Adorable Children’s Hair Accessories

Since my baby girl was born, I have placed big bows on her head. I don’t think anything can dress up a simple outfit for a child better than a perfectly adorable hair accessory, and in my opinion, the bigger the better.

That’s why I was delighted to discover Ladybugs and Butterflies — a company that makes children’s hair accessories by hand, piece by piece.

Ladybugs and Butterflies offer their beautiful embellishments on four different types of hair clips. The toddler snappy clip, which is flat and 1 1/2 “, is the type of I clip I chose for my daughter’s hair accessories, and it really does hold just onto the smallest, finest amount of hair. They also offer the 1 1/4″ infant snappy clip, which is guaranteed to hold in the finest and just a few strands of newborn baby hair. They also offer the original 1 3/4″ alligator pinch clip and the 2″ French barrette that is great for big girls with thicker, long hair.

Ladybugs and Butterflies has plenty of products for those who like ponytails and headbands in sizes that work for all hair types. And the baby head bands are super soft and stretchy, so they won’t leave marks on your baby girls’ heads.

The site is easy to shop because it’s organized in so many different ways: you can view products by latest collection, headbands, hairclips and pony O’s, etc. Once you pick a product (like the Bella Marie, which is my favorite and which is often on my toddler’s head), then you choose the clip type and color. Prices range from $4 for pony O’s to $7 for most hair clips and about $16 for headbands.

Check them out soon to accessorize your daughter’s wardrobe, and don’t forget to look for items that will go perfectly with an Easter ensemble.

Why blog?

As a Mom, I am seldom able to complete a sentence without being interrupted. Heck — I’m seldom able to complete a thought without being interrupted. Even when I’m working (I work from home part-time as a freelance writer), I’m often asked, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” or “Mom, can you take me to swim practice,” or “Michelle, do you know where the checkbook is?” or “Michelle, can you drop my stuff off at that dry cleaners?”

I’m very good at multi-tasking. I’m a woman who has cooked hamburger while nursing a baby while talking on the phone. No lie. It’s not safe, and I don’t recommend it, but I’ve done it. I am not, however, good at having a complete thought or saying a complete sentence while being constantly interrupted. In fact, having my thoughts and words interrupted makes me a little crabby sometimes.

That’s probably why I so appreciated this quote that my friend sent me yesterday:

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It’s So Cute I Had to Share

My two-year-old has been taking a toddler dance class (tap and ballet) at the Wildwood Family YMCA.

She is the youngest in the class, because the kiddos were technically supposed to be 2-years-old when it started in September, and she wasn’t 2 until late October. Thus, I enrolled her knowing it might not work.  But each week as I’ve peeked into the class, she was participating right along with her slightly older peers — although I don’t think she follows directions as well as some of the  others.  However, in the past few months, the class has been preparing for a little Christmas program, so Miss Tammy has been inviting the Moms into class to watch in hopes of giving the girls a little experience performing before a group. My toddler refused to even stand on the line with her peers (much less dance) every single time I came in to watch. She either sat in my  lap OR ran out of the class. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I attended what was a much bigger “recital” than I had anticipated yesterday. Check out the video AND slideshow! I’m one proud Mommy!

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I LOVE the YMCA — especially MY Wildwood YMCA. Did you know the YMCA doesn’t turn people away for inability to pay? This generosity is accomplished through their partner campaign, and all the money donated via the campaign stays in the community through which it was donated, helping friends and neighbors who have fallen on hard times enjoy amazing programs like this dance program for toddlers. So, if you live in Wildwood and would like to contribute to the Wildwood Family YMCA, click here. If you’d like to donate to a local YMCA in your area, go here and enter your zip code to find one close to you.

Messy House Ignored Results in Great Morning

I have this great neighbor who lives two doors down and has a few girls (ages 8, 5 and 3) that my toddler really admires. My girl simply cannot walk past “Soozie’s” house without insisting we knock on her door. So, we are often just “dropping in” on Susan.

She’s great about it — always offering coffee, some delicious home-baked treat or rice balls served with a yummy Japanese dipping powder whatchamacallit that she made in minutes via a food processor and ingredients from the Asian grocery. Me — while I’d like to be the neighbor that anyone feels comfortable “dropping in on”, I’m not so much. But I’d like to be.

Today, when I got home from the gym early (in the pouring monsoon-like rain) I looked around my house and here’s what I saw: a sink full of dirty dishes; cereal and milk spilled on the kitchen table; toys scattered around the family room; unmade beds; laundry in the dryer waiting to be folded; laundry in the basket waiting to be put away; paperwork all over the counter waiting to be filed; emails to be answered; school forms to fill out; and, toilets growing that lovely coral/pink colored ring around the bowl at the water line. (I know, TMI). I had plenty to do. Guess what I did? I called “Soozie” and invited her and the girls up for coffee and playtime.

My toddler got a “new” $2 garage-sale Cinderella Barbie castle yesterday and I knew her girls would love playing with it. And it just seemed like it was time to return the “drop in, you’re always welcome” feeling that Susan is always extending to us. I had a lovely morning of coffee and friendship and laughter. And my girl had fun playing with the older girls and not having a Mom rushing her from room to room while we tried to clean the place. I have GOT to do that more often, and I must find the secret to exuding that “drop in, you’re always welcome” vibe that Susan gives off to those who meet her.

What about you — are you the neighbor who makes others feel welcome, or are you more like me (very appreciate of that neighbor but not as good as being that neighbor).

Join the Circus — Get Discounted Tickets!

The Greatest Show on Earth is on the road and is stopping in St. Louis Oct. 15-18 at the Scottrade Center.

This year, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey® Circus live performances provide edge-of-your-seat entertainment for the young and young at heart. And they’re giving you the chance to just about “join” the circus by providing an All-Access Pre-Show, which begins an hour before the show starts live on the circus floor. Your kids will have the chance to meet the performers, try on costumes, and get close and personal with the circus! The All-Access Pre-Show is FREE to all ticket holders and is a must see!

• Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code “MOM” at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets can be purchased at $11 each.
• Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price.
• Offer #3: Get the best Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seats available – There are reserved seats in these sections just for you! Enter the code MOM. No discounts available on these sections.

Don’t Miss This Free Family Play Date!

If you’re looking for fun and FREE ways to entertain your kids this fall, you need add the Family Play Date to your calendar on Oct. 3.

This fun-filled event at the St. Charles Convention Center will have activities to entertain children ages 8-months to 8-years-old, and it’s completely free (including free parking). The event is presented by Parents as Teachers.

One of the featured exhibits is BLOCK Fest, a hands-on block-building extravaganza. We all know kids love playing with blocks, and BLOCK Fest takes that activitiy to a new level. What you may not know is that playing with blocks helps children develop early math, science and literacy skills in a fun, interactive way. (I already knew that because I participate in Parents as Teachers, and my parent educator is always sharing that kind of useful information with me. If you have kids age 3 or under and you’re not already participating in PAT, you should check into the program.)

In addition to BLOCK Fest, there will be dozens of other activities for your kids to enjoy at the Play Date. Exhibitors include Abra-Kid Abra, Gymboree Play and Music, Magic House and Vetta Sports, plus many more.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so come early and wear those kids out — maybe you’ll get a nap out of the deal, too. Concessions are available if you want to stay all day. For more information, including directions to the St. Charles Convention Center, go here.

Disney On Ice Review

My toddler enjoyed her first Disney show last night when we attended Disney On Ice 100 Years of Magic at the St. Louis Family Arena. My experience with Disney is that they usually deliver above your expectations, and I wasn’t disappointed. Everything from the props, songs, characters, and skating was fantastic — as evidenced by the fact that my toddler (22 months), my niece (age 2) and my neighbor’s daughter (age 2) all stayed several acts past intermission.

I had anticipated that with our young audience, we might make it to intermission, but our young girls — dressed as the princesses Cinderella, Belle and Ariel — were either mesmerized and sitting in their seats or on our laps, or they were up clapping and dancing.  Other “Disney stars” in the show were Mickey & Minnie, Tinkerbell, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mulan and Pinocchio.

Here are a few photos from our fun night:

My toddler shows her joy at being dressed like Cinderella

Kissing cousins -- the girls greet one another outside the Family Arena

Ariel, Cinderella and Belle wait for the show to start

The girls are mesmerized by the skating/singing princesses

The only downside to the show, in my opinion, was that it started off with the Genie from Aladdin, soon followed by a shark from Finding Nemo, which frightened my niece at first. But as soon as we had princesses gliding across the ice, all was good. Cinderella, Belle, Ariel and Snow White graced the ice together, which was a magical number for any young princess in attendance.

Here’s a few pictures from the show:

Ariel

Cinderella

The Genies that scared my niece

Disney Parade of Lights

The show is in St. Louis until Sept. 6, and Disney on Ice via Mom Central is offering my readers a coupon code to use when purchasing tickets from Metrotix.  By entering MOM in the MC promotion code spot on Ticketmaster, you can purchase four tickets for $44 for weekday matinee shows or get $4 off the ticket price for the weekend tickets.

These coupon codes also are good on upcoming shows in other cities, including:

Take Time to Feed the Ducks

I’ve been pretty busy with writing work lately, which is a very good thing. I’ve got the “best of both worlds” as Hannah Montana might sing. I get to stay home with my toddler, but I also have a decent freelance writing/communications gig that helps pay for some of our “stuff.”

Still, when I get busy, I have to remind myself to take the time to enjoy said toddler — particularly when the weather on Sept. 1 resembles the weather in mid-October. In other words — you gotta take time to feed the ducks. We did just that today.

Monkey Business in St. Louis via Curious George

Curious George – the mischievous little monkey that kids love  —  is doing a live tour for the first time ever and he’s making at stop at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis Oct. 8-11. If you’d like to purchase tickets before they’re available to the general public, you can do so here using this coupon code:

GEWW!

Tickets start as low as $12, although some additional fees may apply.

I’ve been making obnoxious monkey sounds for my toddler since she was born, so I’ll likely have to explain to her why Curious George doesn’t sound like the monkey’s she’s grown to expect.  Still, the show is full of music and dancing, so it’s sure to entertain youngsters and adults, alike.

The storyline invovles Curious George on a mission to help Chef Pisghetti win a world-famous meatball competition.  This adventure takes him to Rome and The Golden Meatball Contest.  

 The tour started last October and is playing across the country in more than 40 markets, including Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Nashville, Kansas City and Memphis.

If you’re not in St. Louis and want to know when/if this monkey business is coming to your town, here’s the Curious George Live! itinerary as of June 15, 2009:

Multiple performances per city.  More cities being added daily.  Find cities and venues at: www.curiousgeorgelive.com.

• Cedar Rapids, IA, Oct. 1 – 4
• St. Louis, MO, Oct. 8 – 11 
• Detroit, MI, Oct. 15 – 18 
• Nashville, TN, Oct. 22 – 25 
• Baton Rouge, LA, Oct. 29 – Nov. 1
• Kansas City, MO, Nov. 5 – 8
• Oklahoma City, OK, Nov. 12 – 15
•  Dallas, TX, Nov. 19 – 22
•  Southaven, MS (Memphis, TN), Nov. 25 – 29

My Baby is Weaned

I nursed my baby (toddler) for the last time last night. But I’m okay with that. She was ready. I was ready (sort of). And it was time, as I described in this post.

I really believe that nursing a baby is one of the sweetest, most amazing and priceless parts of being a Mom. It is a bonding experience that I simply cannot put to words. And while it nourishes the baby’s body, it nourishes the mother’s soul. At least it did for me. I love cradling my baby girl in my arms. I love running my hands through her hair while she nurses. I used to love having her fall asleep while she was nursing, and hear her gentle sigh as she pulled away and then continued to make that nursing motion with her mouth. These are memories I know I will hold in my heart for the remainder of my days.

I will miss this time. And I’m so thankful to have had it.

I’m glad I didn’t succumb to the “peer pressure” of weaning this last baby of mine at that society-imposed one-year mark. I’m also glad that I found a reason excuse (in the Swine Flu) to stretch it out a little longer than even I had planned. (My teen has been declaring that it was time for it to stop for almost a year now. She’s so opinionated!)

In honor of weaning my baby (and in honor of next month’s National Breastfeeding Awareness Month), and because this blog is also a place where I’m recording memories and moments for my kids, I’d like to share a few of my favorite nursing photos:

Ginger nursing when she was about 4 weeks old -- a friend & local photographer, Maria Donaldson at http://mariadonaldsonphotography.wordpress.com took this picture and the next one.

Ginger nursing when she was 4 weeks old. I love these professional pictures taken of these special moments.

One of the last times Ginger and I enjoyed those precious nursing moments.

This was the moment when I really knew she was ready -- she preferred to read "Pat the Bunny" instead of nursing. Yes -- it was probably more about "me" in the end. Sigh.