Baby Slinger: an impossible task

Do I hate baby slings or do baby slings hate me? Am I the only one that can't figure out how to walk around in complete bliss with one of these things. No matter what brand, style or size the process always feels like stuffing an elephant into a bean pod. My babies look smooshed, cramped and any thing but comfortable.

The BoBa: This company expects we to coax my little one into hanging on me like a monkey so that I can swing them across my back, get there legs in the slot and then buckle us together. I bought it because the baby can be on your front and your back. Ahhhh no shocker that I fail this one hardcore.

This past month I have been unsuccessfully road testing The Peanut. Well the fabric is about as rough as a peanut and basically swallows Oliver whole. Not comfortable and I looked nothing like the smiling women on the box with their make up and blown out hair. I looked like I got hit by a tornado by the time I got him off and the sling off me. Today I was able to put him in it only to take him right back out. We never made it out of the nursery.

Next on our tour is the K'tan baby carrier. The how to book is like a diner menu with a million variations and options on the same position. The interesting thing about this one is that it comes with an Obi belt in matching jersey fabric (and a matching hat). I am not really sure what to do with this Obi belt but my husband insist it is part of the overall process. I will say this is the one I want to work out the most. I keep trying it over and over again. But like all the other I have to prep myself hardcore. I lay back on the couch, criss cross the fabric around Oliver like mama spider and hope...pray that when I stand up I did it right and that at some point I will be able to take this contraption off. Again I look and feel nothing like the picture shown when I am all K'tan'ed up. Today I was able to keep it on for a whole 5 minutes...progress.

The winner of worst in fabric is Hug-A-Monkey. I have read the testimonials on the site and again I just don't get how I am the only one in America that buys these freaking things and is not grinning from ear to ear in love with the thing. I bought two different sizes of this one. The only thing this is going to make is a well intentioned hand me down to my cousin's baby.

So I guess it is back to the Bjorn and I will dream of the expensive Ergo...

If my kids slept I would do this to them....

My aunt forwarded me an e-mail today with the most creative thing I have seen in a long time: Mila's Dreams. By the number of Facebook fans creative mom Adele has I quickly see I am late to party when it come to admiring her work. I don't know if I am more in love with her work or the fact that her baby sleeps through her creations. Both have me in awe especially since you will hear my harp on how little my kids sleep. Well Maybe I can try this with my dog! You better believe I am already planning next year's holiday card after seeing this.
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Is the secret to eating out in the placemat?

I am one of those moms that stares at relaxed families in restaurants in complete awe and envy. Eating out is not a relaxed situation with my crew. From the moment we sit down it is like a NASA countdown until things get out of hand. 3 minutes to enjoy the new location, 1 minute until I need to clear all the "weapons" off the table, 2 minutes I start to look around nervously for the waitress and now T-minus 4 minutes until Henry's melt down.

Ok so I am exagerating but to me that is what it feels like. We rarely take Henry out unless it is warm weather and we can sit outside away from other, with lots to look at, and a clear evacuation route.

The other day I came across Get Set Placemats from HelloHanna.com


I think if I whip these placemats out right when I see things starting to go down hit it just might do the trick. My dream is that these placemats can safely get my crew all the way to dessert. These little placemats will hopefully keep my little guys busy just long enough for someone else to cook me a meal and for me to get out a few sentences about my day to my husband. Here is to dreaming, good planning and the UPS getting these to my door as soon as possible.

Necklush - Why I don't own one.

AHHH I love Necklush. It just fits my life style. I feel the same way about Necklush as I did about the ponytail mowhawk...finally a way to dress up a dressed down look.

Necklush takes well planned color combos of printed jersey - cuts them like angel hair pasta and Bam you have a hipster neck piece that can be twisted into 3 different looks. They are my go to gift for my young hip friends but sadly my own personal closet is without a Necklush. I hit the site once a month, check out the inventory, fall in love and then....I get paralyzed by all the options. It is almost like if I buy one the mystic of having one will disappear. All I want to do in a pinch is throw on a plain T, a great pair of jeans and a Necklush and call it a day. My own indecision is holding me back from completing my hipster look. All the crap I waste my money on and I won't buy the item I really want...it is sad really. Oh and don't try to make one at home...it will end in a bulky disaster...trust me. Don't let my issues keep you from your Necklush
necklush.com
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First Cut at The DUKE's in No. Libs.

1050 North Hancock St. #77 Philadelphia, PA 19123 - (215) 469-1868
Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 10am-5pm

My husband and I have always talked about opening an old school barber shop. We always dreamed about a great place to get a straight shave by an Italian guy and check out from the rest of the world for awhile. That "fun talk" got replaced by kids and work so I was thrilled when The DUKE's Barber shop moved into the neighborhood.


If there is such as thing as "old-school hipster charm" The DUKE is it. It just opened and there was already a line when we showed up on Saturday morning...so my guess is we were not the only ones dying for a place like this.

We showed up for Henry's first haircut. He is almost 2 and although I had no problem with his unruly look... we agreed it was time for a change. And the daily comment on how lovely my "daughter" is never really bothered me either - just for the record. I want Henry to have long hair...I just think it could look less scrappy.


Everyone at The DUKE was awesome and I guess Henry was digging the vibe too b/c what I thought might be a fight was a breeze. He sat right on my husband's lap in the 1930's barber chair and let William go to work on his lovely locks. Not a peep while I snapped picture after picture for the grandparents. Maybe it was the jazz, maybe it was the deconstructed manly setting or just the over all mystic of a new experience but Henry who is usually fight or flight was cool as a cucumber.

If you get a chance The DUKE is worth checking out and a great compliment to an afternoon trip to Northern Liberties. They can get busy so I recommend stopping in to see if there is a wait if you have a little one in tow.


The Duke's can be found on the back side of the Piazza on North Handcock Street.
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ShoptheLook.net

I am going to give Shopthelook.net a shout out b/c I am always blown away by their fun jewelry and killer prices...actually prices that are a steal if I must say. So I am not a big jewelry person at all. Wedding rings and earrings my husband gave me that is it.
But I have to say Shopthelooks prices and styles make it fun to buy jewelry and jazz up and outfit and that is why I am giving them a shout out today!
I bought the cool little piece to the left.
Happy Shopping!
-s

Packin Smart: aka my middle name

So I stalked these little suckers on babysteals.com. They come up like once a week to every two weeks. You can get 2 for 12.99 but it turns into $24 with shipping. Anyway. They are perfect for packing random little snack. I take it to the beach, in the car you name it. I am a huge fan. Easy to clean and pack. When you get them you are actually surprised by how small they are..but then you use them and you realize they are the perfect size for packing a meal for your little one. I think you should buy this but sign up for babysteal.com and wait for it to pop up...they do sell out right away. http://www.packinsmart.com/Home.html