Laurin and Kelly Talk

Better Breakfast in Bed

Only something this fabulous could break the monotony of my long-standing FTP - failure to post. This breakfast tray with built-in flower vase is the greatest thing I have seen in a long time. I think a vase makes a breakfast tray, but also creates the stress of trying not to dump flower water in your frittata. I believe this solves the problem nicely. I can't think of a better wedding or anniversary gift. Le Petit Dej' breakfast tray. $92 at A Plus R.

Why Didn't I Think of That? The Tassi Hair Band

Kelly, one of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was the Tassi Hair Band . Thanks, Shannon! I have been reading about this product quite a bit lately and thought my fledgling frugal self didn't absolutely have to have a fancy schmancy hair holder-backer thingy. After trying it? What can I say? When I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Since embracing my curly hair, I have been all about day 2 or even day 3 hair (dry shampoo is amazing), so I need to keep my hair dry in the shower. I also wash my face every night due to other frick fracking annoyances. I use one of those thin, stretchy hair bands to get my hair off my face, and then I pull my long hair back in a small band.

The Tassi makes all of this so much quicker and easier, plus my hair stays completely dry in the shower now. Just put it on like a regular hair band with the wider part behind your head, and tuck all your hair in. I have a LOT of hair and it's plenty big for me.

It won't mess up your hairstyle, flatten your hair, or put a kink in it. You can even sleep in it. It is a must have. It comes in 12 colors and only $14.99. Update: Buy the Tassi Hair Band here for only $12.99!

Tassi? You complete me.

Photo Credit: Tassi

Finally Done With Formula

Hey Laurin - We did it!  We're finally done with formula for Baby Kitten. She turns one on the 14th, but I decided to start giving her whole milk this week and she loves it! The transition was pretty simple...a few funny faces and she was good to go.

This may also fall under "Why Didn't I Think Of That?"...the brand of formula that I've been using for 5 months, Similac (Organic to be specific), just redesigned its packaging. Of course!  Just as I finished the last can! It's now an ergonomically designed SimplePac with a hinged lid and a built-in scoop holder!  I admit, it's genius!

This may sound trivial to some people, but to those of us in baby mode and using formula, it's revolutionary! Holding a screaming baby and trying to open a new can of formula, then digging around for the scooper is no easy task. Similac got 1,600 Moms together to make the improvements. Their can packaging hasn't been altered much since 1959! 

       

        Old Can                                   New SimplePac

BRILLIANT!

I discovered this when I received a fancy coupon in the mail from Similac promoting the new design. Just for fun, you HAVE to go to their web site Similac.com to see Ty Pennington (of all people) promoting this thing. He's shrunken down to a little Ty walking in and around the Similac SimplePac describing its new features. Too funny!      

Since when did Ty Pennington start promoting baby products?  It must have something to do with the $10,000 you can win to design your nursery (click here to enter).

         

And most moms I know dig Ty...who doesn't?

Well, the formula days are behind me now, but it doesn't mean that I'm not a sucker for great packaging.

Ribbies Clippies Giveaway - BEST BARRETTES EVAH

Hi Kelly. With the twins I have to keep things EXACTLY equal at all times, and since I posted about Jake's bulldog tee last week, and Erin reads my blog, today I'm posting about something cute the greatest hair accessory in the history of time that I bought for her last week at Target. Where else?

Now that I think about it, "Where else?" is actually a significant phrase for the ladies who started Ribbies Clippies. A Target account and a really cute product that is the most worthwhile piece of fashion equipment I have ever bought my daughter? Gawd. I wonder when they are going to be on Oprah? I'm so jealous.

Ribbies Clippies are clip-style barrettes that have a foam grip inside each one to hold it perfectly in place in the hair. If you have a daughter or granddaughter or know anyone with a daughter or granddaughter, BUY THESE BARRETTES, if you don't win them, that is.

I've lost my blog cool and started shouting at you because if I had known about these sooner I would have saved myself a couple of years of guilt over my daughter not having cute little girl hair with adorable barrettes perfectly in place.

I've tried, but Erin refuses to keep barrettes in her straight, fine hair. She forgot once and left one in, but remembered when it slipped and hung in her line of vision from the one lone strand of hair holding it to her head.

Also, she is growing out her bangs. It has been almost one year since she cut her bangs back to the scalp with her craft scissors on Thanksgiving morning and I'm not turning back now! If you've known about these clips for a long time, please don't tell me because I will start to cry.

I am excited to tell you that Ribbies Clippies has graciously agreed to participate in a giveaway for our readers. The random winner will receive a gift set which includes 5 clips, plus two additional pairs, for a total of 9 clippies!

Please know that I bought these for my daughter and then contacted the company to do a giveaway because I think it is such a useful product. I'm not getting any free clips or anything like that. Here are just 3 of the adorable styles. They have solid colors too.

Simple Giveaway Rules:

• To be entered in the giveaway, simply go to Ribbies Clippies and then leave one comment on this post telling us which color or style you would select if you won.
• You can get an extra entry by leaving another comment that includes the link to a post on your blog mentioning our giveaway.
• You can get yet another entry if someone else leaves a comment telling us that YOU told them about our giveaway or our blog - because all little girls need these clips. Also, Kelly and I like to meet new people.
• Finally, leave us a comment that you already are a subscriber to our feed, or that you just subscribed by feed reader or e-mail, and you get another entry!

You must be over 18 and provide a U.S. shipping address if you win, in order to be eligible. The giveaway will close at midnight on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 Eastern Standard Time. We will randomly pick a winner at that time and announce it the next day. Good luck!

Work Making You Tired?

Kelly, consider this. You are sitting at your desk nodding off, but worry that putting your face down on the keyboard might tip people off that you are not actually working. What to do?

No problem. Get the Pilo-Pilo ring and give the appearance from a distance that you are merely concentrating on the latest insipid e-mail from your boss.

Now you don't have to spin your ring around to avoid skewering your face, and you have a nice cushy pillow to snooze against.

This is one of the funniest, most ridiculous -yet not, products I've ever seen. In 10 different patterns and $25 - $35. Why didn't I think of that?