We just had word that the nice folks at Mountain Buggy are looking for new mothers and mothers-to-be to blog on their new web site, to be introduced this spring. They are looking for women who are expecting their first child(ren) or just gave birth.  The goal is to follow the bloggers through their experiences and their adaption to life with a new baby.

Mountain Buggy has asked us to help them find Let’s Go Strolling customers with a yen for writing - and of course, a Mountain Buggy!  If you are a first time mom, or mom-to-be who has purchased your Mountain Buggy stroller from us and are interested in being a Blogger for Mountain Buggy, please email us at info@letsgostrolling.com so we can connect you with them!

And word on the street is that Mountain Buggy will be offering attractive incentives for bloggers. 

Sounds pretty good to me. . .

I must admit that mine is growing rather quickly. . . Okay I have a pretty big confession here, but my oldest son was 2 years 9 months when his baby brother was born and I’m not even pregnant in our current scrapbooks!  Oh, did I mention his “baby brother” is now 3!?! 

Enough confessional as I’m sure you get the drift - my family albums are woefully behind.  So when someone tipped me off to the How Fast They Grow online scrapbooking service, I was very intrigued.  It turns out that this site is the best invention for busy scrapbookers.  You do need to have the photos you want to use in digital format but after that it is magically easy.

How Fast They Grow calls themselves the “Home of the 7 Minute Scrapbook page.”  I am not that efficient yet, but I have been devoting about 20-30 minutes per night and can usually complete 2-3 scrapbook pages in that time.  When I was doing traditional paper scrapbooking and cutting my photos and designing pages, my average was closer to 30-40 minutes per page.  Quite a difference!  While the site is still increasing their page offerings, they do have a good selection already of pre-designed scrapbook pages that range from space for one special photo to a collage of up to 6 photos.  There are boy pages, girl pages, gender neutral pages and occasion pages including everything from Halloween and the 4th of July to Christmas and Easter Holidays.

I had given up on traditional scrapbooking because I just didn’t have the time anymore but this innovative website allows me some creative outlet for putting together my photos without all the time and physical space that my paper scrapbooking demands.  All you do is log on, upload your photos, pick a design layout and begin dragging and dropping your photos into place.  It couldn’t be simpler, even for the relatively computer unsavvy. 

Best of all, it’s free to design the album pages!  You can share your designed pages with friends and family anytime at no cost.  You only pay for the pages that you want to have professionally printed and sent to you.  It’s a great way to keep friends and family updated with your albums when visits aren’t possible.

Are there improvements that can be made?  I would love to have a bit more creative control and be able to merge the space for 2 photos into 1 larger one for a bigger shot.  Also it would be fun to be able to move the elements of the page around for a more idividualized look but I think that this method of scrapbooking is the wave of the future.  It’s time you got on board! 

Right now it couldn’t be easier.  Test drive How Fast They Grow Online Scrapbooking to create the best looking pages you’ve ever done and from now until Feb 15th, and use the special Let’s Go Strolling coupon “LetsGo” for 15% off your order.  There’s never been a better (and cheaper) time to get started catching up with all your photo albums!

 

Okay here are the current facts going forward:

Regal Lager, the US distributor of Phil and Ted’s Strollers has announced that it will no longer be selling the Orange/Charcoal or Charcoal/Black Sport Buggy Stroller colors.  For the moment they will still stock doubles kits in these colors however.  This means, when we run out, we run out folks, so if either one of these were the colors you had your heart set on - I suggest ordering now!  If you previously purchased these colors and think you will want in a toddler seat in the future that is matching, I encourage you to think about getting it sooner than later as there is no word how long Regal Lager will continue to stock the toddler seats in these two colors.

And then of course, the frequently asked question. . . when will the new Vibe and Dash strollers be out.  Although there were persistant rumors swirling around that January 2008 would be the release date, the latest date from Regal Lager suggests these beauties will not be realistically available in stores until the end of the March at the earliest.  For those of your with March/April due dates, keep in mind this date is not yet firm at this time.  If you are curious what the differences are between these Phil and Ted’s models.  Check out our previous blog entry “What the Heck is Going on with All Those Phil and Ted’s Strollers” which details the changes between the Sport, Dash and Vibe models.

Okay so the holiday season has passed but do you find that your little one is still dancing away to the nutcracker with any wooden doll she can find and dreaming that she is Clara?  Or maybe you have an adorable niece who still needs a great birthday gift that can make a splash after a December full of opening gifts?  No matter the reason, if you are looking for a special gift - I guarantee you will not be disappointed by these gorgeous handmade tutus.  You can choose both the design AND the colors you want it to come in so it is completely personalized for your favorite little gal and can be done in their special colors. 

I got one of these Tutus as a birthday gift for my niece and she loves it.  She runs around the house wearing it according to her Mom and the pink and black I choose look striking yet fun together.  Best of all you know you are supporting a mom-owned and run business where your tutu will be made with love, care and high quality materials.

So if you’ve been looking for that x-tra special gift, check out Tutuadore  for their great selection of hand-made distinctive Tutus.  PLUS, for a limited time, Tutadore is offering is offering Strolling Along Blog readers 20% off their orders.  Just shop by clicking on this Let’s Go Strolling sale link before March 1st and you’ll enjoy giving this gift, that much more!

The folks at Orbit have been extra busy this year, planning for tons of new releases.  Here at Let’s Go Strolling we love innovative new products and companies that constantly improve instead of resting on their laurels!  Go Orbit!

First up we have the new Orbit Toddler Carseat.  We can’t tell you how excited we are about this one.  Not only will it be the first convertible toddler carseat that easily snaps into a stroller for maximum convenience and portability, but it is also extra tall for all those big kids that might someday outgrow the Orbit Stroller Seat.  Now you can have all the conveniences of travelling with an infant, when you are travelling with your toddler.  Well okay, some of the conveniences. . .your toddler will still drive you mad walking up and down the airplane the whole flight!

Then we have the Orbit Stroller System Travel Bag.  We have to say that this one is about time.  When you invest over $1000 in a gorgeous new stroller that makes travelling easy, you want to be able to protect it along the way.  The Orbit Stroller System Travel bag will hold either the bassinet cradle OR the toddler stroller seat so no matter where you are in your family cycle, the Orbit Stroller Travel Bag will get your stroller there safely!

Also up, hopefully late February is the Organic Bassinet Cradle.  Not only is this version of Orbit’s unique bassinet/cradle great for the environment and a chemical-free resting place for your newborn baby, but it is a super cute flecked cafe au lait colored color.  We can’t wait to see the final version on this beauty.  Too bad my baby is coming in January and not March!

Lastly, on the horizon (hopefully not too far off), Orbit demoed some fabulous pannier bags at the September 2007 ABC show.  Although these were still prototypes, we loved how much extra storage they added onto your Orbit and easily folded away when not needed or for ultra thin store aisles.  As a truly heavy packer, I hope these fabulous accessories are available soon.  You never know when the shopping urge might hit you when you are out and about!