MumsTheWurdUnique finds for hip parents and cool kids

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 are sad to announce that Fooey USA will be closing it’s virtual doors.  However, they are having a closeout sale that you won’t want to miss!  It’s all rad stuff, and it’s super cheap!  My mom got these shorts for Noel & Lennon (they won’t fit Noel next summer) for $8.99!  They are SOOOOO CUTE.  Fooey’s also got the best collection of shirts for kids and infants.  Some are as low as $3.99, people, but they won’t last!  Get over there, and say goodbye to one of the best stores out there.  Fooey, we are sorry to see you go!

On a sunnier note, Ashlee has come up with a new name for her store!  Nonny & Boo, formerly Nest Baby Sling, now offers even more great items, like wraps (that are the coolest EVER), hoodies, and plushies!  As usual, Ashlee’s wares are quite simply the coolest!  Pictured here, are Steph and Ivy in nonny & boo’s bamboo sling.  We have this sling, and Elliott and I share it.  We love it.  The fabric is light, but very strong, and it works well going out in the Texas heat.  We just heart the lady over at nonny & boo, and you will too.

Jaymi, better known as The Flip Flop Mamma, rules. She’s a stay-at-home mom that spends several hours a day in her kitchen, concocting handmade lotions (seriously great smelling), body butters, (for babies and adults alike!), and glycerin soaps. She’s also got the best chai in the world, and lots of other great things! Check out her Etsy Store; Flip Flop Mamma’s Place.

Her customers love her products:

“This is the first cream/butter that has EVER worked on my son’s skin. He’s healing, and you have no idea what a big deal that is! His back has been a huge rash and bloody (from uncontrollable itching) for literally about 7-8 months.” - Arianne

“I have to say that your Chai Tea is absolutely by far the best I have ever had! I did not have time to make it this morning, as I have been every morning since I received it, so I stopped by Starbucks to pick one up. It didn’t even come close to yours. Normally I would drink mine hot, but since you mentioned you liked your iced that’s how I’ve been making mine. It is delicious! I will definitely be buying more of it… so please, keep it around.” -Season

“no lie - the best chai I have ever had”-Beck

“Sooooo delicious! We love it so much, will defently be back for more soon!”-Raimbow Tree

Read more about Jaymi here, and be sure to check out her personal blog! We’ll be talking more with Jaymi on our BlogTalkRadio show on Sunday, June 29th, at 10 PM CST! Come on and join us!

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.

As parents of babies and small children, we have one never ending battle: Make blanket stay.  You’ve been there…it’s a windy day, and the blanket goes flying off of the carseat into the street, or you’re taking a leisurely stroll with your tot on a brisk winter morning.  A cold gust of air comes out of nowhere and sends your kid’s blanket swirling into the air.  She starts crying, dogs start barking…chaos ensues.  Amy Long has taken the stress out of The Blanket Dilemma: Secure2Me!  Secure2Me clips easily onto anything: carseats, strollers, even slings.  Such a great, simple idea!

Weird that I’m blogging about blankets in the middle of summer?  There’s a reason…In addition to the cozy Secure2Me Blanket and Grand Blanket (big people sizes!), Amy also offers the Eclipse Solarveil, which will actually help protect your child from the harmful UV rays!

Want one of these luxurious blankets for yourself?  Get one for 20% off of your entire purchase when you order from the online boutique!  Coupon code: WURD20

*Update: Congratulations to Melissa! She is our Nest Baby Sling winner and has been notified via email.

As we’ve talked about many times here on MTW, we think babywearing is pretty darn cool. I’ve been wearing Lennon since he was born, and he & I both love it. I even got my husband on board and got him is very own black sling to go with his black t & jeans uniform :). Through her blogs and twitter, we’ve gotten a chance to get to know a rad babywearer and sling maker extraordinaire, Ashlee Allen. Her sling store is Nest, and her designs are sure to please. E$ and I both dig our Nest slings! Here’s mine. It’s beautiful! Elliott’s, we will speak about soon…

Ashlee wants you to have one of her gorgeous slings for yourself.

WIN IT!

Email us at mumsthewurd [at] gmail [dot] com and tell us the name of Ashlee’s preemie project, which you can learn more about HERE.

This contest ends on Friday, June 20th. Winner will be chosen randomly, notified via email and announced here on Saturday.

We’ll tell you more about Ashlee and her boutique, “Nest” soon, but for now, enter the contest for one of Ashlee’s awesome slings! I totally love mine!

So I’m really getting into babywearing these days. I have a 3 month old now that loves to be held. I mean, he would have us holding him constantly if he could have his way. This has prompted me to become more interested in slings and babywearing. I knew that I wanted to “wear” Lennon when I started reading this blog, but I didn’t realize that I would want to try out every different sling known to man. Well, I want a closet full of slings. I don’t need a closet full, but it’s totally addictive. Today I thought, “My sling doesn’t match my outfit at all!” This is funny, because you should see me most days. Picture yoga pants, flip flops, and hair up in a messy bun. Hopefully when you’re seeing me I’ve remembered to take a diaper bag with me, but now you can bet that I WILL have remembered a sling! Now I want my sling to match my concert t-shirt and my Jan Brady plaid pants. It’s getting ridiculous!
On the left, is the Moby Wrap I got today (that’s not me, in case you wondered!). I instantly liked this wrap. It’s super easy to use once it’s on. I know a lot of people are intimidated by the giant piece of fabric, but if I can use it, anyone can. It can be used with infants/toddlers from preemie-35 lbs., and it is extremely versatile. Just look at all the different ways you can carry your child!

I’ve also been using my ModMum pouch quite a bit. Lennon likes to be held facing out, and he is so content in the pouch! I didn’t think I would dig the pouch, but this one is not only pretty to look at, but serves as an awesome perch for little L.

I also still really dig my ring slings from Rockin’ Baby Sling (Strawberry Fields-so appropriate) & Bronwen Handcrafted. Be sure to check out Rockin’ Baby Sling for the funkiest styles. Their fabrics are amazing-right up my retro alley! My light, silk ring sling from Bronwen will be perfect for summer.

I have not had the pleasure of owning one of her slings, but I just think that the owner of nest is rad, and you should buy a sling over at her store too!

To recap: babywearing is great, and I love having the chance to wear Lennon around in all these cool fabrics!

Bronwen Handcrafted is the ultimate in “baby bohemian”. If you know me, you know that I’ve always aspired to be more of a hippie (with little success), but I was excited nonetheless, when Bronwen asked me to review one of her slings. Bronwen’s line is right up my alley. The less “adorned”, the better, in my opinion. That’s why I really love her elegant, yet simple designs. I haven’t been able to use this sling much with Noel because there’s just not a lot of room for him on my hip right now :), but I love the material and the design! I like that the tail isn’t too long. In my (limited) experience with other ring slings, I’ve often noticed that there is way too much unnecessary material. This blue flocking design is silk and very lightweight with big, velvety flowers. It will be perfect for carrying Lennon about town.

Bronwen also has a great selection of other ring slings, and a couple of other styles as well. I really wanted to try out the podaegi, but I could not justify a “warm” sling in this Texas weather. Isn’t it gorgeous??

Bronwen also has a nice selection of other wares. If you want a little Guatemalan nebaj and shoes for your tiny tot, or some other groovy duds, check out these cool, comfy clothes! Bronwen also has some beautiful and unique quilts and jewelry for the big folks that are quite lovely. For anyone that wants something cool and unconventional, head over to Bronwen Handcrafted!

…or should I say, “attached”? My very first pouch is a stylish one from the Rockin’ Kid Shop. It is the “Ziggy Stardust Loves Nicole” style. The colors are dark teal on one side and on the flip side, gold and black zig-zag. Hailey is around 26 lbs. and fits quite comfortably in the pouch. For her first time sitting snug on mommy’s hip, I would say that she was pretty happy. The pouch holds kid’s up to 35 lbs. This pouch takes a load off of my aching arms and it will come in handy for the next little one too. There are several other pouches to pick from, as well as slings.

Laura previously wrote about her sling and also mentioned we have a Rockin’ infant car seat cover to give away. So without further ado, here it is!

WIN IT!

The colors of this reversible, corduroy infant car seat cover are orange with brown and red flowers and on the reverse side, purple corduroy. Super cute and super perfect for the Fall season that is approaching. This car seat cover is now only available in the infant size but they do have a few other options available in infant and toddler size. Just leave us a comment on this post letting us know what your favorite Rockin’ Kid Shop goody is and you’ll be entered. This giveaway will end on Friday, August 10th at 10 PM.

*The Rockin’ Kid Shop is having some pretty BIG sales right now!

Good luck!

(Also, don’t forget to enter our Betty and Dean tee shirts and Innobaby Packin’ Smart giveaways!)