Now wouldn’t it be just fabulous if in the middle of your day as supermom, that FAQ ‘What’s for dinner?’ no longer left you stumped???  Relish! is an online weekly meal planner with a dash of style and a whole lot of flavor and is a very welcome addition to our Favorite Things!!  We just love it, and we know you will too!

What we love most about this hip new way to plan meals is how incredibly easy it is to use!  It’s as simple as picking your faves from the weekly selections and Relish! does the rest!  Instantly you have a meal list, recipe list and grocery list ready to print!  Relish! offers the solution and the tools to help families get back to the dinner table, establish healthy eating habits and save money at the same time.  With Relish! by your side you will avoid that last minute rushing to the grocery store to find dinner… and of course the fast-food drive thru!  Doesn’t Sauteed Pork Chops with Pomegranate and Fennel Relish or Pasta with Carmelized Onions and Arugula and Lemon Garlic Bread sound better than heart-stopper hamburgers!?!

For only $7 a month, Relish! will provide you with the following amazing services!!

• Five dinners and sides costing about$85-$95 a week!
• All Relish! recipes require only 30 minutes or less prep time!
• Monthly freezer menus are included for those nights when you need something fast!
• An easy to use Recipe Legend helps you easily choose meals in each category like Kid Friendly, Quick, Vegetarian and many more.
• Extra menus for seasonal dinner parties and other specialties like desserts and horsdoeuvres provide recipe ideas for every occasion!

We all know that there is nothing like a family dinner to bring us closer together.  Another one of the ways Relish! will help you make your Family Night the coolest on the block is with their Dinner and Movie menus.  A meal and dessert plan is made to go along with your family’s favorite movies!  We loved King Fu Panda night with Jack Black Punch, Kung Pao Chicken, Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon, Chinese Noodles and Panda Cake.  What a creative idea and so much fun!

Check out Relish! on your own at www.relishrelish.com and you will see why it’s one of our Favorite Things!  The Relish! slogan sure has it right…Time. Food. Life.  Need we say more?

There are not many things better for a family than to simply have meals together. Families, especially kids, benefit enormously from frequent positive family meals:

1.  Improves family communication

2.  Improves nutrition and eating habits

3.  Improves literacy development among preschoolers

4.  Develops a protective factor for adolescents against tobacco, alcohol, drugs and low grade point averages

“Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2004 Study: Correlations between family meals and psychosocial well-being among adolescents.”

The more meals your family has together, the more you’ll enjoy these amazing benefits! And remember, keep the meals positive, lighthearted and fun.

More specifically, according to research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, children and teens who have frequent family meals:

• Are at half the risk for substance abuse compared to teens who dine with their families infrequently
• Are less likely to have friends or classmates who use illicit drugs or abuse prescription drugs
• Have lower levels of tension and stress at home
• Are more likely to say that their parents are proud of them
• Are likelier to say they can confide in their parents
• Are likelier to get better grades in school
• Are more likely to be emotionally content and have positive peer relationships
• Have healthier eating habits
• Are at lower risk for thoughts of suicide
• Are less likely to try marijuana or have friends who use marijuana

Information courtesy of www.ftfgames.com
Image courtesy of "Daddies" Little Golden Book, Illustrations by Tibor Gergely

Our friend Andrea wrote a great baby food tutorial a while back and we have been meaning to share it with everyone for the longest!  Andrea is one of those moms who inspires so many with all of her crafty little projects and her commitment to being fabulously healthful.

Take a look at just how easy and how much better making your own baby food can be by clicking HERE.  Thanks Andrea!

How many dishes does the average mom go through before finding something that actually works so well that it’s all that you’ll use?  At Chez Bellaziza, it was at least ten.  Good dishes help to avoid toddler messes and help to teach self-feeding, so it’s worth the investment on whatever new product seems like it will work best.  We wanted to find the absolute best options for you though and we are sure that Boon is it!  The whole line is 100% BpA, Phthalate and PVC free and as it’s Boon, you know the quality is very high, yet the price won’t break the bank.

Boon‘s line of kids dishes is very well thought out and works incredibly well for so many reasons.  They are the type of product that you will wash and rewash to use at every meal before you get the half-dozen or so in the mail that you’re SURE to want after your first experience.  We’re hooked for sure on a few things from their collection and like the others too.

Our Favorites are the Catch Bowl, Benders and Snack Ball.  These are the ‘can’t live without’ type of Favorite Things too!  We also love the Groovy interlocking plate and bowl set for fun family meals…think the cutest little bowls ever for applesauce or ketchup!  It’s great, but the super duper suction cup and drip lip on the Catch Bowl makes it our absolute Favorite.  We did run into a very little (as in barely noticeable at all) staining issue with the Catch Bowl and Groovy.  After speaking with our friends at Boon about it though, it’s because of it being BPA free…something we can TOTALLY forgive, right moms and dads!?!?  Also, it’s important to mention that this staining only happened after being used with tomato-based foods, and came 90% of the way off through the next few cycles in the dishwasher!  In the end, the Catch Bowl and Groovy are still fabulous products and we love Boon‘s commitment in their priority to providing safe products.  Go Boon!

As another of our Favorite Things from the Boon Feeding line, their Benders are just so smart!  They bend at the front and stay in place to facilitate those little arms successfully meeting the fork and spoon up with that adorable little mouth.  INCOMING!  They’re really great and are totally adjustable so that you can bend a little more or less to help your little sweetie into successful self-feeding.  What a proud moment!

The Snack Ball is too wonderful for words and is a must for daily use as well as any trip out of the house here.  It’s big enough to hold a good-sized portion of your little one’s fave snack, but small enough to fit nicely in those sweet baby hands.  The open/close movement of the lid is very secure, but easy for them to manipulate.

With the Fluid, we loved the fact that it’s BpA, Phthalate and PVC free without costing an arm and a leg, that it was so easy to hold and contains no extra pieces like most other sippy cups.  You could also tether it to the stroller or car seat so easily too to prevent dropping!  It’s really great!  Little Bellaziza is more Little Houdini most days though and popped the top off after only a few days of using it though.  Messy!!!  Our word on this?  If you think your child is possibly a future safe cracker, (thinking of Charlize Theron in The Italian Job) the Fluid may not be for you.  If not it’s great!

The Boon Feeding line is definitely a must-have for any young family.  Check out www.Booninc.com for more more info on these and their other fabulous products.  The feeding line is priced at $4.99 – $12.99 and again, is all 100% BpA, Phthalate and PVC free.

Phil&Teds, oh how we love thee!  Anything that they make it seems, is a product of thinking outside-the-box combined with the experience of the challenges of stylish parenting.  Their products always impress and never disappoint!  The MeToo is no exception.

The MeToo is incredibly functional, as are all Phil&Teds products, but this one seems a little more versatile than most.  Have you ever gone out to a restaurant that was fresh out of highchairs?  How about if they do have one and then it comes to you but without the container of Lysol wipes that it really needs?  Have you ever needed an extra seat at the table for little Junior’s playdate?  Have you ever realized how much space the extra highchair at Grammy and Grampie’s house really takes up for only a few uses now and then?  The MeToo is a fabulously fashionable solution to all of these likely scenarios.

It is unbelieveably lightweight and portable at under two pounds and folds flat.  It is ideal for travel, and actually fits perfectly in the bottom of many strollers (including the Phil&Teds Buggies).  Its high-quality aluminum frame is lightweight yet strong and attaches easily and securely to almost any table.  We love the fact that it has these little foamy things to protect your tabletop too!  It’s a great little piece of equipment and one that you are sure to use regularly and unexpectedly.  It is recommended for children ages 6 months to 3 years or up to 40 pounds, and retails at $49.95.

Happy Natonal Breastfeeding week everyone!  We just found an absolutely fabulous product for all of you nursing moms out there.  It’s called the Slurp & Burp.  Okay, so the name is a little funny, but the functionality of this fantastic product really makes up for it!

There are all sorts of little tricks to breastfeeding in public, but how many of us end up covering up our babies along with ourselves in the process?  There’s the good old blanket through the bra strap trick and now over the past few years there are nursing covers that drape around mom’s neck, securely covering both mom and the baby.  Wouldn’t it be nicer for all of the little nursing bundles out there though if they didn’t have to be covered while nursing?  We think so and that’s why we love the Slurp & Burp.  Come on Moms!  It gets hot and stuffy under all of those blankets and covers!  (It’s SO much fun when they just yank them off too, right?!?!)  Not anymore…thank you Slurp & Burp!

Slurp & Burp comes in a large variety of colors and designs, and retails at under $40.  It is made of super soft and stretchy cotton and comes with a built-in burpcloth, which is just so clever!  It’s really very comfortable and looks pretty cute too!  It comes in a nice little pouch too and makes a perfect gift.  Check them out online at www.slurpburp.com where you can see their collection and purchase them too!

We simply love Boon!  Everything is always so well designed and functional, and the quality is always excellent. When we found out about all of the new brilliant additions to their line though, we just had to pass it on to you!

It’s always nice to see any good business grow and succeed. It’s even better when you can see that it’s not just an effort of brilliant pr/marketing, but of their truly functional and high quality products. We wish Boon all of the success in the world for this reason. They have recently launched a bunch of great new products that we will detail for you, including a layette line, sterling silver baby and children’s jewelry, and some SUPER cool and well thought out feeding accessories.

The new Boon Layette line is fabulous! It is extremely well made with 100% fully combed cotton (for a super chic fit) and ultra cool prints and colors. We washed it, stained it, treated it, washed it and basically put it through the ringer….AND it came out like a champ! It is our new favorite layette line. We really believe in its quality. It is so nice to be able to buy beautiful things for your baby and not break the bank over it too, at between $15 and $30. Their collection includes bodysuits, coveralls, rompers, pants and hats.

Boon’s new collection of jewelry is absolute luxury. Their Boon-level of craftsmanship ensures that these pieces will be an exquisite keepsake, treasured for years to come. They are perfect for any special occasion and come in a variety of stunning designs. These are truly for that child in your life who has everything but deserves more! They range is size from newborn to toddler/child and are priced between $59 – $99 each. They are also perfect for engraving!

How many of us remember those days when little junior was learning how to eat solids and how frustrating that confounded baby spoon seemed? It was a true exercise in patience for us. Sweet potato puree all over the place:)! There has to be a better way! Well now there is with Boon’s new “Squirt“! It is a spoon that holds the food inside so that there is no more fumbling around with those little jars of food and the spoon and all of that. You simply SQUIRT your sweetie’s pureed treat into the spoon by squishing the handle which is filled with food. It is SUPER simple and even comes with a nifty cover so that you can save leftovers easily! Enter our Boon Swag Giveaway to win your own Squirt!

Their whole line of feeding gear is wonderful. The Snack Ball can also be yours too if you enter to win! It is a super chic, yet functional container that is perfect for those little fingers to keep their crackers or cereal in. It has a small-ish opening so that spills aren’t as dramatic, and the cover turns to open and close it completely. We love the fact that the plastic on all of their products are “safe” and eco-friendly too. It is another great part of their commitment to delivering you and your family only the BEST!

To win your own fabulous Squirt and Snack Ball from Boon, just email us with ‘”BOON SWAG” in the subject line and let us know which of their innovative products on www.booninc.com is your absolute favorite. Email reviews@bellaziza.com. All entries must be received by Sunday, June 1st at midnight, PST. You may enter once per email address per day. Winner will be chosen on Monday via random.org. Good luck to all!!!

How many moms remember those uncomfortable times back when your sweet baby needed some liquid refreshment, but you really needed a little more privacy to be able to whip it out?  It can be a little bit of an issue.  Back in the day we used a receiving blanked rigged into a bra strap…not the most secure method.  It was always so much more fun too when the blanket got yanked down in the middle of a nice dinner out with friends, or in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, or…I digress.  

Peeky Boo Baby has developed a blanket that functions as a great nursing cover and more!  We wanted to let you know about it since it is so unique!  It functions as a fabulous nursing cover by concealing a very effective little weight in one corner that keeps the blanket hung securely over your shoulder.  It still keeps things loose around your baby though so it is very comfortable and non-confining.  They also offer burp cloths and bibs to match, and a gorgeous array of colors and fabrics to choose from!  

On top of a great nursing cover (which is enough in itself!), the Peeky Boo Baby Breastfeeding Blanket also functions incredibly as a cozy swaddling blanket, a great changing pad, a fun play mat, and a stroller or portable carrier cover for stay-put protection from the elements.  

The Peeky Boo Baby Breastfeeding Blanket is a fantastically versatile product, and one that you are sure to get lots of use out of.  Every new mother should have a few!  Check out www.peekyboobaby.com for more product information and a list of retailers including Lone Star Baby who sells them at only $39.94 – about a 20% savings!!

Be free to be green!  It seems that everyone is doing it these days.  It’s not only fashionable, but it really is something that we can all feel good about.  It’s Earth Day and there’s no day like today!

When it comes to our kiddos though, it sheds an entirely new light on going green.  We all want the very best of everything for our children, but when it comes to products that unknowingly pose a hazard, there is just no question.   With all of the recent toy recalls and now this issue with the phthalates and bisphenol-A in the plastic that even the so-called ‘best’ bottles are made of, you can’t help but be extra cautious.  Thank heavens for products that we can feel good about and at the same time not feel style deprived!  

We recently found a fantastic new store called GreenBaby.  They carry a wonderful selection of the hippest products out there.  The best thing is that every single item that they sell is 100% green and something that you can feel good about giving to your little one.

We are giving one lucky reader some fabulous Earth Day Swag!  GreenBaby’s Feeding Sampler Gift Set (retail $90) is the perfect gift for any new mom.  

Gift Set includes: 1 – green to grow 5 oz regular 1 – green to grow 5 oz wide 1 – Adiri Stage I natural nurser 1 – ThinkBaby 5 oz bottle 1- $50 GreenBaby gift certificate

So you get 4 different bottles that are 100% phthalates and bisphenol-A free, are super safe and also super cute!! You will also get a $50 gift certificate to GreenBaby so that after testing and finding the perfect bottle to fit your little baby bear’s preferences, you can stock up!

To enter, visit www.greenbaby-nyc.com and check out their incredible selection of all things green baby!  

Then, leave us a comment telling us what you would use the $50 gift certificate to purchase if you win!  You have until midnight PST Sunday, April 27th to enter.  Winner will be chosen via the random.org random selection tool and announced on Monday, April 28th.  Good luck and Happy Earth Day!