Category Archives: Shopping Videos

The Mother shoe has landed

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This video was done MONTHS ago.  My dear friend Michelle shot it and then had to move, and well, you know what happens when you move. Mayhem.

It was inspired by a call from The Walking Company.  ”Would you like to try a pair of our shoes? We have a Dansko Pro XP that are exclusive to us that have generated quite a bit of buzz ”  You mean the shoes that back when I was single I wouldn’t be caught dead in?  The shoes that my husband the professional chef wore for years because he works on his feet all day?  HAND THEM OVER!   Provident because my infamous red clogs had gone missing.

Watch the vid, enjoy, it’s fun.  And let me say.  The Danskos are now an integral part of my life.  Comfy, give me a little height, perfect for mom on the go!

NOTE:  the only think I don’t like about this vlog is my slatternly appearance.  Michelle is such a nice person she doesn’t see when I look like a train wreck.

Holiday Shopping Guide / Product Parade

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Or should I call it “Daph’s Favorite Things”? More like I got worn down by press releases. I get so many emails everyday from companies asking me to put their products in my “holiday gift guide”… but I don’t have a holiday gift guide. There’s a barrel of other sites that do a great job of listing products and I do it very infrequently. Then I thought, ah heck, I will throw them a bone. I will have a Holiday gift guide!  You see how suggestive I am?  Glad they didn’t ask me to hide nukes in my suitcase.

My first pick is one I found ON MY OWN and LOVE. It’s a diffuser. Yes, those sticks that jut out of a glass bottle and are supposed to cover the smell of crap. Most of them do nothing. Then, a few months ago, I stumbled across a gal at the Renegade Craft Fair in Downtown LA selling her good smelling wares and I become a devotee. Pure Palette scents. It’s a one gal band. Well priced. She also has candles, which I bet are also great, but with little kids I prefer no open flames in the house. She will be at the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair this weekend and I will be stocking up.

How about cute, old-fashioned style gift tags that also help feed hungry kids? These gift tags from Share Our Strength are inexpensive and put a little “spirit of the season” on all the material things we covet.

WHY WHY WHY? As mentioned before on this site, your kids can help you to realize what a dumb ass you are. That’s why I like the sound of these Worx toys. They are trucks, helicopters, and fire engines that also tell you HOW they work. Because when my kids ask me, their liberal arts, alternative education mom has NO idea. I have not gotten one yet. I hope too soon, and if it’s as cool as it sounds I’ll let you know.  But it’s worth a look! Price is $30 to $65 and at least in my area it’s in smaller retailers which I also like.

One I was sent too late for the vid, but love is Prank Pack.  Very Mad magazine, wacky packs, silly stuff.  You wrap a good gift in one and people thing they are getting some lame “see on TV” product like a “beer beard”.

I am in the blogger category of “no, big company, I will not publicize your giveaway/FB contest unless you are a sponsor of some sort or provide a solid giveaway for my readers which help make this sight a place to return to.”  But, sometimes a smaller company, a particularly charming pitch and here I am.  That pretty much what happened with the ones in this vid.  (One product in my vid Vitacare toothpaste I do miss now that it is gone. I liked the toothpaste more than the mouthwash though.) Thanks to Vivien for not only adding her talent, but as you will see, her production skills to this.

Do You Take Your Kids Grocery Shopping? (Ragu Sponsored)

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Back with Sauce Talk!

When we shot this, I was struck by how kind, even and uncynical Christine is about her kids. When I watched the video, though, I just wanted to go put baffles in her dining room so the sound was better.

Look, most of the time going to the grocery store is a bore to me. Mostly because I do it ALL THE TIME. What’s with this eating thing around here? When they were tiny, a mashed banana and cheerios went a long way. Caroline Murphy is in the discussion as well.

So, if you have a choice… do you take the kids along for the ride?

Magazine Perfect Breakfast Nook

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HGTV comes to life for me here. Have you ever daydreamed about a room or look you want and then actually got? Well, I did. In the vid I say the wrong state. The lamp came from Rhode Island and the designer is Tracy Glover. Fantastic stuff. Apologies in advance for the quick shot of the lamp.  We should have lingered on it. Check out my favorite house porn Renovation Style... hard to find, best to subscribe.

Happy home day dreaming!

Kenmore Washer and Dryer, Oh Yeah!

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I have a few vids and blogs coming about settling into our new digs. When we got the house, we found out we needed to get a washer and dryer as the previous owners wanted to take theirs with them. I had been doing some fantasy buying (where I stay up late and surf on images I covet, you know). My wandering eye settled on a pair of energy efficient front loaders from Kenmore. Oh, yeah, they knew they wanted me.

In one of those rare “put it out into the universe and it will come” types of things, I got an email from Kenmore that asked if I would judge a contest for them about Genius Tips. This is a fun read, let alone a great opportunity for you. They want tips about short cuts and hints to different domestic topics. There is a winner every month who gets a $3,000 Kenmore gift certificate. That would buy you a lot of Kenmore. So, I reached out to the Kenmore rep, told her of my love and desire for a Kenmore washer and dryer and how I could perhaps help them with their Genius Tips contest. Long story short, I got this washer and dryer to review.

When I picked them up at the local Sears (on Crenshaw), I did spend over $200 on a warranty for the washer (which MP told me not to buy, but I did). Otherwise, I was given this set to review and for my ongoing participation in the Genius Tips contest.

Here is my first take on the set (by the way, in the store, they seem to cost a little less depending upon the special being run).

Check out the Genius Tips. I have spent some time, after the kids go to bed, on that myself. The winning tip will be featured in a Kenmore ad.

Cyber Monday Cool Mom style

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Maybe it’s better to dress like Zsa Zsa Gabor when changing a diaper?

I’m trying something new this year.  For the first time ever Cool Mom will be a direct portal of sales through it’s vlogs. Or vlog rather, I only have this one here. And it’s not extensive product it’s one cutio cocktail ring ( well, a bangle as well). I think I’m like other mom’s as well in that a large portion of my shopping has become online, after the kids are asleep and I’m surfing around. Hopefully, for something I wouldn’t find in a store and at a good price.

I learned about Open Sky months back.  Open Sky is a way for small merchants to connect with buyers through blogs.  With no marketing or merchandising budget it’s one of the few ways they can get their goods to the market place.  Like other people online I struggle with the “how do I monetize this?” while “keeping my voice” and cred issue.  This is not a product review site-which would be perfect for Open Sky.  I waited until I saw a product that is available on Open Sky that I really loved.  Of course it also has to be something that I can weave into a humorous video about the daily life of a parent.  So, I stumbled upon  this beautiful ring online by Roberta Chiarella. She has lovely costume jewelery that is fun, classy, great price points and rarest of all! MADE in the USA… well at least the ring is.

I love a cocktail ring.  Even a simple outfit can be elevated when wearing a cocktail ring.  When I told them how much I loved this ring she set it up so Cool Mom buyers would have a steep discount on this fab bauble. From $60 to $28.   Yes, coolmom does get a little commission if people buy the ring or some of the other pretty things in my “marketplace“.  But, it’s not a lot and I was more into the virtual trunk show/ flea market, small business aspect to this then anything else.

So, check it out.  It is Cyber Monday, it is the Holiday time and it’s also nice to treat yourself. It is returnable, as well. Watch the vid for fun and if you like what you see and want to give it to yourself or some gal you know go to the links here.

Statement ring size 5

Statement ring size 6

Statement ring size 7

Swarovski Crystals Bubble Cuff

So, enjoy the vid and happy shopping. Not sure of ring size? Click here.

Sky Mall

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I was just in NYC for the final leg of my media for Upromise MasterCard. I was flown business. Now, a few years back I flew all the time for work. I had tons of miles racked up, I was an old pro at traveling. No more. I rarely take a long flight and rarely ever without my family.

So, I really stuck out from the jaded, business men who sat next to me and around me.   was super excited to enjoy my flight. On my way to NYC, it was kind of a disappointment. I had envisioned a personal monitor where I could catch up on all the movies I’ve missed for the last 4 years. But sadly,  Continental business class only had a tiny screen tat hung a few rows ahead and a B movie to boot.  The food was edible. That was it, nothing great.

Happily, coming home, which is the longer leg of the trip, I was flown back on Delta. Now, they know what to do. The seats were really big. I had a TV screen and on flight 709 I had the nicest flight attendants I could remember. They rushed over to me and asked if I wanted a drink. I was like, “me?” I started to say I was fine with water when I saw all the boozy businessmen around me slurping up the free drinks I changed my mind.

“I want a gin and tonic. Right, I can have one?” They laughed, yes, I could. They came around to take our orders for dinner and when I said, “steak and mac and cheese.” The flight attendant said, “You are one of the few people who ordered.”

I turned to the accountant next to me. “What are you thinking?” I wanted to yell, “Quit showing off that you LEAVE your house!”

Man in gray flannel suit, “I will eat dinner when I get home.”

ME: “That will be in like, 8 hours!”

I stashed the pulp novel I had bought at the airport and hunkered down to watch movie after movie. First one was 500 days of Summer. Enjoyed it. Think that kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun did well. Then I watched an episode of Big Love. Completely missed the last season when we tried to save money and canceled HBO (since been reinstated) and 4 Christmases with Vince Vaughn. I was sure it would be dumb, oh,not, this easy audience member. I laughed and laughed, and I sopped up every bite of the kid-you-not-delicious steak and very good mac and cheese. When the fresh cookies came out I would have had to unbutton my pants, but thinking ahead, I wore my maternity pants!

I was so excited I elicited a few chuckles from the working staff. “Is it okay if I have another drink?”

Here is one thing I thought of while traveling.

Big Box Spree

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Just because you can buy in large quantities doesn’t necessarily mean it’s valuable to you. Some of it was helpful… but I think I have to learn to be more discerning. Clearly I’m not the only one who has documented this malady. Here is a good one.

Please watch this, and let me know what hulking items are still sitting on your shelves.

Earth Day Diapers

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Since it is Earth Day, I have to be honest. I do turn off lights or try not to turn them on. I unplug things that aren’t in use (except for big guzzlers like the computer and TV ’cause I think it will all explode if I try to undo it and have to hire someone to restart it all). I buy locally, unless I’m really craving some fruit in the winter that they grow in Chile and jet up here). I have an electric car (but it’s not that safe, so we rarely drive it), and we have dialed down the sprinklers. I take reusable bags to the grocery store (when I remember). Hmm, guess I could do better. And this vid is about another green flaw of mine. What are you doing that’s green?  Or not?

DVD in the Car

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It’s been many weeks since Vivien and I got to jam around in the Traverse with the DVD player, but we are still trying to convince dad to go for the minivan.  Or rather I am, and I say, “Vivien really liked it.” Mark says “Oliver doesn’t want me to get a minivan.”  My reply: in less than a year he will have his license so he can pick his own car to drive.  Mark said recently, “What about a Scion?” Oh, that’s LESS geeky?