Me, my wrinkles, and my new personal microdermabrasion tool

When I was in my 20's, I could not understand why women sought out plastic surgery and injected Botox into their faces (only to end up looking totally unlike their former selves). It just seemed crazy to me.

Now that I am . . . let's just say that I am no longer in my 20's, I can understand why women do these things. That's not to say that I plan to follow suit -- I am just saying that I can understand why the decide to do what they do.

The truth is that the idea of plastic surgery or Botox injections completely freaks me out. No matter how wrinkly and saggy I get, I just can't see myself going that route. But that's not to say that I'm just going to sit here and do nothing!

I am a big believer that lifestyle is the key to how you look and feel. Healthy food, lots of water, rest, exercise and managing stress are certainly the keys. There is no magic bullet. But I am also willing to accept a little help here and there.

SkinCareRx (a sponsor of A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks) offered me the chance to check out their personal microdermabrasion tool. I couldn't resist.

Microdermabrasion is known to improve early texture changes, sun damaged skin, uneven sun freckling, mild acne, and conditions where there is a buildup of dead skin. It sort of feels like you are sanding your skin -- but in a good way.

I haven't had any experience with microdermabrasion so I watched the video that came along with the kit (definitely recommend this). The personal microdermabrasion tool is meant to be used with the M2 Skin Refinish 20% Serum and the M2 Skin Recovery Moisturizer (you definitely need to follow the directions with those).

The tool is really easy to use right from the start. It is literally like giving your face a gentle sanding-- leaving softer skin behind. The directions say to only use the product once a week or so, but I found myself wanted to use it more.

Don't get me wrong -- the results are gradual. I don't have the skin of a 20 year-old or anything. But I have seen an improvement. And I love that I can just do this at home in my own bathroom when I have a few extra free minutes -- it is ideal for busy moms who only dream of regular trips to an esthetician!

Does this sound like something you might want to try out? Take advantage of a 15% discount if you order from SkinCareRx before the end of October. Use the CODE: PMD15Off.

If you order before the end of September (so, like right now), you can get 20% off your order. Use the CODE: MAKEOVER20(and hurry!)

Disclosure: Skin Care Rx provided me with a free personal microdermabrasion tool so I could check it out and let you know my honest opinions (and I've done just that!).

Another example of the benefits of play

In my 6+ years as a mama, I've found that one of the very best (and also hardest) parts of parenting is letting go of stress and worry and totally committing to playing with a child.

When I am sitting on the rug with familiar blocks, puzzles, and toys in front of me, my mind sometimes wanders -- to my grocery list, freelance deadlines, and bills.

That being said, periods of focused play with my kiddos are also some of my happiest times as a mom. I love to sit and watch a quiet, focused child work on a new skill.

It is largely for this reason that I just signed Colin up for a Parent/Toddler class at our Montessori School. With my older two children, I have adored that hour-and-a-half a week where I am 100% focused on playing with the perfect little being before me. I can't wait to do the same thing with Colin in just a few weeks.

While I am on the topic of play, I wanted to tell you about a new book I just read called Everyday Play: Fun Games to Develop the Fine Motor Skills Your Child Needs for School by Christy Isbell.

This book was written by a pediatric occupational therapist. She advocates the very sensible view that kids can work on their oh-so-important fine motor skills by engaging in a variety of creative activities at home. I love the idea that learning critical skills should just be another part of the many types of play that a child engages in on a daily basis.

Isbell has some great suggestions for fun and creative activities that will get your child working with his hands. I am particularly fond of the following ideas (and many of them remind me of the activities in a Montessori environment):

1. Use a wooden mallet to hammer golf tees into Styrofoam.
2. Using tongs and tweezers, challenge your child to pick up a variety of small items (like Legos).
3. Squirt two colors of fingerpaint into a resealable plastic freezer bag. Encourage your child to use his index finger to make lines or shapes in the paint and mix the colors together.
4. Use play dough to teach your child how to use his thump, index and middle fingers to create small "peas."

Everyday Play also includes a helpful "Frequently Asked Questions" section for parents who want to know more specifics about their child's fine motor skills.

This book has been a helpful reminder to me of the many benefits of sitting down one-on-one with a child and engaging them in an interesting "play activity." Plus, I love the idea that you can accomplish this by simply using items you already have around your house.

And with that thought . . . I am off to dig out my mini-muffin tins, tweezers and some small items for a sorting activity I have planned for Brendan tomorrow afternoon.

Disclosure: I was provided with a review copy of this book. That means I didn't pay for it myself.

Raving about Readeo: A Review and Giveaway

Last weekend, my kids read books face-to-face with their eighteen month-old cousin who lives in Boston. And it all took place on the computer using Readeo.

I know, this sounds a bit confusing at first. I felt that same way when I met with Chicago dad Coby Neuenschwander a few months ago and he told me about his new website.

Now that I've had a chance to use the site, I think that the best way to describe it is Skype meets Kindle for kids -- users can read books online while viewing each other face-to-face. Great idea, don't you think?

Here is how Readeo works. You create a profile for your family and invite friends and relatives to join you as Guests on the site as well. Then you can peruse the "shelves" and choose books to read alone or using "BookChat."

The "BookChat" feature of Readeo is the truly amazing part. The book appears on the screen with beautiful and clear graphics. Then there is a video window that shows your face and another window showing the face of whoever you are reading with (say Grandma or Dad when he is on a business trip).

This format allows the users to connect and share a true reading experience. My kids were mesmerized by the vivid graphics in the actual books and it was fun to be able to see my niece's reaction as she was seeing and hearing the very same thing.

It took me a few minutes to navigate around and figure out how to invite others to join and then connect up on the site. Once I got that part set up, the rest of the experience was a breeze. My nearly six year-old daughter was able to choose books and get started all on her own.

Currently, Readeo offers a nice selection of books (some titles we were familiar with and others were new to us). At this point, the book selection is not huge but Coby assures me that plenty more books are being added -- including 20 new titles being introduced in the coming weeks.

I think that Readeo is something that all families could use, whether they have out-of-town relatives or not. Obviously, this is a unique opportunity for kids to connect with far-away family members that the telephone simply can't provide. Kids can also use the site to choose any one of the books in the library and read independently. The person on the other side of the screen doesn't have to live miles away -- my kids would be totally tickled to share bedtime reading with their cousins who live just a few blocks away.

If you want to try Readeo out and see for yourself, you can do so for free. Here's how: both parties should sign up as Guests and try a BookChat together using the Book of the Month.

Readeo is a new sponsor here at A Hen and Two (now Three) Chicks (you can check out their ad on the right-hand sidebar). I am excited to announce that Readeo is giving a one-year membership to Readeo to one of my readers (Member accounts are $49.95 through the end of March - regularly $99.95 annually or $9.95 monthly).

To enter, leave a comment on this post. If you follow Readeo on Twitter, that will earn you another entry. Become a fan of Readeo on Facebook and you'll get one more entry. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Monday, April 5, 2010. I will choose a winner using Random.org and notify that lucky individual on Tuesday, April 6th. If I don't hear back from the winner within 48 hours of my email, I will choose another winner.

So go enter! Good luck! [Amended to add: If you don't have contact info in your Blogger profile, please leave your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.]

A Review: V.Smile Cyber Pocket by Vtech

We are not video game people. Well, not yet at least.

We don't have an XBox. Or a Wii. I'm not even sure that I am spelling those things correctly. We just haven't really gone down the video game route yet.

But the infiltration has begun -- slowly but surely. My daughter received a Leapster L-Max as a present last year. And she loves it. I limit the amount of time that I let her play with it because the sound makes me batty, but she really enjoys it and is able to use it totally independently.

This same curious daughter returned home from a play date last week and informed me that she wanted a Wii for her birthday because her friend's older brother has one. And so it begins -- the coveting of other people's fancy toys.

I am not saying that video games or hand-held electronic toys have no value. I certainly think that limited, independent play with educational electronics is a nice alternative to say . . . . plopping the kids down on the couch to watch Sponge Bob Square Pants. And anyone who has ever traveled long distances by car or plane with a busy preschooler can also tell you that a little portable entertainment doesn't hurt.

I am trying to navigate my way through the world of kids and electronics as my children start to become interested in these sorts of things. I have some reservations -- but I am open to exploring the options out there.

So imagine my delight when Vtech Toys offered me the opportunity to review something called a V.Smile Cyber Pocket. I figured this might be something that my kids would like so I agreed to take a look.*

Although we didn't own any Vtech toys before this, I was familiar with their products. In fact, I think that Vtech does a great job of marketing their brand and their social media outreach to moms is first-rate.

When we opened our new Cyber Pocket (which retails for $49) both my three and five-year-old were eager to try it out with the Zayzoo: An Earth Adventure game that was included. This product is designed for kids ages 4-7 and my three year-old was pretty baffled by the whole thing so after he and I worked on it together for about ten minutes, he lost interest and abandoned it on favor of a set of wood blocks. Seriously.

My five year-old was more successful in her attempts to use the Cyber Pocket, although the stylus wasn't somewhat difficult to use and she was confused about what some of the buttons were for (and so was I frankly). The device includes activities for a wide variety of skill sets -- from spelling to math and music. After playing with the Cyber Pocket for awhile, she went to her room to retrieve her Leapster L-Max that she received as a gift for Christmas last year. She pointed out that the buttons and pen on the Leapster game were easier to use. Over the next few days, she continued to play with the Cyber Pocket and she started to get more familiar with the both the device and the game.

And then the Cyber Pocket totally stopped working. I changed the batteries, but still, nothing. When I told the Vtech folks about this problem, they couldn't have been nicer and overnighted me a new Cyber Pocket -- which has been working just fine for week now.

So what's my bottom line on the V.Smile Cyber Pocket? I continue to think that these types of hand-held electronics are a good thing for kids to use in a very limited way (I keep them up high so that my kids have to ask for my permission first). Our initial experience with the V.Smile Cyber Pocket has been a little bit disappointing but I think that it is something that my kids will enjoy more as they get older and more proficient at using the device on their own.

And although our experience with the V.Smile Cyber Pocket has been just so-so, I am definitely willing to consider their educational electronic products in the future as my kids become more interested in these sorts of things -- which seems inevitable because of older brothers and their fancy Wii systems.


* Vtech provided this item to me for review at no cost. And when the first one stopped working, they sent me another one. I was not paid for this review. This is just our experience with the V.Smile Cyber Pocket.

TruKid: A Review

The more I learn about all of the junk in most conventional personal care products, the more disgusted I am -- particularly when in comes to products for babies and children.

I just want to give my kids a non-toxic bath. Is that too much to ask? I shouldn't need to have chemistry and medical degrees in order to understand what these ingredients are and whether or not they are safe for my kids.

A few weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to review TruKid products. I usually pass on these sorts of things but I have been shopping around for a brand of kid's bath products that I could feel good about. Plus, a mommy started this company and I am a sucker for that. So I figured that I would give TruKid products a try.

I am so glad I did. I have finally found bath products for my kids that do the following things: (1) get them clean (2) make them smell good and (3) don't leave them swimming in a sea of harmful endocrine disrupting chemicals. Plus, these products are affordable.*

I tried the Silly Shampoo, Cool Conditioner, Friendly Face Wash, Bubbly Body Wash, Happy Face & Body Lotion, Hero Stick and Spiffy Spearmint Natural Lip Balm.

The ingredient list is full of regular words that anyone could understand -- everything is spelled right out for you. You'll recognize items such as aloe vera, essential oils, kelp, coconut, and chamomile. TruKid products are all paraben, phthalate and SLS free (see here if you want to know more about why these substances are not so great for your kids to be splish splashing around in).

When I put these products to the test in the tub, I was very pleased with the results. My five-year-old daughter thought it was fabulous to have the chance to use conditioner and face wash in addition to the shampoo and body wash (really "grown up" she said). I liked the easy-to-use pumps and the pleasant smell of the products. And my kids were clean and ready to be tucked into their beds. Just a nice bath without any of the yucky stuff.

* I was not paid to say any of these things. TruKid just sent me some of their products and I gave them a try. Apparently, you need to be clear about these things in the mommy blogger world now.

A Review: How to Discover and Develop Your Child's Strengths

"When you look at a child, you can either see her strengths or her weaknesses. The choice us yours."

That is the central premise of the new book How to Discover and Develop Your Child's Strengths: A Guide for Parents and Teachers by Jenifer Fox, M.Ed.

This message is so simple -- but also revolutionary at the same time.

Fox says that instead of focusing on weaknesses and the areas where kids don't excel, we need to focus on their strengths. Rather than label kids as learning disabled or "dumb," we need to examine the curriculum, school settings, and teaching styles that prevent them from learning. Rather than destroy their self confidence and curiosity, we should empower them to use their gifts. "Most of the labels we ascribe to children overlook what is right about children. We prefer to concentrate on labeling weaknesses. The problem is that eventually the label begins to inform the child, rather than the other way around."

Fox says that the traditional school environment tends to weaken children by sending them a message of disapproval if they are not able to excel in every subject area. She also points out that we teach the same subjects in our schools today as were taught one hundred years ago and kids aren't motivated because they don't understand why they need to learn the things we are teaching them.

So what is the solution to this complex, entrenched problem? Fox says that parents, teachers, and students all need to participate in a dialogue about education. She points out that every child starts out wanting to learn and it is the responsibility of parents and teachers to discover how to make that happen -- we can't place the entire responsibility for learning on the child and then label him a failure when things don't work out.

Fox also points out that it is unreasonable to expect children to excel at everything. Do you know anyone who is good at absolutely everything? Of course not. We need to find out what each individual child's strengths are and help them to develop those skills. To that end, Fox includes a "Strengths Inventory" that helps us pinpoint what our Learning Strengths, Relationship Strengths and Activity Strengths are (I had a lot of fun filling this out and thinking about my own strengths).

Fox's approach leaves me feeling empowered to help my own children develop their strengths. In the way that we interact at home, in the school settings that we choose, and through my participation in their education, I can focus on what is beautiful and unique about each of them.

This book may be about education, but the decision to celebrate strengths rather than weaknesses begins at home. I am grateful for her message.

Disney on Ice - Take Two!

On Monday night, I headed off to the United Center to see Disney on Ice with three kids and two sisters (because I needed some adult companionship in order to endure two hours of princesses).

As we approached the United Center, I noted that it seemed awfully dark. And the parking lots were empty. And that was because there was no Disney on Ice show on Monday night.

Cue the crying from the back seat ("I want to see Lightening McQueen! Where are the princesses on ice?").

I had no other choice than to take them out for ice cream sundaes the size of their heads to try to make up for this massive disappointment.

Maybe if I let them consume their body weight in ice cream, they will forget the fact that there was no show.

When I got home I sent the company who offered me tickets for this non-existent show a nasty email. Nobody offered me an apology, but they did give me six tickets to the Wednesday night show.

So on Wednesday night I packed my car full of the same group and we headed back to the United Center. Much to our delight, there was in fact a show that night. And, even better, there were six tickets waiting for us at the will call window. Hooray!

The kiddos all loved the show. Wide-eyed, they saw all of their favorites -- Lightening McQueen, Ariel, Mickey Mouse. The show was really quite a visual spectacle and it was kind of neat how they reenacted scenes from the movies (although I think we all could have done without the stampede that left Mustafa "dead" on the ice).

If you think that this is something that the little people in your life would love, the show is in town through February 8th.

New Poingo: A Review

Watching Eleanor learn to read is almost as thrilling for me as it is for her. As a parent, few feelings can compare to the pride the wells up when I see my child learn something new and experience a sense of accomplishment ("Look Mom, I can do it!").

Because we have a beginning reader at our house, I was offered the opportunity to try the New Poingo, an interactive book complete with stories, songs, and games.

Both my four-year-old and two-year-old were very interested in this techno toy (which comes at a nice price point -- $34.99). The starter set contains the Poingo pen which reads the stories aloud and two books featuring the characters from Disney-Pixar's Cars and Finding Nemo. The set was easy to use (even my two-year-old was able to turn it on and get the story started by himself).

Even though my kids are familiar with the plots of both of the movies that the books are based on, the language and dialogue in the book seemed boring and not age-appropriate. Frankly, the stories moved at a snail's pace and seemed too detailed for young kids. My kids did enjoy the chance to stop and play a game from time-to-time as the story progressed.

New Poingo is marketed as a toy to help kids ages 3-7 want to learn to read -- and I am not sure that I agree with that. The words were too complex for her for my four-year-old to sound out, plus the story is moving at a fast pace and it isn't really possible to slow it down and take a closer look at the words. It just doesn't strike me as a learn-to-read aid.

That being said, I do think that New Poingo has its place as an age-appropriate plaything for young children. I think that every parent finds that there are times during the day when kids need to be able to play independently for a short time (i.e. while Mom feeds the baby, checks email, or generally attends to other things). I would much rather have my kids play an educational game on the computer or sit with a book that reads itself to them rather than plop them down in front of some inane cartoon. Around our house, my kids have been happily playing with their New Poingo books during those "quiet times." If you are looking for a little bit of "quiet time" in your life, I recommend giving this product a try.

It Wasn't the Greatest Show on Earth, But It Was Pretty Good

On Wednesday night, I took my little monkeys to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus at the United Center. My group included three sick children (runny noses, coughs, possibly slight fevers) and my sister (who is an unabashed circus enthusiast -- she would go to the circus by herself even if there weren't kids around).

And I am happy to report that, despite some reservations I had about how the kids would react, the show pretty much delivered family fun.

After surveying my group, the highlights definitely included the animal acts -- the elephants, dogs, ponies, horses, and one stray porcupine. Ellie loved the aerialists who hung from their hair and has declared her aspirations to do that when she gets bigger (great). And -- no surprise here -- the little boys loved the seven motorcycles driving around in a cage at the same time. I, myself, thought I might go into labor during that part because I was so afraid that something bad was going to happen and be etched in the kids' memories until the end of time.

Other parts of the show were not so inspired. Some of the clown schtick was painfully bad. Even my two-year-old had the presence of mind to declare, "I don't like this" during a scene about a cell phone with a planted audience member. We also didn't think much of the "clumsy" aerialist who ends up losing her costume and swinging around in her underwear -- didn't really seem like "family fun" to me.

My other least favorite part of the circus was the constant barrage of crap they were trying to sell you. As soon as one guy finished trying to convince you that each kid needed a $9 lemonade in special souvenir cup, another vendor came by with the replica plastic motorcycles. Enough already.

All in all, the kiddos had fun -- which is why we went. I definitely recommend arriving early so you can take advantage of the "pre-show" where you can walk out on the floor and check out the costumes, motorcycles, and see an elephant make a watercolor painting.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus is at the United Center until November 30th and tickets are still available.

Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven (A Review)

Skinny Bitch: Bun the Oven is not the book that it purports to be. In fact, I feel like the Skinny Bitches tricked me a little bit -- and I suspect that might be the whole point of their book.

I was not familiar with the Skinny Bitches and their work prior to being contacted about this book. I was expecting something along the lines of Hot Mama -- you know, kitchsy tips on how to look good while you are pregnant. And frankly, the book seems to be to be marketed to give you the impression that's what you will be getting. I mean, look at the cover - it says, "A Gutsy Guide to Becoming One Hot and Healthy Mother!"

Simply put, Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven is about why you should become a vegan -- pregnant or not. Now, I am not saying that this book doesn't have lots of helpful information in it. The Skinny Bitches offer lots of really disturbing (but factual) information about the food industry in the United States.

Do I completely agree with them that the FDA, USDA, and entire government are not to be trusted when it comes to keeping our food and personal care products safe? Yes. Are the conditions under which most animals are raised and slaughtered abhorrent? Absolutely. They raise some excellent points about why you need to be your own advocate when it comes to the types of food you are feeding yourself and your family.

Still, I found myself feeling resentful over the fact that the authors were basically telling me that if I didn't follow a strictly vegan diet, I was not living a healthy lifestyle and doing a disservice to my baby. I just don't buy that message, ladies. And once I read the chapter "What the Hell to Eat" about meal planning and foods that were "acceptable" (basically soy products, hemp sprouted bread, and something called "unsteak"), I actually felt better about my choice to include dairy and low-fat proteins in my own diet. But I do see how one could grow quite skinny on their recommended diet (because I would probably pass on the veggie salami too).

Towards the end of the book, the focus shifts from nutrition to a lot of scattered advice on everything from why you should breastfeed to the dangers of disposable diapers to possible signs of postpartum depression and the benefits of an organic mattress.

My other gripe is that apparently one of the skinny bitches has never been pregnant. I mean, come on. Some uber-healthy, refined sugar-rejecting girl who lives in Los Angeles wants to tell me how to face down a mid-afternoon pregnancy sugar craving when she hasn't ever been pregnant? I don't mean to be a jerk about it, but I feel like there is a major credibility issue here.

So if you are thinking about becoming a vegan, you should buy this book. If you are just a regular pregnant girl looking for a cute read to make you feel better about your ballooning bum, keep looking.

Why Method and I Are Now BEST Friends

So it turns out that being one of Chicago's Method Mavens is a completely fabulous experience. Last night, Method hosted a cocktail party for about twenty-two of my girlfriends at their pop-up retail shop at 2034 N. Halsted. And we had so much fun -- serious fun -- more fun that I have had on a Monday night in a long time.

I could go on and on about the evening but for the sake of clarity and brevity, I have forced myself to limit my thoughts to my eight favorite aspects of the whole delightful experience. Read on . . . . (and be warned that you may experience some feelings of jealousy).

(1) The Venue. The Method pop-up shop, located at 2034 N. Halsted is pretty darn cute all by itself (they even have a photo booth for taking goofy pictures). It is the kind of bright, welcoming space that draws you inside. The front of the store is retail and the back is reserved for parties (so you get to feel a wee bit special when you get to step behind the curtain). The party space is decorated like your most fashionable friend's living room -- it is a chic, relaxed place to hang out. It felt like we were just a bunch of girls drinking wine at some one's house (except for the lovely servers who kindly came around conscientiously keeping our wine and champagne glasses filled at all times).

(2) The Delicious Food. We munched on hummus, pita, olives, stuffed grape leaves, marinated feta, roasted red peppers, veggies and dip, assorted canapes, chicken skewers, and roll-up sandwiches. And then we came back for cookies and decadent brownies. Yum. Yum. Yum. All of this was thanks to Whole Foods catering, which I am definitely going to keep in mind for future events (so good!).

(3) The Cute Celebrity Guest. After gorging ourselves on canapes, we gathered around a table with Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green, to learn more about making our own beauty products at home. In addition to being cute as a button, Sophie is also totally approachable and knowledgeable. Sophie explained that there is no reason to go to Barneys or Saks to buy expensive beauty products when you can make your own superior stuff at home for a fraction of the cost (isn't that great news?). She answered all of our questions about skin care routines, which chemicals to avoid, and the best way to treat cradle cap. And she totally convinced all of us to drink aloe vera juice every morning (I am trying it tomorrow). Sophie blogged about her meet up with us over at her website today and answered some questions we had about facial moisturizers with SPF. We loved her.

(4) Our Natural Beauty Products. Sophie led the group in making our own facial oils and body scrubs using all-natural, organic ingredients. Each of us got to create our own products to use at home. I slathered my new face oil all over before going to bed and I think I look better already. :) Tomorrow morning, I intend to put my scrub to good use in the shower.

(5) The Girls. I wanted to invite people from all different areas of my life to this little soiree and I only had one qualification in mind -- I wanted fun people only. We ended up with a group of people who were open-minded, curious, and most importantly -- tons of fun. I wish we could get together every week as an alternative to Monday night football (with Sophie included to teach us something new each week, of course).

(6) The Goodie Bag. After the instructional component of the night, the Method girls handed out cute t-shirts and goodie bags - and not just any old goodie bag. Each guest got a cute reusable tote filled with a Method hand soap, all-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, and dish soap, plus tons of coupons for $1 off future Method purchases. Good deal, right?

(7) The Method Philosophy. In addition to being spectacular party hosts, the Method people have a very common sense message about cleaning. At a time when we are all trying to live healthier, greener lives, choosing Method cleaning products over the stinky, toxic stuff is just an easy decision to make. The Method products are as effective as the toxic concoctions, plus they are comparable in cost. Why not make a choice that is better for the health of your family and the planet? Is it just plain sensible, right? They certainly have me convinced.

(8) The Giveaway. The (very, very) generous folks at Method were kind enough to give my an extra goodie bag . . . and it could be yours. Check back here tomorrow to enter to win your own cute reusable tote filled with Method cleaning products. If you are local, stop by the Method pop-up shop before October 12th to check it out. Bring in a toxic household cleaner to be safely disposed of and Method will give you a brand new hand soap for free.

So as you can see, I can't rave enough about the night. Here are a few of my pictures of the event just to further taunt you.

The Method pop-up shop at 2034 N. Halsted

The delicious spread (of course I had to photograph the food like a hungry pregnant lady).

Sophie Uliano (the cute blond in the white shirt) showing us how to make our own natural, organic beauty products.

The girls taking copious notes on the process (ten drops of lavender essential oil, five drops of geranium oil . . . must remember this for making homemade Christmas gifts.).

Me, hard at work creating the "luxurious facial oil" that I so badly need.

The girls admiring their creations.

The retail section of the store (so bright and shiny and . . . clean).

If you want to see more pictures of women totally enthralled with their homemade beauty products, check out these great pictures of the event on Flickr. Don't forget to come back tomorrow to enter the Method Goodie Bag giveaway!

Peapod: It's a Mama's Friend (Keep Reading . . . There Is Something in This For You)

Until recently, we lived in a third floor, walk up apartment. Three flights of stairs + two kids who want to be carried = one exhausted Mama. When I was dealing with this logistical nightmare on a daily basis, I started using Peapod to deliver my groceries from time to time.

Now that I am fortunate to have a garage, a kitchen on the ground floor, and a child who occasionally goes to preschool, a trip to the grocery store isn't quite the ordeal that it once was. The truth is that I much prefer to do my grocery shopping live and in person (there's just no substitute for choosing items yourself -- especially produce). But I am also not too proud to admit that grocery shopping with my two little ones has turned me into a frazzled mom and reduced me to tears on occasion. And that is where Peapod comes into my life.

Peapod recently contacted me to see if I would be willing to give their service a try again. And I was happy to do that because I imagine that I will become a regular customer come January when I have a newborn baby and two feet of snow in the backyard. Grocery delivery service is just one of those things that makes being a mom a wee bit easier when you have a sick child, a sore back, terrible weather, or just too many damn kids to bring to the grocery store with you.

Here are my thoughts on my most recent shopping experience with Peapod: You can't beat the convenience of the two-hour delivery window. Shopping online is really easy and Peapod offers a good (but not great) selection of many basic organic products (i.e. dairy, produce, etc.). The delivery charges seem to be higher than they were a few years ago (doesn't that seem to be true of everything?). Prices seem pretty comparable to chain grocery stores (but definitely not as cheap as Trader Joe's). I do wonder if the company couldn't come up with a better alternative to the ten million little plastic bags that they deliver your groceries in (one delivery seems to totally undue all of your diligent use of your reusable tote to cut down on plastic bag consumption). But when all is said and done, you have a fridge stocked with food and you didn't leave your house.

Does Peapod sound like a service that you might find helpful? Go ahead and try it out. I have a special code for you get $20 off your next order. No entries necessary. Each of you gets this discount. Enter BLOGPOST10 into the discount code section to redeem your $20.

So basically, that means you get free delivery, tax and a free grocery item or two. Which also means that it won't cost you any more than your average trip to the grocery store. Use the discount code, see for yourself, and let me know what you think.

Lending Mom a Helping Hand

You won't believe who has been giving me some help with the kids lately? Thomas the Train. Let me say right off the bat that I don't exactly understand the Thomas the Train fascination that my kids seem to have. But, who am I to judge -- I like a lot of weird things too.

I had the chance to check out a new Thomas the Train computer game called "Special Delivery." I couldn't pass the opportunity up because I knew that Ellie and Brendan would love to try it out.

Boy, was I right. Ellie is able to navigate the whole game entirely by herself (frankly she is pretty good at the parts that I found slightly confusing). I don't mean to sound like an old person, but I can't believe how good young kids are with computers. Brendan stares at the screen while Ellie plays, captivated by the impressive graphics and shouting "There's Thomas" every time he appears.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not advocating plopping kids down in front of the computer to play games for hours. But as all busy Moms know, sometimes kids need to play independently while you make dinner, clean up, work, etc. And I think that a half an hour playing a computer game that teaches spacial and math skills beats watching some totally mindless cartoon.

So thanks Thomas. We are glad to have you.

Understanding Your Moods When You're Expecting: A Review

When I came across the opportunity to review Understanding Your Moods When You Are Expecting: Emotions, Mental Health, and Happiness - Before, During, and After Pregnancy by Lucy J. Puryear M.D., I thought, "I might as well have a look. I am pregnant and crabby. Maybe I will learn something."

But here is the problem: after reading through the book, I don't feel like I have learned a whole lot. Now, that's not to say that this book doesn't have lots to offer women in different situations. But this book wasn't terribly helpful for me.

Puryear sets out to address women's emotions during all three semesters of pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond. She also addresses the very serious issues of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis (She was involved in the Andrea Yates case in Texas). She concludes by making some insightful suggestions into how the health care system needs to better address women's mental health needs.

My initial impression of the information in the book was that is was obvious -- too obvious. For example, Puryear talks about the fact that women who are pregnant and parenting other small children can feel tired and overwhelmed. No kidding. She also discusses how partners may be nervous about how a child will change their relationship. Again, this just seems . . . really obvious.

The part of the book that discusses serious mental health problems offers a more substantial analysis -- but that information doesn't really apply to me. For those new moms who are struggling with depression, I think that this book would be a real asset because Puryear approaches the topic in a non-judgmental and supportive manner.

After reflecting on the book as a whole, I have come to a slightly different conclusion than I did initially. Much of the information seemed obvious to me - and I think that is because this is my third pregnancy. However, when I was expecting my first child, I think that I would have been glad to have some of the information that Puryear is offering. For example, no one (I mean no one) told me that breastfeeding hurt (even when you were doing it right). I appreciate Puryear's attempt to break "the conspiracy of silence" amongst women. She attempts to tell it like it is -- and the book certainly succeeds at that.

I Have Too Many Strollers (And Other Things I Learned From Parenting, Inc.)

I had the opportunity to take a look at Pamela Paul's new book, Parenting, Inc.: How We Are Sold on $800 Strollers, Fetal Education, Baby Sign Language, Sleeping Coaches, Toddler Couture, and Diaper Wipe Warmers — and What It Means for Our Children. Paul tackles the ever-rising cost of parenting and how moms and dads get sold on the idea that we MUST buy all sorts of things for our baby (like diaper wipe warmers and nursery video surveillance). Worst of all, she suggests that this buy, buy, buy, more, more, more culture is bad for our kids.

When I finished the first chapter, "Gearing Up," which exhaustively details all of the products and services parents purchase, I thought to myself, "Well, this is obvious enough. Of course babies don't need all of these things. What kind of idiot parents fall for the idea that you actually need of of this stuff?"


Then I thought about my own Babies-R-Us registry (largely fulfilled), my baby sign language book, and my two-car garage that barely fits our one car because of the baby clothes (over twenty bins organized by boy/girl and size), beautiful (but useless) wicker bassinet, bouncey seat, baby bathtub, exersaucer, and training potty that I store in there. And then I thought about my stroller collection . . . and that is when I concluded that I am an one of those dumb parents.

As evidence of my idiocy, I am going to share my stroller saga (if my husband actually read this blog, right now he would be saying, "Oh my God, she is NOT going to write about this."). Here I go. When I was pregnant with my daughter in 2004, I had no idea what baby stuff I needed. So I ended up registering for this monstrosity of a buggy from Peg Perego. It was huge. I could never figure out how to really maneuver it so I never used it. Someone also gave me a cheap little umbrella stroller which worked better -- but then it broke. By this time, I had baby number two on the way (and this is where things got out of hand). I purchased a new McClaren Volo umbrella stroller (love it, still use it). I also purchased a McClaren Easy Traveller for my infant car seat to snap into. Then I also bought a McClaren Twin Techno double stroller for when I was out and about with both of my little ones (just used it this morning, don't know what I would do without it).

That's right. I bought three strollers in one day -- which brought me to a total of five strollers in under two years (when you count the broken umbrella stroller and the Peg Perego which I gave away to some unsuspecting person). I mean, it is down-right silly.

I think that my stroller saga really illustrates one of the book's best points: the whole psychology of buying things for your kids is complicated. Companies market to parents in savvy ways. New parents are fearful because they have no idea what they are doing -- making them susceptible to every suggestion. Throw in the crazy love that you feel for the new little creature in your house, and it is no wonder that you will buy just about anything that someone tells you your baby needs (at least, I will).

Paul makes some good points about why parents overpurchase for our babes and how that translates into some potentially negative consequences for our spoiled tykes. Do I have too much baby stuff? Absolutely. Are my kids happy, healthy, and loved? You bet they are. But I am certainly not adding this to my ever-growing list of parenting-related things to feel guilty about.

Forgive Me: A Review

Two months ago, I was offered the opportunity to review Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward. Ever since then, I have been reading a few pages here. A few more there. Maybe five or six pages before bed. Partly because of my mommy exhaustion and partly because I just didn't love the protagonist in the story, my progress on this project has been slooooow. I finally finished the last chapter a few days ago.

A review in the back of the book said that when you finish Forgive Me, you want to go back and start all over again. So true. Ward's novel is ambitious in topic, scope and theme. And in the end, it didn't all quite hang together for me. But that being said -- there were lots of highlights.

The story follows Nadine - journalist, bad girl, independent spirit and damaged goods wrapped into one. Desperate to escape a painful past and the present, Nadine (twice) escapes provincial Cape Cod to pursue her career as a journalist. Her work takes her to South Africa, where the heart of the book takes place.

Through Nadine's experiences in South Africa, Amanda Eyre Ward tackles the difficult and fascinating topic of the Truth and Reconciliation Hearings that took place in South Africa following apartheid. Truth and reconciliation hearings are a process now used widely across the world (sometimes successfully and other times unsuccessfully) following unrest in a country. Truth and Reconciliation Hearings have occurred in countries ranging from Peru to Sierre Leone.

Here is basically how the process works (in extremely oversimplified terms): the wrongdoer (and often the wrong is the killing of a person or entire family) stands up and admits what he did, often including the details of how a person was killed and where his remains are). The family of the deceased then has a chance to address the wrongdoer, often accepting the apology and asking that the wrongdoer not be punished any further. The intent is to help people who have been through periods of tragedy and unrest to move on with their lives.

There is something to this, I think. What a fascinating alternative model for "justice" (whatever that means). Can you even imagine something like that taking place in the United States? If the concept of truth and reconciliation hearings interest you, read Forgive Me for a moving account of what families on both sides experience. Also check out the Artemis Project at Yale, which is attempting to chronicle all of the transcripts from all of the truth and reconciliation hearings that have taken place across the world -- a ambitious and noble objective.

Knut

My kid loves polar bears. She sleeps with her furry mama polar bear and two cubs tucked into her bed with her each night. We read Three Snow Bears, over and over. She likes to watch shows about polar bears on Animal Planet (although you have to be careful about those because it is only a matter of time before the star of the show kills something).

Given all of the polar bear-lovin' at our house, I certainly couldn't pass up the opportunity to review Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World by Juliana, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich. After our first read, I have to say that we were not disappointed -- this is a great children's book.

In case you aren't familiar with Knut (the most famous polar bear on the planet), here is his bio: Knut was born at the Berlin Zoo in December 2006 and rejected by his mother. He has been hand-raised by the Zoo's chief bear keeper (Thomas) and veterinarian (Andre). Under the care of his foster father Thomas, Knut has thrived and become world-famous.

In addition to chronicling the first year of Knut's life, the authors also provide some basic information about polar bears, their food, and habitat. The book wraps up by focusing on the threat that global warming poses to polar bears and what steps we can take to curb the warming trend.

What's not to like here? You enjoy a sweet story about a cuddly bear, along with some educational information about polar bears in general. Plus, you get a perfect platform to start talking to your kids about global warming and what they can do to be responsible inhabitants of our planet. All that in a before-bedtime read!

From a Mommy perspective, I also adore that this book was authored by a dad working with his two, young daughters (along with the CEO of the Berlin Zoo). What a fabulous family project (it frankly gives me lots of ideas!).

One little postscript for you: Turns out, Knut is no longer the cute, cuddly, baby bear you see pictured above. At one-years-old, Knut now weights over 300 pounds, complete with fangs and claws. Check out a what Knut looks like now (and don't say I didn't warn you -- Knut is not a baby anymore!).