v 5 issue 23: Editor's Picks ll

More of our favorite picks from 2009. We love these products and know you will love them too!

Cover by Gina Oh











1 Surf's up...campin' style! Go over to good 'ole Barn Dandy's to get yer self one of the fine indoor tents for great outdoor fun...even on a rainy day.

2 Show your love! An oh-so-comfy burnout tee is decked out in messages that rock. The glitter and glam of this my kids rock tee is a specialty of paper lili.

3 A compact, sleek design. Amazingly simple to use. The minui HandySitt converts adult chairs into an instant high chair. Great for traveling and everyday use (...with no cracks and crevices for the accumulation of the dreaded crud!).

4 Neige clothing delivers again. Gorgeous Liberty cotton fabric is layered over a soft voile petticoat with matching voile straps. Pulled all together with a drawstring neckline and a full back bow, your little girl is bound to be...oh, so pretty!

5 Simple to use and utterly organic. Just tuck baby into the center pocket & fold over each flap which is secured in place with Velcro. This is one swaddle baby can wiggle in, but won't want to wiggle out of. - babybonkie.com.

6 April showers are on their way. No need to stay indoors and pout...get outside and play in the puddles with a little help from puddlegear. The Gecko Rain Set is just one of the rugged rain gear styles to keep your kids dry from head to toe.

7 Now, let's change our focus to protecting the eyes. Large hip lenses, four fab colors, and a matching Neoprene strap (...to hold 'em in place) all help Retro Baby Banz stand out in a crowd. Available in baby and kids sizes, these high quality shades get the job done.

8 Absolutely adorable A-line dresses from The Trendy Tot have the fabulous advantage of being flexible. This flexibility allows the dresses to be worn as a dress, a top, with jeans, with tights... making it a wise and economical purchase!

9 A fabulous idea to help infants, and even toddlers, fit securely into "one size fits all" activity centers, jumpers, and park bucket swings. Hugga-Bebe provides extra torso support through generous padding of the sides and front of its patent-pending system. Velcro side closures hug the padding to the child for an upright boost that fills in the gaps, allowing little ones to safely enjoy otherwise unattainable fun.

10 The Puj tub can be used in any standard sized sink. Use it in the bathroom, the kitchen, at Grandma's, or on vacation! This soft tub dries quickly and conforms to baby for ultimate cradling during a tubby.

11 Organic style has come a long way in this simply sheik Cindia Dress found at Mama Om. Both super comfortable and fabulously hip, the dress comes in shades of kiwi, tan, and mora. Treat your little girls to a matching Cindilina dress.

12 An on-the-go necessity. The travel duo from Ajo.Bebe is a diaper sack and wipe holder combination to keep things together when you're out and about. Swanky fabrics make this duo a winner.


Healthy Eating Tips for the Busy Mom:
Before you buy that next weight loss infomercial product, sit and think a minute. Learning a few facts about choosing foods can help you to develop eating habits that will help you to provide your family with the nutritional requirements they need.

Here are some facts about food nutrients:

- Carbohydrates are nutrients in food that are broken down for fuel by the body. According to the glycemic index, bad carbs are those foods that spike the blood sugar and lead to overeating. Foods in this category are white flour products, processed sweets and fried snacks like donuts.

- Omega-3 fatty acids are found mostly in fish. These are good fats that can help to lower your cholesterol and improve heart health. Eating at least three servings a week will benefit your body.

- Fiber is found in plant food sources. There are two types: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in your system. Insoluble fiber can’t be broken down by the body so it is flushed out. As the fiber passes through the system it carries some of the fat from your food with it. Healthy portions of fiber give you the feeling of fullness so you eat less.

- Eating protein provides building blocks for the proteins the body creates to aid in muscle growth and repairs for organs and cells. Lean meats like skinless, boneless chicken, beef and pork provide the needed protein without the added fat.

- Nuts, beans and seeds also provide protein. Plant source protein has fewer calories and fats than animal sources. When choosing nuts, avoid the fancy salted or artificially flavored varieties. When possible use fresh beans instead of canned.

- Salt can cause bloating when you ingest too much. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for salt is about 2,000 milligrams. You can get more than that from one pre-packaged meal or a bagged snack. Limit salt by washing off canned vegetables and using salt-free spice combinations to flavor your food.

- Sodas contain empty calories. How many people get full from a 12-ounce can of Pepsi? Take the couple hundred calories in that soda you are drinking and trade it in for a filling snack and a flavored bottle of water (if regular water isn’t to your liking).

- Eat several meals a day to keep your metabolism going. Six small meals alleviate the mid-morning and the mid-afternoon hunger cravings. Eating every two or three hours seems like a lot but you are eating less.

Do you know a little more about food than you did before? Uncovering the basic facts about food removes the mystery and helps you to make better food choices for yourself and your family.


Setting goals for 2010
Would you like to make the conscious effort to improve yourself? Learn how to manage your time more effectively? Gain new skills?

Some skills are easier to improve upon than others. When a person decides to improve their life, the process that follows may take quite a bit of time.

When a person makes the decision to learn a new skill or improve upon their existing skill level in some area of their life, they are making a decision to move their life forward.

This is a very courageous act and can be very exciting. It can also be a time for quiet reflection and growth. No matter which way people choose to learn and improve, the outcome is becoming a better person and living a better life.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by setting goals. For some, the word “goal” may be something that is reserved for the workplace. Goals can help people accomplish things in all areas of life, whether it is for work or for personal development.

When setting a goal, it is important to keep a few things in mind. First of all, the goal must be specific. If you were going on vacation, you wouldn’t just get in the car and start driving. You’d know ahead of time where you were going.

Another important part of goal setting is to give your goal a deadline. Without a deadline, your goal is just a wish. Again, using the example from above, when you do start driving to your vacation destination, you’ll know when you plan on arriving.

Your goal must also be attainable. If your goal is too easy to achieve, you won’t have much motivation in completing it. If you set your goal too high, you’ll have a hard time completing it and you’ll become disappointed in yourself. To make the most of your goal and your time, you’ll want to set your goal just out of reach. You’ll want to stretch for it, but you don’t want it to cause you too much pain.