Mommy Tips and Tricks: Registries

Something is in the water.  Everyone is pregnant lately.  Beware.

Several of our friends and fans have asked Mommy lately ... where did you register?  Mad Max is here to help get you started ... I'm going to show you some retro pics to go along with information on
registries.

Crancer is one friend above that is needing to / working on registering.  Congrats "Auntie" Crancer!  I can't wait to show Christopher the ropes.  Here I am with her in the hospital.  Looking a little bloated (me, not Crancer).

Train Wreck Mommy and I registered at Giggle.  If you have a super hip urban fetus that appreciates high design and eco-friendly items, this is the place for you!  What did Mommy and I like best?  Their super nicely designed website, uber easy to use, great registry checklist (we used it for all of the registries!), helpful reviews, and the products are just the best.  You can find products on here that you can't find anywhere else.  Some of the products you can find elsewhere for cheaper, so just do your comparison shopping.  Or hire an assistant like I did (thanks Mommy!).

One thing to note, they may not have a free-standing store near you, but who shops in the store now anyways?

Photo: I am in my Take Me Home Gift Set (Organic Cotton) from giggle.  This was one of our favorite items from giggle.  Mommy said (for us) a take home outfit is a must!

We also registered at Target.  This place is also great for your super hip urban fetus that appreciates high design, and Target basically has nearly everything you need.  (As I'm sure you already know).  Be sure you have a checklist before you start registering on-line because there is so much to choose from.  I think you already know why Target is so awesome.

The downside is they don't have as much in the store to look at ...but again, don't we all shop on-line?

Here I am above as a wee one (aww I know) in my Kolcraft Contours Bassinet.  A bassinet is a nice to have if your baby is in your room with you, and also Mommy was scared to put me in the big boy crib.  My bassinet right now is with Oliver.  He just arrived within the last week (Mommy's friend from work is the Daddy to Oliver).  Congrats!  Don't poo in my bed!  Haha.  

Don't forget to do your research on some products!  Gramby helped us check for safety ratings and reviews for some of the most important products on Consumer Reports.

We also registered at Pottery Barn Kids.  This store is great for your super sweet babies that appreciate quality and personalized products.  We did most of our registering on their website, but we also picked several items in their store.  They have a nicely designed and easy to use website.  And if you've ever been in their store, it's the same experience!  What do we like best about Pottery Barn Kids?  Mommy and I found my nursery bedding there: Sweet Lambie Nursery Bedding (Organic).  See photo above.

What else do we like?  Personalized items (and quality products!).

Downside ... there isn't really a downside.  Some of their items can be pricey, but they are worth it.  They also offer great sales.  Just do your research on items you can find elsewhere!

MORE REGISTRY IDEAS ...

Mommy and I would also recommend: diapers.com, Land of Nod ... and for your super luxury babies maybe Serena and Lily and Restoration Hardware Baby and Child (which Restoration may be along the same lines as Pottery Barn Kids, but we could be wrong).

Where did you register?  Let us know!

Contact us with any additional questions.

-Mad Max

Mad for Mommy: Letter of the Day

On Thursdays, we are aiming to do a "Mad for Mommy" blog (Mommy Tips).

Tip: Be sure to incorporate letters, words, and reading every day!

Mommy and I make this easy.  For example, you can make a letter of the day.  You can use letters as your floor mat (found at Lowes), or you can eat your letters.  As you can see in photos below sometime last week our letter of the day was W or maybe it was M, either way.

How do you incorporate letters, words, and reading into your day?

-Mad Max

Mad for Mommy: Ball Pit

On Fridays I will provide my weekly "Mommy Tips" ... Mad for Mommy!  As we all know, if anyone needs tips ... it is Train Wreck Mommy.

I'm borrowing this idea from Gma A aka Gramby.  Shout out to Gramby.

If you've been to the Children's Museum of Houston you may know that they have a few small ball pits in the Tot Spot area.  Seriously, what can be better than a pit full of balls?  Okay, yes, maybe sharing some baby espresso with Hemingway, but since we don't have a pit with Hemingway at the Children's Museum, I don't think that counts.

Me eat balls.  Me hungry.  (By the way, why doesn't Cookie Monster use proper grammar?  Ponder that.)

Yay!  Nothing like being caged in with a bunch of plastic balls!

In all seriousness, this is loads of fun.  At least 15 minutes of fun.  Okay, maybe 5 minutes of fun.  If you have a portable crib / playpen and some balls (ahem) - you have a ball pit!  (Thank you Chicco, Auntie Tam, and Uncle Michael!).  Now, obviously, you should probably add more balls than we did (hint, hint, Mommy)... then step 2, add baby ... step 3, take photos of baby in jail ... step 4, baby eats and throws balls.

Quality family fun.

How do you like to spend time in your playpen?

-Mad Max

Mad for Mommy: Facetime with Auntie Tam

Mad for Mommy is my new Friday blog!  I'm going to give Mommy Tips to all Train Wreck Moms in my Mad for Mommy blog.

So first Mommy tip ... not sure how to keep in touch with family and friends (and foes) that are far away?  Auntie Tam and I do weekly Facetime dates.  We love to laugh at each other, cause trouble, and try to touch each other through the screen (Mommy gets nervous and says "my iPAD!  Careful!  Gentle!"...

How do you keep in touch?  Give us tips too!

-Mad Max

Do you know a trendsetting Super Infant?

If you do ... then bookmark Babiekins Mag.

More from Mad Max soon!

-Mad Max

Piggy Bank

Are you a penny pincher like my Daddy?  Haha, love you Daddy ...

If so, you will like this link from Babble: Top 15 Deal Sites for Families

More soon!

Love,
Mad Max

There's An App For That

Train Wreck Mommy needs this ... (and you might too!): Top 50 iPhone Apps for Moms.

Not only that, but be sure to check out the The IPhone Mom's website.

Mommy, when do I get an iPhone?

-Mad Max

PS ... stay tuned for more antics with Mad Max ... including my F1RST Robotics competition!

Mad Max Loves Art and Art We Love

Do you love contemporary art as much as TW Mommy and Mad Max?

Wouldn't you love some real contemporary art in your nursery or house?

Check out this interview with the founder of Art We Love.  Then go check out the Kids Collection on Art We Love.

Mad loves this piece by Seth Indigo Carnes.

-Mad Max

DIY Mommy ... Crafty McCraft

Okay ... Mommy and I aren't really a fan of "craft" ... (see: awesome art teachers!)... but of course who doesn't love D.I.Y.?  I enjoy designing my own hipster bibs to vomit on.

So Mad Max thinks you will love the Top 50 Craft Mom Blogs from Babble.

-Mad Max

Block Party

Who doesn't love Etsy?  You can buy super hip (super infant) items ... while supporting small businesses / artists.  Train Wreck Mommy and Auntie Tam always find the best stuff for Mad Max ... !

Mad Max is in the market for some Alphabet Blocks.  And of course black is a necessary color.  I play with black and wear black on the outside because I feel black on the inside ... I'm very hipster goth rocker like that.

Check out these awesome blocks by Tiny Giraffe.  My 3 month birthday is coming!  Hint Hint!

What creative finds have you bought from Etsy?

-Mad Max

Super Fashionable Mommies

TW Mommy was not so TW and just signed up for Totsy ... I can't wait to get my Super Infant Rockstar Skinny Jeans ...

You must sign up for it, Mommies! (And friends of Mommies and Babies! ... hint hint Auntie Tam) ...

-Mad Max

Super Mommy Bloggers!

Where has Mad Max been? ... well, as my fans, you know weekends are very busy for me.  I have much to catch you up on too!

On Friday I went with TW Mommy and Gma and Gpa A to my first Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Yeeeehaw!  Then on Sunday it was Gma J's Birthday!  Stories and photos to come ... stay tuned, I hope you can sleep at night.

To hold you over, Mad Max found you some other Super Mommies you can read about (although, really ..isn't there just one you want to hear about)?

Enjoy this list of the Top 50 Mom Bloggers from Babble.  Mad Max wonders ... who are the top 50 Super Infant Bloggers?

-Mad Max

Mad Max is Lucky

Train Wreck Mommy doesn't get the chance to read too many magazines anymore ... (maybe she hit her capacity after working in media at Gotham Inc. in NYC for several years ... piles of free magazines a day... oh what Mad Max would do for an incoming subscription to Vanity Fair and The New Yorker!)

But one of her favs was always Lucky Magazine.

But even better news for Train Wreck Mommy and Mad Max!  Lucky just launched Lucky Kids.  Mommy, I think someone needs to get us a subscription!

And FYI, of course they are on Facebook and Twitter.

Auntie Tam, Auntie Tam ... do you have a copy laying around your office you can mail us each month?  Love you.

-Mad Max

Oh, Mommy ... there's an app for that!

Lately Train Wreck Mommy is CK Obsessed with her iPhone and apps (and she's hoping to see the new iPad in her future ... which would be good for Mad Max of course since I am becoming a Professional Super Infant Blogger and Viral YouTube Star and conquering the world, etc... etc..).

So of course I had to share this handy tidbit on Playdate Apps for Smartphones.  You must check this out!  You too ... may need it.  Every day is like a world of playdates for me (although I'm not sure that I've officially ever had one) ... so I will do anything to help keep Train Wreck Mommy together.

Train Wreck Mommy of course downloaded all of the free ones already.  If you do so and sign up (free!), be sure to let her know.  I think our favorite so far is RedRover.  We are suckers for most anything nicely designed.

Let Train Wreck Mommy know if you signed up for it, and find her (RedRover)!  Mad Max loves to make dates.  Hello, Super Ladies!

And besides playdates ... there are other features like Super Infant-Friendly places around you, Clean Bathrooms around you, and more.  (Mommy and I used a Changing Table for the first time in a restaurant the other day.  Let's just say when Mommy was trying not to vomit on me ... she was screaming "don't touch anything!  Mommy will hurry!"..).

More app suggestions soon!  And more Mad Max soon ... I know you've been waiting for that.

We look forward to hearing from you.

-Mad Max

How To Be A Happy Train Wreck Mom?

Hahaha ...

Mommy saw the author (Meg Meeker, M.D.) of 10 Habits of Happy Mothers on the Today Show and on the train wreck show Kathie Lee and Hoda.

Mommy thinks all train wreck Moms (okay, train wreck or not!) should check out this book.

Love you Mommy!

-Mad Max

Mad Max Loves Art + Education + Eating: Must Buy!

Wow, I must take after Mommy, right?

I found something perfect that goes with all three of these things ... hint hint!  Must buy, Mommy and Daddy (for when I am a tad bit older).  (And hint, hint to both Grandparents when I come visit!).

I promise not to embarrass you with my advanced vocabulary ... artistic skills and more.  Ahem.

Check out these creative placemats in the article Dinner Just Got Smarter from Baby Center.

They are by a fellow Super Mommy.  You can buy them in that link!

Mad Max loves interactive placemats.  Check out the ones below that you can find at one of my favorite stores Giggle.  There's a store location in my Auntie Tam's neighborhood, SOHO (check out their website for more locations).

And for those you waiting on a blog about the Great Stroller Embarrassment (or a day out with the Train Wreck Ladies) ... stay tuned!  Mad Max is just a very busy Super Infant.

-Mad Max