product reviews Archives - Atlantas Frugal Mom

Getting Comfy Out of My Comfort Zone {prAna review}

04/27/2016 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Disclosure: I received this product for free for a prAna review from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program , May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. However, my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

As a mother of young kids, sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in a rut – whether it be at mealtime, household duties (ugh!), fitness, fashion, or all of the above and then some. Sometimes we truly just trudge through in survival mode, doing the best we can with what we have, and feel accomplished in getting through the day in a somewhat sane fashion.

(Spit baths count as an actual bath for small children, right???) [Read more…]

Keep on saving! :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Filed Under: giveaway, product reviews

Caillou Talking Doll – A Big Hit!

04/15/2014 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

We recently were sent a talking Caillou doll to play with and review. (And by “we”, I mean my five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, of course!) We’ve seen “regular” (non-talking) Caillou toys in stores before, mostly at Babies R Us and Toys R Us, but the talking doll takes the cake. Both of my kids (5 and 2) have long been fans of watching Caillou, and were thrilled when I surprised them with the doll. Imagine they’re delight when they discovered he could TALK, too! He’s got several cute phrases, including teaching about the seasons, counting to five, colors (and gives examples), naming his friends (and he includes his little sis – bonus points in my book!), naming animals, teachers “thank you” and “hello” in French, and thanks you for playing with him. [Read more…]

Filed Under: product reviews

Rhyming with Preschoolers – review

01/26/2014 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

I recently had the opportunity to review Rhyming Unit Mega Bundle: 17 Rhyming Activities with my 4-year-old daughter. Boy, did we have fun with this one!

My 4-year-old daughter and I enjoyed doing a few of the activities this weekend from this bundle – and reinforced her skills with rhyming all at the same time. First, we did a quick matching game with a set of rhyming cards – she read the words (paired with pictures) and found another word card in the same rhyme family. As an extension, and completely on her own, she started making rhyming sentences with the word pairs, like “The fox was in the box.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Frugal Parenting, literacy, product reviews

LeapFrog LeapReader™ “Ready, Set, Read & Write!

10/18/2013 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Disclosure: I received free LeapFrog LeapReader™ products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored MommyParty. The opinions expressed here, as well as (some of) the cute kids are all mine.

When a big ol’ box of LeapFrog LeapReader™ products showed up at my door recently, I literally did the happy dance. (…and just be glad no one was around to see that sad mess…) I had the distinct pleasure of being chosen to host a LeapReader™ party, a privilege given to only select bloggers, as I later learned! Included in my party kit were:

(2) LeapReader™ Reading and Writing Systems – each includes a LeapReader™ device, pre-loaded with books and learning apps, as well as two USB cords for charging the devices
Disney-Pixar’s Monster’s University 3D book (and 16 pairs of 3D glasses!)
Get Ready for Kindergarten book
Talking Words Factory flash cards
(2) LeapReader™ sampler book
LeapReader™ Write It! Talking Factory Writing Workbook
LeapReader™ Write It! Learn to Write Letters Writing Workbook
audio book apps, including Ozzie and Mach, and T. Rex’s Mighty Roar
LeapFrog Learning Songs music app
Animal Facts trivia challenge trivia app
a plethora of activity sheets [Read more…]

Filed Under: books, product reviews, sponsored post, Whatcha Reading

Dirty Secrets: My Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine Review + giveaway

08/19/2013 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

I was recently given a complimentary use of the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine, in exchange for this review. All opinions, and nasty carpet pictures, are completely mine.

I have a terrible confession to make: in over six years living in our home, we’ve never cleaned our carpets. For over four years, they’ve been riddled with little kid grime; yet, we somehow just never got around to getting the carpets cleaned, even though it was always on our long list of things to do. *sigh*

I digress.

When I was approached with an opportunity to try out the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine in my home for a trial period, my husband and I both eagerly jumped at the chance! Tanya from Fizz Word of Mouth Marketing dropped it off, and that very weekend, we got to cleaning!

Well, actually, I was putting the kids down for their naps, and my husband took over the carpet cleaning duties. To be honest, I never got to even TOUCH the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine during the entire trial period — my husband was in. the. zone. So, to be perfectly clear, this review is really a second-hand account of HIS use of the machine. But I assure you, it was an incredible experience. 😉

The Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine proved to be light weight, even when full of the sloshy water and cleaning fluid. I’m not sure if you were supposed to vacuum the carpets before hand -remember, my husband took control and you know men and directions…. In any case, we didn’t, but the dirt was just effortlessly pulled away from our carpets, rugs, stairs (all three flights!), and couches.

The day we did this, it was overcast outside (imagine that, during this summer in Atlanta!), so it was difficult to get great pictures contrasting the clean and dirty carpets. But I managed to capture a few, mainly the rugs in our den. First, my husband did the big one, so I put the runner OVER it afterwards, for comparison purposes. You can clearly see the difference! This is in a super-high traffic area, but those filthy rugs didn’t stand a chance against the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine!

With enthusiasm -and the “help” of our daughter, dressed as Princess Merida- we tackled the whole house: all the carpet upstairs (including four bedrooms and a super long hallway), all the downstairs rugs, our carpeted dining room and formal living room, the finished basement (half carpeted), as well as front stair case, back stair case, and the basement stairs.

All in all, each time we poured that nasty water tank in to the laundry room sink, we were assured that we were successfully lifting the grime out of our house. Okay, and we were equally disgusted with the level of filth we’ve been walking upon, and our KIDS had been playing in! With each dumping of the water tank, we felt a little -um- relief knowing that the grimy layer of disgust was literally going down the drain and OUT OF OUR HOUSE!

Enter for a chance to win a rental of the
Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine!

Would you like a chance to try out this bad boy? I’m offering five vouchers each good for a 24-hour rental period (a $24.99 value) of the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine. It’s super simple, just comment below on which room(s) you’d most love to tackle with the Bissell Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine, then fill out the entry form here.

And even if you’d don’t win, grab this coupon, good for $5 off your rental. Your local Lowes Home Improvement store offers rental of this machine, as well as the Bissell Pawsitivity Clean Machine, which is designed for pet owners. …..now, go enter to win a free rental trial!

Entry -Form

Filed Under: frugal living, giveaway, product reviews, sponsored post Tagged With: evergreen

5 ways to save money with Family Mobile unlimited plans

06/17/2013 by Tiffany

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

I am currently trying out a new cheap wireless plan as part of a compensated project for Collective Bias®. This article shares my experience and thoughts about the new Family Mobile unlimited plans.

It’s been a month since I switched over to Walmart Family Mobile’s unlimited plan, and I wanted to check back in and give you guys an update. I already told you all about their reasonably priced phone selection and how easy it was to activate my service so I won’t waste your time by repeating myself. Instead I’ll be sharing my experience with using their service, and 5 ways my Family Mobile plan is helping me save money.

Saving my family money with Walmart Family Mobile

Family Mobile unlimited plans are great for big families like ours!

I have to tell you, I have been really pleased with my service overall. The low price rate plan is great for my family’s budget, their customer service has been wonderful, and I have better coverage than I did when I was with Boost Mobile. Oh, and I love my awesome new smartphone too!

I’m pretty excited about my new phone, can you tell? 😉

One thing I heard several times from you guys was that you needed more than 1GB of data each month. Something Walmart Family Mobile can definitely improve on is explaining their data services better. As you can see in the picture below, you DO have unlimited data, but the first 1GB each month is considered “Speed Boost” data, meaning it’s much faster. (Why it says 250MB, I have no clue)

If you exceed 1GB, then your speed will be slowed down, but you can still use all the data you want for no additional fee. If you have a need for speed (hahaha!), you do have the option of adding on more of that faster data each month.

I blew through that first gig pretty fast, as I am a heavy data user. As in all. day. long. How else am I supposed to pin all the things, and watch all the things, and share all the things?! Yes, I have noticed that speeds are a tiny bit slower now, but not enough to really make a difference or get on my nerves. Especially when I can use all the data I want!

As far as coverage is concerned, from what I initially saw on the Walmart Family Mobile maps, things looked pretty great compared to my old service. Now that I’ve used the service for a month, I can say that I really do think the coverage is better. I can use my phone in areas that I didn’t have service in before, like at my in laws house. I also don’t randomly lose service like I was doing before.

The really big test will be later this month when we make a trip down to south Georgia. Some of those areas are REALLY rural and have no service period, by any providers. From the maps on the Family Mobile site, it looks like we should have coverage the entire trip, so I’m pretty sure I won’t be disappointed.

Another thing I really like about my new phone plan is the great customer service I have received. When I called to port over my old number, everyone I spoke with was very polite and helpful. When I had a question about my bill, again, everyone was super nice. That seems to be unusual with cell phone providers these days, so I was honestly pretty surprised.

The account management section of their site is very easy to navigate, so paying my bill or making changes to my plan is quick and easy. I also like that they send me texts to remind me when my bill is due, as well as the receipt and confirmation number once a payment is made. I hate having to print our receipts and save emails or write down confirmation numbers, I always lose them! This way I have it right in my phone, ready to access, just in case there is a problem.

This makes me happy, it’s one less thing I have to remember to do!

The only complaint I have about the myTouch smartphone I am using is that there aren’t very many cases to choose from. As someone that has a tendency to drop things rather frequently, I like to have extra protection for my electronics. While I was a little bummed about the lack of selection, I am still more than pleased with the phone and service overall.

So now that I’ve told you what I like and dislike about my new smartphone and Family Mobile unlimited plan, I’d like to share with you some ways that I am saving money by using their service. It’s not just from the monthly bill, there are quite a few other things too!

1. Comparison shopping on-the-go – With the use of a smartphone and my unlimited data, I can compare prices while I’m out shopping. I can be in the aisle at Walmart, checking the price at Kroger, Kmart, Amazon, etc. to make sure I get the best price. Many stores will price match now if their competitor is offering a better deal. Or, if I find a way better deal on Amazon, I can go ahead and use my one-click ordering and buy it right then! Without an unlimited data plan, that’s not really an option for savvy shoppers like myself.

2. No late/reconnect fees for not paying bill on time – If I forget to pay my bill, my phone may be turned off, but I don’t have to pay late fines or reconnect fees to turn it back on. I just have to pay my bill. And that’s not even an issue anymore, because I get texts to my phone to remind me to pay each month! I am the worst about forgetting to pay things, and always end up paying extra because of that. (And let’s not even get started on library fines, eek!)

3. Money saving apps like Scoutmob and Gas Buddy – Just like with the comparison shopping on-the-go, I can also find the best deals on gas nearby, or for a bite to eat, all with different apps I can download for free from Google Play. Unlimited data lets me search for those deals close by, without having to worry about going over my limit and getting stuck with big overage fees.

4. Cheaper home internet service – With a limited data plan, you can still get online as long as you are using wifi. Most people just use their home wifi and save their data for when they are on the go. That really slows down the speed if you have multiple people connected, and then you end up paying more for upgraded home internet that can accommodate everyone’s wifi needs. With the unlimited data, you don’t have to connect via wifi ever again, and can use a less expensive plan for home instead!

5. Unlimited plan for a low monthly fee – I took a moment to check out the pricing for a similar phone and plan with AT&T since they are one of the most popular companies today. Most people go with a 2 year contract to get the free phone, so I decided to base the numbers off that. Check it out:

AT&T is almost 3x more than Family Mobile’s unlimited plan! That’s a pretty huge difference, wouldn’t you agree? And there are no early termination fees with Family Mobile, because it’s a month-to-month service with no contract.

So what do you think, are you ready to give Walmart Family Mobile a try? You can set everything up online in minutes, or you can do it in person at pretty much any Walmart Supercenter. It took me less than 10 minutes to grab my activation kit and have my phone turned on when I visited my local Walmart last month.

Could you use more money in your pocket every month?

Are you overpaying for a limited wireless plan?

Filed Under: finances, product reviews

Graco’s FastAction™ Fold Jogger Click Connect™ Stroller — A Sporty Look for Everyday Use

04/28/2013 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

I was uber-excited to recently receive a complimentary Graco FastAction™ Fold Jogger Click Connect™ Stroller, and provided me with the opportunity to meet up with other moms to discuss and learn more about this new and fabulous jogging stroller.

Grace Event FastAction™ Fold Jogger Click Connect™ Stroller

That’s me: the sixth mama from the left. Thanks Redhead Baby Mama for sharing this picture!

First, I must point out that, prior to getting the Graco FastAction™ Fold Jogger Click Connect™ Stroller, I was using a 4 year old travel system stroller. We’d used that beloved stroller for four solid years, and although it was still in great shape, time was starting to take its toll on it.

SO, when the new one arrived, hubs promptly set out to assemble it. (I would’ve taken pictures, but I was busy corralling and entertaining the kiddos, while he worked on it in the driveway. And trust me, I wasn’t about to ask him to *also* take pictures as well.) In any case, he came back in within a relatively short time, proudly boasting of its complete assemble. There were no additional tools required, parts just snapped or slid in place. Or so he told me. 😉

Y’all, I was immediately impressed. I have two main criteria for a stroller: cup holders (yes, plural!), and plenty of storage space. This stroller had both. And then some! Not only did it fit my bulky diaper bag, but left me with space to throw on an extra bag or two — handy for when I zip in to a store for a quick run. And cup holders? Yeah, the kid gets two, and the adults get two. The child’s snack tray can be completely removed for easy cleaning. Simply put: I’m sold.

But it doesn’t stop there: The icing on the cake was the deluxe parent’s tray with a 2-way smartphone holder, and a deep well of covered storage underneath it.

And does this stroller fold fast! With the pull of a handle, it folds up from the seam of the seat, and presto! It’s called a “fast action fold” for a reason. It’s automatically locked in place, kickstand holding it upright, for easy maneuverability. And I’ve even seen quite a few folks fold it up with a child in their arms. I will caution, however, that the kickstand doesn’t always seem to stay put, and can interfere with the folding up process. So, make sure you have it pushed out of the way when folding. Also, during our discussion, we made the unscientific discovery that it folds best when you’re standing on the side opposite of the locking handle.

Which leads me to a clever way to keep track of older children: have them hold the locking mechanism when you’re out and about. It serves as a good visual for them, it keeps them out of the way while you’re steering, but close enough to keep them in your sight and protection. I call it the “second kid handle”.

The functionality of this jogging stroller is visible all over. The lockable front swivel wheel offers an easy transition from strolling to jogging. While parents hit the streets for a jog, baby can stay comfortable with a padded, multi-position reclining seat, convertible 3 or 5-point harness and large air-filled rubber tires for a smooth ride on any surface, as well as even reflectors for low-light visibility for evening or early morning use.

And, as with all baby products, it’s important for them to work with your existing products, or other products with that line. Graco’s Click Connect technology allows for a one-step secure infant car seat to stroller connection — this stroller accepts all Graco Click Connect™ Infant Car Seats through a secure one-step attachment. Just look for a car seat with the “Click Connect™” label on it, and you’re good to go. CAUTION: do NOT use the stroller as a jogger when you’ve got a car seat attached to it. It’s not designed to keep the baby safe that way.

All in all, I am very pleased with my new stroller. While it does tend to take up space in my van, it’s not a big deal for me because we keep the backseat down, and because I use it everywhere! In fact, the day after it arrived, I had to take my 4-year-old daughter to the doctor, which meant my son got to tag along. My daughter was too pooped to even walk, so I scooped her up and carried her in one arm, and maneuvered my son in the stroller with one hand. That front wheel made it super-easy to turn and steer — truly, it was a god send to have a new stroller on that particular day! Not only do I really enjoy this stroller, but my husband does as well. That it doesn’t really take up any more space than our previous stroller made it an easily welcomed addition to our baby gear.

Graco’s NEW FastAction™ Fold Jogger Click Connect™ Stroller is the ultimate crossover stroller, combining all the comfort and convenience features of a traditional stroller (FastAction Fold and Click Connect Technology) with performance and maneuverability of an all-terrain jogger. As an added bonus, Graco’s innovative one-second, one-hand FastAction™ fold automatically locks & is self-standing. This post is sponsored by the Graco.

Filed Under: product reviews

The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep – book review

04/14/2013 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

**I am participating in a book review campaign with One2One Network for Harvey Karp’s The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep. I received this book from Harper Collins for the purposes of reviewing it, and have not received compensation. All opinions stated are my own.**

Sleep. For parents with little ones, it’s an enigmatic concept that seems forever out of our grasp, particularly in those first few months. Yet, some parents and their young children struggle with sleep issues for years to come, seeing little to no relief in sight. With lack of sleep comes countless consequences for the entire family: it plays an important role in our ability to concentrate, as well as aids in metabolic processes as well — just to name a few. For new mothers, sleep deprivation can also contribute to postpartum depression.

With parenthood comes a whole new outlook on sleep. You want your children to sleep. More importantly, YOU want a good night’s sleep! And yet, it’s a concept that seems so firmly just outside your reach!

Especially in those first few weeks, where newborns ability to sleep for long stretches make quality sleep seem almost laughable, it’s important to be armed with the right tools, and the right information. Doing a quick Google search for books intended to guide parents of newborns with sleep issues yields an overwhelming response, along with countless mixed messages and conflicting suggestions to help with this most-troubling issue.

Enter: Harvey Karp. You may recognize the name for The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block. Now he ‘s created an entire book dedicated to what new parents crave most: a trip to slumberland! The Happiest Baby: Guide to Great Sleep is now available in paperback, and I recently had the chance to review the book.

Here is my disclaimer: for the most part, my kids have been good sleepers. My daughter (now 4) and my son (15 months) began sleeping “through the night” after around 4-6 weeks. My son, in fact, is a champ — he LOVES to the land of nod. If lunch comes too late, he’ll lay his little noggin on his high chair tray and simply declare “night night”. I digress. My kids were not without their own unique night-time issues. Each have had their bouts of rough sleeping, or rough getting-to-sleep patches.

Were I able to draw on the solutions from Guide to Great Sleep, my life may have been a little easier, perhaps a little saner during those rough patches. What Harvey Karp’s provides is sleep solutions for children, from birth to age five. In his latest book, Karp tackles:

How to train brand new babies to sleep better: Infants can be taught to sleep at least one extra hour from the first weeks of life! Dr. Karp shows how to safely boost baby sleep in just days.

What’s the best white noise (and which ones worsen sleep): The right white noise (low pitched and rumbling) is the key to good sleep—even through teething—for all babies. Plus, it even gives parents a more restful sleep. I found this particularly helpful with getting my son to sleep well in those first few weeks.

Why parents should always wake a sleeping baby: For good sleep, babies must learn how to self-soothe. The best way to teach babies how to fall back to sleep—when they rouse in the middle of the night—is to wake them just as they’re being put into bed. And I’ll admit, this was a mistake I made with my daughter, but corrected with my son. She was nursed to sleep every night for about six or seven months, which lead to me being SOLELY tied to getting her back to sleep if she awoke. Which she did.

How to enjoy the benefits – and avoid the risks – of swaddling: Swaddling dramatically improves a new baby’s sleep. Yet, many states are shockingly banning this ancient parenting tool. Smart moms should do it and Dr. Karp will teach them how to do it properly and safely. With swaddling, I simply have to giggle: my daughter was too wiggly even on day one to be swaddled. The nurses at the hospital could not pick her jaw off the floor, seeing how quickly my little squirmy-wormy got herself out of that baby burrito. Yet my son LOVED to be swaddled. I, in fact, invested in some larger-size swaddlers, to allow him to do so through about six or seven months. (Remember, my son is the kid who loves to sleep!) You can read more about his stance on swaddling here, and his reaction to the ban on swaddling in some states here.

The importance of powering down: Staring at bright screens at night (TVs, computers, phones) can wreak a toddler and a parent’s sleep. (Whoops! When else would I get my blogging done?)

Easy “no-cry” tips that end infant and toddler bedtime struggles in just days!

With The Happiest Baby Guide to Sleep, no longer will new parent have to suffer months of sleep deprivation and no longer will babies have to cry themselves to sleep. Backed by compelling science, common sense and decades of experience, Dr. Karp’s landmark guide will revolutionize how millions of children drift off to dreamland.

You can purchase The Happiest Baby Guide to Sleep in paperback or for your Kindle, and also explore Harvey Karp’s other works here — or click no the widget below for further details.

Amazon.com Widgets

Filed Under: books, parenting, product reviews, sponsored post

Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40: The Most Comfortable Rear-Facing Car Seat EVER!

11/02/2012 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

A few years ago, momentum began to build for the case of keeping your child rear-facing for longer than the recommended one year. So, last year when the American Academy of Pediatrics officially updated their stance, recommending rear-facing car seats at least until the age of two, with the idea that toddlers are more than five times safer when rear-facing.

Naturally, many parents glanced at their kids and then glanced at their infant carriers, scratching their heads at how on earth they would be able to adhere to these new guidelines — after all, their child was already crammed in there, legs squished between the carrier and the seat.

Enter: the Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40!

Comes in two designs: Mena (left) and Moonstruck (right)
Thanks, Krystyn of Really, Are You Serious for sharing this pic!

I had the opportunity to meet with about a dozen other Atlanta area mom bloggers, and we got an up-close look at this innovative car seat. Some of its key features, allowing it to stand apart from other infant car seats currently on the market include:

simple “click” technology, allowing for super-easy, yet secure, transfer from car to stroller
accommodates 4 to 40 lbs rear facing — that’s a full two years for most infants/toddlers
8 reclining positions to adjust for growing legs, and with more leg room the child sits up more, like a forward-facing seat
a foot rest/kick plate (with actual feet on it!) to keep your vehicle’s seat safe from busy feet (see pic below)
an easy, peasy harness adjustment mechanism: one swift move allows for easy adjustment — no more pulling the back of the car seat apart!

Look at the cute little feet!!
Photo courtesy of Really, Are You Serious

Y’all, I’m not kidding when I say, this car seat is super-cool, rocks-my-socks awesome! And I don’t normally get excited about a car seat. Honestly. Your child will GROW with this car seat comfortably, and you will have the piece of mind in it’s safety for the full two years.

Here I am, pondering the seat…

The Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 is available exclusively at Babies R Us for $219.99 — and additional bases and the “matching” stroller are also available. Utilize a 20% off coupon, and you can snag this car seat for $176!

In spite of my shear enthusiam,
my son was not impressed by the whole ordeal… ;o)

Looking for a super-cute way to keep your baby warm, while in the super-cute Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40? You can get a FREE car seat canopy (just pay shipping) here, and use promo code ENBABY.

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: baby, product reviews, sponsored post Tagged With: evergreen

Catch Air – Birthday Party Review

04/10/2012 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

When the time came to plan for my daughter’s third birthday party, I knew one thing was certain: I didn’t want it at MY house! With a newborn son and a highly energetic three year old, the last thing I wanted was to set up and then clean up for a party. However, I wanted something special for my daughter, as we’d never really had a party for her yet, and since she’d had a big year, complete with becoming a big sister and all.

Within the span of a month, we took her to a -um- certain dark play place with a big mouse, and later to bouncy-type place featuring a particular primate. Then we were invited to birthday party at Catch Air in John’s Creek location, and suddenly the choice was clear: my little girl was going to have her birthday party at Catch Air John’s Creek.

Catch Air, a combination bouncy house and indoor playground, had something to peek the interest of any child. Plenty of inflatables throughout the facility for jumping, along with simulated “fitness equipment”, ball pits, slides, token games, humongous train set, “balloon house”, a hamster roller, an interactive dance floor (think: the piano scene from Big) and much all keep kids ages 12 and under occupied for hours and hours of entertainment! And there’s four locations in the north metro area, including John’s Creek, Cumming, Suwanee, and Marietta.

Overall, I was exceptionally pleased with my experience at Catch Air in John’s Creek. With a personal party coordinator leading the way, they took care of the set up and clean up (every mother’s dream!), as well as supplied the “party accessories”: table cloths, plates, forks, drinks for the party kids, and even invitations. …and if you’re an absent-minded mother, like yours truly, and forget the all-important birthday cake candle, they’ve got you covered! After 80 minutes of play in perhaps the coolest indoor playground I’ve seen, Carol got to have a “dance party” with Buzz Lightyear (her movie character du joir). Buzz then led the kids over to the double sinks, where we all washed our hands before going in to the party room. We were allotted 40 minutes in the “party room”, set up for the obligatory singing of “happy birthday” as she blew out the candles. The party coordinator assisted in bringing the cake over, then cutting it up and helping to serve. She then stepped back and let the kids have their fun.

Afterwards, I was also pleased to see the party room get thoroughly wiped down — a level of conscientiousness that I cannot say for other similar places. The bathrooms were exceptionally clean and well-lit; although the floor seemed slightly slippery with socks on. As a mother and uber-germophobe, I could really appreciate the level of attention the staff paid to cleanliness.

We were allowed to bring outside dry snacks, drinks for the adults, and the cake. You have the option of ordering Papa Johns pizza or Chick-fil-a (and those of you who know me will be shocked to hear I opted out of CFA — I still don’t know how I passed *that* up!!), for an additional fee. (Please note: the food options differ at the other locations.) Our party coordinator assisted in setting up all the snacks and beverages, which allowed my husband and I the opportunity to just sit back and watch our daughter play.

Again, my experience with Catch Air was fantastic. For $5-8 a visit for walk-ins (depending on your child’s age), and discount codes available frequently on their Facebook pages, you can’t go wrong taking the kids here. There’s even free wifi for parents, as well as coffee and a snack bar available. There’s four locations (Johns Creek, Cumming, Marietta, and Suwanee) in the north metro area.

Care to try out Catch Air? I highly recommend “liking” Catch Air on FB, since they frequently post “passwords” to get you discounts for walk-in visits! Also, here’s a few more suggestions for snagging discount tickets to Catch Air: Groupon has tickets from time to time, but you can also buy a 10-visit pass and save directly at your location. You’ll want to ask if your location’s pass is good at other locations; some allow it, others don’t. 🙂