How many of you are expecting, or know someone who is? I happen to know a ton of people who are about to become parents, and it's always so much fun to go shopping for baby furniture and accessories with them. I suppose it's because I need to get my "baby fix", even though we're done having children of our own. 

Or perhaps you have little ones of your own, and you're looking for sleek, modern nursery decor for your nursery or playroom. I happen to love bold colors and prints with a true designer feel. Sure, bunnies and teddy bears are cute, but this mama loves some glam reminiscent of some fabulous Soho boutique. 

One great place to find baby and children's furniture and decor that is anything but ordinary is My Urban Child. They have a wide variety of bedding, lighting, furniture, decor, and even play items that are sure to satisfy even the most discriminating of tastes. Many of their items are worthy of even the most extravagant of celeb nurseries, and will definitely leave you drooling. 

Not familiar with My Urban Child? No problem! I'd love to introduce you to this gem of a retailer! 

If you're the parent of a teen like I am, first, my condolences. Teens can be a disagreeable bunch, and they're not always too eager to help with the household chores. My son, Kyle, would rather do just about anything than help clean...Even clean up dog doo-doo from the yard. 

One of his least favorite chores would have to be vacuuming. We have a bulky, overly expensive canister vacuum which admittedly is a major pain in the rear to move from room to room. I can't blame him for running and hiding when it's time for his daily chores. 

So recently, when I got the opportunity to try the brand new Rocket Ultra-Light Upright vacuum from Shark, I was curious to see how his attitude surrounding housework would be effected, if at all. 

The Shark Rocket is a pretty amazing little machine, weighing in at under 8lbs, and it harnesses the power of extreme suction to clean better than top selling full-sized vacuums without the added bulk. 

My kids absolutely love anything Disney. One of their favorite Disney shows would have to be Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Not a day goes by that Sophie and Xander don't run around singing the Hot Dog Song. It's really cute, and I am glad to see my kids so enthusiastic about the wholesome kind of magic only Disney can provide. 

On December 3, 2013, a brand new adventure will be available on Disney DVD. In Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Super Adventure!, little ones can join along in a brand new adventure of epic proportions. Here is a bit more about this exciting new release:

I don't know about you, but I don't think a woman can ever have too many shoes. I have close to 50 pairs myself! I get shoes to match certain outfits and color schemes, seasonal shoes for every kind of weather, and of course shoes that are just plain fun to wear. Shoes are a wonderful way for a woman to express all the unique aspects of her personality, and I absolutely love them! 

Of course shoes also top the Holiday wish lists of many, many women. You can never go wrong giving footwear! (Trust me guys, she wants shoes. You'll thank me later. Wink, wink.) 

One awesome brand you'll have to check out this season is Sandgrens Clogs. I fell in love at first site! For a long time I was under the misconception that clogs only came in one style....Closed toe and open back. Boy, was I wrong! The folks at Sandgrens Clogs offer boots, mary janes, and even clog-style sandals. There are tons of different styles and colors, so you're bound to find something you absolutely adore. 

It's the day after Thanksgiving....If you've come out of the notorious "food coma" that comes after a huge feast with family and friends, chances are, your mind has turned to shopping. With all the great Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to be had, this is THE time to score the best Holiday gifts at some amazing prices. 

Once you have your gifts, of course you'll want to wrap them up and hide them...Or not...Depending on how many curious, sneaky kids you have running around. We have to strategically hide our gifts throughout the house in places that the littles will never suspect. 

I might be a bit odd, but I think part of making a gift super special is wrapping it in beautiful gift wrap. Sure, there are tons of cutesie wrapping papers available at big box retailers. Those are fine, but certainly don't scream "special". 

That's why I was thrilled to learn that one of my favorite global retailers, Novica, is now offering some stunning, handcrafted gift wraps made by skilled artisans around the world. Novica, in association with National Geographic,  simply acts as a middle-man of sorts, allowing their customers to enjoy beautiful, unique pieces made by true artists. Each piece is unique, lovingly made, and offers a ton of multi-cultural flavor. 


Check out these gorgeous gift wrap collections. Prepare to drool! I love this Banana Mango Saa Wrapping Paper. It's made in Thailand by an artist named Tumthong.. She crafts the sheets of paper from natural saa (mulberry) pulp, and mixes bark from the banana tree to obtain a slight yellow hue. When she adds straw, she obtains a different batch with brown undertones, and when she uses mango leaves, the handmade paper is green. The set of six includes two 45 gram sheets of each color.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, although maybe the indigestion hasn't quite yet, shopping season is in full swing. I couldn't believe the images filling my timeline last night showing hordes of super-motivated shoppers crowding into major retailers looking to save a few bucks. All I can say is WOW! 

I am not going to lie...I hate crowds, so I generally do all of my Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping online. That way, I can still score some great deals without having to fight for parking or play Tug O' War with other shoppers trying to grab the last (insert hot gift here) off of the shelves. For those who enjoy that kind of thing, have fun! For me, ehhh... No thanks! I will shop at 2:00AM, from my couch, in my footie pajamas. 

One of my favorite retailers for kids' gifts is CPToys. They offer a huge variety of toys, puzzles, games and more from some of the hottest brands like Playmobil, Melissa & Doug, and LEGO, just to name a few. Many of their products are quite unique and cannot be found at big box retailers!  Check out this oh-so-gorgeous Electronic Grand Piano, for example! More about that in a minute, though. 

I have LOADS of winners to announce! I have notified all by e-mail, and winners will have 48 hours to claim their prizes. Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and check back often for more great giveaways!

Without further ado, here are my lucky winners! Congrats!

Barney Perfectly Purple:
Stephanie L.
Angelina Ballerina:
Lanicsha W.
Beyond Strong:
Laurie N.
PlayMG:
Jessica S.
Thomas 3 movie pack:
Chelsea B.
PomTree:
Jen V.

Here in NE Ohio, boot season is definitely here. We have several inches of snow on the ground and more on the way!  Of course my kids are all decked out in their winter's best, including boots from Umi Children's Shoes! 

Whether you're looking for boots, sneakers, dress shoes, or sandals, there is something at Umi that's sure to delight. Their styles are not only adorable, they're made specifically for developing feet, and are durable enough to withstand the use (and abuse) of active children. 

Want to score some amazing savings without having to brave the Black Friday crowds? You're in luck! From TODAY, Thanksgiving, through tomorrow, Black Friday, you can enjoy a whopping 25% off of your Umi order! 

Simply use the code UmiCrunchyMama upon checkout! This code is valid on everything Umi carries, so be sure to stock up on their latest styles. Your kids and your wallet will thank you!

To take advantage of this amazing offer, simply click HERE and be sure to enter the above code at checkout! 

Offer is valid from November 28-November 29th and cannot be applied to previous purchases or the purchase of gift cards and cannot be redeemed for cash or used in combination with any other offer.


Happy Shopping, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

As soon as you become a parent, your child’s future becomes your most important consideration. As a parent, we only want what is best for our child and sometimes making the difficult decisions can be incredibly hard. Ensuring that your child has a ‘well rounded education’ is vital. Here’s how you can give them every possible advantage.

Education and Schoolwork

Almost every parent goes to sleep at night wondering the exact same thing: “How do I get my child to do their homework?” Put simply, there is no simple answer to this, and every child is different. However, despite this, there are some simple methods that can be adopted.

Firstly, make sure (if possible) that your child gets into a good routine at a young age. If your child gets used to doing their homework before watching television time then you’ll find it much easier to persuade them as they get older- it is much harder to get them out of a bad habit.

Secondly, take a real interest in their work. Children find school work incredibly uninteresting but, if you take an interest and help them they’ll find it much easier to engage. Again, start young and the process will get easier.

Social Education

Experts will jump at the chance to tell you that a healthy and balanced diet is essential to a child’s development. Although this is definitely true, there are a number of other areas to consider and their lifestyle is just as important.

Although schoolwork is incredibly important for your child’s development, they’ll also need to take part in a number of recreational activities in order to receive a rounded education that develops their social skills. Only a mixture of both academic and social development will secure the best possible future for your child and, if you successfully combine both, your child will have every possible chance at succeeding.

Help and advice on how to help raise your child is always round the corner, so never fear if you’re unsure on the best course of action. From experienced childcare advice to advice from grandparents, there’s always a suitable option for you. If you’re a deeply spiritual person, you could also check on your child’s spiritual wellbeing through Kooma psychic readings. If you’re a parent who believes in the importance of the soul, this could provide you with important advice. Everyone raises their child differently, and you have to choose the option that’s right for you and your child.