The Baby Panda's Reviews

Sunday, September 24, 2006

2 Sweet Gifts is 2 Adorable!

Now that my son is nearing "toddler" age (oh my!) its time to update his room decor. The teddy bears are a bit too cute for this "big boy" so we are now in search of something more fitting! In my search I found a great website called 2SweetGifts. They offer hand-crafted children's furniture and accessories with a variety of unique designs. 2SweetGifts was started by a husband and wife team who initially came up with the idea to create things in their garage for some extra fun money...after creating and selling they have now grown into a great business offering the finest products ranging from drawer knobs to wall shelves...and each item is hand-crafted! I fell in love with the "Gone Fishin" line which includes wall shelves, a lamp shade, a nightlight, a peg rack, a wooden switchplate, and even wall art!

You can even get a custom design to fit your needs!

All of their items SHIP FREE so take a look at what they have to offer! You're bound to find something to fit your child's decor!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

We've got a new look!

Take a look at our new face! Courtesy of Susie McClure at Be Whimsical! If you need any web design services be sure to stop by and see Susie! She does a great job with custom design and she is so great to work with! Hats off to Susie!

We've also added some new Fall items! See great items from innies 'n outies and new to The Baby Panda is Bamboo Baby!

Don't miss out! Head on over to The Baby Panda now! Mention this blog and receive FREE SHIPPING on your order!

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Dinner Planning For School Days

Another summer has quickly passed us by. The kids have reluctantly gone back to school. It stands to reason that life should be a little less hectic, right? Unfortunately, that’s usually not the case. Between all of your daily ‘Mom obligations’, helping with homework and providing transportation to every extra-curricular activity under the sun, you probably have little time to devote to dinner planning.

Many times busy parents resort to hot dogs and macaroni and cheese, frozen pizza or frequent trips to a fast-food restaurant. That’s not healthy for you or the kids – not to mention its pretty rough on the family grocery budget.

Kitchen time savers
There are things you can do to cut down on time spent in the kitchen. Pick one day a week and prepare several freezer friendly meals. You can even go the extra mile and package them in individual serving size containers. Doing so will provide your family with a larger variety of entrée choices, on any given day.

Do you have friends that are intrigued with the idea of a one-day a week cooking spree or a meal planning service? Get together with 2 or 3 of them. Each of you decides on 2 main dishes you want to prepare. Buy enough ingredients to make the entrees for each family.

You need to plan ahead
One simple thing that you can do is keep an ample supply of fresh fruits, salad ingredients, soups and fresh sandwich fixings, on hand. Quick meals such as this are nutritious and don’t require a great deal of preparation time.

If you take on the task of meal planning and want to get in the habit of consistently putting together weekly menus yourself, you may be surprised at how much time it involves. Did you know that the typical family meal planner spends roughly 3 hours per week combing through cookbooks, choosing recipes and compiling a grocery list? That translates into 156 hours, per year. Yikes!

A menu service can help
You can say goodbye to last minute thrown together meals and eliminate the stress of dinner planning for your family by subscribing to a meal planning service. This type of service is very affordable, usually costing only a few cents per day. Menus are often designed to be family friendly and easily adaptable.

When you purchase a subscription to a service such as this, your membership will typically feature a weekly menu emailed right to your inbox. This includes seven main dish recipes, side dish suggestions and dessert ideas. As an added benefit, you receive a detailed shopping list, categorized by aisle, which makes your trip to the grocery store that much easier. Simply cross off items already in your pantry, add any other products you may be in need of and you’re off!

If you enjoy planning your own menu, you may want to consider a dinner planning service, in addition to your own choices. Why? It will still save you time, in the long run. Use the membership menu as a base. Then, search for recipes that will deliciously compliment that weekly plan.

Remember, nothing is more important than family time. Don’t let dinner planning get you down. Consider the suggestions we’ve made and you’ll spend less time
slaving over hot stove and more time with the people you love.

For a free one week trial of a family friendly meal planning service, visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/amember/go.php?r=2792&l=uggc%3A%2F%2Fjjj.qvarjvgubhgjuvar.pbz%2Ffreivprf.

Ooh La La! La La Natural!

La La Natural carries natural organic products that promote a healthier environment. Items range from cloth diapers to accessories for your home! La La Natural was created by a husband and wife team when their son suffered from a bad diaper rash. Turning to organic cloth diapers, they were introduced to a whole new world of products that are good for everyone. Now they are sharing with us all good things to help create a better environment for future generations! So take a look around La La Natural...welcome to the world of organics!

Some of my favorite finds are:

SNUGGLEWOOL Organic Baby Bunting - this adorable bunting keeps baby warm in the winter and cool in the summer! Made with merino wool, these baby buntings provide comfort and coziness for your baby!

SAGE CREEK - Kimono Set - Baby/Toddler Zen - made with organic cotton terry, this kimono set will be so soft on your baby's skin. The pants have an elastic waist to make for easier changing times. Sizes range from 0-3 months to 18-24months.

SAGE CREEK - Organic Baby Onesie Wiggle - what a cute onesie! Printed with the words "wiggle, giggle, coo!" its perfect for your newborn! Naturally whitened, made with Sage Creek's softest organic cotton interlock. Comes in size 0-3 months.

Take a look around at La La Natural...use coupon code PANDA10 to receive 10% off your total purchase!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Babies 'R Us Sale

Babies 'R Us is having a sale from now until October 15th! Click here for some great deals...including a coupon for $5 off your purchase of $25 or more!

Here is just a glimpse of what you'll find...

Monday, September 11, 2006

The Monkey and Me

The Monkey and Me is a great baby site that carries items that are handcrafted by mommy Beth Allums. She creates great items ranging from bib and burpees to children's clothing and play aprons!Mommy Beth creates cute items for your infant or toddler. Some of my favorites are:

The Geisha Girl Onesie is really cute for the little girl. It has a fancy applique of two Geisha Girls on the front. Its a great find at $12 a piece...comes in sizes 0-3 months and 3-6 months.

The Koi Fish Pants Set priced at $28 is adorable for your little boy. It comes in one size, 12 months, so be sure to get your hands on it before he outgrows it!

The Sushi Dress and Matinee Jacket is very versatile. The dress is reversible so its like having two new dresses! Pair it with the matching matinee jacket and you've got quite an ensemble! Available in size 24 months-2T for $55.

Stop by The Monkey and Me to find great handcrafted items for your little one!

Monday, September 04, 2006

The Glam Boutique

Personalized stationary and gifts at The Glam Boutique, a woman owned and operated home office in California. Designs include wedding designs and baby designs with products ranging from announcements and invitations to note cards and note pads. You can create your own custom designs and with 25 different font styles and 22 ink colors to choose from you're sure to find just what you need for that special occasion...whether to announce the birth of your new baby or to send out invitations to that fun bachelorette party!

My favorite is this adorable baby shower invitation! Its called Pickles & Ice Cream and couldn't be more fitting! Check out The Glam Boutique for all of your stationary needs!

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Pink Taffy Designs...

...a children's boutique that carries unique designs for you and your baby. Pink Taffy Designs was created by two sisters who wanted to bring unique and whimsical furnishings and decor for children and babies. They offer great items for kids, babies, moms and even dads! If you have a special occasion to shop for take a stroll through their gifts section. You'll find such a great assortment of brand names that you're sure to find your favorite designer!

I love this cute little chenille chair by Blue Moon! With the great design it will fit nicely in your child's bedroom. He'll love to have his own little chair to sit in! The matching tuffet is just an extra $70. It is custom made especially for you so you'll have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery. How special to have your very own chair and have it made custom made for you! What a great addition to your child's bedroom!

So take a stroll through Pink Taffy Designs...you'll have a great shopping experience!