Posts Tagged ‘outdoors’
Amy on September 14th, 2009
This is our new baby, Teagan Reese. She arrived on July 8th and we’ve been knee-deep in babydom ever since. After Teagan arrived, I anxiously awaited the arrival of our new travel collection from Britax, the Chaperone. The Chaperone infant carrier and stroller were sent to us for review by the company.
Even though the new travel collection was gifted to us, I could still say that I’m not happy with it if I truly wasn’t. But truth of the matter is, I can’t say that I don’t like it. I love it and highly recommend it and would have gladly purchased it myself.
Almost four years ago, we were given a hand-me-down infant carrier and stroller of another popular brand. I always complained how uncomfortable my then infant seemed to be in the seat and the stroller, although lightweight and compact, it wasn’t the greatest when it came to steering and rolling on surfaces. But enough about that.
Let’s talk more about the Chaperone. It’s a brand new product from Britax. What we have here is True Side Impact Protection. The infant seat is roomy enough and comfortable (at least it looks comfy). The car seat base has an Anti-Rebound Bar, which was introduced by Britax in 2004. All in all, I’m confident that this car seat is going to protect my little one in the unfortunate event we’re involved in an accident.
Here is the Chaperone stroller that is paired with the infant carrier. There wasn’t an instruction guide with the stroller but my husband was easily able to figure out the assembly and by watching the Chaperone video on the Britax site, I was able to figure out how the carrier works with it and how to fold and unfold it. (I spoke to a Britax rep via Twitter and they’re going to send me the instructions.)
I’m completely thrilled with the stroller. It’s ridiculously easy to push around, one or two-handed. It strolls gracefully over all surfaces (at least the store/pavement/cement/grass surfaces I’ve had it on so far). I could go on and on about the features but you can find all of that information on the Britax site. I’m just here to tell you that if you’re thinking about purchasing this travel system, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Well worth the money and they have a good deal going on right now, $100 off if you purchase the Chaperone infant carrier along with the Chaperone stroller. Not a bad deal at all.
annaholler on May 14th, 2009
When my girls were little my husband and I swore by the ERGObaby carrier. The bulkiness of strollering our children combined with the benefits of wearing your baby prompted us to try every type of carrier on the market until we found the one best suited for our lives. At that time we were living in a rural town and used the carrier for trips to the mall or walks around the neighborhood.
As our children have grown strollering has become a helpful tool that we use at amusement parks, shopping trips and places we might spend a lot of time walking. I feel that it’s important for my children to have the independence to hop out and walk around, but not to feel overwhelmed by the expectation of too much exercise, particularly on the hot days of summer.
We quickly learned that strollering is very similar to baby-wearing in the respect that one stroller does not meet every need. We tried several models before we came to love our Phil and Teds sport double buggy. First we used a front to back double stroller, but it was too long and difficult to navigate. Then, we tried a side by side jogging stroller, but it was difficult to fold, bulky to travel with and didn’t fit through the aisles of stores. Finally, we settled on a sit-and-stand model that worked for us…
until..
DUN
DUN
DUN
…we moved to the city of Philadelphia. For those of you who have not visited the city of Philadelphia, I am here to testify to the fact that the aged, historic and loved sidewalks of this city are not conducive to long walks with a stroller. The nicer sidewalks are slanted and often still in their original cobblestone or brick form.
We lived here for no more than a week when I turned to my husband and said, “We need a city stroller no matter the cost. It’s a quality of life issue for me. I am willing to sell a kidney if need be. I need a stroller more than both of my kidneys. And THAT is where I stand.”
I started my research with the parents at the park. I moved on to the families at the zoo and I stopped after I had stopped a good dozen people on the street to quiz them on their stroller choice.
My findings were as follows:
Each person I ambushed stopped had at least one complaint about the double stroller they pushed with the exception of the folks behind a Phil and Teds double buggy. It was overwhelming and universal. Every parent with a double buggy by Phil and Teds was willing to talk the ear off of one frazzled mama and her two tots about just how great our lives could be… if only…
I have never been a person who has been that comfortable spending outrageous amounts of money on a stroller. I’m not a particularly showy person, so the Bugaboos on the street seemed a silly expense. After researching retailers who sold the Phil and Teds sport double buggy, I was able to find a great deal at Pish Posh Baby.
My order had standard shipping, but the stroller arrived the following day. After a little bit of assembly it was ready to go.
My friends, my fellow lovers of Mums the Wurd, parents from all over the land, I am hear to promise you that your life will infinitely improve with this stroller. It is as light as a cloth nappie and takes bumps and dips and cricks, cracks and uneven sidewalks in a way that makes me wonder if the stroller has some sort of magical properties and is able to rearrange the pull of our earth’s gravity. My children love this stroller. No one minds sitting in the back (which was my only real concern) and the fact that I can remove the bottom seat to make it a single when need be is just good design and practical thinking. It comes with a “mommy hook” to hang your bags on and has ample storage beneath the top seat. The front wheel rotates, so I am able to easily navigate through tight aisles and big crowds. I could easily take on a corn maze, I’m sure. Recently, we traveled with this stroller to Disney World and walked for miles each day. This stroller took airports, plane rides, shuttle buses, ferry boats and days of pavement while carrying our children, food and souvenirs for a full week. At the end of our vacation, I could not have imagined what life would have been like had we left it behind.
In summary, if I were single and I met Phil or Ted… I would marry either or both of them.
Laura on October 25th, 2008
U*neaks are such a cute idea for a kids shoe! It brings me back to the early days of the 80s, when I wore my Roos, except these are actually cool. U*Neaks are a simple sneaker, but then you add the darling, dual sided socks, and voila! They turn into a different pair of shoes with every change of socks! They are soooooo cute!
Noel’s little Camel Revs are so adorable, with or without the super cute socks. Roo’s got a pair too, but she refuses to wear the socks. 
However, these socks totally liven up the shoe-Change the Sock, Change the Shoe! Fun, huh? The socks aren’t dull either-find Skulls & Extreme Sportsfor boys, or Zebras & Leopards for girls. There are many selections of shoes and socks for both boys and girls.
Interested in livening up your child’s shoe & sock collection?
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 November 3rd at 10pm (CST).
Laura on July 21st, 2008
When Ami Roberts, owner of Plum Tot, became a mom, like many of us, she jumped head first into the world of “baby things”. When she saw what was out there, she realized this world wasn’t pretty. Channeling her creative side, she came up with some products of her own that were not only functional, but stylish. Her second baby, Plum Tot, was born!
Ami has a knack for choosing gorgeous fabrics for her bibs, hooded towels, and burp sets, but her real claim to fame is the unique GO Blankie. The Go Blankie serves seven different purposes, and has a water resistant nylon back side to go with it’s soft minky top. “GO Blankie’s innovative design allows it to function as an outdoor play mat, stroller blanket, diaper changer, infant seat cover, baby cozy, front pack blanket, and nursing cover.” With a GO Blankie, you don’t have to worry about hauling around blankets, changing pads, and nursing covers. You’ve got it all-in-one! Isn’t that nice?
For 15% off of your purchase for the rest of July, use the promo code JULYPROMO at checkout!
Lennon wants you to know that his favorite thing about the Go Blankie are it’s tasty ribbons! Lennon also pictured with an Octipi (coming soon!) and his Blueberry diaper, which I will be reviewing in an upcoming cloth diapering post.
Laura on June 26th, 2008
The UPPAbaby Bubble is the best thing I never knew I needed. I’m sure most of you are familiar with UPPAbaby’s awesome line of strollers, but they’ve also got some awesome accessories, like the Bubble! The Bubble is super easy to use on an infant carrier. Just slide it over the top. It’s much less annoying than the little shade that comes with the carrier. It also offers an insect shade AND a sun protection layer with 50+ SPF! We use the Bubble all the time, and we love it. If you’ve got a baby, you must have everything UPPAbaby!
Amy on May 23rd, 2008
I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind being seen at the pool hanging out with these guys. These are the most fashionable, trendy ducks I have ever laid eyes on and there are more where they came from.
At Designroom, you will find a slew of BUD luxury ducks like Moroccan, Punk and Peace duck pictured above. They are phthalate free and US and CE approved. You’re crazy if you think these are just fun for the kids…surprise someone with a luxury duck for their birthday or give one as a house-warming gift. Luxury ducks are $8.99 a pop.
I’m also digging this sweet swim ring in Daydream by BUD($12). I’ll be rockin’ this baby in the north woods in a few weeks.
I may have to splurge and get the matching BUD beach ball ($12). It would be fun hitting this 36″ inflatable around in the lake!
I could talk and talk about the BUD products by Designroom but I really don’t want to delay you from heading over to their website and browsing around the rest of the cool products there. Check out all of the fab new summertime products while you’re there!
Amy on January 17th, 2008
I have and I think they are the most adorable things EVER!
Skipping Hippos‘ signature fleece ponchos are quite darling and will keep your little one toasty when you’re out and about. The ponchos come in an array of different colors and range in size from 6 months to size 6 and retail for around $46 each.
I am so pleased with the quality of this poncho and love wearing it on my toddler when we go outdoors. It’s perfect for those days when a winter coat is a bit too heavy and a spring jacket is…well, we’re just too far away from that right now! She even loves wearing it around the house, as it’s kind of like being snuggled up under a warm blanket.
We hope you will all stop by the Skipping Hippos‘ online boutique and take a look around. Expect to receive a lot of attention when your daughter is in one of these fabulously fashionable little ponchos!
New to Skipping Hippos are the “Day in May” jackets (photo on right) – perfect for springtime! They are available in multiple colors.
*There are quite a few stores around the CA area and several around the east coast that carry Skipping Hippos ponchos. Click HERE for the list.
Amy on August 28th, 2007
Our Midwestern summer weather has finally cooled down to bearable temps and we’re itching to get outside and play. That is just what Oregon company, “Outside Baby” is all about. They have exactly what we need to get out there and enjoy what mother nature has thrown our way. From technical playwear to an array of quality packs and bags, among other outdoor-type items, Outside Baby is where it’s at.
Outside Baby’s packs and bags are made from waterproof rip-stop Nylon and Cordura. If you want to look like you know what you’re doing out there on that rough terrain, you’ve got to have one of these!
Check out some of their stylish packs and bags, prices ranging from $19.99 to $79.99:
Hailey is sporting the mini backpack, just like mom and dad’s! Next is the mini messenger bag, which works perfectly on your son or daughter’s bicycle. Then the cooler backpack, excellent for hiking. I find messenger bags hard to live without so definitely check out their messenger bag, complete with a travel cooler. Last but certainly not least, the hydro pack so you can stay hydrated at the park or on the trail!
Outside Baby is really worth taking a look-see. Whether you’re an avid outdoors-man or just taking the occasional stroll on the suburban trails, Outside Baby is a trusted source for quality gear.
WIN IT!
TWO lucky MTW readers are going to win either this Cooler Backpack:
or this Messenger Bag:
Feel free to let us know which one you’d like and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
To enter:
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter HERE* AND leave a comment on this post letting us know where your favorite “outside” place is. Whether it’s to the neighborhood park or hiking in the rockies…we want to know!
Deadline to enter is Tuesday, September 4th at 10 pm CST.
*If you are already signed up for our weekly email newsletter, you may still enter this giveaway. Just let us know you’re on the list in your comment so we can verify it!
Laura on June 2nd, 2007
So I discovered today why people are willing to shell out a lot of money for a good stroller. I got my B.O.B. Revolution Stroller yesterday, and I LOVE IT. Up till now, we’ve been a strictly umbrella stroller family. Well, no more. The BOB has such a smooth feel to it. It’s lightweight and SO easy to put together. E$ and I wheel Noel all around in it. We both said that it’s almost like the stroller is doing the work and you’re not struggling to make it go.
Now, when we try to put Noel in the umbrella stroller, it’s tear city. Today, he was laughing and enjoying himself. There’s room for him to move around, room for drinks and snacks, and room for up to 10 lbs. of cargo underneath! As if these weren’t enough selling points, you’ll have no more wheels getting stuck in a weird position…the front wheel turns 360 degrees!
This is the Mercedes of strollers. I am on board the BOB Stroller wagon – jump on with me!
