Style Lush

What's New In Baby Monitors These Days?

By A'Dell

I'm about to have my third child this January and our baby monitors are verrrrry tired and in need of replacment. They're about 5 years old (we have an audio-only AND a video) and have basically been turned on that entire time. The batteries are obviously shot and they need to be plugged in at all times. I seem to remember them both being kind of spendy and a quick look at Amazon tells me that this kind of thing is STILL spendy. 

My big problem with them over the years is that for as expensive as they were (especially the video one) they just didn't do a lot. The screen was small, the feed was crappy, the device was bulky. I often wondered how I had a slim iPhone with better capabilities than these stupid monitors, for not much more in price (and an iPhone also does a crapton more than just the camera/audio portion).

I've kind of been wondering about these IP cameras that are marketed for home security. I know a few people that are using them as baby monitors in tandem with apps on their phones. They seem to have WAY more features for LESS than what a lot of the other legit baby monitors on the market cost.

Foscam

This one has a two-way speaker (Can you imagine how awesome that would be at age 2 and 3? "GET BACK IN BED!"), remote tilt/pan, and I think you can even lift video and still photos off of it!

Anyone using this kind of thing to keep an eye on your kids? 

Awesome Game for a Preschooler: Snack Attack

By A'Dell

I'm not really into playing board games with my preschooler. First of all, she cheats, which makes the "game" a very long process of "how do I rig this so it doesn't end in tears?" I also think most board games for kids this age are just plain terrible. 

Confession: I donated Candyland to Goodwill and it made me SO HAPPY.

I was really surprised that I ended up liking this game called Snack Attack. My mother-in-law gave it to my daughter for her 4th birthday and I did roll my eyes because aghhhhhhh another stupid game. But! This game is actually SUPER CUTE! I don't hate it! And for some reason my kid isn't insistent on winning, she actually likes just PLAYING this one.

It's a matching game, which makes it super easy, and depending on the skill level of your child you can play it as fast or slow as necessary. There's a little spinning action that even a clumsy kid can get the hang of, and it's got a clever mechanism to keep all the pieces in one spot, which was my huge gripe about Candyland in the first place. (So many freaking cards, OMG.)

I'm not the only grown-up in this house who likes to play Snack Attack. My husband even likes it, which makes it an awesome choice for playing with her after the baby goes to bed. Seriously, a game for a 4-year-old that doesn't make me want to stab my eyes out? THANK YOU, MOTHER-IN-LAW!

For Halloween Costumes That Last, Buy Dress-Up Clothes

By A'Dell

The problem with Halloween costumes is they can get pretty spendy but be pretty crappy. A lot of them don't last more than a few wears and certainly not a spin in the washing machine. Even more painful, hardly any of them come with the all-too-key accessories that costumes seem to require: swords, hats, and props. Those cost extra and they usually fall apart, too.

But if your child isn't too far deep into licensed characters, try checking out items marked as Dress-Up Clothes instead of items labeled Halloween Costumes. We're HUGE fans of the Melissa and Doug line of role play outfits and they're fantastic quality. (Seriosuly, these get played with at least once every 48 hours at my house.) They come with a ton of props and they make great costumes for Halloween--sturdy, easy to put on, comfortable, and the price is right at about $20 to $25.

Pirate, $24

My daughter is going to be a pirate this year and this Melissa and Doug set-up comes with a jacket, hat, eye patch and foam sword. We're pairing it with black leggings and sneakers. This costume is AWESOME! It's a one-piece jacket that velcros shut and it's WAY nicer than some of the other pirate costumes I've seen for the same or more money. She'll wear this for a long time before it gets trashed enough to retire.

Fire Chief, $27

We have this one (strictly for dress-up, not using it for Halloween this year) and it's similarly AWESOME. 

Doctor, $20

Pair this with some white pants and you're set. Again, it's the PROPS that really make these come to life. Look at all that Doctor gear and the clear pockets to store it in! So legit.

Melissa and Doug has a pretty impressive lineup in this category: Chef, Police Officer, Hair Stylist, Waitress, Construction Worker, Train Engineer, Knight, Veterinarian, Princess, Superhero, and Explorer. Even if you already have Halloween covered for this year, they make great gifts for kids in a wide range of ages to find under the tree. 

(Photos: Amazon.com and my own)

Hedstrom Hoppy Ball: Awesome Gift for a 4-Year-Old

By A'Dell

My daughter turned four a few weeks ago and she recieved some really awesome gifts for her birthday that are definitely big hits. But the biggest hit by far is this Hedstrom Hoppy Ball, for only $12.

It's a HUGE hit at our house with the 4-year-old AND the 18-month old. There are a ton of these hoppy-type balls out there and I had a really hard time digging through the reviews. I finally settled on Hedstrom because it was a brand I remembered as a kid. This ball isn't huge, it's about 18-24" in diameter, but it's a great size for a kid this age. Any bigger and I think it would be tough for her to control.

This is a great toy because there's only one part and it doesn't make a mess, it's easy to store since it's not huge, it wears children out with all of the hopping action, and I'd imagine it retains its allure over the years. Plus, I have two other (younger) kids so this thing is totally going to get some use at my house for a while.

And at only TWELVE BUCKS? Oh, yes. YES PLEASE, SANTA.

You need a pump or compressor to blow it up (not included) but I think almost any kid would love this one.

Red Flats for Fall

By A'Dell

One thing on my replacement list for this fall are some new red flats. (Just like red wedges, they go with so much!) I have an older pair, but they're tired and sad and, well, time for some new ones!

Dr Scholl's Lindy Flat, $30

See by Chloe Bow Flat, $265

Waaaaay out of my price range but I LOVE THESE SO.

 

Rocket Dog Memories, $45

I have these in black, and while there's not a lot of support or heft to these, I actually really like them. Super easy to slip on and off, lightweight, and I can usually find them for about $25 at DSW.

Jessica Simpson Leve, $59

These are a little more than I want to spend for tromping through the Target parking lot this winter, but they're terribly adorable and they look more high quality than the Rocket Dogs.

{Images: Macy's, Nordstrom, Zappo's}

Beco Gemini Baby Carrier

by A'Dell

Last week I asked for your opinions about the Ergo Baby Carrier and WHOA did you deliver. Most everyone loves their Ergo, which was good to hear. 

HOWEVER, not many of you loved your Ergo AND matched my body type, which made me pause. The problem I've had with other carriers has been my body type so....I wondered if an Ergo was truly right for me. Then Arwen suggested the Beco Gemini and an entirely new world of baby carriers was opened up to me. 

I am not sure if you know Arwen, but she has four kids and, well...she knows things about baby things. Really, if I had just one phone a friend option for parenting questions? I would call Arwen. 

Anyway, Arwen loves her Beco Gemini. She loves it over her Ergo AND she matches my body type, which makes the Beco Gemini verrrrry interesting to me.

The Beco Gemini is really similar to the Ergo in style and type of baby carrier. In Arwen's words, 

The Ergo is fine, but don't buy it. Buy a Beco Gemini instead. You can put the baby in it from birth, you can wear the straps crossed if you want to (better for people with narrow shoulders), and the head-support hood thing is great. (I always felt like my little babies kind of flopped in the Ergo, even with infant insert.)

Yes, it is more expensive than the Ergo, but it is LESS expensive than Ergo + infant insert, so you come out ahead if you want to use it from the beginning. (Which you do! Your back will thank you!) I always liked my Ergo, but it is DEAD TO ME now that I have the Gemini. 

I'm pretty sure I just added a Beco Gemini to my Christmas list.

Ergo Baby Carrier: Love It or Hate It?

By A'Dell

I like the idea of babywearing. It sounds like a great way to reclaim the use of my arms while keeping baby close and (most importantly) happy. Since I'm on my third pregnancy you'd think I would know a thing or two about babywearing but I don't. I'm terrible at it.

For my first child I tried a HotSling and while the fabrics are adorable, this product is not meant for women with my body type. (My body type in the months immediately after a baby = Rather Bosomy.) I deemed it not adjustable enough for a truly good fit. It was the SLING'S fault, not mine.

For baby #2 I tried a Moby Wrap. I COULD get the baby in there comfortably and securely enough but it took me forever to wrap myself up in all those yards of fabric and it's not exactly the most graceful thing to attempt in the Walmart parking lot when it's 100-degrees. 

Baby #3 is due in January and while I could just write off babywearing as something that just isn't for me, something tells me I'm about to have even FEWER extra spare hands than I've ever had before. Finding a way to transport Baby #3 without carrying a carseat or pushing a stroller seems...wise. Yes, it seems downright PRUDENT to figure out this babywearing situation.

Enter the Ergo. At almost $100 new, the Ergo is big bucks to spend on something I'm not sure I'll even LIKE or USE. I know people who love their Ergo and I know a bunch that are rather MEH on the topic (and it seems Elizabeth liked it but her husband didn't). But if it worked and I liked it? It would be worth every damn penny to have TWO ENTIRE ARMS with three small fries running about. 

What I'd really like to know is, if you have a body type similar to mine (Rather Bosomy), do YOU like the Ergo? Do you find it simple to adjust and get on and be comfortable in? Would you recommend it? Or is there some other option I'm totally missing that allows me to have the use of both arms with three children?

(Photo: Amazon)

Baby Boy Baubles

By A'Dell

I'm expecting my third child in January and after two girls it turns out I'm having a boy. (A boy!) This means I will be needing to buy an entire collection of Little Boy Things and trust me, I HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL WISH LIST.

Swaddle Designs Recieving Blanket, $24

I have one of these for each of my girls and it's "her" blanket, which will serve as a nice crutch in the future to identify them as infants (they looked JUST ALIKE). It only seemed appropriate to get one for this baby too, even if he's not a girl and won't be wearing pink. I love these flannel blankets, and I think they're great for swaddling winter babies.

Aviator Hat, $15

We're HUGE aviation nerds so this is an obvious pick for his newborn photos.

Hand Stamped Necklace, $53

What? My birthday is a week after my due date.

Blue Zoo Bumper, $79

Too expensive for me right now, but perhaps it will go on sale. Oh, wait, almost everything at Land of Nod goes on sale, PHEW.

Magnificent Metal Letters, $34 each

Super spendy (best for a short name!) but I love these suckers. I like the idea that you can put small objects in them and they seem like they'd grow up with a kid very easily. My girls have white, wooden letters in their rooms, and they're pretty feminine. This seems like a nice alternative for a boy.

Hanna Andersson Sleeper, $32

I would like to have an ENORMOUS collection of Hanna pjs. They are amazing! I can usually find them at Costco for about $14/each, which is an enormous improvement on the store price. But these are so amazing they're totally worth full price.

(Photos: Amazon, Etsy, Land of Nod, Hanna Andersson)

Pineapple Face Scrub

By A'Dell

My beauty habits have simplified a great deal since having two kids. I've slowly transitioned from a cabinet full of department store products to a handful of things I can pick up at Walmart. It's been a long time since I dedicated entire evenings to three-stage, at-home skin treatments is what I'm saying.

With that in mind, I picked up this $10 Alba Botanical Hawaiian Facial Scrub at Walmart yesterday, because I was feeling like my skin was looking rather dull and blah. 

I put a little bit of this on my face, rinsed with warm water and WHOA. It was like I had a whole new face and I am not even making that up a little bit. A WHOLE NEW FACE! Seriously, I felt like it looked more glowy and bright right afterward and my makeup looked fantastic this morning on my pineapple-scrubbed skin.

It's kind of foamy and has some small beads in it, but they aren't very big and they're definitely not rough or scratchy. They're kind of pleasant actually, the way they scrub off the indignities of motherhood and leave me smelling of tropical fruit.

So! Highly recommend this drugstore product. It's not super fancy but if you are an occasional user of this kind of thing and don't want to pony up big bucks for a Serious Skin Treatment Product, this is rather pleasant and a pretty cheap thrill. (Also if you dislike it for your face for whatever reason, I bet your feet would totally love it which makes it a no-lose $10 purchase.)

(Photo from: me)

Maternity Dress Winner, Only $20

By A'Dell

A few weeks ago I was eyeing this dress (among other things) at Old Navy and while the rest of my order was a bust, this dress is pretty great.

It fits well for Old Navy, doesn't hit my legs at an awkward length, and (perhaps best of all) at $20 it's a really affordable maternity item. Pair that price point with one of the coupons that lands in my inbox three times a week and it's easily a $15 or less dress.

Available in four colors (coral, navy, this palm print, and basic black), I don't see this one hanging around for too long online since fall is on its way. For those of us in warmer climates where truly cold weather waits until January (or never) to show up, scooping up these summer maternity items can be verrrrry valuable once the stores have turned to fall but it's still 80-degrees outside.