THE BLOG MOMMY BLOG

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Comment by Christy on August 23, 2009 at 11:26pm

Are you getting ready for back to school? All the shopping: for clothes, pencils, backpacks.... I think I am finally ready!!

My friend has started a new company that makes eco-friendly lunch bags and I love them and the stainless steel containers!!! ( no more worrying about which plastic is safe etc.)

www.kidskonserve.com

Thanks for the group and look forward to meeting eveyone.
Cheers,
Christy

Comment by Wonder Pets on December 29, 2008 at 11:46am

Has anyone in this group checked out the wonder pets widget? I am just curious what everyone thinks about it.

Comment by Wonder Pets on December 8, 2008 at 4:44pm

Check out this cool new Wonderpets website I found earlier today! Download the cool widget to your computer and you can dress up the characters. If your kids like the Wonderpets they will have so much fun dressing them up!

Comment by Skout on October 29, 2008 at 6:42pm

Hi ! I am lou - and I run www.skout.co.nz ... an online review web site for all things yummy for mummys and babies .. I have been in the kids fashion industry for 5 years owing my own clothing company www.gigi.co.nz ... and have moved into reviews and editorial .... I want to help other women in business to succeed ... !
xxx

Comment by THE BIG AGOO on September 15, 2008 at 11:52pm

How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?
This summer our aging next door neighbors had their two grand daughters come and stay for over two months. The oldest girl was the same age as my son, so by the end of their first day, a new friendship was quickly budding. As with most people who live in populated neighborhoods, most activities that occurred in our yard, they’re privy to them. If we were barbecuing, running through the sprinkler, eating watermelon on the deck or just picking weeds, the girl next door was quickly asking if she could join us. At first her attendance was welcome. My son and she had fun and it was refreshing to see them play.

As the days passed it seemed she was over at our house more and more. Soon she was shouting from her deck, calling to ask if she could come over first thing in the morning. Often it was so early we were all still asleep. Many nights after I had put my son to bed, she would be calling him, tempting him to come to his window to talk with her. More than a few times I had to strictly enforce it was bed time and ask her to go inside.

With her visiting more and more, she began having lunches here, then staying for dinner, then both. I know…what was I doing? But I felt bad for her…young, full of energy and just wanting so much to play. Her grandparents were quite elderly and they had her one year-old-sister to also look after, so I felt it was easier to have her here. But as she became more comfortable in our house, the guest quickly became the new tenant.

Dozens of times we took her to the public pool with us, the playground, even the video store. Any time we would go for a walk, she was outside begging to come along. It was difficult to say no when both her and my son were pleading. My heart gave in and I would usually say okay.

It was trying at times as her manners were different that ours. Our “rules of the house” were foreign to her and her insatiable curiosity had her going in places off limits to my kids. For the first few weeks it seemed I was disciplining her more than my own children as she seemed to run wild with no control or common sense. If I had play dates with my son’s others friends, she would invite herself. More than a few times she just came in the house without ringing the bell. At meals times she had no problem demanding her particular preferences.

My closest girlfriend noticed her behavior and commented on her practically living at our house. I had to admit I had let it go a little too far, but my son was now calling her his best friend, including her in all our activities and forcing me to put a tent in the living room so they could have pretend sleepovers in the middle of the afternoon.

Through all of this I only ever saw her grandparents over the fence. They never came by, never called or knocked on the door even after she’d been here for more then eight hours. They never offered to have my son over, which I was fine with, but they never seemed to check up on where their granddaughter had gone. By the end of the summer she was coming to the grocery store with us, her wet bathing suit was being washed at our house and her name had even been written on one of our plastic dinner mats. She was wearing an extra pair of my son’s shoes because the strap on her sandals had broke, and one night after a full day in the pool I even sent her home wearing a pair of his sweats and an old t-shirt.

Despite the raised eyebrows from my friends she was growing on me. Over time she was adjusting to our rules and behaving better than my own child. She was fitting in, going with the flow of our house and I was acting as though I had three children instead of two. She became a fixture in our lives and plans were being made that automatically included her.

When an unfamiliar car was parked outside their house one morning and she had not arrived, I knew the day had come. Her parents were here and I knew she would be going home soon. As we played outside as we always did she came running to me, arms wide and hugged me with all her delight. She stood holding my hand as I met her parents and she told them all about us and the adventures we had shared.

Her leaving was hard to explain to my son. He kept asking her to stay, telling her to come into our house and saying he understood that she lived in a different town, but we could all tell he really didn’t. To make it easy the day she left, I bought her a gift and walked over to their house so my son could give it to her. It was to help him to sort out the sadness he was feeling of her leaving and to have something between them that they could remember until next summer.

As we stood on the front porch ringing the doorbell I could hear the young baby inside. She was squealing and calling out my son’s name as he called to her. We waited and as the minutes passed, no one opened the door. I began knocking, calling louder, yet could hear nothing but the one-year-old talking gleefully inside. I quickly became worried and began banging on the door, shouting out the grandmother’s and little girl’s name. There was no response, just the baby happily babbling to us through the walls. I ran back to my house calling over the fence in case everyone was in the back yard, but no one was there. Again I pounded on the front door, rattling the handle and shouting, convinced the grandmother was somehow hurt inside. Back in my own house I began calling the police, I was sure something was wrong. My husband stopped me, pulling away the phone. “Don’t start any trouble” he said, “they probably just don’t want to answer the door.”

Unable to believe his explanation, I went back over there and walked around the house, through their gate and up onto their back deck. I could hear the baby answering me as I called out her name and the others who lived in the house. I turned the knob to the back door and walked inside, only to find the little girls’ mother, sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. I was shocked, surprised and furious! I angrily asked her why she didn’t answer the door and she said she didn’t hear me, I told her that was impossible since I heard the baby and half the neighborhood could hear me. Then she said she didn’t want to open the door to a stranger and I rudely replied that few strangers know the names of everyone in the house. She then said it wasn’t her house so she didn’t want to open the door. Appalled and livid I told her I was ready to call the police for fear the grandmother had fallen, had a heart attack or stroke. Her final comment was simply a shrug of her shoulders. She didn’t really care.

Practically in tears I returned home. I was so upset that someone could be so oblivious, so rude, so blatantly unconcerned. My son was confused from our exchange and heartbroken that he did not get to deliver his gift. Sadly, children sometimes see us at our less than ideal moments and it took a lot of explaining from me as to why his best friend’s mother would not open the door. It was hard to clarify her actions and present them in a way he could understand for I was having trouble understanding them myself. The heated exchange had created tension for everyone. The father in the end came by with his daughter so the two kids could say good bye. The mother was already waiting in the car as the girl asked if she could stay, clung to me and made a scene as her father had to pull her away. I felt upset, angry and in a silly way protective of the precocious girl who had been with me for almost 9 weeks. When they drove away, I did cry. Maybe it was out of frustration, disbelief and a bit of sadness that that little child, who so many had said to send home, had felt joy and happiness here. Now that she was gone, I didn’t want her to go.

Even writing this tugs at my heart strings. She was a good kid who just wanted love and personal interaction. She needed a bit of guidance, but her heart was genuine. The cold composure and aloofness of her mother seemed to explain her desire to be around fun and laughter and her sadness at leaving.

In hindsight, had something been wrong with her grandmother or had an emergency occurred, we as neighbors were completely unprepared. It got me thinking that even though we live next door to people, we seldom know anything about them. In turn, they probably know nothing about us. On the 28th of September, national good neighbor day will be celebrated across the country. Its intent is to build better relationships with neighbors and in turn create a stronger connection for the community.

Here are some suggestions for celebrating the day:
• Help your neighbors in some way.
• Offer a smile and friendly hello to your neighbor
• Have your neighbor over for a meal
• Hold a block party
• Offer to share recycling boxes, compost or even lawn sprinklers.
• Give them your phone number in case of emergency.

Many do take the time to get to know our neighbors, but often work, lifestyle and the desire for privacy prevents us from connecting with those who only live a short, stones throw away. The best thing we can do is acknowledge and befriend our neighbors even in the smallest of ways. Each of us is a huge billboard for our kids and they are perfect mirrors of our own behavior. How we are to the world is how our kids are, and our attitudes very quickly become their attitudes. Caring, respectful and friendly attitudes towards ones’ neighbors is a good skill to pass onto them for when they grow up and have neighbors of their own.

Standing on my soapbox,



JB

Comment by THE BIG AGOO on September 9, 2008 at 11:23pm

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Recently my son’s little four-year-old girl friend arrived at our house wearing a very hip and stylish Hannah Montana ensemble. I, of course, have a boy, and have not been privy to the Hannah craze. I was surprised that this little tyke was completely informed and up to speed on all things in Montanaville. When I spoke to another friend who has six-year-old twin girls, he said that they know everything there is to know about the show, and dressing like the lead character, well, duh… of course they do.
I remember when my son was born, how outfits with Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse were given to me as gifts. I also remember returning some of them determined to be that mom who didn’t buy into marketing ploys. Instead I preferred classic and traditional over obnoxious and commercialized. As he grew, I refused to buy Sesame Street diapers and anything Elmo. I picked zoo animals as his bedroom theme over Buzz Lightyear or Clifford the Big Red Dog. I wanted him to be stimulated by creatures of the sea, dinosaurs or bugs found in books, flashcards and the many excursions we made outdoors. It was my opinion that all of the marketing and advertising wouldn’t affect him if I didn’t let it, and our house would not be full of TV characters and movie images.

Now that he’s three, I have to admit that Speed McQueen and Diego do tend to dominate his world. He has his favourite Cars t-shirt, toothpaste, PJs, and bed spread, along with his Diego light-up runners, rescues-pack and adventurer socks. Suddenly these things represent cool, neat, and fun. He will dig through his drawers to find his Wingo t-shirt and go looking in the laundry basket for his Nemo swim trunks. At no point did I tell him or show him that there is a connection between his clothing, his feelings and these personified images. He learned it quickly and completely, the way any marketing master would have planned as he imagined selling to kids and selling big.

At the moment my biggest concern is the Bob the Builder underpants he wants. Next year I imagine it will be Spiderman and Shrek, then Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker. Still, I have a few years before it is anything I won’t completely understand or something I’ll utterly disagree with. And yet when he becomes a teenager, how can my hopes for endangered animals or real life heroes compete with celebrities and multimillion dollar advertising budgets that highlight speed, money, rebellion and all things hip? Or in the case of my daughter (still only 10 months), beauty, glitz, glam and sex appeal.

<These and other images are what our children are seeing and imprinting as as an acceptable representation of fashion in today’s society. Their suggestive posturing and barely-there clothing convey distinct message, and our kids are buying into it. It seems that as they move from toddler to teen, their focus becomes being the image and then becoming the person. What I was taught was to be your own person and create a unique image.
To read more go to: agooblog.com

Comment by CLK on September 9, 2008 at 11:20pm

Hi...my blog is http://adialuciana.blogspot.com

and i sell stuff at http://adilu.etsy.com

Comment by Jeanne Sager on September 7, 2008 at 8:31pm

Hey mamas! I have had my blog for about a year, but just started doing the "mom blog" thing. I've got a giveaway up now if anyone wants to try to win a lullaby CD! I'm a writer, so the site was originally a place to post my newspaper column online and show my editors some of my work. Now I get so many mom products in the mail, I felt guilty enough to start writing about them! And I've started giving some away, so anyone who wants to can sign up to be notified when I've got stuff to give away. I'd love to hear from other mom bloggers!

Comment by THE BIG AGOO on July 14, 2008 at 12:45am

Children's Clothing Designer Editorial
UV Protected Clothing, Myths and Truths about Harmful UV Rays - JB Sacallis, Agoo Apparel
With summer here and the kids outside in full force, the dreaded battle of wearing sun protection arises yet again. I don't know about yours, but my three-and-a-half year old refuses to wear a hat. It's a constant battle that escalates into a full on tug-of-war ever y time we venture outside. I have tried every style of head covering, every color and every option, only to have them lost, left and destroyed at every turn.

Sunscreen is no easier task. In fact, wrestling a monkey covered in cooking oil would be easier than administering the smallest dollop on my son's skin. He seems to love the sun, and thankfully he was born with the kind of skin that can tolerate it, but for my own peace of mind, I am left finding alternate and unique ways to keep him protected and safe outdoors.

This was one of the reasons why I was inspired to create a children's clothing company. At AGOO APPAREL we make stylish, active clothes for kids on the move, using 100% UV protected material. Our garments are all about fashion and function combined. Additionally, they have wick-away fibres that keep sweat away from the skin, eliminating any chills or possible overheating, stain resistance and anti bacterial properties.
One of our best sellers includes the long sleeve raglan, perfect for long days in the sun, and ideal for looking cool and feeling hip.

The versatile playful pant can go anywhere from gymnastics, to the park, to the movies.

All of our styles perform great if you are going to the beach, the playground, or even to Grandma's house.

Check us out http://www.agoo4u.com/ and you won't be disappointed!

For cool head gear, nothing is cooler than COOLIBAR's bucket hat. Completely crushable construction makes it great for travel or storage.

The lightweight, ultra-soft lite SUNTECT™ fabric comes in sensible solids and playful plaids. Great for older kids who want to look trendy while fighting off the rays.

For the younger ones, love the colors in Sun Smarties Girls Reversible Sun Hat, amazingly priced at just $7.95. It truly is the ONLY reversible, adjustable girl's sun hat!

Mix it, flip it, match it... then expand the fit as she grows with an adjustable hatband with unique, pull-through straps. UPF 50+, of course. I have one for my eight month old and never leave home without it.

Our kids spend a lot of time in their strollers, so visit SunfriendlyProducts.com for a vast selection of UV-protected sun covers, perfect for strollers, joggers and prams.

They pretty much have it all in one place so you are sure to find exactly what you need, even custom made for hard-to-fit buggies.

To keep track of just how long your little ones have been in the sun, use Sun Signals UV Sensors.

They measure UVB rays, changing from yellow to deep orange when sun exposure approaches dangerous levels.

Just stick on clothing or skin after applying sunscreen, and watch for the color to change. How easy is that!?

Or, if your child is like mine and loves to pick off stickers, use Magic Beads.

These fantastic beads are pale indoors, turn pastel-colored in weak sunlight and become brilliant glowing surf beads in bright sunlight.

They react to the UV light and are great indicators of the amount of UV light hitting your skin - so make sure you're covered up when they're glowing!

Dangers of UV Ray for Children
"As ozone depletion becomes more prevalent and as people around the world engage more in sun-seeking behaviour, the risk of developing health complications from over-exposure to UV radiation is becoming a substantial public health concern," said World Health Organization Director General Dr Lee Jong-Wook.

It is estimated that children are exposed to the sun three times more than adults--and often without sun protection. According to the American Skin Cancer Foundation, 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation occurs before the age of 18.

This is compounded by the fact that a young child has more skin relative to his or her body mass, so the sunburn will cover more area and will be more serious. Properly protecting your skin during the first 18 years of life can reduce the risk of some types of skin cancer by 78%.



How to Protect their Skin
Since the skin is the largest organ in our body, it deserves a lot of care and attention when it comes to the sun. Slathering a load of chemicals and unknown additives on a child's precious skin may feel as scary to you as it does to me. Natural sunscreens are not easy to find and many contain high levels of zinc. It is important to read the labels and find which out ones have ingredients that feel comfortable to you and work with your child's skin type.

One option is to use Organic Children, which lists organic aloe vera, elderflower and edelweiss in its ingredients.

Burt's Bees' 100% natural, non-whitening formula provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and helps keep skin hydrated without using chemical sunscreen additives. How can you ask for better?

Natural California Baby Sun Block Stick is just too cute. Pop this convenient PABA-free, non-chemical, fragrance-free sunblock stick into your pocket, purse or diaper bag. The whole family will love this easy-to-use stick that gives those "hot spots" a boost of extra protection.

Just as important as taking care of your skin while you're out in the sun is taking care of your skin after you've been in the sun. We've found an extremely and supremely great product for after-sun care: Boo Boo Goo by Dimpleskins Naturals is great for soothing sunburns and healing damaged skin. With all natural ingredients such as organic calendula oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, pure lavender, geranium and tea tree essential oils, it is perfect for kids with sensitive skin or those that may suffer from minor skin conditions such as eczema. Of course it also works on all kinds of boo boos, from scrape to scabs, burns to bites. This one is a must have!

How to Protect their Eyes
Too much UV exposure now can lead to permanent eye damage later in a child's life. Don't settle for "play" sunshades.

For under $10, you can safeguard your child's eyes with great-looking, high-performance sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays.

These doctor-recommended sunglasses block 100% of UV rays! Designed just for babies and kids with polycarbonate lenses, a stretchy neoprene strap, and a pinch-proof, hinge-free design. Featuring unique safety lenses that can't be pushed in. Frames are so strong, they can hold prescription lenses.

How to Protect their Feet
Another easy-to-miss spot: the tops of those tiny feet.

Waterproof swim shoes protect the tops of the feet from the sun, while shielding soles from hot sand and rough concrete.

I like these Toddler Pool shoes with Velcro tabs for easy on and offs. No more struggling to get them on wet and wiggling feet. So easy that kids can put them on themselves! A great price at $7.99… gotta have them.

Outdoor Sun Care Tips for Children
Take particular care to protect them from the sun. It's easy to enjoy watching your kids frolic in the great outdoors and forget just how long they've been exposed to the sun. Set a timer or check your watch every time the kids go out. Make snacks, homemade popsicles or have a juice break to bring kids into the shade and give their skin a rest. Plan outdoor activities before and after the hottest times of the day, and makes sure you have extra supplies always in the car for those times things get left behind.

Most importantly, start early in teaching your kids that we take care of our bodies by protecting ourselves from the sun. Make learning about it and being responsible something fun!

Here are some additional outdoor sun tips care of SunSmart:

* Keep a lightweight blanket or wrap handy for covering babies - babies have very sensitive skin and should never be exposed to direct sunlight.
* Plan outdoor activities outside peak UV Index times - UV radiation is most intense between 11am and 3pm in summer.
* Carry a protective pram cover for babies.
* Choose a hat that protects the baby's face, neck and ears such as a soft legionnaire-style hat, with a flap at the back that will crumple easily when they put their head down.
* Encourage children to play in the shade.
* Encourage children to wear sunglasses; look for glasses that meet the Australian Standard.
* Ensure that SunSmart practices become a lifestyle habit for your child. Remember that childhood protection decreases the chances of developing skin cancer later in life.
* Don't forget to be a SunSmart role model for the children around you!

SunSmart is funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and The Cancer Council Victoria, and in 2004 was appointed the World Health Organization's Collaborating Centre for the Promotion of Sun Protection. It is an organization dedicated to a global influence in shaping lifestyles and environments that minimise the risk of skin cancer.

About JB Sacallis, Agoo Apparel

JB Sacallis has an extensive background in the fashion industry. She obtained her degree in Fashion Design and Textile Science and for the past 18 years, has worked vigorously in mass market, prêt-a-porte, couture, wedding gowns, custom/ one-of-a-kind, and even created her own label; Simply JB. Her diverse talents have allowed her to report on fashion as a correspondent for news and television programs, direct fashion shows and write for a syndicated newspaper column. She is also a published author; “Letters for my Mother,” is about healing the Mother/ Daughter bond. She spent ten years working in the costume department for the film and television industry, supervising the wardrobe department on major motion pictures and award winning television series.


Currently she is the owner and president of Agoo Apparel Inc, a children’s clothing company that focuses on sustainable and performance-based active wear. Her company sells throughout Canada and the United States and is dedicated to giving back to the children. Despite her many hats and career experiences, she says, “Children’s wear is the most fun I have ever had in fashion.” With a three year old son and six month old daughter, she has the two perfect customer’s right at home. Her weekly blog can be read at agooblog.com.

Comment by THE BIG AGOO on July 9, 2008 at 1:32am

"Just in case you didn't get a chance to catch Agoo Apparel on Global TV on Monday, here is a link to it Agoo Clothing on Global TV. Andrea Vance from WestCoast Families showcased Agoo Apparel, declaring it "Lululemon for Kids"!

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