MumsTheWurdUnique finds for hip parents and cool kids

As a mother of a toddler, and another little one following close behind, I’m   always on the lookout for a safe, fun, inspired toys for them. I’ve found just that in the Bugabike. Made from wood it’s right up my alley. I love that down the road, even if it were to end up in a landfill it’s not a huge lump of plastic to sit for all of eternity. I love eco-friendly pieces for my family. I think that this bike could very well end up as a family heirloom.
I could go on about how great this bike is. It’s so sturdy and my boy will be able to use it once my girl has outgrown it. I haven’t mentioned yet that it doens’t have pedals! Yes, you read that right, no pedals! This bike is for little ones to learn balance. No bulky training wheels that stick out and make early bike riding even more difficult. With this balancing system they move the bike with their feet while building confindence.
Besides all of it’s other qualities, the Bugabike is just so darn cute! We can easily bring it into our apartment in the evening, where she gladly sits on it all evening!
Since the year 2000 they have sold about 72,000 Bugabikes throughout the world. The Bugabike has received several awards, and has been tested by specialists.
Check out their website here

We have a long standing love affair with Boon.  It started with the Potty Bench and the Frog Pod, but they’ve expanded their line quite extensively since then!  Now they’ve got a sweet little Layette line for the wee ones.  Lennon has this DNA Bodysuit, which was perfect for Summer.  Now that we’re into the colder months, how about a Coverall & Hat set in Pacifier?

You might have noticed on Boon’s website, that they now offer a complete line of ergonomic cups, cutlery, and dishware, ALL of which are BpA, Phthalate, and PVC free.  Does your baby need a place to sit while dining, while using all of this state-of-the-art dishware?  Very soon, you will see my guest post on one of  ZRecommends awesome network of blogs, Polliwogged, discussing our newest love, and excellent addition to the Boon family of products, the Flair Highchair.  I’ll let you know as soon as it’s posted…and until then, help yourself to ALL of Boon’s products!

P.S. This would look pretty great next to the Frog Pod.  Do I need a little girl to go with it though?

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.

Sugarplum Dreams is a very lovely online boutique offering everything you could think of for your little one. From Lotions and Potions to Baby and Children’s furniture they’re bound to be a boutique that you have bookmarked. At Sugarplum Dreams you’ll be able to outfit and decorate your baby and your nursery. But don’t stop there! Have older children? Sugarplum Dreams hasn’t left them out. There are tons of imagination building, educational and just plain fun toys!

Not only do they have an extremely wide selection of items for your baby, but they are all about building relationships. They Strive for excellent customer service and welcome all inquiries, from questions about your purchase to potty training, they want to be there to support you in your motherhood journey.

Don’t miss out! Right now through December 31st get 15% off all purchases $50 or more using the code: MUMS15.

I have a 2 year old girl, and with that girl came a lot of pink. I mean A LOT of pink. Don’t get me wrong, I love pink, pink is my friend, but after a while I kind of get tired of seeing so much of it. Now that my daughter is almost 3, she’s starting to pick what she wants to wear in the morning. Guess what? She picks everything pink.

Enter Playdate N.Y.C. A lifesaver for all those Mama’s out there fretting over more pink (or baby blue!). These hand designed children’s clothes bring the pink back to life. You’re son or daughter will be the hit of the playdate with these rockin’ tees and thermals. Let them strut their stuff in an initial Varsity Letter Baseball Jersey [$30], where you get to pick the jersey, the felt color and the stitching! Besides the Varsity Letter, there are so many stellar designs to chose from including guitars, peace signs, spiders, ballet slippers and tons more. There’s sure to be something to suit your and your little one’s taste.

Hurry! Purchase an item this (October) month and 20% of all pink and purple shirt sales are being donated to the Susan G Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness. Sizes range from 3 months up to a children’s 10.

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.

Once again, we’re taking you back in time and re-introducing an old friend of MumsTheWurd!  Handpicked Pumpkin is one of our favorite custom baby clothiers.  Cozy, comfortable, and always fashionable, Allison’s clothes are sure to make your little guy or gal one happy explorer.  

I summed up Handpicked Pumpkin last year, and had this to say:

Fashionable clothes do not always equate to comfortable clothes, especially for the littler guys. They are exploring on the floor, and learning to walk, and while we want them to look cute, they also need to have the ability to move around without limitations that I often find with pants and jeans. That is why I am so glad to have discovered Hand Picked Pumpkin! Allison put together her love for unique style hand in hand with this concept, and this amazing children’s clothing line was born!

Here, Noel is sporting his Grady Overall Shorts. This is a perfect summer outfit! It’s comfortable, lightweight, and absolutely adorable. This is one of Allison’s ready-made creations, but you can also custom design ANYTHING in hershop! Whether you’re looking for a signature outfit, comfy bottoms, a gift set for a friend, you’re bound to find something perfect! There are great patterns and colors to choose from, especially if your heart belongs in the 50s and 60s! Polka dots and stripes are the name of the game at Hand Picked Pumpkin, where you’ll find many satisfied customers!

Allison also proudly donates 5% of her end of year profits to several fine charities-if you have one that’s close to your heart, you can email her to nominate your organization!

First of all, when was Noel ever that small???  You better believe I saved those adorable Grady overalls, and I’m already itching for Lennon to fit into them!  Handpicked Pumpkin has also ventured into the realm of toddler clothing too!  Ahhh…now the toddlers can look adorable and be comfy too! 

Allison joined us last night for our weekly MumsCast, and was informing us that not only has she kept all of her manufacturing in the USA, but she’s also kept it local-all Handpicked Pumpkin items are made right in the Chicago area!  

Allison and Handpicked Pumpkin are both awesome!  Be sure to head over and get some duds!

I consider myself green.  Okay, maybe not green…more like sage.  But I try to do my part, like replacing all my old school light bulbs with the new compact fluorescent ones, recycling cans and bottles and I try to buy the big gear for my kids from resale shops and stuff.  I would like to do more but it can be very overwhelming to know where to begin.  That is where HappyGreenBaby can help!  HappyGreenBaby is an online baby boutique that selects only the best in eco-friendly and sustainably produced baby clothes and baby gear.  They handpick only those products that are organic, natural and that have a commitment to lessening impact on the environment.

You will find clothes (like the I’ll Save the World Tee pictured left), blankets, sippy cups, furniture and more from great companies like Boon, Baby Soy and Little Twig.  Still intimidated by all the choices out there?  Never fear for HappyGreenBaby can help there too with their handy Learning Center that contains tips and guides for everything from how to start using cloth diapers to how to throw an “all green” baby shower!  And to top all that off HappyGreenBaby is also committed to operating their business in a green, clean, eco-friendly way. Here are just a few of things they do to lessen the impact on the environment:

·  They are a member of 1% For The Planet, in which companies, like HappyGreenBaby pledge 1% of their total annual revenue to benefit environmental charities.

·  They reuse all of the boxes they receive merchandise in as shipping boxes for their customers (with the hope that the customers too, will reuse the boxes again).

·  They print everything on post-consumer recycled paper … and then they reuse that paper, too! You might find a recipe or letter from a “previous life” printed on the back of your packing slip.

Want to start living that Green Life that you have always wanted to?  Then shop HappyGreenBaby and know that you are not just buying quality for your children but that you are also helping to make a better planet for them too!

And to get you started HappyGreenBaby is giving away a $50 gift certificate to their store!

WIN IT!

$50 Gift Certificate

Click HERE to enter and tell us what  you would choose from HappyGreenBaby if you won. Contest ends Friday, September 26th at 10 PM CST. Winner will be chosen randomly and notified via email. Good Luck!!

Yes, I remember the mania.  I was deeply immersed in it.  In 1983, the one and only thing my little heart desired was my very own Cabbage Patch Kid.  I don’t know what it was about these chubby little dolls that made my heart go all aflutter, but I was desparate to adopt one of my very own.  I COVETED this doll with everything in me.  

Before Christmas of that year, I spent the night with a friend who had FOUR CPKs.  Yes, I was jealous, and yes, we got in a fight over them.  The fight involved who was going to be “mom” to which doll, and it ended with my friend taking them all and saying, “I bet you’ll never even HAVE your own!”  Yes, my heart crumbled into a million pieces at that second.

Well, wouldn’t you know…Santa came through like a champ, and delivered Elisha Jaqueline to my house on Christmas night, 1983.  I loved her with all my might.  Thanks to a grandma that liked to indulge her granddaughters, Elisha had her own stroller, high chair, and swing, and eventually even had her own sibling, Lily Jean (I opted to change her name from Eugenie Lillian).

When I received my 25th Anniversary Kid, I turned into that little 7 year-old girl once again.  The oddly shaped box!  The Adoption Certificate!  The DOLL!  I hesitated before opening it…This could be a collectible, afterall.  Then Noel came in and saw “the baby”.  Well, when it was clear that tears would come if we didn’t get that baby out of the box, I came to my senses and took Raquel Mercedes out of her box.  The first thing that hit me was The Smell.  If you had a CPK, you know what I’m talking about.  That powdery baby smell.  I immediately checked her bottom for The Signature: Xavier Roberts was a genius.  There it was, his signature, with a “25″ included.  

Noel thinks she is pretty cool.  I have found him feeding her sippy cups several times, and I think he might like her better than he likes his little brother.  SHE doesn’t cry, afterall…

Many thanks to Team Mom for the opportunity to review the 25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kid!