The Daily Dose by The Queen Mum

Monday, July 31, 2006

We have a winner

Congratulations to Kelly in Kansas. She won the book and Bum Bum Balm donated by Munchskins Skin Care.

Munchskins makes the most wonderful, 100% natural products for mommy and baby. Smells good, feels great. Not to mention that Munchskins owner, Jen, has written and published a book that teaches you how to make some of your very own products for baby. A few that caught my eye..homemade Laundry Liquid and Bath Milk. Plus Jen gives you the shopping list so you easily know what you need.

Visit Munchskins and tell them the MOBs Lounge sent you!

Friday, July 28, 2006

Fab Friday ~ Discounts & deals

I've got some great discounts to share with you today. Some very kind women-owned businesses have offered you the following:

Bidwell Botanicals ~ 10% off regularly priced items at www.bidwellbotanicals.com. Code vip_shopper, expires 12-31-06. Plus she has 2 items on sale each month.

Lindsays Candles ~ 10% off your order with coupon code 10off. www.lindsayscandles.com.

Country Meadow Soaps ~ 25% off from now 'til Monday the 31st. HURRY. Code Queenmum at checkout. www.countrymeadowsoaps.com

Teacups & Tadpoles ~ 15% off any one regularly priced item. Code MOB15. Expires Monday July 31st. www.teacupsandtadpoles.com

Please visit their sites and support these generous women. Surely you've got some gift giving occasions coming up...so stock up with great discounts exclusive to MOBsters!

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Some like it hot

Did you know that if you give a baby spicy food, that it will probably be spicy coming out as well? I've only recently had the pleasure of learning this fact first-hand. Have you tried those pepper-jack doritos? They are ok. Baby (who is 1) wanted some because I had them. Fine, "this will teach you a lesson," I thought. Nope. He wanted more and more. He's the third kid, I'd probably let him eat chocolate pie for dinner if it kept him quiet. So I gave him more chips.

Well, now I'm being punished today. Ugh. Note to self, no spicy chips for baby.

Another thing I learned...check pockets before washing clothes. Silly putty does not come out of jeans that have been washed and dried. But I am so terrified of reaching into those tiny little pockets. There's no telling what might be hidden or, worse, squashed in there. I think I need to train the boys to turn their pockets inside out before throwing clothes into the wash. Ick.

What have you learned from being a Queen MOBster lately? I'd love to hear your stories!

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Good reads

I'm currently enthralled with Angels & Demons, the prequel to DaVinci Code. Loved that one too, by the way. This isn't a book for the faint of heart, and you need to sit down to really read it. Not one for reading while shouting at the kids.

For great summer reads I recommend getting all of Janet Evanovich's books. I say all, because you will be so addicted that you will not want to stop to go get the next one. Her character, Stephanie Plum, is so darn hilarious and seems to have trouble keeping cars intact - as in, not blown up. Add to that her wacky grandmother, who is often packing a gun, plus several other fantastic (and some sexy) characters, and you have many laugh-out-loud moments.

Stephanie's is such a life so entirely different than mine, that I can't help but love escaping to it. Of course I have read every one of them and can no longer go to my happy place. But I'd love for you to do so then tell me all about it.
Janet, if you're reading this, never stop writing about Stephanie. I can't wait to read more. Please promise another sexy meeting with Ranger. That bit got me by for weeks!
Read on girls. Cheers!

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

No Fuss

Check out this totally cute baby cap by Fuss. The "thinking cap" just cracks me up. As does another from their line "night cap".

I just love adorable phrases on t-'s and clothes right now. Must be a phase I'm going through. I think it helps bring a little humor in the world to have something unexpected printed on your apparel.

I also love doing business with a company that helps a good cause. Lissa, owner of Fuss, donates a portion of their proceeds to the Ovarian Cancer Rearch Fund, in honor of women everywhere fighting this disease, and in memory of her mother.

Give a silly gift. Buy it from Fuss. Feel good.

Friday, July 21, 2006

$250 Spa Treasure Giveaway!

Ooh yum...I just love spa and body treats so imagine my THRILL to find this treasure at the end of my hunt for a Fab Friday post!

Visit Body Systems and enter their contest to win a $250 prize package of their body products. Contest expires 8.31.06.

Of course I snooped around the site for some goodies to put on my wish list. I love that this company offers several sizes of the same product. It's always great to find an internet store that let's you try a little before buying a lot.

So I have my eye (no pun intended) on the Cranberry Cucumber Under Eye Gel. Every momma needs something for her tired eyes. The gel at Body Systems has fruit extracts but no color or frangrance added. I like that. Plus 3 sizes to choose from.

Whipped Shea Butter. I cannot say enough good things about this versitile product of good ol' Mother Earth. Again, several sizes and two scents to choose from at Body Systems and a wonderful write up about where Shea Butter comes from.

And just in case you're wondering what a Queen like me would want for her upcoming 35th birthday...check out the Spa Sample Set. Just $80 for a huge sampling of their products. That sounds like a fantastic treasure any queen would love to add to her collection.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

In or Out

No, I'm not trying to fill Heidi's shoes on the "Runway"..it's these kids.
"I want to play outside."
"I'm bored, there's no one to play with, I want inside."
"It's boring in here, can we go out and swim?"
20 minutes later, after searching for swim trunks and applying copious amounts of sunscreen and getting water bottles ready, we're outside.
4.75 minutes later: "It's too hot, I want to go in." "Yeah," pipes another, "I'm hungry too."
ACK!!!
"Either your IN or your OUT!" I shout. (Look out Heidi)
The door is opened so often that the flies have posted "For Rent" signs on the door to attract more winged friends.
The entry floor looks like we just mowed it due to all the grass pieces covering it.
And something smells like a mix of water, pee and dog. We don't own a dog.?? I don't think I want to know where the pee smell is coming from. I have a new bottle of Febreze that will cover up that smell just fine. Citrus and Light scent, by the way. I love it!
So anyway...where was I? The phone rang and now I'm lost. Oh yes...I was complaining. Lovely. I'm sure you've enjoyed reading that.
So the boys want to go outside AGAIN. After complaining about the heat, they now want to play outside at 4:00 P.M. Hottest, stickiest time of day here in the land of Oz. I'm going to go sit my booty in the baby blow-up pool now. Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Sudsy's

We all love baby soft skin - especially if it belongs to us. How best to achieve that during the sticky summer months? Immerse yourself in some super scented soap suds, courtesy of Danielle and Company.
Soapmaker extraordinnaire Danielle Fleming infuses each handmade bar with moisturizing shea butter and pure, high quality fragrance and essential oils. The biggest problem I encountered was choosing what I wanted most; with a scent selection that rivals Baskin Robbins' 31 flavors and two sizes to choose from (jumbo and mini), Danielle and Company makes shopping for soap a little more exciting than your usual drugstore jaunt.

For super smooth skin, opt for a bar of Apricot Scrub. It's a sweet treat that leaves skin gently exfoliated. And if a trip to the beach isn't quite around the corner, the next best thing might be The Tropics, Danielle and Company's cool coconut- and lime-scented treat.

Planning to share the stuff with the family? (How generous.) The kids will get a kick out of My Favorite Frosting and Strawberry-licious, both incredibly true to their namesakes. And because his ego can never boosted enough, your own manly man will love a bar of Manly Man, a rich blend of musk and sandalwood. These soaps also make adorable gifts, as anyone who receives a Soap-To-Go set will attest to.

A word of advice: if you're planning on indulging in the 6 oz. bars (highly recommended), slice them in half for ease of use. These babies are big, and so worth the extra effort to keep them from ending up all over the tub floor! Even better, invest in a mesh soap saver (around $3 at Target) and slip the bar into the bag. This little genius prolongs your soap's use, amps up the lather production, and even adds a touch of exfoliation to the mix. Bliss!

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Big Event

Quick blog and I'm out the office door to get ready for some major retail therapy tonight at the Haute Market shopping event! If you are in the Kansas City area and want to have a great time out with the girls, might I suggest you attend this free retail shopping extravaganza?
Go to www.HauteMarket.com, register for a VIP pass, bring it to the event and get their early so you can score a Swag Bag ~ that's free stuff!

Let us know if you make it to the event. We'd love to meet more MOBsters!
Cheers!

Monday, July 17, 2006

Kansas City area chicks, take note...

There is a faboo shopping event going on tomorrow, Tuesday, July 18th and you MUST attend with me!

HauteMarket.com puts on these amazing retail therapy events. Bring your cash and credit cards my friends. You are going to want these delicious treats by haute designers, all from the K.C. area. Tell all your gal pals!

Did I mention wine, snacks, chocolate, discounts and free goodie bags? Register now!

Friday, July 14, 2006

Friday Find ~ Cool Boys

Ok, these little footies are fleece, so it may be a bit warm for right now, but I just had to show you! I love these guitar slippers! They just crack me up. A fresh change from baby blue leather shoes with freakin' sailboats on them!

Also, did you notice the newest coupons on our web site? We've got some excellent discount for MOBsters.

Have a super weekend and be sure to stop by our Lounge (forum) and say hello!

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Ga Ga Over This...

Ga Ga Goods was kind enough to send a baby Snuggly for us to check out, and it just happened to get here on Birthday Week.
Baby loves prezzies in the mail! He looks adorable (and comfortable) in this Prince Charming gear. Perfect for the son of a queen.

The Snuggly is combed-cotton, made in America by one of my favorite t-shirt manufacturers. I have good luck with them retaining shape and size. At $18, I think it's a good buy for such a cute look for my Prince. Plus you can get matching notecards and more! Check it out and go Ga Ga yourself at www.gagagoods.com.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Ships A-hoy

Next party present thumbs-up belongs to the Imaginarium Boat Bead Maze. A refresing, non-primary, look to the bead mazes, it has softer colors and more of them. Baby loves spinning the beads round and round. Big brother likes it too. They actually fight over it a bit. It's big enough to entertain for a while, small enough that baby can pick it up and drag it to and fro. Another gift success. Though I tried to find it online and haven't yet. Looks like Amazon carried it but is currently out. Must be popular!

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

One of those days

Ever have one of those days? No, not the bad kind. The good one. The kids and I went to Wonderscope Children's Museum today, had lots of fun! Home to play, nap, more play. Mommy actually cooked. Mommy had a friend come over, now it's time to get ready for baths. So there is my excuse for no blog today. We had a good day. I didn't need to run away to my computer and hide from the kiddo's. Could this be a new trend for us? Not likely. Ciao babes. Catch me tomorrow for some more baby gear reviews.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Birthday Party Goodies

Our first review of Baby's First Birthday toys this week is this cute ride-on car. He LOVES it. It took about 30 seconds to get it out of the package, put the red rear handle on, and let the baby go, go, go. The seat lifts up and has a very small space for putting things you need, like mom's keys and cell phone. So when they go missing, check here first. :)

There is a little plastic phone that attaches to the car, as well as some block shapes that can be fit through spaces at the front. The horn is just small enough that it's not too noisy, but easy for baby to work. Great safety feature is the "foot" on the back of the car so baby can push from behind without pushing it out from under himself/flipping it over. Smart!

Overall, this gift rates very high on our "must have" list. Let me know if you know where to find it. Cheers!

Friday, July 07, 2006

Sweet Smells

I've had the pleasure of smelling the most delicious candle frangrance today.

Sweet As You Please has a lavender scent that is so wonderful that I could sleep with it under my pillow. Made from organic essential oil, this lavender scent is so soothing.
Their prices are very reasonable and they have smaller sizes, nice for trying a few different scents instead of being stuck with one huge candle.

Check out their easy to navigate site and try a few scents for yourself today.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Happy Birthday Baby!

Our baby is ONE today! Such a bittersweet day. It's wonderful to celebrate his big day, but sad that this is our last baby. I'm holding tight to every little moment because now I realize how quickly they grow up. And we could have lost him last year, so we're lucky to have such a strong little guy now!

So far he's only opened one present, since he doesn't really "get it" anyway. His brothers bought him the electronic giggling Curious George. I like it because it's a soft toy, but not fuzzy for him to get that junk in his mouth. I just wiped with a sani-cloth and let him go at it. It really makes him giggle. George has several tickle spots so the baby gets ahold of one eventually. We've been working on monkey recognition and sounds a monkey makes lately, so it was perfect that the older boys found this toy. That and baby's new word this week is "nah nuh" for banana. My little monkey boy.

So the Curious George gets a thumbs up. Plus we found the 'off' switch...very important feature for our already noisy household.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

P.S. My baby is nearly gone

Tomorrow my baby turns one, and in my eyes, is officially a toddler. No more baby for me. I held him so tight and for so long before putting him to bed tonight. It was breaking my heart and now my arms ache to go hold him some more. One year ago today I sat there, in labor for about 24 hrs already and had several to go. Don't ask what my hubby was doing...he was a bit out of commission after the fourth of July party last year. No comment.

So our baby is one tomorrow. Geez, time flies. I'll be reviewing lots of great baby toys and goodies that he gets..after we play with them a bit first. :) So make sure you keep checking back to see what baby Mikey gets. Ahem..excuse me...big boy Michael. wahhhhh! I think I'd better go peek at him once more.
Ciao friends!

Sudsy Soap Lounge

I love supporting other women owned businesses. Even more so when I've met the woman and think she's a total sweet heart!

Davina, The Soap Lounge Diva, serves up some sweet treats in her lounge that you've just got to try. Ok, her only downfall, she's not a mobster. Just kidding Davina. She's got two girls and a baby on the way...so fingers crossed! ;)

Davina sent me some body butter that my skin thinks is scrumptious! It soaks right in and has just the right balance of butter, oil and fragrance.

The Soap Lounge Body Polish is on sale and is a must for getting your glow on. I recommend a polish and a butter. Your skin will love you for it. And don't miss her "About Us" page. She and her hubby are so cute!

So patronize this haute momma's shop and treat your skin to some yum yum fun!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Vacation

No review today as we're vacationing and preparing for our baby's first birthday. We're going to do a big review on all the great b-day gifts he gets this week. Or maybe we'll review a few each day. I haven't decided. I'm the Queen, it's my right to be indecisive. :)
Have a wonderful fourth of July. My English hubby says he's doing nothing today since it's the anniversary of my country separating from his country and no longer needing their help. Therefore I get no help today from him. Huh? Nice try bud. Go finish folding that laundry and behave yourself.
Cheers!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Monday Madness

Usually Monday is a day full of tears, screaming, crying and worse. Hanging on one's leg even. But today my hubby stayed home from work! Yeah, usually I'm dreading getting back to the work week, hanging on to him for dear life begging him to take a day off. He hops in his sporty little car and vrooms off to work with his grown-up music blaring and no one pegging him in the back of the head with a flying toy from the back seat. Lucky duck. Meanwhile, he thinks I have the cushy side of the relationship. Yeah, getting up at the crack of dawn and feeding three cranky, hungry boys is EXACTLY the way I pictured my future when Iwas a little girl. Then dragging them around town for errands, chasing them around the pool making sure non of my three darlings - who have no idea how to swim - don't fall in the deep end. Fighting with a three-year-old non-conformist. "You should take a nap," "NO". "You need to come outside," "NO". "Ok, stay outside," "NO".

Today was a different day ladies. Today I was the one to lay in bed while he fetched the baby out of the crib, got breakfast, etc. I took a shower. Washed my hair AND shaved, PLUS fixed my hair and got dressed! Then what to my sniffling nose did appear, but the scent of fresh coffee wafting through the air. I had to check the calendar to see if it was Mother's Day!

So I skip down to the kitchen, say "I love you!" to my hubby, and plant a big kiss on his cheek. The man looked at me like I was mad! So much for being grateful.
I cherished this brief moment of bliss, even the questioning look on hubby's face. Then went on about my normal day. Kids wailing, fighting and the baby eating breakfast off the floor. We take the small bits and hold on to them, don't we? Sometimes that's all we've got.
Cheers!