Noodlehead

Noodlehead is a website filled with toys designed to inspire creativity in children. Toys that require your children to use their imagination and creativity. Noodlehead has the following wonderful toys and kits:

Adventure Logs – journal for travels

Back Sack – denim bag decorating kit

Bag Buddies – stuffed animal luggage tags

Chinese Kite Kit – color your own Chinese kite

Flip Flop Fun – decorate your own flip flop kit

Jelly Flyers – silicone flying disc

Pawparazzi – a line of collectible miniature plush toys each with a celebrity personality

Sassy Silk Halter – silk halter painting kit

Travel Buddies – stuffed animal neck pillows

Young Picasso – canvas painting kit

The Pawparazzi line is simply adorable!! The Celebrity Style Set is the perfect gift for a little girl. It comes with a pet, purse, leash, collar, blanket, name charm, celebrity magazine, silver dish, dining mat, chew toy, and a pearl necklace for the child and matching collar for their pet!! You can also buy additional accessories such as jewelry, charms, pet beds, spa sets, birthday sets, and much more! You can even buy a hotel for your pet!! Also, your child can join the Pawparazzi Fan Club!

To find out more about any of these products, visit www.noodleheadfun.com

Cinch by Anew

“Losing your baby weight is a Cinch” with the Cinch, patent pending, abdominal wrap. Charlene Williams watched her mother, who was an Ob-Gyn, from the time she was a small child wrap new mommies tummies after they had given birth. So when the time came for Charlene, her mother did the same thing for her. Every day her mother and husband would wrap her tummy with a white cotton band and they would have a tug-o-war to make it super tight. This ritual took about 15 minutes every day. Charlene thought there must be a better way, so after three years of development, the Cinch was born!

It is a cinch to use as well, no more tug-o-wars needed. Simply choose your present waistline, then smooth down the front, zip it up on the side, then cinch it to the desired fit with the velcro tension side wings. The Cinch is very light weight so it can be worn under your clothes, day or night! It comes in two sizes XS-M (26”- 34”) & L-XL (33”- 43”). You will be able to see your results with the internal measuring tape! It also comes with a fancy storage bag that you can hang in your closet! So Cinch away Swanky Moms!!

Visit www.byanew.com

Get your groove on with Urban Smalls

There are a lot of onesies out there with sayings and tons of graphics, and a lot of them just look too busy or cheap. But all the onesies by Urban Smalls are simple, quirky and just plain cute. With clever sayings in fun colors and fonts, Urban Smalls brings simplified style to baby onesies and tees. And it's not just the clever sayings that have made me a huge fan of this brand....the quality and fit of their clothing is the best. The line uses 100% super soft interlock cotton and a generous sizing scale for all their clothes. My favorites from the line are the "My Moms A Fox" and "Smile If You Want To Buy Me Things" onesies. Matching track pants are available for all the onesies as well. I love all the colors that Urban Smalls uses too; subdued yellows, blues, pinks, greens and browns. And the packaging! Everything by Urban Smalls is packaged so cute! Perfect for gift-giving, all the onesies and pants come in the signature Urban Smalls green window box. You can find Urban Smalls at over 800 stores nationwide or you can order directly from http://www.urbansmalls.com/.

SWANKY MOM READERS! GET 15% YOUR URBAN SMALLS ORDER! GO TO http://www.urbansmalls.com/ AND MENTION THE CODE SWANKY!

Little Fit - Cool Hats That Fit Right And Look Great

I have always thought that little kids look so cute in hats. But most of the ones out there just do not fit well or have no design or style. That is, except for Little Fit. Little Fit hats are the hottest hats around. Little Fit is supplying parents around the world with the first custom-sized "cool kids hats" especially designed for infant and toddlers. Their hats are styled just like adult hats but are sized down to fit baby or toddler. Started by a husband and wife team with two young children, Little Fit has grown to become the ultimate children's hat brand.

As concerned parents, owners Julie and John Arata wanted to keep their kids protected from the sun. But when they went looking for hats for their kids, they found that there seemed to be a real shortage of high quality, "cool" hats that actually fit their toddler's head. And thus, Little Fit was born. John and Julie say that their goal "was to to make high quality, clean hats with emphasis on the fit." With Little Fit, they have exceeded that goal.

My 3 year old daughter LOVES her Little Fit hat. She wants to wear it every day. I love that the hat stays on her head but it not too tight. We have gotten so many compliments on her hat, and I have to say that Little Fit hats are one of my now must-have gifts to give at baby showers and toddler birthdays. Check out the entire line of the perfect kids' hats at http://www.littlefit.com/

I guarantee you will find something you love and will not be disappointed!

SWANKY MOM READERS: GET 20% OFF OF LITTLE FIT HATS! JUST USE THE CODE SWANKY AT http://www.littlefit.com/!

Shaklee Baby

So I have been using Shaklee cleaning products for several years, ever since I saw them on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, to my delight, Shaklee has come out with products for baby and child. When my favorite Shaklee rep sent me Shaklee Baby gentle wash, lotion and diaper cream to try out, I was so excited that I gave my newborn son a bath that very day just so I could test out the line. And the result.....a fabulous new line of baby products that are formulated with natural and organic ingredients and are pediatrician tested to be safe and effective. I love the light scent the entire line has, just a hint of lavendar and chamomile, so as not to overpower the natural sweet smell of baby. With no parabens or harmful chemicals, the Shaklee Baby is a new must-have for all moms of babies. Check out Shaklee Baby and all the other Shaklee products at www.shaklee.net/dehn

Does Dad Have an iPhone? Then, Get Him an Ampli-Phone!

No batteries, no cords, great sound, and portable too! If Dad has an iPhone, I've found you the perfect Father's Day gift! You must check out the Ampli-Phone. The Ampli-Phone is a "horn" style speaker designed to amplify music straight from your iPhone. Made of durable plastic, you simply slide your phone into the neoprene sleeve and the music magically fills the entire room. When I first saw this device, I had an immediate flashback to teaching my students about the phonograph. It looks kind of silly, but don't judge a book by its cover! The Ampli-Phone works and it works well. What I love is that it is virtually indestructible. Take it anywhere and it's safe and sound, literally. Perfect for summer, bring your Ampli-Phone to the beach, lake, take it in the camper, or even on the boat. For just $34.95 you can't go wrong. You'll never need batteries, it's lightweight, and it comes in two colors: black and white. The Ampli-Phone can be used with all types of iPhones. This is one of those "you never know you needed it until you found it" items. I keep mine by the bed, together with my phone, it works great as an alarm. It then follows me on my morning routine (yes it is loud enough to hear over the shower)!

For more information, visit the Ampli-Phone site today. If you need a gift for an iPhone owner, I promise, this is one that will impress. Fun and functional, the Ampli-Phone kicks it old school style. Who would have thought? A simple speaker for a high tech phone, I love it!

Tinkle Tube

We all know Potty Training is difficult. But I have found something that helps with potty training little boys. It's called the Tinkle Tube, by Baby Rock Apparel. The Tinkle Tube prevents your little man's clothes from getting wet and can act as an emergency toilet when traveling. With the Tinkle Tube, there is no need for toilet seat covers either. And the best part, the Tinkle Tube keeps mom from having to handle her little man's soldier, which keeps you and your child clean. And an added bonus: potty training is a little easier because boys have fun using the Tinkle Tube! And it is easy to use! Just slide the tube over your little man's soldier and hold and aim the tube towards the toilet. When your little guy is all done using the potty, shake the tube out, rinse and replace the caps. The Tinkle Tube is reusable and is easily cleaned with soap and water or an antibacterial agent. Now if only they made these for our husbands......Check out the Tinkle Tube and other cool items for your baby at http://www.babyrockapparel.com/

MENTION CODE SWANKYMOM AND GET 15% THE TINKLE TUBE OR ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM BABY ROCK APPAREL.

Express Yourself with Mag-tagz

Mag-tagz is a fantastic magnetic changeable necklace. These necklaces have a magnetic base which allows your daughter to change her necklace as fast as she can change her mood. This is an ultimate outlet for expression. The tags can be easily switched or even traded with friends. This necklace never gets boring with limited-editions tagz coming out every few month. Try something new for every mood.

My daughter loves her mag-tagz stretch choker necklace. The elastic choker fits gently and softly around any size child's neck. My daughter often complains about things rubbing, itching, or irritating her, but not about the mag-tagz choker. She said that it was so soft and felt good around her neck.

The mom-inventor created not only the line of children's jewelry, but a way for girls to form interactive friendships. Visit www.mag-tagz.com for games like "Tag, You're It!" and to enter their design contest. Girls can express their creativity by designing a tag and entering it into the contest and then voting on the Mag-tagz blog for their favorite. The wining tag becomes a limited edition tag for sale, and the designer's name is engraved on the back.

Visit www.mag-tagz.com and enter code blogger20 for 20% off any purchase of $20 or more.

Be the second person to email me lynne@swankymoms.com and win a necklace base and either a Special Edition Green Earth tag or a Special Edition Bee tag. Please go to mag-tagz.com/designcontestwinners.aspx to see the tags.

Puddle's Collection

If you have a formal occasion coming up, Puddle's Collection is THE place to shop!! Their prices are amazing and the quality of the clothing is absolutely fabulous!! My son has a Puddle's Collection suit and he looks SO handsome in it. He went to a birthday party in his suit and was the only boy, and all the girls loved him and his little suit!

This is definitely not your average formal wear store. Puddle's Collection items are classy and yet still very stylish outfits for children. I am truly impressed with Puddle's Collection and they definitely get the Swanky Seal of Approval.

To find out more about this fabulous children's boutique, visit www.puddlescollection.com

Finest Expressions - Designer Gifts & Gift Baskets

Finest Expressions – Designer Gifts & Gift Baskets is a Toronto, Ontario based mom-owned business. We specialize in hand-crafted baby and wedding gifts. We service our global clientele with:

-Superior one-on-one customer service

- High quality products

-Unique and beautiful selection of gifts

We pride ourselves in offering excellent customer service that contributes in making an unforgettable gifting experience. Our goal is to create gifts that are not only delightful to look at, but are also incredibly useful for the new parents. We strive to provide creatively designed gifts that fit various budget.

Baby gifts to suit every budget and theme include:

Baby Diaper Cakes: Baby cakes are non-edible delights made out of premium brand name diapers (Pampers or Huggies). Special baby treats include baby clothing, toys, blankets and baby toiletries.

Candy Bouquets/Chocolate Bouquets: Give these delicious treats as a new baby or birthday gift. Better yet, have them as centrepieces at your next baby shower or special event!

Finest Blossoms: Beautiful arrangement of baby clothing presented in a bouquet style. Contents include baby layette sets, blankets and towels.

Baby Blooms: These are cute baby sock bouquets presented in long stem roses' style, complete with baby’s breath and flower box.

Don’t find what you are looking for? Finest Expressions also custom designs gifts using your theme and budget! Special Offer: For limited time only; 10% off all custom designed diaper cakes.

Now available: DIY Baby Shower Favour Kits. Theses beautiful and easy to assemble favours come complete with box, ribbons/accessories and personalized tags for an incredibly reasonable price. If you are tight on timelines, we offer complete wrapping up and assembling service as well. One-stop-shop for all your baby shower needs!

Visit www.finestexpressions.com

Buti Bags

So as much as I love bags, I am not a huge fan of big diaper bags. I prefer the smaller bags that can hold all the necessities and still manage to be chic. Problem is, very few diaper bag companies manage to make small bags that can actual hold all the necessities, look cute and not fall apart. The Buti Bag Company, however, got it right. Their Bundle ($59.99) is an amazing diaper clutch/bag that is extremely well made, durable and super cute. With tons of roomy pockets and their ingenious closure, these bags are perfect for moms of infants and toddlers. Best of all, because of their chic prints and style, the bags can be used as travel bags to hold toiletries and make-up after your little one is through with diapers! Just recently, The Buti Bag Company released their simplified version of the Bundle called the Bundle Baby. With fewer pockets and an included changing pad, the Bundle Baby ($39.99) is perfect for the budget-minded mom. Check out the Bundles and all the other cool stuff The Buti Bag Company has on their website at http://www.butibag.com/ I suggest picking up a couple of their binkmeisters as well. They work not only to hold pacifiers, but also sippy cups and snack cups!

Toni Tierney

So we all know that boy clothes are never as cute as girl clothes. Well that is, until now. Toni Tierney has some of the coolest, funkiest, cutest designs in her infant boy layette line that I have ever seen. Her designs are so fabulous and are reminiscent of vintage clothing with a modern twist. I love all the baseball designs she has in her collection, as well as her "hip CEO" creation shown for boys. And the girl clothing in Toni's collections are beautiful, all with amazing details and fun silhouettes. All the clothing is made in the USA and made from super soft high-end 100% cotton. Better yet, Toni helps empower stay-at-home moms by hiring them to make the clothing she designs and allowing them to stay at home with their families. Check out the Toni Tierney website for weekly specials, where you can get amazing pieces for almost 50% off! Visit www.tonitierney.net

Make Dad Cry with Shutterfly! (Tears of Joy Obviously)

This Father's Day, give dad a gift that will make him shed a few tears (of joy). Shutterfly has an endless amount of gift choices that dad will adore. Photo books, mouse pads, calendars, and more, with just a drop and a drag of some favorite photos, you'll treat dad to something he'll cherish for years to come.

Another plus? Shutterfly is having a Father's Day Sale. Save up to 50% on select items for Dad, plus free shipping on orders over $25. You can't go wrong with a gift from Shutterfly. Shutterfly is my go to site for great last minute gifts. I know from experience that the quality is amazing, turn around is quick, and I've never had an unhappy recipient!

You've got to check out the keepsake boxes and canvas prints, so gorgeous!

Visit Shutterfly today and make something Dad will enjoy forever!

DLL Rainwear: Who Needs Rain Anyway?

Being from sunny California, we have VERY few rainy days. Does that stop us from wearing rain boots? NOPE! In fact, my boys would rather wear their boots from DLL Rainwear than their tennis shoes. Perfect for stomping around the playground and running through the park, rain boots are much quicker to pull on than wasting time with ties or velcro (from the mouth of my 7 year old).

I've been a huge fan of DLL for a few years now and I can promise you that you will not find a better selection of rain boots or rain gear anywhere. A never ending (in a good way) selection combined with their amazing customer service, you can't go wrong. My boys and I all have matching "Tossed Skulls" boots and whenever we where them, either together or individually, we get tons of compliments. Some of our favorite uses are school field trips (especially strawberry and pumpkin picking), running around in the back yard, or even a simple trip to the grocery store.

DLL has everything you can imagine for a rainy day, our in our case sunny days too! Take a peek at DLL's site, I promise that you will find your dream boots. I've got my eye on the adorable Cupcake Land boots. Too bad they only come in kid's sizes, dang...

USE THE CODE 15SWANKY TO SAVE 15% OFF YOUR ORDER. IT'S ONLY GOOD THROUGH 7/31/09, SO HURRY UP!

The Mommy Dinner

Do you live in Southern California? Are you looking for a fabulous mommy event to attend next Wednesday evening? If so, join baby lifestyle expert Jayneoni Moore for her first ever "Mommy" dinner.

The Mommy Dinner will put all of the hottest, safest, & best baby and toddler products together for you and also give you the info on why they are the best. Paired with a yummy dinner at a Hollywood Mommy Hot Spot, you'll go home a know it all baby expert yourself! With celebrity guest mommies and your very own swag bag to boot, this will be an event you don't want to miss.

For more info and to reserve your spot, visit http://breakfastclubmommies.wordpress.com/

MamaOm

Fabulous mom and daughter finds at MamaOm!! Every little girl wants to be like her momma and now she can with MamaOm's fabulous bathing suit and dress line!! This line was designed by a mommy of now two girls. It started off as just something fun for herself and her daughter, then everywhere she went people asked her where they could buy these trendy matching dresses!! So after her second daughter was born, so did the inspiration for MamaOm! I love the MamaOm matching bathing suit line is so awesome, with the ruffles and girly details, you and your daughter will be a sizzling pair on the beach this summer!!

Check out the other wonderful products at MamaOm! Visit www.mamaom.com

Fizzy Pop Clothing

Cool clothes for your little rocker and diva at Fizzy Pop Clothing!! Available from 0-3 months to youth Size 12. Flat rate shipping $5.00!! They also carry bling hoodies!! Super cool! Your kid will be the envy of all their peeps at the playground!!

Visit www.fizzypopclothing.com

Heartfelt Expressions with Kid Cards

     Allow your child to add their personal touch to gifts and special events with Kid Cards.  Kid Cards is a wonderful spiral bound book filled with greeting cards ready to color and decorate.  Each book is filled with 20 greeting cards made of sturdy card stock and envelopes.  Each card tears along a perforated  edge for easy removal and a clean look. The large designs and writing make it easy for any age child to color and decorate.  This is a great way to allow your child to be as creative as they want. 

     Visit kidcards.org and purchase an All Occasion Greeting Cards book, Free Hand Drawing Frames book, or Special Edition Christmas Book.  All the books contain 20 cards and envelopes.  This is a fantastic way to keep frequently used cards on hand.

    There are also special editions for teachers.  Teachers can choose from a spiral bound book of 25 cards and envelopes for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Thank Yous.

     Go to kidcards.org and enter the Penny Promotion Code "Blogger Bonus" and receive a crayon set and watercolor paint set for only 1 penny when you purchase 2 or more books.

     

Hip Fusion

I received a gorgeous necklace from Hip Fusion called the Front Bar Toggle Necklace and it is personalized with my boys' names on the tags!! I love it! A great necklace for mommy or grandma to wear her precious babies close to her heart. Hip Fusion also has a necklace similar to this for Dads called the Dude's Floating Bar Tag Necklace, which has a more masculine look! Get something hip and handcrafted for your loved one! All jewelry comes beautifully wrapped in an eco-friendly box with a bow ready for gift giving!

Visit www.hipfusiondesigns.com

Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow

If you are expecting or know someone expecting, you will be pleased to find out about this wonderful mom invented product, the Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow. It is pillow designed to help mom sleep more comfortably. It is in the shape of a cube, then you take it apart and it forms two triangles, each with memory foam, one for supporting the belly and the other for the back. No more huge pregnancy pillows separating you from your spouse. Get a comfortable, restful sleep with the compact and comfy, Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow!

Visit www.utterlyyours.com

Shutterfly for Mom, It's not too late!

Looking for a last minute gift for Mom that does not look at all last minute? Visit Shutterfly and make her a personal set of stationary that will make you look like you planned your gift months in advance! How do I know this? I did it. Literally. Over the weekend I personalized some beautiful pieces for my mom and with overnight shipping, they're already in my hands wrapped and ready to go, just a few days later. It me took less than 10 minutes to design thank you notes, return address labels, a note pad, gift tags, and stationary for my mom and I know she will absolutely adore it. With Shutterfly's stylish variety of designs it will be easy to find the perfect fit for that special mommy in your life. Visit the Shutterfly site right now and get busy!

If you're already done with your Mother's Day shopping, visit anyway, Shutterfly is the ultimate solution to any gift giving situation. Birthday party? Wedding? Bridal Shower? New Baby? Anniversary? New Home? Just Because? Everyone on your list would love something special personalized just for them.

A Super Tracker for a Super Mom

Baby Super Tracker Application

Baby Super Tracker is a fantastic application for iPhone and iTouch users.  Every parent could use a little help with the day to day duties of raising kids.  Super Baby Tracker can do just that.  This wonderful application helps parents keep track of diaper changes, feedings, sleep schedule, baby supplies, and medical notes.  This application takes all the guess work out of the daily baby routines.

Baby Super Tracker can be set up for more than one child at a time.  We all know that with a new baby you can also use the extra help with the older siblings.  You can specialize the tracker to meet the needs of each of your children regardless of their age.  With it's preference page you can set which alarms will sound for each child as well as customize specific alarms to meet the needs of all your children.  Just like the ring on your phone, you can set the alarms to a variety of sounds as well as vibrate.  All the alarm sounds are meant to be soothing so as to not disturb or wake a peaceful child.

To learn more about the Baby Super Tracker application visit www.mobileworkssoftware.com.  Mobile Works Software is offering a free copy of this application to the 5th reader to send me an email at Lynne@swankymoms.com.

Let Your Daughter Sparkle With Sparklehearts

Sparklehearts is a wonderful natural bath and body line for girls!  All Sparklehearts products are made with 99.6% natural ingredients. There are no harmful toxins or unpleasant ingredients in the product line.  With no artificial fragrances or colors, parabens, phthalates or sulfates these products leave your hair and body sparkling clean!  

The all natural product line is made from materials like essential oils, violet extract, coconut, shea butter,  and green tea extract.  Each of their bath and body products leave your skin and hair smelling beautiful and free of residue.  My daughter and I love the fresh clean scent of the products.  You can smell and feel that only natural ingredients are used in each of Sparklehearts 5 hair and body products.  Each product has a list of its ingredients that can be viewed on their website so you know exactly what your daughter is putting on her body.  This information is very valuable since 60% of what we put on our skin is directly absorbed into our bodies.

Check out the products for yourself at www.sparklehearts.com.  They offer Shine Shampoo, Rainbow Soft Conditioner, Peace Out No Knots Hair Detangler, Bubbling Blooms Body Wash, and Sweet Hearts Sparkly Body Lotion. Sparklehearts has never been animal tested, and each of their stylish bottles was made by using 100% post consumer recycled materials. 

Sparklehearts is offering 20% off all products to Swanky Moms readers.  Just enter the discount code Blog20.