part, loathed shaving ever since I felt required to do it.  It just always seemed like a thankless & repetitive job.  There was nothing there that I could rally behind.  Add razor-burn to that, and I have looked like an unshaven slacker for my entire adult life. 

I have shaved every day for the last week.  I have looked forward to it.  I have even enjoyed it.  What?

Enter the Retro Razor and the world of wet shaving with a double-edged razor.  This is, most likely, how your grandfather shaved.  It is cheaper.  It is more earth-friendly.  It obliterates razor burn.  Interested?  I certainly was. 

Chadd Bennett, proprietor of Retro Razor, was kind enough to send me a starter kit to review, as well as answer a lot of questions:

• Will I cut myself to pieces? 
• Is it hard to find this stuff?
• How long does one blade last?
• Do I need special soap or shaving cream?
• Will this really help with razor-burn?

After a week of shaving with the Retro, I have some answers:

• The first few times I got a few nicks - nothing more than usual.  By the end of the week, I was only getting 1 nick at the most.  The trick is to not press down very much with the razor.  The blade is sharp - let it do it’s thing.
• It is easy to find stuff on the internet - check out the Retro Razor Store for razors and accoutrements.
• One blade seems to last for 3 shaves - you can get a 5 pack of blades for around $2.  Do the math - this is MUCH cheaper than buying those insanely expensive cartridge blades at the grocery store. 
• You can use regular shaving cream, but why not try something new?  There are a lot of soaps and creams out there that are a lot better for your face.  Why not have a little fun with this?
• The coup de grace?  No razor-burn.  Period. 

Added bonus - these blades are 100% recyclable, as opposed to cartridge blades.  Even the razor is recyclable, as it is only metal - no batteries, lights, plastic, etc. 

Check out this starter kit, with everything you need to get going. 

No sexism here - women use them too!  

I’d like to thank my mom for guest posting!  She’s the recepient of this awesome, magnificant messenger bag.  I told her she was getting it before I got it in the mail.  When I saw it, I had an eeny, weeney ounce of regret, because this bag looks AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m going to ask her to take a picture of it, but I don’t think a picture will do it justice.  My mom is NOT a purse carrier, so I knew this would be great for her, and it’s been a HUGE hit, with her & her pals!  Snaptotes offers a classic collection, leather collection, and a mens collection.  If you feel like it, give a shoutout to Noel & Lennon’s grandmum (also known as Neena) in the comments!  

If you mention a child (or a grandchild) a pet or a vacation, people always ask, “Do you have any pictures?”  Show ‘em your Snaptote!

My handy messenger bag has a cushioning case for a laptop, pockets for pens and business cards, and a large flap that displays your favorite pictures.

Best of all, the reproduction quality of the photographs is beyond expectation.  The messenger bag I have is a higher end purchase, but they have so many choices on their website of more moderately-priced items – everything from wallets and dopp kits (so men can carry their treasured photos, too) to purses and pouches.   

My friends at work want one for themselves or friends.  They are so impressed with the quality of the pictures and the features of the bag as a practical carryall.   

Take a look for yourself.  Snaptotes have lots of choices that are sure to please even the pickiest person!

GET A 10 % DISCOUNT ON SNAPTOTES or at PICSTREET WITH THE COUPON CODE “mums08″!!!

PeaceLoveMom is a cool little store that caters to all of us fun moms and our groovy kids.  They have lots, and lots, and LOTS of great T’s, belts, and jewelry that celebrate YOU, the mum!  They also create great shirts and bags and hats for children of all ages, because if it weren’t for them, we would have no reason to celebrate this amazing thing called “Motherhood”.  

Lori, Suzanne, and Karen are the moms that bring the creativity and quirkiness to PeaceLoveMom.  Coming from different backgrounds, they all bring together the common goal to celebrate moms and their kids.  

PeaceLoveMom sent Lennon this ADORABLE WonderBaby Onesie.  Obviously, he looks darling in it.  They also sent us one of their awesome PeaceLoveMom totes, that I gave to my tote-loving friend, Lisa.  Um, little does she know *ahem*, I took it with us to the pool before I gave it to her, and was able to carry all of our “extras”.  It’s big, and good for carting around snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses.  You could probably fit a magazine in it, but your chances of reading that magazine while at the pool with your kids?  None.  Well, now that some of the kiddies have gone back to school, we’re giving you a treat for all your hard work this summer…

PeaceLoveMom wants to give you a t-shirt and one of these great tote bags!   

WIN IT!

Email us to enter: mumsthewurd[at]gmail[dot]com and tell us what you like for you or your kids over at PeaceLoveMom.  Contest ends Saturday, September 10, 2008 at 10 PM CST. Winner will be chosen randomly and notified via email. Good Luck!!

Cosmic Bebe is a sweet little t-shirt company started by Julie Stevenson, who was curious about whether or not her little ones were anything like their astrological signs. Do you have a an Aries child who’s The Life of the Party?

I have two Aquarius’ who are definitely Brilliant & Bossy & I am a Tender Hearted Cancer. Although I don’t revolve my life around my astrological sign, or anyone else’s, I, like Julie, think it’s fun to see how closely we resemble the characteristics of our signs.

Check out the Cosmic Collection, and pick out shirts for your baby, toddler, even your favorite mom. Cosmic Bebe tees come in a variety of colors and sizes for all the little stars in your life. Get Cosmic today!

*Through the end of August, 2008, get 20% off of your purchase with the coupon code “mums“

*UPDATE: Congratulations to Kristie E, Candice B and Candie L - our promom couture winners.  Thanks to all for entering!

I just love finding stuff for me. Shopping used to be all about me. Now, it’s all about what cute stuff I can find for my kid. Well prepare yourself, promom couture is all about you, mama.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the cute finds for my little fashionista but I do still try to keep in the fashion-loop for myself. promom couture takes my love for motherhood, the earth and family and creates “wickedly stylish” designs so I can proudly “celebrate motherhood with style”.

Over at promom couture, you can shop for tees, tanks, items to promote living green and other assorted accessories.

I love my promom couture tee. It’s soft and stretchy and the colorful, “happy mom, happy life, happy wife” design on the front just promotes my celebration. I love being a mom and promom couture really gets it.

WIN IT!

One of our readers will win a promom couture tee and two more of our readers will win promom couture 100% cotton tote bags (four different designs to choose from).

TO ENTER:

Leave your entry comment on this post. Check out promom couture and in your comment, let us know which tee and tote design(s) you like best.

Last day to enter is Wednesday, July 9th. Three winners will be chosen randomly and announced on this post after notification via email. The first winner picked will win the tee, the next two will win tote bags.

Good luck!

We are excited to tell you a little more about the beautiful Ashlee Allen.  Since she was unable to podcast with us a few weeks ago, we sent her a couple of questions.  Here’s a little info about the Nest mama:

MTW: What inspired you to start nest?

Ashlee: I had always planned to wear my baby but when Xavier was born unexpectedly at 28 weeks I knew babywearing and kangaroo care would be critical. Through our journey I discovered that while there were many carriers I adored, I couldn’t find *the one*, so I made it! Nest as a business evolved from there.

MTW: What did you do before you became a “mompreneur”? How did you get started?

Ashlee: I’ve dabbled in many carrers other than mom - photography, psychology, advertising, yoga instructor, nanny and of course mama. After making slings for many friends and people I’d run into all over the place I realized my life would be easier if I had a place to send people. So after much research, I started designing and thanks to my sewing and my husband’s design skills nest was hatched.

MTW: Without giving away any of your “secrets”, where/how do you find the items for your store?

Ashlee: I lauch new collections in the spring and fall and am always on the look out new styles and fabric. One of my favorite things to do is scout out random fabric shops in person and online and I, of course, pay attention to the current fashion scene for inspiration.

MTW: What are some of your favorite items?

Ashlee: Our limited edition slings are always my favorite, the Heart Nouveau being my current favorite. The hatchlings are super cute and we actually have some items in production that I can’t wait to launch- I’m in love! ***I am too!  This is why we’re waiting to tell you about E$’s Sling!!!***

MTW: Tell us more about Project X.

Ashlee: Project X provides person to person support to NICU familes. As I mentioned before our son Xavier was born at 28 weeks and spent 6 weeks in NICU. It was a really terrifying time for us and the biggest help was talking to other people who had been there. We do a lot of one on one work, but our biggest event is Project Christmas, provinding a traditional Christmas dinner to all of the local NICU’s. We spent Xavier’s first Christmas in the hospital and having just a hint of normalcy would have made all the difference. Since our first year in 2006 we’ve had several sister programs launch in cities nationwide. 10% off all nest profits are donated directly to Project X.

MTW: Tell us a bit about you and your family!

Ashlee: I get to spend my days with my amazing 2 (going on 17) year old X and my super cool, artist husband David. When David’s not tattooing, I’m not sewing or blogging and X isn’t napping you’ll likely find us up to our eyebrows in paint or building some killer lego cities.

See what else Ashlee’s up to here, here, here, and here.