Pea Pie, Columbia!

Happy Memorial Day!

Pea Pie wishes everyone out there a fabulous Memorial Day!  Don't  you just LOVE three day weekends?  And short work weeks even more?

During this mini-week, go over to Little Lambs and Ivy II (2816 Devine Street) and shop for the little ones!  The sale rack has some major markdowns on spring and summer clothing.  Wednesday from 10:30 to noon is Fire Truck Day, as well.  A truck from the Columbia Fire Department will be parked in the back parking lot for your kids to explore!  Come check it out, we will definitely be there!

Zoo, zoo!

I am so miffed that it cost almost $100 to fill my gas tank yesterday!  I was a little put-off that our trip to Charleston for the opening weekend of Spoleto had to be canceled, but after my run-in with the gas pump, I'm just fine staying in Columbia for the long weekend!  Check out "What Are We Doing This Weekend" if you are looking for some things to do around town.

One activity that you can check out this or any other weekend is the latest attraction at Riverbanks Zoo.  If you haven't been in a couple of weeks, brace yourself, especially if you have a boy. When you go over for the pony ride, instead of whinnies be prepared to hear "CHOO CHOO!"  The ponies have moved across the way and their path has been made into a fabulous train ride for little ones!  My son went absolutely bezerk the Spots and Stripes Railroad last Saturday, especially since the newest word in his vocabulary is "Choos!"  I guess he understands what it means to make a word plural!

If you are not already a Riverbanks Society member ($59 for Family Membership), admission is $9.75 for adults, $7.25 for children age 3-12, free for children under 3.

More Green Products For Mommy Use

There have been excited mutterings on baby and child websites and blogs lately about Method's new line of baby products.  Method has gained quite a bit of popularity with it's non-toxic nice smelling cleaning products.  I am a particular fan of their Window Wash and Wood for Good, which get almost daily use in my home.  So, when I heard about the baby line, I kept my eyes peeled at Target at Woodhill Mall for them!  So far, the only one that has materialized is Method Baby Laundry Detergent.  This triple concentrated detergent contains no harsh chemicals and dyes and gets the spit up out of onesies using active enzymes.  The concentration of the detergent uses 2/3 less water in it's formula, needing less water to rinse it out!

Speaking of Target, I was on my way there the other day and had a realization... I've been using reusable grocery bags for my groceries, but not for my weekly Target jaunt!  Judging from the checkout crowd there, I'm not the only one to be late figuring this out.  Target sells their own, of course... though they seem a bit tiny to me, especially compared to the roomy ones at Earth Fare. 

It can be a pain, however, to have all of your ecofriendly bags flopping around everywhere.  There are actually some cute options out there for reusable bags that fold down to just a pinch.  Baggu bags come with their own pouches and in a variety of great colors.  You also have the option to buy them in packs of one, three or six.  Another colorful choice is the new Greengrocer line from Envirosax.  These super-strong polyester bags have a waterproof backing, so when your carton of milk sweats on the way home, you don't have to worry about a drenched bag!

Happy shopping!

Green Plastic?

If you've been shopping at Publix on Forest Drive lately, you've probably noticed that their organic produce section has been considerably expanded.  Before, we never knew if there would be organic Red Delicious apples, cauliflower, or onions in a given week. Now the section has been laid out so that we can pretty much count on serving pesticide free produce for dinner.

This week when doing some shopping there, I found a great product for disposing of diapers when out and about.  The Classy Kid Keep Me Tidy Biodegradable Diaper Sack ($4.99) comes in a pack of 75, and is made of plastic that breaks down and decomposes in a matter of months, rather than up to 1000 years like regular plastic bags.  These bags contain the odor of poopy diapers and cut down on transmission of airborne bacteria.  Don't you already wish that  you could buy these for everyone who leaves those stink bomb diapers in the bathroom at Target?

Diaper Bag Crazy

How can you not love diaper bags?  If you were a purse nut before having a baby, diaper bags just make you go wacko these days because they are just so many to choose from!  We are no longer relegated to square, quilted, barf-o bags with teddy bears and hearts on them!

The other day I was at Tiny Treasures on Forest Drive buying t-shirts for Junior that would fit over his toddler belly, when I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, a Fleurville Escape Pod ($56) on the right wall.  No, I'm not talking about a spaceship, but rather a handy, fashionable, minimalist diaper bag that is great for when you don't need to lug around a whole bunch of "stuff".  These adorable bags contain a wipes case, diaper pocket, key clip, zippered mesh pocket, and mirror.  It also makes for a great travel case!

Let's Go Strolling is currently having a Memorial Day bag sale.  Enter SALE10 at checkout to receive 10% off most bags.  I highly suggest checking out the Skip Hop City Chic in Park Avenue Tulip!

Special "What Are We Doing This Weekend"!

Drop what you are doing right now and call the babysitter!  If you haven't bought tickets to the Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of Art's 3rd Annual Black and White Ball, make sure you do so in the next couple of days!  The event is on Friday at 7pm, at CMA, of course.  Don your masquerade mask (also available for purchase at the CMA Museum Shop) and your black and/or white gown, and dust off hubby's tuxedo!   Music will be provided by Adrian Duke Projek, which will surely bring the house down, and there will be delectable food from Anna Cline Catering.

The Contemporaries is a very special organization whose mission is to promote the museum, diversify it's membership, and lead the next generation of Columbia's philanthropists and volunteers.  Funds raised from this event go to the Contemporaries Art Acquisition Fund, which is raising money to purchase a fabulous contemporary art piece for the lobby of the museum.  This effort is guaranteed to help put downtown Columbia on the Southeastern and national radar!

The Black and White Ball is by far Columbia's best annual benefit.  Don't miss out!  Tickets are available online at www.columbiamuseum.org.  For more information, call 803.343.2210.  See you there!

Beachy-keen

Are your beach toys scattered around everywhere?  Ours are in the toy box, in the trunk of the car,in between the sofa cushions, on the patio... Isn't amazing the way toys spread themselves around the way a cold does at the beginning of the school year?  Then there's the task of gathering the toys for the beach.  Ours tend to get thrown into a duffel bag, which results in me pleading with my husband to not carry the whole duffel bag onto the beach!

Yesterday at Target I stumbled across an adorable tote by Cynthia Rowley's Whim collection for only $9.99.  It's the perfect size for Junior's digging expedition tools!  It could also be used for beach jaunts sans children to carry a blanket, food, and wine.

Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

It's Mother's Day Weekend!  Pea Pie would like to wish all of her readers a very happy, relaxing, and calm Mother's Day that is completely free of that wacky fever-virus that every kid in town has right now.  You can blame the late timing of this post on that icky bug, too, as we just returned from Sandhills Pediatrics ourselves.

There is a lot going on in town this weekend, in case you are still wondering what to do for your special day!  Tops on your list should be a trip to Congaree Grill after church for a yummy brunch finished off with some Moon Pie Banana Pudding.  Look closely, you may find the Pea Pie Family there!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Get Strollin'

When you are looking for a new stroller, whether for the first time or third, it can get really frustrating.  There is so much to consider these days!  What's the turning radius?  How does it collapse?  Can it be used for jogging? Will it fit through the doorway and between the tables at Moe's Southwest Grill?  Will it knock everything off the shelves at Target?  Read on for some great places that carry the best strollers and can help you figure out which best suits your lifestyle!

I'll start off with the shocker.  The wonderful folks at Outspokin Bicycles (3223 Devine Street, 803.254.9797)) carry the revolutionary Baby Jogger Performance Series ($399 for single, $499 for double) and City Series ($399 for single, $599 for double).  One of the best things about Baby Jogger strollers is the way they fold.  While holding your munchkin on your hip, you can not only fold the stroller down with one hand, but even lift it into your trunk!  Features like this make these strollers great for both running and everyday use.  And the added bonus is that you have the famously helpful and nice Outspokin staff to help you decide which one you should take home!

Everyone knows that Babies R Us has a wide variety of EVERYTHING baby related.  If anyone out there has had a child and not had to visit this store, I want to meet them, because it just isn't possible!  Over the past couple of years, their selection of higher end strollers had increased.  At the store's Harbison location (254 Harbison Boulevard), you can find Peg Perego products ($199.98 - $339.99 in store), known for their lightness and maneuverability. Online, you can order the coveted Bugaboo Frog ($759.99), which can be handled with ease over pavement, sand, and grass and comes with a bassinet feature.  This is also the go to spot for other great basic strollers such as the Graco Quattro Tour ($199.90) and lightweight Maclaren Volo ($114.99) for older babies.

Another online resource is Let's Go Strolling, which offers personal consultation for finding the perfect stroller for your lifestyle.  The owner, Melissa, is incredibly knowledgable about what is new and innovative on the market, and gives great advice about what works best for every situation.  Let's Go Strolling also carries my all time favorite stroller that has me hoping that my next child is a girl, The "Boy Meets Girl" Limited Edition Valco Twin Trimode ($825).  This pink and blue all-terrain double stroller comes completely accessorized with matching footmuffs, bumper bars, zip-in sunshade, tire pump, rain cover, and parent cupholder.  The seats recline individually and it is a dream to maneuver!  I'm currently drooling as I'm typing this.  She also has other highly sought after strollers such as the Bugaboo Bee ($529) and Quinny Zapp ($199)

Finding helpful resources is key to buying a stroller that truly makes your life easier.  Check these out for some great advice and some great strollers!

Pea Pie Sends Apologies!

Pea Pie did not post on Wednesday and Friday of last week, throwing off our MWF schedule.  I am very sorry, but can assure you all that some very great things are in the works!  Stay tuned to the site to find out what lies in store.

In the meantime, Pea Pie woke up the other morning and realized that it  had been a while since Pea Pie, Jr. had eaten a vegetable on his own.  Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious (currently 20% off of $24.95 at Barnes and Noble) comes in handy in this household because we can trick the little guy into thinking that he is eating his beloved chicken nuggets, when there is actually broccoli in the batter (or even better, he's really eating tofu nuggets that look just like chicken nuggets).  There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this book because some others came out before it with the same basic premise of hiding vegetables in kids' food.  Seinfeld even addressed this tussle in a statement on her website.  Pea Pie is a fan of the Jessica Seinfeld version of the hiding principle because the book is a delightful read that appeals to the hustle and bustle of the Mommy Life, and has adorable illustrations of the Seinfeld fam throughout.  Most importantly, proceeds from sales of Deceptively Delicious go directly to Seinfeld's charity, Baby Buggy. This New York based charity provides baby gear, notably car seats, to mothers who have trouble affording them.  Having seen too many babies around town traveling in cars without car seats, this is a premise that is held dear to my heart.  As a matter of fact, I'll use this as an excuse to plug Pea Pie's still-in-the-works launch party, during which we plan to collect baby gear and car seats to distribute to mothers going through hard times.  If you would like to help out with this in any way, please send an email to peapiecolumbia@gmail.com.

Otherwise, if you've been trying to figure out a way to get your little gal to eat her greens, pick up a copy of this book and get cooking!