Being a mom to five children, that spans over almost 19 years, I can safely say I have tried ALOT of products geared towards babies and toddlers. I often feel like an expert, especially after having tried many products from Graco, Evenflo, Safety 1st and more. One company I have drooled over but never tried is Bumbleride. The stroller market is extremely competitive and picking out the right stroller can be daunting.

It is safe to say that over the past 19+ years I have easily bought about 10 strollers from various companies. The most recent acquisition was a single stroller from Graco and Bumbleride. First impression make a big impact and right out of the box the winner was Bumbleride. The Indie was only about 5 pieces to put together and it was so easy. I was extremely impressed. Bumbleride definitely thought of the consumer when creating this stroller. The Graco had many pieces and the tires gave me alot of trouble when being put on.

Specifications: Bumbleride Indie is not your average All-Terrain Stroller. Weighing a slim 20 lbs., Indie combines the off-road ability of a multi-terrain stroller with the lean agility of an urban jogger and features a 360 degree swiveling front wheel with forward and rear facing locking positions. Indie is suitable for newborns and toddlers using a multi-adjustable reclining backrest. Ready to tackle any terrain, Indie comes standard with rear suspension, a height-adjustable handle, large storage basket and removable cup holder.

Standing Dimensions: 36L 24.5W 34.5H
Folded Dimensions: 32L 24.5W 15H
Total Weight: 20 LBS
Weight Capacity: 45 LBS

• Bumbleride Indie is suitable for infancy and up
• Quick release five point safety harness
• Standard infant headrest and shoulder pads
• 360° swivel front wheel with inline locking option
• Carrying handle for easy transport when folded
• 12″ air inflated tires
• Multi-adjustable backrest with flat position
• Adjustable handle height from 32-45″
• Spacious cargo basket
• Zip-off canopy portion for maximum sun coverage
• Lightweight, anodized aluminum frame construction
• Easy and compact fold
• Available in Lava, Ruby, Seagrass, Spice and Vita
• Compatible infant car seats:
  • Graco Snugride
  • Graco Snugride 32
  • Graco Safeseat
  • Chicco Keyfit
  • Chicco Keyfit 30

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP

I am very impressed with the Indie. It is easy to use, put together, open/close and the ride/push (in my eyes is impeccable). As far as pushing the Bumbleride (again) wins hands down. I can push with one hand on any terrain. As for the Graco, I was only able to push with one hand on a smooth service (like in a mall). I can tell that there is a major difference in the ride for my child by the pushing.

The major difference that I noticed between the Graco and Bumbleride strollers was how my 18 month old acted in each. With the Graco he was unhappy. He would always try to escape and squirm. Walks were not a real option for us as he would only last about 10 minutes. He was like night and day when in the Bumbleride. He actually will fall asleep in the Indie. he has actually lasted over an hour without getting cranky and trying to squirm his way out. Impressive in my eyes.

If I had learned about Bumbleride years ago I would have definitely invested in one. I can tell that it is a purchase that will last.

Here in Michigan we have the Michigan Renaissance Festival at the end of Summer. The terrain is nothing but dirt and grass. The weather is very unpredictable and often rains. This can leave the terrain very muddy. This was the ultimate test for the Indie. I did not have any trouble what so ever. It went through mud, heavy mud and mud puddles. I had to laugh while watching others using a typical 4 wheel stroller and much they struggled while pushing them.

So the bottom line is to definitely invest in a good stroller (Bumbleride) as it is so worth it.

Prize:
1 lucky reader will win a Bumbleride Indie from Bumbleride!!!

Main Entry:
Check out Bumbleride, then come back here and tell us one feature that you liked.

Extra Entries:
1. Subscribe to my email updates – 3 entries
2. Become a fan of Bumbleride on Facebook- 3 entries
3. Blog about this giveaway (please leave link) - 5 entries
4. Add The Mud Bug button to your blogroll (please leave link) – 3 entries
5. Tweet about this giveaway – once daily (please leave link) – 1 entry
6. Become a Google Friend of The Mud Bug – 5 entries

Giveaway ends Monday, December 7, 2009 at 11:59 AM EST

**Please leave one separate comment for each entry**

One (1) winner will be chosen randomly from all valid entries. The winner will then be emailed once and that winner must claim their prize within 48hrs or a new winner will be picked or live giveaway will be done.

Today is a day for funny posts. My mom sent me this and thought I would share with all of you.

Remember – Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

I saw this on our local news today and thought it was hilarious. So I decided to share with all of you.

I know some of you may have read this before but I thought it was so funny that I wanted to post it for all of my readers.

HELL EXPLAINED BY CHEMISTRY STUDENT

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term.

The answer by one student was so ‘profound’ that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well :

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle’s Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let’s look at the different religions that exist in the world today.

Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle’s Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell,then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, ‘It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,’ and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct……leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting ‘Oh my God.’

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+.

ANYTIME COSTUME

Comment #262

Winner: Brandy Byrne

CONGRATS!

There are many choices when it comes to buying a vacuum.One could get a migraine at the meer thought of having to by a new one. What are you looking for in a vacuum? Hypo-allergenic, motorized, bagless and more. I have had my eye on two different vacuums that I have always wanted – Oreck was one of them. Since having found out my little guy has allergies I was excited to give the Oreck XL a try. I was sent the gold edition. Here are some of the awesome features that this vacuum has to offer:

• hypo-allergenic filtration
• Antimicrobial protection
• Two speed settings
• 5 year warranty
• 5 FREE annual tune-ups (A $200 value!) learn more

David Oreck founded the Oreck Corporation in the United States in 1963. The company’s principal manufacturing facilities are in Cookeville, TN.

Oreck Corporation began as a company manufacturing upright vacuum cleaners for the hotel industry in the U.S. The concept was to design a lightweight yet powerful and durable vacuum that hotel housekeepers would prefer to the very heavy models available to them. The idea proved so successful that now over 50,000 hotels throughout the world use Oreck vacuums. After a short time, hotel personnel asked to buy the machines for their own use, which gave the Oreck Corporation the idea to sell its unique products to the general public.

Oreck now sells throughout North America and South America, as well as in Europe and Asia. It has the reputation of being the manufacturer of the very finest cleaning equipment available anywhere. It concentrates on lightweight cleaning machines of every style, each model having exceptional durability and ease of handling. An example of its success is that the only vacuum cleaners sold by the American Express Company are Orecks. Oreck has experienced double-digit growth for the past several years and is now a major manufacturer in the cleaning industry.

This vacuum does everything that it says it does. The one thing I love it how it can clean under couches and beds. This vacuum actually lies down – no more moving furniture to try vacuum under. The hypo-allergenic filtration eliminates 99.9% of all particles down to 0.3 microns. Oreck states that when vacuuming, the dust on the floor does not blow back into the air and thus we end up dusting less often. How wonderful is that! The handle does take a little bit to get used to. I have a habit of wanting to grab it upside down. This is not a big flaw at all – just different. This vacuum also is not motorized. You would think it is hard to push but in all reality it is not. My old vacuum was an upright Hoover. As with every other vacuum out their – it cleans my carpet. However, I did notice a major difference when using the Oreck. My rugs looked cleaner. The other thing that takes some getting used to (and it is not bad) is that there is not a hose attachment on the vacuum itself. When purchasing an Oreck you are sent a separate, smaller vacuum (with attachments). At first I was like ‘what the heck’ but after using it and realizing the potential of this extremely powerful, little vacuum I was sold. This little vacuum can be used anywhere – car, house, boat, RV, etc. I used it in my car was so very impressed. I picked up things in the smallest of places. This vacuum produces 102mph of air flow and only weighs 9lbs.

In my personal opinion anyone purchasing this vacuum (or any one from the XL line) will not be disappointed at all. In fact, I think you will be very impressed with the Oreck vacuum.

Prize:
1 lucky reader will win an Oreck XL vacuum from Oreck!!!

Main Entry:
Check out Oreck, then come back here and tell us one feature of the Oreck XL vacuum that impresses you the most.

Extra Entries:
1. Subscribe to my email updates – 3 entries
2. Favorite me in Technorati (button in network section on right) (leave ID)- 3 entries
3. Blog about this giveaway (please leave link) - 5 entries
4. Add The Mud Bug button to your blogroll (please leave link) – 3 entries
5. Tweet about this giveaway – once daily (please leave link) – 1 entry
6. Become a Google Friend of The Mud Bug – 5 entries

Giveaway ends Monday, November 9, 2009 at 11:59 AM EST

**Please leave one separate comment for each entry**

One (1) winner will be chosen randomly from all valid entries. The winner will then be emailed once and that winner must claim their prize within 48hrs or a new winner will be picked or live giveaway will be done.

My children are creative art freaks. They love doing anything and everything involved in crafting, coloring, painting, etc. So when I was given an opportunity to test out Tee Juice fabric markers and was thoroughly excited.

I took the markers with us camping. I figured what a perfect time to test these out. I also brought with us some plain white shirts.

The girls had a blast. I gave them cart blanche to do whatever they wanted on their shirts. These markers kept them busy for over an hour. Can’t beat that, lol. I am all for anything that keeps children busy and is not in the category of technology. Here are a few pictures of my girls using the fabric markers.

Tee Juice fabric markers by Jacquard are great for use on jeans, t-shirts, canvas, handbags, furniture, shoes and more. There are 3 tip sizes and 8 different colors. These fabric markers would be great for any art project, girl scouts, cheerleaders, etc. The possibilties are endless. I was 100% satisfied with this product and completely recommend these markers to everyone. If you buy and use these I recommend washing and clothing by itself for a few times to make sure none of the colors bleed with other clothing.