Momma's Gone Over the Wall

201 Organic Baby Purees Review

2012-02-01T23:00:00.002-05:00

Seven years years ago, when my oldest started eating solids, I never even considered making his baby food. I was young and it seemed so complicated and time-consuming. After all, didn't baby food come out of a glass jar, smelling almost like something you could consider edible?

When Babycakes came along, I realized just how simple making baby purees could be. Our first attempt yielded us over 30 meals worth of apples and sweet potatoes at about 10 cents a serving. (I love getting good deals!) And, it only took me about 20 minutes of work time. Ah-mazing.201 Organic Baby Purees, by Tamika L. Gardner, is the first baby cookbook I've used. And I have to admit, it will likely be the only one. Not only does it offer recipes for first foods through 12 months and more, it covers the basics of preparation and storage. The recipes range from simple to complex, but all sound like yummy flavors and combinations for little palates. I can't wait to try Avocado-Pumpkin Mash, Cinnamon Peas Galore, and Plummy Potatoes with Babycakes. I have even added a few of the recipes to next week's meal plan for our entire family. Cheesy Corn Nuggets and Mika's Rainbow Corn Medley sound too good not to try.

201 Organic Baby Purees is not only about purees. In addition to the 201 purees, it offers healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy together. I love that it suggests flavor combinations I wouldn't have created on my own and tells me which recipes will freeze well. It's a great cookbook to keep on hand well beyond baby's first year.

Buy It: 201 Organic Baby Purees is available for under $12

A copy was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Yes, I am

2012-01-26T23:16:00.004-05:00

It seems that at least once a week, people question whether I'm still breastfeeding. And not in a positive, way to go, you rock for giving your baby the best possible nutrition kind of way.

Before Babycakes came along I never realized there was such controversy surrounding breastfeeding. I was occasionally disgusted after hearing of a mom being chastised in a store, but overall, I heard over and over that breast is best.

Now that I'm 5 months and counting into our breastfeeding relationship, I'm dealing firsthand with the questions.

When are you planning to stop? Aren't you tired of him always on your boob? Aren't you going to teach him to eat real food? Isn't it a pain to pump? Don't you want to drink, go out, etc?

Well the truth is this: We'll stop when he's ready. But at this point, I'm pretty sure it'll be before he finished high school. No, I'm not tired of him. I love staring into his little eyes. Last I checked, my milk is perfectly designed to sustain my baby. (And he's eating purees, but just for fun.) Pumping can be a pain. Not physically though. Those bottles and parts are a pain to wash. And I do go out. To my oldest's Cub Scout meetings, to baby group, to dinner.

I have to wonder why are so many people concerned with how I feed my baby? Breastfeeding has not limited how I live my life. But it has given me the chance to bond with my baby, to get to know his sweet little attitude, to see him thrive. I am proud of our relationship, as any breastfeeding mother should be. It's not always easy, but is well worth the reward.
So here's to the last 5 months, and the many months to come. And if you're a fellow breastfeeding mom, fielding questions from people too nosey for their own good (or any mom for that matter), I just want to say: Good for you! You rock!

Puppet Heap Review

2012-01-05T21:21:00.001-05:00

My son loves to make up stories, act out things, and write down tales. I never fail to be impressed by his imagination. Sometimes I really can't imagine where he gets his ideas from. Since I really want to encourage him to be creative and hope he continues with his story-writing, I'm constantly looking for ways to keep him interested and active.

I was recently introduced to the Puppet Heap. The Puppet Heap is a very unique puppet and character design company. They recently launched the "Puppet Heap Playthings," a line of hand puppets that are creatively based on their short film productions of Mother Hubbard and I Knew An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

My son was able to create and act out a story using Lucy, a bad-news cat from the town of Spudbottom. Lucy's "the one with the bum eye playing the fiddle for pennies by the bus stop...She's in with that shifty band of alley cats who caterwaul behind the music shop at all hours of the night."Lucy is so well-built and able to withstand the rough and tumble play that comes along with a 7-year-old boy. But both my son and I also love the details of Lucy. She has an almost realistic look to her, achieved through the careful attention to her facial features and coloration.

Puppet Heap Playthings are perfect for kids (and grown-ups) who love to preform or create their own stories. They have attitude and spunk, we're talking major attitude. Plus, they are amazingly high-quality and each puppet comes with a unique code that unlocks a secret window into that character’s world at the Puppet Heap Playthings website.

Puppet Heap Playthings puppets, including Lucy, can be purchased for around $20 at Amazon.

A sample was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

These Days

2011-12-01T23:00:00.002-05:00

Been busy...
Playing.
Snuggling.
Cuddling.
Smiling.
Enjoying.

The Deep Black Pond: Book Review

2011-10-27T15:37:00.003-04:00

I'm so used to reading non-fiction books with my 7-year-old, that when I first heard the title The Deep Black Pond, I automatically assumed it was a book about fish and other water critters. But after reading more about the book, I learned it was a very imaginative tale by Morgan Kostival.The Deep Black Pond is the story of fantastic critters living in a pond in the middle of a tropical island. You won't find your typical animals on this island. However, you may find a fish with a glowing eye, a queen with a mask of solid gold, or a warrior with an entire village of Peewees on his shoulders.

It's one of these Peewees that becomes the star of the story. When little Mimi falls off the edge of the city, she changes everything in the pond. She brings the characters together and gets them to cooperate after years of distrust.

Kostival not only authored the book, he also created and photographed the images throughout the story.

Buy It:
The Deep Black Pond is available for $18.00

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure House Party

2011-10-25T18:00:00.000-04:00

We've seen commercials for Skylanders Spyro's Adventure many times in the last month, and every time my son has told me how much he wanted to play it. When I heard about the Skylanders Spyro's Adventure House Party, I jumped at the chance to be a host.

Our party kit included a Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack, game posters, figurines, and an educational DVD. The starter pack is made up of the Wii game, 3 figures, 3 trading cards, and the magical Power Portal that allows the figures to come to life within the game.
The game is perfect for kids 6-12, but apparently just as popular with grownups. Our party included kids of all ages, and every single one had a blast playing. The kids took turns using their figures and when they weren't playing on the Wii, they were playing a game of imaginary Skylanders on the other side of the living room.
To get in the party spirit, my 7 year old helped me make snacks for all his friends. We had Camo Krispies (aka Rice Krispie Treats), Eruptor's Fire Balls (cheese balls), and Chop Chop Cookies (chocolate chunk cookies). To drink, we offered Cynder Cider (apple cider) and Prism Break Punch (Hi-C).
I heard yesterday from another mom that Skylanders Spyro's Adventure was her daughter's new favorite game. And after our House Party was officially over on Saturday, I caught my hubby and another dad playing the game on their own.

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure has been called one of the hot toys for Christmas this year, and I can see why. With so many fun and intriguing characters, the kids never get bored, and there's so many different elements to it: the figures, the video game, which offers adventure or battle mode, and an online game. My son has added many Skylanders' figures to his Christmas list, and I have a good feeling many of his friends will be asking for the game or figures as well.

We received items to facilitate our review and party. All opinions are our own.

Glow Crazy Deal-This Weekend Only

2011-10-21T10:46:00.003-04:00

I heard today that there's only 60-some days left to ~~start~~ finish Christmas shopping. If you're like me, and still have quite a few people on your list, you'll love the deal Glow Crazy is offering this weekend.

On October 22nd or 23rd, buy a Glow Crazy Distance Doodler at any WalMart, Toys R Us or local retailer, and they'll send you a FREE Glow Glove! That makes two gifts for the price of one. But remember, the deal is only valid Saturday and Sunday.

Information was provided for this post, but all opinions are my own.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates DVD Review

2011-09-27T20:10:00.002-04:00

My son loves to get up early in the morning to watch cartoons. Since momma's not nearly as excited to be awake bright and early, I always make sure that I leave the tv on an acceptable channel. Disney Channel is one of Little Man's top choices, as he loves the shows on Disney Junior, especially Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

We were so excited to hear that Jake and the Never Land Pirates was coming to DVD for the first time this month. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo Ho, Mateys Away is a 2-disc combo pack, which includes the DVD, a CD of 7 songs, and an official pirate eye patch.
Episodes included on the DVD include:

Hats Off to Hook!/Escape from Belch Mountain
Hide the Hideout!/The Old Shell Game
Izzy's Pirate Puzzle/The Never Land Games
Off the Hook!/Never Say Never!
Cubby's Sunken Treasure/Cubby's Goldfish
Happy Hook Day!/No Returns!
The Sky's the Limit!/Bucky Makes a Splash

Plus bonus features:

"Pirate Party" Music Videos
Pirate-oke Sing Along
Yo Ho, You Ready to be a Never Land Pirate?

I love watching the adventure- and music-filled episodes with my son. He is always entertained with the adventures of the young pirate crew, and ready to help them out, through the interactive treasure hunts during the show.

Disney has also released a Jake and the Never Land Pirates soundtrack. It contains 18 exciting songs from the show, each performed by Loren Hoskins and Kevin Hendrickson, aka Sharky and Bones.

Buy It:
The Jake and the Never Land Pirates soundtrack went on sale September 20, 2011. The Jake and the Never Land Pirates DVD and album sampler went on sale today, September 27, 2011 for $19.99.

A copy of the DVD was provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Danimals Rally for Recess

2011-09-15T22:51:00.007-04:00

Yogurt is one of the top choices for snacks in our house. My son has it at least once a day, if not more. And if he's with us in the grocery store, Dannon is typically the top pick, especially the Danimals Coolision Tubes. He loves the flavor, and I love how portable they are.

Dannon Danimals recently launched it's national initiative, Rally for Recess, as an effort to motivate parents and kids to support recess, and overall health and fitness of children. As schools nationwide have been forced to cut recess time due to limited resources, childhood obesity has been on the rise. Dannon Danimals wants kids to get back to the playground.
Rally for Recess is a healthy competition between schools across the country. Five schools have the opportunity to win new playground equipment and an all-day recess celebration. Through February 8, 2012 you can find codes on Danimals packaging (or free by mail). Then head to the Rally for Recess site to enter and register your school online. The schools in each of the five categories (based on size) with the most codes registered wins!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Danimals and received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Spooky Buddies on DVD 9/20

2011-09-15T22:31:00.002-04:00

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. We love decorating, dressing up, trick or treating, and carving pumpkins.

When my 7 year old saw that the Buddies were going to be starring in a Halloween movie, he was ecstatic. He can't wait until Spooky Buddies comes out on DVD on September 20th.Check out the slideshow below for some fun glimpses into the movie. And you can even download a dog biscuit recipe, Halloween tips, and a fun activity sheet.

Information was provided for this post. All opinions are our own.

Back to School with Eight O'Clock Coffee: Giveaway

2011-09-15T15:42:00.005-04:00

Closed: Congrats to Tes283

We are a few weeks into school, and I still am looking for all the back to school tips I can get. It seems that every night we rush around before bed getting everything ready for the next day, but come morning, we still feel unprepared.

With a new baby, I'm up all night long, so starting my day with a cup of coffee is essential. Eight O'Clock is perfect for a pick me up in the morning, and they have also come up with a few back to school tips to help our hectic household.

Tip 1: Become Your Own Brewista – Save time, money and gas this back-to-school season by brewing your morning coffee at home. You can even set your coffee maker’s timer the night before to wake up to great-smelling Eight O’Clock Coffee.

Tip 2: Preplan Lunch – A few days before school starts, sit down with your kids and create a grocery list of healthy snacks and lunches they would like for school. Rotate each of their selections throughout the week. Make Tuesday "Turkey Tuesday" or Wednesday "Wrap Wednesday" – adding variety to keep lunch exciting. When possible, pack their lunch the night before to reduce stress in the morning.

Tip 3: Assemble Weekly Wardrobes – Every Sunday check the upcoming weekly weather forecast with your kids. Then, have them pick out five outfits for the upcoming school week. Hang them in daily order in their closet to avoid the inevitable, "Mom, I can’t find my favorite blue shirt!"

Tip 4: Be Prepared for School Projects – Avoid late night rushing around to complete school projects by having art supplies on hand. Create an arts and craft bin that includes more than just crayons and colored paper. Collect items like pipe cleaners, stickers, figurines, beads – even coffee beans – and other creative finds, and put the fun back in school projects.Win It: To help get your school year off to a good start, Eight O'Clock is offering one lucky reader a Back to School Parent Survival Pack, which includes a drawstring bag, travel mug and 2 bags of Eight O’Clock Coffee

Mandatory entry: Tell me your best tip for keeping your house running smooth in the morning.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)
Follow Eight O'Clock on Twitter
Like Eight O'Clock on Facebook

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 9/23 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email, so be sure to leave a way to contact you. Open to US only.

Product was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

To Be Sung Underwater: Book Review

2011-09-01T14:12:00.003-04:00

Growing up in Nebraska, Judith Whitman learned about independence, friendship, family, and love. To Be Sung Underwater, follows Judith's journey at 17 in Nebraska, as well as 25 years later, living in Los Angeles.As a teenager, Judith fell in love with a blue-eyed, easy-talking carpenter, and as the years go by, she finds herself looking back on what could have been. Entering middle-age, Judith discovers her husband may be cheating and questions her role as a mother. Though she doesn't understand her own actions, she fabricates a fake identity, buys a storage shed, and recreates her teenage bedroom there. All the while, she carries a photo of her teenage love hidden in her wallet, and finally decides to find him again.

The story is both captivating and graceful. It is a story of love and heartbreak, confusion and wonder. Anyone who has ever asked themselves "what if?" will find themselves relating to Judith, pondering what other paths may have led to, what other dreams could have been followed.

To Be Sung Underwater is written by Tom McNeal, a critically acclaimed author of several short stories and the novel, Goodnight, Nebraska.

Buy it:
To Be Sung Underwater is available for under $14 at Amazon.

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Little People Animal Sounds Contest

2011-08-23T21:10:00.005-04:00

At the beginning of the month, Fisher-Price, along with celebrity zoologist and children's show host, Jarod Miller, announced the launch of the Little People Animal Sounds Contest. The contest invites parents to submit a video of their child making their best animal imitations. Everything from squawks to roars to growls are welcome!
The winner will receive $10,000 and a trip to Fisher-Price headquarters in East Aurora, New York for a special photo shoot and a chance to be featured on a Little People product or website.

In addition, ten first prize winners will receive a Zoo Talkers toy prize pack and all successful submissions will be entered for a chance to win one of 100 Zoo Talkers Safari Trucks.

To enter, grab your camera, encourage your little one (ages 1 to 5) to use their imagination and get a little wild and loud. Then visit the Animal Sounds Contest page to submit your video, or submit it through the iPhone or Android App. Videos must be under 20 seconds and feature your little one making one of the following animal's sounds: lion, tiger, elephant, bear, penguin, rhinoceros, leopard, whale, polar bear, hippopotamus, monkey, seal, gorilla, alligator, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, dolphin, snake, or bird. After submitting your little animal lover, be sure to share the site link for your friends and family to go vote for your video.

The contest has already started and will run until November 30, 2011.

Little People Animal Sounds Zoo
In conjunction with the Little People Animal Sounds Contest, Fisher-Price recently released the brand-new Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo. Zoo Talker toys are designed to teach your little ones animal names and sounds. The Animal Sounds Zoo contains a zoo play set, a zookeeper, polar bear, lion, and gorilla. When the animal figures are placed on the paw pad in the zoo hut, your child can hear the animal's name and sound. The play set has lots of features to keep little ones engaged, including a water slide to push animals down, a treetop swing, and a hippo that opens his mouth and snorts.

The Animal Sounds Zoo was a huge hit with my 3 year old nephew (as well as my little guy, who though older than the recommended age, had no problem playing alongside his cousin.) They loved that the play set talked to them and offered several different places to play. With a polar region, treetop, lake, cave, ticket booth, and hut, they both had their own space to pretend in. Perfect for those moments when they don't feel like sharing.

Buy It:
The Animal Sounds Zoo is available for $40 and additional animal figures can be purchased for $3 each.

Product was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Welcome to the World

2011-08-22T17:48:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the world little one!
Born August 19th
8 lbs 6 oz
21 1/2 inches
Absolutely perfect

Orchard Bars Review

2011-08-11T22:10:00.004-04:00

With this pregnancy, I am constantly snacking. I rarely feel like eating a huge meal, but am more than happy to eat snacks throughout the day. My fridge is full of string cheese, fruit, and carrots. The only problem I have is finding gluten free snacks that are easy to eat on the run or in the car.

I was recently introduced to Orchard Bars. Orchard Bars are fruit and nut bars that cater to many special dietary needs. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and vegan. Orchard Bars are low in sodium, high in Omega-3, and a good source of protein. They contain no preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors, and no cholesterol or saturated fat.
So how do they taste?

That is always my first question when I find a new gluten free snack, because often times the taste doesn't live up to my expectations and I find myself throwing away the rest of the box or pawning it off on my husband.

With Orchard Bars, I wasn't disappointed. They are fruity and sweet, without being overpoweringly so. As soon as you open the wrapper, you can smell the fruit. You can taste the fruit, nuts, and sunflower seeds, and the texture is a great combination of chewy and crunch.

Orchard Bars are available in 3 flavors:
Blueberry Pomegranate & Almond
Pineapple Coconut & Macadamia
Strawberry Raspberry & Walnut

I'm absolutely in love with the Strawberry Raspberry & Walnut flavor. Delicious!

The only thing I don't like? No stores in my area carry them! However, Orchard Bars can be purchased online or in some brick and mortar stores. Plus, they are coming to more stores soon.

Buy It: Orchard Bars can be purchased online for $14.95 to $25.95 for boxes of 12-20.

Check them out:
Follow Orchard Bars on Twitter
Like them on Facebook

Product was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

FyrFlyz Review

2011-08-09T22:06:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, my son won one of those cheapy glow sticks at our local fair. He had such a blast waving it around in the dark to see how the lights changed and made patterns in the air. So, when I heard about FyrFlyz, a new spinning light toy, I knew it was something he would adore.

FyrFlyz allow kids to create their own light shows by swinging a multi-colored LED light connected by two strings on either side. By tightening or loosening the strings, the pattern of the lights changes, as it creates different designs, such as figure eights, rings, or stars.
There are tons of patterns or tricks kids can perform. Several trick ideas can be found on the FyrFlyz website, and include moves such as Shooting Stars, Black Holes, and Moon Craters.
My son was very excited to try out FyrFlyz. Since it was the middle of the day, we turned out all the lights and closed the curtains and he started creating a light show for me. He was amazed at how easily he could create different light patterns just by applying or releasing tension on the strings. Some of the tricks were tough for him to copy, but he had a lot of fun trying and was thrilled when he came up with moves of his own.

I like that the light portion of FyrFlyz has safety tips on the end, as well as an on/off switch to conserve battery power. I also love that the toy inspires creativity and helps improve my son's motor skills.

Buy It:
FyrFlyz are available for under $10 and come in a variety of colors

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Top 100 Pasta Dishes: Cookbook Review

2011-08-01T22:49:00.002-04:00

My house is full of picky eaters. It seems like everyone has a list of what they will or won't eat, or in my case, what I can eat. However, it seems like every week my meal plan includes at least one pasta night.

I recently had the chance to check out Top 100 Pasta Dishes: Easy Everyday Recipes that Children will Love by Annabel Karmel. The book is filled with such a variety of pasta dishes that it wasn't hard to find a new recipe to try. The topics in the book include pastas for babies and toddlers, plus poultry, meat, fish, and veggie dishes. I was excited to try the Fusilli with sausage and sweet peppers. It's filled with tangy cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, and spicy sausage. And even though the heartburn with this pregnancy is through the roof, I constantly want to eat peppers and tomatoes from our garden, so I found this recipe to be amazing. The best part? It was ready in under 30 minutes. The only substitution I made was corn pasta for the typical wheat pasta, but it was still a hit in our house.

I really like that the book tells readers what ages the recipes are appropriate for, as well as whether or not they are suitable for freezing. The recipes also use ingredients I typically have on hand and offer quick meals for those of us who are always rushing at dinnertime. We can't wait to try out more recipes.

Buy It: Top 100 Pasta Dishes by Annabel Karmel will be available August 9th for $18.

A copy of the book was provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

It's National Ice Cream Month! Review

2011-07-17T19:52:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't heard, July is National Ice Cream Month, which means you have the perfect excuse to indulge in a sweet treat or two. To help you celebrate, Breyers, Klondike, Popsicle, and Reese's, have several new treats in your grocer's freezer section.

Breyers Blasts!
Breyers has several new Blasts! flavors out. Each one features some of the most popular cookies or candy pieces. With so much flavor packed into every scoop, it might be hard to pick a favorite.
Breyers Blast! flavors include:

OREO Chocolate Cookies
OREO Cookies & Cream Mint
Mrs. Fields Mint Fudge Brownie
Mrs. Fields Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough
Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Chip Cookie
Whoppers
Waffle Cone with HERSHEY’S® Chocolate Chips

Klondike Bars
Klondike bars are always a hit in our house. Not only are they delicious, but with their chocolate coating, they are one of the least messy treats that I can offer my 6-year-old on a hot day.The new Klondike flavors include:

Mint Chocolate Chip Bar
What the Fudge? Brownie Sandwich

Reese's
Since Little Man is allergic to nuts, we typically keep our house nut-free. But with this pregnancy, I have craved chocolate and peanut butter together more often than I'd like to admit. So, I keep a stash of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups hidden for after he goes to bed. Now Reese's offers a Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cup. I actually found these in my local grocery store several weeks ago and had to try them. They definitely satisfy my cravings with their slightly salty peanut butter and creamy chocolate coating.

Popsicle
By far one of my son's favorite treats are frozen pops. I'm always amazed at how quickly he can devour them! Popsicle Jolly Rancher Awesome Twosome ice pops are no exception. Little Man gave them two thumbs up and loved that there was more than one flavor inside his pop.

The new Popsicle flavors include:

Jolly Rancher Awesome Twosome ice pops
AirHeads ice pops

With so many new frozen treats, our only problem is finding time to try them all!

Buy It:
Find Breyers, Klondike, Popsicle, and Reese's in your grocer's freezer section

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Beast Friends Forever: Book Review

2011-07-14T22:31:00.004-04:00

With temperatures soaring this past week, Little Man and I spent several afternoons lost in books. It was a perfect way to encourage him to read while surviving the 90+ degree weather.

One book he adored reading was Beast Friends Forever: The Super Swap-O Surprise by New York Times bestselling author Nate Evans and Vince Evans. The Super Swap-O Surprise is book two in the series and features Otto, a quirky little beast with magical abilities.Otto lives under the bed of 9-year-old Zeke, who decides to experiment with Otto's magical powers alongside his 7-year-old sister Hannah. Otto has the ability to "swap-o," he can exchange any object for something completely unexpected. A soccer ball becomes a pig, a robot becomes a little, angry green man, and a jewelry box becomes a jeweled bird.

The story of Zeke, Hannah, and Otto is a silly and engaging read for kids 7-10. It includes comics book sequences throughout the book, which were one of my son's favorite parts. And it keeps kids wondering what will come next. Little Man could not stop reading. He just had to know what would happen the next time Otto shouted "hoobah" to start a swap-o.

Buy It:
Beast Friends Forever: The Super Swap-O Surprise will be available in August 2011 for $4.99.

A copy of the book was provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Super Diaper Baby 2: Review & Giveaway

2011-07-05T08:00:00.003-04:00

***Closed: Congrats to DARLA, Melissa B, and Misusedinnocence***

I can't say enough about Dav Pilkey's books. My son is a book lover, but even he has days where he doesn't feel like reading. However, even on those days, he's more than happy to pick up one of the Captain Underpants books, or a different title from Pilkey. Pilkey's writing style has a huge appeal for younger boys. What 6 year old boy doesn't find mild bathroom humor giggle-worthy?!
Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers (for ages 7+) definitely has it's share of bathroom humor. Though in this part of Diaper Baby's saga, George and Harold (the kids creating the story) avoid talking about going number two and focus on pee-related jokes instead.

In the story, Dr. Dilbert Dinkle is an ordinary, everyday evil genius/inventor/bank robber. But after being transformed into a puddle of pee, he decides to destroy every toilet in town. Dr. Dinkle and his evil, smart-mouthed cat, Petey, try their hardest to banish the town of toilets and teach the townspeople a lesson. But Super Diaper Baby and Diaper Dog have something to say about their devious plan.My son couldn't help but laugh when we read about Rip Van Tinkle or "How the Pee Stoled Potties," a chapter in the book that is written in similar format to How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He loved the dialogue and drawings in Pilkey's latest graphic novel.

Buy It:
Super Diaper Baby 2: Invasion of the Potty Snatchers is available for $6.99

Check It Out:
View the trailer for the book

Win It:
3 lucky readers will win a copy of Super Diaper Baby 2: Invasion of the Potty Snatchers

Mandatory entry: Tell me in the comments if your kids have read any of Dav Pilkey's books yet. I'd love to hear which one has been their favorite!

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 7/14 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email, so be sure to leave a way to contact you. Open to US only.

A copy of the book was provided for review. However all opinions are our own.

Glow Crazy Distance Doodler Review

2011-07-02T10:26:00.000-04:00

We love summertime. But some days, it's just too hot to even think about going outside. So I have to brainstorm ways to keep my 6 year old busy, without letting him watch SpongeBob all. day. long.

Little Man loves to draw, so I knew the Distance Doodler would be a hit with him. And I was definitely right.

The Glow Crazy Distance Doodler allows kids to write and draw on glow clings, using a "magic" lightwand. The glow clings are easy to apply to your wall, and are supposed to come off easily. (I can't attest to the removal since Little Man has used it every day since I put it up.) Once the cling is up, all you need is a dark room and a little creativity.
There are two modes on the lightwand. One allows the doodler to draw using a thin line of light and the other uses a thick area of light. The thicker beam can be used to create silhouettes of other people, toys, or just about anything else you can imagine. We had fun seeing what toys and random household objects looked like as silhouettes. The images disappear rather quickly, but my son loved this since it meant he could constantly be drawing something new.

The Distance Doodler has provided my son hours of entertainment. We've practiced writing, played games, and have had contests to see who could draw different objects. (Little Man usually won, as I'm the least artistic person ever.)

We are definitely glad to have a new, fun activity to do on days when it's too warm or raining outside. Plus, I love that it encourages creativity and writing skills!

Buy It:
The Distance Doodler sells for $24.99, but is sold out on their official site until July 15, 2011. However, it's also available at Walmart and Toys R Us.

Vacation

2011-07-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

It seems that summer is flying by already, and I feel like we've done nothing! But when I really think about it, I realize that Little Man has had the chance to do quite a few things this summer already. And we still have two months to go. (Though I can't believe it's only two more months and that baby #2 will be arriving before summer comes to an end.)

A few weeks ago, we took a little 6-hour road trip. Surprisingly, the car ride went amazingly well. Little Man only asked if we were "there yet" 42 times, hubby only got us lost 3 times, and we only narrowly missed getting hit by another car twice. The number of times my seat was kicked was too high to count though, and the fact that it was followed by a smaller kick inside my belly almost every time made my hubby giggle. I wasn't nearly as amused.

Once we were there we spent a week doing fun things. The boys went kayaking, while I enjoyed a good book and a cup of hot cocoa on the house porch. My son (thankfully) arrived back in one piece, and though covered in fishy smelling mud and shivering, he was so excited to tell me about his adventure.
We went to the beach. The first beach outing Little Man can actually remember. He had a blast collecting shells and taunting the ocean.
We visited an amazing dinosaur park, call the Dinosaur Place. Life-sized dinos, an erupting volcano, miles to walk, and a playground, easily equals every little boy's dream.
We spent another afternoon exploring a castle and it's grounds. Surprisingly, Little Man loved going through the castle and declared he needs "popcorn" lights (lights within stained glass globes) for his room too.
And we went to an aquarium. Little Man still wants to be a zoologist one day, so he was so excited to get up close and personal with a beluga whale, feed a sting ray, and pet a shark. Momma was a little freaked out when it felt like the sting ray was going to ram my hand to get his food, but I survived with a smile on my face.
Getting time away, and the chance to focus on fun for a whole week was so nice. By the end of the week, Little Man and I were both excited to sleep in our own beds again though. But by the next day he was asking when we could go back to the "vacation house" again.

The Winters in Bloom: Book Review

2011-07-01T21:10:00.000-04:00

I'm always on the look out for new authors to fall in love with. It seems like once I find a writer I enjoy, I'll read every book they've put out.

I was recently introduced to the work Lisa Tucker, and I have definitely added her to my list of must read authors.

The Winters in Bloom, the sixth novel from Tucker, is the story of family, of love and loss, of heartache and guilt. The story follows the Winter's family, David, Kyra, and their son, Michael. David and Kyra have plenty of reasons to worry. (What parent doesn't?) But when their son disappears one morning, they both have to face their fears and their past.
I could easily see a little of myself in Kyra and David. Though they take their protectiveness to the extreme, I could relate to worrying about my little ones and wanting to know that they're safe. The story will have you thinking about why some people do go to such extremes to keep their children safe in today's world.

I read The Winters in Bloom in three days. Every chance I got, I was sneaking in a few pages. I just had to know what happened next. I can't wait to pick up another of Tucker's novels.

Buy It:
The Winters in Bloom will be released on September 13, 2011.

I received a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.

50 Dangerous Things: Book Review

2011-06-06T21:09:00.003-04:00

Summer has officially started in our house. It's is roasting outside and we're trying to find ways to stay busy both indoors and out. While we're excited about the every day stuff, going to the library, making popsicles, and playing games, sometimes we want something a little more exciting to do.

We were recently introduced to the book 50 Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) by Gever Tulley and Julie Spiegler. It's filled with ideas on how to teach your child about safety by allowing them to experience risk. The book encourages kids to experiment, to answer the "what ifs" by actually acting on the ideas, in order to give them better problem-solving skills.50 Dangerous Things includes a variety of activities, skills, projects, and experiences. Suggestions in the book include super-gluing your fingers together, exploding a bottle in the freezer, learning to tightrope walk, and damming up a creek, among others. Each idea includes a how to, a risk assessment (could cause shock, property damage, etc), and room to take notes. There's also a section that explains the merits of each activity.

As my son read through the book, I heard many giggles and several repeats of "I'm not going to do that," as he was shocked and amused by many of the ideas. But, he was also very excited to add several of the ideas to our summer to-do list.

The book offers a fresh perspective on taking risks and trying new things. It offers easy to follow directions, as well as warnings for parents and children to abide by so that no one gets seriously injured. I have a feeling we'll be pulling it off the book shelf several times this summer.

Buy It
50 Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) is available now for $18. You can also visit the the 50 Dangerous Things website to learn more.

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Summer Snacking with Sargento

2011-06-01T15:46:00.007-04:00

The end of school and beginning of summer means lots of chaos in our house. Their are tons of special activities at school, field trips, soccer practices, and excitement over upcoming vacations. All this planning and running around means I have little time to think ahead about dinner, let alone snacks.

Luckily, we were recently introduced to Sargento Fridge Packs. These easy-to-spot and store packs of cheese sticks fit easily into our refrigerator and allow kids and grown-ups access to a healthy snack. The well-designed Fridge Packs allow the cheese to be displayed, rather than tossed into a drawer, and I don't know about you, but I often grab the first thing I see when I'm hungry for a snack.Sargento Fridge Packs are offered in 3 flavors, Light String Cheese, Colby-Jack Cheese Sticks, and Mild Cheddar Cheese Sticks. They, like all Sargento cheese snacks, are 100% natural and never processed.

I am definitely partial to the Light String Cheese, and have been eating one as an afternoon snack most days. But all the varieties are going fast around here. I especially had to giggle when someone opened the fridge and was excited to see we had the "good cheese."
Spring Clean Your Fridge
Sargento recommends spring cleaning your fridge and your snacking habits this year. Making healthy choices isn't nearly as hard when you keep things like fruit, veggies, and cheese in easily accessible places.Buy It
Sargento Fridge Packs (containing 18 sticks) are available in most groceries stores for $6.99

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Sargento and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Retro Fabric Care with Tide: Giveaway

2011-05-23T21:09:00.006-04:00

***Closed: Congrats to Jen & June!***

Laundry is one of those never-ending jobs in our house. It's right up there with dishes and picking up after the boys in the house. So, I'm glad I can rely on Tide to help me keep our clothes clean and smelling fresh.

To celebrate its 65^th Anniversary, Tide is issuing special-edition packages with the 1947 label. Procter & Gamble is offering shoppers a "blast from the past" with retro-packaged Tide, Bounce, and Downy available at Target in May, while supplies last. Tide's promise for “the cleanest clothes possible” is still going strong more than a half-century later.Win It: Two lucky winners will receive a retro Tide t-shirt, Bounce Dryer Bar, and Tide and Downy samples.Mandatory entry: Tell me in the comments how many loads of laundry you do each week.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 5/31 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email, so be sure to leave a way to contact you. Open to US only.

Samples were provided. However all opinions are our own.

Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips: Review

2011-05-13T21:30:00.004-04:00

Ever since going gluten-free last summer, I've been looking for healthy snack foods that I can still munch on. Some days it's a struggle to find something that tastes good, is fairly healthy for me, and satisfies my craving for something "snacky."

I was recently introduced to Beanfields Bean and Rice chips. They are gluten (and corn) free, made in the USA, and offer a healthier alternative to potato chips. Beanfields Bean and Rice chips have 4 grams of protein in every serving, as well as 4 grams of fiber.

Beanfields Bean and Rice chips are available in four flavors: Sea Salt, Sea Salt & Pepper, Naturally Unsalted, and Pico De Gallo.We tried the Sea Salt and Sea Salt & Pepper flavors and were surprised at just how good they were. Hubby was a little leery at eating a chip made from beans, but I caught him eating more than his share after he tried them.

Beanfields Bean and Rice chips are crunchy and very flavorful. I loved the seasoning on the Sea Salt & Pepper. They had just the right amount of "kick" from the pepper. Very, very addictive. And I don't need to feel guilty for eating them!

Buy It
Find Beanfields Bean and Rice chips at a natural food store near you, or order online. A 6 oz bag retails for $2.99 to $3.99.

We received product to review. All opinions are our own.

The Bindi Wildlife Adventures Book Series: Review

2011-05-09T21:26:00.003-04:00

I'm always looking for new a book series directed towards kids to share with my son. Little Man and I have read many books from the Magic Tree House, the Bailey School Kids, and the Captain Underpants series. He loves when we can open a book and already know who the characters are.

We recently were introduced to the Bindi Wildlife Adventures series by Bindi Irwin. For those of you who don't know, Bindi is the 12-year-old daughter of the late Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Bindi has her own clothing line, Bindi Wear International, which launched in 2007, and her own TV show, Bindi: The Jungle Girl, which won an Emmy in 2008 and was nominated again in 2009. She’s also won two Nickelodeon awards, and in 2010 her first full-length feature film, Free Willy 4, was released.

Bindi: The Jungle Girl was one of my 6-year-old's favorite shows. He was so upset when the tv station changed hands and he learned we'd no longer be able to watch it, so I knew her new book series would be a hit with him as well.The first two books of the series, Trouble at the Zoo and Rescue (for ages 7-10) were released this month. The Bindi Wildlife Series is inspired by Bindi's real life, raising conservation awareness and living at the Australian Zoo. The stories feature her brother, Robert, her mom, Terri, and her friends.Bindi's adventures help show kids the importance of caring about, and for, animals. She helps children understand wildlife conservation in words and adventures that they can understand and relate to. Plus, the stories are exciting, silly at times, and are able to keep young readers interested.

Trouble at the Zoo and Rescue are available now for $4.99. Other books in the series will be released in the upcoming months. If you have a little animal-lover in your house, they will fall in love with Bindi's adventures.

Copies of the books were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-26T21:47:00.003-04:00

Favorite & Life on Hold: Book Reviews

2011-04-26T20:48:00.002-04:00

Last year, I fell in love with A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion. So I was excited to hear that AmazonEncore would be publishing two of her young adult novels this April, Favorite and Life on Hold.

Favorite is the story of Angie Favorite, a teenager whose mother disappeared five years before. Life hasn't been easy since her mother mysteriously vanished, but Angie has never given up hope that her mother is out there somewhere.When Angie is attacked in a parking lot, she can't help but think that the attack is somehow related to her mother's disappearance. After the family of Angie's attacker reaches out to her, her own family thinks it may be a chance for her to find closure. But, she discovers something much more startling.

Favorite is a fast-paced book, full of questions, hope, and many surprises. It is one of those stories that once you start, you won't be able to put it down until you reach the last page.

Life on Hold is the story of Rae Maddox, a 15 year old girl, whose mother moves them around more often than she can count. Over the years, Rae has learned to keep her distance from the other kids at school, after realizing how hard it is to leave friend after friend behind.
But, after being in Wisconsin for a short while, Rae's vice principal pairs her up with Allison, a new student, asking her to show her around. Allison is quiet and barely seems to acknowledge Rae's presence. However, after learning more about Allison's past, Rae realizes just how much everyone needs friends and people to care about them.

Life on Hold is another fast read from McQuestion. The characters are easy to connect to and have you hoping that everything will turn out for them in the end.

Favorite and Life on Hold are both available for $9.95 each.

Copies of the books were provided for review. All opinions are my own.

The Stormchasers: Book Review

2011-04-26T19:56:00.002-04:00

Growing up, I loved to watch storms. My sister and I would sit on the porch until the lightning got too close and our mom would call us inside. There was just something about a storm's unpredictability that made them beautiful.

I recently had the chance to read The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum. The book, from The New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Saved Us, draws on Blum's own experience with storm chasing. But the book is not only about weather, it also explores the powerful bond between twins.
Karena and Charles may be twins, but they haven't seen each other in 20 years. Charles, obsessed with storms and diagnosed as bipolar, disappeared without telling his family where he was going. When Karena receives a call from a mental health facility, she starts tracking her bother and the storms he lives for.

The story follows Karena on her amazing adventures, witnessing powerful storms, catching glimpses of her brother, and falling for someone she never expected. The Stormchasers is an amazing tale of siblings, love, and overcoming the past. The vivid details provided by Blum throughout the book allow readers to imagine every aspect of the Karena's journey.

Buy It
The Stormchasers goes on sale today and is available for $15.

I was provided a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Big News

2011-04-12T20:19:00.003-04:00

Lot's of big news:
We're expecting!
And it's another little boy!

Big G Whole Grain Cereal: Giveaway

2011-03-23T14:11:00.004-04:00

In our house, most breakfasts consist of simple foods. We all like to sleep in until that last possible moment, so breakfast has to be quick, but filling.

For both my husband and little one, cereal is a go-to meal. Even at lunch time, they will occasionally request a bowl of cereal. But, I can't complain when many of the cereals they choose offer a good serving of whole grains.

Every Big G cereal contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, with more than 20 Big G cereals delivering 16 grams or more. (At least 48 grams of whole grain are recommended daily.) A diet high in whole grain has been found to help with diabetes and weight management, and may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Big G cereals include:

Cheerios
Lucky Charms
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Honey Nut Cheerios
Fiber One
Total

Studies have found that frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights. Plus, they consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters.

The Lean Belly Prescription by Dr. Travis Stork, MD and host of The Doctors, states that research has shown that belly fat carries more health risks than fat stored elsewhere. In his book, Dr. Stork offers the "Laws of Leanness," including:

If you love to graze: Nosh all day long on your favorite fruits and vegetables to help keep your belly full
If you love fatty foods: discover which fats can actually strip away pounds
If you love soda: substitute more delicious drinks that can help you lose up to four pounds in four weeks

The book contains other great tips as well, including how to eat out while watching your food intake, how to "eat the rainbow," and how to make skinny swaps. Plus, there are exercises, recipes, and activity guides.Win It: One lucky reader will win a copy of Dr. Storks book, The Lean Belly Prescription, and a coupon for a free box of Multigrain Cheerios

Mandatory entry: Tell me in the comments which Big G cereal you enjoy starting your day off with.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 3/31 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Thanks to General Mills for providing me with free product, information, and prize packs through MyBlogSpark. However, all opinions are our own.

Wordless Wednesday: Enjoying the Sun

2011-03-22T21:19:00.004-04:00

Zippies ID Tag Review

2011-03-09T14:30:00.006-05:00

Earlier this week Zippies arrived at our house with a bang. From the second I showed Little Man Zippies, he was in love.

Zippies are round, flexible ID tags with adorable little critters on the front. On the reverse side, there is space to write in your child's name and an emergency phone number. Each Zippies ID tag has a clip, as well as an elastic nylon cord, to allow you to sport a tag on just about anything.Attach them to:

backpacks
lunch boxes
key chains
belt loops
luggage
water bottles
even necklaces

Zippies allows even the youngest kids to recognize their personal items, but they are fun enough to appeal to older kids (and us grown-ups) as well.

The first series contains 10 different critters. Tazmo, the tiger, was Little Man's favorite and is now attached to his backpack. Permanently--according to him. And as soon as soccer starts, we'll be designating another little critter to keep his water bottle safe too.
Buy It: Zippies sell for $4.98 each or $39.99 for the entire limited-edition first series. They can be ordered online at ZippiesFun.com or found at select retailers.

Product was provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Fur and Feathers & Good Night, Little Sea Otter: Review

2011-03-02T14:00:00.003-05:00

I am constantly on the hunt for new books to share with Little Man. It drives my hubby insane, but with two huge book lovers in the house, he has slowly gotten used to finding books tucked everywhere for easy access.

Recently, we had the chance to read two stories from Janet Halfmann. The first, Fur and Feathers follows a dream of young Sophia. In her dream, she sees a whirlwind of animals, all who have lots their fur, feathers, and scales. After trying to replace their skin coverings with her own clothes, she realizes the animals aren't happy. But with a little imagination and creativity, Sophia is able to create coats for all the critters.The story is a sweet tale of helping others and thinking outside the box. It's also accompanied by wonderful illustrations by Laurie Allen Klein. Little Man adored the story and enjoyed coming up with his own ideas on ways he would cover the animals with things around our house.

The second story, Good Night, Little Sea Otter, tells the tale of a little otter avoiding sleep. I think most parents out there could relate to a little one who "has" to say good night to everything imaginable before falling asleep. In the story, Little Sea Otter has to say good night to all the ocean creatures before he closes his eyes and mama tucks him into their kelp bed.
The adorable illustrations by Wish Williams bring Janet Halfmann's story to life. They are a perfect companion to the story, which is tender and loving. Little Man and I both enjoyed reading the story before bed, and he was sure he said good night to every single one of his stuffed animals afterward.

Buy It: Fur and Feathers and Good Night, Little Otter can both be purchased at Amazon

We were provided copies of the books for review. All opinions are our own.

Chickens

2011-01-14T12:11:00.005-05:00

1.4.11

2011-01-04T23:03:00.002-05:00

Being cheesy at grandma's.

1.3.11

2011-01-03T19:23:00.002-05:00

Obsessed.

1.2.11

2011-01-02T21:43:00.002-05:00

1.1.11

2011-01-01T12:57:00.003-05:00

Fail.

2010-12-03T12:52:00.003-05:00

Tuesday: Completely forgot it was Little Man's day at the library. Even more, it was the first day in the new library at school. I forgot to send his book so he "had to sit and read a magazine the whole time."

Wednesday: Forgot about Santa's Secret Workshop. Thankfully, some sweet parent gave him $5 to spend. Unfortunately, he has no idea who it was. So I just sent an envelope with money to school and asked the teacher to repay the mom or give it to another kid who forgets.

Realized it was December 1st at about 1:30. Scrambled to create an Advent Calendar in under two hours.
Thursday: Sent Little Man off to school without gloves. It was only 30 couple degrees outside, so he was forced to wear a pair from the teacher's stash. He only acted a little overly dramatic about the whole thing.

Friday: Was so excited that I remembered the food drive started today. Had the bag of boxed goods sitting at the door ready to go, impressed I was sending the requested items on the right day. Double checked the calendar. And the food drive started two days ago.

I am so thankful the weekend's almost here.

Bink & Gollie: Book Review

2010-11-28T21:42:00.002-05:00

My son is an avid reader. He'll gobble up any book he can get his hands on. My niece on the other hand, couldn't be more different. She is definitely the reluctant reader, the one who needs a little incentive, needs books she can fall in love with.

Bink & Gollie, by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, is one of those books. Following two little girls, "one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible," the book takes you along on three of their adventures. In the first story, Bink has to have a new, outrageously colorful pair of socks. Gollie, however, is not a fan. They eventually have to find a way to compromise with one another. The second story follows Gollie's adventure hiking up the Andes, even with Bink's constant interruptions. And finally, the third story introduces us to Fred the goldfish and takes us along on his interesting journey with Bink.

The second I started reading the book, I couldn't believe how much the girls reminded me of my niece and nephew. They get along one second and are stomping off the next. They struggle to compromise, but always do in the end. They are silly and sweet and imaginative. They are the best of friends.

Written for ages 6-8, the book is captivating. The illustrations by Tony Fucile are beautiful and make the girls that much more lovable. I would highly recommend Bink & Gollie to any young reluctant readers.

Buy It: Bink & Gollie is available in hard cover for $15.99

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Free Movie Night on General Mills: Giveaway

2010-11-28T21:17:00.004-05:00

***Closed: Congrats to katychick***

Going to the movies is a big event in our house. Little Man is always ecstatic to hear that we're heading out to the theater. He loves the excitement of the big screen, the overly buttery theater popcorn, and hanging out as a family. (Thank goodness he's still young enough to want to hang out with his parents.)

The only problem with family movies out? The cost. It seems that ticket prices keep going up. Add in the cost of popcorn, a soda, and the mandatory box of gummy bears and it feels like you're breaking the bank for two hours of fun.
General Mills understands that family movies are a great way to spend a night together. So they are offering consumers a movie night on them. Starting now, you can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of Big G cereals including:

Honey Nut Cheerios (17 oz.)
Cinnamon Toast Crunch (17 oz.)
Lucky Charms (16 oz.)
Trix (14.8 oz)
Reese´s Puffs cereal (18 oz.)

After purchasing two of the participating cereals, visit the General Mills e-Movie Cash site to enter the unique code found inside each box of cereal. Then print your free Movie Cash certificate (good for one admission of up to a $12 value at participating theatres). To find a participating theater in your area check out the theater locator tool.

Win It: Win a "Family Flick Night" gift pack which will include two boxes of the participating Big G cereals and four Movie Cash certificates.

Mandatory entry: Which Big G cereals are you looking forward to purchasing to earn e-movie cash?

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 12/7 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and General Mills for providing the information and giveaway in this post. All opinions are my own.

The Numbers of Miscarriage

2010-11-15T15:11:00.003-05:00

Studies say that 1 in 4 women will bleed in early pregnancy. But 85% of them will go on to have a healthy baby.

Sometimes I wonder why I have to be the minority.

5 1/2 The number of years we've tried for baby #2.
6 The day of October our dreams looked like they were finally coming true again.
2 The number of tests I took. Just to be sure.
6.11 The day I should have been due.
7 The week the bleeding started.
5 The number of blood tests I've had to take.
5 Also the number of times someone's called with results that broke my heart.
314 The number of times I've questioned what I did wrong, what I could have done differently.
6432 A rough estimate of the number of tears I've cried.
16 The number of blow ups I've had at my husband in the last few weeks.
25 The number of pregnant women I've caught glimpse of in the last few days.
3 The number of times seeing said pregnant women have made me bawl. In public.
4 The number of my last hcg quant.
0-5 The hcg level that means I'm absolutely no longer pregnant.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away.

Wordless Wednesday: My Soccer Star

2010-11-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

DOLE in the 2011 Rose Parade

2010-11-09T19:09:00.004-05:00

I've mentioned before just how much our family loves DOLE fruit products. They are healthy and convenient, and being constantly on the run, I love that they offer a simple way to get in our servings of fruit.

DOLE is proud to be the first major brand to pack its Fruit Bowls and multi-serve Jarred Fruit in 100% fruit juice. There's no syrup, no refined sugars, and no artificial sweeteners.

To celebrate, DOLE will be joining in the 2011 Rose Parade with a Living Well in Paradise float. And, they are offering one lucky DOLE fan and their guest the chance to attend the 2011 Rose Parade!Entering is easy, simply “Like” DOLE on Facebook and fill out the sweepstakes entry form. One lucky Dole fan, plus one guest, will win a four day and three night trip to Los Angeles from December 30, 2010 to January 2, 2011 to attend the 2011 Rose Parade with premium VIP seats in the grandstands during the parade. The sweepstakes will also randomly award 100 DOLE Rose Parade Limited Edition Commemorative Pins each week between Nov. 4, 2010 to Dec. 23, 2010.

Good luck!

Information was provided for this post by DOLE. All opinions are my own.

The Last Ornament: Holiday Gift Idea

2010-11-04T21:02:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite parts of the holidays are all the wonderful books that go along with the season. Every year, I pull out a huge bin of Christmas books the last weekend of November, and Little Man is so excited to read the books over and over.

We recently added a new story to our holiday collection, The Last Ornament by Judith Vicary Swisher. The book tells the tale of one family's tree and adorning ornaments. After the excitement of decorating and celebrating, it's time for the ornaments to be put away for the next year. Unfortunately, one ornament doesn't make it back to into it's box. All the other decorations are so sad when the find that Little Blue Engine is missing!

The story is a very sweet holiday tale. It also encourages a fun tradition, searching for the last ornament on the tree. I can't tell you the number of times we see a missed ornament as the tree is on it's way out the door. So I think we may start a "last ornament" search in our house this year.

The Last Ornament is filled with bright, fun illustrations and personifying the ornaments gives the story a new perspective on the holiday celebration. I'm sure we'll be reading the story of Little Blue Engine several more times before the Christmas season is over.

A copy of the book was provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Wordless Wednesday: Halloween

2010-11-02T21:53:00.002-04:00

Lost.

2010-11-01T13:21:00.003-04:00

My Name

It’s cold in here feels like everything’s upside down
I can feel you talking but I can barely make out the sound
I been kicking around these parts, feels like a year
I’m gonna change this world if I ever get out of here
She wants to dress me in pink, paint’s my bedroom blue
And I just laugh to myself, because only I know the truth
This love is my only emotion
Haven’t learned any fear any pain
It’s kind of funny with all this commotion
I guess they’ve got me, to blame
And they don’t even know my name
And they don’t even know my name

Well I’ve never felt so ready, think it’s finally time
Cause that big old world is waiting, and it’s mine all mine
Just then everything got real quiet, it got real bright
And a man took my hand said don’t worry, your momma's gonna be alright
Then he opened the gate & I followed him in
Said you can wait right, here till it’s your turn again
And his love is the one true emotion
Heaven knows no fear no pain
I never got to set my wheels in motion
But they loved me just the same
And they never even knew name
Didn’t even know my name
You loved me just the same
And you didn’t even know my name

-George Canyon

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-26T20:48:00.003-04:00

Viper Comics for Kids: Review

2010-10-17T19:40:00.000-04:00

Viper Comics has been publishing comics since 2003. To date, they have put out over 100 comic books and 30 graphic novels. Four of their graphic novel titles have even been recommended by the American Library Association.With Little Man's new-found love of comics, he was more than excited to receive three new stories to read. Battle Smash Vs. the Saucermen from Venus was apparently such a hit in our house, that he has hidden away in his room, to read when he wakes up in the morning. The comic follows the five superheroes who make up Team Battle Smash as they save London from the attacking Saucermen. The story is easy for him to read and follow. With it's upbeat pace, he was captivated with the storyline from the first page to last.

Stu Bear in the 25st Century is the story of a lazy bear, trapped for hundreds of years when an avalanche buries him during hibernation. When Stu is discovered, centuries in the future, he finds that nothing is the same. Humans are being kept in zoos, high-tech cities are floating above the Earth, and an incurable plague is threatening all life.Written by the Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie screen writer, Jeff Bushell, Stu Bear is an imaginative glimpse into animal-run future. My 6 year old enjoyed the idea of animals running the world and was excited to see if Stu would be able to save the day.

Odd Rods is based upon the trading cards of the 1960s. Mac Short is having nothing short of a bad day, he's lost his job, his wife left him, and he's next to broke. When he sees a car for sale for only $500, he thinks his luck has started to change. Then he accidentally pulls a lever in his car and learns that doing so turns the car into an Odd Rod.Since Little Man is only 6, I skimmed through the first few pages with him, figuring their was no reason to ruin the thrill of the book with negatives, like losing a job and having a spouse leave. He really enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book and loved when the cars and drivers transformed into Odd Rods.

Battle Smash Vs. the Saucermen from Venus can be purchased for $3.25. Stu Bear can be pre-ordered for $7.95 and Odd Rod for $5.95.

We received product for review. All opinions are our own.

The "Our School Needs" Contest from Bing

2010-10-14T19:47:00.003-04:00

I love being active in my son's classroom. Not only does it give me a chance to peek in on how he behaves (or misbehaves) at school, but it lets me see how he interacts with his teachers and classmates.

Education is so important, yet every time you turn around, it seems like the school budget is getting smaller and smaller. And it doesn't take long before the budget cuts impact our kids. More and more, I've noticed teachers asking for more contributions to the classroom, teachers buying supplies out of their own pocket, and kids finding ways to go without.

Bing believes every student deserves a great education, and they are asking: What does your school need?

Before Friday, October 22nd, teachers and students can head over to the Bing website, and tell them what they dream about for their school. Teachers and students can submit their story, along with photos and videos. Entries will then be rated online and the top 5 from each category (grades k-6, 7-9, and 10-12) will have a spot in the finals. Voting will begin October 27th.

You can view a video about the submission process as well.

In the end, four winners (1 grand prize and 3 first places) will be selected, winning $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. And Bing will be donating up to a million dollars in prizes and donations to schools in need.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Bing and received a DonorsChoose.org giving code and gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Ook & Gluk: Review & Giveaway

2010-10-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

Last week, when The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future arrived at our doorstep, Little Man was instantly in love with it. The cover drew him in, with the silly characters and comic-book look, and the story throughout the pages kept him hooked. In complete honesty, we sat and read the book cover to cover (all 175 pages) in one afternoon.The book comes from the creators of the Captain Underpants series (which we have suddenly started reading in the past week). The Adventures of Ook and Gluk follows two cavemen as they encounter an evil corporation leader, who has come to the past to steal trees, oil, and water. Their comical adventures include helping out a baby dinosaur, meeting new friends in the future, and battling killer robots.The Adventures of Ook and Gluk accomplishes everything the cover promises: "action, laffs, and flip-o-rama in every chapter." The flip-o-ramas were a huge hit with my 6 year old. With titles like "Mechasauras Wrecks" and "Regergitation Animation," what 6 year old wouldn't love making their own mini animated scenes within the book?

About the Author:
Dav Pilkey has written and illustrated numerous popular, award-winning books for children, including the Captain Underpants and Dumb Bunnies series; Dog Breath, winner of the California Young Reader Medal; and The Paperboy, a Caldecott Honor Book.

Win It: Three lucky readers will win a copy of The Adventures of Ook and Gluk (retail $9.99)

Mandatory entry: Check out the other Dav Pilkey books and tell me another title your kids would enjoy.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 10/22 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

A copy of the book were provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Wordless Wednesday: From '08

2010-10-12T23:19:00.004-04:00

If I think of how much he's grown in just 2 years, I can't decide if it breaks my heart or just amazes me.

Coaching U6 Soccer

2010-10-11T21:30:00.000-04:00

Three days a week you can find us on the soccer fields. We are usually the first to show up and among the last to leave.

I grew up loving soccer. I played from the time I was 4 until I graduated high school, going from a rec team to a traveling team to the varsity squad. Playing soccer is the one (and maybe only) thing I miss from high school.

Last year, when Little Man expressed interest in playing, we signed him right up. Somehow, I got talked into coaching the team. Now I'm on my second season coaching. (Even though I said I wouldn't be this year, I didn't really get a chance to say no.)

Coaching little kids' soccer is different than anything else I've ever done. I once heard someone say, "you don't need to be a soccer player to coach this level, you need to be a daycare director." I can see some truth in that, but I also believe you need to know the sport more with this age group than with the older ones. You have to be the one to teach how to play correctly. I strongly believe that good habits start early, but bad ones can start even earlier.
My tips for coaching a group of 5 and 6 year olds?

1. Have patience. You will need to tie shoes, allow more water breaks than you can imagine, listen to stories about so and so's sister, hold hands, and direct them towards the bathroom at least once a practice. You will also need to remind them which goal is theirs and learn to smile when they kick it in the other one anyways.

2. Have fun. At this age, kids don't come to win. They really don't even come to practice soccer. They come to have fun. I judge the success of my practices by how many kids are smiling and laughing at the end and how many can't wait until the next practice.

3. Offer lots of praise! Kids will respond to positive reinforcement. They need to hear that they are doing well, that you know they're trying their best. And the next practice, they will come back and try even harder. All I can ever ask for is that they do their best.

Do you coach your kid's sports team? Any tips to add?

Wordless Wednesday: Goodbye Summer

2010-10-05T20:03:00.005-04:00

We were still hanging on to the very last moments of summer. But this week, fall hit from out of nowhere. Hello, fall!

Have you voted for my Big Hit recipe today??!

Flourless PB-Free Cookies

2010-10-04T14:04:00.006-04:00

These cookies may be flour free and peanut butter free, but they are delicious. The biggest perk? Everyone in our family can safely eat them.

Momma may or may not have eaten two for lunch today.Flourless PB-Free Cookies
(Makes about 2 dozen)

1 cup Soy Nut Butter (You can sub PB or another nut butter if your family can have it)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
Chocolate Chips or Hershey Kisses

Preheat oven to 350 and grease cookie sheet.

Combine soy butter and both sugars in mixer. Blend on medium for about two minutes, or until well mixed.

Add egg and baking soda. Continue mixing about 2 more minutes.

Roll dough into golf ball size balls and place on cookie sheet. Make crisscross pattern with a fork.

Bake for roughly 7-8 minutes or until edges are slightly brown. As soon as you remove from oven, press Kisses or chocolate chips into tops of cookies.

Allow to cool before removing from cookie sheet.

Enjoy!

Have you voted for my Gluten-Free Big Hit recipe today??!

Bedtime Books: Review

2010-10-04T11:14:00.003-04:00

Picking out bedtime books, is a huge process for us. Little Man always seems to have such strong opinions about which stories he wants to hear (or read to me) before going off to bed.

We recently received two new bedtime books: Switching on the Moon and Moon Dreams. Both of which got Little Man's bedtime book approval.

Switching on the Moon: A Very First Book of Bedtime Poems (collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters) contains a variety of poems that can easily lull a little one off to sleep. Topics covered in the book range from going to bed, dreams, and nighttime. Little Man adored the poem "My Bed," where the poet describes the things his bed could become, such as a boat, a car, or a submarine. I'm sure Little Man loved it since he never goes straight to sleep, he lays in bed "daydreaming" for as long as his little eyes will stay open.
The book contains beautiful, captivating illustrations from G. Brian Karas and is designed for younger children, from birth to age 5.

Moon Dreams by Ruth Martin tells the story of Luna, a little girl in love with the moon. Luna knows the moon watches over her at night, but before falling asleep each night, she wonders where the moon goes during the day. Moon Dreams follows Luna's imaginative journey as she tries to discover where the moon spends its days.
We loved the artwork throughout the book (by illustrator Oliver Latyk). It depicts Luna's dreams and thoughts in such a fun and creative way. The story, aimed at kids 4-7, was a hit with Little Man, and we were able to discuss what really does happen to the moon during daylight hours.

Both books are now available for purchase from Candlewick Press and would make a great addition to any bookshelf.

Books were provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Eating Gluten Free

2010-10-01T10:08:00.005-04:00

Every time someone finds out I don't eat wheat or gluten, they act like I'm crazy. You don't eat pasta? You can't have cake? You won't even try a bite of pizza?

People always see negatives. But the thing is, I do eat pasta, and cake, and pizza. I just have to make it myself, without gluten. To be perfectly honest, I eat better now than I did before going gluten free.

I wake up and make myself eggs with lots of veggies and a side of sliced tomatoes. Instead of eating something from a microwavable box for lunch, I have a salad with leftover chicken or I make a quick stir fry from whatever's in the fridge.

For dinner, I serve grilled or roasted meat, a potato or rice, and lots of veggies. If we want pasta, I make a rice pasta. Pizza? I use a gluten free crust mix. Which, by the way, makes some delicious cheesy bread.

When it comes to sweet stuff, I love experimenting with gluten free desserts. There's been brownies, cake, and donuts. My favorite so far?

Chex Treats
1 bag marshmallows
1/4 cup butter
7 cups of Chex (I mixed rice and corn)
handful of chocolate chips

Melt butter and marshmallows in microwave. Start with 1 minute, check every 20-30 seconds until marshmallows are melted and smooth.

Stir in Chex.

Put mixture into a well greased 13 x 9 inch pan, press until even.

Top with chocolate chips and press them into treats.We won't discuss how quickly a huge batch disappeared in our house this week.

Have you voted for my Gluten-Free Big Hit recipe today?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-28T21:52:00.002-04:00

And as a friendly reminder, can you vote for me today? Puh-puh-puh-lease as my little one would say!

This is me. Begging.

2010-09-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

At the end of August, I shared my recipe for Cheese Steak Taquitos with Avocado Cream as part of the Big Hit contest through the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association. Then a few weeks ago, amazingly, I found out I was chosen as one of the 8 finalists.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of papers, photos, anticipation. For me, it's definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. My recipe is now posted over at The Big Hit along with the only professional picture I've ever had taken.And this is where you come in. I need your votes! The top prize is $5000. Yes, $5000! I don't think I've ever seen that amount all once, and can only imagine how much it could help us out.

Head over to the Big Hit and put in your vote. (My card is yellow: Staci) Pretty, pretty please.

Complete Randomness and Fall

2010-09-24T13:56:00.006-04:00

Fridays are chaotic around here. Well, lately, it seems that every day brings a little chaos with it.

The phone rings the second I sit down, the emails pile up, then it's time for soccer, for dinner, for work. It seems that I should have so much extra time with Little Man being at school every day, but 4 o'clock rolls around and I realize I haven't crossed a single thing off my to do list. Which grows and grows every minute it seems.
But, I did take the time this week to notice fall making an appearance. Even though the temperatures are well over 90 today, there are still hints of fall out there. The leaves have started to change. The pumpkins and gourds are growing.
Fortunately though, the tomatoes are still coming on. I picked two huge containers full this week and now have "sun-dried" tomatoes in the freezer for winter.
Peppers are cut up in the freezer too.
And Little Man is on his fall field trip today. I'm trying not to be too annoyed that there were too many volunteers for chaperones and I couldn't enjoy the day with him. (It's not working so well though.) But I'm hoping he had fun and didn't melt in the heat.
Yay for fall! Now if only I could find a few more hours in the day. I might actually feel like I got something done.

Wordless Wednesday: More Bugs!

2010-09-21T22:23:00.004-04:00

Mad Science KNOW Magazine for Kids

2010-09-15T15:00:00.000-04:00

Between my son and my nephew, I think I hear "why?" a million times each week. These two boys wants to know about everything, and sometimes their questions catch me off guard.

This past weekend alone, we discussed how caterpillars become butterflies, how tsunamis occur, why people used to make clothes from flax, and what alligators eat. Definitely a huge range of topics.

KNOW is the science magazine for curious kids. KNOW helps answer those what, why, where, and how questions all kids ask. KNOW is engaging, fun, and full of ways to satisfy the natural curiosity of children ages 6 to 9. Each issue is packed with news articles, experiments, puzzles, dinosaurs, astronomy, the human body, and more.
Sounds like the perfect magazine for the boys in my life who are always asking why. Plus, what little one doesn't love finding something in the mailbox with their name on it?!

New issues of KNOW are sent out every two months, and each one contains fun facts on a variety of topics, such as the solar system, the four seasons, scientists, and technology.
You can check out a sample issue online or learn more about KNOW as well as YES magazine, which is geared towards kids ages 10 to 15.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mad Science and received the products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Totino's Box Tops for Education & Giveaway

2010-09-15T14:00:00.001-04:00

***Closed: Congrats to Jen!***

With school and soccer in full swing, I'm always on the look out for quick after school snacks. Even if Little Man isn't starving after school, his daddy is usually ready for a snack at that point in the day.

Totino's Party Pizza and Pizza Roll Snacks are great for the moments when we're in a huge hurry. Both are easy to heat up and are ready in minutes.Currently, Totino's is offering two Box Tops for Eduction on their products. But you have to hurry to take advantage of this offer as it ends today! We keep our Box Tops in an envelope on the fridge and Little Man loves taking a huge pile into school with him during the collection times. He's so excited to be able to help out his school (while eating foods he loves.)
Win It: One lucky reader will win a Totino's prize pack, including coupons for Totino's Party Pizza and Pizza Roll Snacks, a backpack, school supplies, and 25 Bonus Box Tops.

Mandatory entry: What's your best tip for making back to school time easier?

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 9/22 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and General Mills for providing the information and giveaway in this post. All opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-14T23:38:00.002-04:00

When did he grow up?!

End of Summer Smoothies with Dole

2010-09-10T13:02:00.003-04:00

While I'm loving the sudden onset of fall weather these past few days, I was far from ready to say goodbye to summer. To celebrate the end of the season, we recently hosted an end of the summer party with smoothies from Dole.

Dole offers a variety of frozen fruits including Blackberries, Blueberries, Dark Sweet Cherries, Mango, Pineapple Chunks, Raspberries, Sliced Peaches, Sliced Strawberries, Sliced Strawberries in Sugar Tub, Whole Strawberries, Wild Blueberries, Wildly Nutritious Mixed Berries, Wildly Nutritious Mixed Fruit, and Wildly Nutritious Tropical Fruit. We picked up a few different varieties so that everyone at our party could design their own smoothie.

So which smoothie creations turned into favorites?

First of all, the Dark Sweet Cherry Smoothie was a hit. We combined vanilla yogurt, Dole's Dark Sweet Cherries, cherry juice, and a little ice in the blender to create a smoothie that was a mix of sweet and tart.
The second favorite was the Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie. We used Dole's Blueberries and Whole Strawberries, plain yogurt, and apple juice. Everyone agreed that it was a delicious combo.

Another smoothie that was quickly devoured was the Wildly Nutritious Mixed Fruit Smoothie. Using Dole's Wildly Nutritious Mixed Fruit as the base, we added yogurt, and pineapple juice. The Wildly Nutritious Mixed Fruit includes pineapple, strawberries, peaches, honeydew, and mangoes. Yum!Saying goodbye to summer is tough, but celebrating definitely made the end of summer a little better.

Dole's frozen fruits are easy to use and good for you. I love that I can easily store a few bags of Dole's frozen fruit in my freezer and have custom smoothies any time throughout the year. Plus, I bet the fruit would taste amazing on top of ice cream sundaes!

Product was provided for us to host a Dole Smoothie party. All opinions are our own. We really do love our smoothie creations!

Comics for Kids: KiZoic Review

2010-09-10T12:23:00.004-04:00

I love fostering a love for learning in my little one. Over the last few years, I've learned that one of the best ways to keep him reading and learning is to show him how fun it can be, and that reading doesn't always have to involve a book. We read the Sunday comic strips, cereal boxes, billboards, anything we see.

But I realized, I've never found a comic book I wanted to share with him. Many are too grown up, too violent, etc.

I was recently introduced to KiZoic, who offers comic books designed just for kids. Some available titles include Little Green Men: Go Big or Go Home and Shrek. They also have produced Scratch9, Mecha-Nation, and The Penguins of Madagascar comics.
We have loved every Shrek movie that's come out, so it was a given for us to thoroughly enjoy the comic too. The artwork is entertaining and the characters' personalities shine through the words. The characters from film really do seem to come back to life in the comic.Out of all the comics, Little Green Men: Go Big or Go Home was my son's favorite. He has begged to read it every single night since we received it. The comic follows three odd little aliens on their mission to conquer Earth. When things never go as planned, they have to survive obstacle after obstacle in their attempts to take over the world.I would say it's meant for kids a little older than my own. At six, some of the conversations are a little harsh for me to read to him. But skipping a word or two here and there (things like "crap" or "sissy-pants" that I don't want repeated at school), I'm able to read it to him. There's also a little adult humor in the book, like an alien drunk on cow's milk, but it goes right over his head.
Overall, the KiZoic comics have been a fun way to get my son even more excited to read. He loves seeing what the characters have to say and what will happen next on their adventures.

KiZoic and Ape Entertainment have plans to expand their comic line for kids next month. So keep an eye out for what's to come from them!
Buy It:
You can purchase KiZoic comics in their online store for $6 to $9.

Samples were provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Wordless Wednesday: Exploring

2010-09-07T22:37:00.008-04:00

This is how we spent labor day...

Random Reads

2010-09-02T19:33:00.004-04:00

It seems to be a good week for books in our house. Usually we consume a ton of books each week, but rarely do we find books that we want to read over and over.

At the public library last week, we borrowed a copy of Seven Silly Eaters. We have read it no less than 13 times in a week (sometimes finishing it, just to start over again.) Maybe it's because my son is such a picky eater, or maybe it's the sing-songy style of the book, but he is in love. (And I'm not looking forward to the day it has to be returned. I see a meltdown in his future that day.)The second favorite of the week: Uno's Garden. Little Man discovered this book at his school library, and barely got inside the front door before we were reading it together. The book is not only beautifully illustrated, but also teaches math skills and the impact of people on the environment. The first time through, the book almost brought tears to my little one's eyes. He is an animal lover and was heart broken to see people destroying their homes. But, by the third reading, he was noticing little hints in the final illustrations of the book that made him feel a little better about the ending.

And finally, after two weeks, we have finished reading Horns & Wrinkles. This book can easily be described as amazing.I found the book on a thrift store shelf-59 cents. Something about the cover caught my eye, and even though it is close to 400 pages, I knew I wanted to read it with Little Man. It didn't surprise me when he asked to go up to bed early to find out what the trolls were up to or to see what happened next to the main characters, Claire and Duke.

The "rivery" (or mystical) things that went on during the book kept him entertained, and I loved the message of the book: the importance of showing genuine kindness to others. I can't say enough about this book. We absolutely loved it!

Wordless Wednesday: Little Artist

2010-08-31T22:24:00.003-04:00

A Scattered Life: Book Review

2010-08-31T21:15:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon alone is curled up somewhere quiet with a good book. Since this doesn't happen often, I'm very picky about the books I choose.

I recently received a copy of A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion. Originally, the book was self-published on Kindle using Amazon's Digital Text Platform. The book was a hit, becoming a bestseller (along with McQuestion's other writings), and it has been optioned for film. In August, AmazonEncore published a paperback version of A Scattered Life (retail, $14.95).
I started reading, not knowing much about the book at all, and was instantly drawn to the characters. McQuestion's writing style allows readers to see every detail of the story, and the characters are developed so well. Throughout the book, I found myself learning more and more about them, their thoughts, their actions, their flaws. Once I started, I didn't want to put the book down, and I found myself smiling (and crying) along with the characters.

Set in rural Wisconsin, A Scattered Life follows the lives of three women, all in various stages of life, motherhood, and marriage. During only one year, they learn more about family, life, and love than they ever expected.

I found myself relating so easily to each of the main characters. Skyla Plinka is a young stay at home mom. While she loves her family and life, she has a sense of restlessness, a need to do something different. She finds a sense of belonging working at a bookstore and a friendship in her new neighbor, Roxanne.

Roxanne is one of those moms that we all know. From the outside, her life looks like pure chaos, but looking closely, you realize that she puts her family above all else. And honestly, what matters more, loving on your kids or cleaning the kitchen?

Finally, there's Audrey, Skyla's intrusive and controlling mother-in-law. Again, Audrey is the mother-in-law (monster-in-law) we've all seen, needing to have an opinion on every little thing, and at times, making life much more difficult than it needs to be.

These three ladies face so many obstacles throughout the book. Often times, I found myself wishing everything would just get better for them all. The book made me think about how short life is and how we often take things for granted.

A Scattered Life is about friendship, it's about family, it's about belonging and loss. At every turn, it was a wonderful read, and I would highly recommend it.

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

The Big Hit Avocado Blog Tour

2010-08-27T13:30:00.002-04:00

I didn't grow up eating avocados. To be honest, I don't think I even tried one until just last year. After hearing so much about the benefits of adding them to your diet, I had finally decided to pick one up at the grocery store.

We've been using them in our house ever since.

Recently, my diet has changed and I've had to rethink and relearn a few things in the kitchen. Being gluten-free means no breads, no rolls, no flour tortillas. But it also means feeling better than I have in years and having so much more energy.

There are several things I miss eating, but I've found ways to alter my favorite foods so that I can still enjoy them alongside my family.

Gluten-Free Philadelphia-Inspired Cheese Steak Taquitos with Avocado Cream

Ingredients:
8 Corn tortillas
1 lb thin cut steak slices (or Steak-ums)
1/2 cup thin sliced peppers (we use red, green, and yellow)
1/2 cup thin sliced onion
2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 cup shredded cheddar (substitute your favorite)
2 cups oil for frying
1 medium avocado
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbs fresh lime juice

1. Mix mashed avocado, sour cream, and lime juice in blender until creamy and well mixed. Put in fridge to chill.

2. Heat olive oil over medium heat, then add peppers and onions and cook until soft.

3. Add steak to pan and cook thoroughly.

4. Warm tortillas in microwave for 30 seconds or until pliable.

5. Add small portion of steak, peppers, and onions to warm tortilla and roll up. Secure with a toothpick.

6. Picked up rolled tortillas and drop carefully into hot oil with tongs. Cook until crispy.

7. Top with cheddar cheese and serve with avocado cream. And enjoy!

Did you know?
Avocados are only 50 calories per ounce (around three slices) and are sodium and cholesterol free. Also they contain nearly 20 different types of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in a one ounce serving.
The "Big Hit" Contest and Avocado League
Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA) is launching the Big Hit contest exclusively for those participating in this blog tour:
The Avocado League is featuring hometown recipes in Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C. MHAIA will choose 8 bloggers, one from each featured hometown, with the best recipe from the blog tour as members of the Avocado League, with public voting of their dishes to take place in late September. Avocado League participants and their dish will be professionally photographed and have their own personal profile on the Big Hit microsite.

The Avocado League recipe with the most votes during the Big Hit contest will win the title of Avocado League MVP and the grand slam prize a $5,000 grocery gift card! Second and third place winners will receive a $2,500 and $1,500 grocery gift card, respectively. Each of the top three winners will also receive a year's supply of avocados! The five Avocado League runner-ups will each receive $100 grocery gift cards.

Any consumer can submit their avocado recipe and may be featured as an "all-star" recipe. All voting and recipe posting will take place at the Big Hit site.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

The 1st Day

2010-08-26T19:56:00.003-04:00

My baby had his first day of the first grade yesterday.

We woke bright and early. A little too early, after a jittery, too excited to sleep through the night night. As we were brushing teeth, Little Man looked at me and asked "So you're sure I can't have just one more day of summer?"

After assuring him, that we could not have just one more day, even though we both were wishing for it (secretly in my case), we got on with our day.

The uneasiness of a new school, a new teacher, and the first day followed us out to the bus stop. I tried to joke around with him, I tried to get him to crack a smile.
It didn't work.
Finally, he got annoyed with me and faked a half smile. Better than nothing, I guess.

After school, I greeted him at the bus stop and asked what his favorite part of the day was. He responded with "nothing." I was terrified that his fears had come true, getting lost in the halls or not having anyone to play with at recess, or worse yet, a mean teacher.

So I asked, "You didn't like anything?" my voice full of worry.

The child looked at me like I had gone crazy. After a full second or two, he says, "No, momma, it was all my favorite," with a tone that made me feel dumber than dirt for assuming otherwise.

Yay for the love of first grade! Let's just hope it stays this way!

Wordless Wednesday: Ugh

2010-08-24T22:33:00.002-04:00

He makes me so nervous.

Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman: Review

2010-08-21T10:05:00.004-04:00

In reach our reading goals this summer, we have found ourselves reaching for an array of books. We've read just about every kids book we could get our hands on, both from our personal library and from the public library.

We recently received a copy of Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman written by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Tony Ross. While there are several books starring Horrid Henry and his problems with Perfect Peter and Moody Margaret this is the first we've read.
Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman features 4 short "laugh-out-loud stories" and was named Children's Book of the Year in 2008 at the Galaxy British Book Awards. The four stories included in the book are Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman, Horrid Henry's Rainy Day, Moody Margaret's Makeover, and Horrid Henry's Author Visit.

While written for kids 7-12, my just-turned six year old enjoyed the misadventures of Henry. It seems that things never work out quite as Henry planned, and it gave my son and I a chance to talk about obstacles and how to approach things differently as we read.

Even though Horrid Henry is a mean, short-tempered kid, we couldn't help but like him and feel sorry when things go horribly for him.

Reading the stories together allowed us to open up communication about how we treat other people and how things don't always go as planned. The books are very well written and through the descriptions it was easy for my son to imagine each story in his head.

We'll definitely be picking up some of the other Horrid Henry books to read together.

Buy It
You can find Horrid Henry books at Amazon (Most can be found for $4.99)

A copy of the book was provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Wordless Wednesday: Warty

2010-08-17T20:47:00.004-04:00

Twitter-pated

2010-08-16T16:09:00.004-04:00

Could also be titled: Butterflies Gone Wild.Someone said these two were a little too twitter-pated to notice me taking their photo.
Twitter-pated has now became the word of the day. {And every time it's said, somebody giggles.}
Twitter-pated, twitter-pated, twitter-pated
That's the kind of day we're having.

WordWorld & Dive Olly Dive! Review

2010-08-12T20:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago our DVD player decided to die. {gasp} This caused a little someone to be rather upset. He loves watching a short DVD in the afternoon while I get a little work done around the house. Plus with 90+ degree days lately, a movie afternoon usually sounds so relaxing (and cool.)

WordWorld: Pirate Sheep
We love the skills WordWorld teaches, from social skills, like making friends and fixing mistakes to literary skills, such as sounding words out and rhyming.
Pirate Sheep, is a 60 minute DVD featuring 4 episodes from the WordWorld friends. Pirate Ship, Superhero Sheep, Mail Mix Up, and Wee Little Whale all offer the same positive messages and educational value we've loved on past WordWorld DVDs.

Dive Olly Dive! Under Pressure
We had never watched Dive Olly Dive! before viewing the Under Pressure DVD. Following the adventures of two submarines in training, the episodes teach kids about overcoming obstacles and working through setbacks with teamwork.Under Pressure has a run time of 60 minutes and includes 5 episodes: Sub Magnet, Pressure's On, Grandpa Claude, Doug's Apprentices, and A Jelly Old Time. Little Man thought the DVD was fun and enjoyed seeing what Olly and his friend, Beth, would get into next.

Both DVDs are available at Toys R Us, Amazon, or NCircle Entertainment

Products were provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Back to School Time with Smead

2010-08-12T19:45:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that summer is quickly coming to an end. Two weeks from today, my little one will officially be a first grader.

After experiencing our first year in school, I learned quite a few things. The first is that even kindergartners bring home a ridiculous amount of papers. And the second is that this momma really needs to work at being organized, or I will again be realizing we've "misplaced" permission slips or homework five minutes before we need to be at school. (Thank goodness we live 30 seconds from the school.)

Fortunately for me, Smead has a variety of products designed to help me get organized. Smead has been helping homes and offices get organized for over 100 years. They offer a huge variety of office supplies, some of which can be found at Office Depot, Staples, or Franklin Covey.

We recently received the new Stadium File and SuperTab Folders from Smead. The Stadium File has 12 tiered pockets, which allow easy access to files. The reinforced side gussets are heavy duty, so I can easily see the Stadium File lasting quite awhile on my desk. Plus, because it can hold 900+ sheets of paper, I can safely assume that it will help me keep our little one organized throughout the entire first grade.The SuperTab folders, which fit in any standard file drawer (or in the Stadium File), have tabs that are 90% larger than standard folders. This means that our labels (such as "return to school" or "work to save") can easily be read. No squinting and no scribbling in the world's smallest writing.Maybe with the new tools from Smead and our own homework station our back to school experience won't be quite so hectic this year. A momma can hope right?!

Products were provided for review, as well as a gift card to thank me for my time. All opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday: The Birthday Aftermath

2010-08-10T21:30:00.005-04:00

Would love to know who left this message for me?!

Nature Made SAM-e Giveaway

2010-08-07T22:35:00.001-04:00

***Giveaway Closed: Congrats to Catharine!***

I've heard so many good things about Nature Made vitamins over the years, but have never tried them before. To be honest, I'm not always great at remembering to take any kind of pill daily.

However, when I heard about Nature Made SAM-e Complete, I knew I wanted to give it a try. SAM-e is designed to help you maintain a balanced mood by replenishing your body's levels of SAM-e (which stands for s-adenosylmethionine, which is formed from the essential amino acid methionine and adenosine triphosphate.)
How does SAM-e work?

According to the SAM-e Complete site, in a nutshell SAM-e helps other molecules in the brain do their jobs making you feel like your normal self. When SAM-e levels run low, those other molecules can’t do their jobs as effectively, and you can feel out of sorts from a mood standpoint.

I've had the chance to try SAM-e for the last few weeks, and have noticed an improvement in my mood. But I also changed my diet drastically recently, so I can't specifically attribute the mood change to one or the other.

Nature Made SAM-e Complete recently launched a campaign called Give a Smile. They are working with Dream Factory, the second largest children’s wish-granting organization in the US, to grant the wishes of three children suffering from a critical or chronic illness. SAM-e will donate to a child’s wish for every social action you complete (like uploading an image to their mosaic).

Win It: One lucky reader will win 3 months worth of SAM-e complete, a Nature Made aluminum water bottle and mood journal.

To enter: Tell me why you'd like to try SAM-e.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 8/14 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Nature Made and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review.

Happy Birthday, Little One!

2010-08-07T20:52:00.010-04:00

After going to bed at 2 am, being woken 3 times, by someone who was "just to excited to sleep," and getting up at 6:45, I was exhausted this morning.

I slapped a smile on my face and tried to make the best of it. But it wasn't until after breakfast when I heard a gasp and, "Is this all really just for me?" that I really got it. Once a year, it doesn't matter if I get next to no sleep, or that I was so busy the last two days that I've forgotten to eat a real meal. The look on his face this morning, when I told him, "it's all for you," was more than worth it.

I can't believe my baby is 6 today. Six! I told him he looked so grown up. To which he responded that, he's "been grown up since Kindergarten."

I love this kid. Almost more than my heart can hold.

Taste Buds

2010-08-06T19:11:00.004-04:00

The other day, this little one announced, "girls are stronger than boys," in that 6 going on 16 voice I hear often.

This one stopped and thought for a second. I braced myself for his response, so confident another fight was brewing. Then he says, "I'm just as strong as a girl. But girls do have more taste buds."

At least I can say he shares my love of random, useless facts.

Wordless Wednesday: On the Rides

2010-08-03T21:03:00.004-04:00

Rice Krispie Treat Summer Challenge with 5M4M

2010-07-29T17:22:00.006-04:00

Growing up, I loved making (and eating) Rice Krispie Treats. And over the last few years, I've definitely passed that love onto my 5 year old. They are one of his favorite desserts.

5 Minutes for Mom is currently hosting a giveaway with Rice Krispies. All you have to do is share your little one's idea of the ultimate Rice Krispie Treat.

Little Man's ideal treat would be topped with "all different kinds of ice cream, especially lime, sprinkles, and chocolate syrup." (Of course, everything is better when it's topped with sprinkles and chocolate syrup.) It definitely sounds interesting and sugar-filled!This post is part of a contest being held at 5M4M. Drawings courtesy of my little one.

Wordless Wednesday: Out to Lunch

2010-07-27T22:58:00.003-04:00

Personal Microderm Review

2010-07-25T20:37:00.003-04:00

I've never had any interest in getting "work" done. I do my best to be happy with what I have. But there are some imperfections that I would like to improve.

I recently had the chance to try out the personal microderm system from SkinCareRx.

As the site explains, the hand-held device uses the same aluminum oxide crystals as the ten thousand dollar machines found at your doctor's office. It smooths away dead skin cells, diminishing age spots and other signs of aging. After watching the short DVD included with the system, I felt comfortable using the device. I decided to try it out on my hands, which have some slight color imperfections. The device is easy to use, it's almost like vacuuming your skin, though there are several warnings to heed before starting. (So be sure to watch the DVD!)

After two uses, my hands are feeling smoother. With continued use, I hope to see an improvement in the coloration as well.

The at home microderm system can be used on your face or body, anywhere you have age spots or fine lines and wrinkles.

Buy It: You can purchase the personal microderm system for $179

I was provided product for this review. All opinions are my own.

Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream: Giveaway

2010-07-21T21:11:00.001-04:00

***Closed: Congrats to Luvdaylilies & Bev***

Summer and ice cream go hand in hand in our house. Many of our afternoons have been spent eating popsicles or ice cream sandwiches as we cool down from our adventures outside.

It seems that each of us have our favorite, go-to flavors and brands, and we rarely try anything new. However, we recently tried the New Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream Bars and Sandwiches from Breyers. And I have to admit, 2 of the 3 of us just found a new favorite.

We had the Triple Chocolate Chip Bars, which have light chocolate ice cream with a fudge swirl, dark chocolate chips, and a milk chocolate coating. The overall opinion? Amazingly delicious. For people (like Little Man and I) who order chocolate soft serve, with chocolate sprinkles, and a chocolate dip (aka coating) at our favorite ice cream place, this is a perfect treat.Did I mention, it only has 130 calories and 6 grams of fat?

Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream Bars and Sandwiches are also available in:

Vanilla Caramel Chip Bars
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Bars
Vanilla Fudge Brownie Sandwiches
Chocolate Caramel Brownie Sandwiches
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwiches

Win It: Two lucky readers will get to try the new Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream Bars and Sandwiches from Breyers

To enter: Tell me which Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream Bars or Sandwiches you want to try first!

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 8/2 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Mariott "Nickelodeon Your Stay" Blog Tour

2010-07-21T15:30:00.005-04:00

My son loves watching Nickelodeon. If he had his choice, it would be on our TV constantly. At the top of his "want-to-watch" list is usually Spongebob (closely followed by Penguins of Madagascar).

Since, I'm sure I'm not alone in my child's slight obsession with Nickelodeon, how fun is it that they have partnered up with Mariott to allow vacationers to "Nickelodeon Your Stay?"
Beginning July 1st, at almost 2000 Mariott locations, young hotel visitors will receive free activities, including a Nickelodeon bracelet with a code to access free online games at Nick.com, and an activity book with challenging puzzles and mazes. Kids who eat at the hotels' restaurants also receive a placemat featuring favorite Nickelodeon characters, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

At certain Mariott brands, including Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites locations, guests can upgrade their package for $10. The upgraded package includes all the free items plus a SpongeBob activity bag and splash ball, Nickelodeon sunglasses, and a 3-D build-your-own SpongeBob craft.

At Marriott and JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts the upgraded package costs $20, and kids get all the above items plus a special SpongeBob SquarePants or Dora the Explorer pillowcase and storybook.

(A few of the included items, some had "walked away" before I could get a photo)

We had a chance to see the goodies included in the package, and my five year old was excited to pack his Spongebob bag with the activities and book, to "Nickelodeon" his own room. He's had fun exploring all the Nick products and reading the included book. I can imagine it would be even more entertaining in a hotel suite (where hearing I'm bored is way too common).

You can find out more information about the promotion at the "Nickelodeon Your Stay" site. They also offer free, downloadable, Nickelodeon themed travel games under the free goodies section, including a travel journal, travel bingo and coloring sheets.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Marriott and received a Nickelodeon gift pack to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Wordless Wednesday: A Night Out

2010-07-20T21:22:00.006-04:00

Lazy Baking: Mini Pies

2010-07-18T20:14:00.003-04:00

Though I love having fresh, just baked desserts, some days the kitchen is the last place I want to spend my afternoons. (Especially with temperatures up in the 90s lately.) So now and then, I let myself take all the shortcuts. And once in awhile, I end up with delicious results.

Meet the mini pie...I filled a mini muffin pan with refrigerated pie dough, added in a teaspoon of jelly (or soy butter and jelly), and added a lattice top. Then I baked them for 10-12 minutes at 350. Even with them boiling over, it was simple enough.

Some days it's okay to cheat. And you know what? No one cares if I spent 20 minutes or two hours in the kitchen. Just as long as it tastes okay. And according to hubby, these meet his approval.

Wordless Wednesday: A Lttle Buggy

2010-07-13T21:37:00.004-04:00

It looked so pretty from a distance. I even walked up and touched it, wondering why it hadn't flown away.
Then I realized the butterfly was being eaten by a huge, hairy spider. Ick!

Book Review: Flanimals & The Ocenology Handbook

2010-07-07T11:45:00.000-04:00

On our way to 150 books this summer, we've tried to include a little of every topic. But over and over again, we come back to stories that feature animals.

Flanimals Pop-Up
Flanimals Pop-Up by Ricky Gervais is such a fun book. There's no other way to describe it. We've read it four times over the last week. Little Man is in love with the critters that pop-up on each page, and the snarky, yet amusing comments that accompany them.

The first page explains exactly what Flanimals are (well, kind of). They "range from Sprengled Humpdumplers to Oyngless Larbs, from Spuzz Gups to Helm Grindlers. They are all useless and pointless."The pop-ups are wonderfully detailed, and the pages also contain flaps that can be opened to reveal more critters, goofy scenes, or Flanimal attacks, among other things.For ages 5 and up, this one was an instant hit in our house. Both the Little One and I couldn't get enough.

The only downside? While the book is very sturdy, when it arrived, there was one torn pop-up. It was disappointing for Little Man, but the excitement from the other pages quickly distracted him.

The Oceanology Handbook
The Oceanology Handbook by Professor Pierre Aronnax is designed for kids ages 9 and up, but my 5 year old has such a huge fascination with the ocean, I knew this would be a great read for him. And I was definitely right.

Originally, the handbook was prepared for Zoticus de Lesseps, the author of Oceanology: The True Account of the Voyage of the Nautilus, by his tutor, Professor Aronnax, during their around-the-world journey aboard Captain Nemo’s Nautilus.

The original manuscript for The Oceanology Handbook was found washed up among wreckage on a remote Spanish beach in 1963. It than is suspected to have remained in the finder's family for awhile, and later discovered by a marine biology student in a junk shop.

Designed as "a course for underwater explorers," The Oceanology Handbook contains various sections that discuss the history of the oceans, ships, myths, waves, and animals, among many others. Each section contains several drawings, as well as an activity to supplement the reading.The section on life in the ocean captivated my son. He loved reading about the different levels in the ocean and the sea life that resides there. He also learned quite a bit about food webs and coral reefs.

The Myths of the Sea chapter was very interesting as well. Little Man enjoyed learning more about "sea monsters", and the possible explanations behind the myths.

I was impressed at the sheer amount of information presented throughout the book. Each chapter is short (since there are 32), making them easy to read quickly. Since the book used some difficult language, it's a great book for the two of us to sit and read together.

Copies of the books were provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Wordless Wednesday: Flowers

2010-07-06T20:20:00.000-04:00

Mighty Machines: Revved Up! DVD Review

2010-07-06T20:00:00.000-04:00

Boys, at least those living in or visiting my house, are known for their love of a few things. Dirt seems to be number one. Followed closely behind by bugs and things that go.

Upon seeing the cover of the Mighty Machines: Revved Up! DVD, I knew it would be a hit with my son and nephew. Revved Up! contains three segments: Building an Airplane, Ride the Mountain Rails, and Reach for the Sky. Throughout the DVD, there are fun facts, live footage of the machines, and music.With a run time of 90 minutes, the boys are able to get their fill of machines. They loved seeing how an airplane went together and how the crane works to lift objects.

For the 2-5 year old range, Mighty Machines: Revved Up! was a definite hit.

Buy It:
You can find Mighty Machines: Revved Up! at Amazon, Toys R Us, or NCircle Entertainment for $6.99.

A DVD was provided for our review. All opinions are our own.

Novica Review & $75 Gift Card Giveaway

2010-07-05T19:50:00.002-04:00

***Closed: Congrats to Eryn at HomeSchooledYear.com***

When it comes to buying gifts, I definitely struggle. My problem is, I want to find the perfect thing for the recipient.

I was recently introduced to Novica, a shopping site, in association with National Geographic, that offers a huge array of unique gifts. I'm not exaggerating when I say they have a huge selection. When picking out an item to review, I literally spent hours trying to decide.At Novica, they "want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity," and they "want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow."

One thing I love about the site is the gift finder feature. You can browse by recipient, occasion, or through various sections, like corporate gifts or green gifts. I seemed to have gotten lost browsing through their jewelery and apparel section. There are so many beautiful items.

After much debate, I choose the Modal skirt. To be honest, I have very few skirts in my closet, though I've been wearing them more often in the heat this summer. The versatility of the Modal skirt drew me in. It can be worn as a long skirt, folded over as a shorter skirt, or as a dress.
I thought this was too much to ask from any one piece of clothing, but after wearing the skirt, I can say, it's true. It works well long or short, and can be dressed up or down. Plus, I was impressed at the quality of the skirt. It's a perfect addition to my closet.

The skirt was designed by Janet Molloy and made of Modal, a natural fiber, that makes the skirt basically wrinkle free. The skirt arrived, beautifully wrapped, with a card about the artist, and a small post card featuring a Balinese dancer.Win It: One lucky reader will win a $75 gift certificate to Novica

To enter: Visit Novica and tell me what you would buy if you win! (You can change your mind later.)

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

Follow me on Blogger
Grab my button
Add me to your blog roll
Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)

Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 7/12 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Product was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

***Due to a Blogger glitch, many comments are not appearing. They are however being emailed to me, so all entries are being recorded. Hopefully Blogger will have the issue fixed shortly, but please don't stress if you don't see your comments.***

Book Review: Animalympics

2010-07-04T19:58:00.003-04:00

Little Man is so excited to have almost reached his summer goal for reading. At the beginning of June, he pledged to read 150 books before school started again, and at the end of last week, we passed #100.

One way to keep him reading has been to find new, fun stories. He's always excited to find new books. And if it's an animal story, he's even more thrilled.

Needless to say, he couldn't wait to dive into the Animalympics stories. Animalympics is a set of five stories, bundled together in a slip case, that follows five different animals as they set out on athletic adventures.
The books include:
Jifu's Twist of Luck by Mio Debnam
Geoff and the Ride of his Life by Louise Renwick
Chiru's Lucky Seven by Karmel Schreyer
Esmelda Goes for Gold by Susan Sprengeler
Panda Goes to the Olympics by Judith Simanovszky

All the stories are illustrated by Adeline Ko, and contain bright, eye-catching drawings.

Little Man loved all five of the stories, though Panda Goes to the Olympics was his favorite. The story follows baby panda as she trains for the games. Through her struggles, she learns there's more than one way to reach a goal and that she should never give up.

Each story contains a positive message. They teach little one's to persevere, try your best, and remember the importance of friends and family.

At the end of each book, there are facts about the animal featured in the story, as well as facts about the Olympics.

We both enjoyed reading the stories together, and I'm sure we will be revisiting them over and over again before the summer ends.

A copy of the books were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

Hay

2010-07-03T11:21:00.006-04:00

This is the sight I've seen most weekends this summer. Hay. Lots and lots of hay.
I don't mind the work. Its tiring, but I always sleep well when I'm done. I usually sweat a few pounds off too. No heat compares to that of a hay lot. It has to be 100 plus up there, with dust and gunk flying through the air.
What I do mind are the critters we run into. A bale came flying off the chute yesterday, and as I grabbed it to load onto the wagon, my mom started screaming at me to drop it. Not having a clue why she was screaming, I stood there with it. Just staring at her.

After I finally dropped it, and she kicked it off the wagon, I caught glimpse of a snake (well, half a snake) wiggling out the bottom. Just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach.

Lesson of the day for my 5 year old: Snakes continue to move even without half their body.

And just don't I don't leave you on that note...A little randomness from our day: