We have a lot of dishes at home, mostly a mix and match assortment of things we’ve inherited from family or picked up on the cheap at clearance racks. What I’ve been wanting, hoping for, is a set of classic dinnerware – something with a little heft and a little class to use when having a nice dinner. Enter Oneida’s Chef’s Table collection – available in round, hard square and soft square – whatever style speaks to you, they’ve got the perfect set of classic white dishes that you can integrate with your other dishes easily. I love that I can mix and match these with any of my current dishes without worrying about a clashing pattern.

I was a little bit concerned when I received my collection to review from Oneida – two of the dishes arrived broken inside of their bubble wrap. Despite the many FRAGILE warnings written on the box, it looked like Fed Ex may have played field hockey with it on the way to my apartment. The box was in rough shape and I’m glad only two of the dishes had broken. After emailing Oneida, I found out they’ve been having this problem with FedEx a lot despite their warning labels on the boxes. They shipped me out replacements for my two broken dishes which arrived within a day, in perfect condition.

Still, having gotten two broken dishes right out of the box worried me a little bit. I have a young, clumsy family and most of our dishes are of the impossible to break variety. How long will these dishes last me? A little bit of quick research tells me that the Chef’s Table collection was actually designed to be “chip resistant and tough enough for every family’s active lifestyle” – and while I won’t be handing one to my four year old any time soon – I have to agree that the dishes feel fairly tough in my hands. Having already survived a couple of sessions in the dishwasher and our daughter’s first birthday party, I’m slowly gaining confidence in these classically gorgeous dishes. A friend and I both commented at the party that the dishes felt “just right” in our hands as we sat at the living room couch eating our dinner of spaghetti and fresh salad (photographed above). Oneida comments on their website that “each dinner and salad plate has a special “restaurant rolled edge” to protect it from chipping. [They] also designed a special “finger-touch grip” on the underside of each plate, so you can pick it up even when your hands are wet.”

I definitely appreciate the effort put into that “finger-touch grip” – and I can say that having washed these dishes a few times, I never felt like I might lose my grip on the dish, no matter how wet and soapy they got. Everything about these dishes feel sturdy and comfortable from cleaning, to drying, to eating off of. They definitely fall on the heavier side of  dishware but holding just one or two bowls or plates feels perfectly natural. They are sturdy enough to hold a lot of food but light enough that you can comfortably eat off of them while sitting in the living room, talking to a friend. Dishwasher and microwave safe, I’m fairly confident these dishes will stand the test of time in our family and I look forward to many more dinners with them.

BUY IT! The Chef’s Table collection at Oneida is actually on sale right now. Pick up a 16 piece service for four for just $84.99. Check out Oneida’s website for even more great products for your home – with dishes in dozens of colors and designs as well as flatware and even products for kids and babies – I could easily spend the afternoon drooling over all their great things.

Tips for Easy At-Home Entertaining from NY event stylist and owner of SC3 Group, Angela Giannopoulos:

• Versatility is key. Make considerations when stocking your kitchen cabinets— consider cookware and serving dishes that can be used both for smaller and larger occasions, as well as casual and formal ones.
• Accessorize your home. I often hang on to things that I shouldn’t, but have learned that any little knick knack can come into play when decorating for events. I’ve made candle holders out of mason jars, a menu with a chalkboard and centerpieces using old pitchers.
• Use nature to your advantage. When decorating, use sprigs and blooms grown near your home to add life to your table settings. Various shades of colors found in wildflowers often create an organic energy making a table setting more inviting for guests. Also, arranging flowers in different sized vases can be visually appealing on a long table while single, tall flowers work well with a table for two.
• My last bit of advice is to choose dinnerware that is versatile. Consider something that is durable enough for daily use and chic enough for evening occasions, such as Oneida’s Chef’s Table Collection.  This mix and match collection was designed with a modern look to complement any table setting.

Thanks to Oneida for providing these fabulous dishes for review. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own and I did not receive any other sort of compensation.

Finding the right sippy cup (or any of the other milestone variations from bottles to straw cups) can be tough – between a baby’s potential finickiness with different spouts, speeds and textures, parents also have to worry about things like BPA, Phthalates and PVC. You won’t have to worry about any of those chemicals with BornFree’s new line of sippy cups, straw cups or pacifiers. We were excited to try out their Twist’n Pop Easy Drink Straw Cup – when my son was BB’s age, he had a hard time with sippy cups, having never really gotten comfortable with bottles. Straw cups were an instant life saver and we hoped to have the same luck with Miss Baby Blueberry.

Of course, having just started using them, I can’t honestly say she’s quite gotten the hang of a straw cup. She can definitely get water to come out of the straw, but keeping it in her mouth seems to be another story altogether! I’d warn parents that unless the cover is closed (you can just twist the top and it covers the soft silicone straw and locks the cup shot) it is not even a little bit waterproof. We’re sticking to water with this cup until she’s really, truly figured it out.

One thing I like about this cup, which isn’t true with all straw cups, is that the straw is one piece. A lot of similar cups have a soft top with a hard bottom that come apart – which for us just means more parts to lose. BornFree’s straw is all one piece, easy to clean and dishwasher safe in the top rack. -edit- My apologies for being a moron – the straw is two pieces, it’s just better built and disguised that fact until closer examination. I still prefer it over other straws, as I said, I think it’s much better designed, but it is two pieces.

WIN IT!

Thanks to BornFree, we’re giving away (1) one Twist’n Pop Easy Drink Straw Cup in blue and (2) two packs of pacifiers, One package of (2) two Clear Button pacifiers for babies up to 6 months and one package of (2) two CoolFlow pacifiers for babes 6 months + to (1) one lucky winner! Here’s how you can enter to win:

1. Tell us: What is your baby’s favorite food? This step is mandatory and if not done, all other entries will be null and void.
2. Become a fan of  BornFree on Facebook and leave a comment here telling us you’ve done so.
3. Follow BornFree on twitter and leave us a comment with your user name telling us you’ve done so.

For additional entry options and giveaway rules visit our Extra Giveaway Options page!

This giveaway will close at 12pm EST on Wednesday August 4, 2010.

Today I want to tell you about Rockabye Baby! a collection of CDs featuring lullaby renditions of all your favorite rock bands. From The Beatles to AC/DC to No Doubt – they are sure to have a band that will appeal to you. Baby Blueberry and I received a copy of their Black Sabbath CD to review.

My husband got really excited when this CD showed up in the mail – he is a fan of all the great classic rock bands, Black Sabbath included. We popped the disc into my computer and within seconds the tune of Iron Man began to fill the air – but not quite the Black Sabbath you might expect. Being a lullaby CD for baby, there were no loud guitar riffs or drums – but rather a soft, instrumental rendition instead with mellotrons, vibraphones, bells – and even a few farm animal sounds! Still – it was distinctly Iron Man and we found ourselves nodding our heads along to the music instantly. Want to hear for yourself? You can get a sneak peek of Iron Man from the cd here.

I actually found the music really pleasant to listen to. Being classic Black Sabbath tunes, the songs are catchy and I found I knew a lot of them – but being quiet and soothing lullaby music, I also found it to be really good background music while I worked on my computer. I think if it had been a real Black Sabbath cd I’d have gotten distracted – scratch that, I know I would have! And even better, the baby seems to like the music a lot, too! It actually managed to stop a minor temper tantrum in it’s tracks as she was curious to listen to the music instead. I’d definitely recommend Rockabye Baby to anyone looking for some great kids music that’s also great music - i.e. it won’t make your ears bleed like some of the kids’ music out there! Teach baby to love the same classic rock songs that you do but at a volume that will promote peaceful slumber – another plus for all of us weary parents!

You can buy Rockabye Baby cds and apparel (check out their adorable onesies!) at their website www.rockabyebabymusic.com. Also be sure to check out this Rockabye Baby! Black Sabbath coloring page!

This week I’ll be featuring reviews of some terrific baby / toddler products and the companies behind them – and we’ll be throwing some giveaways, too! This is a great opportunity to win a present for any birthday boys or girls in your life so keep checking back this week – it’s going to be a lot of fun!

Today I want to tell you about BB’s new favorite doll – the incredibly soft, adorable Yupik made by BlaBla Kids. Designed by Florence Wetterwald, all of the BlaBla Kids dolls are hand knit by Peruvian artists and made from natural fibers. They also sell knit hats, sweaters, rattles, backpacks as well as clothing and they have a paper goods collection coming soon that will include invitations, notebooks, stickers, cards and more.

My little girl and her BlaBla have been inseparable since she received the doll this weekend. She loves to snuggle her Yupik tightly and is fascinated by the tiny knit polka dot spots. It is, without a doubt, one of the softest dolls I’ve ever held and the classic, simple design is so charming. With all of the plastic clutter and materialism of children’s toys today, this sweet little doll is like a breath of fresh air in our home.

I would recommend BlaBla Kids to anyone looking for the perfect, classically simple and timeless gift for their children or a child they know. So I am thrilled to be able to offer a giveaway of a Yupik doll like BB’s to one lucky reader!

WIN IT!

Thanks to BlaBla Kids, we’re giving away (1) one Yupik doll to (1) one lucky winner! Here’s how you can enter to win a copy:

1. Tell us: Did you have a favorite doll growing up? Tell us about a special toy from your childhood. This step is mandatory and if not done, all other entries will be null and void.
2. Become a fan of  BlaBla Kids on Facebook and leave a comment here telling us you’ve done so.
3. Follow BlaBla Kids on twitter and leave us a comment with your user name telling us you’ve done so.

For additional entry options and giveaway rules visit our Extra Giveaway Options page!

This giveaway will close at 12pm EST on Monday August 2, 2010.

It’s kind of like the Omnivores Dilemma for mothers – except I think everyone should read it, not just parents. I found the book so accessable and enjoyable to read – her writing style is conversational in all the best ways but with content that is informative and with the potential to really broaden your view of the food industry. If you have a passion for eating local foods or are interested in why some people do, this book is a real eye opener but it’s also totally guilt-free. Rehak is all about doing what works best in every situation – and if that means frozen chicken nuggets, that’s fine!

Melanie Rehak demonstrates Carrot Puree on YouTube

The book reads like a good friend sharing her experiences and giving all the best information she can in the most accessible way. I love how expertly Rehak combines her parental anecdotes  with tales of restaurant and farm life – with some fun recipes and silliness thrown in! It had me laughing on a nightly basis, drooling over delicious descriptions of food, ear marking recipes and quoting passages out loud to my husband constantly! I am not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best books I’ve read this year and maybe ever – I want to share this book with everyone I know!

BUY IT!

You can get your own copy of Eating for Beginners at local booksellers and online retailers like Amazon.com.

WIN IT!

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin, we’ve got 10 copies of Eating for Beginners to giveaway to 10 lucky winners! Here’s how you can enter to win a copy:

1. Tell us: Share with us your best story about picky eaters OR how you decide what food to buy and where. This step is mandatory and if not done, all other entries will be null and void.
2. Become a fan of  Houghton Mifflin on Facebook and leave a comment here telling us you’ve done so.
3. Follow Houghton Mifflin on twitter and leave us a comment with your user name telling us you’ve done so.

For additional entry options and giveaway rules visit our Extra Giveaway Options page!

This giveaway will close at 12pm EST on Tuesday July 27, 2010.

We threw a pretty big party for my son’s 1st birthday – in fact we threw two parties because we had so many people we wanted to celebrate with – it was ridiculous and fantastic and memorable, not that he’ll remember a lick of it.

Baby Blueberry’s first birthday will be a smaller affair, if only because we recently moved 1,500 miles away from all those friends and family who helped us celebrate her big brother’s first. I went back and forth on how I wanted to celebrate this milestone with her – should we invite a handful of mommies from our playdate to the party – how many mommies had I made a real connection to that maybe had kids her age? Did I want to invite a bunch of mostly strangers into my home for this? Maybe just a nice family dinner – or even a dinner out so I didn’t have to cook? A skype chat with family was a must, but apart from that, I really couldn’t decide for awhile.

There are a lot of choices – but I did finally decide upon just inviting one friend and her family over, making dinner and that classic chocolate cake (maybe cupcakes, haven’t really decided yet). I’m going for relaxed but celebratory – and I think it’s going to be fantastic. Anyway, my Aloha Friday question for you today is:

How did you celebrate your child (or children’s) first birthday?

Or if you haven’t reached that milestone yet, how do you imagine you’d want to celebrate it?

Kailani @ An Island Life takes it easy on Fridays by posting a simple question for you to answer – and she invites you to do the same. Just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

I’ve got to admit, I’m a pretty big fan of this book myself. Like most of the classic Berenstain Bears books, this story is memorable and infectiously fun. It’s one of the Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners which means the story is repetitive and simple – perfect for early readers.

The illustrations are spooky but fun with a happy ending at the end, so your kiddos should still be able to sleep at night, perfect for curling up in bed and hamming it up with your kids. I think it would be a great book to take on a camping trip and read by flashlight together. We’ve read it so many times since checking it out of the library a week ago that my son now has the story memorized and usually demands to read it “himself” at bedtime. We, of  course, don’t mind.

My four year old’s “review”: I like the “dain dain bears (read: Berenstain Bears) about it and it’s pretty and spooky – I like spooky stories!”

This book won the Buckeye Children’s Book Award for K-2 in 1982 and I can totally see why. I’d recommend it to anyone, especially fans of the Berenstain Bears series. I have a lot of fond memories of reading this series as a child and I really get a thrill out of sharing them with my own children today.

What was your favorite children’s book or series growing up? Have you had a chance to share this book or series with your own children?

These clothes were not designed soley for stick figures. In fact, Maurices has an entire plus sized section if I wanted to shop there. All I needed was some money that I could justify spending. Being the frugalista momma that I am, I made my way back to their clearance rack and scored a super cute skirt and dress for less than $25 and I am loving both of them. Basically Maurices is my new favorite store ever and I plan to continue shopping there indefinitely. It is just my kind of trendy but not too trendy and the prices are more than reasonable, clearance rack or no.

Want to see some of the clothing I’m currently drooling over while waiting to save up some more spending money?

Bag: Pinstripe Satchel Shoes: Gwen Buckle Flat

Top: Cinch Neck Leaf Print Top Bottom: Stud Pocket Stuffed Capris

Bag: Large Plaid Tote with Medallion Shoes: Buckled Peep Toe Platforms

Top: Burnout Crossover Tunic Bottom: Maurices Heavy Back Pocket Destructed Jeans

Bag: Bow Washed Bag Shoes: Silk Style Bow Flats

Top: Eyelet Peasant Tank Top Bottom: Knit Trim Pork Chop Pocket Shorts

Bag: Large Tonal Floral Print Tote Shoes: Annie Cork Wedge Sandals

Top: Smocked Bottom Peasant Top Bottom: Younique Tiered Denim Skirt

If you could win a fashion shopping spree anywhere, where would you want to go?

Next month my little girl is celebrating her first birthday – although it seems like she was just born yesterday! She’s a second child which means she’s practically running already, growing at the speed of light, climbing over any obstacle that stands in the way of her keeping up with big brother. She’s basically the love of our life around here and we are very excited to celebrate this big milestone with her!

To celebrate, we’re planning a little shindig here at Mommas Review. We’d like to spotlight some products that we think would make a great gift for a first birthday (or beyond) and hopefully do some giveaways, too, for any other kids celebrating a birthday this summer.

If you have a product you’d like for us to review (and possibly giveaway), during this 1st Birthday Celebration, we’d love to hear from you! This is a great opportunity for us to partner and showcase your products to thousands of readers – all that we ask is that you provide a product to giveaway and/or review. Just contact us at mommasreview (at) gmail (dot) com!

So when I saw an email this morning from MyHeritage promoting their new Baby Lookalike Meter I was very intrigued to try it out. You probably know MyHeritage for their Celebrity Lookalike Meters and family tree builders. I’ve always liked playing with their face recognition software and today was no exception. Their website is very intuitive and easy to navigate, in my opinion.

And now the results are in – which kid looks like which parent? Here’s what MyHeritage thought:

What do you think – do you agree with the results?

Who do your kids look like?