Busy Mom Solution

New Site Lets Your Build an IdeaFolio to Design your Dream Home

Merillat Kitchen Design Your Dream Kitchen – This is super cool. You know I’m a big fan of home design sites – {my last addicting find was Houzz.com. Love it!} And I’m excited to spend more time using the tools and freebies here on this new site too – Check it out! It’s another super fun way to put together an idea book for cool projects inspiration…

Super cool inspiration and ideas…

What you’ll find here – Create a scrapbook of your favorite products and images from Merillat.com. Save your step-by-step kitchen and bath planner results or create your own styleboard. Share your projects with your friends too, which is super fun.” All free tools! You’ll also see links to get freebies like the Take 5 booklet, featuring 5 quick and easy recipes from renowned chef Curtis Stone and Curtis’ top 5 favorite Merillat product features!!

What is YOUR favorite home design site??

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 12, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

A personal assistant for the 99% of us…

Delegate daily tasks to a part-time personal assistant – Empty fridge. Piles of laundry. Unassembled Ikea furniture and a leaky bathroom faucet. When the odd jobs and errands pile up around Casa Knobloch, I dream of a legion of personal assistants who can take care of it all for me. We’ve talked about apps that help you delegate to friends, and services that deliver your groceries, but it all falls short of delivering a real, live human to do your bidding a an affordable price.

The stuff of dreams and celebrities, right? Or is it?

TaskRabbit offers a more affordable way to delegate all the tasks you’d rather not do

Post a job on their website and eager contenders will try to outbid each other for the job so you can get that swedish furniture assembled for the absolute lowest price. Want your work shirts ironed every week? Set up a recurring task, and a kindly neighbor looking to make a little extra cash might step up to help you out for less than a few lattes. You can breathe easy knowing everyone has been pre-screened and thoroughly background-checked. And if you’re looking to make a little extra cash yourself, becoming a rabbit is an easy way to find jobs that you’ll enjoy doing. Hey, if you can swing a full-time personal assistant, all the power to ya, baby. For everyone else, check out TaskRabbit.

What do YOU think?

I am SO excited to spend a little more time over the next week checking out this site a little more. I love the idea of having an affordable way to delegate out some of my tasks – both online and off – that I don’t have time for, or simply do NOT like to do. And I’m super intrigued to see what types of tasks are available for me to do… I mean heck, if I’m going to iron a weeks worth of shirts anyway, it’s no big deal to add a few more to earn a few bucks, right? I’m all about bartering, and love keeping my money local – so this seems like a perfect way for me to trade daily tasks!

Have you used this service as a more affordable personal assistant option? Would you? Leave some comments!

Digitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3 minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 9, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 9 Comments

Toddler-Proof Solutions for Everyday Living: Nini Baby! #Mompact

Making life a little easier for parents, and fun for kids – Jenn Namazi knows what it’s like to have toddlers. Her family’s two youngest children, a girl and boy, are just 15 months apart. In early 2009, while toting around her then 1 and 2 year olds, she grew frustrated with the throwing game that brought such delight to her children’s faces. She had invested in quite a few straps and other devices to try and keep cups and toys ‘attached’ to the stroller. Her kids had grown to the age where they outsmarted them, undoing or opening the Velcro or snaps that secured the toys and cups in place. “Somebody needs to make a toddler proof strap” she said. And luckily for us – that somebody was her!

Smart Toddler Solutions

Abby is just now reaching that stage where she thinks throwing her cup on the floor, then crying frantically that she wants it back RIGHT NOW, only to toss it to the ground again and laugh, is a good time. And I am realizing that I was crazy to think that caring for a baby was “hard” – Toddlers are exhausting! At least a baby stays in one place most of the time, lol. I haven’t had a chance to try out any of the Nini Baby products yet – but they are definitely on my “must-have” list now that Abby’s getting bigger. These are such smart solutions!

See the Toy Bungee in action

Instead of velcro straps like pacifier clips for babies, the Nini Baby products use a cool non-toxic set of straps to keep things more secure. As you can see above, they’re simple to use, and seriously smart – your back will thank you when you get to avoid that nightly “bending down a hundred times to pick things up that baby threw down again” routine you’ve been used to! And, if you’d like to hear more stories from real life moms using the products in their own homes, check out some great reviews online. Or read the Amazon reviews on her great line-up of smart solutions:

NiNi Paci Bungee: BPA and lead free, fits all size pacifiers, easy to clean.
NiNi Toy Bungee: Toddler proof button closure. Can leave the base attached to carseat or stroller, and easily swap out items to attach.
NiNi Crayon Bungee: Holds 3 crayons at a time, giving little ones enough options to have fun.

If you’d like to learn more about Nini Baby products, visit them on their website, and be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new products and promotions.

CONNECT WITH Nini Baby AT REVIEWER’S RETREAT

And speaking of connecting – You can learn more about the Nini Baby products from me, and Nicole, the mom-inventor behind the Buti-Bag – if you’ll be attending Reviewer’s Retreat this weekend! They are just one of the brands I’ll be helping to represent during the Sponsor Speedway portion of the events. I hope to see some of you there!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to partner with smart mom-invented brands like this, and working with some great bloggers on fun campaigns, you can learn more about how Mompact supports moms in business, and sign up to be part of the team at Question Moms.

ViveVita: Creating Solutions for Everyday Living #Mompact

Vive Vita arose from the need of one woman to tackle problems she encountered in everyday living. Robyn is the mother of nine children who became frustrated when she could not find a simple solution to issues such as handtowels and bathroom towels constantly on the floor, confusion between multiple drink cups for children, and organization and security for the children while in public places. With no readily available products that fit her needs, Robyn decided to create her own solutions.

People began noticing the ingenuity of her solutions…

Like most mom-invented products, the solutions that Robyn created to solve her own busy mom challenges were quickly embraced by other moms in her life. As she improved upon her early inventions, she decided on the name ViveVita, which means “Living Life” – because that’s what her products help you do! ViveVita’s products are all invented to help you simplify your life, to help make it just a little easier, and a little more fun. {Which is SO similar to my mission here at Sunshine and Sippy Cups – we’re all about Smart Solutions for Busy Moms!} It should be clear by now, the clever ideas created at ViveVita are a big hit in my house!

“We’re making life easier and prettier, one product at a time.” – ViveVita

One of my favorite ViveVita products, the ViveVita Gripsterz, is featured in this video as a “Must-Have” product for moms, and I totally agree! If you don’t understand why any parent would ever put their child in one of those little backpacks with the leash on it – well, I’m very happy for you, lol. My brother had to wear one of those when we were little, he had incredibly bad ADHD, and was really hard to keep an eye on when my mom had 3 other kids under the age of 6. He loved it, and it was a lifesaver, but… I don’t really like the idea of having to use one of those for Abby – but she LOVES the Gripsterz! She says, “Hand? Hold hand?” – and will grab a hold of her monkey’s hand and stay nearby every time. Works amazingly – and like all ViveVita products, it’s smart and adorable.

When Flair & function come together – now that’s savvy living!

You know that I love ViveVita products, but you don’t have to take my word for it! Check out some great reviews from other busy moms just like you, who share how helpful the products have been in their homes too –

Darcy shares some great tips on how she uses the Gripsterz to keep her kids safe when shopping.
April shows off the products in action, so you can get a “real life” glimpse at how they work.
Mallery has some of the most ADORABLE pics of her little man with the products – seriously, so cute.
Nicole shares her story of how the Gripsterz helped her little dancer stay close by while out shopping, instead of being so distracted. Worked great for her too!

You can learn more about the full line of smart solutions at ViveVita on their website, and be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter too, for updates on some really cool new products that they have coming out soon!

CONNECT WITH ViveVita AT REVIEWER’S RETREAT

And speaking of connecting – You can learn more about the ViveVita products from me, and Nicole, the mom-inventor behind the Buti-Bag – if you’ll be attending Reviewer’s Retreat this weekend! They are just one of the brands I’ll be helping to represent during the Sponsor Speedway portion of the events. I hope to see some of you there!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to partner with smart mom-invented brands like this, and working with some great bloggers on fun campaigns, you can learn more about how Mompact supports moms in business, and sign up to be part of the team at Question Moms.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 31, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Blogging Events | 1 Comment

Simple Tricks to Sneak Exercise into Your Daily Routine

Most of you know that I’ve been on a Momma Makeover Mission this year. I’ve made a lot of improvements, but still have a long way to go to hit all of my goals. Nutrisystem has been helping me lose some of that old baby weight {toddler weight? She’s no baby anymore…} – and seeing the number on the scale drop a bit has helped motivate me to get more active. I’ve never been the type to do an actual “work out,” and I’ve never been to the gym. But, I am big on multi-tasking, and on finding Smart Solutions for my busy mom challenges. Keep reading to learn my tips for sneaking more exercise into your busy day…

From Workout to Out and About…

I used to dress cute. Seriously, I did. But after switching from working in fashion merchandising to working at home, I started dressing more casually. Add in the stress of keeping up with housework all day, and a crazy wild toddler – and I’m lucky to have a clean shirt on some days. That was part of why I started my Momma Makeover Mission – to snap out of that frump-mom slump. I love these new pieces from Russell Athletics – they’re uber comfy, have a great Dri-Power moisture wicking technology that keeps you cool even when the temperature is sky high, and can easily be jazzed up a little to head out of the house to run errands. Love it! Shown above are my Dry-Power 360 Round-Neck Tee in Shockwave Green – {awesome color for summer!} – and my new Semi-Fit Performance Capri. Totally cute, right? The pants even have this sweet little zippered pocket along the back waistband, where you could add a bit of cash, keys, and lip gloss when you head out for a walk or day at the park. They’re comfy enough for my daily exercise – but with a cute bag, scarf, and sandals, it’s cute enough for going out, too.

How to Sneak Exercise into Your Daily Routine

You just won’t add any extra exercise into your day unless you’re wearing clothing that moves. Plus – if you have kids, you’re doing a ton of running – {do NOT dig in the houseplants with your new Dora shovel!}, lifting – {yes, of course I’ll pick you up for the 111th time so that you can yell that you want down}, and squats – {who else loves picking up Legos?}. Your clothes need to be ready to move with you – and you’ll find so many great women’s workout gear options at Russell Athletic. Now that you know where to get the gear, let me share my tips and tricks:

Morning Dishes: Squat while you load the dishwasher. Yes, you look funny. But the kids need a good giggle in the a.m. anyway.
Vacuuming: I do this daily. One, because I have a toddler, so I must watch my floors like a hawk, always looking for danger – coins, tiny heads ripped from action figures, and gross things the dog drags in. Two, because it’s SUPER great exercise. Turn on some tunes, and vacuum FAST. Do lunges while you go. You will totally feel the burn in your glutes and your arms.
Laundry: Lift each basket filled with perfectly folded laundry over your head in reps of 10. Yeeeaaaahhhh – pretend that you’re Arnold Schwarzenegger, so amazingly strong.
Dinner time: I do all kinds of exercises while I cook. Waiting for veggies to steam? Arm circles. {My nephew caught me doing this once, and asked if I was trying to fly. He still wonders about it…} If I have to grab the step ladder to get a specialty pot – I do a quick step workout, up-down, up-down. You can do leg lifts, squats, even run laps around the kitchen island. Whatever works for ya.

See how easy it is? Once you’ve got some super smart workout clothes that have innovative technology to keep you cool – and that are cute enough to wear out and about when you run errands too – you’ll be ready to start adding tons of sneaky new exercise into your daily routines. You’ll be squatting while brushing your teeth, washing your windows with big arm circles – Karate Kid style. And soon enough, you’ll find new muscles in those arms, and be surprised by pants that have grown too big! {When they do, stop by Russell Athletics online to pick up a new pair – scroll to the bottom to sign up for special savings offers. You will not be disappointed!

How do YOU sneak exercise into YOUr daily routine? Share in the comments!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Russell Athletics and received a product sample to facilitate my review.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 31, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

Confident Kids $100 Prize Package – #Mompact

Smart Mom-Invented Solutions Solve Everyday Challenges: Mompact.com is hosting an amazing giveaway of products made by Moms, for Moms that help promote independence and make growing up just a little bit easier! The products are AqueDuck, Baby Dipper Bowl, 3R Cards Chore Chart, Antsy Pants, Thumbuddy – and one very lucky winner will get a big bundle of prizes worth over $100!! Pretty cool, right?

Encourage Independence In Your Children

These are some of my very favorite products – and I love that this giveaway package is all centered around helping kids learn new skills, gain confidence, and become more independent. And really, isn’t that the goal? We love that our kids need us now, but we want to raise them to be strong individuals who are ready to tackle all the challenges in life and reach for success. Providing them with products that make it easier for them to do daily tasks without your help gives them a big boost of self confidence when they accomplish things on their own. And that’s one of the best things to see.

Take a Peak at the awesome products one winner will take home:

The Aqueduck

This is a super clever little gadget that attaches easily to any type of bathroom or kitchen faucet, and streams the water in a different way to help little hands reach it so that they can wash up on their own. You can learn more about the Aqueduck Faucet Extender from some of the other moms who have used it too:

Baby Dipper Feeding Set

This little set features a totally innovative bowl that angles to make it much easier for little ones to eat on their own. When they are a baby, the triangular slanted shape makes it perfect for one-handed feeding times, and as kiddos grow, it’s an amazing starter dish. It’s BPA free {very important to me} with a skid-proof bottom, and smartly designed utensils. Love it. Learn more about the Baby Dipper Feeding Set from these two mommas who are both big fans:

Koala Fuzz breaks it down into the top 3 reasons why she loves this toddler feeding system.
Hott Mama in The City shows off an adorable photo of her baby learning to eat with this system too!

Antsy Pants: The best cloth diapers

We are just now starting on the potty training journey, so I haven’t tried these out yet – But I have been hearing some great feedback from the other moms in the group who are using them. And, can I just say – these are stinkin’ adorable! Seriously – almost too cute to cover up with pants, which would make them a really great option around here in the summer time. But I’ll let the moms who have used Antsy Pants Pull-Up Cloth Diapers in their homes give you some tips:

Thumbuddy to Love

This is a very sweet little product helps kids learn to stop thumb sucking in a way that’s fun, gentle, and positive. You can get the Ballerina version shown above, or a Fireman story and plush character, and they are seriously adorable. Read stories from a couple other moms who used this – Stop Thumb Sucking with Thumbuddy To Love – gift set to help their kiddos learn better habits…

Sunshine Praises shares lessons in Growing up and doing it yourself.
Rose helps encourage her kids not to suck their thumb with positive reinforcement.

Enter to WIN big!

One lucky mom will win ALL of these great prizes – plus the 3R Chore Charts Kit too! Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form to enter – you can do as few, or as many, entries as you like. But the more entries you complete the more chances you have to win – so why not take an extra minute or two to do them all, right? And make sure to come back daily to get the bonus entry!

Have fun & Good luck!

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways, Busy Mom Solution | 1 Comment

Mess-Free Potty Training Solution: Tidy Tots! #Mompact

Finally, a mess-free solution to potty training! Tidy Tots are a disposable plastic liner that you add right into almost any size or shape of potty chair, then place the included absorbent pad right into the liner. After your little one uses the potty successfully – you simply grab the bag, wrap it and tie it, and toss it out! Easy peasy mess-free potty training solution!

Potty Liner for Mess-Free Potty Training

We are just getting started with potty training… Abby is ready, but I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been able to give this new challenge as much focus as I should. One of our favorite gifts as part of the Munchkin Bunch was a brand new super-cool potty chair a couple months ago, and Abby loves to sit on her chair while mommy gets ready for the day. I just recently started sitting her ON the potty every couple of hours, trying to get her to catch on to the idea of what it’s really for – no luck yet. But I can tell ya I was SUPER excited to learn about these Tidy Tots liners, and will definitely be giving them a try. Mommy’s favorite words are “no messes!”

Tidy Tots is a hot new must-have for busy moms!

As you can see, these mess-free potty liners are getting a lot of attention! And they deserve it, since they are another super smart solution, invented by a busy mom just like us. She saw a yucky challenge, and thought, “There must be a better way?” Luckily for us she figured out this simple solution, saving the rest of us lots of big messes to clean up! You can read more over on Mallery’s Deals – She shows the Tidy Tot in action, and shares some really helpful feedback that she got from the women in her mom group that will help you figure out if these are the right fit for you!

Learn More & Connect with the Brand

If you’d like to learn more about this smart idea, check them out on TidyTots.com, read some super helpful potty-training tips and tricks on their blog, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new products and promotions. And if you’d like to see more Potty Training tips and products, check out my board on Pinterest.

Connect with Tidy Tots at Reviewer’s Retreat

And speaking of connecting – You can learn more about the Tidy Tots products from me, and Nicole, the mom-inventor behind the Buti-Bag – if you’ll be attending Reviewer’s Retreat this weekend! They are just one of the brands I’ll be helping to represent during the Sponsor Speedway portion of the events. I hope to see some of you there!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to partner with smart mom-invented brands like this, and working with some great bloggers on fun campaigns, you can learn more about how Mompact supports moms in business, and sign up to be part of the team at Question Moms.