Where can you get this beauty now?  Well since it is now a sold-out limited edition, I usually have to say there are none left!  But we just got word that there are two more left of these beauties! Keep in mind these are refurbished strollers which means they have the exclusive Pink/Blue split fabric/canopies.  They do however have all black baskets instead of the initial baskets with one pink pocket and one blue pocket.  This full-loaded strollers still comes with matching footmuffs, a zip-in UV sunshade, tire pump and maintenance kit, cupholder and storm canopy.

Grab yours now at Let’s Go Strolling while they last and you can look at cool as Brooke pushing your kids!  Keep in mind that last December when we had located two of these valuable refurbished pink/blues, we sold them in less than a week so don’t dilly dally!

KidKustoms Roddlers are the strollers you get for the parents who have everything or just what you get for your guy to make sure he’s willing to do his fair share of stroller pushing.  These are really not just strollers, they are true works of art! (Click below here for a video demo about them!)

Each KidKustoms Roddler stroller is hand assembled/painted/overseen by the amazing Joe Iacono and his team.  Joe is a total car guy who for some inexplicable reason, realized he could make a more beautiful stroller than any others out there – especially one more geared to Dads and/or people who appreciate truly fine car craftsmanship.  Since each stroller is truly hand-crafted, we work closely with Joe and our Let’s Go Strolling KidKustoms customers to create the stroller of their dreams.

We’ve had the honor this year to work with customers to create some pretty smokin’ strollers.  They’ve had monogrammed seats, ipod connectors and speakers, rear fender reflectors and even custom-designed fender art.  Unfortunately since these are special order for some high-profile customers, we can’t show them here – but trust us, they would blow you away!  Here’s one Roddler they did for International Pin-Up model Sabina Kelley, which, I have to say, is pretty cute.

Anyways back to us (of course!).  For our Roddler, we had Joe do a bit more toned-down version for the Let’s Go Strolling store in our signature green color.  A few months later a Romanian pop-star needed one ASAP for her music video.  Since Joe lives about 20 minutes from us, he called and asked if he could send ours to Romania and make us a new one.  Of course we agreed.

Joe just forwarded on these Parazzi shots of the famous (though unknown to me!) Corina l-a botezat pe Robin with our, I mean her, KidKustoms stroller.  So even though we’re not hounded by the Paparazzi yet, our strollers sure are!

Melissa and I are donating money to charities that deliver food and medical care to the Haitian people.  We’ve also put up a banner link on the home page of our website to make it easy for others to donate.  If you’ve been thinking about donating but haven’t gotten around to it, or don’t know where to donate, we recommend the Red Cross.  You can click here or on the banner on the front page of our website to go straight to the Red Cross donation page.

We believe every little bit does make a difference.

School is finally back in session this week after two long long long weeks at home with my brood.  Generally between xmas and New Year’s is pretty slow here at Let’s Go Strolling so it seemed an ideal time to take off a couple of weeks to spend with my family since my kids are out of school.

This idea turned out to be better in theory than practice.  First my middle son got sick (right on his birthday too!) and ended up coughing endlessly and spending nights awake on the bathroom floor.  As he recovered my toddler daughter got sick, as did my Dad who was visiting for the holidays.

This meant planned outings seemed distinctly less appealing and both my husband and I were grouchy and sleepy during the daytimes.  Then the whining began – “I’m bored.” “There’s nothing to do.” “Can I go to the toy store and buy a gift?”  Nothing like spending time with whiny kids spoiled from too many gifts and sweets to really make you feel like you’re doing a successful job of parenting.

Then New Year’s came and since my parents were visiting – we had babysitters!  We made movie/dinner plans with a couple of friends and got ready to have one night out alone on the town to ring in 2010.  Until around 3pm when our friends called to tell us their babysitter had the flu!  We brought dinner to their house and rang in New Year’s on their couch.  Maybe next year. . .

Needless to say – I had a big smile sending my kids to school on Monday and heading back to work.  I really love time with my kids, but I’m thinking spending times with them during a non flu/cold season might be a better way to go. . .

P.S. Thanks to all our fabulous Teutonia Stroller Giveaway entries. It was won by Matt who entered for his wife Jessica!  What a devoted husband.  We’re so happy for them and they are thrilled.  Meanwhile did you check out these photos of Heidi Klum with her new Teutonia?

There have been 12 reports of a hinge on the stroller that amputated children’s fingertips.  At least that’s what I read.  Sounds horrifying eh?  Apparently the fix is just a simple hinge cap that Maclaren will send out to stroller owners.

This sounds very similar to the hinge cap that Phil and Ted’s issued with their Sport Buggy v1 recall after they had complaints people were gettings their fingers stuck in the hinge.  Of course then we didn’t hear the word amputated.

Does this mean you should worry if you have a Maclaren?  Apparently when the recall is public this Tuesday you should stop using your stroller.  Should you really?  That depends on your comfort level but in either case I would be very careful not to leave it out where your children can play with it as that seems to be the real risk.  Once the recall is public Maclaren should have a hotline and website form to request the cap for the hinge. Of course do this as soon as possible and don’t forget to actually install it on your stroller when it arrives.

My guess is that the words “safety recall” can sound a whole lot more ominous and worrisome than they should be to most parents.  All of this does serve as a great reminder though that strollers are not good playtoys for toddlers or young children. There are too many hinges, clasps and parts where little fingers can get stuck.

Win to tickets to (RED)NIGHTS Concert – A Fine Frenzy in San Francisco, CA

Let’s Go Strolling is partnering with Bugaboo to bring 2 lucky Let’s Go Strolling fans the opportunity to win a set of 2 tickets to this awesome (RED)NIGHTS concert on November 12th in San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. 


What is (RED)?

(RED) is a simple and powerful idea to harness the power of shoppers to create a sustainable flow of funds directly to Africa to help those affected by AIDS.

(RED) partners with the world’s most iconic brands to create (PRODUCT)RED products, a portion of which goes to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Current (RED) partners are Apple, Converse, Dell, Emporio Armani, Gap, Hallmark and Starbucks.

What is (RED)NIGHTS?

(RED)NIGHTS is a concert series designed to help eliminate AIDS in Africa; as a part of the series, A Fine Frenzy will be appearing November 12th in San Francisco, CA.  A Fine Frenzy’s first album was released in 2007 and reached Number One on Billboard’s “Heatseeker” charts.  A Fine Frenzy was also chosen as a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist.  Joining A Fine Frenzy in concert is Landon Pigg and Among the Oak & Ash.

Bugaboo is now a Proud Partner of (PRODUCT)RED

Bugaboo is a proud partner of (PRODUCT)RED and is contributing 1% of all revenue to the Global Fund to help fund AIDS programs in Africa with an emphasis on the health of women and children.

Bugaboo is the only (RED)™ partner to contribute a percentage of all revenue across its entire product range to help in the fight against AIDS in Africa.  In celebration of the BUGABOO (PRODUCT)RED partnership, Bugaboo has created a special collection which includes a (BUGABOO)RED Cameleon denim stroller, (BUGABOO)RED Cameleon ADO(RED) accessory bundle, (BUGABOO)RED Bee TREASU(RED) and (BUGABOO)RED Bag in white leather.  Wow! Go Bugaboo!

How Can I Win Tickets?

Just comment on your thoughts about the Bugaboo(RED) partnership to get entered.

You can score additional entries with each purchase on the Let’s Go Strolling website between November 1st and November 9th.  Just give your order number and you’ll get one additional entry.  Orders containing Bugaboo products get 2 additional entries – just put “I buy Bugaboo” in your blog comment and you will score 2 entries.

Still want more entries?

You can Tweet about the fabulous Bugaboo (RED)NIGHTS ticket giveaway and leave a comment that you tweeted to get extra contest entries.

Need a tweet to use?

“Win tickets to the SF #rednights concert from @Letsgostrolling & Bugaboo http://tinyurl.com/yhzmsak”

]]> http://www.letsgostrolling.com/strolling-along/giveaway-2-pairs-of-tickets-to-sf-rednights-concert/feed/ 7 http://www.letsgostrolling.com/strolling-along/busy-parents-watch-out-for-this-japanese-invasion/ http://www.letsgostrolling.com/strolling-along/busy-parents-watch-out-for-this-japanese-invasion/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:37:33 +0000 Jen http://www.letsgostrolling.com/strolling-along/?p=664 While the Japanese have dominated the US automobile market, we haven’t found that so much for the baby automobiles (or strollers as you might say).  Aprica, the top-selling stroller brand in Japan exited the US market in 2001 and we’ve heard very little about them since.   Well that is about to change!

Graco has purchased the Japanese company Aprica and is relaunching in the US with stroller designs and colors cherry picked for the US market.  While Graco has a lower-end but utilitarian reputation in the US, Aprica is being launched as a more sophisticated line for urban on-the-go parents who want a functional, but light, lightweight stroller.

While Quinny momentarily won over the lightweight market a couple of years ago with their sleek Zapp stroller, we’ve found these days that Baby Jogger City Minis, UPPABaby G-Luxe and G-lites and Maclarens seem to have the corner on most parents light-weight searches.  Stand-outs like the Valco Ion, brand new Cybex line, and Peg Perego Si have a tough time gaining momentum in this ultra-competitive market.

So how will Aprica fare as it readies for it’s 2010 release?  We’re guessing pretty well!  Why?

Aprica invited us to an exclusive San Francisco launch to debut their ready-for-US line and we were impressed. I have to admit, I knew Aprica from pre-2002 days and I didn’t think it would fare well in the US so I was skeptical.  Let me say, these were not the same Aprica’s.  Both lightweights they showed had solid, sturdy frames with fun eye-catching colors.  They were well thought-out introductions to gaining US parents trust and love.

Here’s what we liked:

1)   The seat is 4 inches higher than the Maclarens and UPPA’s of this world.  This give tons more basket room and easier to load and unload babies

2)   The weights are 14lbs and 12 lbs respectively for the two models – definitely within the weight limits parents like to consider for their lightweights

3)   Both models can be folded without bending down – wonderful for those in rainy or snowy climates who don’t want to get gross just to fold their stroller or any with back issues

4)   They both stand folded, nice for standing in public transit or just loading up your car

5)   Really nice removable padding (yes washable, we asked!)

6)   Awesome harness buckles – big and very easy to clip on and off or adjust sizing on

7)  Cool factor: they have a heat reflective element on the seat back so that the heat from the sidewalk gets reflected away from the seat, keeping your little one from baking in their stroller on hotter days.

8)   Canopy and recline are decent, 130-140 degrees.  I’m hoping they revamp the recline system though which is a big clunky

Also worth noting: Aprica has the deep pockets of Graco (and it’s parent company Newell-Rubbermaid) standing behind it and investing in brand development, recognition and customer service/warranty.  This is huge! It’s hard to love a stroller if you haven’t even heard about it or don’t trust the brand.   Aprica wants you to know who they are.

On a side note (pun intended), Aprica also debuted a side hip carrier.  It is simple and streamlined.  We loved everything about it except for the price.  At $60, I might just keep using my pouch sling from the newborn stage rather than investing in a separate hip carrier.  It was cute though!

So when are they out? Well depends where you are.  Aprica is launching in NY and CA in January 2010 with their 14 lb-er and hip carrier.  Their wider distribution and 12 lbs stroller will debut in July 2010.  We’ll definitely have them in January though!

P.S. These aren’t coming to the US but in case you wanted to spend $100 for infant shoes to help your baby walk faster – head to Japan!

So the question is what do YOU think? Does this new line sound attractive to you?

What shocked me even more is that these chemicals were being used in products claiming to be “natural” and for “sensitive skin.”  Yes, these chemicals are from nature, but does that mean they are safe to put on a baby’s body?

When I finally settled on baby wash, shampoo and lotion for Matilda I went with a company that has a good reputation for making safe cosmetics.  The packaging even says “96.08% Natural”. After using it for a few months, Matilda developed eczema.  Her doctor said it could have been a number of different things:  allergies, detergent, genetics (I have lived with eczema for most of my life.), etc.  First thing I did was change her baby soap to no fragrance castile soap and the eczema cleared up in a week.  Eventually I realized it was probably the fragrance that was causing her to break out.

This whole experience motivated me to develop Squeaky Clean Tot, a website where parents can rate and review non-toxic, safe and BPA free baby and toddler products.

I know there are a lot of false claims out there so every product I list (especially anything that applies to baby skin) is thoroughly researched.  I use Cosmetics Database for all skincare products.  I will only post the product if it has a score of “2″ or below, meaning a low hazard.  If the product is not in their database, I go through each ingredient on the label and check the hazard score.  I will only post it if I feel the product is safe to use on Matilda.  I use the same method for all household cleaners and laundry supplies.  If I am suspicious about an ingredient I won’t add it to our database, even if they are a reputable company.

I invite you to visit my site and help other parents make important decisions about what their children are exposed to.  I know I feel more comfortable taking advice from parents than a company trying to sell a product.  You will find over 900 items in our database, in 45 different categories, including shampoos, lotions, cradle cap remedies, eczema relief, BPA free utensils, dishes, pacifiers, breast pumps, household cleaners, and laundry supplies. New products are added daily.  Most of the companies are smaller businesses, but you will also find some familiar ones like Burt’s Bees, Neutrogena, Munchkin, Avent and Playtex.

To celebrate our launch we are having a giveaway that runs through October 20.  Our grand prize is a stainless steel Safe Sippy, Earth Mama Angel Babybody wash and shampoo and a personalized luggage tag.  Visit Squeaky Clean Tot for details on how to enter.

I hope you visit our site often to post a review or if you are researching a new product.  I also invite your comments, suggestions and feedback either on this blog or at Squeaky Clean Tot

Bio: The author and founder of Squeaky Clean Tot, Tina Evans is mom to Matilda, aged 16 months.  She enjoys traveling, reading and watching scary movies with her husband.  She works as a part-time assistant and spends the rest of her free time with her sweet baby girl and making the world safer for other parents!

Editor’s note: So what do you think of her idea?  Does it sound like a good resource for you?

Okay excuse all the puns. I’m trying hard to resist putting them all in today but I’m sick with a cold so my dorkiness threshold might be much lower than usual today.  How high it is usually can of course be a subject of debate. . .

So in a short summary, we really loved the brand new Flight stroller.  It has clean beautiful lines and a ton of functionality for a lightweight.  Plus it has all the cute colors and textiles that Bumbleride strollers are known and loved for.

Bumbleride‘s twist on the traditional lightweight has a nice easy fold, comes with a universal carseat adaptor, has full recline, a nice canopy and get this – can even take the Bumbleride carrycot and snack pack!  Wow!  And it really is light, we weighed it (although now I can’t find the exact weight but it was around 14 lbs). If you are someone who really wants a lightweight that can “do it all,” you should be checking out the Bumbleride Flight.

The minuses? Although Bumbleride doesn’t have a price yet, it will likely be in the high 200s.  Given the functionality, it seems reasonable when you compare it to the Baby Jogger City Mini Single with carseat adaptor or the Valco Latitude, but it’s still not cheap.  It’s also two non-adjustable handlebars which some people love for hanging bags, but others feel doesn’t lend itself easily to a one-handed push (both have good points).

We have a short video below so you can see it Bumbleride IRL!  The upshot though: this stroller will be a popular choice for those of you looking for a newborn compatible lightweight and parents who want the fabulous Bumbleride look but don’t need all the functionality of the Indie or Flyer!

The flight – landing soon at www.letsgostrolling.com in January (we hope)!

In the meantime, several manufacturers have rushed to fill a void created by people who love their reversible Bugaboo-esque stroller and want that same functionality with two kids.  The first we were aware of was the FirstWheels City Twin.  While it was slated for US release last year, they have not ended up distributing in the US to date.   We did test it however and found the width to be very wide (well over 30″), and the seats and canopies to be very small.  We estimated that many US 2 year olds would not fit in this ride.

That has left the field of reversible seat doubles to the Kolcraft Contours tandem and the UPPABaby Vista with Rumble Seat for the most part.  Now with the Baby Jogger City Select and the Stroll-Air My Duo, come early 2010, the choices will be getting better for parents of two (or more?) who want reversibility.

I have to be honest that I faced the Stroll-Air My Duo with some skepticism.  After seeing some of the other double attempts at reversibility in the past, I was unsure about this newest one.  The reality is though the Stroll-Air My Duo was incredibly impressive.

The Stroll-Air My Duo offered everything you would expect including reversible seats, that recline fully, the ability to take 1 or 2 bassinets and even the ability to take 1 or 2 carseats – WOW!

Features-wise:

Stroll-Air made sure not to skimp on what parents are really looking for: they added a generous basket, height-adjustable handlebar, full canopies with peek-a-boo windows, two separate bumper bars, one strap recline and even mesh ventilated seats for hot days.

Usability-wise:

Both seats turned around relatively easily, the stroller pushed well (with no weight in it at least), it had larger rear air-chamber tires for no maintenance (air-filled tires are an optional accessory), and it unfolded easily.

The fold was a bit multi-step intensive.  It’s not prohibitive but it is no Baby Jogger City Double or City Select in terms of fold (see video for full details.)

Measurement-wise:

To my surprise, the Stroll-Air My Duo had the best “measurements” of all the reversible doubles. The seats were not huge but generous with a canopy height of 24″ and a seat width of 11.5″.  We measured the stroller width right at about 30″ though Stroll-Air says 29″.  The most impressive?  We weighed the stroller in at 32 lbs!! Amazing.  We actually weighed it a few times since we couldn’t believe our eyes.  It seems like a like of padding and features to squeeze into 32 lbs. Kudos to Stroll-Air for that feat!

Stroll-Air says they will test the seats to 45 lbs but rate them for 40 lbs.  This seems reasonable given the height of children that will likely fit in the seats.

Options:

Stroller Air will offer bassinets, carseat adaptors, air tires, a toddler board, and probably a few more goodies as options.  What this will do to the price when all is said and done, we don’t know but if you want everything – be prepared to commit $$$.

The Upshot?

If you are a parent of twins or two siblings that are closer in age and can’t imagine your life without reversible seats – you will not be disappointed with the Stroll-Air My Duo.  It appears to be a well-constructed and thought-out stroller with all the goodies in a relatively lightweight package.

Stroll-Air is releasing it at a discounted price of $799 which is right in line with other all-terrain doubles.  If you are looking for the rugged-ness of a true all-terrain or reversibility is not a high-up priority, I would check out the other great all-terrains as well which might offer up more strolling longevity as your kids age.

So now if you want to see the Stroll-Air My Duo in action, you can check out our ABC Stroll-Air My Duo demonstration.