Pea Pie, Columbia!

What's In Your Bag?

I talk a lot about cool diaper bags, but what about fun stuff to put in it?  I mean, besides diapers, of course!

Cute cases: Made By Angie has adorable (truly, truly, truly adorable) wipes cases that were recently featured on the Today Show.  These handmade cases dress up those drab plastic wipes containers that are always the first thing to fall out when the bag gets knocked over!

Fancy Burp Cloths: Caroline at Tickled Pink (2800 Devine Street) does adorable custom work for burp cloths.  Have them monogrammed and you'll be proud to pull it our even when it's crusty with spit up!  Little Lambs and Ivy II (2816 Devine Street) also carries fun and fabulous burp cloths, some of which are so soft I've considered just keeping them on my pillow!

Things To Do While Waiting: Precious Personalities has a fun chalkboard place mat on sale for $21 (normally $31) that can take the ants out of the impatient child's pants at a restaurant.   You can also find fun, diaper bag sized toys like cars, trains, and other wooden toys at Be Beep on Forest Drive (across from Columbia Athletic Club).

Utility is key when stocking your diaper bag, but it can be cute, too!

 

HOLY COW! And a personal note...

Melissa at Let's Go Strolling has a fantastic sale going on right now.  How good?  How about a Silver Line Swagg for only $30!  Normally they run for $59.95.  She also has Bumm Runnerz changing pads on sale, which make hilarious gifts for couples baby showers.  My favorite is "Dad's 7 Steps for Changing a Diaper".  My brother is SO getting that one at their shower!  Good thing he doesn't read this blog, huh?

I'd also like to share my epiphany with all of you (and those of you who are way ahead of me on this can go ahead and skip this part!).  I have a lot of mommy friends who are often speaking of their yoga classes.  I've always thought, "Great, but how am I going to fit that in with everything else that I'm trying to do AND everything else that I keep saying I'm going to do?"  Well, last night, I couldn't sleep.  We've had a lot going on around here and I have been going to bed with a racing brain.  Somehow, yoga entered itself somewhere in between "I need to get a pillow under Hubby's knee so it's not sore from elevating his foot all night" and "I have too many birthday gifts to buy tomorrow and only an hour to do it."  So, I did what any logical insomniac mommy would do... I got on the internet.  I looked up Yoga Journal online and found a couple of poses that I remembered from practicing yoga with my crazy algebra and trig teacher in high school.  Then, I went at it for about 15 minutes.  Crazy enough, I went to bed with a clear head.  Really, you need to try this if  you haven't already. It's a mommy life saver!  And starting soon you may be able to catch up with me once a week at the yoga studio!  If you are looking, check out City Yoga on College Street or Amsa Studios on Forest Drive!

Kiss My...

...Face Kids!  Having trouble convincing the kids that bath time is a good thing?  Kiss My Face is helping us win that argument.  We all know they have great soaps, sunscreens, body washes... you get the idea!  Target has begun to sell their kids' line of soaps, which are guaranteed to take some of the fight out of bath time.  The self-foaming shampoo and body wash ($8.95) comes in two yummy scents, Orange-U-Smart and Berry Smart.  Can't you just see your guy delighting in having a berry scented wet mohawk in the tub?  So fun!  They also have A Whale of A Soap ($7.95), a bar that comes in the shape of Walter the Whale.

Have fun!

How I Got Away Today!

Some of you may know that my hubby had an accident a couple weeks ago and is now stuck at home for a while as a result.  As much as I love spending time with him, taking care of a toddler and a grown man has been a bit taxing, so I have found some short means of escape!  This afternoon I took Pea Pie, Jr. over to Books-A-Million (4840 Forest Drive, Publix Shopping Center) to let him play at the train table while I sipped a Starbucks Green Tea Frappaccino and read magazines.  I think it was the most relaxed I've been in two weeks!  When we were done, we headed over to the kids' sale section and hit the mother load! Jr. came home with See Spot Go To School, Miss Spider's Family Album, and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (this one wasn't actually on sale) for under $20!  If you are looking to stock up on your children's library, this is a great place to start!

I also popped into Little Lambs and Ivy II (2816 Devine Street) to pick up a gift, and they have a great selection of summer clothing for 50% off that is not to be missed.  They have also gotten in their fall items, which I think are the most adorable yet!

Please Buy A Sigg!

Yesterday I went to pick Pea Pie, Jr. up from the nursery at our church and his teacher said, "We had to put his bottle back in the bag because all of the other kids kept trying to take it from him."  As soon as we got back into the church I pulled it out and he swigged the rest of the juice right out of it.  So, I implore you, if you don't buy a Sigg kids bottle because because it is BPA-free, made of aluminum that keeps beverages fresh and cold, or because of the adorable designs like Paddington Bear or fire trucks, please do it for this reason.  Please purchase a Sigg bottle for your tyke so that mine can safely take his to church without getting jumped by his toddler posse!

I was recently on the Sigg store website and found this letter:

Hello SIGG Internet Customers,

Due to the incredible demand for SIGG bottles, we are forced to close down the MySIGG shop. We are also unable to supply any other Internet business for Sigg Brand. Our Swiss factory is working around the clock to produce and ship more bottles to us, but the demand has currently and for the near future - exceeded the supply.

Here's why:

• Due to the recently released report on some polycarbonate plastic #7 bottles leaching
  the chemical BPA, people are urgently looking for a safe alternative to plastic.
• “Earth Month” has further raised awareness with Americans that using a reusable water
  bottle makes more eco-sense than using disposable PET plastic bottles.

Now let us tell you what we are doing at SIGG Switzerland to manage this situation:

• Reconfiguring our SIGG Switzerland facility and adding new equipment.
• Hiring new production workers and having them work around the clock, 3 shifts and
  weekends.
• Allocating 50% of our global production for North America.
• Once summer is over - we will be able to re-assess our supply situation and react.

Other companies might outsource production to low cost markets like China. However,
we know that one of the reasons why consumers love the SIGG brand is because of
the trust in Swiss quality & craftsmanship - and that's what we are investing in!

We will continue to assess our supply vs business opportunities in the near term
and longer term future and will let you know when we can strategically supply our
brand on internet sales again.

Sincerely,

Steve Wasik
CEO, SIGG Switzerland

Robert
Robert Rheaume
President, SIGG USA

www.sigg.ch

  So, that resource is temporarily out of order, but Earth Fare has a great selection of Sigg bottles for adults and kids for around $15.95.  They are durable and adorable, a winning combination!

Stationary for the Whole Family!

We're currently in the season for garden parties, pool parties and BBQs, headed for the season of never ending birthday parties.  This can also turn into the season of thank you notes, and don't you just love to send notes on adorable stationary?

Paperluxe Studio has new family note cards that are just adorable!  You'll love penning thank yous on these fresh and pretty cards!  Also check the website for beautiful custom work, Sarah is wonderful and easy to work with!

Check out BB Ink's fun and colorful return address labels and their classic letter sheets.  I'm totally loving the polkadot return address labels.  This locally owned business has so many great pieces to choose from, and great prices!

It's possible to spend at least a couple of hours perusing the papers and books at Gibson's on Devine (2808 Devine Street).  The staff is so wonderful and helpful, and they truly make your time there entirely comfortable and fun!

If you are planning a birthday party, check out Letter Bugz Designs.  Claudia does fabulous custom work that will suit your little one's big personality!

Happy writing!

Lexie Barnes Diaper Bag On Sale At...

...Let's Go Strolling!  So cute, and for only $77!  This is one of those brands that is difficult to find in Columbia.  Tiny Treasures has begun to carry Bumble Bags, and Tickled Pink has some adorable Caden Lane's, but (and please correct me if I'm wrong) I have yet to see a Lexie Barnes on anyone's rack.

Don't forget to subscribe to Pea Pie, Columbia if you haven't yet.  I'm working on some cool giveaways, but you have to be a subscriber to have you name entered into the pot!

Also, a side note, I most likely will not post on July 4th, for obvious reasons.  Who knows, though, the annual family fight over who is hosting is getting kind of rowdy this year, so we could end up home alone after all!

You Can't Forget Your Lunch Money

I've posted on the topic of "the witching hour" before.  You know, that time of day that usually begins around 5pm when your children suddenly become disagreeable and extra loud.  Somehow, even infants have mastered this kind of timing!  My reaction is usually a tightened jaw and a shorter temper with the dog.  Poor old guy.  He's much happier now that we've made a discovery that has become part of our afternoon/evening routine.  Just before I begin to cook dinner, I put on Silly Reflection by Lunch Money, and suddenly Jr. is turning himself around, hopping, and bouncing... and quiet!!  It's like he goes into a dancing trance!  I've never seen anything like it.

Lunch Money is a local children's band headed up by Molly Ledford, who has a 2 year old and 4 year old herself (how cool must that be for them to have such a rockin' mom?).  Their lyrics are magical and have a way of perfectly addressing a child's curiosity.  The music is soothing, and parents can listen all day and enjoy singing along!  The other night I had my iTunes on shuffle while hubby and I had a glass of wine after Jr. had gone to sleep.  "Miniature Things" was playing from the album and we were 3/4 of the way through the song before we noticed that it was one of Jr.'s!

All three of us LOVE this album, and you will too.  It can be purchased on their website and on iTunes.  Seriously, you need to buy it today!  Also, mark July 11th on your calendar, because they will be playing at the Columbia Museum of Art's Family Fun Night!  Details on that closer to time!

New Arrivals and What's Coming!

If you haven't shopped for your little one's summer clothes yet at Tiny Treasures, now is the time!  They have just gotten in some adorable new arrivals from Bailey Boys, Amanda Remembered, and Vive Le Fete.  Bailey Boys is one of our personal faves, as you can see from the photo of Pea Pie, Jr. at the State House.  And don't forget to check out their summer sale rack!

If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to Pea Pie, Columbia in the next couple of weeks.  I am working on some great giveaways for you guys, but you have to be on the email list for  your name to be entered into the pot!

A Word of Encouragement!

Don't you hate that feeling of doubt that washes over you when your child is doing something that is only a tad odd?  He's sitting in his high chair with a finger in each ear after being up for three hours screaming the night before.  Her eyes just don't look quite right.  He's just not as bubbly as he usually is.  Do you call?  It's a tough decision sometimes!  Especially if you have been in often for things that are hard to detect, such as ear infections.  The only way to really know is for the pediatrician to check.  If you've been through this, you know those guilty feelings that rush to you as  you pick up the phone.  "Am I wasting Dr. R's time today?  Am I being a hypochondriac for my child?"

Here's the thing that you already know, but sometimes need to be reminded of: up to a certain age, your child can't tell you what hurts.  You aren't a doctor.  This is the reason why pediatricians have nurse lines, to begin with, don't be afraid to call!  As a mommy, your instincts are there for a reason, so it's definitely worth it to check with the pediatrician, even if it turns out that nothing is wrong a couple of times.  Trust your gut!

On another note, stay if you haven't subscribed to Pea Pie, Columbia yet, be sure to place your email address in that little box to the left.  There will be some great giveaways starting in the next few weeks!