Something to be thankful for...

So - let me start this out with saying I hate Thanksgiving... I hate the holidays... and it hate it all even more being so far away from family... When I was 13 my parents split... then my grandpa died about a week before Thanksgiving... But the time Thanksgiving had actrually rolled aroun we were so tired of Ham, Turkey & casseroles that we actually made Turkey Taco's & burritos for dinner that year. Let me tell ya, it made it hard to be thankful that Thanksgiving... But every year it gets a little easier... instead of being angry... instead of crying... now I just spend the week a little sad... trying to make the best of the day... and get it over with as fast as possible. But, Im always trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. And this year... it was easier to find that flickering light... the store has been super busy... thus I have busting my butt and staying distracted... this year I did a big push for Black Friday... worked all wednesday and half of Thanksgiving just trying to get ready for it... and biggest kicker to a good Thanksgiving? Hubby did it all!

The day started out with me totally screwing up some Blueberry pancakes... lol the MIL was missing the boys and always made them Blueberry pancakes in the mornings when she had them, so she sent a box of mix in a goodie box last week to make for Thanksgiving breakfast :) I totally destroyed the first two... "thankfully" daddy stepped in and took over... doing a MUCH better job than I did.... either way... the toddlers ate them. We didn't have a "who's was better" contest... but if we did, I probably would have won. lol



After breakfast there was lots of snuggling... watching the Macy's parade... dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba... watching movies...
and prepping dinner... yes... while wearing grown man butt drop zip up feety jammies.

it was nice... after that the babies napped... we hung out... daddy watched football while I took photos and listed all the new goodies you now see in the shop, well... whats left of them... :) And then when the boys got up we started putting together the tree...

I love my tree... its big and full... 9ft tall... Full of pink purple and black glitter ornaments... Skeleton hands made by me with cute little matching bows added to them... handmade skulls from etsy.. and awesome dark pink and purple damask ribbons and matching tree skirt... oh, and lets not forget the lineup of Nightmare Before Christmas Stockings ;)

I suppose if you have to do Christmas... you should do it up right, lol And in this family... that means lots of skulls, pink, black & glitter, lol
Finally - the feast was ready... it was about 3 days worth of food for zaq, myself and the boys... aparently you can't make thanksgiving dinner for just a couple people, lol It was amazing... He hit a total of 3 out of 4 things right on... The turkey was possibly the best I had EVER had... and a close second was the home made mashed potatoes.... i was actually excited to eat it the next day... the rolls... so warm and yummy... the stuffing? FAIL! lol it was dry, crunchy, hard... and sadly... it all ended up in the trash except for what we tried to eat, lol He did SOO great though. I was proud...



So thats it guys... Thanksgiving turned out to be a pretty decent day after all... But just like Brooke said in her blog... Im thankful for my friends and family every day... and every day I kiss on them and love on them... and tell them thank you every time im thankful.. I don't need a day called Thanksgiving to be thankful... let alone a day dedicated to food and football... and family when their not doing one of the other twothings... I just need my friends & my family... every day... and for them to love me like i love them.

Favorites Friday!? BLACK FRIDAY!

Everyone loves shopping on Black friday... maybe not out and about but at least online!! Well, i know time is money - so I have taken some of mine to find you the coolest stuff with the best deals! Check it out!!!

DONT FORGET!! ALL ROCKERBYEBABY ITEMS ON ETSY ARE FREE SHIPPING IN THE US & 50% off shipping INTERNATIONAL!



#1: BasketsofBeauty: Skull Kawaii Soap - Pick Your scent! SALE = Buy one get one HALF OFF! Thats two for like $5!!

#2:Mizuryu (BabyBooFelt): Skulls & flowers Baby Blocks THREE PACK! Totally love these :) SALE: Buy One get one HALF off!! Thats like two full sets for under $20!

#3: BellaPoshPillows: Boo Boo Pocket Pillows - Can be chilld or heated for all those baby bumps and bruises! SALE= maked down to just $4.95!

#4: Kooky Tea Party: Super cute sugar skull ring Just $5.20 SALE = 20% off and free shipping on all items after the first one!

#5: BrookeVanGory: Lime Skulls & Stars Fleece pants/Longies... TOO CUTE! Just $20 regular price. SALE = BUY one get on HALF OFF! Thats 2 pairs for just $30 and can be made in ANY size.

#6: ChildishThoughts: Skull crayon apron. LOVE this for a boy OR girl... SALE = 30% off and free shipping over $50!! (i think you have to email her for the discount... but thats just $14 for the apron :)

#7: Glamasaurus: Poisoned Heart Collage - One of my fav items from a fav seller :) SALE: All collage necklaces are 20% off and FREE SHIPPING! marked down to just $36!!

#8: OHBANANAS: Zano The Monster shirt. Normally $20-$25 SALE: ALL SHIRTS $15 or under!

#9: Pippichick: Super cute iPod pouch/case I totally need one of these! Normally $24 plus shipping SALE = $2 off plus free international & domestic shipping!!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE STARTS NOW!!!

ITS OFFICIAL!! ALL ITEMS IN THE ETSY SHOP ARE FREE SHIPPING IN THE US! 50% off shipping INTERNATIONALLY!
GET A FREE SET OF BOOGER BASHERS WITH ANY PURCHASE OVER $50!!
Tell you friends!
<3 RockerByeBaby

Giveaway Day! MEandREEKIE Skull Booties size newborn - 3t!

This weeks giveaway totally blew my mind. And, im SO sorry that it took me so long to get it going... its just been so crazy around here as you all know. BUT I hope you can all forgive me when you see this giveaway!!!

This week, we had the privilege of trying out a pair of black & white skull Booties from MEandREEKIE.

When I saw them in her shop, i thought they were quite possibly the cutest things i had ever seen. And at the time, her new little shop only had 19 sales!! I knew I could help to change that, and here we are. She graciously sent me the most amazing pair of shoes my boys have ever owned. The photos do not even do them justice. I opened up my package and honestly just couldn't believe it. The quality is by far some of the best I have seen on etsy... the materials? Top of the line... Every detail is perfection... "Boots have black cotton duckcloth on the outside (denimlike weight), soft, fuzzy, ivory fleece on the inside, next to the babies skin. Skull and crossbone ultrasuede applique are cut and sewn by me! Elastic in the back, around the ankle and a snap closure. Bottom is made of ultrasuede (ivory for smaller sizes, black for those over walking age). All seams are enclosed in bias tape to ensure the utmost comfort of your babies tootsies! These booties will not fall off! Guaranteed to last through your next child as well :) Available sizes, Newborn, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months, and 2-3 years" When she mentions the "fleece" inside i really think its an understatement... to me its like a Minky Lambie... it is soft like butter... so squishy... so warm... and totally baby approved. How do I know? Because ever since they came in... zavery spends about 3/4 of his time wearing them.

The other night was a TOTAL meltdown because I took them off to change his diaper and put on jammies... footie Jammies... well he wasn't having ANY of that, and made me put the booties ON TOP of the footies... can you believe it? Its a true story. I couldn't help but laugh and think.. i totally have to mention this in the review, lol.

Not into the black and white skull booties? (is that possible? lol) Have no fear... there are SO many other options in her shop...
First off, the girlie version.... Pink with a gray skull.... ADORABLE!


You can create your own... Gray denim w/ your choice of fleece... "FLEECE CHOICES - please specify when ordering:
white, ivory, light yellow, bright yellow, light blue, aqua blue, navy blue, bright pink, tangerine, burnt orange, red, lime green, olive green, forest green, lavender, grape, burgundy, eggplant, brown, black."



And my personal favorite (aside from the b&w skulls) Is the black with the red check/houndstooth..


I really recommend these 100% to anyone with a kid in the newborn to 3 range. Zaq has even been requesting a pair for himself... first thing he said... I wish i could have skull booties like that!! Maria? Christmas perhaps? lol could ya make that happen?

Well anyways - I know what you guys want... your prolly thinking... GET TO THE GOOD PART! WHAT CAN I WIN!? Well, one of you lucky readers get to pick your choice of one pair ofbooties valued from $19-$22. Be it skulls, or flowers... or something custom... its just for you :) And obviously, you choose your size as well. Could it get any better? No way... :)

So go! Enter!! Win!!
Extra entries?? But of course :)
EACH ENTRY MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE COMMENT TO COUNT!!!!!

#1) Leave us a comment telling us your favorite Booties and which ones you would want to win!
#2) Follow us publicly here on (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a (old or new) follower on our blog.
#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :) Just be sure to include @RockerByeBaby in the tweet so we get it!
#4) Write a blog about this giveaway and link back to this review. Leave an extra comment with the link to the blog.
#5) Fan RockerByeBaby on Facebook...

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

Starting Friday @ 12:01 am ALL items in the ETSY store will be FREEEEE SHIPPPINGGGGG!!! ON EVERYTHING in the UNITED STATES!! OVERSEAS WILL BE 50% off shipping... All purchases over $50 get a free Booger Bashers with their order... www.RockerByeBaby.etsy.com

Shipping will be adjusted so you dont have to worry about waiting or getting a refund!

More handmade awesomeness

So the other day sucked... lots of drama and stress and sadness.... but when the mailman dropped off a couple packages it definitely helped perk me up a bit. My girls always know just how to make me smile. I had bought a OOAK Octo Hoodie for Izzaq from Rocky The Zombie.... which beings our collection up to 9 I think, lol And Brooke from Brooke Van Gory had a coule things to send me for orders & sets... and BLEW me away with my own OOAK diaper bag (Amazing - photos to come later, it deserves its OWN post...) and 4 pairs of t shirt pants for the boys.... we love it ALL!! I took lots and lots of photos to share with you. :)

The Octo Hoodie... and Izzaq with his model face... lol



Isn't it awesome?? And i was worried about size but its perfect... even a little big so they will get at least a good years wear out of it which is ALWAYS important to me. Up next are the AMAZING Brooke Van Gory recycled tshirt pants. When she started doing this i was blown away... such a genius idea and I hadn't seen anyone else on etsy doing it. What a great, fun way to be eco friendly and not compromise style... can you imagine the perfect toddler Misfits pants? Or toddler pants made from your old high school baseball shirt?? LOVE!! So yeah - she sent us four pair... they all equally rock and the boys love wearing them. Im totally jealous because they look SOOO soft and comfy. And the way they are made with the eastic band they will fit forever.... I can see around 5 or 6 cutting them off as shorts... REALLLY good investment for you mommies :)


Izzaq's showing you his big muscles, lol Looks like a poop face... or like his head might explode.... but... he's straining... hahahah. Below are more pics of the pants... and one more little shout out. "Peas of Mind" Carrot Fries...


I always talk about tryign to be good about what I feed the boys... for dinner they are eating All white meat baked chicken nuggets & baked Carrot Fries. I have been watching them at target and FINALLY they went on sale.. one bag was $3.50 (2/$7) They are almost $5 regular price so I was being cheap about it... but didnt know if the boys would like them. They come in 4 different flavors... Carrot fries, Apple Fries, Cauliflower Fries, and Broccoli fries. They have lots of other products as well. But for me it was all about taking a regular nuggets and tater tots dinner and make it healthy. The boys love them and they are a great way to get some extra vitamins & vegis.

"Baked Carrot Veggie Wedgies are made from real carrots and are high in Vitamin A for healthy eyes! These fries are crispy without the added oil and sodium of regular fries. Try them dipped in ranch dressing or hummus.
• Fat Free
• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• Soy Free
• Vegan"

Now - with that said... I think I could make my own... I want to make a pack of Idaho mashed potatos and puree a pound of carrots... throw in a little salt.... mix it ALL together... then roll it out in little sticks... bake them... then freeeze them... I really think it would be the same. Let me know if anyone tries it... Maybe Chef Jen would know how to do it :) A future recipe for The Toddler Cafe perhaps!? With a shout out to RockerByeBaby? lol alright... im done plugging. Be sure to check out all the shops I mentioned today... and I would love to hear some ideas about those vegi fries! The cheap, handmade version :) Brooke, you make your own baby food... get those wheels turning!!

Favorites Friday: The Mustache!

This weeks Favorites Friday? The mustache! Im gunna give you a ride around etsy for all the best mustache gear... a mustache ride if you will... lol



#1: UrbanAntix:
"A Mustache painted on each side of cup to have 2 disguises for each cup. A mustache for each mood." Too funny right? Sip in style...

#2: LIttleAngelsJewelry - "This hilarious and bold Dali Mustache Necklace measures 2" (if you want bigger or smaller or different shapes let me know) Handmade with Acrylic" There are tons of other mustache necklaces out there... but dont be fooled! This shop claims to be the Original!!

#3: Undies: "Gentlemen prefer blondes but scoundrels prefer girls with mustache undies. And we wouldn’t have it any other way, really. Attract the wrong sort with these hand-screened mustache undies printed on black 100% cotton briefs." Lol... remember that mustache ride I spoke of? Need I say more?
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
#4: RADROBOT "Do you support moustaches as much as I do? Well, now you can finally voice your feelings with this classy one-inch button." HAHAHA - love it... i must say, theyre are some bad stache's out there... but some good ones too... I mean where would Hulk Hogan be without his? lol SUPPORT THE STACHE!

#5: TheBoldBandana: "All our apparel is hand printed by us using only the highest quality equipment and eco-friendly soy based screenprinting products." Yay! Its fun... its funky... and its eco friendly!! we love all of these things :)

#6: SprocketBox: "Vinyl Mustache + Mirror = New Mustache = FUN!!" omg - my sis would love these... FAVORITED! might have to add these to her xmas present :)

#7: SallyEnglandDesign "The delightful Mr.Moustache pillow comes with four interchangeable velcro moustaches (Fu Manchu,trucker,gentleman,& salt 'n'pepper!) and a clear plastic storage pocket on the back!" love... lovee... loveeeeeee... too friggen funny!

#8: Sirenaconjersey
Could this tote possibly be ANY cuter? No... i dont think it could.

#9: CathyPeng - "My mustache kitty design has been hand screen printed in a dark chocolate brown ink onto a pair of teal and brown American Apparel baby rib flat bottom panties." So, Im not gunna get personal and explain why i LOVE these... im just gunna let you think about it ;)

Thursdays Tunes: All time Low..

yea yeah... its supposed to be Thirsty Thursday... but my blog my rules, lol and im switchin it up from now on... I like the idea of Thursday's Tunes better... So here I will now be posting lyrics and possible clips to the a tune that keeps running through my head. :) Very excited to share some tunage with you all... would love some comment love and share your fav songs!



All Time Low: Remembering Sunday

Lyrics to Remembering Sunday :
Woke up from dreaming and put on his shoes
Starting making his way past 2 in the morning
He hasn't been sober for days

Leaning out into the breeze
Remembering Sunday, he falls to his knees
They had breakfast together
But two eggs don't last
Like the feeling of what he needs

Now this place is familiar to him
She pulls on his hand with a devilish grin
She led him upstairs, she led him upstairs
Left him dying to get in

Forgive me, I'm trying to find
My calling, I'm calling at night
I don't mean to be a bother,
But have you seen this girl?
She's been running through my dreams
And it's driving me crazy, it seems
I'm going to ask her to marry me

Even though she doesn't believe in love,
He's determined to call her bluff
Who could deny these butterflies?
They're filling his gut

Waking the neighbors, unfamiliar faces
He pleads though he tries
But he's only denied
Now he's dying to get inside

Forgive me, I'm trying to find
My calling, I'm calling at night
I don't mean to be a bother,
But have you seen this girl?
She's been running through my dreams
And it's driving me crazy, it seems
I'm going to ask her to marry me

The neighbors said she moved away
Funny how it rained all day
I didn't think much of it then
But it's starting to all make sense
Oh, I can see now that all of these clouds
Are following me in my desperate endeavor
To find my whoever, wherever she may be

[Juliet Simms:]
I'm not coming back, I've done something so terrible
I'm terrified to speak, but you'd expect that from me
I'm mixed up, I'll be blunt; now the rain is
Washing you out of my hair and out of my mind
Keeping an eye on the world,
So many thousands of feet off the ground
I'm over you now I'm at home in the clouds
Towering over your head

[Alex Gaskarth:]
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home now
I guess I'll go home

Holiday Gift Guide!

Check it out! We made it into the Work at home Womans holiday gift guide!

The Work at Home Woman's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide

Favorites Friday: The Guitar Shirt

There are so many different versions of the guitar shirt out there... I have been a bit inspired today to show a handful of the MANY different ways we etsy sellers have designed our own version of the Guitar Shirt... I think its time we highlight a few... :)

Please take the time to click & enlarge the photo to see some of the amazing details)


#1: Boutique Lucky Stars - "Your little rockstar will love the comfort of this Boutique Lucky Stars 100% organic cotton guitar t shirt. With a vintage look and feel, the guitar is fused onto shirt and top stitched for added durability." I Totally love this one... not only is it eco friendly - its SO CUTE! I love the use of the 2 different fabrics.

#2: RocknRags - "White cotton short sleeve bodysuit with cotton appliqued guitar (fused to prevent fraying). Guitar is cotton, black with PINK, gray and white dots or YELLOW, gray and white dots" Super cute... super simple... and I love the fat zig-zag stitch!

#3: RockerByeBaby - "Its a white with red or turquoise and hot pink Ringer t-shirt... and then I designed and hand cut the guitar applique.... using Robert Kaufman Sugar & Spice fabric... But that wasn't enough...
I added grommets to the body, and strung it up with some turquoise ribbon. *Grommets will be in the color silver* Frayed the edges... and gave it 3 rounds of wiggly jiggly stitches. And now - it really is the perfect combo of Sugar & Spice..." I loved this design... and was super proud of it. As of right now I am STILL the only one doing it with grommets & ribbon :)

#4: Sweet3LeafPrints: "A truly unique EARTHY Electric GUITAR for that special Earthy toddler boy (or girl)! Leaves are Printed in black and blue for fantastic visual effect. Tee says "I Rock" - made from hand cut eco-friendly felt letters. Fused and machine stitched on for durablity." This guitar is so detailed I swear you could take it off the shirt and play it! Its felted under the fabric as well as felt lettering!

#5: BubbleKidShop: "The Jam Session T is made on a 100% cotton, sweatshop-free American Apparel shirt in black. The appliqué is made from fabric reclaimed from another garment and is hand-stitched with white embroidery thread." i LOVEEE this shirt... Its such a feminine way to do a usually masculine shirt.

#6: RessicaJachel: "This rock n' roll Gerber Onesies® brand features three awesome guitar appliques! They will be top stitched with coordinating thread for extra durability." Super duper cute and simple trio of guitars from the Michael Miller Groovy Guitar fabric.

#7: WideEyedMusings: "Shirts are new, and have been washed once for best adherence of the applique. Appliques are designed to fray slowly as a unique and very Euro style! All designs are hand sketched and cut, fused on and machine stitched with coordinating thread." Can we say... amazing!? WOW! A super amazing guitar applique
with lots and lots of stitching details. It looks perfectly sewn!

#8: DameStarBaby: "Each of our guitars is unique, made with an assortment of new and recycled fabrics, silver strings and shell buttons. Yours might not look exactly like this one but we promise it will be just as cute." Possibly the coolest guitar shirt ever made... the buttons and strings make it AWESOMEEEE!!

#9: Vintage Lucys: "Appliqued flame guitar for your little rebels. ~Heat bonded machine stitched applique" Vintage Lucys is totally one of my fav shops. We bought something for my MIL there for xmas. She has all the Rockabilly goodies baby will need :)

FREE BONUS GIVEAWAY THIS WEEK!! The Toddler Cafe book!

Now, how cool is this... Not only does Chef Jen get to take credit for writing the most awesome children's' recipe book in the world, The Toddler Cafe... (yeah, i said it... ITS TRUE!) But she is also super rad! Yesterday after I wrote the blog featuring her book as one of the topics... I sent her an @ reply on twitter.... (@ChefJen) and a short little message on facebook letting her know about my post... Honestly - I didnt expect anything back... Her book gets blogged all the time... She has ALL sorts of press, and in no way did I actally think we were cool enough to get her attention, lol Well - we were... Because not only did she comment on the blog... which i totally LOVED... but she is offering up a book to giveaway to one lucky reader!!! How excited are you guys!? Im excited and its not even for me. Since she was so generous I wanted to sneak this post in early... This giveaway is gunna be EXTRA special and run for 2 whole weeks... So I want you guys twittering, posting, facebooking... whatever you can do to get this book out there... Why do you ask? Well... Lets talk about my love for it some more... :)

Reasons to love The Toddler Cafe:
#1 - Because Jen is awesome... theres a photo of her on facebook with Guy from Diners, Drive Ins & Dives.... one of mine & the hubby's favorite shows... JEALOUS!
#2 - BEcause she makes one of the hardest most stressful things about toddlers - feeding them - easier... and anything that can make my crazy day a little easier is 100% a-ok in my book...
#3 - Because her husband is the photographer... Not ONLY does he take all of the coolest most fun photos for the book, but he has his own site called 350 Degrees Photography and some of THOSE photos are just too cool to describe.
#4 - because she is a funny & witty writer and makes the book so much more than just a Cook Book... it really is an enjoyable read.
#5 - Because the kids look SOOO happy when they eat their grub. They have fun prepping it... cooking it... & eating it. Even if it does take an hour in the bath tub to get them clean :)
#6 - Because its not just a kids cool book... i am DYING to try these Pumpkin Raviolis.... YUM!

#7 - and probably the coolest of them all... because she loves all things Japanese & Kawii possibly as much as I do... ;) And that makes her more awesome than any other chef in the world, lol.

Now, I know you guys are probably like... Amber... Your Rambling again... and yes, yes, I am... but I really stand behind this book and I want you guys to get a chance to enjoy it as much as I do... weather you win it here, or go out and buy it. But, before we get to the giveaway... I want to share the Banana Hot Dog Recipe that I shared with you yesterday!! We are doing this right now, but with Hawaiian Sweet Bread instead of a bun (cuz I dont have one, lol)



"BANANA HOTDOG
Makes 1 serving

1 banana, peeled
1 whole-wheat hot dog bun (or slice of bread in a pinch)
Jelly
Creamy peanut butter

Place the peeled banana in a bun. Fill 2 zip-top baggies, 1 with jelly and the other with peanut butter. Cut a tiny hole in the corner of each bag, and squeeze out onto the banana as you would mustard and ketchup. Eat and enjoy."

This is totally the easiest one in the book and the boys are LOVING it... It was a ton of fun... Super cheap... and made with things that most people usually have laying around... Here is our little montage, lol
(click to open it up a little bigger)

The boys totally loved it... I did a couple things differently... the bread - not the best idea.... I would have been better off waiting for buns, the bread was falling apart... Score one for Jen, lol However... my little wheels were turning and Zave had some yogurt/oatmeal mix left over from breakfast so a smeared it on the bread like you would a condiment... it was a great way to use of the little bit of leftovers and add even more nutrition to it. Izzaq hates oatmeal but had he not been watching I would have done it on his too. He had a TON of fun squirting peanut butter all over the banana... & table... haha.. great project when theyre getting hungry & antsy... Last thing... I wish I would have cut the banana in half... the boys are only ages 2 & 3 and their little mouths cant wrap around the banana & bun... So halfway through zave ditched the bun. And it filled them up quick so they each only ate half... so had it been cut it would have been perfect... less mess & less left over. I hate wasting food. And a drool covered banana didnt sound so appetizing, haha

So thats it guys! Yes yes, it was a super long blog but worth it in the end! Cuz now its giveaway time... You want the book right?? Good, now go enter to win!
Extra entries?? But of course :)
EACH ENTRY MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE COMMENT TO COUNT!!!!!

#1) Leave us a comment telling us your FAVORITE fun recipe that you use for your kids/relatives, etc. to get them to eat.
#2) Follow us publicly here on (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a (old or new) follower on our blog.
#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :) Just be sure to include @RockerByeBaby in the tweet so we get it!
#4) Write a blog about this giveaway and link back to this review. Leave an extra comment with the link to the blog.
#5) Follow @ChefJen on Twitter! Be sure to comment back here with the link and include @ChefJen in the tweet about the giveaway!
#6) Fan US on Facebook...
#7) Subscribe/Follow Chef Jens blog!
#8) Join "The Toddler Cafe" group on facebook!

GOOD LUCK! <3 Amber

Wordless Wednesday? No, something better!

I know i know... today is supposed to be Wordless Wednesday... but how can I be wordless when I have so much to say!! Today I have to talk to you about the new love of my life.... Yogurt... Almost every morning for breakfast Zave gets a big bowl of Organic Oatmeal & Yo!Baby Yogurt. I love that he can eat something SO amazingly healthy and really enjoy every bite. Plus, its organic so I know he is getting the best of both worlds. Oatmeal is super high in fiber and can help reduce the risk of diabetes. Diabetes is a major factor for heart disease so Oatmeal is an easy way to help prevent it. Just half a cup of oatmeal offers five grams of heart healthy fiber and only 130 calories and it even helps to keep baby full rather than a small breakfast then one snack to the next. And yogurt? There are SOO many reasons why to love Yo!Baby Yogurt...

"YoBaby contains our exclusive blend of six cultures, including the probiotic L. rhamnosus. it provides 25% of your baby’s daily need for zinc, the mineral that helps support a healthy immune system... YoBaby provides at least 25% of your baby’s daily needs for calcium, protein, and vitamin D, plus other nutrients essential for babies' growth." Now, I have been using Yo!Baby since they were both little... so over 2 years now... and though I am completely loyal, I can only get the Fruit & cereal yogurt at my local Target. :( When shopping yesterday for groceries... I found something new... and one step above my love for my Yo!Baby yogurt options... Horizon's Natural Little Blends...

I am ALWAYS fighting with my kids to get them to eat their Vegi's and they always win... but with this, they have no clue... no fighting... just eating... like I said before, im in love... Horizon's Little Blends are "produced without the use of artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, and sweeteners, Little Blends is natural. And that means no high fructose corn syrup and only milk from cows free of growth hormones (rbST). In fact, every container supplies 25% of the recommended daily value (DV) of protein, 20% DV of calcium (crucial to developing strong bones and teeth), 20% DV of Vitamin A, plus Vitamin D, Iron, and probiotics. Little Blends is also a source of DHA Omega-3, a nutrient that doctors agree children don’t get enough of. Shown to help support eye, brain and heart health for growing kids, DHA Omega-3 is a fatty acid that has been recognized as playing an important role in children’s development." If you check out the ingredients you will see they use Organic Milk and lots of other Organic ingredients... so I still know Zave is getting the best I can give him... and now, even better than before.

This week - were trying out the Strawberry & Carrot's and also the Apple & Butternut Squash. So far so good! Babies are eating it up and mama can sleep easy knowing they are getting all the goodies they need in their tiny bodies & brains. Hurry and get some yourself! Its on sale at target right now... a 4 pack for $2.50 (2/$5)... Their website also has coupons available so you can save even more. I believe it is $1 off a 4 pack... which makes them just $1.50 right now if you hurry!! HOpe you enjoy my little rambling today... I was really excited to find this new yummy yogurt.

I wanna share with you guys ONE MORE THING that I am sure you will love... back when i worked retail, I worked in a store that had a HUGE cooking section... and before I left I bought the book "The Toddler Cafe"

This book is so beyond amazing and I have not even got to try the majority of them yet. Some are really simple ideas like "Waffle Grilled Cheese" which is as easy as it sounds... just like making a regular grilled cheese but on a waffle maker instead of a skillet... Or, the Banana Hotdog?? Hot dog Bun... Banana... PB & j... crazy right? But genius... all the fun of a hot dog... with none of thr gross fats and fillers of a hotdog! But my favorite that I have been dying to try for the boys Lily Pad Pancakes.

Yield: makes 15 silver dollar-size pancakes
Ingredients
8 ounces (about 1½ cups) frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons water
1 egg
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Vegetable oil, as needed
Butter or plain yogurt for serving
Directions
Preparation: Set aside 1/3 cup of the peas.
Add the remaining peas to a blender with the water and egg; purée until smooth.
Pour the mixture into a medium bowl and stir in the flour, salt, and baking powder and gradually mix with a fork or whisk. Stir in the reserved 1/3 cup peas; let the batter rest for 10 minutes while you clean up.
Place about 2 tablespoons of oil in a sauté pan, warm over medium heat until shimmering, and drop 1 tablespoon of batter into the pan. Gently cook for about 3 minutes, until you see bubbles forming around the edges. Flip and cook on the second side until very lightly browned. Continue until all the batter is gone. Serve warm with butter or plain yogurt.
Variation
1. Add in cooked bay shrimp, diced chicken, or fresh corn.
Notes
Use petite green peas when possible; do not use canned peas for this recipe.
Toddler tip
If your child won’t usually eat peas, make sure you add all the peas to the blender in the first step so they get puréed.

These ingredients will TOTALLY be on the grocery list this week... I know the boys will love them... There are SO MANY more creative and healthy recipes like these in The Toddler Cafe... I really recommend that you go out and grab one for yourself! Also - be sure to check out her blog where you can find random fun recipes that she comes posts through the year! Maybe if you guys comment enough, I can talk her into doing a giveaway on the blog!? COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT! What are your favorite creative kid recipes?

(I am in no way being endorsed by ANY of these products... just items I personally love and use regularly.)

Note to Self Saturday: Shop Handmade

So I know there are a TON of handmade families/etsians out there... Some that are really good about it... Some off the top of my head? Brooke Van Gory, Baby Boo Felt , and one of my favorite buyers, Pili28 Who from what I have seen pretty much ONLY buys handmade goodies... and i know a ton more that Im spacing right now... but the point is... we really gotta be up there at the top of the list... I came downstairs waiting for zaq to get home and had a pretty awesome realization... were were ALL wearing only handmade goodies at the time. In this moment, i was SO proud... I really try hard to spread the etsy love... to keep things more eco friendly by not buying products from overseas... to help our economy by supporting small jobs here in the US... and the list goes on and on and on for all the millions of reasons to buy handmade... and the biggest one? Because we look damn cute! haha

First here...
we have Zavery...

He is snuggled up on the couch with his RockerByeBaby blanket... He is wearing our most favorite toddler tshirt designer... Rocky The Zombie, Keep going down and you will see a super snuggly pair of Fleece Longies from Wild Child and even one of their cloth diapers... and last but not least... my new obsession... MEandREEKIE Skull booties... Stay tuned for a giveaway next week!! I am sooo in love with these shoes... and so is Zave, he slept in them last night, lol


Mr. Izzaq is Also Rockin a Rocky The Zombie t-shirt... but his pants? Made by me :) Im really proud... and also jealous of these. Super snuggly fleece... extra wide leg... and a wide waist band... easily the most awesome pants ever.


Last but not least me... I apologize for the cleavage shot & the booty shot, but I wanted you too see what i had on and i was by myself, lol I made this halter from an old misfits t... its my ultimate favorite... my "go to" shirt... so simple... so quick, and i love it... "NO SEW" halter... i cut out the collar and off the sleeves.. and then cut a ton of little ties... knotted it, and ta-da! halter... Even my big shiny diamond came from etsy! Zaq had it custom made for me :)

and for the skirt, I cut straight across the collar of an old t-shirt... cut off the sleeves... hemmed the top... and sewed the sleeve holes shut... (added a nice "fit" to it.)


SO yeah... thats us! Rockin handmade... and dont we look good!? So todays "saturday" post is this... Note to self: Shop Handmade... there will always be a small designer that can make something cooler, better, and more amazing than your run of the mill overseas store... Sometimes Cheaper... sometimes more expensive... but always worth it...

Tell me, whats your favorite handmade item you have?

Another favorite for today!! THANK YOU ALL!!

Hey guys -
Today is a big day for us for two reason... #1: we reached 1,000 followers on twitter! and #2: I get to write about it in my 100th Blog post!! So I want to get super cheesball on you all for a second... I love that you all find some sort of entertainment in my craziness... be it the crazy stress of the store... the craziness of having 2 toddler boys... 11 months apart... (Theyre always good for some entertaining material)... All the awesome etsy goodies I find... the fun celebrity press we have gotten... or a million of the other things I post about... I just really appreciate it. You all make me feel pretty special. So, thats enough cheeziness for one post. But from the bottom of my heart, really. Thanks for supporting me, my family & my store, RockerByeBaby :)

Favorites Friday: Kawaii... aweeeeeee...

Many of you know my love for all things Japaneese Kawaii... and maybe even my plans to have an entire sleeve swirling and sparkling around Kawaii skulls... music notes... stars... my logo... and whatever other random things strike my fancy at the time... well, since Im not loaded and cant afford my amazing sleeve yet... it will have to wait... *unless one of you wants to make a giant $3000 order ;) * But, since im not holding my breath for that to happen... i gotta drool over these super Kawaii etsy shops.



With all the Kawaii Cuteness... I decided to do 12 items this week :) Click the photo to zoom in.
This weeks goodies:

#1: Needlings - I have ALWAYS been a big fan of this shop... and choosing JUST ONE to get the feature today was super super hard... but Cherry was the winner... I love her big eyes and hand stitched look.. and of course the heart :)

#2: SimbiosisbyJulia - This has ALWAYS been one of my favorite Kawaii prints... favorite favorite... but i have NEVER EVER EVER seen it in black... Not only would i just LOVE to have this pouch... but not I have to track down the fabric too ;) P.s. for those interested, the pouch is on sale along with MANY of their other cute skull pouches! Some under $5!!

#3: RockerByeBaby - hey thats me! I love when my stuff pops up in a search and im like, YEAH! That rocks! This is the listing for the custom Japanese Gift basket... i LOVE making these... probably more than anything else... They are so happy & fun... This one is shown with a huge mix of minkies & the yellow elephant & skull print.

#4: Emandsprout - Kawaii sailor shirt? Totally love it.. its MORE than reasonably priced which i ALSO love... (kawaii can be expensive sometimes) and well, its just plain adorable... check out the rest of the shop for cute booties & more!

#5: Stoopidgerl - Yes... i love her... we know this. She has already graced a few of my Favorite Friday, but I can't help it... her store is so rad & versatile there is ALWAYS something that fits... and this necklace... i just stinkin love it... I dunno why, I would probably never wear it... but it would be PERFECT hanging from a keychain... or from my bulletin board to remind me that sometimes people suck, lol

#6 AppleNoggin - Speaking of Kim @ Stoopidgerl... I saw this shirt and instantly though of her... skeletons and candy are kinda her thing ;) Kim, you should prolly buy this ;)

#7: Twistyfishies - I really just loves Plushies for the boys... especially super cute adorable plushies like this one. They come in all colors and shapes and @ a great price... LOVE LOVE LOVE

#8: Imbornagain - Cuteness overload... wow... pandas... kawaii... bright colors... OH MY! If I had a little girl Id be all this little dress.

#9: HMCdesigns - omg, i have NO idea where she got this fabric... but I need it... i NEEEEEEEEEEEEd it... im in love. The ponies are obviously adorable too :)

#10: MissMercy - I just started playing Candy Land with the boys. Izzaw is working on his colors and its a great fun way to learn. I saw this and it made me giggle. Its a tiny Candy Land necklace that is ACTUALLY playable... it has little piecies that go with it... Hmm... toddler traveling entertainment? Or Choking hazard, lol Either way its insanely cute.

#11: MIZURYU My girl over @ Baby Boo Felt (and also a great buyer :) serisously makes some of the cutest felt food in the WHOOOOLE world... I know, I have some strawberries :) But these Cookies were too damn cute to not make this weeks list :)

#12: BitterSWEET12 - In all my days of seeing these tiny hand made charms on etsy i am still just BLOWN AWAY that people can actually do this... Cheers to you guys... p.s. I think the little sushi roll is my fav :)

You NEED this bib from Evelyn Kate - Free giveaway!

Wow - can I saw wow? Because this is definitely a wow kinda giveaway... I first started talking to EvelynKate back in MAY about a giveaway... BEcause I saw her shop and just fell in love... one thing led to another and we got off track and it didnt happen. Recently I contacted her about joining into the Gwen Stefani gift basket that I helped Melissa at Little Peanut Boutique host... she was thrilled to join in and we started talking again about the giveaway... and guess what, its happening... right... now... :)

I could tell just from the photos, that the quality coming out of this shop was amazing... Take a second to check it out... They have everything from standard waterproof bibs... to shirt bibs (my new favorites)... Diaper Duty's... Pacifinders... and more. Each item looks equally amazing... and seeing it in person just verified it even more. This week we got to try out one of their amazing shirt bibs. They come in a HUGe variety of prints... from modern... to retro... to my true loves ( skulls & bones :)

Lucky us, we got to try the amazing Regent Skulls print... ( again my favorite ) Upon trying this bib out, I have found my new obsession... and lemmie tell ya why.
#1: The bib is made to perfection... and im picky... Not a single stitch is out of place. Is amazing.
#2: Its full coverage... not like a bib that hits about the bottom of the ribs... so even the messiest eaters stay clean.
#3: BEcause its full coverage... Zavery ( who usually rips off bibs) doesn't even notice it, because its really like a tshirt.
#4: You can choose from three sizes of the bib... Size Large worked great for both Izzaq & Zavery @ ages 2 & 3 and will work for a long while yet...
#5: At the bottom is a little pocket... so that way the tumbly crumblies dont hit the floor or your lap.
#6: My favorite part, you dont even have to wash it... just grab a wet rag and wipe it down... you only need a couple to rotate... not a ton like most regular bibs that you have to wash over and over.
How great does this bib really work? See for yourself...

Notice the yogurt dripping down the front of Zave's cutesy So Cal Baby shirt...


and then notice the nice sparkly clean izzaq... :)
There is no way that he could get messy with that bib on! Do you know what this does for my life with 2 toddler boys!? Well, I was so beyond thrilled with this product that I ran out and bought another one :)

Did I mention it was even on sale!? I got this awesome bib for just $12.50 and now its only $12!!!

So, a little recap... its really hard for me to be passionate about finding a baby item... my whole business is based around baby items... and I can pretty much make anything I need... and if I cant? My girl Brooke can, haha But these bibs, I really totally 1,000% support them and what they do. To be completely honest, I wish I had thought of it first, haha. So go... shop... check out her store... buy if you can, i promose you wont regret it. Everything is totally reasonably priced... And they even have a nice Clearance section. Ill even give you an extra entry if you buy :) Oh, speaking of which.......... you probably want to know what you win!!
This weeks winner gets two prizes! A whopping $40 value. You get: One of the amazing t-shirt bibs in the Day of the Dead print below. Totally awesome and perfectly unisex so everyone is invited!

Also - the Diaper Duty... which we didnt talk much about... heres a clip from the listing...
"Our bag features a button closure and a snap on the strap to allow you to attach the bag to a stroller bar!
The bag holds:
*A red toile oilcloth changing pad 12"x16"(included)that folds up to fit inside (this is a compact pad meant to be placed under baby's lower half)
*your wipes case
*about 2-3 diapers"
Your prize:

Love it? Good, now go enter to win!
Extra entries?? But of course :)
EACH ENTRY MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE COMMENT TO COUNT!!!!!

#2) Follow us publicly here on (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a (old or new) follower on our blog.
#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :) Just be sure to leave us your Twitter name so we can check up!
#4) Write a blog about this giveaway and link back to this review. Leave an extra comment with the link to the blog.
#5) Buy something from EvelynKate! Tell us what you got!
#6) Fan US on Facebook...
#7) Heart Their shop!!
#8) Heart/Favorite your favorite item in their Etsy Shop!! Spread that Etsy love!
#9) Go Bump this etsy thread! Then come back here an comment!!