Mommy Blog Expert is Nominated for Parents 2011 Best All-Around Mom Blog Award - Pls Vote

Mommy Bloggers 

Dear Readers:

So excited to learn today from Parents Magazine that Mommy Blog Expert has been nominated for Parents 2011 Best All-Around Mom Blog award. Thanks so much in advance for your support!

You don't have to be a Mom to vote

So, please vote now for MBE HERE
Winner to be announced in mid-October

FTC Disclosure: I disclose that my blog has been nominated for Parents.com Best All-Around Mom Blog. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Blacklisted from the PTA - A Humorous Look at Us Stressed Out Moms Raising Kids Today - Book Review

Book Review

If anyone knows how to make lemonade out of life's lemons -- when it comes to parenting and being a mother, Lela Davidson, the first-time author of Blacklisted from the PTA, is clearly a front-runner.  Just released this summer,  her new book is as entertaining as it is sympathetic to what it's really like to be a mommy precariously juggling a busy and challenging family life today that revolves around children with a supporting but often absent cast that includes an adoring hubbie.

Blacklisted from the PTA,  Jupiter Press

Having met Lela in recent months at several women's blogging conferences including SheCon in Miami and BlogHer 11 in San Diego, I can vouch for her happy go lucky personality and fun-loving spirit.   On the one hand, she's the mom next door that's just like the rest of us trying to balance the joys and follies of family togetherness. What sets her apart when it comes to kid wrangling, though, is that she has the gift of articulating aloud what most of us other moms are only thinking.

This is definitely a woman (and real-life mom to a young son and daughter) who knows what she's talking about.  For sure, the content that's loaded into Blacklisted from the PTA speaks to haggard moms everywhere who struggle with mommying their flocks, day in and day out.  

The beauty is that this 62 essay book is easy on the minds of stressed-out mothers. Each vignette is written to be read in the 5 minutes or less that any of us typically can muster between all the demands of  family life.  With so many distractions in our lives -- and little energy left at the end of any day -- this book makes it a breeze to skip around to pick and choose to read just the bits that provide a little comic relief to each of our particular situations.  

What mom won't appreciate the fact that there's finally an author that really gets it, that can actually help us laugh about the decks that we've each been dealt? From birth and babies to the terrible twos, suburban bliss -- to sitting in the driveway drinking Chardonnay with lady neighbor friends and carving out "me time," Lela has covered it all. For sure, the namesake Blacklisted section has got to be read to be truly appreciated.  So if you're wondering, don't miss the chapter Seven Surefire Ways to Get Blacklisted from the PTA.

But here's the shocker. You'd never guess that this incredibly talented writer of real-life humorous short stories based on her own experiences as a mom, previously had a successful career as an accountant. Whoever bashes accountants for being dull and boring, all I can say is I guess they don't know Lela Davidson!

In addition to her first of what I hope will be many titles for us overwhelmed mothers, Lela is managing editor of ParentingSquad.com and associate editor of Peekaboo Magazine.  She writes frequently for family and parenting publications and contributed to Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms. 

Blacklisted from the PTA by Lela Davidson, available as a paperback for $15.00, is published by Jupiter Press, imprint of Wyatt-MacKenzie.

Would love to hear your own mommy war stories so we can laugh a little together.  Whatever your challenge, as long as it's funny, you are encouraged to share it as a comment.

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FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book to facilitate this review. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Rainforest Alliance Week - Starts Today - Find Out How Consumers Can Help Make the Planet Greener

Eco Living

Today is the start of Rainforest Alliance Week both locally and in cyberspace. As a family that loves nature and lives as green a life as much as we possibly can, I feel compelled to pass that bit of news on to like-minded readers. Come to think of it, the rest of the world -- especially children and families -- would definitely benefit from having the knowledge of what this save the environment effort is all about, too.

This awareness campaign is being orchestrated by the Rainforest Alliance, an organization that -- according to their website -- "Works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior."

Beginning on Monday, September 19, look for the official little green frog in stores and cafes, in the media, and on Facebook and Twitter posts.

My triplets & big brother just loved these real South American Parrots

Vintage photo

Read on to find out how consumers can get in on all the fun and games about a very serious concern.

But, first, watch the funny video below that was just released today by Rainforest Alliance about the "hazards" that await shoppers at the grocery store!

Here are just a few of the many other ways you and your kids can get involved

• Find out where you can buy Rainforest-friendly certified products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, paper, furniture and other products
• Participate in one or more Rainforest Alliance's special events or promotions this week online or in your local area. 
• Follow Rainforest Alliance on Twitter and/or fan on Facebook for additional updates and other ways to take part in a great cause
• Subscribe to Rainforest Alliance's Frog Blog e-letter and they'll let you know when new events or other information about this week is added.

What things have you done or are doing to help save rainforests as well as to do your part for a greener world? I hope you'll share your comments and activities with the rest of us.

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FTC Disclosure: I support eco friendly initiatives such as this one and am committed to doing my part to educating the public about ways to live a more green lifestyle. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Foodiacs Newest Online Community for Foodies Launches with Fun Kids Mushroom Garden Kit

Gardening

Whenever I discover a really great find, I have to share it with my readers. That's definitely the case with Foodiacs -- the newest online community for foodies -- and their partnership with Back to the Roots. Currently Foodiacs is running a Grow Your Own Mushroom Garden 3 Box Special for $40 that's shipped directly to your home. Whether you love gourmet cooking and would just like to really get some locally grown produce or you have kids and you want to do something fun, educational and healthy together, this garden in a box that produces up to one and a half pounds of tasty, nutritious pearl oyster mushrooms is just the thing. No green thumb is needed, all you do is follow the easy directions this comes with.

Image provided by Back to the Roots

Would be mushroom growers can always buy this growing set, as well as several other products, direct from Back to the Roots at the regular price of $19.95/box. But, if you purchase two mushroom garden boxes through the Foodiacs site up until 11:59 am EST on September 20, you'll receive a third box and classroom curriculum to be donated to the school of your choice.


My own Back to the Roots garden box just arrived in the mail today. In fact the inner plastic bag filled with 100% coffee grounds growing medium and the beginnings of what I hope will be a bumper crop of tasty mushrooms is submerged in a bucket of cold water for 24 hours right now, as it says on the directions. Stay tuned to hear about the results of our first-time foray into mushroom growing -- We could be harvesting our first crop in less than 2 weeks.

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FTC Disclosure: Back to the Roots provided me with a mushroom growing kit. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Evenflo SimplyGo Breast Pump Review

Review, Giveaway

MBE partnered with Evenflo Feeding for this review and giveaway

Baby Nursing Aid for Expectant, New Moms 

I can't express how excited I am about this Evenflo SimplyGo Breast Pump giveaway. That's because as a mom of four born within a year -- including triplets plus one more -- few mothers could be a bigger fan than I am both about nursing naturally and using a breast pump to supplement baby feedings. 

Though my own babies have since grown into teens, I still continue to spread the word to today's young new mothers that breast milk is still the healthiest nutrition option for your growing child. That's not even to mention that the milk is free when you produce it yourself while formula might be convenient to use but you will have to pay dearly for it.

 

EvenFlo SimplyGo Single Pump

For sure, breast pumps are a great way for your baby to still benefit from your natural milk when you are at work, traveling, or just out for the evening with your dear hubbie for a few hours of BCTT (before children together time).  A pump is certainly a welcome virtual assistant for you to extract milk during those times when you might need to be away when your baby is hungry.

Just imagine, if you have a pump. While you get a good night's sleep, DH can get up in the middle of the night and bottle feed that darling newborn with your fresh breast milk. It freezes well, too, so you can stock up on it for use when you must be away from your child for extended periods.

My Newborn Triplets

Evenflo, a well-respected maker of traditional baby bottles as well as breast pumps and other products, invested two years of research with lactation consultants prior to introducing their new line of SimplyGo Breast Pumps. These include the SimplyGo Single Electric Breast Pump, the SimplyGo Dual Electric Breast Pump, and the SimplyGo Manual Breast Pump. Comfortable and compact in design, these breast pumps are all not only small and meant to be handheld, they are also portable, convenient, and are mall enough to fit in a diaper bag for the occasional pumping mom.

Product Features

• BPA free
• Single and Dual pump models with various accessories included
• Quiet operation, running on 3 AA batteries or AC adapter
• All 3 models available at Walmart, Kmart, and Burlington
• Single pump also may be purchased at Babies R Us, Target and select food and drug stores
• Single Pump, $44.99 SRP; Dual Pump, $59.99 SRP

Don't miss your chance to WIN

the Evenflo SimplyGo
Single Electric Breast Pump

Giveaway Entry Details

Leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends October 3, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what you like best about the featured product. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Additional Extra Entries

Get extra entries to win for doing any combination of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your extra chances to win.

1.  Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter

2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook

3. Follow @evenflofeeding on Twitter

5. Like @evenflofeeding on Facebook

Super ***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

TWEET:
Evenflo SimplyGo Breast Pump GRAND GIVEAWAY ~ http://tinyurl.com/3utcbbr #baby #nursing #newborn Pls RT

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FTC Disclosure: Evenflo is providing the prize for this giveaway. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.