What's for lunch?

I don't know about you, but whenever I see a cute lunchbox, I have to buy one. For me, handbags & clutch purses are an addiction like no other. Just like shoes, one needs to accessorize whenever and however possible so a lot of us ladies require purses of all different shapes, colors, sizes and even material. I think it's safe to say that for us, lunchboxes fall into this same category.

Metal, insulated or plastic; they come in designs and styles to suit even the fussiest of eaters!

Sugar Daddy Lunchbox ($13)
(OK, this one's really for me!)

Dump Truck Lunch Box ($15)


Star Wars: Clone Wars ($13)

Hannah Montana Lunchbox ($10)

Yo Gabba Gabba Lunchbox ($14)

Chinese Take-Out Lunchbox ($19)

This might just be my new addiction!

Newly Published

The first weekly newsletter of 2009 has just been published. Here's what's included:'

• Top Ten Brain Foods for Children
• Parenting Resolutions
• Shopping Organic at Costco
• Free Online Courses
• Nutrition Data at Your Fingerprints
• Chasing Vermeer
• Space to Express Grief
• Get Connected

Please let me know what I can do to help support you in 2009!

Gift Guide for Guys

The Holiday Gift Guide for Men has now been published. Shop at Playboy for great clothes, sheets and gifts to please you and your man or shop HBO for the DVD collections of his favorite shows.

Happy Shopping!

Rock'n Deals from Rock'n Sprouts

Tomorrow is the first day to take advantage of the amazing five-day offer from Rock'n Sprouts. Take 25% off of your entire order when you use coupon code YOHOHO25. Here are a few of the items I added to my wishlist, some for my son and some as gifts for other lucky beans:

Organic "Good Egg" Tee



Build a Robot Puzzle and Spinner Game



Rockin' Rooster Corduroy Blazer



Geisha Dress from Hula Mula


Rockin' Rooster Alphabet Tee


Mod Squares Coverall by Kicky Pants


Beginners Luck Hat from Little Fit


Mum & Dad Tattoo Tee

T-Rex Puppet

Happy Shopping! To receive more great deals directly, please sign up for the Happy Healthy Hip Shopping Club newsletter with special promotions and offers.

Can You Say Oliebollen?

Have you ever participated in a shopping spree? Those that I've seen on TV during game shows of the past created the shopaholic in me. The energy and excitement of trying to get as many items into a shopping cart in a limited number of minutes gets me all worked up just thinking about it.

Oliebollen, an online shopping site filled with hip items for cool kids, is hosting a Shopping Spree like no other.

Starting this morning and going on for the next five days (Nov. 28 - Dec. 2), Oliebollen is offering an Arm Chair Holiday Shopping Sweep. They promise five full days of special deals, freebies and of course, a whole lot of fun.

Every day of this event, five free items will be offered on the site, only you'll have to click through the site to discover which ones can be added to your shopping cart at no additional cost. Of course, there are rules and tips for this great promotion, so head on over to Oliebollen to learn more, shop in your pajamas and stock up on fantastic toys, books, clothes, furniture and other cool gifts for babies and kids.

Little Fit

Little Fit sent me a postcard prior to ABC Kids Expo. Right away, I knew I'd feature them here since their hats are perfect for the trendy parent (and their tots).

Husband and wife team, Julie and John Arata started Little Fit which is a collection of high quality, hip hats with an emphasis on FIT! Not to mention their great designs!

They're fun, fashionable and certainly a great style for the modern children of hip, happenin' parents!

These are a few of the styles they have to offer:

All I can really say about this new company is that their products are really f-in' cool. Not to be missed! Available in two sizes: Little or Big.

OnTray by 42 Kids

OnTray effortlessly attaches to the shopping cart's handlebar allowing your child to easily feed themselves while your hands are free to shop!

When shopping with young children, holding a snack for them while pushing a shopping cart, are you wondering, "Isn't there an easier way?" Or, "I have a fabric cover for the seat of the cart, but I need a place for my child to easily grab their snacks, so I can shop!"

This is a small, inexpensive product which will make all Moms and Dads wonder why they didn't think of it!

Sports & Sex

I'm a huge sports fan, although I can't claim any teams as my own. I'll yell and cheer and jump up and down during hockey, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, beach volleyball, etc.

My son and I cheered on the athletes from the Summer Olympics that recently ended and I'm counting down the days until I'm able to purchase tickets to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver (less than 30 days from now!).

If I had known years ago that sex is better for men after their team wins, I'd be more likely to stick around for the post-game celebration (if you know what I mean).

When I visited Las Vegas last year, I made sure to stop by the ESPN Zone gift shop for some souvenirs to bring back home. I bought my son (who was 3 at the time) a T-Shirt that read, "I watch ESPN with my mom!" It's true. My son and I are huge sports fans and we're always watching sports if we're not participating in them ourselves.

I told one of my male friends about the T-Shirt via text messaging and he wrote back to tell me how I was "so going to get laid," because of that shirt. I was so confused. How was my son's shirt going to get me laid?

Apparently, sex and sports go together like salt and pepper, or chips and salsa. Why I'm referring to food here, I have no idea. The point I'm trying to make is that this article makes complete sense, looking back on the relationships I've had in my life. Whether it be friends or lovers, the men who I've enjoyed watching sports with have always been affected by the outcome of the games, psychologically.

Sports are not to be taken lightly, ladies. When a man's team wins, he's happy (and horny). When his team loses - or plays horribly - he's not in the mood for love.

I would imagine this would be similar to a woman's experience after shopping. She's either feeling guilty (and not in the mood) or high from the spending spree and wanting to release some of her energy with her man.

So, here's my idea. Women, if you're not a sports fan, use Monday Night Football as a night to go shopping. Leave your kids with Grandma or heck, take them with you! When it's time to head home, be sure to call your man to find out the results of the game. You may need to take action on your own but you can be sure to head home in the Express Lane if his team has won. He'll be ready to do you some favors once you get home (if you know what I mean).

Go Team!

ABC Kids Expo

I'm preparing myself for the annual ABC Kids Expo happening September 7 - 11 in Las Vegas. While I've been to Las Vegas several times before, I have not yet been to ABC Kids Expo, the premiere event for merchandise created for babies and toddlers.

I've made notes on the companies and products that I want to learn more about when I get there:

• hotslings
• Contours Options Tandem Stroller by Kolcraft
• boon
• Awakening Organics
• Juvenile Solutions
• SaraBear Diaper Caddy
• Daddy's Matter from D.V. Family Inc.
• Quinny Buzz
• Banana Fish
• Baby Angelbug
• babysoy
• Swaddle Designs

Growing Up With Garnet Hill

Timer
(Happy Healthy Hip Parenting does not promote the use of Time-Outs)
$24.00


Hanger Organizer
$9.00


Rafters Surfer's Beach Flip-Flops
$5.00


Hoshi Dragon T-Shirt
$14.00


Zip Fleece Top
$24.00


Blocks Percale Sheets
$14.00


Camper Fall Appliqué Mary Jane
$54.00

Summer Sale @ The Land of Nod

In Good Company

Shop CompanyKids®

Foldable Floor Tray Table


Kids' Beach Chair


Skull Hearts and Tattoo Heart Bean Bag Covers


Chooka Rainboots
(They DO come in my size!)


Canvas Cargo Storage Bench and Ottoman


Natural Storage Units