Social Mom Product Review: Dolphin Organics

As the New Year dawned, I considered making all sorts of life changing resolutions. Exercise more, get more sleep, eat more kale. Well, that last one might be a bit of a challenge. So, I took a different approach. Rather than overwhelm my family with goals that might not last through the first week, I decided it was best to start with something simple.

Switching out my daughter's regular shampoo and conditioner and replacing them with the Dolphin Organics Baby Shampoo and Conditioner was an easy first step. These products are organic, natural and endorsed by the Healthy Child Healthy World organization. The big question, would they work as well as my tried and true brands?

The short answer is yes. They are fabulous products! The tear-free shampoo lathers well and rinses cleanly. The conditioner is thick enough to coat the hair without weighing it down. These products are fragrance free but do have a slight scent. These and other baby care products are available online for about $12 each at Dolphin Organics. I recommend them and would purchase the Travel Set or Gift Baskets for baby shower presents.

If you're hoping to start the New Year off on a healthy path, the Dolphin Organics products are an easy way to go. Best wishes!

Submitted by Lisa-Marie, a Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Social Mom, who is always on the go with a tiny tot in tow.

Social Mom Product Review: Baby Polar Gear Booster Seat

We really like the Baby Polar Gear Booster Seat. It is stylish and very practical. It is so easy to attach to a kitchen or restaurant chair that my four year old can do it, although we check it afterwards. The five point restraint harness and adjustable straps keep your child safe. It is easy to clean, compact and lightweight. It is also very easy to fold up for transport. The chair retails for around $40 depending on the website.

Social Mom Product Review: Pat the Beastie, written by Henrik Drescher

Pat the Beastie by Henrik Drescher is now a favorite read in my house. My boys, who are 5 and 3, were attracted to this unique storyline from the minute they opened to the first page. It’s a modern day take on Pat the Bunny, written by Dorothy Kunhardt, which we had been told by our pediatrician to read every day to my oldest when he was a baby.

Paul and Judy, two wide eyed mischievous kids, basically torture Beastie, which at first, caused me to question the message in the book. However, in the end, nothing good comes from Paul and Judy’s behavior and as punishment for making Beastie suffer, they end up being eaten by Beastie. While the message was delivered in an interesting way, the underlying significance of the lesson learned is clear: YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE or WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND or the ever popular, TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. I did feel better knowing that Beastie’s friends were on the sidelines of each page sticking up for Beastie, warning Paul and Judy, and the reader, what could happen if Beastie continued to be mistreated.

What I like about this book is the interaction the boys can have with it. Each page allows them to participate in the story, for example, pulling Beastie’s hair, jiggling Beastie’s eyes, tickling his feet, playing peekaboo with Beastie and the absolute favorite, pulling Beastie’s worm boogers (see picture). Every night, when I ask the kids what book they want to read before bedtime, they respond with Pat the Beastie. Henrik Drescher clearly understands how to create a successful children’s book!

Written by Ellie Hirsch, founder of Mommy Masters and Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Social Mom (http://www.mommymasters.blogspot.com)

Sock Sac Review by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine's Social Mom, Ellie Hirsch

I was so excited to receive the Sock Sacs for review, since I have had such issues with losing the kid’s socks in the laundry. There has got to be some secret place where all the random socks go…I just haven’t figured out where that is exactly? Until I do, my Sock Sacs will be my new solution!

The Sock Sacs is very light and not too big, which is perfect for a load of laundry. Once the socks are placed in the mesh bag, there is not only a zipper but a snap to keep the contents secure. When I took the bag out of the dryer, it was in perfect condition and all socks were still on board. I am not 100% convinced though that these socks were as clean as if they had been washed along with the rest of the laundry. I mention this, because there was a pair of socks that I missed that didn’t make it into the Sock Sacs and they smelled much fresher than the pairs in the bag. Even so, it was pretty exciting to be able to match every pair of socks in my son’s laundry for once.

In the end, I will be giving Sock Sacs a thumbs up because it is going to make my life easier, and as a mother, we need all the help we can get! FYI, I am thinking of making hand puppets with all my existing singletons, whom after 3 months of sitting by their lonesome selves, have yet to be reunited with their partners.

About the Author:

Written by Ellie Hirsch, Founder of Mommy Masters and Tampa Bay Parenting Social Mom (http://www.mommymasters.blogspot.com)

Stocking Stuffers and Great Gifts This Holiday

This holiday season we had so many products to review that we could not fit them all in our gift guides! But I wanted to make sure that some of these products still got their moment in the spotlight, because they are fantastic options for stocking stuffers and gifts!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas:

Mini-Mergency Kits: These kits may be little, but they are HUGE lifesavers! I was able to review one, and needless to say it has gotten me out of a few pickles! Small enough to keep in any bag, it makes it easy to have all emergency necessities easily accessible. These packs are available for males, females, moms, dads, brides, bridesmaids…you get the point! There is one for each individual and occasion. Perfect for a stocking stuffer, secret holiday gifter or just because! http://www.msandmrs.com/

Nonni’s Biscotti: From the classic biscotti, to biscotti bites, anyone would be happy to receive these delectable snacks in their stocking. With so many flavors to choose from such as Turtle Pecan (my favorite) to Triple Milk Chocolate, the family will be fighting over the crumbs! http://www.nonnis.com/index.html

DVD’s To Make Any Kid Happy:

Some of our favorite DVD’s available this holiday season are:
Winnie The Pooh: http://disney.go.com/pooh/
AfricanCats: http://disney.go.com/disneynature/africancats/
The Lion King: http://disney.go.com/lionking/?cmp=dmov_dvd_lio_url_dcomgolionking_Extl
Nickelodeon’s Merry Christmas!: http://www.amazon.com/Nickelodeon-Favorites-Artist-Not-Provided/dp/B005DKS1SU
Nickelodeon’s Celebrate with Dora 3 Disc Set: http://www.amazon.com/Dora-Explorer-Celebrates-Three-Pack-Christmas/dp/B005JZBP82

Preventative Gifts:

There is no greater gift than health, and some of the products we received this year could be perfect stocking stuffers as we fight our way through the cold and flu season:

Boogie Wipes: http://www.boogiewipes.com/
Xlear Nasal Spray: http://www.xlear.com/nasal-spray.aspx
Topricin Junior Children’s Pain Relief and Healing Cream: http://www.topricin.com/prod_detail_list/topricin-junior

Tale as Old as Time

When I was younger, if you told me I would one day be able to watch my favorite classic Disney movies on a DVD, let alone in 3D, I would have told you that only in my wildest dreams could I imagine that to ever be true.

Now 20 years later, I received a chance to revisit my childhood, as a flood of nostalgia consumed me as I watched the magical story of Beauty and the Beast dance across my television screen more vivid than ever! As I watched, my dreams that have been hidden in the back of my mind under a pile of cobwebs of me wearing a huge yellow glimmering ball gown as I gracefully walk down the mile long twisting staircase to meet a prince suddenly came rushing back to me. Not only could I not believe I ever gave up my dream of having talking and dancing house décor, but I also could not believe my eyes when I saw how the animation looked on Blu-ray 3D.

For anyone who has seen this movie prior, I highly suggest watching it again. Like most Disney movies, there are the quick jokes and comments that are geared towards adults that you may not have picked up on before. Also the animation is better than any of us could have ever imagined when we watched it for the first time in 1991.

More importantly, your kids will love the 5 disc 3D Blu-ray combo pack! Now that they are growing up with more advance technology, Disney has made the necessary changes in their classics to fascinate the new generations. This combo pack includes activities and extras that will entertain the new viewers and even the older ones as well. I do have to say there are a few dark parts in the movie that may scare the little ones, so if your child scares easily be sure to watch it first and see if it is appropriate.

All in all, between the beautiful music that will have your family singing for weeks as well as the fun story line that will have your kids imagining your dining ware is dancing around your house, this is a must see for all ages!

And if you find yourself longing for your childhood dreams of being a princess and having a vast library at your disposal, don’t be shy to throw on your daughters play crown or dance around your house to the soundtrack…We all need to feel like a princess once and awhile!

Beautisol Sunless Tanner Review

As a highly committed member of the sunless tanning club, I have tried every type of brand and application out there. To be honest, none of the store bought sunless tanners delivered a deep, dark and realistic tan like I got with my hand-done salon tans. Most people would look down upon me for not taking advantage of the Florida year-long

sunshine, but personally not only do I hate to laying out and feeling like I am melting away, I also do not want year round damage to my skin!

For the past few years I have been lathering onthe sunless tanning lotions that I buy from the store in hopes to look like I just spent the week on vacation, but have neverbeen 100 percent satisfied with the results. Luckily a few weeks ago I received a sample of the most amazingsunless tanner I have ever used, which is why I am writing this review! The brand is called Beautisol, and not only does it deliver a flawless, deep and realistic tan, but it’s also paraben-free and packed with anti-aging ingredients. When I think of Beautisol, the quote, “Too much of a good thing, is a good thing,” comes to mind.

A lot of people have trouble applying sunless tanner, but Beautisol has made it simple by providing gloves, an apply by numbers chart and also videos on their website to help users apply their products flawlessly. Another con people relate to self-tanners is the smell that most of them have. Beautisol is the first sunless tanner I have used that does not leave an unpleasant scent on your skin.

I have not found any negatives about this product, in fact I am borderline obsessed with it. It is a little more costly than tanners you would find in the store, but not by much and you do get more bang for the buck! I have never received compliments using any other sunless tanner, but the week I used this countless people commented on how tan I was and how great I looked!

If you hate lying out in the unbearable Florida heat and love your skin too much to damage it with UV rays, then I highly suggest you try Beautisol if it is in your budget! Use those few hours spent a week sun tanning on something a little more enjoyable. To check out the product I refuse to ever go without from this point on, go to www.Beautisol.com

www.beautisol.com

20% off your purchase with code: TAMPA20

Valid now through October 31st