Lexington SC Real Estate Professionals

Chapin Real Estate and Chapin Homes of Lexington, SC. Serving buyers and sellers. Online property search services available.

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I * Love * These Sippy Cups!

I've always been excited when one of my four children was ready to start drinking from something other than the bottle.

But I have to admit I'm not a fan of the sippy cup either.

After watching my little ones suck and suck on a sippy cup, I tried it myself. And while I had a much easier time getting liquid out, it still took a lot of effort.



So, after a while, I just removed the flow valve.

Which then leads to spills.

Ugh.

When provided with free samples of the new-to-the-U.S. trainer cups by Tomme Tippee®, I really didn't hold out a lot of hope that they would be much a different. But I'm willing to try anything once.

WOW! WOW! WOW!

FINALLY....someone has listened to these complaints and created a sippy cup that WORKS.

I have been a Mom for 18 years now, and I have never found a product where I have seen such a HUGE improvement.

Designed by a physicist to be both so sensitive that liquid flows on demand yet truly remain spill and leak proof, Tommee Tippee® are created with BPA Free plastics in stages starting as early as 6 months.

I am so very impressed with these AWESOME sippy cups from Britian's #1 baby feeding brand and STRONGLY recommend them to everyone!



P.S. Join Tommee Tippee on Twitter, and enter their sweepstakes on Facebook!

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Three Movies for Thanksgiving That You Gotta See

You're stuffed with turkey and dressing. The football game is over. Night has fallen on Thansgiving Day.

So what to do now?

Well, if you're not one of those (crazy) people who is turning in early to hit those Black Friday sales the next day, here's a great idea: Family Movie Night Thanksgiving Edition.

Here's three great movies I recommend for this holiday season kick-off day:

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Remastered Deluxe Edition)


The New World


Home for the Holidays

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Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas and Contest

I stumbled across a really cool site this morning that I wanted to share: Coolest-Homemade-Costumes.com.

This site offers hundreds of cool costume ideas for any occasion. And they are neatly categorized to make your search easier.

The Best Part: Make your own costume and enter it in the 2009 Homemade Costume Contest for a chance to win $500 Grand Prize! Second and Third Place prizes also given!

I wound up browsing this site for way too long, but walked away with some unique ideas - even for a non-sewing mama like me!

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Got Gift Cards? Buy, Sell, and Trade Them at Plastic Jungle!

How many gift cards are you toting around with the best of intentions, but knowing very well that you'll never get around to using them?

Or maybe you're a big fan of gift cards...regularly seeking out deals that let you pay pennies on the dollar for a gift card at a store or site you regularly shop.

If either of the above scenarios applies to you, you need to check out Plastic Jungle!

Recently added to Oprah's 25 Solid-Gold Ways to Save, Plastic Jungle is a one-stop shop with inventory that includes discounted gift cards from stores such as Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, Macy's, Borders, Banana Republic, Old Navy, AMC Theaters, Lowe's, Neiman Marcus, Pottery Barn, Sears, Applebees, Blockbuster, Cheesecake Factory, Disney Store, Gap, Hobby Lobby, L.L. Bean, NFL Shop, Pier 1, Starbucks, T-Mobile, and MANY more!

From Plastic Jungle, "As the premier destination to sell, buy, exchange, and donate gift cards in a trusted environment, Plastic Jungle offers the simplest and safest way to save money at your favorite stores and turn unwanted gift cards into cash. All transactions are guaranteed, and we offer industry-leading features such as gift card replacement protection in case they are lost or damaged. "

Hey, if it's Oprah's list it has to be good, right? ;) Check them out and see for yourself!

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Stop The Thumb Sucking Now With Mavala Stop (Product Review)

Since my now 4-year-old son was three months old, he's sucked his thumb.

It's rare that we can find a photo of him without his thumb being in the vicinity of his mouth; not always in but definitely nearby at the ready!

My husband and I have tried everything to get him to stop this horrible habit: promises of rewards, pepper, Tabasco sauce....you name it, we tried it.

Taking into consideration that my now 13-year-old sucked his two middle fingers until he was three (stopping on his own), we even tried waiting it out.

However, after doing plenty of research, I learned it is an absolute must that children stop sucking their thumb by time their permanent front teeth are coming in; which is typically around the age of 5.

Not to mention that I really didn't want to send a kid off to kindergarten still sucking his thumb.

After all of our other efforts appeared to be fruitless, I decided to give some "reminder fluid" a try.

Searching all of the information out there on "reminder fluids" and reading personal reviews on each product, I opted for the Mavala Stop for Nail Biting and Thumb Sucking.

Wow! Is this stuff amazing! Hindsight makes me wish I'd saved all the trial and error and started at this point.

Just minutes after applying the first coat, I saw a streak of little person running to the refrigerator to grab some water. It tasted that horrible!

Since the first time I applied the stuff to his thumb, he's never sucked it again. Just to ensure the breaking of this orally unhealthy habit, I applied it a few more times but it really wasn't necessary.

Mavala Stop is easy to use: paint on thumb as you would nail polish, dries clear within seconds. Although the smell and taste is horrendous, it is non-toxic and safe for consumption.

You can purchase this miracle product at Amazon from a variety of sellers for as low as $8.50 USD.

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Jungle Jack Hanna's The Wackiest Wildest, Weirdest Animals In The World (Book Review)

God's creatures aren't just great and small. Many of them are also wacky, wild, and weird!

My animal loving (to an extreme!) 4 year old couldn't hardly contain himself as we pulled Jungle Jack Hanna's The Wackiest, Wildest, Weirdest Animals In The World from the box.

A brightly colored cover with clear, bold photographs inside appealed not only to him, but me as well. (And a 20 minute DVD with Jack Hanna full of bloopers and behind-the-scenes footage was icing on the cake!)

We immediately sat down and read this interesting and entertaining children's book.

Some of the things we learned included:

• A young hyena is called a whelp.
  
  
• Cape Buffalo can weigh up to 1,000 pounds
  
  
• The plate on each armadillo's head is unique just like human fingerprints
  
  
• An octopus has three hearts

Not only is this an attention-catching children's book, but an excellent learning tool; especially for the curious preschooler or early elementary student.

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Bumbo Seat A Must For Older Infants (Product Review)

I haven't had an infant in my home for over four years, which at times means I can be out of the loop on some of the newer baby products on the market.

As soon as my baby girl was holding her head up on her own, I kept hearing, "You gotta get a Bumbo."

Over and over I heard this; all the while thinking, "What in the world is a Bumbo?"

Since I'm not one to jump feet first in to anything, I first did my research. Imagine how taken aback I was when one of the first things I came across was a Hubpages article sarcastically written (although it's hard to tell unless you read the whole thing) stating that these seats had been recalled.

With a little more sleuthing, however, I came to realize that the writer of the previously mentioned article had essentially poked fun at the name and spun off a little bit of truth; specifically, in October 2007, Bumbo International did experience an U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall that required them to provide additional safety warnings.

Not surprising, really. How often are many practical, wonderful products are recalled to put "common sense" warnings that have been omitted. With the Bumbo, they were required to place additional warnings on the box about leaving infants unattended; or using the Bumbo on countertops, chairs or other elevated surfaces.

Basic cover-your-behind warnings.

Once I realized that the Bumbo was a safe product, I was ready to give it a try.

Best thing I ever did!

As soon as she learned to hold her head up, my daughter has been determined to sit up.

Rolling over? Her opinion: do it a few times so I'm up to speed with pedi, but let's move on to the sitting up.

And let's face it, with four children at home, Mom doesn't have time to sit around play sit-up all day.

The Bumbo has been my lifesaver!

This colorful, foamy chair has allowed me to give baby girl the sitting time she wants without tying up my hands. And being lightweight, I can tote it from room to room to keep her in sight.

Princess A loves this little chair so much that she could care less about her baby bouncer now. If she's not sleeping, not playing with Mom, Dad or the boys, she wants to be sitting in her chair.

I would add this product to any must-haves-for-infants list.

Who is the product recommended for? Bumbo should only be used with infants who have the ability to bear the weight of the head alone. I would also recommend waiting until they have at least minimal strength in their back even though the Bumbo site does not mention this.

Where can the Bumbo be purchased? The Bumbo is available at a wide variety of discount retailers or purchase direct from the Bumbo International website. A wide variety of the Bumbo products is also available at Amazon.

What colors are available? The Bumbo comes in Aqua, Pastel Pink, Blue, Lime, and Lilac.

I love the Bumbo so much (and my daughter too!), that I will soon be trying to the tray attachment and, later, the potty training seat.

Remember, not only is purchasing this a great idea for your own infant but consider purchasing one as a baby shower gift - I'm sure the Mom will thank you many times over within a few months!

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Out With The Old, In With The New

We had remodeled our home to add a fourth bedroom less than one year before I discovered I was pregnant with our fourth child.

We immediately began looking to optimize space within our home to accommodate the little one without infringing on the other three's new found freedom with their own bedrooms.

The most important decision we needed to make was bedding; and we opted for a space-saving bassinet.

We purchased The First Years 5-in-1 Carry Me Near Sleep System; and it was a purchase we'll never regret.

I had never bothered purchasing a bassinet before; instead opting to go from hospital to crib. For the first time in 17 years of motherhood, I was trying something new. And, wow, I wished I had known then what I know now.

I can't say if it was the confining space of a bassinet (versus a crib) or just my daughter's personality, but she was eager to sleep through the night immediately. Add the multiple sound features such as mother's heartbeat, rainfall, chirping, and music, and my daughter, unlike her brothers, learned very early to be a self-soother.

It's now been four months later and she has essentially reached a point where she has less than an inch space between the edge of the bassinet and her head when she is fully stretched. As a result, we've had to force her into a crib.

Force being a key word.

Again looking to save space, we decided on the Davinci Emily mini crib. While not as large as a standard crib, the mini cribs offer plenty of space for a growing infant. And we were hoping that it's smaller size wouldn't intimidate her and she'd take right to it.

The first night she moved to her new crib was a rough night, as she awoke in the middle of the night and refused to go back to sleep (something she hadn't done in many, many months). As I sat there rocking her, singing to her, I was tempted to drag the bassinet out and let her have her way.

As I continued trying to get her back to sleep, I seriously considered just letting her sleep in it until she graduated high school.

It's been two weeks now and she's finally growing accustomed to sleep in a bigger bed. But I have no doubt that she'd return to that bassinet in a heartbeat.

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Diapers.com Offers Cheaper Prices Than Walmart

I thought I was diaper-free when I potty trained my second child just before he turned two; and loved it when I kept taking the amount I was spending on diapers each month and putting it into a savings account.

Then surprise - I'm pregnant with baby number 4! So much for the savings.

In January, it was back to diaper buying. And every two weeks, I would shell out $19.97 plus 9.75% sales tax (a total of $21.92) for 100 diapers; making the cost per diaper 22 cents each.

Then I discovered Diapers.com. Through this company, founded by two fathers who had tired of the "diaper run" chore, I am able to purchase 228 of the Pamper's brand diapers for 20 cents each and they are delivered direct to my door by UPS.

I always take advantage of their free shipping offer on orders totaling $49.00 or more by combining the diapers with baby wipes. (Shipping on orders less than $49 is only $4.95)

If you're tired of diaper runs and the higher cost for diapers from Walmart, give Diapers.com a try. And with your first order of $49 or more, you can receive $10 OFF using coupon code TMT0509 and receive free 2 day UPS shipping.

But Diapers.com is not just for diapers alone. Just recently we purchased a Davinci Emily mini crib for Princess A. Considering the free shipping and the fast response time in receiving the product, Diapers.com beat Walmart hands down!

Diapers.com is the only place I will shop for diapers until my youngest is potty trained; and it will be the first place that I shop for other baby items such as foods, furniture and equipment.

And for all of you Green Moms, Diapers.com also offers a full line of cloth diapers, clothing, foods, and more.

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AWESOME Customized Gifts from Personalization Mall

Twice a year - Mother's Day and Christmas - I struggle to find my mother the perfect gifts. After all, what can you get for the woman who has everything?

Not too long ago though I stumbled - purely by accident in a last minute rush - into something my mother loves....anything that is or appears to be homemade and relates to her grandchildren. (Maybe I should be a little jealous that she doesn't find my handmade stuff so adorable anymore; but, hey, I'm just happy to find a gift she likes so I'll let it slide!)

Getting back on topic....I now make it a habit to find her gifts that she such as this. And I was thrilled to come across PersonalizationMall.com - a never ending supply of affordable, personalized gifts!

This year for Mother's Day I chose to purchase the Greatest Grandma © Keepsake Platter ($29.95) and had it customized with my children's names; in addition, I was provided with a variety of "characters" to represent the names. (While there was room for up to 6 names, I only put my four children - remember, with my mother anyone whose relation to her does not start with "grand" has lost their cute factor.)

She loved it!! She giggled like a school girl whose best friend had just told her the name of a boy she liked. Which was then immediately followed by a long, rambling discussion of where she was going to put it in her house.

I love it when I can find something that she enjoys so much!

And since my father is just as hard, if not harder to shop for, I very much intend to return to Personalization Mall for a Father's Day gift.

Here's another great thing: if you're a last minute shopper such as myself, then you're still in luck. Most items, even customized items, ship within 1 to 2 business days. I ordered on Monday before Mother's Day and had it on Friday. And I didn't even pay for rush shipping!

I will be visiting Personalization Mall frequently for most of my gift shopping and I encourage you to give them a try too!

[GIVEAWAY CLOSED - WINNER: JINXY & ME]

An email has been sent to the winner as of 06/14/2009.

SAVE $5 ON ANY PURCHASE OF $15.00 OR MORE BY USING COUPON CODE PM6680!

(View More Coupon Codes)

WIN A PERSONALIZED BATH TIME © TOWEL!!

Here's What You Need Do:

• Visit PersonalizationMall.com (opens new window) and come back here to leave your a comment telling me your favorite item along with your email address.

Want extra chances? Just do the following (please leave a separate comment for each additional entry - thank you!):

• Blog about this giveaway - include a link to The Mom Trap (www.themomtrap.com/) and Personalization Mall using http://tinyurl.com/pv86py [must use this specific link] - and leave the link address in a comment.


• Follow me on Blogger.


• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway with "RT @kdcantrell" in your tweet. (Available once per day)


• Add my button to your blog and/or website


• Follow me on Facebook


• Subscribe to this blog through Feedburner.

Contest available US only. Failure to provide a valid email address will render an entry void. Contest begins on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, June 14, 2009. Winner will be announced at The Mom Trap by noon on Monday, June 15, 2009. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize and provide a shipping address and name for personalization purposes.

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