Reviews by NiaKarina

NiaKarina says "So fun, I think I play with this more than my daughter" about Melissa and Doug cutting food (wood)

NiaKarina — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:13:44 GMT

I think the sound bite says it all....YES...I am addicted to this set.

It's so realistic! The wooden pieces are held together with velcro and you cut them with a wooden knife. It's just brilliant! They also have one that has thin slices so you can put together a sandwich. My daughter absolutely loves "taking orders" at her cafe and whipping up a deli sandwich for mama. There are seveal versions including fruit, pizza, desserts. I'm not a fan of plastic food (or plastic toys in general, for that matter).

We inherited a bunch of these sets from her older cousin so I didn't have to shell out for all of them. I did ,however, go out and buy all the other sets once I fell in love with the initial ones. They are just so worth it ( and addicting, really) You will find yourself wanting to play "make believe" with your kids ( er..and even without them).

Ours have been around a while and are still in terrific shape so if you have more than one child, or have someone in mid to pass them...

...

NiaKarina says "mmmm...natural and smells delicious...go try this now!" about Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo and Wash

NiaKarina — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:42:24 GMT

I love natural products for my daughter. What I don't like is companies that think natural means no scent ( which in reality translates into strange bark scent) or worse ...patchouli. I'd rather save the strong scents for incense sticks, thank you. I have tried MANY products on my daughter ...from everything in the Whole Foods baby isle to hand made stuff I've picked up at the Farmer's Market.

Burt's Bees wins ..hands down!

This has a delicious apricot scent that lingers long after the bath and is extremely gentle on both the baby's skin and eyes.

The price is a bit high but only compared to the harsh chemical based baby shampoos which contain, of all things, sodium laureth sulfate or any of it's cousins.

It doesn't last too long but I think that's only because it's impossible not to use myself when I take a shower.

I just wish they came in economy size. I could go through a five gallon drum, easy.

...

NiaKarina says "This is my other baby!" about Panasonic - Lumix DMC-TZ5 Digital Camera

NiaKarina — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:46:28 GMT

I'm not one to take thousands of pics at an event, far from it, I get my pics from other people who were also there.

It's not that I don't have a camera...I just forget to get it out...and when my digital camera stopped functioning I couldn't be bothered to get it replaced... but then I got the Lumix TZ5 as a gift.

I LOVE THIS CAMERA!

It takes incredible video as well as incredible pictures. This is a camera for photography idiots like myself. Yes, it has tons of settings which I have yet to use but I don't have time set up anything when I'm tying to capture my toddler's antics. Point and shoot and the picture is genius! Crisp details with fantastic contrast....the pics look AMAZING!

And the video is as good as the pics. I can't recommend this camera enough. (needless to add the person who bought me this is now my new best friend)

...

NiaKarina says "Google "rain gutter shelves" instead" about Sling Bookshelf

NiaKarina — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:08:41 GMT

Kidkraft sling shelf

Hmm..looked great on the website..and then it arrives. YEEOUCH!

In short..child sized ( which is code for tiny) and the books that aren't swallowed up completely are only half on display. The ratio of amount of space this takes up to how many books it can actually store is a bit ridiculous. On the plus side, it's so much better than displaying books by the spine and it's just her size which means no wild pointing to the ones she can't reach. The little bins are geat for holding books to rotate on display. In all honesty, though, we have too many books to have to find alternate storage for so it's just not a good value for money for us.

It looks darling but rates low on practicality.

Do a search on rain gutter shelves (try Flickr for some great photos and ideas) and save yourself $69.99.

...

NiaKarina says "Wretched customer service..three months to solve a problem" about Sprint Nextel

NiaKarina — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:15:53 GMT

After receiving my FIRST bill and realizing I had been overcharged around $300( My sister and I had opted to get two phones on one plan) ..I called to ask why we hadn't been given the plan we had purchased which was around 1000 min not 500. I was told to fax in my purchase plan (or receipt) ...I did. Then I was told ...(wait for it)....... to go ahead and pay the bill and THEN they would credit it to my account....and not all of it mind you....only around two hundred...LOL.....I wondered what planet I had been transported to where you owe someone $$$ and choose how much you will be paying back....I talked to everyone and their mother at customer service ( and other depts...I lost track)...went into several sprint stores and FINALLY after three months ( and no phone service because I refused to pay till it was resolved) I got it taken off my bill.

Switched to Cricket...NO SURPRISE!!

...

NiaKarina says "Better than the gym...the best choice for active mamas" about Breastfeeding Opinion

NiaKarina — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:50:20 GMT

I won't go into the already fabulous reasons to breastfeed ( bonding,baby's nutrition, etc. ) that have been mentioned in previous reviews. I'll try to add some that haven't already been mentioned.. like..... it makes you SKINNY. I AM THINNER NOW THAN BEFORE I GOT PREGNANT. No gym..just exclusively breastfeeding for the first nine months!!!!

If you are a busy mom (and who isn't?)...who has time to prepare bottles and wash them all and how long can you prepare them in advance, anyway?...why stress???? Breastfeeding is food on the fly. Wether you are going out on an outing or to another continent it's one less thing to have to pack or worry about.

I feel for everyone who has had their nipples destroyed. I have been there and now it's just a funny story I'll tell my little cannibal. LOL

Hang in there..get someone who knows to show you how to do it right.......Breastfeeding....it's SOOOOOO worth it.

...

NiaKarina says "The ERGO will change your life!!" about Ergo Baby Carrier

NiaKarina — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:20:30 GMT

I have been wearing my daughter since she was born. First in a sling and then moved on to the Bjorn.

Once she hit 15lbs.my shoulders and back screamed in protest. I have to travel often and I tried out all kinds of other carriers. The backpack ones, like the Kelty, distributed her weight well but were bulky and awkward. The slings and front carriers started to strain my back after only 20 min and EVERYTHING was a hassle to take off and put back on trying to get through the airport security checkpoint. Traveling by myself with an infant was a nightmare.

Enter the ERGO...I discovered this before going to Hawaii. It made my now 25lbs daughter seem weightless. All her weight seems to rest on my hips. Putting it on is a snap; no folding, tying,or fighting with straps. I hiked volcanoes, breezed through security, shopped for hours...I did everything with this carrier...even vacuum. My daughter loves it even more than I do. She jumps up and down when she sees me take it out.

Overall,...

...