Congratulations to Jessie from Minneapolis who won the Ultimate Savvy Parent’s Car Kit from Evenflo!

Stay tuned for more giveaways this summer…

I can hardly wait until our annual summer road trip with the kids….NOT! The thought of being confined to the same closed space with my 6- and 2-year-old (and my husband) is enough to make my blood boil (OK, I’ll keep hubby out of my insane thoughts). If you’re like me, you’re desperate for any little thing that will make your family vacation a tad more enjoyable. Travel games that can fit in my pocket give me goosebumps. Pint-sized coloring book/crayon sets put a smile on my face. Imagine then what an all-inclusive road trip kit will do for my happiness quotient! In celebration of the season of traveling with the kids, Evenflo is offering the Ultimate Savvy Parent’s Car Kit, along with the release of its Momentum 65 DLX Convertible car seat. If you are admittedly one who always forgets something, then this is the treasure that will take the rage out of your road trip. Packaged in a portable pouch are:

• $25 gas gift card (a little treat for mom and dad)
• Moist wipes (for quick car clean-up)
• Baby mirror (to check out your rear-facing baby while driving)
• Soft book (to secure safety of passengers when thrown during tantrum)
• Kid/parent-friendly CD (to inspire a family sing-along–even during those “what-was-I-thinking-about-5-hours-in-the-car” moments)
• Car dustbuster (for hunting down Cheerios between seats)
• Window shade (to keep the hot summer sun out)
• Animal crackers and a snack trap, to curb cravings
• Car organizer (to keep it all arranged neatly!)

If this kit gets you as excited as a one-way ticket to Maui (sans kids), then send an e-mail to The Talking Walnut. Evenflo will provide a kit to the first parent who responds. Good luck, and happy trails to you…

I was never a Girl Scout myself, but I’ve heard enough Boy Scout stories from my husband to have the “be prepared” motto firmly etched in my brain. It’s one adage that is fitting for motherhood, at least in my experience. While I’m finally realizing that you can’t possibly foresee accident waiting to happen–it only took me 6 years!–it does help to do all you can in advance. That goes from welcoming a new baby, to planning a kids’ birthday party and all the moments in between. And getting around town with a baby? That’s one daily “adventure” that begs to be simplified, and the new B-READY modular stroller is one that fits the bill. At first glance, this stroller may appear to be like many of the others on the market, but a closer look under the hood proves otherwise. Sure it has all the basics you’re looking for: a 5-point harness system, adjustable recline, sun canopy,etc. But what stroller do you know accommodates a bassinet, a single car seat or even a baby with an older child in 14 possible configurations? Its sheer versatility and ease of use captivated me.  Just check out the YouTube video for yourself. The stroller will be available in July, followed by a new umbrella stroller and a three-wheel model in the fall. Start dropping hints now…

In a Nutshell: You can’t be 100% ready for every curve ball that motherhood throws your way. But with the B-READY stroller, getting to and from anywhere with your baby in tow can be an uneventful trip.

I’ll confess: I absolutely dread traveling with my kids. I’d rather take them to the doctor, knowing there will be shots involved. I kid you not–it’s that bad. I find that even as organized as I pride myself on being, it frazzles my nerves to hear their endless cries of  “are there yet?” and “I have to go to the bathroom”…even though we just made a pit stop not 15 minutes ago. Nevertheless, my husband and I are not about to sacrifice our annual summer road trip and this year, we’ll have the portable DVD player to keep them entertained. But as we all know, how long can that really last? (Once we have to start  playing the license plate game or singing “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain,” I know I’m just doomed.) This summer, though, I have high hopes for a little peace and quiet en route to our destination, thanks to Scholastic Storybook Treasures The Wheels on the Bus Sing-Along Travel Kit . It’s jam-packed with plenty to amuse and entertain my rising first grader and even a few things to interest my 2-year-old. Two DVDs feature 15 classic musical stories, from “This Land is Your Land” (a good one for cross-country trips) to “Dem Bones” (when the feeling of sitting so long drives you a bit batty). When they’ve had their fill of watching, older kids can pop the 13-song CD into a portable player (thank God for headphones). Plus there’s a generously sized activity book, complete with crayons, to enhance what they’ve already read about/sung about.

In a Nutshell: More than just your average DVD, this set will get you through at least a state or two’s worth of driving…without you being driven to insanity. Now, if we could only find a solution to the public restroom.

When my sister had her first daughter nearly 16 years ago, she schlepped a quilted Winnie the Pooh bag to my parents’ house; I think even she’ll admit it was hardly a fashion statement. Today, there are so many versatile, stylish bags in which to tote baby belongings that I’m sure even my teenage niece would approve of them! One such line that recently caught my eye is ISOKI, which apparently comes from the African word meaning “beautiful gift.” Just take one look at these bags and you’ll agree that this name is an apt description. Looking more like weekender bags than ones holding diapers and wipes, you may easily mistake these for ones that belong at a Hamptons beach. What makes them stand out, though, are the extras: namely, a storage compartment underneath (great for when you’re fully packed and you realize you’ve forgotten to pack the diaper rash cream) and an insulated cooler (no need to throw in an extra bag for milk, juice or anything else that needs to keep cold…yes, even your iced coffee).

In a Nutshell: Unlike that bridesmaid dress that’s been hanging in your closet and promising to be worn again, this is a bag that has a life after diapers…and one that you’ll be proud to show off.

Ah, how I fondly remember the picnics in the park my husband and I had B.K. (before kids). Our house was a short walk from a park that held summer concerts, and we’d pack a light dinner and head out without a care in the world. Fast forward to the present, and a dinner outdoors with two little kids is hardly romantic. Our plastic wine glasses have been replaced with juiceboxes, and the comfy blanket we shared barely has room for the four of us. Maybe that’s why today,  I can appreciate the Picnic Set from French Bull that is practical for my family, but whose style appeals to my grown-up sensibility. There’s service for four, including flatware, plates and ample sized cups that are (thankfully) aren’t breakable. And if we forget to pack a blanket, we’ve got a microfleece one inside the handy tote. A cutting board and bottle opener let the “bigger kids” enjoy wine and cheese with their meal…this way, I get to ignore the “whining” of another kind.

In a Nutshell: Eating outdoors with kids is certainly no picnic. But you can make it more to your liking with this all-encompassing, fashionable set.

Sometimes, a diaper bag needs to double as an overnight tote. Imagine the scenario: Your hubby just got you tickets to the ballet for Mother’s Day and Grandma–bless her heart–has offered to take your little one for the night. Once you begin packing everything she’ll need, it’s not long before you realize you are quickly running out of room. Rather than pack a separate bag for all that extra stuff, opt for Kushies Boho Diaper Bag, which has more pockets than a pair of overalls! There’s no way you can misplace that beloved binky now. We appreciate the padded changing pad that tucks right inside without taking up too much space and the two bottle pockets on the side that are perfect for the last-minute mad dash out the door (“Oh, I know I’m forgetting something…)

In a Nutshell: Diaper bags that do double duty as an overnight bag? Amen to that. With this much room and a stylish print to boot, you’ll be able to hang on this long after your little one’s been potty-trained.

Fess up: just how many baby gear items do you lug around from your house, to Grandma’s and back home again? If you had the ability to fold up any of them and fit them into your diaper bag, you’d be in heaven…okay, well maybe your back would ache a little less. Snazzy Baby has the right idea with My Baby’s Own Deluxe Travel Chair, a portable high chair that can strap your little one in for mealtime, and when she’s finished eating, you fold into its own handy pouch and slip right into your bag. No fuss, no muss–and no slumped shoulders for you.

In a Nutshell: Just because you’re already weighed down with a stroller and an Exersaucer doesn’t mean you can’t lighten your load. This ultra thin seat won’t take up too much space and it’ll give your child a secure spot for her–and your–dining pleasure.

As a mom, you know that pesky feeling of never being able to get your hands on what you need, exactly when you need it: a fresh wipe when your baby’s hands are covered with sand, a tissue when your toddler has burst into her latest crying fit…How refreshing it is to be able to tuck a Carabean into your bag and feel you can take on the challenges-with-child du jour. These clips will save the day when the sun is in your baby’s eyes (attach a blanket over her stroller, and you’ll got instant shade). Or when her favorite toy always seems to land on the car floor just when the light turns green (affix Teddy Bear to her car seat and voila!). The uses for this clever, why-didn’t-I-think-of-that gadget are so plentiful, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. The latest incarnation of the Carabean is Tent in a Bag, a handy tote that contains 4 clamps and a printed blanket that can become a makeshift fort when you’re at the park or stuck in a hotel room with the kids. Or on a rainy day like today here in the Northeast, this inventive product can be a godsend.

In a Nutshell: Motherhood can be messy. Cut yourself a little slack and stock up on some of these clips for whatever kid crisis comes your way. They make great baby shower gift toppers, or for bigger kids, the perfect anecdote to a dreary day.

We’re always on the lookout for stylish ways to get around town with little ones. The new line of from BabyPlanet is one to road-test, especially now that the warm weather is here. Take your pick from any of the three new additions to the Endangered Species collection–the Giant Panda, the Lemur Frog and the Monarch Butterfly. And then there’s the two timi & leslie branded models, inspired by their ultra chic diaper bag collection. No matter which style you pick, you’ll appreciate standout features like the ergonomically designed handles that are easy to grip and the flip-out sun visor that works in a pinch when that bright glare can be a bit too much. If you opt for the timi & leslie line, you’ll be able to coordinate your stroller with one of their matching diaper bags. How’s that for for being a hip mom?

In a Nutshell: With this wide range of fashionable, easy-fold strollers, strolling with your babe is like a walk in the park.