When you have your new precious little babe or even a 4 year old you want only the best products to touch their skin. Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, is a hair expert and a mother of two. She knows first hand how important good quality products can be for scalp and hair health for babies. PK Baby is super mild , colorless, non-allegenic and paraben free. Even though my little man is 4 he cries and whines when it is time to rinse out his hair. With the help of Phillip Kinglsey we have been able to make the transition from a painful bath time session to a big boy shower session where he takes charge of his new routine. I know he is clean and safe of unnecessary chemicals.

Things for you to know:

*Hair follicles begin to develop on an unborn baby at 9 week gestation.

*Within the first 4 months of life, the first coat of scalp hair is shed in a wave pattern, and hairs then begin their normal daily growing and falling cycle.

*As children get older and their hair begins to grow, a little shampoo will help to cleanse more effectively-this can be used around 4 weeks.

*It’s safe to shampoo your baby’s hair every day, providing you are using a mild shampoo.

*Daily shampooing helps to prevent the occurrence of cradle cap

*Cradle cap most commonly occurs in babies up to three months old

*It’s not necessary to condition a baby’s hair while it is relatively fine and fluffy

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

precious hair products for kids | pk kingsley is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Too adorable for words! My how time flies when your babies are growing! Check out this time lapsed video of a dad, Frans Hofmeester, who filmed his daughter, Lotte, every week since she was born and compiled a time lapse edit. The video is less than 3 minutes. Thank heavens they don’t grow up that fast!

Lotte Time Lapse: Birth to 12 years in 2 min. 45. from Frans Hofmeester on Vimeo.

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

time lapse video birth to 12 years old in less than 3 minutes is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Since the birth of my three-year-old daughter, my oldest and I have not had more than a few hours of “mommy-and-me” time. She has been longing for quality time with me, and I am elated that she and I will be taking a trip this week–just the two of  us! The best part is what we will be doing together…This Friday, April 27, 2012, my daughter and I will be attending the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit at the Nike Campus in Beaverton, Oregon. Woohoo : ) Admittedly, I am not sure if I am more excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Nike, or the fact that my daughter and I will have this special time to spend together. Either way, she and I will be making memories this week, and documenting them every step of the way! 

While the Nike team has been pretty vague about the specifics, one thing has been made clear–get ready for a good time! From what they have eluded to, we are looking forward to a behind-the-scenes look at the Nike Campus, with tours, interactive experiences and a ton of fun activities. My daughter and I will fly into Oregon Thursday night, we will take part in a day full of athletic activities at the first-ever Young Athletes Innovation Summit on Friday, and we return home on Saturday. It is going to be a relatively quick trip, but we are going to make every moment count!

One of the coolest things is that our life has revolved around her daddy’s career as a professional basketball player for the past seven years, so not only has she has been born into a sports-obsessed family, but it is in her genes! My husband is seven feet tall and at seven-years-old, in first grade, she is over five feet tall and wears a women’s size five and a half shoe. I love that her height could help provide her with opportunities one day, but have always emphasized her education and steered clear of pressuring her to play sports. It was just this past year that she personally showed interest in playing basketball, and started getting involved with local camps. I couldn’t be more thrilled that she will have this experience with Nike at a time when she is so enthusiastic about learning new sports and entering into the world of athletics. Thank you Nike for a wonderful opportunity, we can’t wait to see what you have in store for us, and potentially for those attending the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summits in years to come! And to all of our Happy Hour Moms, stay tuned for some exclusive pictures and a peek inside the Nike Campus. Want to know something about Nike, or the Nike World Campus in Oregon? Ask your questions in the comments below and I will do my best to get your answers. Check back Friday for details!!

Kids Nike FREE Run: If your feet flex, shouldn’t your shoes flex too? Must-have flexibility for young feet.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Nike via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nike.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

packing my bags for the nike young athletes innovation summit! is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

It is so easy to get wrapped up in all the stresses of day to day life. I had last Friday off of work and I promised my son a day free from the stress of a schedule and a computer. I told him we could do anything his heart desires. He asked me to go to the zoo. We had an amazing afternoon learning, playing and just having some relaxing fun together. It can be so hard to force yourself to shut off everything and just devote 100% of your attention to your child. Make sure to give it a shot every now and then. I guarantee you’ll both benefit from some fun and fresh air.

How many kids do you see working out at the gym every day? Probably not any. That’s because even though childhood obesity is a hot topic and rising problem, getting kids to work out at a gym falls along the same lines of making them go to the dentist – kids don’t want to lift weights, they want to have fun! That’s why it’s important to find ways to make getting fit a fun activity, not a chore. So how do you get kids in shape while still making it a fun, and voluntary, activity? Get them outside of course!

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

take an outdoor adventure | family time is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

How adorable are these! My little man’s trademark for Easter has always been a little sweet bowtie. This year, since he’ll be 4 my babe thinks he has outgrown bowties and will be switching to what he calls a “little man” tie. After searching the Internet for the cutest Easter accessory that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg I landed on Baby by Stevie. This darling Etsy store offers quality neckties and bow ties for toddlers, kids and infants in a rainbow of colors and patterns.

Here is a picture from Baby D last Easter. Stay tuned to see his latest holiday outfit with is new Baby by Stevie Organic stripe tie in a few weeks.

KIDS TIES — Quality Ties for Kids, Baby Neckties, Child Ties, Girl Ties, Wedding Ties, Ringbearer Bow Tie, Christening Outfit, Boys Accessories, Blue Tie, Coral, Salmon, Orange, Aqua, Green, Kelly, Royal, Blue, Purple Red Tie, Yellow Tie, Formal Wear.

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

easter accessories for boys | baby by stevie is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Calling all moms and tots in the areas near Minneapolis, South Barrington and Northbrook, Illinois. Are you looking for a fun place to throw your next kids birthday party? Forget about Chuck E. Cheese’s this year and try a place with great food, an amazing accommodations and fun games. Pinstripes features exceptional Italian/American food and wine; 18 bowling lanes and indoor/outdoor bocce courts; a beautiful outdoor patio and fireplace; banquet space that can accommodate parties of 20-600 (weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, anniversaries and more! Pinstripes kids parties start at $20/child and include food, 2 hours of bowling or bocce, socks, shoes and a special hat for the birthday child.

If it’s not birthday season in your family then check out the 3 locations Monday-Friday 10am-noon for a fun mom and tot outing. All kids are $5 and moms bowl free. (limit for kids per adult)

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

pinstripes kids’ parties for mom & tots is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

It’s every mothers dream to be able to turn pictures of your beloved child into an adorable blog and, now, children’s book. “When Baby Dreams” is a compilation of baby Mila taken by her Finish mother, Adele, while on her maternity leave. Adele used to used to introduce herself as a copywriter & concept designer in advertising, but that’s not that relevant anymore. Now she’s a mother and a housewife, and loving it!  What mother wouldn’t? Not only has she created a new revenue stream for her family, but she has also created a life lasting memory for her sweet daughter.

Two weeks after baby Mila was born her mother took her first photograph with her simple camera, Canon IXUS 750. She used blankets, stuffed animals and pillows to create her first forest scene. After posting the picture to her Facebook in June 2010 and blog for her family and friends to see, little did she know that 2 weeks later her site would have over a million visits.

Flash to January 3rd and the launch of her first book title. Enersen and her husband are now expecting their second child. How will she ever create such memories for their next child? Maybe a sequel?

About “When Baby Dreams” by Adele Enersen

Sometimes, Mila dreams she’s a butterfly . . . .

Sometimes, she’s a bookworm . . .

Or a surfer girl , or even an astronaut.

When Mila dreams, she can be anything.

From the brilliant mind of new mother Adele Enersen comes this imaginative journey through the irresistible dreamscapes of a newborn. A love letter to babies everywhere.

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

See larger image When My Baby Dreams (Hardcover) By (author) Adele Enersen List Price: $14.99 USD New From: $6.66 In Stock Used from: $4.66 In Stock Release date January 3, 2012.

when baby dreams | adele enersen is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

I suddenly realized this weekend, that the holiday season has snuck up on me once again and is just around the corner. This always happens…Halloween arrives and the next thing I know, I am packing up the Christmas decorations and making New Years resolutions. After my brief moment of “I can’t believe the year is almost over,” I couldn’t help but giggle with joy. I LOVE the holiday season, yippee!

Now that I am fully aware of the fact that there are only 64 days, 3 hours and 40 minutes until Christmas Day, I decided to get out my list of this years products, and hit the web to find the BEST gift ideas for 2011. So of course the first website I hit was Etsy–it never disappoints! The only problem I have on Etsy, is that there are so many amazing shops it is hard to choose favorites.  And then I met Apple N Amos. Wood has never looked so good, and I can’t wait for the holiday season so I can gift some Apple N Amos toys to my favorite little niece. Not only would these rainbow delights be the perfect touch of color for your nursery, I can only imagine that the variety of sizes, textures, shapes, mix-n-match lids and coordinating sets will keep your babes and tots busy for hours. With puzzle-like options, these wooden collections make for great educational toys. Here are a sample of toys available in the Apple N Amos’s Etsy shop:

Arcorns? Lids? Take your pick, they go both ways…

I fell in love with the classic apples, they would be perfect for an outdoor kitchen/playhouse, or for a themed nursery…

Can’t beat the classics…

This will keep those little ones busy for hours! And what a great way to learn colors and counting…

You can also check out the Apple N Amos Blog to learn more about the wonderful mom behind the designs.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

top gift ideas 2011 | wood toys by applenamos is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

My sweet girl starts her summer ballet class tomorrow and I can’t wait. She may not be the most coordinated kiddo in the class, but as long as she has a smile on her face, the class will be a success. I just hope she is not too hard on herself or to shy to enjoy herself. When kids are younger everything is just “cute.” Whether it is singing, dancing, playing sports, as tots everything is fun, innocent, and adorable. But once they hit 6-8 years old, things start getting brutal and expectations are often set pretty high. The talented are set apart from the “less gifted” dancers, titles are applied, and distinctions are made. My daughter has very high expectations for herself so I am anxious to see how her first class goes. The poor thing has grown almost a foot in the past year, and advanced nearly 3 shoe sizes, to a whopping size 4, in the past 4 months, and while I am sure she’ll do great, it’ll be interesting because she’s hardly had time to grow into her body at this point. My hope is actually that ballet will help with her coordination, balance, and confidence. My husband is 7 feet tall, so I have a feeling she is not going to stop growing any time soon!

Do you have little ones in dance? Ballet? Has any of the discipline and skills they’ve learned in class carried over into their daily routine or overall attitude? I would love to hear your thoughts/experiences, please share in the comments below…

image credit: Sweet ballerina shoes, Sweet ballerinas all in a row, Sweet baby ballerina beet

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

sweet ballerina is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Now that school is out for summer, it is our job as parents to make sure our children continue to learn and stay attentive over the next couple months. At the same time, we must also adjust to the fact that they will be home with us 24/7 and craving the interaction with their peers. This is when play date season is in full swing for parents with school-age children, and it is time to get creative. The top play date for Summer 2011 is up for grabs, and starting a book club for your child and his/her friends might just take the prize. Exercise those minds by challenging them to read new books and keep it exciting by encouraging discussion amongst peers. Here’s how it works…

1. Select a group of peers who are at just about the same reading level, or at least have books that are in the same reading level.
2. Set a date, once a week, twice a month, whatever your preference is, and find a location. You can coordinate with other parents if you’d like and take turns hosting the play dates, or you may decide to keep it on the home front and host it yourself.
3. Have each child pick out his/her favorite book and read it and some point before the scheduled meeting day. Then have the child bring the book to the play date.
4. When the children arrive, they will be paired up and exchange their favorite books with their assigned partner. You may serve treats and juice, and can even find fun and fancy plastic eating-ware to make them feel special.
5. Then off they go with their “new” book to read. Have them read the book that has been loaned to them and have them draw a picture or write something about the book that they liked. This keeps them “thinking,” helps with their writing skills, and will jog their memory at the next play date book club.
6. Each week the child will bring his/her picture and the book they read for the week. You will pair them up with someone new and repeat step 5 each week.

Depending on how many kids you have in the group, and how long you would like to continue the club, you may need to have the kiddos bring a new copy of their own favorite book to exchange. Eventually all of the kids will have read each of the books and they can all talk about what they liked (or didn’t like) about them. It is a fun way to keep them engaged and a great way to expose them to knew literature. (It is also a lot cheaper!) As the ring leader of the event, I would recommend bringing a few extra books just in case one of the children comes without a book. You may also want to consider pairing the play date with a book club for the mommies involved. This really is a great idea for friends with kids who are close in age–fun for everyone!

We would love to hear about your top educational play date choice for summer 2011, please share in the comments below…

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

top play date choice for summer 2011 | book club for kids is a post from: Happy Hour Mom