Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

This great find was sent to me by a fellow mommy blogger named Julie.  I think this is the CUTEST idea!  Here is what she writes..

“You know those nostalgic moments when you go in the basement of your parent’s house, dust off the old photo albums, flip through the 2×4″ sepia pictures, and smile at each one, trying to remember where you were and when it was? Our children realize how lucky they are to have digital cameras today. I can take six of the same photographs of my daughter. She smiles in half and of the half, her eyes were open in only one. So that’s the one I print! The one in my old photo album? The only one my mother took: Not smiling, eyes closed. And I don’t have a clue how old I was. I guess 6 months. My mother tells me I was more like 1. Ugh…

So imagine my delight when I found Picky Sticky: round stickers, 4″ in diameter, that announce ages (0-12 months; 1-12 years), celebratory months, and even count progress of pregnancy by the week. Picky Sticky comes in girl-friendly and boy-friendly.

How it works: Step 1) Get baby;   Step 2) Put baby in onesie (white works best);   Step 3) Put said sticker on said onesie;   Step 4) Take picture (or 6, if you’re like me). VOILA!

This is my daughter, Hailey, sporting Month 3′s sticker.

I actually did get some of her smiling, but I think she looks like a little doll here (Ahh, she melts me).

Pros: Different colors; Different Styles; Easy to use; No sewing, tape (or anything else crazy!) required; Comes on easily/comes off easily

Cons: What cons? (No, I don’t work for them…!)

So for less than $20.00, you can record your child’s milestones through a photograph (or yours if you’re pregnant!). What better way to truly capture a moment. LOVE THESE.”

Visit Julie’s blog, Farber Family Adventures, for more product reviews, giveaways, and to see her Hailey’s version of the old dusty sepia colored photo album!!

This past Sunday I got invited to a mommy blogger event to experience the phenomenal Pacific Waters Spa at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa in Huntington Beach.  One of my favorite parts of doing my blog is getting to experience fun, local events so I can share the information with you firsthand.  And, I have to say, it doesn’t get much better than a spa invitation!  I know, it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!

The past month I had 2 trips to the E.R. with both my girls on separate occasions, one of which landed us in CHOC hospital overnight.   I have a whole blog on that coming later this week.   My kids are both fine, but needless to say, it has been a really stressful month.   To say I needed a few hours to relax and unwind was the understatement of the year.

The minute you walk onto the property and take a whiff of the clean ocean air, you feel like you are on vacation. I exhaled for the first time all week.  The spa is nestled in a charming courtyard beyond a little koi pond bridge.  From the outside you are unable to tell just how magnificent it really is, but then you step inside and enter into a heavenly retreat.

We were first shown into the ladies lounge and got our lockers.   The changing area is great – lots of lockers and big ottomans and lots of space.   We changed into our spa robes (loooovveeeee the spa robe!) and  were shown two different recipes for body scrubs and foot scrubs you can do at home!  I will do another post on these, it would be such a fun thing to do together with girlfriends.  And, with all natural ingredients.

Then we hung out in the relaxation room with chaises and chairs with cozy blankets next to a warm fire and waited for our treatments. There are so many places to hang out and relax there, including two outdoor courtyards with nice patio furniture and even an outdoor fire pit.

Then we were shown into the hallway of treatment rooms.  So gorgeous! A huge arched ceiling with beautiful lighting and just entirely tranquil.   We were given samplers of their facials and massages.  The minute I relaxed on that heated table I think I almost melted into it with relaxation!   My esthetician, Gloria (or as she told me to call her) “Glo” was fabulous and really made my skin “glow!” She told me to eat Coho salmon from Trader Joe’s to help with my “35-year-old wrinkled from parenting dehydrated forehead”!  I think I might have to eat salmon every day all day to help, but I did appreciate the advice!  The women who did my massage was equally fabulous.  I didn’t want it to end!

We were then taken into the salon for a little mini manicure.   The exfoliating scrub and moisturizer she used was just what the doctor ordered for my poor hands that are so dry from over washing and antibacterializing this winter.

Afterwards we got a sample of the DELICIOUS spa menu!   Delightful sandwiches, salmon (woo hoo – I am on my way to better skin already!), grilled veggies, salads and fruits.

I just kept thinking about how much FUN it would be to meet a girlfriend (or two or three or four) there and make a day out of it.   The amazing treatments aside, the facilities ALONE are incredible….a beautiful indoor jacquzzi, steam room, outdoor spa grotto, lunching in the courtyard, etc. 

Are you hooked yet?  Are you ready to call your girlfriends and plan a spa day?

Here’s a way to save 20% on a 60-minute treatment!

The Pacific Waters Spa is having a fun little contest for bloggers.   If you, my wonderful Tiny Oranges readers, become a Fan of the Pacific Waters Spa on Facebook (click HERE) or follow @HyattSpaHB on Twitter (click HERE) and, this is the important part, write on the wall or tweet “I became a Fan after reading Tiny Oranges!”  the blogger that gets the most new fans wins a spa day!!!!

It is almost too much for me to fathom, an entire day.  A mom can dream, can’t she?

They also have a fabulous Membership program, where for 3 or 6 months, you get three 60-minute treatments and unlimited use of the spa facilities and pool anytime!  Valentine’s Day is coming up mamas…forward this to your hubbys! Click HERE to contact the spa for more info.  And click HERE for the brochure!

Okay, just typing this  makes me want to go back.  I am seriously considering a membership.  Our job as moms is hard – we deserve some kid-free me-time periodically. Good for the psyche and the soul.

The Lil Artist is an exciting new company founded by Amy, owner of the fabulous custom stationery design studio Lil Bean Sprout. Make sure to read the instructions below on how you can win $50 off a party package OR a private in-home collage workshop for you and two friends!

Are you ready to get creative?  The Lil Artist offers Art Parties and Creative Art Workshops for adults and kids alike.  Here are some descriptions on how YOU can unleash your creativity with The Lil Artist!

Art Birthday Parties

Looking for a fun new activity for your child’s next birthday party? Excite your guests with custom party packages and various art themed parties.  All of your participating guests will join Amy and an assistant in a 1 to 1.5 hour lesson and go home with a 67 piece art set, a drawing notebook and all the artwork created during the lesson!    Click HERE to see some of the super fun themes!

Celebrate Your Creativity with Group Paintings!

Are you hosting a party? Maybe a housewarming, dinner party, bridal or baby shower, wedding, community event or basically any kind of get together with your friends?

Amy will set up an easel at your party and all your guests will have the opportunity to paint something on the canvas.  She be onsite to help guide your guests and encourage them.  Throughout the party she will begin to tie all the elements together to create a one spectacular painting that you will forever cherish.

Isn’t this a fun idea for a baby shower?  The mommy-t0-be could take the masterpiece home and hang in the baby’s nursery. Such a special keepsake!

Collage Workshop (GIRLS NIGHT OUT)

This is such a fun and unique thing for you and your girlfriends to do together.  Amy will walk you and your friends through a fun and stress free collage workshop. You do not need to be an artist to do this type of artwork.  She will teach you some fun techniques of collage and together you will layer various materials on canvas to create a beautiful piece of artwork.

Workshops

Amy also offers Workshops at her home.   The next one called “Abstract Floral” will be held on Friday, Jan. 22nd from 7pm – 9pm.  Click HERE for details and registration!  Only 10 spots available, so reserve your spot ASAP!

Hooray!  It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

One lucky winner (contest limited to Orange County residents only) will receive their choice of either $50 off a party package OR a private in-home collage workshop for you and two friends.  To enter, simply leave a comment below.  Tell me, which of her party themes sounds most fun to you?  Click HERE to see all the themes.  Comments must be in by 12pm PST on Sun, 1/17/10. Good luck!

{The Lil Artist & Lil Bean Sprout are Tiny Oranges sponsors}

My aunt and cousin just gave me a pair of these super cute long johns for Morgan today and I just flipped out!   Instant blog material!

These “Red Baby Long Johns” are from Red Envelope and can be personalized with white embroidery on the old school button-flap bum.

Hers say “Morgan’s First Christmas!”

I can already see the pics of her on her tummy on Christmas morning in front of the tree in her new little jammies.

Such a great gift for baby’s first Christmas!!

If you are looking for a different sort of DVD to get your kids this Christmas, you should definitely check out Quiet Time Tales, a new, mellow form of entertainment for your little ones!

There are lots of times during the day when I literally want to pull my hair out because of all the NOISE.  The bells and whistles on all the toys and busy TV shows sometimes drive me nuts!   I have been known to walk around and turn everything OFF periodically so we can momentarily exist without noise pollution.  That’s why I thought this DVD series was SO COOL.

They contacted me back before the OC Children’s Book Festival and sent me a copy to check out.  I was so impressed I signed on with their affiliate program because I think your kids will love it too!

It is a collection of stories read by Grandpa Read, a cuddly-looking Mr. Rogers-esque sort of grandpa, sitting in a rocking chair.  His voice is very mellow and soothing – a really great storyteller.

Although the DVD includes intermittent illustrations, it is really storytelling at is purest, thus forcing kids to use their little imaginations to picture the classic tale.   This is unique in today’s world, and the part I loved the most.

It’s a great DVD to put in when your kids need a little “down time.”   Shhhh….it’s Quiet Time….FINALLY!

Hooray!  It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

One lucky winner will win the 1st 4 DVDs in the series of 12 (Collection 1: Volumes 1 – 4)!  To enter, simply leave a comment below.  Tell me, which classic story from this collection would your kids like to hear Grandpa Read tell?

Hint: visit the store on the website to find out which stories on are the DVDs!  You can enter as many times as you would like.

Mention in your comment to “add me to the Quiet Times e-newsletter” and get an extra entry!  You only have to mention this once (one extra entry per person permitted.)

All comments have to be in by 12pm PST on 12/16.  I will post the winner next Thursday! Good luck and happy weekend everyone!

Congratulations!  The winner of the Taut Canvas giveaway (as chosen by random.org) is… Genevieve!!!!!!