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Be Close to Kids Even When You are Far Away Operation Record a Story

December 11, 2010 By 46 Comments

We recently received two copies of Twas the Night Before Christmas Record a Story from Publications International. Record a Story offers a unique and affordable solution for families to stay connected and “be together” at story time, even when distance keeps them apart.  Record A Story is available in 4 different titles for $19.99 at local Toys R Us, Walmart, Borders and Barnes & Noble nationwide, and at http://record-a-story.com/.  The books also engage kids in reading in a whole new way, and it is highly appealing to kids because they can record their own voices reading the story.  This motivates kids to be enthusiastic about reading and encourages them at an early age to develop a life-long love of books. I know it’s true because Zoe and Miles both want to keep the book and I’m supposed to be giving one of the two books away as a giveaway here on Mom Start.

clip_image001I also thought you might be interested to learn about a new program called Operation Record a Story, which launched on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, 2010.  Publications International {PIL’s} Record a Story books are currently being recorded by servicemen and servicewomen at USO locations in the United States, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.  After the book captures the service member’s voice reading the story out loud, it will be sent, together with a video of the parent recording the story, to their kids in time for the holidays.

“We are extremely excited to introduce this creative and affordable product that is a heartwarming gift for young kids who love story time, and can now hear their favorite stories brought to life by parents or other loved ones,” said Mike Sieczkowski, Executive Vice President of Sales at PIL.  “In addition, Record a Story is highly appealing to kids because they can also record their own voices reading the story.  This motivates kids to be enthusiastic about reading and encourages them at an early age to develop a life-long love of books.  In this way, Record a Story is the perfect addition to the PIL family of products.”

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So far, my kids are loving Record a Story. I recorded my own voice as the reader of the book, and Zoe likes to listen to a page and then repeat all of what she just heard. She’s always loved looking at books and now just by opening a page she can listen to mommy read it no matter what I’m doing and then read it aloud to herself. The only problem we’ve been having with these books as that sometimes you have to keep the page very still, and open just right for it to read the entire page. It likes to stop and start as kids squirm with the book in their hands.

 

Record a Story will launch with four titles:
· ’Twas the Night Before Christmas – The classic holiday story;
· Guess How Much I Miss You – An original story with a rhyming narrative about missing a loved one who is far away;
· Sesame Street: Together at Heart – A story from Elmo about special things that make loved ones feel close when they can’t be together; and
· Dora the Explorer – The popular Nickelodeon character and her friends reminisce about some of their favorite adventures.  This title is available exclusively at Toys“R”Us and Toysrus.com

Each Record a Story consists of seven illustrated spreads on sturdy pages, as well as a deluxe padded cover with embossed and foiled details that truly elevate the product to keepsake status.  Perfect for lap-time, each landscape-format book is 10 inches by 8 inches. The storybook’s recording function operates on three AAA batteries (included with purchase) and will not be erased when the batteries are replaced. 

Enter to Win:

Twas the night before Christmas Record a Story.

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me who you would want to be the voice on the book

Extra Entries:

Enter The Commit A Minute Giveaway
Subscribe to my blog
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List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble or use any of the share methods below facebook included (just leave a link to this post)
Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post
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Leave a comment for every entry,

You’ll have to hold onto the book until next year because this giveaway ends December 27th. I received the samples mentioned above free to me in exchange for my unbiased opinion. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, giveaway, review Tagged With: , , , , ,

Places to Donate Used Items To

December 11, 2010 By 5 Comments

What great tips we’ve had this week from Summer. Let’s run through all the ways to get rid of your electronics:

Places to Sell Your Electronics Yourself

Recycle Cell Phones through Operation Gratitude

Places that Buy Back your Electronics

Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Lights

Today’s Tip is for more than just electronics. You can give away more than you think you can. I know in my case, I’ve found that if you think outside the box, there is a place that will take your used items. And giving them to someone in need is much better than letting imagethem stack up in your house, or ending up in a landfill or dumpster. So, think of places to give to the less fortunate by giving. Here are a few places that Summer came up with, and thanks to her, I’ve been giving to a few of these already!

Reuse it by giving it!

(AND ask for a tax receipt so you can deduct the value on your 2010 taxes.)

- Contact your local food bank about taking your gently used toys for Christmas or even clothing. They may even have a family in need of housing items or other things you’re getting rid of at the end of the year. Check with your food bank before stopping by with your items. If you don’t know where your local food bank is located you can find an incomplete list through Feeding America.

- Give items to a specific charity with a need. For example, take your gently used blankets and give them to Project Linus, or One Warm Coat will take your gentle used coats.

- Donate to the Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

I’ve been donating to a local charity called Pave because they come and pick up the donations right at my doorstep every other month!

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Filed Under: green Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Clean out your Electronics By Selling Them–Electronic Recycling

December 11, 2010 By 2 Comments

I’m running a day behind here on  posts, my new contributor Summer has been helping me come up with content. She’s even been extremely good about giving me enough to last me over a week at a time, and here I still can’t get her content up. Aye Yi Yi! Anyways, enough about my delinquency!!

imageSummer is full of wonderful green tips and has been sharing her own "Tis the Season of “Red and Green”” Here on Mom Start. We’ve had 9 tips already and here is tip number 10 on being more green than red this Holiday Season. Clean out your electronics, by re-selling them. Of course you can reuse them, donate them, and recycle them through specific programs, but today’s tip is to just sell them again! Check out Summer’s ways to sell your old electronics.

- Have a garage sale if you live in warmer climate with low precipitation. Set it all out and use your local newspaper to advertise.

- Use eBay on items that have high values and a board audience. You can sell items using “Buy It Now” for a set fee or you can allow people to bid on your items by simply setting a lowest acceptable price. Using eBay may also cost you a fee to simply post your items, but the buyer pays all shipping costs when they front the money for your item. Remember you’ll have to mail these items so plan accordingly during this holiday season. I purchased my son’s Imaginext pirate ship for under our tree there last month. Don’t forget to get your eBay box on the move too. eBay also owns a book division called Half.

- Find specific venues such as places like Half Price Books which pays money for your used books.

- Last and not least, Craig’s List, where you get to sell unwanted items locally. The buyer and you hook up at a mutually agreed upon place and time, you get on the spot cash, and the win- win is they get the product they want and you get rid of the product you’re done using. I have been using Craig’s List to get rid of all my no-longer-needed baby items.
Not sure you want to sell or if it has any value? Check us out tomorrow!

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Filed Under: green Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

5.00 Gift Ideas, Stocking Stuffers, and Home Made Baked Goods

December 10, 2010 By 7 Comments

I tried to make a video for this post 3 times and after the fourth time of not saving and having the kids distracting me I gave up. The kids were just excited to have all of the ingredients out to make fudge again. Why are we making Fudge again, because it’s a great home made baked gift that is easy to make, about 5.00 to make, and everyone loves it!

 

imageWalmart asked me to check out their prices and see if I could find everything I needed for 5.00 or less.

I packed up Miles in the van and off to Walmart we went. I set out just to get some baking goods, but then found so many other items that we use for cheaper than at the grocery store we usually go to, so I stocked up on things like refried beans, taco shells, and other necessities and I still came out of the store for under 25.00. We decided to make Fantasy Fudge, and only because the sugar was not as cheap as I was expecting it did actually cost us a little more than 5.00 to make Fantasy Fudge.

imageFantasy Fudge:

1 jar of Kraft Marshmallow cream (1.00)
Evaporated Milk (.78) Name Brand Carnation was only (1.00)
3 cups Sugar (2.59 of course you have to factor into how many cups of sugar are in the bag so this number is actually lower)
box and a half of Semi-Sweet Chocolate (1.79 + 89)
Butter (.89)
Vanilla (2.50)

Total just over 5.00

So I decided to make a video after all!

I started thinking about the fact that some of the items cost more, but you are only going to be using a fraction of it in the ingredients. So Fantasy Fudge is closer to 5.00 to make than I first realized.

Walmart also has a lot of recipe ideas for other baked goods to give to your friends, family, and neighbors. Try out these different recipes for under 5.00.

Holiday Sugar Cookies
Butter Toffee Bars
Gingerbread Men Cookies
Old Fashioned Gingerbread

 

Walmart also sent me some 5.00 Stocking Ideas!

Oral-B Smile and Play Pack (includes tooth brush, tooth paste and kids floss; Licensed: Toy Story 3, Disney Princesses, Cars, Spiderman, Sponge Bob) – $5.00

Select DVD Movie Titles (Talladega Nights, Caddyshack, The Karate Kid and more) – $5.00

Old Spice Classic Collection Gift Set (includes 1 cologne and 1 deodorant) – $5.00

Faded Glory Winter Apparel (including hats, gloves and cotton tights) – $1.00 – $5.00

Bodycology (including body mist, body cream or hand sanitizer) – $1.00 each

Holiday Time Games and Activities (multipacks range from 3-12 items per pack) – $1.00

Candy Assortments include Bob’s Candy Canes, Baby Bottle Pop Candy, Dubble Bubble or Tootsie Roll Reusable Banks, Starburst Fruit Chews and more – $1.00

I would love to hear your ideas? How do you give a quality gift for 5.00 or less?

 

 

I was provided with a gift card from Walmart to facilitate this review.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, review Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Miles Stars in Little Boy Lightning – Personalized Storybook by Little Wonder

December 10, 2010 By 7 Comments

Little Wonder Company gave me a unique opportunity of reviewing their personalized storybooks. I love the idea of making a book that will appeal to my son because I want to feed is new interest in reading books. Zoe has always loved reading, probably because I read to her from the day she was born and Miles, well, he didn’t get read to as much. But, it could also just be that my two children are and always will be different from each other.

Since reading is so very important though, I jumped at this chance to create a special story just for Miles! Here is a quick peak into the story with my Little Boy Lightning Video Review, but I didn’t want to give too much away so it’s very short!

For many children, illustrations are what bring a story to life and keep them interested. Now for the very first time, children no longer need to imagine themselves in their favorite book. Little Wonder Company allows them to actually see themselves illustrated right into the pages of its personalized storybooks!

Little Boy Lightning Book CoverThe Book Little Boy Lightning is so colorful and the story is just what Miles loves, so it must be appealing to most boys. It’s a story that transforms him into a superhero, which he loves to pretend he is one anyways. So does Zoe for that matter, so I’m sure that LIttlle Girl Wonder would appeal to little girls just as Little Boy Lightning will to boys. There are rainbows, and dragons, and quite an adventure for Miles to listen to and watch his character go through! Customizing a Little Wonder book is as simple as a few clicks of the mouse! Using a Flash application on www.LittleWonderCompany.com, friends and relatives can choose the physical characteristics that resemble the book’s recipient. The book is then put together to reflect those choices on every page, culminating in a one-of-a-kind, truly customized book. Of course I chose Miles and gave him his adorable red hair.

Enter to Win a Little Wonder Company Book for yourself!

To Enter:

Leave a comment here telling me what you like about reading a personalized story to your kids?

Extra Entries:

Tweet: Spark Your Child’s Imagination with a Little Wonder Personalized Story Book #Giveaway http://bit.ly/hq8MCg

Enter The Commit A Minute Giveaway
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble or use any of the share methods below facebook included (just leave a link to this post)
Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post
Blog About this Giveaway (linking to the giveaway (3 extra entries))

Leave a comment for every entry, This giveaway ends December 27th. I received the samples mentioned above free to me in exchange for my unbiased opinion. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, review, VLog Tagged With: , , , , ,

In Action with Windex® Multi-Surface Vinegar

December 10, 2010 By 14 Comments

Meet another new contributor to Mom Start. My Mother:

windex 003My Mom works very hard as a professional cleaner. She works construction sites, cleans houses, and cleans office buildings. She knows clean! I know, because I used to get in trouble for not having a clean room.

SC Johnson contacted me on behalf of their brand Windex and asked if I wanted to review their new product and my mom was the first person that I thought of. Who better to truly test out the Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar than someone that cleans as a profession and is a mother?

 

windex 007Her words on Windex

The Windex with vinegar is the bomb. it cleans glass with no streaks, it shines granite, and it also can be used to dust without leaving any residue. I also used it on TV screens and shower doors to save time when trying to remove soap scum. it was affective but needed a little dawn dishwashing liquid to help with water spots.

The Multi-Surface Vinegar Windex Cleaner works on these surfaces and more!

  • Countertops like Corian®, Silestone®, sealed granite, marble (real or synthetic), Formica®
  • Glass
  • Windows including factory-tinted auto windows
  • Appliances like microwaves, stovetops, toasters, etc
  • Kitchen fixtures
  • Stainless steel
  • Ceramics
  • Enameled paint appliances
  • Ceramic tile
  • Plastic
  • Vinyl

You’ll find that it is gentle on any surface and leaves a streak free shine!

Enter to win a bottle of Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar!

Just leave a comment telling me why you want to try it!

Filed Under: giveaway, review Tagged With: , , , , ,

Jeopardy is on the Wii, and So is Wheel of Fortune Giveaway!

December 10, 2010 By 19 Comments

Jeopardy_Wii_Cov_300_thumbWheel_of_Fortune_Wii_300_thumb

Enter to Win:

1 of 5 Game Sets of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy America’s Favorite Quiz Show for Wii.

To Enter:

Answer these two questions in the google doc:

 

1. In which year did Alex Trebek receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

2. Where was Jeopardy! announcer Johnny Gilbert born?

3. Before Pat Sajak became the host of Wheel Of Fortune, what job did he have at KNBC in Los Angeles?

4. How many prize envelopes does the Bonus Wheel contain?

Extra Entries, must also go into the Google Doc!

Tweet: #Win 1 of 5 sets of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy for the Wii #Giveaway http://bit.ly/i898Su

Enter The Commit A Minute Giveaway
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble or use any of the share methods below facebook included (just leave a link to this post)
Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post
Blog About this Giveaway (linking to the giveaway (3 extra entries))

 

Remember to go back and leave the answers to the questions from Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy trivia day 1, 2, 3, and 4.

 

 

This giveaway ends December 13. You have all weekend to enter and go back and answer all of the other days as well!

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, giveaway Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Giveaway Jingle Link Up Your Giveaways Here!

December 9, 2010 By 9 Comments

You’ve got a giveaway, I want to know about it!

boy with ballons

Filed Under: linky Tagged With: , ,

Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy Trivia Day 4

December 9, 2010 By 1 Comment

Wheel of Fortune Wii SleeveWheel of Fortune Wii Sleeve Hawaii

Enter to Win:

1 of 5 Game Sets of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy America’s Favorite Quiz Show for Wii.

To Enter:

Answer these two questions in the google doc:

 

1. Where is Alex Trebek originally from?

2. How many Daytime Emmy Awards, has Jeopardy! won?

3. What is the name of Vanna White’s autobiography, which was a nationwide bestseller when it published in 1989?

4. How many Emmy Awards has Pat Sajak been honored with since his debut as host of Wheel of Fortune?

 

 

Remember to go back and leave the answers to the questions from Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy trivia day 1, 2, and 3.

 

 

 

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more chances to win. Giveaway ends December 13th.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, giveaway Tagged With: , , , , ,

Recycle Cell Phones through Operation Gratitude

December 9, 2010 By 8 Comments

Yesterday Summer brought us a way to make a little green while being green. Now that’s a great way to get rid of any electronic that you might have, however, wouldn’t it be great to help someone instead?

Even if you can’t support the current war, all of us can agree to support the troops over there. There need not be common ground on the battle for you to show the members of the U.S. military some gratitude. Are you upgrading your phone this year? I just got the Samsung Focus Windows Phone 7. I need to transfer some numbers but then I’ll recycle my old phone for free through Operation Gratitude. Through GRC Wireless Recycling, Operation Gratitude will earn 50¢ – $30 per phone with which to purchase care packages such as food, toiletries, and entertainment items to send to service members in harm’s way. GRC recycles cell phones through an environmentally responsible, zero landfill process by either reusing phones as refurbished products or literally recycling them by scrapping them for the metals.

Operation Gratitude

 

Now Summer, I need you to tell all of us how to not be lazy. I’m terrible about cell phones. We have 3 or 4 that we just let the kids play with. I’m sure if someone somewhere had a charger half of them would still work.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Filed Under: green Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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