Cue Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music: When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad…I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad! Roused by Jen P.’s blog, “What is your WORST purchase EVER?”, we let it fly and boy did it feel good. I’m wondering if we put a dent in local front load washing machine sales?
Product lovers and haters alike are moved to tell the world about their experience. A product can become a sen-freakin-sation because those that heart the product become self-appointed “marketing ambassadors”. I have a love affair with certain items that, if this bank gig doesn’t work out, inspire me to open a mall kiosk and chase people down to buy them. Just like Oprah, here are a few of my favorite things…
1) Bumkins bibs
I have used the same 2 Bumkins bibs for both kids. I scrub off the food gunk with a scrub brush and dish soap and rinse off. It dries in no time and they never get that mildew smell. I’ve tried them all and these have stood the test of time.
2) Aveeno lotion (fragrance free, green label)
Lotion? Seems trivial, doesn’t it? Team Bowman uses one lotion so we don’t buy kid lotion, mom lotion and dad lotion. And bonus: they have it at Costco, which supports my “money diet” goal of staying out of Target.
3) Nest diaper bags
See my blog about these bad boys.
4) iPlay non-disposable swim diapers
Bye bye disposable swim diapers! I’m sorry I ever met you!
5) Dyson Animal Vacuum Cleaner
I’ve had mine for 9 years and I would attempt to save it if our house was on fire.
6) Waring Pro Immersion Blender
I haven’t used a real blender in forever. Whipping up homemade salad dressings, marinara sauce, soups and smoothies are soooo easy breezy!
7) LL Bean XL Boat and Tote Bag
When you travel with kids and babies, you need so much crap…lovies/pack&play sheet/monitor/diapers/a gazillion clothes/all sorts of gear that don’t fit nicely in a zip-up duffle. These Boat and Tote gems have made packing for road trips much easier because you can really stuff them. When we are not road trippin’, we use one as our summer swimming pool bag and swim lessons bag.
8) Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon
Our ‘hood has sidewalks so we’ve been wearing them out in our Wagon for the past 4 years.
9) Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket (micro fleece and with feet!)
The Halo Sleepsack has been a staple for my babies. With my 2-year-old-not-a-tiny-dancer-32-lb-son, I discovered the one with feet. He outgrew the regular sleep sack fairly quickly and never liked his feet being all zipped in. He loves it!
10) The First Years Newborn-to-Toddler Reclining Feeding Seat
I have used this for the past 5 years with both children. Anything with dual functions wins in my book. This is our regular AND travel high chair. It can be used without the tray so you can pull it up to the table as a booster seat. I had another one similar to this but when it was time to pull it up to the table without the tray, the arm rests would not fit under the table.
It’s time to turn that frown upside down and bring on the love, Smarties! What items, big or small, kid-stuff or other, make you a raving fan?
2 comments
Favorite thing for mom: iPhone & iPad, equal weight.
Favorite thing for family: Breville toaster/convection oven (at Williams Sonoma) – this thing ROCKS the house. I find that I don’t ever use my normal oven any more and now I am saving energy and my kitchen doesn’t get so hot. It also serves as second oven during the holidays – you can fit your casseroles in this little oven and it’s the bomb!
Favorite thing for boys U-5: wii, I know, it’s so lame but with twins, this has really helped me calm them down dramatically after an exceptionally rowdy day. I justify it with great fine motor skills:-)
Favorite thing for girls: American Girl anything. Pricey but this is the kind of thing that you pack up in your attic for when they have children of their own.
Favorite piece of gear: Sunshine Kids Radian booster seat. This is a safe alternative to the picky twoddlers (too big to be toddlers, too young to be tweens). Holds up to 60 pounds and feels like a booster seat to the kids (think big boy/big girl seat), but is safe like a carseat (5-point harness). And not bulky like most convertible carseats. Fits great in my 3rd row and still room for another child (with no booster).
I absolutely love my Euro II Grow with Mme Chair from One Step Ahead. They sell a more expensive version at Buy Buy Baby, bit this one is great and about a third of the cost. It has an adjustable foot rest so that little ones can sit with their feet on a firm surface, and they’re less wiggly, and it also promotes safer climbing in and out of their chair at mealtimes. We got it for our son, Gabe, who has CP, but our daughter loves it so much we’re likely going to get one for her, too, when she outgrows the booster seat (which will likely be very soon).