Rollin' With The Homeyz

Like many parents, I definitely do not think my kids need one more toy. And if they are going to get something new to play with I'd rather it be educational or something they can be creative with. This past weekend we had the opportunity to check out the very awesome Ridemakerz (think Build-A-Bear but with cars .)

Kids of all ages (this includes adults!) - boys and girls- will love showing their personality by personalizing and building their own car. Customized to be exactly their own and one-of-a kind every step of the way.

Upon entering the store you choose the body of the car you want to make. It could be a small hot rod or monster truck. So many to choose from and some start as low as $12!

Next you'll choose what sound you'd like it to make, the tires and rims, and then put it all together while you get TIMED just like a real pit crew. (And I just learned all this jargon while we are there so if I am totally getting the wording wrong, stick with me!) By the way, I did it under a minute while babywearing thankyouverymuch!

After you've got your car all put together (you can even make it remote controlled if you want!) then you can pick out decals and accessories. Check in at a computer at the end to make your license plate and finish up with all your deets.

Every step of the way is an adventure. MY favorite part was also my boys' favorite part- where you just let them go and the Ridemakerz specialists assist the kids with putting their vehicles together while making it tons of fun. The whole place is a party!

You can hear all about it from my boys in the video below. It's too cute- you must watch.

You can definitely make some awesome cars in any price range. This Friday - you know, the biggest shopping day of the year- Ridemakerz is offering a free radio control upgrade, worth $25!

Win! I've got a $75 Ridemakerz gift card to give away here! Use it at a Ridemakerz location near you OR jump online and create your own without leaving the house! Just leave a comment letting me know the ride you'd chooze! Let the kids get it on it, too- the Ridemakerz website has lots of fun stuff to play around with!

Contest has ended! I LOVE it when random.org chooses a low number! It was comment number 3! Erin from School Teacher By Day, Superhero By Night!

One entry per person and open to US residents only. Winner will be chosen at random after 11:59 PM Wednesday December 3.

Back to Adventures In Babywearing.

Subscribe to my blog here
Twitter me- I'm babysteph

Reach It With HP!

Going to the Blogher Reach Conference in San Francisco next month? Want an extra $250 for your trip- thanks to the terrific masterminds who care about us women bloggers over at HP?

HP is so awesome that not only did they give me $250 to attend the conference, but they wanted to give me an extra $250 to give away to one of you to use for Blogher, too!

So, here's the super easy details:

Be sure you're following me here on Twitter. Tweet about this contest including this url in your tweet. And/Or post about this contest on your blog including this url and a link to HP in your post. Make sure to leave a comment here with a link to your tweet or post so I don't miss your entry. Contest is closed.

You must attend the Blogher conference to win. Tweets and posts about this contest must remain up until the contest has ended. I'll choose the winner by July 1st so that you can get your money in time and make the proper plans and such. Aren't going to Blogher? Then be a friend and tell someone that is!

CONGRATS! Amy In Ohio is the winner!!

There are still a couple opportunities to win $250 from HP here at To Think Is To Create if you enter by July 7 and 5 Minutes For Mom until July 8.

Hope to see you there. Thanks, HP!

Back to Adventures In Babywearing.

Look Who's Got Their Hanes On Now

It's summer and families are traveling. Well, many are traveling. Some are staying close to home for vacations, but I know almost all of us would love a chance to visit Disney World during its Year of A Million Dreams. You know how I heart Disney. And Hanes, the brand we all love, wants you to "Vacation in Comfort"- offering a chance to win a Walt Disney World vacation when you buy specially marked packages of Hanes products.




Enter now through August 30, 2008. Seven winning families will be drawn around September 21.

This week the Travel Mom Emily Kaufman will be sharing her tips here on how to make your family getaway fun & stress free!

Win! I've got a $25 Hanes gift certificate to give away to one of you! Just leave a comment here telling me your travel plans this summer, or a really funny travel experience. Would LOVE to hear your stories! One entry per person. Winner will be announced here and at Prizey Winners by Monday June 23. Contest is now closed.

Congrats to Andrea, the big winner! Enjoy your summer vacation!

Back to Adventures In Babywearing.

Picture Perfect

I love to take pictures. Of my kids. Of my shoes. But I never ever develop them. They just end up in my computer in a little folder that will maybe someday get backed up onto a CD if I get organized (not likely.) I am a blogger, not a scrapbooker. So rarely will you find a photo album at my house and if so, it's from 2002. Seriously.

So, of course I am head over heels that the digital world is coming to me and making it oh so easy and convenient to create beautiful photo memories of my family that actually come off the computer and onto my end table. In less than one hour. That's how I roll.

Oh, HP, you speak the Mom language. Offering a wide range of Photo Creation services such as photo books, calendars, posters, announcements, and more... the always-last-minute gift givers are now always covered. Just take your photos on CD, DVD, USB, or memory card and pop it into one of the HP Photo Creations Computers at a photo center near you. In easy step-by-step touch screen fashion, you turn your memories into art that will be in your hands within the hour!

I stopped into our local Meijer to try it out (don't I look cute?) and had a fabulous leather photo album created of favorite photos of my boys from the past year. I chose where the photos were positioned in the book and what color background and designs would be included. We did a little shopping while we waited for it to print and it was ready in about 30 minutes. For the price you'd normally pay just for an album, I had a bound book with pictures. HP doesn't disappoint- next I plan to make a fun collage for the boys' playroom, and right now they are offering a free one here when you create a 16X20 poster!


The photo album was perfect. Would be a fabulous gift, but this one I'm keeping for myself. My boys were even more excited to look through it- I brushed aside the guilt that I hadn't done this sooner, and vowed to keep up with such a treasure and tradition.


Back to Adventures In Babywearing.

Back to Adventures In Babywearing's sponsor page.

I Left My Heart In Disney (And My Black Sweater, Too)

This week's Destination Disney is about planning your trip and since the Mom Blogger Mixer was my first time there, ever, I don't know what I have to offer. But I can share what I've learned and what I'll do when I do get to plan our family's first trip to Disney World.

Check the Disney Calendar for the best time to go and if anything special is planned that my family might want to participate in. Hello, Star Wars Weekends.

Utilize the Walt Disney World Moms Panel.

Consider what our food arrangements will be and get a pre-paid dining plan pass at discounted cost or book a room with a kitchenette so we can have meals in our room. Or both.

Make a list of what to pack and pack that list so I won't forget anything when we leave to go home. Like I did with my favorite black sweater... somewhere in my Beach Club Resort hotel room I'm sure. Sticks out bottom lip.

View gorgeous photos Disney took of us Moms here and view our group flickr photos here.

Destination Disney: The Magic

It's true- I'd never been to Disney World and this time with the first ever "Mom Blogger Mixer" I was going for the very first time- without my children! From the moment I arrived, I felt the magic.

Maybe it was that I was allowing myself to feel anything and everything that weekend, open to all the possibilities, but I did feel carefree and like a child again. And that, my friends, is a magical experience in my book.

One of the most common excuses I hear from parents about why they haven't yet gone to Disney World is because they "want their child to be old enough to to remember it." But any anyone that has witnessed the wide eyes and wonder the first time a child has his own Disney experience will tell you that you, as the parent, are creating your own memories, too. Memories that are yours to remember forever.

The entire weekend was filled with surprises and encouragement and laughter. All in the backdrop of the fairy-tale Disney World setting. You can read about my first day of the Mom Blogger Mixer here, and the first night here. Saturday is recapped here and Sunday's post sums up the magical weekend here, including photos and a listing of all the bloggers that attended.



Here's Cooper & Me looking oh so cute. Photo taken by Elizabeth.

View gorgeous photos Disney took of us Moms here and view our group flickr photos here.

It's A Green World After All

One of the first things I learned about Disney World was in the car ride with Sean, the Disney Cast Member taking me & Elizabeth to our resort. Disney World spans over 40 miles, and 1/3 of that is preserved as a wildlife conservation area that will never be touched or developed. This was put in effect from the very beginning by Mr. Walt Disney.

Saturday morning at breakfast we had an opportunity for a Q & A. We asked many questions that we felt other Moms might not know about Disney. One of my questions was very honest- many of my friends (and me included) think of Disney World and associate it with consuming and waste and unhealthy eating. It's just a misconception that comes to mind! I wanted to know just where Disney World stands in this respect.

What I found out was surprising and enlightening:


At Walt Disney World Resort, conservation and environmental sustainability are not only part of a long-term commitment to responsible stewardship, but also are key business components evident in day-to-day operations.

Recycling is a big part of waste management at Walt Disney World Resort. Maybe you've already heard about the underground pipes in the Magic Kingdom that suck trash straight from the trash cans. I did not know about this! Sorting and recycling and all sorts of trashy goodness goes on under there to minimize the massive waste we create while on vacation! Our room at the Beach Club Resort had a nice note on the garbage can that encouraged guests to use the bags provided to dispose of their recyclables.

Walt Disney World Resort is switching to more efficient and environmentally friendly lighting all across the property. Even Cinderella's Castle glows "green" during the holidays with more than 170,000 LED white lights to glisten the Castle.

Walt Disney World Resort’s approach to water conservation begins with using less water where possible, and maximizing use of reclaimed water.

In 2008, Disney completed the state’s Green Lodging designation for all 23 resort hotels – representing the largest number of Green Lodging -certified hotels in the state. To achieve this special designation, resorts must focus on five categories: water conservation, education and awareness, waste reduction, energy conservation and indoor air quality.

Of course these are only a small portion of the ways that Disney World is showing its commitment to growing green.

While I was at Disney World, I made sure to use my own reusable bag for all my purchases (I carried this lovely Mi-Bag that I won from Mummy's Product Reviews And I LOVE it!) You can also see in the pic above of Amy & me at the Castle that I even wore my Green Love tee on Saturday, Disney's "green" day!)

I can't wait to share about the healthy eating options available while you visit Disney World, and the amazing assistance you can receive if you or your children have food allergies! Stay tuned...