Just in time for summer fun!

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Jun 132013
 
SandGone
Sand Gone is a dry powder that, when applied to sandy parts of your body, removes the sand and leaves your skin soft and smooth.  Sand Gone was invented by a mother of two children who spent a lot of time at the beach.  After years of cleaning off sand covered children, she created a product that works without water (or tears!)  Sand Gone is all natural and non- toxic.  It comes in a 8 oz container with a powder puff for easy application.  Sand Gone works on both wet and dry sand.  Sand Gone is available online.  If you’d like to learn more about it, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

July 4th: The Best Coloring Pages , Crafts and More for Children

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Jun 102013
 

flag1-1July 4th is Independence day and the perfect time to introduce children to the rich history and heritage of America, and help them cultivate an appreciation for our troops as well.  While you can always read up on it together and share facts and trivia about Independence Day, a better and more fun way to help kids learn about it is to have a bunch of fun activities for them to do.

Need ideas? We have rounded up some of the BEST July 4th coloring pages, puzzles, crafts and more for children, so read on!

 

But before you pull out the glue, paint and glitter, make sure you’ve covered the chairs with chair protectors to make post-activity clean up easy-peasy.

The Best July 4th Holiday Activities for Kids:

1.  Family Education, July 4th

This is a great starting point for planning your July 4th celebration.  It includes activities, recipes, trivia, printables, and more.

2.  Crafts from Tip Junkie

This collection of activities (appropriate for both Memorial Day and July 4th) includes some really fun ones such as DIY American Flag shirts, confetti rocket garlands, as well as some great printables and tips for watching fireworks safely with kids in tow.

3.  Outside activities from SheKnows.com

 This resource has wonderful, outdoor activities that everyone in the family, old and young, will enjoy.

4.  Celebrating July 4th from KidsKonnect

Here you’ll find lots of information on Independence Day, perfect for trivia quizzes.

5.  Learning About July 4th from Apples4theTeacher

A giant resource filled with July 4th coloring pages, information and facts and best of all, thematic reading lists, stories and puzzles too.

 6.  July 4th Fun from The Holiday Zone

Here you’ll find not just art and craft and activities but a lot of classroom resources as well. Perfect for teachers and homeschooling families. From discussion topics for English Language learners to a Printable July 4th Word Wall to writing prompts, you have it all and then some on this site.

How will YOU be celebrating Independence Day? Do you have some fun activities that your kids and you do every year?

Join the Smart Seat Chair Protector community on Facebook and Twitter, and share with us!

Photo courtesy of PatriotIcon.org

Mommy Genius Drying Racks

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Jun 062013
 

MommyGeniusAnnie Pryor is a stay-at-home mother of three and the inventor of the Mommy Genius Drying Racks. These kitchen countertop accessories are the perfect place to dry or display just about anything, including baby bibs, dish towels, food-storage bags and bottles. In addition to being incredibly useful, these drying racks are manufactured in the USA!

Annie’s “Aha” moment occurred five years ago when she had two young children who both wore bibs during meals. That meant that she had to deal with 6 to 8 food-covered bibs each day! Annie tried putting the bibs in the laundry after each meal, but they would get moldy sitting in the laundry basket. She liked rinse-off bibs, but there was never a good place to put them to dry. There were always wet bibs lying all over the countertop, and the lunch bibs were never dry by dinner. She decided that she needed a convenient place next to the kitchen sink to hang the bibs to dry. Since nothing on the market was right for hanging bibs up to dry, Annie decided to invent a drying rack. With no business, product development, or marketing experience whatsoever, it took her two years to bring her product from idea to reality. She worked during naptime and late at night when everyone was asleep. Annie finally started her company, Mommy Genius, in June 2010 with the launch of her “Bib Drying Rack”.

After a year on the market, Annie tweaked the design of her “Bib Drying Rack” to make it more versatile. The “Mommy Genius Drying Rack” hit the market in December 2011. Not only is it great for drying baby bibs, it is also perfect for dish towels, washcloths, food storage bags, produce bags, icing bags, mugs, rubber gloves, herbs, mittens, and children’s boots. It is also a great display stand for Christmas ornaments and jewelry. The possibilities are endless! The Mommy Genius Drying Rack is available on amazon.

10 Products Made for Moms by Moms, in the USA!

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May 302013
 

These 10 products are “must haves” for anyone with young children.  Invented by moms for moms, these products solve common parenting dilemmas and make like easier.  They are also all made in the USA by companies that are providing jobs and supporting our domestic economy.

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Bobee Diaper & Wipe Dispenser

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May 142013
 

Diapers, wipes, pee, powder, poo, clothes, cream, pail and baby. The circus juggling act of changing a baby happens as often as 8 times a day for up to 10 minutes at a time. No Mom will argue that she easily spends over an hour a day changing and re-changing diapers.  Mastering this skill is a must for any Mom, new or seasoned. It takes tremendous time and patience to get the motions down and about the time you do, junior learns to roll over and the dance begins again.  Stacy Harfert, a mom of two from Colorado, found herself fed up with diaper changing after only a few weeks.  Her solution was the Bobee Diaper & Wipe Dispenser.

The Bobee Diaper & Wipe Dispenser is a diaper stacker and wipe organizer that is wall-mounted, which frees up  your changing table space for other supplies.  The fun part about the Bobee is that it comes with five pages of colorful decals that you can mix and match to create the perfect fit for your nursery decor.

Bobee

Award winning and patent pending, the Bobee product line has just expanded to include additional color decal options to better color coordinate with baby’s trendy nursery.  If you’d like a Bobee of your own, you can win one by entering the Bobee Giveaway.

How to Entertain Outdoors and Protect your Outdoor Furniture

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May 132013
 

outdoor entertaining With the weather getting better with every passing day, it is time to bring out those garden chairs and the grill and have a party outdoors!  However, before you send out the invites to your next backyard or garden party, here are our expert tips to help you plan it well and take care of your outdoor furniture too:

1.  Choose the Right Furniture

The right outdoor furniture can make all the difference to a great barbecue party. When everyone has comfortable chairs to sit in and enough tables to place plates and glasses on, things are good. That is why it is important that you know the size and dimensions of your outdoor area before you head out and buy chairs and tables.

Note dimensions down and visualize what will go where. This will help you plan the layout of the seating arrangements and ensure that there is enough room without getting too crowded.

Also, when choosing outdoor furniture, pick items that are all-weather or weather-resistant so that each time it rains, you don’t have to rush out and drag everything inside.

2.  Make Room Outdoors

Even though the outdoors is well, outside the house, there is no reason it shouldn’t look just as pretty and inviting as the inside. Make sure the area is clean and clutter is out of sight. Those gardening tools? Put them in the mudroom or the shed.

Add potted plants, floor cushions and even, a rug or two on the porch. Add flowers in small vases and place them on tabletops. Small touches go a long way in making the outdoors look just lovely.

3.  Keep Lighting and Shade in Mind

To make the most of your outdoor entertaining, ensure that you have appropriate lighting so that it isn’t too dark in the evenings and guests can see the food as well as each other without straining their eyes.

For day parties in the backyard or garden, make sure you have provisions for shade. A large garden umbrella or a gazebo will not only provide cooling shade but also infuse your décor with color and life.

4.  Take Care of Your Outdoor Furniture

If you outdoor chairs have seat cushions, consider covering them with Smart Seat Chair Protectors so that cushions don’t get stained and soiled during a party.

When the party is over, take good care of your outdoor furniture.  If you leave your outdoor furniture outside and unprotected, remember to clean it with a damp cloth to remove any food spills or grubby handprints.  You may also want to consider using outdoor furniture covers once you’re done cleaning.

Are YOU looking forward to outdoor entertaining this summer? Share with us in the Smart Seat Cover community on Facebook and Twitter .

Pin it to win it giveaway!

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May 062013
 

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In May we celebrate moms and it’s also pregnancy awareness month; so what better way to recognize both moms and children than to offer a giveaway of the best mom and children’s products? Mom Entrepreneurs have come together to offer 22 must-have mom and children’s products in a Pin It To Win It Giveaway event from May 2nd – May 31st.

 

 

Three easy steps to enter:  1) create a Pinterest Board called “Products I Like”, 2) Click the Pin It button and pin all the products on this page that you want to win, and 3) verify your pins by providing us with your Products I Like Pinterest Board URL through the easy to use form .Rafflecopter giveaway

One lucky winner will receive all the products they pinned. Good Luck!

Do you have a thumb sucker? Andrea has a solution!

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May 062013
 

meandthumbuddy (1)Momprenuer Andrea Van Ness created a better way to wean children from thumb sucking and pacifier sucking. Thumbuddy To Love® was born out of a necessity to help children let go of a comforting habit in a fun and positive way. Andrea was a thumb sucker herself and she did not stop until age 6 but by that time, the damage had been done and her teeth started to push forward (along with a raised palate) and the dentist told her she would need braces due to prolonged thumb sucking. Her mother had tried everything from awful tasting thumb polishes to thumb guards and Andrea remembers that all were kind of punishing to get her to stop. It was her grandmother that made her a thumb puppet.  Every day she was so proud to take it to school and show it off that, in a week, she quit.

Andrea offers Fireman Fred for boys and Ballerina Sue for girls. Each puppet comes with an illustrated book and a success chart with stickers so kids can mark off days they do not suck their thumb and stay motivated. Thumbuddy’s products have won the Mom’s Choice Award and are now carried in Pediatric Dentist offices, on Amazon, and on the Thunbuddy website.

Soon afterward launching Thumbuddy, Andrea launched The Binky Fairy to help pacifier suckers. The Binky Fairy was designed to help children stop pacifier sucking without all the fuss and tears. Children are read the accompanying book the night before to help them understand where the pacifier(s) will go and the Binky Fairy (like the tooth fairy) visits in the middle of the night and leaves a sweet Binky Fairy puppet. “I wanted to make it fun for kids because giving up thumb sucking or pacifier sucking can be traumatic….I remember!” So, now, parents have a fun teaching tool that helps them break the habits. The Binky Fairy has won the PTPA Award.

Both of Andrea’s product retail for $19.95 can be found on the Thumbuddy website and on Amazon (Thumbuddy to Love).

Summer Holiday Fun for Kids: 5 Great Ideas to Keep Children Busy and Entertained

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May 012013
 

baby water pixabay

 

Can you believe that we’re already talking about summer holiday fun?  Well, it pays to be prepared when it comes to keeping the kids busy and engaged during the long, hot summer days.

 

 

 

Here are 5 great ideas guaranteed to help your children have tons of fun this summer season:

1.  Read Away the Summer Days

Reading is a great hobby and, when the days are too hot to do anything else, you can all pull out some books and read together.  Make reading more fun by pairing it with one of the other activities from this list, such as cooking or crafting.  This 2012 Summer Reading List for Kids has tons of ideas to help you find some great reads for the season.

2.  Cook up a Summer Storm

Cooking is another great way to spend the summer days. The best part is that most of the summer recipes we have included are no-cook and chilled, perfect for a hot day. Fudgesicles, anyone?  These simple recipes from Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution are a good place to start.  Remember to use our SmartSeat Chair Protectors on your kitchen chairs to keep them from getting stained during exuberant cooking and tasting sessions! ; )

3.  Have a Splash

Hot days and water make a perfect combination. Nothing like letting the kids have a splash, literally. Whether you use the sprinkler, the kiddie pool or the old-fashioned hose, water play is a surefire way to keep kids entertained when days are hot and the sun shines bright. Here are some great water play ideas for your children for this season.

If you’re spending time outside in the sun and water, remember to apply adequate sunblock and/or put your children in sun protective clothing, such as Swim Zip UV Protective Swimwear.  (You can read more about SwimZip and its inventor right here on our blog).  Looking for other summer must-have’s for outdoor time?  Check out this list of the Top 10 Beach Must-Have’s for Families.

4.  Summer Gardening for Kids

Gardening is an evergreen (pun intended!) summer activity.  Both young kids and older ones will enjoy getting their hands dirty to plant flowers and veggies. Here’s a great guide to getting started with your kids’ summer garden.

5.  Craft Through the Season

And finally, arts and crafts are a fantastic way to spend time indoors when it’s too hot to play outside or to be in the kitchen.  Stock up on craft supplies and dig through these summer craft ideas for inspiration.  The activities include flipbooks, paper hats, and a whole lot more.  Before getting started the glue, paint, and glitter, remember to cover your chairs with our chair protectors to keep messes at bay and make cleanups a lot easier.

The summer can be a ton of fun if you have a ready list of great ideas to fall back on when the kids say “I’m bored”.  What is YOUR biggest challenge keeping kids entertained during the summer days?  Share with us in the SmartSeat Cover community on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

 

 

 

Surround Your Baby in a Cloud of Comfort

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Apr 302013
 

4 strollers_xsTivoli Couture stroller liners are made from soft, baby friendly fabric that is coupled with memory foam padding for superior comfort.  Their newest product - the Classic Luxury™ Memory Foam Stroller Liner –  includes reflective trim for night time strolling and useful loops to keep baby’s accessories within reach.  Tivoli Couture is dedicated to creating products that are multi- functional and affordably priced. Their stroller liners double as changing pads and tummy time mats; the 3 in 1 Mommy’s Hug™ weather cover can be used with any baby carrier, stroller or car seat, or even as a portable blanket with a foot pocket; and the Miracle Wrap™ Bunting System works as a footmuff, blanket, picnic or floor mat, and can even be easily rolled into a pillow! All Tivoli Couture products are built for year-round use and are geared towards helping parents maximize the value of their investments.

Trivoli Couture was started by Stella Rubinshteyn. Originally from Europe, Stella discovered that, in comparison to the European countries where it’s a common practice to place children inside a stroller lined with a cotton blanket or better yet a buggy liner, American parents place their children on bare stroller upholstery without any lining protection at all.  Typical stroller upholstery is not removable or machine washable and may feel rough on baby’s delicate skin. Considering that children spend so much time in their strollers, it seems logical that they should get proper physical support and the seat should be comfortable, soft and clean: Let’s face it, we’d never consider sleeping on a bare mattress ourselves!

The only stroller liner Stella could find for her son was a traditional white carriage liner with ruffles, something that just would not cut it for her boys. After realizing there was a gap in the market for stylish stroller liners in fun, modern designs and prints, that can coordinate well with any popular stroller brand, Tivoli Couture created its first line of comfortable Luxury Plush stroller liners that would also be reversible for versatility and year round comfort.  Soon after, while enjoying her brand new memory foam mattress topper and pillow at home, it occurred to Stella that memory foam would make the perfect padding for a deliciously comfortable stroller liner – prompting a second generation of Luxury NuComfort™ memory foam stroller liners to be born. 

Tivoli Couture is an award winning baby gear and accessories company.  The Company’s tag line ‘Practical Luxury’ sums up its mission: To create innovative and expertly functional items, which offer everyday luxury, at an accessible price.  You can checkout Tivoli Couture for yourself by using their store locator page to find a store near you: http://tivolicouture.com/index.php/store-locator

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