7 Signs of a Bad Babysitter

Our babies mean everything to us. That is why it is so important to find someone trustworthy enough to be called a babysitter.

BabyCenter.com has come up with these 7 Signs of a bad babysitter:

1. Your baby isn't happy to see the sitter and has become anxious and withdrawn.


2. Your babysitter seems secretive about how they spent the day.


3. Your baby has been in one too many easily avoidable accidents.


4. You notice your requests aren't followed.


5. Your babysitter often shows up late.


6. Your baby often looks unkempt and dirty.


7. Her stories don't add up.

For more complete information on these signs, click here.

Photo courtesy of Babycenter.com

Can You Break Free of Your Cell Phone Carrier...Without a Fee?

In order to leave your cell phone carrier before your contract is up often requires promising your first born...well, you know what I mean. I just called my carrier last month to find out what I would have to pay to leave my plan 7 months before my contract is up...$250. Yeah, no thanks.
But according to Money Magazine(January 2008), Verizon has started to prorate the penalty for switching carriers. Instead of a flat fee of $200, the fee drops $5 every month of the contract (that only applies to subscribers after November 15, 2006). Supposedly, Alltel, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile plan to announce similar changes as well.

Of course, depending on your reasons for switching, you may be willing to pay your penalty fee and then some...but at least the companies are making it a little less painful to switch.

For the complete article, click here.

Surprise Giveaway: Michael's Cookies are a Perfect Valentine's Day Treat

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and why subject your loved ones to the predictable, boring chocolates? Try Michael's Cookies instead.

This is how good the cookies are...I bought my husband Michael's Cookies for his birthday last year and he loved them. His birthday is in a couple of days and when I asked him what he wanted, the only thing he said was "those cookies you got me last year, you have to get them for me again!"

What is so great about Michael's Cookies is that not only are they wonderful to eat, they are wonderful to look at. They are delivered in beautiful packages and each cookie looks absolutely perfect! These cookies not only make an amazing present for family and friends, they are also fantastic gifts for business. In honor of Valentine's Day, Michael's Cookies has graciously decided to give away a dozen Triple Chocolate Chunk cookies to one lucky reader ($29.99 value, shown above).

But wait...There's more! For one lucky Grand Prize Winner, only the Gold Collection will do! That's right, Michael's Cookies now has a wonderful Gold Collection gift featuring 2 dozen cookies with cocoas and teas ($69.99 value, first photo shown above).

Here is how to enter:

• Check out the Michael's Cookies website and post a comment below to let us know which goodies you like best and why.
• Post your comment by midnight PST on Monday, February 4th.
• Remember to include your name or blogger login (anonymous comments will not be accepted)
• Please also include your city/state/province/country.
  (Please note that any entry not giving all of the information requested above will not be accepted.)

Winners will be announced in a post after February 4th. Winner must check in with Houses, Couches and Babies to collect prize.

Good Luck!!

NKOTB - A Reunion???

Okay, if you are a woman between the ages of 20 and 40 you should know what NKOTB stands for...yes, New Kids on the Block. Rumors have been swirling about a reunion of the boy band from the late eighties and early nineties, but if you visit their official website, NKOTB.com, it has now been updated with images and facts as to just how popular they were.

I guess they saw the money the Spice Girls are getting and thought "we might as well give it a try!" Even though the groups' members now range from 35 to 39, I am sure fans will still flock to see them. The question is, are they going to make new music or just play the old stuff? Either way, now that I am well over the legal drinking age, their old songs should sound even better.

Actually, back in 2004, we saw Jordan Knight perform solo at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. We were there for my girlfriend's (Liz) bachelorette party and coincidentally staying at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay (where the House of Blues is located). Since Jordan was the lead singer on most of the songs anyway, he sang quite a few of the New Kids songs, and my girlfriend was lucky enough to be asked up to the stage so he could sing to her since she was dressed in white bachelorette gear. (Lucky, lucky girl!) Needless to say, a few cocktails and I was doing the "Right Stuff" dance like it was nobody's business. (I also still know all the moves to "My Favorite Girl," not to brag or anything.)

So, if you are a fan or were once a fan, check out NKOTB.com...come on, you know you want to take a peek! If nothing else, it will be bring back fun memories from your youth and remind you why you were hesitant to like Backstreet Boys or N*Sync (because they were New Kids on the Block copy cats! Or maybe I was the only one that thought that!).

Photos courtesy of Starpulse.com

Siliskin Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much to everyone who entered our first giveaway at Houses, Couches, and Babies. And thank you to Silikids for having such great products!

I put everyone's name in a hat and let my 2-1/2 year old pick out the name (so blame him if you don't win!).

And the lucky winner is....Andrea who wrote, "I am loving the bottles and covers. We'll be having our first little one soon and one less thing to worry about would be so nice! I didn't even know plastic bottles were bad for babies until I saw it on the Tyra show a couple weeks ago!"

Andrea, please contact us at information@housescouchesandbabies.com with your shipping address so that we can send you your Silikids' goodies!

Stay tuned for many more fun giveaways!

Sports Trivia That Will Amaze Your Spouse

This is a new feature for Houses, Couches and Babies so that all you readers out there will be in the know about what is going on in the world of sports...just for conversation's sake. (And your husband will think you are pretty cool, too!)

• Thank goodness...no football this weekend. But next weekend is the SuperBowl - SuperBowl XLII to be exact (42 for those that don't know Roman numerals). It is going to be played in Glendale, AZ, which is where the Arizona Cardinals (a.k.a. hot Matt Leinart's team) play their regular season games. The New England Patriots are playing the New York Giants. The Patriots are favored to win by 13-1/2 points (according to Vegas sports books). New England is headed up by hot quarterback Tom Brady - who coincidentally dates Giselle Bundchen and is Bridget Moynahan's "baby daddy." The New York Giants big name player is Eli Manning, who is the brother of Peyton Manning. Peyton is the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and who led the Colts to the SuperBowl championship last year. Peyton Manning is also the one you see on every commercial during football games.
  A good question to wow your spouse would be, "Do you think the Giants' offense is strong enough to penetrate through the tough New England defense?"


• In the world of golf, the Buick Invitational is being played at Torrey Pines golf course in San Diego, CA (well, it is actually La Jolla). Tiger Woods is in the lead so far, which is not a surprise at all. If Tiger wins this tournament, he will tie Arnold Palmer for the most career wins. Tiger Woods is chasing Jack Nicklaus for the most major tournament wins in a career - Tiger has 13 wins and needs 18 to tie Nicklaus.
  A good question for your spouse, "Do you think anyone can really beat Tiger Woods or is it just Tiger's game to win or lose?"

Tom Brady pictured above both on the field and off the field. See, there is more reason to watch the SuperBowl than just the commercials!

Anything you would like to add? Please feel free to share any and all comments! Happy Friday!

Photos courtesy of SI.com and Forbes.com

Detergent - Dry or Liquid???

So I learned something interesting today. As I had mentioned in a previous post, I was having trouble with my dishwasher so I tried the JetDry Dishwasher Cleaner. That didn't fix the problem to my satisfaction so I had a repair man come and check out my dishwasher today...did you know that it is better to use dry crystal detergent rather than liquid detergent?

This goes for your dishwasher and your washing machine. According to this repair man, unless you are using hot or extra hot water, liquid detergent doesn't completely dissolve. (And if you are trying to conserve energy as all politicians and Al Gore are telling us to do, then you are probably using cold and warm more often than warm or hot on your washing machine.) As a result, your dishes may have a slight film on them and your clothes might still have a little detergent in them, thus not getting as soft as you might like.

This was shocking to me because (as crazy as this sounds) liquid detergent seemed fancier or the "rich man's" way to go rather than dry detergent. But now it all makes sense. My mom and dad bought a pretty expensive and ultra-quiet dishwasher and it specifically says to use dry detergent only.

After finding out this information, I went to the grocery store and was amazed at how massive the liquid detergent section was and how few options there were for dry detergent. So why are there more liquid detergents than dry detergents?

If you know, please share because it seems like this is one of the many great scams of the world.

So here is the bottom line...on most occasions, use dry detergent instead of liquid!

The Curse of a Sleeping Baby

My husband and I should have known better...but we did it anyway.

When your infant sleeps well, under no circumstances should you ever tell anyone that your baby is doing so. Why, you ask? My past two sleepless nights is the easiest answer I can give you.

Our daughter slept for 7 hours straight on Saturday night and 8 hours straight on Sunday night. We thought we were on our way to a normal life again. Of course, we had to blow it by telling people she was sleeping well. A cardinal sin new parents should be advised of. We didn't volunteer the information, it was asked of us in both cases. I even underestimated saying she had been sleeping 5 to 6 hours in hopes of not getting the curse. But we did anyway.

Yesterday, not only did my daughter not sleep well the night before, she didn't take a good nap throughout the day either.

So here is my advice on a sleeping baby:

• let a baby sleep as much as he/she wants, whether it is during the day or at night


• try to get your baby to sleep as much during the day as possible so that he/she will sleep better at night (sounds like a child would be well rested by sleeping all day, but in fact, it keeps them in a sleepy state throughout the night, too!)


• The old saying is very true...never wake a sleeping baby, unless you have a really good reason (i.e. your baby is malnourished and you need to feed him/her)
  
• don't let your baby sleep in your bed with you unless you are okay with you not sleeping soundly, possibly rolling over on him/her and/or having your baby sleep in your bed for the rest of his/her young life (even if you are okay with it, you better consult with your spouse because your baby may not have any other siblings, if you know what I mean!)


• lastly, and this is the big one...don't ever tell others that your child is sleeping well until they have done it continuously for at least 2 weeks


• oh, and another important one...if your infant hasn't been sleeping well at night, then you shouldn't be blogging, you should be sleeping (do as I say, not as I do!)

Surprise Giveaway: Stay Safe with Siliskin

Now that I have an infant again, I find myself forgetting all the baby rules and realizing there are new concerns - including those for baby bottles. With an increasing concern about various harms associated with plastic baby bottles today, more parents are switching back to glass bottles.

That is where Silikids comes in with Siliskin.

Siliskin is a protective sleeve designed to slip over Evenflo glass bottles (4oz and 8oz.). The Siliskin is made from 100% food grade and hypoallergenic silicone, and perfectly safe for all babies to hold. Siliskin is also microwave and dishwasher safe, making heat-up and clean-up super easy. The translucent colors allow you to see measurements and liquid in the bottle.
When you order this product from Silikids, the Siliskin comes with the bottle and a silicone nipple.

Let's face it, even the BPA-free plastic bottles are still plastic. Ultimately, glass bottles are best for our babies, and now with the Siliskin, you won't have to worry about the glass hurting your baby.
Silikids would like to give one lucky winner (1) 40z. bottle Siliskin, (1) 8oz. bottle Siliskin, and (1) Silibib. (A $41.95 value; Items featured in both pictures above.)

Here's how to enter:

• Check out the Silikids website and post a comment below to let us know what product you like best and why.
• Post your comment by midnight PST on Friday, January 25th.
• Remember to include your name or blogger login (anonymous comments will not be accepted)
• Your city/state/province/country.

(Winner will be announced in a post after January 25th. Winner must check in with Houses, Couches and Babies to collect prize.)

Good Luck!!

The Year of Giveaways

I love to play games, enter contests and I love love love to enter giveaways! The only thing that I might love more than entering giveaways is winning a giveaway. But now I have decided to jump on the other side of the giveaway and be the giver instead of the taker. And guess what??? You get to be the taker!

Houses, Couches and Babies will be having surprise giveaways throughout 2008. I say surprise because you never know when one might sneak up on you. So keep checking back in with HC&B to see what exciting prizes are in store for you. And tell all your friends. The more takers, the better the prizes will get...

Wow, I feel like Bob Barker (but don't worry, I won't tell you to spay or neuter your pets or anything...even though you probably should!)

Money Saving Tip #4: Bed, Bath, and Beyond Coupons Never Expire

This one sounds a bit silly but isn't it great news?!? Even though every 20% off one item coupon you receive in the mail has an expiration date, Bed, Bath and Beyond will still honor them. Basically, the expiration date is a ploy to get you into the store sooner. But now that you know the truth, you can play the game on your time, not theirs!

So go on, horde your 20% off coupons like I do...someday I will actually get a chance to go shopping again and use them!

Also, if you are into clipping coupons like I am (for some reason I like the activity and get a rush when I see the cashier deduct from my total...yes, I am a freak!), then check out your local grocery store's website. Most chain grocery stores now have coupons online that you can print and bring into the store. You might have to do little digging, but I found coupons easily at Ralphs.com by clicking on Savings and then "get your coupons now!" It is that easy!

Money Saving Tip #3: Get a Free Massage on you Insurance Company

Many plans cover massage therapy, but of course, they aren't going to advertise it to you. With a prescription from your doctor (or chiropractor), your insurer will pay for injury-related massages. Review your insurance plan to find out more. If you are unable to find out whether or not injury-related massages are covered, you can just call your insurance company and ask.

You can also call around your area to chiropractic offices to find out if they offer massage therapy and whether or not they will bill your insurance. Many chiropractic offices will work with you on this one.

Happy massage!

Money Saving Tip #2: Rental Cars for Less

Here's the quick and dirty of it...weekend car rentals cost less in May, when car companies stock up for the summer madness, and also in September, when car companies sell their fleet. Bottom line: car rentals should be cheaper in May or September.

Money Saving Tip #1: Maintain a Perfect 10

Perfectly polished finger and toe nails are important...I know. But how can you save money without giving up your mani and pedi? Keep your nails immaculate by booking cheaper polish changes between appointments. Polish changes are typically half the price of a regular manicure or pedicure. In addition, you can help your nail polish color last by applying a top coat every few days.

Week Full of Money Savings Tips

So, you have finally recovered from your holiday hangover and you are starting to realize that you spent too much (as usual!). Credit card bills are going to start arriving soon and how are you going to live your fun and exciting life while still paying your bills?

All this week, HC&B will be featuring quick and easy ways you can save money.

Please feel free to share any tips you have...we can all use them!

Top 100 Baby Names of 2007

Once again, BabyCenter.com has compiled a list of the top baby names for 2007. Here are the top 10 names for boys and girls.

Girls' Names
1. Sophia
2. Isabella
3. Emma
4. Madison
5. Ava
6. Addison
7. Hailey
8. Emily
9. Kaitlyn
10. Olivia

Boys' Names
1. Aiden
2. Ethan
3. Jacob
4. Jayden
5. Caden
6. Noah
7. Jackson
8. Jack
9. Logan
10. Matthew

Where does you baby's names rank? Does it even make the list? To see a complete list of the top 100 baby names, click here.

Note: This list of names is compiled from a database of over 300,000 names given to registered BabyCenter readers' babies who were born in the United States between January and October of 2007. This list does differ from lists compiled by the federal government.

Free Shipping on All Babystyle Gear

Looking for new gear for your baby? Well, Babystyle is offering free shipping through January 15th on all your favorite gear including Maclaren strollers, Petunia Pickle Bottom baby bags, high chairs, and many other items.

Click here to check out all the Babystyle gear items with free shipping.

And look, Bugaboos have free shipping, too!

USB Keyboard Vacuum

If you are like me, every now and again you may eat a few crackers or chips while checking things out on the internet and have now noticed crumbs between the keys on your keyboard.

While I was looking through the Container Store holiday mini catalog (yes, I am far behind in looking at ads and catalogs!) I found a great little gadget that can clean up all those little messes and dust between your keyboard keys. The USB Keyboard Vacuum simply plugs directly into the USB port on your computer so there are NO BATTERIES to worry about. And at only $4.99, it is certainly worth a try!

To find this item, check out all the Cleaning Tools The Container Store has to offer.