WINNER! Mom of 2 wins Crabtree & Evelyn giveaway for Mother’s Day!
Congratulations to Sydney Anderson!
She was the winner in the recent Mother’s Day giveaway.
Crabtree & Evelyn partnered with The Oklahoman’s Hiccups parenting blog to give away a vanity case filled with personal care products.
Sydney was chosen randomly, but her email entry sounds like she will enjoy this gift.
~Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch
Giveaway: Crabtree & Evelyn spa gift set!
Because you deserve it, Moms!
Crabtree & Evelyn is partnering with The Oklahoman’s Hiccups parenting blog to give away a vanity case filled with products that will pamper one lucky mom.
To enter, simply send me an email about why a special mom …. or you … deserves to enjoy this beautiful giftset.
Place Mother’s Day in the subject line, and please include your contact information and mailing address.
Here’s more information about the gift, the La Source Vanity Case, described by promoters of this product:
This double-zippered case features an ocean blue print and opens to reveal five La Source favourites for velvety soft skin. Our revitalising La Source therapies for the body and hands are blended with restorative mineral salts and nutrient-rich seaweeds. Fragranced with a crisp, clean scent reminiscent of fresh sea air.
La Source Vanity Case Contains:
- La Source Relaxing Body Wash (250mL)
- La Source Triple-Milled Soap (100g)
- La Source Relaxing Body Lotion (250 mL)
- La Source Hand Recovery (100g)
- La Source Hand Therapy (100g)
Mother’s Day is only a few days away, so enter today!
For more information about Crabtree & Evelyn products visit this website.
~Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch
Enjoying a meal out with a toddler
It started with the menu. It was waved around, used as a hat and, finally, after refusing to surrender it to the waiter, it was thrown on the floor. Then came the wiggling, occasional shouts of boredom and lunges for silverware.
As the noise level increased, so did my furtive looks at our fellow diners. Were they paying attention to our table? When my husband and I walked into the restaurant with our 19-month-old son, did they inwardly cringe at the possibility of having their meal disrupted?
Generally, my son is pretty well-behaved at restaurants. He’s been eating out with us since he was a few weeks old. He knows the routine and usually enjoys watching waiters bustle and diners come and go. Sometimes, not so much.
Over the last year and a half, we’ve learned a few things that work for us to help make the meal more enjoyable. Most of the time these work, but as any caregiver knows, there’s no guarantees with children.
1.) Be prepared. If we’re going to eat somewhere that I don’t think has food my son will eat, I bring a few little snacks or a drink, or feed him at home before we go. Also, bring a favorite toy. We try to keep a toy in the diaper bag that he only gets when we’re out, so it’s more interesting. And it probably goes without saying, but we bring extra diapers and wipes. Your child probably isn’t going to be the best meal companion if they need to be changed.
2.) Keep a wide berth on the table. One of the first things we do when we are seated is to rearrange the items on the table so they are at least an arm’s length away from our son. At his age, he’s like an octopus — there are what seem like 20 arms waving about, grabbing at anything. The more inappropriate the better. A steak knife or hot plate? Perfect!
3.) Know your restaurants. One of our favorite restaurants to take our son to is the Jimmy’s Egg by our house. The waitresses are in constant motion, which is fun for him to watch. They also all know him and make a point to stop by the table and talk to him throughout the meal. Our little flirt loves the attention. Another upside is that we know there are lots of families there, which means lots of noise. If our son yells, it’s not going to be as big a deal as it would in a fancy dining establishment. We know sitting still and quiet for an hour or two is a lot to ask of a toddler, so we get a babysitter if that’s going to be the case.
4.) Know your child. If my son is sleepy, feeling bad or just not in the mood, I can tell he’s not going to do well eating out, so we make other arrangements. If we’re in the middle of a meal and I see my son start to rub his eyes, I know we need to ask for the check, because a full-blown tired tantrum may make an appearance. Knowing what signs to look for can help head off a bad ending to an otherwise pleasant meal.
A book making the rounds in parenting circles, “Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting” by Pamela Druckerman, has been touted as must-read observations on the difference between French and American parenting. Evidently the French parenting philosophy results in well-behaved children who sleep through the night and eat well-rounded meals. Reviews say Druckerman observes French parents eating out and having conversations while their children entertain themselves quietly. I haven’t read it yet, but am looking forward to getting a copy to see if there’s anything I can apply to our forays.
Until then, I’ll probably continue to let my son play with menus.
