Add My Bling
Scholastic Publishing presents Christmas to kids in two sure to be Holiday Favorites
The Nutcracker The Christmas Magic Scholastic sent me both of these books to preview and share with my children. I’m very happy to report that they are awesome books. The pictures in each are well worth of separate reviews. The Nutcracker is a play that all of us are familiar with, but did you know that before Tchaikovsky turned it into a ballet it was a book written by ETA Hoffman. The Nutcracker and The Mouseking is brought to children ages 4 and up by Gail ...
Use the Sears Wish Book for your Holiday Shopping, it’s on-line this year
As you're gearing up for the Holidays and planning out your shopping strategy, I want to share with you some exciting news. We all know what a big part of the Holidays the Sears Wish Book is and this year the tradition that we all grew up with comes with a twist. The Wish Book has gone virtual with a brand NEW and fully interactive online catalog shopping experience. I have taken a look at it and it has a table of contents and a search option so it is very easy to use. Much easier than ...
Brighten up your house with Partylite Decorations and win Christmas Around the World #giveaway
Partylite has to be my favorite candle company hands down. I am addicted to their candles, so much so that I considered being a consultant. I just chose my blog over being a professional party thrower and lucky me; I still get to work with the wonderful candle company. They not only have some of the best smelling candles, the longest burning candles, the best guarantee, but hey also have some great decor items that you can add to your house. You don’t even have to go to a party anymore you can purchase them directly on-line. Here are some ...
Toothpaste Stages and when is it time to change
When talking to my stepmother about brushing my children’s teeth she told me that they didn’t brush our teeth until we lost our baby teeth. Hmm. That wasn’t the advice I was looking for when I needed to know what to do about my kids teeth. So we have deferred to the professionals here. As a baby you are supposed to wash their gums. To do this you can use a wash cloth or buy a gum massager that you can place on your thumb or index finger and you can clean their gums. You can ...
List of Giveaways (750 Value) Ending On Mom Start (11/23)
Jakks Pacific Candy Bead Studio Donation and #giveaway October 31, 2009 · Filed Under christmasguide, giveaway · 162 Comments Chocolate Love Story Review a real donation and #giveaway October 31, 2009 · Filed Under christmasguide, giveaway · 75 Comments Beauty Tips From Ponds, Q-tips, Dove and Vaseline for me and for you November 1, 2009 · Filed Under giveaway · 287 Comments The Secret Saturdays Beasts of the 5th Sun Video Game on the Wii Review and #Giveaway November 2, 2009 · Filed Under giveaway · 307 Comments Astro Boy Video Game Review and #Giveaway for the Wii November 2, 2009 · Filed Under giveaway · 465 Comments Ben 10 ...
Toothpaste Stages and when is it time to change
When talking to my stepmother about brushing my children’s teeth she told me that they didn’t brush our teeth until we lost our baby teeth. Hmm. That wasn’t the advice I was looking for when I needed to know what to do about my kids teeth. So we have deferred to the professionals here.
As a baby you are supposed to wash their gums. To do this you can use a wash cloth or buy a gum massager that you can place on your thumb or index finger and you can clean their gums. You can continue to do this until they reach the ability to spit. Or you can start using stages toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Colgate sent me some toothpaste and toothbrushes to try out. They didn’t need to because Colgate already is our favorite brand of toothpaste that we use regularly. On our kids we haven’t purchased in fluoride toothpaste yet. That is why we are going to donate the supplies that Colgate sent to us. The supplies that they sent to us where Dora the Explorer, loved by both my daughter and my son. We have purchased the Dora toothbrushes before, but since we have to replace them every three months, I sometimes purchase what’s cheapest, so right now we have Darby from my friends Tigger and Pooh which is another brand. Sorry Colgate, I’m one of those shoppers that purchase what’s on sale.
For years, Dora the Explorer™ has taken kids on countless journeys, helping them overcome obstacles and solve problems on the way to a common goal. Now, in celebration of a decade of Dora, kids can explore a new challenge – discovering the path to healthy smiles with Dora the Explorer™ Toothpaste and an assortment of Toothbrushes from Colgate®.
Specially designed for kids ages 2 and up, the Dora the Explorer™ Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste in a Mild Bubble Fruit® flavor is clinically proven to defend against cavities while strengthening and protecting developing teeth. Plus, the Dora Toothbrushes featuring soft bristles and non-slip cushioned handles are available in two styles – one specially designed for kids with developing teeth, and the other featuring a small “battery-operated” rotating head that cleans teeth and gently sweeps away plaque. The combination of the Dora the Explorer™ Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste and Toothbrushes will encourage brushing and have both kids and moms singing, “We Did It! ¡Lo hicimos!”
The Dora the Explorer™ Toothpaste ($2.79) and Toothbrushes ($2.49 – $5.99) are available online (www.colgate.com/kids) or at major retailers across the country.
We have been using toothpaste that is considered to be pre-brushing stage. It has no fluoride but has some flavor that helps encourage brushing. From there as they learn how to spit the Dentist has recommended that we move over to fluoride toothpaste.
Then we will also move them over to an electric spinning brush because our dentist has also recommended that an electric toothbrush will help keep their teeth cleaner. The spinning action removes more plaque than hand brushing.
One final note from me, we love adding things like toothbrushes to stockings. It makes them quite happy to receive a character toothbrush. So it’s easy to buy a necessity and include it in Christmas fun.
Colgate is also wanting to provide one of my readers with a package of goodies.
(close to a 15 – 20 value depending on if you receive an electric toothbrush or not)
To Enter:
Give me your best tooth brushing technique.
Extra Entries:
Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: Dig, Stumble, or fav me on Technorati (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entriesLeave a comment for every entry
The contest will run until December 14th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules. I can not guarantee shipment but we will try to get this to you before Christmas.
So, I changed my mind for now about changing my theme
November 22, 2009 · Filed Under random · 2 CommentsMy husband has been helping me get my blog ready to change themes. He wrote some script for me today so that as I write my new posts the things I need for my new theme will be automatically created.
For instance, my new theme needs a thumbnail for every post. Uhh, I don’t use wordpress when I’m writing my posts so setting up a thumbnail would be like 10 to 15 minutes extra after I became accustomed to the change. I’m all about AUTOMATED. I did add the new featured content plug in though and that will be my new toy until I get myself enough posts to use the new theme. I’m too lazy to go back through my posts to create thumbnails.
I’m also going to change my background and header. I already created a new header but the color is all wrong for the background so I’m going to have to make a new one again. I’m very picky. I have to have things balanced and yes, my sidebars are a little bit of an issue for me at the moment.
My husband is all about taking care of me, especially if it means he gets to write some code.
Scholastic Publishing presents Christmas to kids in two sure to be Holiday Favorites
The Nutcracker
The Christmas Magic
Scholastic sent me both of these books to preview and share with my children. I’m very happy to report that they are awesome books. The pictures in each are well worth of separate reviews.
The Nutcracker is a play that all of us are familiar with, but did you know that before Tchaikovsky turned it into a ballet it was a book written by ETA Hoffman. The Nutcracker and The Mouseking is brought to children ages 4 and up by Gail de Marcken with beautiful illustrations. My children are still too young to sit and listen to this story. I tried my hardest to read a page as fast as I could but all they wanted to do was turn the page and look at the next illustration. With 56 pages this is a great re-telling of The Nutcracker.
The Christmas Magic is all about how Santa Claus delivers all of those toys to all of those children. This is another book with very beautiful illustrations. With only 40 pages this one is a little bit easier to get through, there are fewer words on each page so my children were able to sit through this one. Well, my daughter was, my son only made it halfway through. So way up north, when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa begins to prepare for his big night of giving. The reindeer are very excited and know that the magic will soon be here. Santa gathers them, feeds them parsnips and berries, and polishes his bells and his sled. Everyone is very excited about the magic that is coming.
“Then lovingly, he chooses toys for every child in the world. For Santa loves them all, and he knows what each child at heart wants most. Then, with the thrum of magic that makes reindeers fly, he spreads the Christmas joy and warmth throughout the world–as he always has — and always will until the end of time.”
I love reading to my kids and know that I am guilty of not doing it enough. They ask so many questions and make so many inferences just my looking and listening to me. Their comprehension is amazing and so are these pictures. They both make great picture books to my children’s imagination.
Scholastic has generously offered us a set of these books to giveaway.
To Enter:
Visit Scholastic and tell me what book you would most want to add to your collection.
Extra Entries:
Tell me what you read to your children
Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Tweet the giveaway link and share the link with us
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: Dig, Stumble, or fav me on TechnoratiLeave a comment for every entry and do each one as many times as you like.
The contest will run until December 14th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules. I can not guarantee shipment but we will try to get this to you before Christmas.
Beau-coup Winner
Beau-coup Personalized Goodies 75.00 Gift Card #giveaway
November 11, 2009 · Filed Under giveaway · 330 Comments
- Vittoria Vignone on November 15th, 2009 11:23 pm (Edit)
love the heart-shaped cookie cutters!!
Pardon my Dust, I’m changing themes
November 21, 2009 · Filed Under random · 4 CommentsThis is going to be a little difficult over the next few days as I learn to use my new theme and customize it to make it look like my own. . I also have to organize it and change the pictures and eek, crazy times are ahead, but I want to wish you happy holidays.
I have a ton of giveaways to post before and on Monday, happy winning!
Use the Sears Wish Book for your Holiday Shopping, it’s on-line this year
November 21, 2009 · Filed Under random · 2 Comments
As you’re gearing up for the Holidays and planning out your shopping strategy, I want to share with you some exciting news. We all know what a big part of the Holidays the Sears Wish Book is and this year the tradition that we all grew up with comes with a twist.
The Wish Book has gone virtual with a brand NEW and fully interactive online catalog shopping experience. I have taken a look at it and it has a table of contents and a search option so it is very easy to use. Much easier than the catalogue we usually peruse.
This new format includes a cart right in the catalog, videos and games. You can shop for Toys, Tools, Electronics, Jewelry and more.
Blue Light Specials for November 21 – 22
November 21, 2009 · Filed Under Announcement · Comment
11/21-11/22 Bluelight Specials! - Home/All Frames 50% off (reg range $1-$29.99)
- Boys and Girls Basic Edition turtlenecks $2.99 (reg.$7.99)
- Home/All Cookware 40% off (reg. $6.99-169.99)
Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day! For more info & rules: http://tr.im/KmartBLS. Good luck!
Old Navy Coupon Winners
Two Twitter Winners:
@donnak4
@JennatFFP
Three Blog Winners
- Summer Oleksy on November 20th, 2009 6:03 pm (Edit)
http://www.facebook.com/#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=575692803
My family is The Oleksy Secret with our Pop Rock lifestyles we sport logo Ts and denim for the whole family! Our logo is blue; a guitar faced forward, (when looking at it) strings to the right … perfect for the after show autograph (we’re not hardcore enough to smash ‘em.)
- Kristy H on November 21st, 2009 12:16 am (Edit)
My family’s band name is “The Hostetler Bounce” and our logo has a record for the O in Bounce, too cute!
I think I would have to make our costumes be color cordinated, and we would ALL be wearing some cool sunglasses!- Andrea on November 20th, 2009 3:24 pm (Edit)
I tweeted it. My name ended up being Red, White, and Proulx. LOL!
http://twitter.com/mommasreview/status/5903701512
I also posted it on my facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/andproulx
And to be safe I tweeted to you:
http://twitter.com/mommasreview/status/5903771583
Just wanted to be sure I entered right!
Brighten up your house with Partylite Decorations and win Christmas Around the World #giveaway
November 21, 2009 · Filed Under giveaway · 131 CommentsPartylite has to be my favorite candle company hands down. I am addicted to their candles, so much so that I considered being a consultant. I just chose my blog over being a professional party thrower and lucky me; I still get to work with the wonderful candle company. They not only have some of the best smelling candles, the longest burning candles, the best guarantee, but hey also have some great decor items that you can add to your house. You don’t even have to go to a party anymore you can purchase them directly on-line. Here are some great Seasonal Holiday decorations:
They sent me
New Sweets and Treats Gift Set
Jolly Santa candle snuffer sits on a base that doubles as a tealight holder. Set includes 12 red and white tealights in the new Peppermint Bark holiday scent. $19.95. I have this sitting on my mantel over the fireplace. I really enjoy the smell of peppermint so the candles are a delight and I’ve never had a candle snuffer before. I always just blow them out. That’s a nice thing about partylite though is that when you blow them out they don’t smoke up the whole house. Partylite candles also are not hot to the touch. The wax is cool and won’t burn you, I don’t’ recommend touching the flame though.
Other Holiday Décor items
New Red Twirls Decorative Sleeve
Stamped metal sleeve in a metallic, shiny finish turns any pillar to into festive holiday décor. Available in 6” and 8” sizes, try with Frosted Pines™ Scented Pillars. $45.95 set of two.
New Siena Lights Collection
Now, for the very first time, PartyLite is introducing table linens, dinnerware and glassware to mesh seamlessly with its newest candleholders and accent pieces, providing candle lovers with an easy way to achieve a beautifully coordinated tablescape. The first signature collection – Siena Lights™ – debuted this fall, and it’s simply glorious. All new are Tuscan-inspired table linens, including placemats, napkins, napkin rings, and a dramatic, reversible table runner, as well as glowing pebbled amber dinnerware and glassware, even footed bowls – and it all coordinates perfectly with luminous mosaic accent pieces. Add in candles and your table is bathed in a stunning warm glow. Siena Lights™ is done in rich, subtle, neutrals for fall/winter that will also harmonize with readers’ own pieces – from contemporary to treasured antiques.New Peppermint Delight Collection
Hand-painted porcelain collection features a tealight house in creamy white chocolate kissed with dark chocolate and peppermint sticks. A giant frosted gingerbread cookie supports the Pillar Holder and Aroma Melts Warmer. Try with new Peppermint Bark Fragrance, a refreshing peppermint kissed with chocolate, mint leaves and vanilla.Peppermint Delight Aroma Melts Warmer $ 32.95
Peppermint Delight Pillar Holder $ 27.95
Peppermint Delight Tealight House $ 39.95
Holiday Mini Barrel Jar Shade $ 14.95 (jar candle sold separately)
Peppermint Bark Fragrance available in tealights ($9.50 per dozen), votives ($13.50 per dozen), Mini Barrel Jar ($12.00), 3” Ball ($17.95 a pair), Aroma Melts™ “Snap-able” ($9.95 4-pack), Present Jars ($23.95), Just Desserts™ 3-Wick Wax filled bowl ($24.95), Single Serviings ($19.95 a pair) and 3”x7” grooved pillar ($16.95).
New Birch Pillar Hurricane with tree-etched patterned glass
makes your living space cozy for the chilly months. The base is crafted of four layers of laser-cut wood. A pillar lights up the delicate frosted design. 11 ½” h, 6” w. $89.95. New Birch Tealight Trio captures the light with its thin, lustrous porcelain. The rustic outer surface appears when you light a tealight. $34.95 trio.
New Iced Snowberries Decorative Tin
A perfect gift for a teacher or hostess! The candle lasts 20-30 hours of beautifully scented burn time. $15.95.
Just Desserts™ and New Single Servings™
What’s more inviting than walking into a kitchen with the country-fresh fragrance of delicious just-baked treats? Just DessertsTM and Single Servings™ candles layer one scrumptious scent over another in a beautiful reusable glass jar. Yum! Try it in them in Peppermint Magic™, Peppermint Bark kissed with chocolate, mint leaves and vanilla and topped with creamy Coconut Milk ChocolateTM, Caramel Vanilla Pear BruleeTM, Ginger Pumpkin a la ModeTM, Mulberry Vanilla Delight™.
Just Desserts 3-Wick Wax Filled Bowl – 30-40 hours burn time; $24.95 each
Single Servings by PartyLite – 20-30 hours burn time; $19.95 pair
New Arabella™ Tealight Holder
Graceful and lithe, Arabella will make a beautiful gift for your dancer. For your little ballerina, it can hold a special piece of jewelry instead of a tealight. $39.95.
Enter to Win
New Christmas around the World Gift Set
I picked this one because I would love to get this as a Christmas Present. It comes with a votive holder and the best assortment of candle scents. Translucent porcelain cup spells out “Merry Christmas” in eight languages. Beautifully packaged in a gift box, the set includes 16 votives in PartyLite’s most popular fragrances. $24.95To Enter:
Visit Partylite and tell me what candle scents you would want to have in your home.
Extra Entries:
Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: Dig, Stumble, or fav me on Technorati (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries
You can vote for me too for five entries:
Leave a comment for every entry
The contest will run until December 14th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.
God is With me in the morning, God is with me in the Evening #giveaway
November 20, 2009 · Filed Under giveaway · 48 Comments
God is with Me through the day is a great picture book for kids to remember God throughout the day. We love the picture of the dog on the front but not only that we love the message behind the story. God is with me, is a message we all need a little remind for. This one was more fun for my son because
"When I’m afraid, I say out loud, "God loves me." "I roar like a bear, "I am safe!" And Miles roars like a bear. He loves to roar.
God is with Me through the Night is another treat to read to your children. The photos are wonderful and my daughter loves to look at the pictures. She says that’s a baby momma, and I said “God made that baby.” “God is with me, even in the dark. Just like when God kept Daniel safe from the lion, he will keep me safe too." It’s a nice pull in bible lessons with this book. Julie Cantrell did a good job putting these together for little kids.
Q&A with Julie Cantrell on God is with Me through the Night and God is with Me through the Day:Julie’s first picture books, God is with Me through the Day and God is with Me through the Night were published this year by Zondervan to help young children overcome fears while building their faith in God.
Why did you write these picture books?
When my daughter was young, she had a hard time sleeping in her own bed. She was afraid of the dark, and she suffered from terrible nightmares. She loved to read, and she loved animals – so when she was five years old, the two of us worked together to create a bedtime story just for her.
We found stock photos of animals, and we wrote simple text to reassure her that even when I tucked her into her bed at night, she was not alone. I wanted her to feel secure that I would never leave her in a place that wasn’t safe, and that God was always with her—even in the dark.
How did the books become published?
I never intended to publish the book. I wrote it to help my own daughter overcome her fears while building her faith in God. When her friends would sleep over, they all enjoyed the book and wanted me to print copies for them. Then the neighborhood kids asked for copies. I was working in a preschool as a speech-language pathologist at the time, so I read the story to my students. They all reacted positively to the story, so some of the other teachers and parents asked for copies. Their reactions made me think seriously about sharing the story to children on a bigger scale.
I had been working as a freelance writer for many years, so I decided to look for an agent. Several publishers expressed serious interest in the books, and we ended up signing a contract with Zonderkidz (the children’s division of Zondervan).
I was thrilled when they asked for a partner book to help children cope with fears such as separation anxiety and shyness through the day. God is with Me through the Day and God is with Me through the Night were released simultaneously on March 1, 2009.
How did your professional background help you write these books?
Aside from writing articles on the topics of faith, family, and child development for nearly a decade, I am also a certified speech-language pathologist. I’ve spent years helping children of all abilities/disabilities develop their communication skills. This includes not only their speech, but their reading and language skills as well. I was certain that young children preferred books with big pictures, simple text, and repetitive prose. Plus, I knew that most kids love animals.
Still, I conducted extensive research on children’s picture books. I was surprised to read studies that indicated children prefer color photos to illustrations. With real-world reactions from children, data to support the design of the books, and a gut instinct that families would enjoy reading these aloud time and time again, I decided to move forward with publishing. I am excited to share this universal message with children around the world.
How have children reacted to the books?
It’s been amazing to see children’s reactions as I read to school groups and story time groups. They laugh at the funny photos. They say “awww” when there’s a sweet photo. And they show sad expressions when the animals express fear or loneliness. I encourage them to talk to the animals on the pages. “Tell the goat, ‘Don’t be scared. Go play with your friends.’” Or “Silly kitty. That’s just a shadow!” They really interact with the book and always ask me to read it again.
Through the use of realistic, natural photos, the children can understand that all of God’s creatures feel afraid at times. It helps them cope with their emotions so they feel confident to explore their world or sleep through the night.
How have parents reacted to the books?
It’s been wonderful to hear feedback from parents after they’ve bought the books, especially to hear that this is sometimes the first book their child could read independently. As a mother, author, and speech-language pathologist, that’s an amazing compliment.
One of my favorite stories was from the parents of a three-year-old daughter. They emailed me to say they ran to her bedroom door because they had heard her screaming. When they got there, they realized she was yelling, “I am safe! I am loved!” which are phrases used repetitively in both books. Another huge compliment has been to hear that children carry these books around with them in the car or that parents have had to tape the pages back together because the books have been so “loved.”
I am thrilled, honored, and grateful that these stories are reaching so many families. If there’s one thing I want everyone to know, it’s that they’re loved and that they’re never alone. If I can share that message with even one child a day, then I am very blessed.
Zonderkidz, a division of Zondervan Publishing sent me both of these books for review and sent me a copy of each to give away.
To Enter:
Tell me something you read about the author above.
Extra Entries:
Tell me your favorite bible verse
Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you didThe contest will run until December 14th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.
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- Vittoria Vignone on November 15th, 2009 11:23 pm (Edit)
