Orbitz Family Travel

I plan a lot of my trips right on Orbitz. It's great to have a go-to source online to make sure you get the best deals to places. I have booked hotels, air travel and rental cars through Orbitz. It's definitely one of those places I immediately go-to once my husband and I decided to plan a trip.

I was recently just planning a trip to Cape Cod for this July on Orbitz and I came across this wonderful video they created for families. It's a wonderful way to check out some great tips and advice for Family Traveling this summer!

Audrey's Totsy Pick of the Day - Pancake Red Bear

Totsy Pick of the Day - North American Bear's Pancake Red Bear!

My sons are going to go CRAZY over this Bear! Soft, cuddly and oh-so cute! This is my Totsy Pick of the Day. Talk about becoming your child’s best buddy. The 36” tall bear has an adorable embroidered face and his slightly flat body makes him especially easy to cuddle.
• Color: Red
• Machine Washable
• Tumble Dry

Twitter Party - Monday, May 3rd 9PM (EST)

We're gearing up for SUMMER TRAVEL with a TRAVEL-themed Twitter Party! Stop by and talk about the best travel toys and gear for travel... whether by plane, train or car!

Monday, 9PM EST on Twitter... #TotsyParty

Sales for next week that we'll be talk about?

MN Bird: boys and girls swimwear 40% off
Four Peas: backpacks, duffle bags etc 45% off
Sozo: Playwear for infants 50% off
Nomie Baby: Carseat covers up to 45% off
L'Amour Sandals: for girls 40% off
Penelope Peapod: purse into doll bed, with doll 40% off

The Twitter Party will be rocking!!

Top 5 Must Have Travel Toys for Kids

Top 5 Must Have Travel Toys for Kids.

I'm constantly on the lookout for some really good travel toys. With 4 boys, it's tough to travel anywhere (even 20 minutes!) without having them have some sort of stimulation. After awhile, they don't want to sing anymore songs and they don't want to play "Rocks, Papers or Scissors." So it's important for me to find and have some great toys on reserve for them in the car, on the train and on planes.

These are the Top 5 Must Have Toys for Kids:

Baby Whoozit -This is a staple for my son Henry. It makes him laugh and completely occupies his attention. It's a HUGE hit!

Tiny Love Wonder Wheel -

Music, sounds and tons of FUN! Your child will go crazy over this!

Leaps and Bounds Magnetic Art -

This is fabulous play time for any child. They can be creative and have lots of fun at the same time!

Leaps and Bounds Car Valet -

Keep all the markers, crayons and pens in safe places! This car valet is perfect for organization and keep a child stimulated.

Car Seat Gallery -

Your child will love to sit and stare and engage with the black and white photos.

DONATE CLOTHES THIS WEEK!

I'm a huge fan of the Boys and Girls Club of America and H&M. This may seem like an odd pair to see together right now... but not now through April 28th!



All shoppers are invited to bring "gently worn children's clothing" to any H&M store which will benefit Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide. As a thank you for doing so... H&M will be giving all people who donate a 20% off coupon.

Celebrity Mom Style: Gwyneth Paltrow

Celebrity Mom Style: Gwyneth Paltrow

She's been in hiding lately... I don't think I've seen any candids of Gwyneth is quite awhile. She's one of my favorite style icons. She breezes effortlessly in Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren... as well as the GAP and Old Navy. I love this look right here... this is her packing her car up in NYC. This is her as "Mom"... and that's a refreshing look and taste. It's amazing to see these big celeb moms in real life moments... and seeing them look absolutely chic, beautiful, natural and trendy.

Grab her look:

More Mossimo...

Tips for Being Green Fasionista

Being Earth Month, I wanted to pass along some fabulous tips for staying "GREEN" in a fashion sense. There are so many amazing things that you and your family can be doing throughout the month of April to instill and educate each other on ways to save the Earth. I have really taken an approach with my own sons in taking a Sylvania Earth Day Challenge. We are committing to making energy-efficient actions this month, and it's been an amazing eye-opener for us. My sons are having a blast with it, and we're enjoying the time we're spending with the TV off and the video games "put to bed."
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But where's the fashion sense? How is it possible to be GREEN and FASHIONABLE?

Well, it is possible. You just need to make some changes in your fashion buying and thinking. I promise - you will still feel and look gorgeous!

Here are my Tips for Behttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifing a GREEN Fashionista:

1. Purchase 100% Organic Cotton Clothing. I'm not kidding... organic cotton is the softest in the world!

2. Recycle Clothing with your friends and/or buy vintage. It's a way to reuse clothing over and over again.

3. Purchase Clothing made out of Recycled Materials. H&M has a FABULOUS dress made out of recycled water bottles! It's amazing.

4. Purchase 100% Organic Makeup. There are some incredible lines out there. My personal favorite is: Nvey

5. Try out some Organic Denim. Believe it or not... there are some SPECTACULAR Orgainc Denim Choices. My personal favorite is: Seven for All Mankind.

ZUTANO on TOTSY!!

I have been waiting for the ZUTANO sale on Totsy like a child waiting for Halloween! The anticipation! The excitement! And... ahhh, the DEALS (OK, that's a little different from kids at Halloween - but they wait for free candy!).

I have been a long-time fan of Zutano. They have the cutest, more adorable and functional clothing for kids. Not to mention, the quality is just amazing.

In perusing the sale this morning - I came across my FAVE PICKS! I love that you can buy pieces and create your own outfits together... everything isn't grouped together. I'm in love with the Holstein look... LOVE IT... plus, I can get this WHOLE order for under $25. A ZUTANO outfit for under $25. Head on over!

4 Secrets to Potty Training

4 Secrets for Potty Training.

I'm in the midst of trying to train my 3-yr old son, Benjamin. Benjamin has 2 older brothers and 1 younger brother... in all honesty, I thought training Ben would be (dare I say it) easy. Well... I shouldn't have assumed anything. Ben hasn't been the easiest to train. He definitely gets it, I mean... he just turned 3! I can actually logically talk to him about the do's and don'ts of potty training, that's the funny thing about it. He's just sort of doing it on his own time table... definitely not mine. He starts pre-school in September, so I don't feel this sudden rush or urgency (yet)... but I definitely want him trained for the summer. With 4 sons, 5 and under... I cannot leave anyone alone in the kiddie pool area while I rush Ben to the bathroom in an instant.

So... I have been using some tricks/tips/secrets on him that I used with his older brothers.

Here are 5 Secrets for Potty Training:

1. Potty Watch.If your child loves to wear a watch... this is the perfect "tool" for you. You set it at 30, 60 or 90 minutes. When it goes off, your child runs to use the potty - regardless if they have to go or not. It worked miracles for my son Alexander (now 4 1/2).

2. Corelle's Emma and/or Paul - Drink and Wet Bath Baby

Let your child train a baby doll... Ben has been loving to put Paul on the potty. It's an easy and smart way to have them learn by teaching someone else.

3. Once Upon a Potty -- by Alona Frankel
One of the best books for your child to read about learning to go on the Potty. AMAZING!

4. Tinkle Targets for Boys - Sports
I'm a mom of all boys... I knew that if they had something to aim at, all would be good! This is a fabulous concept and items for your sons as they get better and better with the whole potty training game!

Big City Moms - NYC Baby Shower

Last week I attended the Big City Moms NYC Baby Shower event. Living in NYC for 6 years and having 2 babies there... I would have killed to have gone to one of these events back in 2004. I met up with my good friend Vera to head over together... and got to see one of my great friends and fellow Totsy Mom - Nicole from Mom Trends.



... we couldn't get over the amount of women, the amount of amazing vendors and the amount of baby shower awesome-ness!





Big City Moms know how to host a party. Here are some of the brands who were there - Glamour Mom, Maclaren, Planet Kids, Ouef, Stride Rite/Robeez, Momma Couture, Nomie Baby, Giggle, Babylegs, Boon, Britax, Mam, Destination Maternity, The Bump, Zoli, Skip*Hop, Teutonia, Orbit, Bloom, Stride Everyday... just to name a few!

We walked around speechless. The Baby Shower was absolutely incredible. The best part was that at each table... the vendors engaged and chatted and informed everyone all about their product(s). It was wonderful to see some new items that weren't around 2 years ago when I had my youngest son. I know so many women who are pregnant right now... so I was keeping a little list of all the super cool things I needed to report back about.

One cool place - Baby Safe...



They come to your house/apartment to baby-proof it! They pick all the top brands and products and take that step away for you. Unreal, I loved it.

Glamour Mom was there... I am a HUGE fan of Glamour Mom! They are truly incredible.



Boon... I absolutely LOVED the ladybug!



Big City Moms - Thank you so much! I had an amazing time... met some wonderful new people and truly got a baby itch for baby #5!

Introducing thredUP

There are some ideas that come along where you say to yourself... "I can't believe nobody has ever done this!"

thredUp is one of them. It's genius for moms. With 4 sons, I can appreciate and will absolutely USE thredUP.



thredUP is where moms (and dads!) can exchange boxes of clothes that no longer fit their kids for stylish ones that will. Plain and simple. Say good-bye to trying to organize a clothing swap with your girlfriends. Say good-bye to the bags of clothes that you are "going to out online to sell." Say good-bye to all the busy work. thredUP coordinates the swaps among a group of your closest friends or connect you with thousands of families nationwide. All the swaps are done online, they even offer scheduled home pick-up and delivery. Talk about making it uber-easy... they are!

With my 4 sons, I am constantly going through rotations of clothes. They outgrow things like weeds! It never ceases to amaze me. I started buying new stuff for my younger guys - Ben and Henry (even with 4 boys!) -because I didn't want everything to be hand-me-downs from their older brothers. So right now, I have tons of clothing... with nobody to wear it. When I first heard of thredUP... I was just blown away by the practicality of it... and not only that, they make it easy for us to give the clothing away (and then receive stuff back!). It's just amazing. Affordable. Practical. And fashionable. Doesn't get much better than that!

Constantly buying clothing for your kids gets expensive. Did you know that kids grow out of a set of new clothes every 6 months? That by age 17, kids have outgrown over 1,300 items and parents have spent nearly $20,000 on their clothing? Quadruple that for me. Oh, man...



So literally - these are the easy steps:

Pick. Pay. Prepare and Send.

· Pick a box of gently used clothes you’d love to receive for your child.

· Pay for shipping

· Prepare and list a box of clothes your child has outgrown



· When someone picks your box, send it free of charge

So the only money out of your pocket is paying for shipping on the clothing chose to pick. They manage the quality control and review process and take care of all the details to make sure you get a quality exchange.

it's an invitation-only site - use Mom Generations code for invite.

They have a Company BLOG.
They have a Kid's BLOG.

Celebrity Fashion: Kourtney Kardashian

The Kardashian ladies sure know how to dress... they are chic, hip and always in-trend. I honestly watch their TV show just for the fashions. If there was a DASH store in Rhode Island, I'd be in trouble! New mom - Kourtney - was seen in Miami last week with her sister Kim. I don't know how functional Kourtney's clothing is for every mom (not sure she could easily change a diaper in that outfit!)... but I will say, she sure knows how to make fashion statements. She always wears clothing that treads the line between sexy and elegant... and just makes sense for her. We wear clothing to show pieces of ourselves' to the world... Kourtney does this in a fabulous way.

Key pieces to her outfit:There's one thing moms can keep in mind... it is possible to be fashionable, chic and sexy as a mom. Kourtney always treads these waters beautifully.

Get Her Look:

Black Blazer: DKNY $79
Printed Blouse: Dillard's $38
Fringe Shorts: Victoria's Secret $39.50
Fringe Bag: Endless $38

Style Alert: Bright Colors for Spring

Spring Fashion Alert: Bright Colors for Kids.

What kinds of colors? Oranges and yellows!

The color orange is popping up all over the place this spring. I'm not too surprised, orange is such a beautiful color. It's full of energy and brightness. Who wouldn't want to dress their child in some oranges? What I love about seeing the color orange is that it exudes happiness. You can't help but look at the color and feel a little more relaxed, a little more happy and a little more cheerful!The color yellow is just amazing! Yellow, like the sun... it so gets you in the mood for spring and summer. Yellow is the brightest color of all... it just soothes and comforts. I love the color yellow because it brings a sense of fun and excitement to an outfit. It adds some dimension and freshness. You don't have to dress your child in yellow from head-to-toe, just add some splashes and dashes here and there.

3 Perfect Summer Lip Balms

3 Perfect Summer Lip Balms. (Something will all need for the summer!)

It happens - especially in the hot summer months - lips get DRY. Just like we need to keep our bodies hydrated, we need to keep our lips nourished, too. Last summer was awful for me, I had the most cracked and chapped lips all summer long. You know it's bad when it's tough to even smile! So... I have been on a man-hunt for the past few weeks trying to find the "best of the best" in lip balms. I was pleasantly surprised with what I discovered...

Here are my TOP 3 Perfect Summer Lip Balms:

1. Jemma Kidd's Perfect-Pout Exfoliating Treatment Balm TOPS my list!



I absolutely loved this balm. It goes on easily and it stays ON! It literally stays coated on your lips for hours. I also loved the package it was in because I wasn't dipping my finger into a container, it goes on like a lipstick. I thought that was a clever way to package it. HUGE thumbs up on this balm! Not to mention - the taste of it is not bad at all!

2. Kiehl's Lip Balm #1



Everyone kept telling me to try Kiehl's Lip Balm #1... ! This stuff works magically, too. Again, I love how you don't have to constantly be dipping your finger into something, it goes on smoothly and truly does stay on for awhile. I will say, I noticed a difference in my lips overnight with Kiehl's Lip Balm #1.

3. Chapstick Original



Sometimes you can't mess with perfection. I went to the good old stand-by Chapstick. This stuff is so popular and has been around forever for a reason... because it REALLY works. I live and breath by this stuff for my sons throughout the winter, so I thought I would take a whirl with it for a week and see how to worked on me. It really does moisturize and keep your lips feeling smooth and kiss-able!

Estee Lauder Foundation: Get a FREE 10-Day Supply

Today is all about the BEAUTY MOMS!

Finding the perfect foundation is never easy. You want something that looks natural. You want something that blends well. And you want something that's going to stay put (after all that work, you don't want it dripping away!).

I'll never forget going this girl in one of my classes in college, she would wear SO much foundation, and it was always a few shades darker than it should have been. It was awful. Not to mention... she would always have areas that weren't blended. It seems the #1 question when it comes to finding a good foundation is COLOR.

Well... LADIES! Have no fear!

Estee Lauder has a promotion going on right now where they will find your ideal foundation match (with no purchase) and give you a 10-day supply of that foundation -- FREE!



So if you're someone who really isn't sure of your shade, your finish or your match - FIND OUT at Estee Lauder!

Trend Alert: SUNGLASSES FOR KIDS

It's utterly amazing how "cool" a child becomes with a pair of sunglasses. With the sun shining bright right now... I'm seeing sunglasses as an added accessory in many stores for kids. My sons desperately wanted some sunglasses for the "cool" factor. That's it. It wasn't even so much about the sun shining in their eyes... it was simply because they thought (and I quote) that they were "cool."

So without further adieu... here's my son Alexander rocking his sunglasses after swimming this past week. I think the whole fashion ensemble speaks for itself. He was simply exuding the coolness factor...



Where to find some sunglasses right now:
GAP
Children's Place
Gymboree
Old Navy
Target

Today's Totsy Pick!

This week on Totsy we've got an amazing Teutonia sale going on! 40% off Teutonia Strollers and Accessories!



What I love even more about this sale is that Totsy and Teutonia have joined together to donate $50.00 for each stroller sold and $5.00 for each accessory item sold this week on Totsy to benefit R Baby Foundation.

My Teutonia Stroller Pick:


If you haven't joined Totsy... had on over! Here's a special code.

R Baby Foundation

I am so happy and honored that Totsy is donating a proceeds of their sales this week to the incredible R Baby Foundation. This week at Totsy we're celebrating Mother's Day! Totsy and Teutonia have joined together to donate $50.00 for each stroller sold and $5.00 for each additional item sold this week on Totsy (including Rock & Republic, Dutailier, Liz Lange and Swiss Legend) - all to benefit R Baby Foundation, the first and only not-for-profit foundation uniquely focused on saving babies’ lives through improving pediatric emergency care.

I had the pleasure of going to an R Baby Foundation Luncheon a couple of weeks ago with my mother... her posting of the event leaves me speechless, I would like to share it...

I spent last Friday afternoon at a luncheon event in New York City, "Priorities, Passion and Community", listening to a conversational panel of women, Mompreneurs, who have turned their passions into their work. By work, I mean the definition of their individual creativities, energies, forces, passages... work that changes the world.

The event itself honored the work of Phyllis Rabinowitz, Co-founder of R Baby Foundation. The mission of R Baby Foundation is focused to save babies' lives through improving pediatric emergency care. In its own words, R Baby Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that babies, including those in the first month of life suffering from viral infections and other infectious diseases, receive the highest quality of care and service through supporting life-saving pediatric training, education, research, treatment and equipment. It is Phyllis's story, and her family's story, that turned the tragedy of losing their beautiful newborn baby girl, Rebecca, at 9 days old, to a misdiagnosis at a hospital emergency room, into a life's mission. It is Phyllis herself whom I see as the face of R Baby Foundation, whose goal is to save as many babies' lives as possible... yet I feel the presence of baby Rebecca in each word that Phyllis says.

I am reminded of my Nana and her story of losing her baby girl... a loss that I know she felt every moment of her life. I remember, as a child... I was maybe 8 or 9 years old... talking to my Nana at her big kitchen table early one summer morning. My Nana was cooking breakfast, slinging giant cast iron skillets from the stove to the table to the sink. She was talking about how she used to cook for 6 children... way back when. My Nana was a 4' 7" lady with a big, big heart, and she loved her children and grandchildren beyond all measure. And she showed her love through her big, big hugs and her food. I was asking her all about my Mom when she was a little girl... and about my uncles and aunts. Nana was telling me all about how she got married very young, so in love with the "most handsome young man in all of Brighton, Massachusetts", and a little boy who came along quickly after, my Uncle Ed. My Nana and grandfather (who died very young, and whom I never met) waited for another baby to come along, but when 4 years passed, thought maybe their one little boy was their one blessing. Not so. My Mom would come along next, after all those years... and she became their second blessing from God. Nana and my grandfather thought their lives were complete, but very soon after my Mom was born, Nana found that she was carrying her 3rd child. This was, to her, another miracle. As my Nana told her story about her second baby girl, I was a confused because I knew that my Uncle Bob was the next child after my Mom.

As I sat at the kitchen table on that sunny summer morning, my Nana put down her skillets and rested in a chair. My Nana never seemed to sit. She did that morning. Her eyes were far, far away. I now know that her eyes were searching heaven. My Nana told me about her 3rd baby, a baby girl named Dorothea... a baby whom she had for only a very short time. A few weeks. My Nana told me that Dorothea got sick... and she died in her arms. My Nana told me the heartache. The struggle. The going-on for my Uncle Ed and my Mom... who were very young and who needed her and my grandfather so very much. Nana talked about feeling alone and empty in her world, trying to put the pieces back together. I never have forgotten that morning I had with my Nana. I felt so close to my Aunt Dorothea, a woman I never met... through the words and love and longing of my Nana. I asked my Mom later about her baby sister, and my Mom was very, very surprised that Nana had told me about Dorothea, explaining that Nana never talked about that tragic time in her life.

But I never forgot that morning. Even decades later, watching my Nana hold my children... and when I held my own children and now my grandchildren... I think of Dorothea and I pray to her to watch over my family. I know my Nana is with her baby girl in heaven now, and I see them together. I thought of Dorothea and my Nana when I heard the story of Rebecca. I could see Phyllis's eyes searching heaven... and Rebecca seeing her Mommy honoring her life.

What Phyllis and her husband Andrew have done is to take the unthinkable pain of losing a child away from another mother. Another father. Another family. Their passion and power to save babies' lives has given their baby girl Rebecca an immeasurable legacy. A legacy of life. There is nothing bigger than this.

Please visit R Baby Foundation and do what you can to promote and help this most important mission. Perhaps participate in the Mother's Day Run/Walk 2010 in NYC!! I have already registered to run, and I am building my own TeamCouto to honor the work of one of most inspirational women I have ever met. Words cannot begin to describe the love I still have for my Nana, who has been an angel for almost 28 years... but each time I meet someone like Phyllis, I see my Nana and her great love for the children of this world and beyond. And, by the way, my Nana and grandfather went on to have Uncle Bob, Aunt Jean, Aunt Joan and Aunt Ruth. 7 children in all. My Nana once told me that her arms and heart were always full, always blessed with her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren... but always with the thoughts of her angel Dorothea.


My Nana and my daughter Audrey, June 1978

Phyllis Rabinowitz is the embodiment of saving babies. She may never know how many arms and hearts she has filled.

Tabitha and Marion Broderick's Summer Bonnets

Sarah Jessica Parker already has 2 little fashionistas on her hands! Her beautiful twin girls - Tabitha and Marion - were seen out and about in their stroller in NYC last week looking chic and hip. I absolutely love their little matching cardigans - Tabitha's in yellow, Marion's in pink. But it's their hats that were causing the most fashion-stir!

Where can you find this fabulous, colorful and vibrant hats?

According to Celebrity Babies - You can find Tabitha and Marion's Splashy Floral Brim with pink/green polka crown at Sassy Susu. These are handmade bonnets, full of color and brightness. Can you imagine this is actually handmade? It's incredible. What's even more eye-catching about them is the craftmanship... it's just something that looks like artwork beyond a functional hat for your child. Absolutely fell in LOVE with these bonnets... now I just a little girl to buy one for!

Mother's Day Twitter Party for Totsy.com

Totsy Mother's Day Twitter Party!

When: Monday, April 5th at 9PM (EST)

Where: TWITTER

We're so excited to be hosting a Twitter Party on Monday night in honor of Mother's Day!
(Mother's Day already?)

Yes!

Let's celebrate in style together as we prepare our "wish list" for Mother's Day! We have some fabulous sales starting next week! And by ordering now... you'll have them in time for Mother's Day!

- Teutonia
- Liz Lange
- Rock & Republic
- World of Watches

We're talking fashion and style! We're talking Mother's Day plans! We're talking what-a-mom-wants!

BUT the BEST NEWS! We're giving away a stroller from Teutonia! That's right ladies! Our GRAND prize is a STROLLER! Amazing, right!?(Sneak peak!)

Relax and enjoy an hour with us... ! Be sure to follow all the hosts including: @Mytotsy @AudreyMcClellan @teutonia and @Momtrends

RSVP below with your email address: