Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . .

boogers on noses and only one mitten,

sauces that spill and when teething is tough:

some of these problems are solved with mom-stuff!

(Full disclosure, these are just things I genuinely like by people I've been honored to meet. I don't make any money on these recommendations, and don't do affiliate programs.)

CUTEST BACKPACKS EVER!!!!  Beatrixny.com is my new coveted gear spot.  I love the Beatrix NY grumpy bear backpack and the BEE!  Super cute "Baxter" dino, too. 

There's so much to love about The City.  In New York, my newest love is the Butch Bakery. As a mom of two boys who love cupcakes, I was totally taken by the concept of these guys.  "Manly men who like cupcakes".  Fave flavors include chocolate with bacon, vanilla with whiskey, and beer on chocolate!  They're just on the verge of being able to ship nationally, hooray!  Yeah, yeah, they're dudes, but hey: I know quality ideas when I see them.

At the recent Golden Globes, there was an event for parents inventors to introduce products to celebrities and ourselves to each other.  Some of the fabulous things I loved were a teething ring necklace that was SO stylin', and made in the USA.  Just like MMJ Labs is named for Max, Miles, and Jill, I'm guessing their company Sonny and Reed may have a similar origin?

I also fell in love with some colorful food containers.  Wean Cubes are glass and hold baby food sized portions, great for reheating without plastic microwave chemical nastiness.  They are from WeanGreen, so just like Buzzy they ship in nice, recycled cardboard and donate some of their sales to a good cause.  Along these lines, there were fantastic silicon Dippy Cups, brightly colored and perfect for portion control or keeping sauces from puddling up your plate.  My daughter already absconded with some for her stuffed animals.  And last but not least, smart START, sticky art.  It's cleanable original fine art prints on fabric that adheres to your wall. Doesn't leave a mark to change out, and won't put your child at risk of a framed work tumbling down.

One of the first sites that was gracious enough to mention  us was Cool Mom Picks.  They have awesome holiday gift and advent calendar guides, and the COO also lives in Atlanta!  Love the Ninjabread Men, check them out!

We're all moms, and are THRILLED that Huggies® named Buzzy and Bee-stractors a MomInspired™ Grantee out of hundreds of applicants!

That said, here are some other winners, as well as products we just really like:

We have a soft spot for moms of kids with medical problems who invented something to hel p all families in their situations.  A mom of a preemie who needed constant oxygen invented the Busy Breather Backpack.  Go, Michelle! http://www.busybreathersllc.com/

Another really great product : Grampa's Garden has soft, weighted, sweet-smelling grain filled and weighted warm packs for kids with sensory integration issues.  Preemies who need weight must love them too!  www.grampasgarden.com

The Mama Taco Towel TM and Lettuce Wash  Your Fingers and Tomatoes Washcloth and Sponge Set TM , designed to aid parents and caregivers with bath time, using a unique hands-free design, so you can focus on keeping your children clean and safe in a fun and cute way: Your love and your baby make the most wonderful filling.  http://www.thebabyflamingoco..

A QuickZip crib sheet that doesn't make you have to take the whole mattress out of the crib .  So easy!  http://www.cloudsandstars.com/

Solar Eclipz ezShade  Sure, a gazebo works great at high noon, but how about the rest of the time?  The shade clips on other umbrellas or canopies to give UPF 50+ sun protection.  http://myezshade.com/

PicPocket books are picture book applications using the iTunes platform.  So EASY to promote reading!  http://www.picpocketbooks.com/ 

Somehow bibs always end up where the spill isn't.  These RitzyBitzy bibs absorb better and more places.  www.ritzybitzy.com

BabyBindle is such a "why didn't I think of that!" product!  A diaper bag that self-attaches to a car seat or stroller.

SoothEaze is also such a great idea! Trying to tie a baby burrito to soothe colic is NOT an innate skill; this blanket has soothing

"wings" and zips up so your bundle of joy stays bundled.

Tilty Cup! www.Tiltycup.com This cup has a slant so your toddler doesn't need to turn a sippy cup vertical to get the juice out.

Balance MAP (Mom Action Plan)  http://www.inspiringmoms.com An online tool that creates personalized action plans for parenting, and BALANCE!  Whew, don't we all need that!