it's a bike. it's a stroller. it's a taga.

christmas is long gone & my birthday isn't for months, but i'm currently lusting after THIS piece of fierce machinery. it's part bike, part stroller, part wagon, part grocery cart, part trike, part people mover... & i'm looking for any excuse to park it in my garage. i'm already imagining the possibilities - trips to the grocery store, dropping the kids off at school, biking down the hungtington beach boardwalk, & "wheeling" around the neighborhood in general.

what amazes me most about this bike/stroller/wagon/grocery cart/trike/people mover is all the options! seriously, it really & truly is amazing... you can make it a double (which is perfect for ME... i can strap charlie & owen in, while gavin rides his own bike), there's a car seat attachment, a shopping basket, or even this crazy covered wagon type of wooden double seat. plus, did i mention that you can convert the BIKE to a STROLLER in about 20 seconds FLAT?! hello, A-MAZING!

i know, i know, by now you are thinking THIS is way too good to be true. but honestly, i've seen it myself... all up close & in-person, & THIS is the real deal. in fact, i've even taken it for a spin - & i'm here to tell you, that it is one amazing ride. of course, i was wheeling it around a hotel ballroom (i still can't believe i rode a bike/stroller/wagon/grocery cart/trike/people mover around the ritz carlton! but seriously, don't we look good together? this bike/stroller/wagon/grocery cart/trike/people mover definitely "suits" me!), but even with another adult in the "child's seat," it pedaled like a dream. (it probably has something to do with that "shimano nexus inter-3 internal gear hub" it's sporting. THIS definitely isn't your typical "beach cruiser.") it probably also helps that it's european. dutch to be exact. & the way i see, almost everything is better when it comes from across the atlantic.

so, i have to admit - i've already cleared out a space in my garage, to park my new taga... sure, you might think i'm being a little overly optimistic. but, the way i see it, if i put enough positive vibes out there, then the universe, my fairy godmother, or maybe my extremely loving hubby will ensure that one arrives on my doorstop - with or without a big red bow. however, until then, i'll be saving my pennies. because with a price tag of $1495, it is definitely something i'll have to budget for. although, when you think about it - buying a nice double stroller (like my personal favorite, phil & teds' dash), a bike & a bike trailer, makes $1495 seem like a steal. do you think my hubby will buy that logic?

ps. don't believe me that you convert the BIKE to a STROLLER (& vice versa) in 20 seconds FLAT? watch this demo... she doesn't even break a sweat.



pps. if you've got an "in" with the universe, a fairy godmother, or even my hubby, will you put in a good word for me? the taga is definitely calling my name, & boy is she loud!

my cuddly wrap sales pitch.

so, we went to disneyland yesterday. yep! one the perks of living in orange county is that we can drop everything & anything and head over to disneyland, just to have dinner & watch the fireworks show. (last night i had the famed disneyland monte cristo, & let me tell you - it was amazing!) anyway... as we're walking along, jeffy asks "do you even notice anymore?" "notice what?" i respond. "notice the way people stare."

it's true, people do stare. & not just at disneyland. everywhere i go, people stare. & it's not because i'm profoundly beautiful. (although, i'm the first to admit that my new hair-do is smoking hot. it's just a little bit sweet & a whole lot of sass. did i mention that i cut, no chopped, all my hair off? i can't remember if i shared that little bit of news. anyways... i'm off the subject again.) people stare, point & whisper at my children. at first, it's my stroller that gets their attention. having had my stoller for years, i (wrongly) assume that everyone has heard of phil & teds strollers, but judging by the number of "oohhs!"& "ahhhs!" i get, i guess everyone doesn't know about the greatness that is the phil & teds.

once they get over how incredible my stroller is, they are soon amazed by my little charlie... snug as a bug in the cuddly wrap. i'm the first to admit at first glance, the cuddly wrap can be just a tad bit intimidating. but trust me, after tying it on a couple of times, pretty soon it became like second nature. pretty soon i realized it was the greatest invention in the entire world. my children have traveled around the world bundled up in that little wrap. they live day & night in it, how else would i ever get anything done? my little charlie... she may look like a little angel, but she definitely has got a pair of pipes. right now, her favorite past time is definitely screaming. but, once she gets bundled up in her little wrap, she can sleep for hours at a time.

i'm telling you - if you're prego, have a baby, or need a gift for someone who is having a baby... this is THE must-have. if only i had a dollar or two for every time someone asked me about my cuddly wrap, i'd be a very rich gal. maybe i should look into working for them on a commission basis, i think i could make some serious cash. so there you have it, my cuddly wrap sales pitch.

p.s. by the by... do you like my pink-ish tint on my photo, in honor of national breast cancer awareness month?

friday five: must-haves for new moms

here's my list of 5 things EVERY new mom needs whether she's having her first or her fifth. the perfect shopping list for yourself, or pick up an item or two for the next shower you are attending...

1. the cuddly wrap: my all-time favorite newborn baby carrier. it may be overwhelming at first (it's one really long piece of fabric), but trust me! after you've practiced tying it on a few times, it will be easy. your baby will love being in it & you'll love that you will be able to get stuff down. unlike other carriers, the cuddly wrap keeps them all bundled up on your chest - i think it reminds them of being inside the womb. the material is like a t-shirt, so it's lightweight & very breathable. i can't tell you how often i am stopped by strangers to give my "cuddly wrap sales pitch." i can't say enough good things, i LOVE it soooo much!

2. ameda gel pads: if you're planning on nursing, then you must buy at least one pair of these. nursing, for me, has always been somewhat of a painful process... sore, cracked, bleeding nipples is pretty standard for me (& yes, i just said nipples). anyway, these gel pads are AMAZING! don't be fooled by other gel pads on the market. i've tried them all, & these ones are by far the best. another nursing favorite is the motherlove nipple cream (there i go saying the word nipple again).

3. oxi clean: stains no more! this is a serious must-have! with spit-up & diaper explosions happening on a fairly regular basis, you need something that you can count on to get those stains out. oxi clean hasn't let me down yet, & i've thrown some pretty hefty stains it's way.

4. aden + anais muslin baby blanket: i absolutely LOVE these blankets. they are lightweight & thin enough that i can stuff them in my purse or baby bag. but, don't let that fool you! they are HUGE in size (47" x 47"), which makes them perfect for swaddling. but that's not all, you can use these blankets as a sheet in a pack-n-play, on the ground for play time, as a nursing cover or draped over a stroller or car seat. there are so many possibilities!

5. benetint blush, dr. pepper lip smakers, and a cute hat or two: you know as well as i do, a new baby means late nights & lots of early mornings. often times, a shower is a luxury. however, i've always found that making a little effort makes me feel better. on days when i don't really have the time (or perhaps the energy) to get ready, i like to throw on some benetint (it provides you with natural, rosy looking cheeks which is an immediate perk-me-up), a little dr. pepper lip smakers (call me crazy, but the dr. pepper flavor has just the perfect hint of color & a nice smell to boot!) & a cute hat to hide that bed-head hair, & you are all set. no one will be the wiser that you haven't slept (or possibly showered) for days.

so now that i've shared, what are some of YOUR favorite must-haves for new moms?