This is a guest post from an organizing professional whom I really admire, Angela Harris of Angela Harris Design. As the holidays approach, I start to feel the pressure of all those extra tasks. Angela gives us three tips on how to overcome! For more great advice, visit her site at www.angelaharrisdesign.com.

As the holidays approach, the building of excitement often begins to be overtaken by the escalating stress thatinevitably takes over. While I attribute some of my lower stress these days to the overall shift to order I’ve made in different areas of my life, do these three things today to feel an immediate difference:

#1:  ASK:  What’s on your {and your family’s} list? In general what are your favorite parts of the holidays – what do you want to experience?During dinner the other night, I asked my family what they most wish for for the upcoming holiday season: emphasizing I wasn’t talking gift wish list!  Here’s part of what we came up with:

• Attending the Nutcracker{something we used to do but hadn’t gone to in a while}
• Making peanut butter balls {a holiday favorite – we ran out of time & didn’t make last year}
• Spending an evening viewing Christmas lights
• Walking through a nativity scene at a nearby church
• Doing something to help others
• Bringing holiday style to my window boxes
• Decorating Christmas cookies {trial & error last year; learned some great tips – will share later}
• Reading our favorite Advent book together each night {helping to keep us focused on what Christmas means to us}

Just getting to know what each family member wants to experience can sometimes be an eye opener.  It helps to know what to prioritize and can slide.

#2:  Establish a budget.  Maybe not the most fun part, but a crucial one.

A.  Know how much you have {are willing} to spend {without going into debt}.
B.  Make a list of what you’ll need to purchase, including:

• gifts
• cards, stamps, pictures
• decorations
• entertaining {if you’re having a party, all of the expenses involved with this}
• travel
• groceries {above & beyond what you normally would spend}
• wrapping supplies
• special event tickets

C.  Allocate amounts for each. 

Tips: 

• I do my holiday budget in an Excel spreadsheet. I list every item in one column and put a budgeted amount in the column next to it.  Using the auto sum button, I add the $ column and then play around with budgeted amounts for each item until the sum is where I need it to be.
• After the holidays, indicate how much you actually spent {you can add an “actual” column}. Also, note other expenses you didn’t anticipate.
• Next year, you can pull up that spreadsheet, “save as” that new year, tweak slightly and your new budget will be complete! {Last night I did my 2011 one in five minutes.}

1. Ideas: Ideas I tear out of magazines are kept right here.
2. Coupons: I’m not a huge coupon clipper but do clip during this time of the year.
3. Receipts:  ALL of my holiday receipts go in this ONE place. {In an upcoming post, I’ll share what I do with my receipts and  how it kept me under budget the last two years!}
4. Cards:  My Christmas card mailing list – along with a few extra cards, stamps and addressing pen – goes here.
5. List:  My specific list of whom I need to shop for. I print out my budget list {above} then, using a pencil {which I keep in my organizer at all times!} I jot down ideas and cross off when that person is taken care of.

Tips:

• Take some quiet, focused time to set up your own organizer – customize to best fit your needs.
• Keep it with you. {I have mine with me throughout the season. I’ll take out what I need for that store, leaving the actual folder in the car.}
• Before running out to shop, sit down and look through what you need. Visually think through where you’ll need to go for what. Do a little on-line research prior to leaving home to keep from having to run from place to place.
• If you end up going over budget or find something else you’d rather give, you’ll have your receipt right there so you can return original item.  {Know return policies from the stores you purchase from.}
• Plan trips out when stores are least crowded.  Or do you shopping on-line.
• Streamline whenever possible!

Do YOU have a favorite way to stay organized during the holidays?  I’d love to hear!

Bringing home baby is so exciting. You already have the nursery just right, and you are probably still reeling from the investment it took to get the stroller, crib, bassinet, toys, breast pump, etc.  All of the newness becomes more familiar over time, and before long, you start to feel like you actually have a handle on this whole motherhood thing.

Then one day, baby learns to roll over. And rolling over turns to sitting up, then crawling, and walking is not far behind. I remember what a shock it was when my son got totally mobile. Now, if I put him on his play mat and went into the nursery to get a diaper, he could be on the other side of the room when I got back! This brought to light every scary and dangerous place in my home – all of which seemed perfectly benign before – where a baby could really hurt himself. I decided to call in an expert for help. Enter the Baby Proofer.

With no family nearby and my baby on the move, I felt an urgent need to get things in order. Honestly, I never realized how many doors, drawers and cabinets I had until I needed to secure them all. After a consultation and a return visit to install the safety items, it was like a mini Fort Knox in my home. I did learn a few things along the way, like which things are very important and which we could have skipped. I wanted to share some of that information here so that you can learn from my mistakes. 

-Safety latches on cabinets and drawers (Definitely do) This keeps baby from getting into the wrong places and from slamming their fingers.
-Secondary locks on doors, placed out of baby/toddler’s reach and/or guards on the door knob so the child can’t open it without help (Definitely do)
-Furniture “no-tip” kits (Maybe do) These are plastic straps that attach your furniture to a wall or the floor so baby can’t tip them over on themselves. We didn’t need them.
- Cushions to cover sharp edges of tables. (Definitely do.) Babies fall. The first time baby splits a lip on the corner of the coffee table or the fireplace hearth, you will be running out to get these. They are easily removable later.
-Baby gates (Do in certain places) I did find it helpful to have certain areas off limits, like the bottom of the stair case and the two steps that go down into my kitchen. These are falling hazards, for sure. We used the gates sparingly, and they worked fine, though they did leave marks on the walls when removed.
-Electrical outlet covers (Definitely do) My son was never attracted to the outlets, but a lot of babies are. These are clear, inexpensive and are not very noticeable.
- Locks to keep toilets, dishwasher and oven doors closed (Maybe do) The first day after install, I broke both the dishwasher and the oven straps that were supposed to keep the doors closed. I forgot they were latched, went to open the dishwasher, and the strap just snapped. Same with the oven.  If your baby is curious about the oven, definitely lock it. Mine wasn’t, which I found out AFTER I paid to install the strap and then broke it! The toilet lock was handy, though, to keep little hands from exploring inside. :)

Also, don’t forget to put blind adjustment cords high out of baby’s reach and put cleaning fluids and medicines in high cabinets. Here are a few links to help you find great products, ideas and installers for your baby proofing adventure. Hiring a baby proofing pro is also a great baby shower gift!

Kid Safe – shop for baby proofing items
http://www.kidsafeinc.com/category/child_safety_locks/?gclid=CKrWioP-g6wCFcmm7QodFQ7PNA

Baby Proofing Shop – shop for baby proofing items
http://www.babyproofingshop.com/baby-safety-products/category/all-0.html?gclid=CJubo8f-g6wCFYTt7QodJ1f8LA

Baby Proofing Directory – a listing of professionals across the country
http://www.babyproofingdirectory.com/

Parent Magazine – tips on how to baby proof your home 
http://www.parents.com/baby/safety/babyproofing/babyproofing-home-top-to-bottom/

Isn’t that the million dollar question? I confess that, although my baby turned 5 yesterday, I am EXHAUSTED! I think I have been tired on some level since he was born, but him having bouts of double ear infections, two separate chest colds requiring nebulizer treatments (one of which is still in progress), a huge birthday party and more than two full weeks out of school over the past five weeks, I am running on fumes.

Did I mention that I also have a business to run, obligations in the community, a busy husband who also counts on my support and that my son’s school location requires 3 hours of driving each day? Needless to say, I am not even on the list most days, much less on the top of it. Workouts? Not for a while. Girls night out? Only once that I can remember. Pedicure? What do you think? :)

I know that this all sounds familiar to you. If you’re a Mom, there are long lists of responsibilities which lie far beyond work and making dinner. I am surely not alone, though when I am so tired that I could crawl under the exam table at the pediatrician’s office and take a power nap, it does feel like it. And when I get the doctor’s orders that breathing treatments need to last for two weeks this time and we need to stay inside the house for a few days and “be calm and quiet,” I could burst into tears.  Have you ever tried to keep a 5-year-old calm and quiet on his birthday?

I think that “getting it all done” is a myth. We all have different life circumstances, but I don’t know anyone who is blissed out because she has time on her hands to complete all of her projects all of the time and do them all well.  I think we just have to do the best we can with the hours in each day, be flexible, and cut ourselves a break. No one is perfect. If I have one hour to myself, and I choose to get a pedicure rather than do yoga, it’s still something healing and generous for me, isn’t it? Actually, maybe I could squeeze that in today before early pick up at school. Ahhh.

Have a great day, and try to relax a little. You rock!

I may be a little biased. I admit it. But sometimes you just KNOW what you know, right? That’s how I feel about Bottle Snugglers and what they do to help relieve stress for busy Mommies.

When I got my first Bottle Snuggler (remember – I bought the whole company within one year!), it was such a stress reliever for me as a work-from-home Mom. I could suddenly finish my conference call with a client and email them the follow-up report (with one hand as I held baby in my other arm) without disturbing baby’s feeding time. Ahhh. Everyone was served, including me. That was a big change, as up to that point, I was struggling to be all things to all people and was failing, at least in my view, at most of them.

As we approach Mother’s Day, I want to urge Mommies to take some help where you can get it. Have the sitter stay a little late and get your toes done after you buy groceries; buy pre-cut veggies for tonight’s dinner; and when everything seems to be happening at once during baby’s bottle, let Bottle Snugglers hold onto it while you hold onto your baby and your peace of mind. Sometimes it’s the small things that make a big difference. Having that one free hand for a few minutes is invaluable when you really need it. In my opinion, Bottle Snugglers are the perfect Mother’s Day Gift. I hope you agree.

In case you haven’t seen it, here is a link to a tv commercial that we produced a few years ago. Maybe some of these scanarios look familiar to you. They certainly do to me! Happy Mother’s Day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y7ZL9Is1pY&feature=player_embedded

I love it when we hear from Moms on how they use Bottle Snugglers. We recently got a great review on a blog called Momma Drama (cute name) that gave me an idea for a new segment of Moms to reach out to.

Maybe you never had a problem with little issues that you had to deal with during feeding time (another child needing your help, answering the phone/door/client phone call, or eating your own food sometimes). But now your baby is old enough to hold her own bottle, but she refuses to! 

I have heard this story twice in the last two days from Moms, and this is when their Bottle Snuggler comes in handy. It helps give older babies the feeling of holding their own bottle without having it drop when they decide to let go and protest. Baby’s bottle stays in her mouth, and Mommy’s hand doesn’t have to reappear to replace it.  Here is the blog post from Momma Drama in her own words. Maybe you will find it helps you, too!

http://blogginmommadrama.blogspot.com/2011/04/bottle-snuggler-review.html 

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Bottle Snuggler Review

Sadly my daughter is pretty much past her bottle days. She has been on a sippy cup for quite a while now and only has a bottle before bed. So as we continue to eliminate the bottle altogether, I will be holding on my Bottle Snuggler. I can see it coming in handy even more once I have a second child. Or do we get another of arms when we have a second child?

The following is a guest post from one of our favorite food bloggers, Andrea from www.inspired2cook.com.

Hello! My name is Andrea and I’m a stay-at-home mom and food blogger. If you’re looking for an easy dessert to make for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day, look no further. This recipe for Bittersweet Chocolate Pots de Crème is rich, smooth and a cinch to make.

Pots de crème (prounounced poh-duh-KREHM), is French for “pot of cream”. Unlike traditional recipes for pots de crème which require baking in a water bath, this simplified version cuts out that step. The pudding cooks quickly then needs to chill for an hour or so in the refrigerator.

Use the best chocolate chips you can find. My favorite is Guittard brand chocolate chips because they are smooth, high quality and really delicious. For this recipe, I used ¼ cup of Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Chips and ¼ cup of Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Chips. If you can’t find bittersweet chocolate chips, use good quality semisweet chocolate chips.

Garnish the pots de crème with a dollop of freshly whipped cream and fresh berries, or enjoy as is! Visit me at my blog, Inspired2cook, for other great recipes and cooking tips: http://www.inspired2cook.com/

Bittersweet Chocolate Pots de Crème
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine (February/March 2011) 

This quick version of a classic French pudding comes together on the stovetop in minutes and then chills during dinner. Makes 2 servings.

1/2 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup whole milk
2 large egg yolks
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
Kosher salt

Heat the half-and-half and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until scalding hot. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl. Slowly whisk the hot milk mixture into the eggs.

Return the milk mixture to the pan, reduce the heat to low, and whisk until it thickens, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips, sugar, and a pinch of salt; whisk until melted. Strain through a medium-mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Divide the mixture between two 6-oz. ramekins or serving glasses. Refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour.

 The following is a guest post by New-York based party magician Brian McGovern.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to throw a wonderful party for toddlers. A toddler won’t care if you book an expensive venue or have the party at home  – all he or she will be interested in is having fun, playing exciting games, having friends around, and maybe even dressing up for the day! Here are a few ideas for planning your child’s next party.

Have a garden party: A garden party is great for toddlers. Make sure that your garden is a safe and secure space if you are considering hosting a backyard party. A summertime garden party is very popular with kids, where they can get fresh air, exercise, and just do what kids do best – play, get messy, and have fun. You can serve a cold buffet, and hire a bouncy castle to make the day even more fun.

Enjoy a themed party: Every toddler loves dressing up, and it is amazing how quickly they become fans of certain characters such as cartoon characters, movie characters, superheroes, and the like.

Try a tea party: For a quieter party, try a tea party theme. All you need are some fancy cut sandwiches, birthday cake, drinks for the kids, and a nicely decorated table with chairs. Your child and his or her friends can have their sandwiches or food at the table, and can even bring along their games or toys.

Have a movie party: Book a party at your local movie theater or hire an inflatable movie screen and projector for a night time party. Pick your child’s favorite movie and enjoy the show with popcorn and sodas.

Take them out: There are many eateries that are perfect for taking groups of kids. Find a kid-friendly spot with food, games, and entertainment. They’ll have fun and you don’t have the hassle of cooking food, and decorating – or the cleaning up afterward!

Consider a picnic party: If your child’s birthday is in the summer and you don’t have a garden that is suitable or large enough to have an outdoor party at home, a picnic in the park is a great idea. The kids will have room to run around, there may be rides there for them, and you can take along your food and drink to have on their day out.

Beach party! If you live close to the beach (long car rides and toddlers don’t mix) a beach party can be fun. Ask that all toddlers be accompanied by a parent and sunscreen. The kids will enjoy an afternoon by the shore, where they can play sandcastles to their heart’s content, enjoy some fresh sea air, and dine al fresco by the sea!

Hire entertainment: A good kid’s magician, juggler, storyteller or face painters can keep the kids happy. Avoid hiring scary looking costumed characters that might scare young children.

Brian McGovern is a magician for children’s parties in New York. Find out more at http://www.hijinx.tv .

The following is a guest post by Maghan Keller with www.jetsetbabies.com, a company that ships baby’s travel gear directly to your hotel. I love this idea, as I have forgotten many baby items on vacation and ended up with multiples when I got home. Maghan is offering Bottle Snugglers readers a 15% discount with the coupon code: bottlesnugglers.

Don’t worry about packing any of your babies items when traveling with a baby…

I know you are probably thinking that this sounds a bit crazy, right? Vacations are supposed to be relaxing and fun! So the last thing you want to do is stress out about finding room to pack all of baby’s things, or driving around to find a store when you reach your destination to purchase necessities like diapers and wipes. So it’s easy start shopping with us, www.Jetsetbabies.com we’ll have all your trusted brand name baby travel supplies waiting at your hotel when you arrive.

 When it comes to traveling with a baby or young child, we have thought of everything – no matter what part of the globe you are visiting. Whether your trip is to the beach, a hotel with a pool, camping in the woods or taking to the ski slopes, we offer specialized packages to meet all of your baby’s needs for a long weekend, or a full week. From diapers and baby food to booster seats and portable beds, we ship and track your package to make sure it’s waiting for you when you reach your destination – anywhere in the world. If there is something you don’t find on our site just call us and we’ll try to get it!!!

 So, order all your baby travel supplies from us www.jetsetbabies.com and say goodbye to jam-packed luggage, excessive airline baggage fees or fully loaded cars. Enjoy the relaxing convenience of finding everything your baby needs, waiting for you at your destination. Of course HOME DELIVERY is also available.

Also enjoy our monthly diaper delivery service at www.babyshowersbymail.com and let us ship all your diapers/wipes to you.

Whew! December has really kicked life up a notch, hasn’t it? I realized today that with all of my running around, I have not blogged since Thanksgiving. I know you’re as busy as I am during the many holidays that happen in these months, so I’ll keep today’s post on the short side.

Bottle Snugglers is now affiliated with a great website called www.thefamilygroove.com. They have so much great info on all things family, from pregnancy through dinner ideas and everything in between. Today, I saw a great article with some baby shower ideas that I wanted to share.

I pay a lot of attention to baby shower articles since I own a baby product business (duh) and I actually attend quite a few of them. Luckily, a Bottle Snuggler is always the perfect gift, but it’s fun to see the games, decor, and refreshments that are offered at these events. At my baby shower, we played a really fun game where our hostess melted fun-sized candy bars into Pampers, and we had to try to guess what each one was. Tasting WAS allowed if you dared!  It was frightening to see people dig into a baby diaper with a spoon!

This post gives ideas for three very different showers from the invites to food and even decor and activities for each. I hope you can use them to add to your tool kit for the next shower you host. http://www.thefamilygroove.com/dec10_ShowerPower.htm

I couldn’t let Thanksgiving go by without musing a little about what I am thankful this year.

We are wrapping up our second year in business, though it seems like much longer than that! Lots of lessons learned and customers served, both direct and through stores across this country and in a few others. Great  reviews by multi-tasking Mommies who are thankful for a little Bottle Snugglers help in their sometimes frantic days and nights. Opportunities lining up for next year to perhaps distribute internationally and join some larger retail outlets.

These are all certainly things to celebrate and be grateful for. But on the top of my Thanksgiving list are my family (which we hope to grow in the coming year) and the opportunity to provide assistance, stress relief and advice to so many Moms each month. I am proud to be among this group of self-sufficient and determined women who really do make the world go round and who offer me as much or more as I do them. Thank you for fulfilling this part of my life!

I hope that we will continue to draw upon each other for guidance and wisdom and do away with judgment of one another’s life choices. This type of Mom-to-Mom support is a positive trend and one that we all deserve to benefit from.  I hope you are able to skip the holiday stress, and have a warm, loving Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010 from Bottle Snugglers!