crazedparent

I went to BlogHer and got some really cool products...

BlogHer seems a distant memory, mostly because I spent less than 48 hours in Chicago and left before the conference even ended. But somehow, I still managed to bring home some really wonderful product samples thanks to generous swag bags provided by BlogHer, that hawt ladies of Room 704 (How I loved Vdog and her lovely feather boa. Hello, look at her getting her cuddle on with another bit of hotness, Chris Mann.), the cool mamas who hosted The People's Party, and of course, all of their respective sponsors.

Here's the thing--because there always seems to be a thing--I can't remember which products were in which swag bag. Why? Because I had to dump their contents into a big box, purge all non-essential packaging, paper documents and products that I knew I would not use (thank you BlogHer swag recycling room) and ship it all back home. I couldn't check any extra bags on the plane because on my return trip, I needed to land at SFO and quickly get to my ride so we could begin a drive to the wine country in time for a family reunion. There was no time for lengthy waits in baggage claim or Murphy's Law to grant me lost luggage.

Have I lost you yet? Okay, moving on the the products.

My rule for writing about products on crazedparent is pretty simple: If I don't love something enough to buy it on my own, I don't write about it. All of the products I'm going to mention are ones that I've now purchased on my dime since BlogHer. I have not been asked to write about these products, nor am I being compensated for writing about them.

First up, EOS Smooth Sphere organic lip balm. I am an admitted lip-balm addict. I've been hooked on Kauai Kiss since our last trip, but since it's too expensive to buy the lip balm and have it shipped to me, I've been savoring it until the bitter end. But at BlogHer, I was introduced to the EOS Smooth Sphere in honeysuckle honeydew and it's a nice, smooth balm. Very light on your lips and leaves them with a non-waxy, non-glossy texture. Just the perfect amount of moisture; you don't feel like you have to reapply every 10 minutes. Also? I love the weird shape. You can find it at Walgreen's or Safeway for US$3. Or buy it online.

Now, this must have come in the same swag bag as the balm. Totally in love with the EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream. My sample was in "island blue" and it has sweet fragrance that's not overwhelming on the nose. I'm a fan of this shave cream for three reasons--one, it's in a recyclable container; two, both my husband and I can use it because the scents don't linger for all to smell; and three, it's nice on your skin. Your post-shave legs feel smooth and moisturized, versus dry and well, dry. It sells for US$3.50 online. You'll have to check and see if you have any local retailers that sell it.

Finally, the cleaning stuff. Scotch-Brite really outdid itself with the swag it provided in one of the bags I received (I'm so so sorry I can't give credit where it's due...I wish I could remember which bag these came in!) I have been using all the products from the company's Greener Clean line and just love them, from the bamboo-derived wipes to to the soap scrubbers. I dig that they are truly biodegradable and that the packaging is made from recyled materials. I've already seen this line at my local Target and all of the products are reasonably priced.

And the last love of my life right now? The new Bounce Dryer Bar. I frequently forget to put dryer sheets in with the laundry and it drives me nuts. With the dryer bar, you stick a little holder case into your dryer and attach what looks like a dry bar of soap to it. The dryer bar acts like a dryer sheet. And you just need to replace it every two or four months, depending on which bar size you buy (and how many loads of laundry you do). I have found a few articles of clothing with dryer "spots" on them (looks like a spot of oil), but they have been easily removed with another wash cycle.  You can find the 4-month pack online for US$13. I have yet to locate this new product at my local grocery stores or Target.

What products did you end up loving after bringing them home from BlogHer?

Dispatch from the test kitchen: Homemade pizza dough...

My kids love pizza night because it means they can help make dinner, from the dough making to the selection of the pizza toppings. The actual making of the pizza dough takes about 10 minutes total (you were expecting hours, weren't you). We usually make the dough right after the boys are home from school, giving it a few hours to rise. But with our particular recipe, you can let it rise for even an hour and it still works and tastes delish.

Try it out:

1 bag of active dry yeast (we use Fleishmans)
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 cup hot tap water (the the hottest you can make it from the faucet will work)
3 cups flour
2 tbs olive oil
salt

1. In one bowl, add flour and salt.

2. In another glass bowl, sprinkle yeast and sugar on top of water. Let rest for about five minutes, when you should see tons of little bubbles formed on top of the water.

Your water/yeast mixture should look like this:

2. Pour yeast mixture on top of flour mixture and add the olive oil.

3. Mix the dough. I start with a spatula and then knead it with my hands for about 5 minutes. The dough should be smooth and not overly sticky. If you find that it's too sticky and pasty, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time. But be careful -- you don't want the dough to get too heavy. If you notice your hands covered in sticky dough, wash them and dip your hands in flour before kneading again.

4. Form the dough into a small ball and place in a bowl coated with olive oil.

5. Cover the bowl with several dish towels or another bowl (I use a wooden salad bowl). Place in a warm area free from drafts.

6.Let rise for one hour or longer until it's doubled in size. Here's what the dough looked like after two hours:

7. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

8. Turn dough onto lightly greased, large cookie sheet or pizza sheet. Roll it out into the shape of the sheet and to desired thickness. If the dough gets sticky again, add a tablespoon of flour, knead it again and let it rest for 10 minutes. Roll it out again and then add your toppings!

9. Bake for 18-20 minutes on the bottom rack of your oven.

10. Manga! (We call this version the "everything but the kitchen sink."

Wearing bubba...

craI call the Express "Bubba" on a daily basis. No real reason other than it makes him laugh. I was pretty excited when I saw this crazy shirt in current issue of Child .

The "bubba" shirt comes from MeGiant with sizes available for 6-month-olds to 4T...just the right speck for my own Bubba. The other shirts available are very hip...my other favorite is "junk in the trunk." Gotta love that.

Check them out here. They all come in this little lunchbox and sell for $28. I know, I know...a tad pricey for a t-shirt and lunch box.

Perhaps I'll make my own?

Nah...

Cell phone madness continues...

It's no secret that cell phones bug the hell out of me. I won't rant about adults using at the park with their kids anymore. But the thought of a first grader with his own cell phone? Ben Charney over at CNET posted this blurb today about TicTalk, a new cell phone targeting kids.

Blogging Baby also has some posts about other kiddie cell phones.

I just don't get it.

Oodles of unnecessary stuff...

I am such a sucker for baby gear. And since my house is now filled with testosterone, girly girl gear for me is all the better. Like my Petunia Pickle Bottom bag.

 So it should not come as a shocker that when I saw this ad on the Celebrity Baby Blog, I was all over it like a squirrel tryin’ to get a nut in the words of Orange Juice Jones. How could I possibly go wrong with Funky Monkey  Diapees and Wipees or the Buckaroo Car Seat Cover?

Don't get all alarmist on me. I didn't actually buy these things (although I do really like the Diapees and Wipees I have to admit). Why the hell would I spend $104 on a car seat cover that will look like dirt in about 2 minutes. 

Most of the gear is pretty darned cute... I could probably convince myself I need it. But then I'd get the guilt. Ohhhh, the guilt. For now I'll just look from afar.