Gearhead Mom

Friday, July 04, 2008

Happy Fourth of July!

Posted by Missy W. @ 08:21 AM

Happy Fourth of July!

We’ll see you Monday and start off the week with a GHM Giveaway from the fine folks at Bawl Baby.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Thursday, July 03, 2008

WS Princess Cookie Cutters

Posted by Missy W. @ 09:04 AM

I am terrible at taking a vacation, so I’ll make this quick and then go back to lazing about with my family.

I saw these yesterday and they made me giggle.

If you have a prince or princess at home, check out these princess cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma. Packaged in a diary-shaped box with its own magnetic “lock,” the set includes a princess, prince, castle, crown, magic wand, slipper, horse and carriage.

And for your sports enthusiast, they also have a set of All Star cookie cutters. The set includes everything you need to bring your favorite team to life: ball, bat, helmet, football, pennant, baseball player, football player and basketball player.

While a little over the top, they’d be fun for a thematic birthday party. I’m partial to the bug cakelet pan. My cakes would never come out looking like the ones in the picture, but we can all dare to dream.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Martha Stewart Wrapping Paper on Sale

Posted by Missy W. @ 03:45 PM

OK, OK, I know I’m supposed to be taking the day off, but I noticed that Martha Stewart Crafts has the cutest wrapping paper on sale. Love the dots, only $1.99! Of course, that’s per sheet, but what do you expect from Martha? 

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Swing Into the Sunset

Posted by Missy W. @ 08:48 AM

If you have a big tree and a big blue Ikea near you, you should get yourself on down there and pick up one of these nifty little ladder swings. Micky has one in her backyard and it reminds me of Helen, our shopping cart. As in, Helen of Troy, because this swing used to launch a massive battle every time we’d go over there, just like the cart used to do. It is the most coveted of all things at Kara’s house. Sy often asks me if the swing is still there and if so, perhaps we should go visit Kara? She also tells me we need to get a big tree in our backyard so she can have a swing, too. I tell her that the Rolling Stones sang it best, “You can’t always get what you want...”

The whole Ekorre series is pretty bitchin, actually. There are hand rings (Only $8.99 and also hanging from another cool tree in Kara’s yard), a swing, a rocking moose and balls. The swings and rings are meant for both indoor/outdoor use, so I suppose if we wanted to figure out where the load bearing beams are hiding out, we could install a swing in the house. But call me crazy, I don’t think my living room would look all that fancy with a big swing hitting me in the head every time I sat down to watch “So You Think You Can Dance.” (It’s better than me admitting that I watch the Bachelorette, right? I can’t believe she sent Graham packing.) I digress. If you have a cool playroom or basement, then I think indoor swings would be awesome. Maybe even in the hallway so your kid could swing to bath like Tarzan or Jane? Yeah, probably not, hunh?

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Monday, June 30, 2008

Your Very Own House of Bounce

Posted by Missy W. @ 09:00 AM

It’s birthday season around here and boy, was Saturday’s soiree off the hook. Micky outdid herself on Kara’s Pinwheel Party.* There were pinwheels galore, including pinwheel sandwiches, pinwheel decorations, pinwheel party favors - pinwheel barrettes for the girls and hats for the boys. It was all just too fabulous. But the item that most wowed the kids was that Kara got her very own bounce house. I’m not referring to the kind you rent, I’m talking to the super cool Jump N Slide Bouncer made by the folks at Little Tikes.

I was very sad that I was not 3 to 8 years old (not to mention about twenty months pregnant) because dang, did I want to go bounce in there! Micky had it filled with inflatable beach balls and the kids went bananas for it.

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Friday, June 27, 2008

Hazard Scale of Doom Database

Posted by Missy W. @ 08:27 AM

My friend Kate sent me this link to cosmeticsdatabase.com, a site maintained by the Environmental Working Group that rates the toxicity of makeup, hair care, nail care, baby care (including sunscreen) and whole lot more.

My favorite sunscreen by TruKid rated really well. Way to go TruKid! My favorite baby wipes ever, the unscented ones from Kirkland at Costco, rated a 5, moderate on their hazard scale. But then check out what they have to say about that 5!
Ingredients in this product are linked to:

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Serena and Lily Discount

Posted by Missy W. @ 08:13 AM

Happy Thursday!

The fine folks over at Serena and Lily are offering $250.00 off any of their cribs or dressers to GHM readers. S&L has just rolled out a new partnership with super fancy pants crib designers David Netto and Morigeau Lepine. Serena & Lily custom furniture is not sold in retail stores, so check out the new stuff online.

I’m also charmed by their market sling. Has anyone tried one? It’s so damn cute. I wonder if it works well.

To redeem the coupon code, just enter CRIB250 at checkout. Valid until 9/1/08, while supplies last.

Thanks, Serena & Lily!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

How Fast They Grow and How Fast the Digital Pictures Add Up

Posted by Missy W. @ 08:11 AM

OK so I am totally intrigued by this company, check it out. How Fast They Grow, a mom-run company, is putting a digital twist on traditional scrapbooking. After the birth of her child four years ago, founder Cathy Bennett became disillusioned with the time-consuming nature of scrapbooking. So instead of sitting around and complaining about it like I would, she went and figured out a way to digitize the scrapbook.

How Fast They Grow allows parents to make lovely scrapbook pages on their computer in about 7 minutes and have them printed by HFTG. Just drag and drop your digital images into a cagillion different pre-designed templates, enter your own copy and boom, you’re done. You can even design and order just one printed page at a time. I like the idea of getting it done per event. Not as much pressure as sitting down with three rolls of printed pictures and no clue where to start.

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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

That’s One Mighty Loud Rescue Center You Got There, Diego

Posted by Missy W. @ 08:43 AM

I’ll start by saying I was not going to be the kind of mother who let her daughter watch Go, Diego Go or Dora the (Totally Irritating) Explorer. I was only going to buy wooden toys and never let her within 100 yards of the golden arches. And then I actually became a mother and lookee here! My daughter is still alive after her first (and not last) hash brown and has clearly licked her share of plastic toys. I’m still disappointed in myself that I ever let her lay eyes on Diego and Dora. Not because I think their message is horrible (Lots o’ girl power! Learn about endangered animals!), but mainly because whenever she watches one of those shows, she wants me to sit right on down next to her and enjoy it, too. It’s 23 minutes I’d, uh, rather spend otherwise, but let’s just say I’ve written my share of reviews for this site while sitting next to her as we chant “...This rough and tough adventurer is workin’ all the time! Diego...Diego…Diego…Go, Diego, Go!” Excuse me while I go hit my head against the wall.

That said, my kid has actually learned a lot about the rain forest from Diego. The other day she looked at Roger and said, “Daddy, iguanas keep their food in their tails.” And she was right on. I am pretty sure neither Roger nor I knew that iguanas stored fat in their tails for hibernation. Diego:1; Mom and Dad:0.

So when Micky got Kara the Loud As Hell Rescue Center by Fisher-Price, Sy just about went nuts. She begged me to go to her house pretty much around the clock so she could play with it. I have to admit, while it’s one big ass piece of plastic, it’s a cool toy. Don’t tell anyone I said that, OK?

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Monday, June 23, 2008

The Ulti-Mat Bath Mat

Posted by Missy W. @ 07:46 AM

This goofily named bath mat is yet another item my pal Micky swears by for bath. I take her word for it on all things water-related since I’m pretty sure her daughter Kara is a direct mermaid descendant; that kid goes nuts any time she sees even a half inch of water. Micky tried out a few different mats but since Kara is such a water daredevil, she needed one that would help keep falls to a minimum. Enter the ultimate Ulti-Mat Bath Mat from One Step Ahead. The giant mat is 391/2"L x 16"W, so it covers nearly the entire tub bottom, eliminating most slippery spots.

Micky has had hers for almost three years now. No stains or curled edges; it still looks great. She washes it in hot water in the machine and sticks it back in the tub.

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