Love Your Veggies! Fun Website for kids!

I try my best to introduce my children to several different vegetables, right when they start eating solids. It isn't always a success to have them like vegetables. My oldest really likes most vegetables, my second oldest only likes a couple, and I think my third one is a happy medium between the two older boys. I was introduced to the Hidden Valley's new online game site called Veggie Adventures to promote some of the challenges faced when encouraging veggie eating with our children. The Veggie Adventures is a free online game that kids can play along and learn to appreciate vegetables.
Veggie Adventures has three games that kids can enjoy! The first game begins with growing vegetables on the farm and ends with serving and sharing vegetables with friends. So, your child can play the game starting in the fields/farm, taking them down the road, and bringing them to the table. I found the games to be easy to play, and fun to do. Veggie Adventures provides players with great tips and vegetable facts that kids can get knowledge from. The end of the game has a fun reward for the player~a printable certificate to commemorate their success. This site is great for kids ages 4 and up. That is just my recommendation. Maybe Caleb will start eating more vegetables now that we have said how we get them? Veggie Adventures help promote fun conversations, too!

Thanks Mom Central for this review opportunity!

Thomas & Friends: High Speed Adventures

Our family is really enjoying the new look of the Thomas & Friends videos with the CG animation! It really brings the cars to life and livens up the screen! The adventures continue with everyone’s Number 1 engine when Thomas & Friends: High Speed Adventures races onto DVD March 31, 2009 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Join Thomas & Friends for fun and excitement with all new stories!
Teaching timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & Friends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. The lessons taught in the Thomas&Friend stories are sure to be great for your little ones! I know my kids have really learned great things from Thomas and his friends!
Thomas and his engine friends speed through the Island of Sodor in six spectacular stories of fun and adventure in the High Spreed Adventures DVD. Capture the spirit of ‘steamwork’ as Thomas learns to share his workload, Edward saves Gordon at the water works and Rosie learns to follow directions to get the job done. Future engineers will hear about Proteus the mystical engine, see Henry help woodsmen save the Sodor Wishing Tree and thrill as Thomas takes on the challenge of a high-speed race! Grab your conductor’s hat and hop on board for this action-packed collection of High Speed Adventures!

Episodes include:
· “Thomas and the Billboard”
· “Steady Eddie”
· “Rosie’s Funfair Special”
· “Mountain Marvel”
· “Henry Gets It Wrong”
· “Don’t Go Back”

Special bonus features include:
· The special delivery read-along
· Thomas' A-maze-ing Adventures
· Plus a bonus episode of ~ Roary the Racing Car: "Big Chris learns to fly"

New Boon Bath Toys~ and a GIVEAWAY!

Bath time is such a fun time at our house! Our kids really enjoy their time in the tub, and we don't get any crying to go into the tub....just to get out! We recently got a few of the new Boon bath toys, Scrubble and Splat, and now my kids are having an even harder time getting out! I love the new toys! Scrubble is a set of 3 toys that have spouts (for squirting water out~ or at each other), the tops are interchangable, textured, and can even be washed in the dishwasher! I love that they are cleanable!

So many toys can get mold build-up, and with Boon, Inc. I don't need to worry about that! Plus, Boon's products are BpA- Free, Phthalate- Free, and PVC- Free! Boon's products are super safe!

Another new Boon Bath toy that we got was the Splat! This is a great set that promotes eye-hand coordination! This is the ring toss game. You get 3 colorful rings, and a "splat" target. My kids really enjoy trying to ring-the-target, and also put the rings on their wrists. Caleb uses the rings as power bands, and Maddie uses them as bracelets. Either way this toy is loved in and our of the tub! The Splat target floats nicely, and is made very well! It makes it extra challenging to hit the target when the water is moving it around.
Caleb made the target! What an accomplishment! He was so excited!

Maddie takes the easy route and puts the splat right in front of her. That's alright, someday she will move it away from her for the challenge.
Splat is available for $7.99, and Scrubble is available for $9.99, and I would say those are great prices to bring joy and entertainment for your kids! They are learning while using Boon's bath toys! Boon also has another new bath toy called Water Bugs which looks like a lot of fun! Your child can use the Boon net to scoop up 3 colorful water bugs! That retails for $7.99.
Thanks to Boon, you have a chance to enter to win a new bath toy! This contest is open to those in the United States. Go to the Boon, Inc. website, and look at the new bath toys. Comment here about which set appeals to you best. You may comment on as many other posts (that I have written in the past) as you want to for an additional entry, just leave the url in your additional comment! You have many chances to enter this contest! In order to qualify, you must do what is required. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 15TH, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK

Clorox Disinfecting Wipe Canisters~ a review

I really like cleaning up messes from my children, OK not really, but I am so thankful that I was able to review the new Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (in the new decor canister). Clorox is a long time trusted product that kills 99.9% of common household germs! It is so convenient to just pop open the lid of the new canister, and pull up a wipe! I use the wipes for counters, trays, chairs, and sinks. I know I will use the wipes on more places, because I am just getting started! I really like the newly designer canisters that Clorox offers! The canisters have fun designs on them so you can leave the wipes on your counter and not keep them hidden in the cupboard. It is much easier to wipe up the mess quick when you have access to the wipe right on the counter. This is how I encourage my hubby to clean up after himself...it is just that easy. Currently, Clorox has 8 different designs on their New Disinfecting Wipe Canisters! Right now, Clorox has a contest to enter your chance to design a new look for their canisters! I think that the designs are fun, and I can't tell which one is my favorite.

I can tell you that the Clorox disinfecting wipes work great, and I recommend purchasing them! They take care of germs, and are easy to use just about anywhere in your home or workplace. With having four kids, I am a big-time believer of using disinfecting wipes.

Thanks to Clorox and Family Review Network for this review! I was happy to try them out!

Bedtime for Frances

For the first time ever, author Russell Hoban’s precocious, loveable badger, Frances, is available on DVD in the animated Frances: Bedtime for Frances. This special DVD & Book collection arrives in stores March 31, 2009 from The Jim Henson Company, Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Frances is brought to life through the innovative, state of the art Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, a proprietary technology that allows the Company's world-class performers to puppeteer and voice digitally animated characters in real time creating a unique, more spontaneous and fresh result.
Bedtime for Frances features three fun animated stories filled with gentle life lessons that address emotional needs of young children. The DVD is packaged inside a custom-made hard-bound book featuring the classic story, Bedtime for Frances, which received the “Notable Children’s Book” award from The American Library Association when it originally debuted in 1960. It quickly became a beloved classic for children of all ages along with the many other Frances storybooks like Bread and Jam for Frances and A Birthday for Frances.
Frances is a celebration of the preschool spirit – with all its dramatic highs and lows. Like many young children, Frances is fun-loving, determined and highly imaginative, expressing herself through original poems and songs. Joining Frances in her daily adventures are her little sister, Gloria, her mom and dad, and her best friend Albert.

DVD SYNOPSIS
For the first time on DVD, the timeless classic, Frances, comes to life in CGI animation in a co-production by The Jim Henson Company and HIT Entertainment. This special collection also features the full-length classic storybook, Bedtime for Frances, in addition to a collection of Frances episodes that the whole family will enjoy. Join Frances, the beloved, fun-loving preschooler as she invents new songs, enjoys imaginative adventures and plays with her sister, Gloria and best friend Albert. Her playful spirit will leave you smiling and wanting more!

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· Interactive Read-Along of “Bedtime for Frances”
· Frances’ Friends and Family Character Gallery
· Bonus Episode: Fifi and the Flowertots™ “Hole Lot of Fun”

**Available in stores and online March 30th, 2009 for $14.98!

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Pirate Treasure

Our kids really enjoy Wow Wow Wubbzy, and he is a very positive character that promotes good things! We have a few of the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy DVD's and we just got the new one (came out March 24th) from Mom Central for review. Wow! Wow! Wubbzy Pirate Treasure is a collection of fun times with Wubbzy and his friends!
Here are a few of the fun adventures you will see: Wubbzy, Widget and Walden search to find buried pirate treasure. Find out what happens when Wubbzy gets lost in the woods and why Walden is afraid of the beach. Take a trip with the gang to the nearby town of Plaidsville.
My kids are entertained by Wow! Wow! Wubbzy and his pals! The Pirate Treasure is 82 minutes, and it includes 5 regular episodes, 2 bonus episodes (and one never seen before). The DVD provides preschoolers great entertainment while still teaching them important social lessons about how to treat others. This DVD, along with the other Wow! Wow! Wubbzy DVD's, have prompted great conversations with my pre-schooler and I about manners and how we treat others. I think Wow! Wow! Wubbzy is a great show for our kids to watch!

Cole is growing bigger!

Cole is 10 weeks, and 1 day old! I can't believe how fast time is going! Trust me, the labor/birth and recovery is still very vivid in my mind, and I don't think I will forget that traumatic event anytime soon. However, I will say that Cole is a super baby! He is very happy most of the time, and he is an excellent sleeper! He seems to know when it is night time, and I can't say how much I appreciate that! I love that he is smiling and starting to giggle. He is quite entertained with his siblings. He loves to watch people's faces and prefers eye contact when being held.
The older he gets, the more he resembles his brother Caleb. When he was a newborn, he really looked like Nathaniel. I am sure he will keep changing, and looking like each of his brothers at different moments.
He really enjoys his tummy time. I would say (if I remember right) he is my first baby that has actually preferred his tummy over his back. He does love to just lay on the floor or table on his back, too, to just look around. He loves seeing people.
Yep, he even has a bit of a square face. I will say that is from me, unfortunately. When I was little, my dear and wonderful brother, measured a picture of me on the wall. One inch by one inch...perfect block. Since that was so comical, I had a period in my childhood that I was referred to as block head. Nice, huh?
If you talk or sing to Cole, he loves to give you his dashing smile! It is pure bliss to see him light up! He is full of sunshine!
My little pumpkin. Cole 'le Ole' that is what we call the littlest one in the household. Our big blessing from God!

Winners & Contest list

Congratulations to the winners of the recent giveaways!
Winners of the “Triple Threat” reader giveaway (3 winners)! are:

Fairhaven Health Dreambelly Stretch Mark Cream: Lois
AminoGenesis’ Tripeptinon™ capsules: rottawa
TOKI: The Collagen You Drink: Pamela937

Winner of the Nature's Inventory: review & giveaway is: imaclutz89 (Back Soothe Wellness Oil and Body Ache Relief Wellness Oil).

Feel free to contact me, if I don't contact you first! You have 3 days to claim your prize, or I will pick a new winner.

Be sure to check out the other contests going on:
Parenting by Nature: Review and Giveaway!
DS Game GIVEAWAY!
"Don't Let Me Go" Review and Giveaway
"If Tomorrow Never Comes" book review & giveaway
Mother's Day Gifts, and Giveaways! (2 prizes)

Da Bib: Review and Giveaway!

Feeding time can be such a challenge with a smaller child or toddler, especially when their bib doesn't fit/work right. I have gone through so many bibs in my 10+ years of parenting, and I would have to say I have a few stipulations in regard to investing in bibs.

1) They have to be long enough to cover your child's chest.
2) They have to fit snugly around their neck (so food doesn't get in between the bib and your child's clothes/body).
3) They have to be made with materials that won't crack when washed~ I hate that!
4) They must be absorbent to liquids and not just drip down the front of the bib~ another pet peeve.
5) And, if possible, made with a pouch to catch stray food that has missed the mouth!

I was just recently able to review DaBib from Chez Shea Baby, LLC~ and I have to say that this Bib is top of the line! It meets all of my "musts" for bibs! Not only is the bib very attractive in looks, it is super functional! Keeping my toddler clean through a whole meal using DaBib, convinced me that it is quality made! The special "scrunch collar" fits any size neck (even my newborn) and keeps unwanted food mess off of your child! I love how easy this bib is to put on and take off! The strap wraps around to the front. I am not a huge fan of Velcro straps, and that would be my only recommendation to the bib~ with maybe a button. DaBib is very absorbent to and soaks up milk, juice, and water instantly - without soaking my daughter's shirt, too! The back of DaBib is waterproof, and there is a pocket in the back that flips open in the front of the bib to catch dropping food. This is a genius idea that the designer, a busy working mom, thought of. When your child is done using the bib, simply dump out the pocket, and flip it back to the back. When you wash, there won't be any left behind crumbs or stains, because the pocket's seam is on the outside! Isn't that creative and smart thinking? I love that feature! Another big bonus to DaBib, is it is non-toxic and lead free! Da Bib comes in two styles: DaHug and DaGiggles. Plus, there are a few choices of colors and patterns to chose from! For only $12.99, this bib is a great value and one to last! Right now, DaBib is offering free shipping with the purchase of three or more bibs, and 20% off your order!
I am a big believer in this bib, and thanks to Family Review Network, I get to try it out, and share the love with my readers! That's right, you can enter to win a DaBib for yourself, or someone you know!
Contests open to the USA. To get your first entry, you must go to DaBib and see their selections. Comment on which style and bib you would choose if you won! You may comment on as many other posts (that I have written in the past) as you want to for an additional entry, just leave the url in your additional comment! You have many chances to enter this contest! In order to qualify, you must do what is required. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 6TH, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK

Wordless Wednesday

Dress up day!

Today we had a dress up day! I am trying to compile a box of "pretend play" clothes, accessories, shoes...you name it. I loved playing dress up when I was little, and I want to haveit available for my kids! It really sparks their imagination! I love watching my kids play and have so much fun! They spent so much time getting into different costumes, and playing the part. I have a feeling we will be doing this tomorrow, too! Do you have costumes for your kids to play in? What do you use?

Madelyn loved being a blue M & M! I told her I wanted to eat her! :)
Madelyn was being a bear here, and she growled at me.
Such a little doll!
Of coarse Madelyn LOVES to be a princess! She danced around the living room in this costume.
Caleb was Tigger, Madelyn was a princess (with angel wings on her back) and Cole didn't have his costume on. This is such a cute photo of my 3 little ones. Nathaniel was at school. I know I have a fire fighter costume that was Caleb's for his first Halloween. I may just have to get that out and try it on him...but it will probably be a bit big.
I held the camera away from me to get this picture as Madelyn was trying to get me. I think I captured a great facial smirk!

RRRRRRRROAR!
Isn't he the cutest Tigger you have ever seen?

Mother's Day Gifts, and Giveaways! (2 prizes)

Mother's Day is coming up quickly and I have a few products that I would like to introduce to you. You, as a Mom may love these products, or maybe you know someone you could shower with some momma-love!
Going through pregnancy (full term) four times, I have seen a few stretch marks appear over the last 10+ years! I really wish that I would have been introduced to a great stretch mark cream back with my first pregnancy. One cream that I have recently been introduced to is top
of the line! Stretchmark Minimizing Cream from Belli Skincare just what moms deserve! Belli Motherhood is allergy tested, and free of artificial dyes and parabens. Their product is screened through Lact-MED database to guard nursing moms against harmful chemicals! Talk about really caring about the consumer! This was a key component for me to be confident and happy with the Belli Motherhood Line.
Most of us us many different kinds of lotions and creams every day, but we don't think about what might be being absorbed into our bodies through our skin. When we are pregnancy, we should be concerned. There are many considerations one should take into account for pregnancy skin care products. Specifically ingredients that one should avoid if they are concerned about safe pregnancy skin care. Some products may contain ingredients that can potentially cause birth defects or fetal abnormalities. Belli products are safe for pregnancy and after pregnancy!

Fortunately for me, after years of wearing my stretchmarks (really they are victory scars), the Stretchmark Minimizing Cream has been shown in clinical trials to be effective even on stretchmarks that have been around awhile. (any age, or from any cause). My aunt has informed me that Stretchmark cream can be effective on the face for wrinkles, too! Now, that is what I call being resourceful! The Stretchmark Minimizing Cream from Belli Motherhood is a healing skin reparative treatment. It also "Reduces stretchmark length and irregular surface area by up to 52% and stretchmark depth by up to 72%. "
Retail cost: $52
Belli Skincare carries so many great products for Mom and Baby!
Do you have existing or new stretchmarks? Maybe you would like to rid yourself of other stretchmarks? You have a chance to win the Stretchmark Minimizing Cream from Belli Motherhood site! See end of post for details!
Another great new product to make you feel like a woman ~(outside of Motherhood) ~is something to shape your arms to a slimmer you! Tres Sleek is the first-ever arm shapewear that slims, conceals and reshapes the arms. This product can just make you feel more confident in your clothes again, after delivery. Tres Sleek arm hosiery comes in four lengths long sleeve, short sleeve and cap sleeve. There are two colors available: nude and black, as well as a variety of sizes. Retail Cost: $26.95-$34.95Are you feeling the need to slim up your arms, or waist? Tres Sleek is offering a giveaway for you!
Here are the rules for the two giveaways: (BE SURE TO READ AND FOLLOW THE RULES TO QUALIFY)
Contests open to the USA. To get your first entry, comment on which product you would like to win. You must go to the company site! If you are entering to win the Stretchmark cream, tell me what other product you like from the Belli Skincare line. If you are entering to win the Tres Sleek, tell me your t-shirt size so you can win the one you can use. You may comment on as many other posts (that I have written in the past) as you want to for an additional entry, just leave the url in your additional comment! You have many chances to enter this contest! In order to qualify, you must do what is required. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 6TH, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK

"If Tomorrow Never Comes" book review

Childhood sweethearts Kinna and Jimmy Henley had simple dreams—marriage, children, a house by the sea… Everything they needed for happily ever after. What they didn’t plan on was years of infertility, stealing those dreams, crushing their hopes.
Now, all that’s left is the memory of young love, and the desperate need for a child to erase the pain. Until…
Kinna rescues an elderly woman from the sea, the threads of the past, present, and future weave together to reveal the wonder of one final hope. One final chance to follow not their dreams, but God’s plan.
Can they embrace the redemptive power of love before it’s too late? Or will their love be washed away like the castles they once built upon the sand?

Author Bio:
Marlo Schalesky is the author of several books, including Beyond the Night and Empty Womb, Aching Heart. A graduate of Stanford University, Marlo also has a masters of theology with an emphasis in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Married over twenty years, she lives with her husband, Bryan, and their five children in California. Marlo’s Love Stories series are especially near to Marlo’s heart. Her family struggled with infertility for several years. One in six families, Marlo reports, face this particular trial and yet infertility is rarely discussed in church. Marlo’s passion is to minister to families in this position, to women especially, and remind them of the big, marvelous and unexpected plans of God that exceed any expectation.

If Tomorrow Never Comes can be found in bookstores, or you can purchase online at Amazon.

You have a chance to win a copy! I have another copy to giveaway to one of my lucky readers!

Contest open to the USA. To get your first entry, comment on any of my posts. With your comment (on this post), link to the comment you left on my site. You may comment on as many posts as you want to for each separate entry! You have many chances to enter this contest! In order to qualify, you must do what is required. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 6TH, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK

Making Life Better

Trying to be creative, and getting ideas for supper isn't really a strength of mine. Sometimes I am inspired with a new concoction, but I usually look online or in a recipe book. My family loves new meals, and I was thankful to check out MakingLifeBetter.com.
Unilever, the consumer package goods company, has spent a great deal of time thinking about how to make everyday life better and help us find ways to create great meals and do more with less. The company's Web site, www.MakingLifeBetter.com, features delicious recipes, affordable meal ideas and tips that stretch your budget and save you time. I have always been one to try and "stock" the shelves with the pantry staples so I can be prepared. I know I will be checking out Making Life Better to get new ideas for our meals. Here are a few great ideas from the site:
· Wish-Bone Italian Dressing can do double-duty either as a delicious salad dressing or a great-tasting marinade for chicken, pork, beef and fish. For fast indoor cooking when an outdoor grill isn't available, try a grill pan to create an inside grill - a great solution for those with cold and snowy winter days like we experience in Minnesota.
· Need a budget-friendly meal? Try Baked Pasta Primavera with Ragu Pasta Sauce, which costs less than $2 a serving. Ragu Pasta Sauce has a full serving of veggies in every half-cup of sauce, so this recipe is a great way to sneak veggies into your kids' diets.
· I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! has new Cooking & Baking sticks that bake and taste just like butter! Even better is that they have 50% less saturated fat than butter, 0g trans fat per serving, and provide an excellent source of Omega 3. More importantly, this is a simple change that we can make to help our families live a healthier lifestyle.
· Your family can also enjoy a perfectly seasoned Pizza Meatloaf that you can prepare in no time with go-to ingredients like Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix and Ragu Pasta Sauce. With two Lipton recipe mix envelopes in each box, your family can enjoy pizza meat loaf one night, and onion burgers the next!
· And definitely look for Bertolli Oven Bake Meals, such as Stuffed Shells, in your grocery store's freezer. These restaurant-quality Italian classics can be prepared by simply opening the package, pouring the ingredients in your own oven dish and baking. What a great way to skip the Italian restaurant and enjoy a night in - especially if the kids are gone for the evening.
· Polish off dinner with a glass of great-tasting and refreshing Caribbean Tea Splash, made from Lipton Green Tea Bags, pineapple juice and cream of coconut (for less than a $0.25 a serving!)

Here is the recipe of the week: Creamy Asparagus Tart
Pastry for single-crust pie
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 small sweet onion or leek, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese (about 4 oz.)
1/2 cup Hellmann’s or Best Foods Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise
2 eggs
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 cup milk
Preheat oven to 375°. In 9-inch pie plate, arrange crust. With fork, pierce bottom of crust. Bake on heated cookie sheet 15 minutes or until golden; set aside.
Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat and cook onion, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until tender. Add asparagus and cook 3 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Turn into pie plate, then evenly top with cheese.
In small bowl, with wire whisk, blend Hellmann’s or Best Foods Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise, eggs, mustard and pepper. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth; pour into pie plate. Bake, on heated cookie sheet, on lower rack in oven, 25 minutes or until set and lightly browned.
~~YUMMY~~
I loved the recipes, and will be trying them out for sure! I think my family willenjoy a new variety. Thanks to MomCentral, I was able to be introduced to this great site, and share this information with my readers! MakingLifeBetter.com is a great website for every busy mom to get ideas from! There are other great ideas on their site covering information on beauty and style, home and family, vitality and wellness, tips, news and offers! What a great site to cover so much helpful information!

Sane Fitness: exercise on the go!

Being a parent, and always on the go, I am happy to have the new Sane Fitness travel companion! Sane Fitness is a quick start guide to promote full body workouts to be completed in just 6 weeks. What is really nice about the Sane Fitness is you can workout anywhere, even away from home! You could bring the cards to work, even. The cards fit into your purse or bag, and they are packed with helpful guides to get you into shape and healthier way of living.

The Sane Fitness is a deck of 36 cards, put together with a ring, hung with a lanyard string to fit around your neck. The workouts are full-body weight-lifting exercises, with stretches, that vary in intensity with each workout. Three of the cards explain th "A B C's" of the Sane Fitness plan, which is three workouts. Each card has instructions and a demonstration picture. The workouts are 20-minutes of cardio exercise, 6 full-body weightlifting exercises, 2 abdominal exercises and 3 stretches. Recommended weights are for you to choose, so you have to be able to complete them, but you also want to sweat with the workout. The plan is set up for you to use the cards 3 times a week. I like that the Sane Fitness also has a nutrition guide to help you in your quest to get fit!

Sane Fitness was created and founded by a busy working mom, Beverley Caen, and her trainer John Cruz. I think this program will be great to implement in my journey to weight loss and healthier living. Thank you Beverley for letting me try out your program, and thanks to Family Review Network for being introduced to the opportunity to review it!

You can purchase a Sanefitness Home Gym for under $100 to go with the Sane Fitness cards! Included in the set is an exercise mat, exercise ball and 2 sets of dumbbells (1 lighter, 1 heavier set). That is a great set to just get you started. Sane Fitness also has a program for pregnant women called the Sane Preggers FitKit.

Happy Birthday and bits of pieces....

Today is my husband's birthday! Happy Birthday~ honey! We had a great day so far...we got up and went to church. It was Youth Sunday~ and that is when the Youth Group leads in worship, song, and prayer. Our Youth Pastor gave the sermon. I missed most of the sermon, because Cole needed a diaper change and to be fed. This usually happens during the church service when my babies are little. Cole is getting so big! He had an appointment last Thursday for his 2 month check up. He is now 11 pounds 14 ounces! It is hard to believe that he is almost 10 weeks old already! Don't worry, I am not looking to have another anytime soon...the labor/birth/recovery is so fresh in my mind, and it isn't a pleasant thought. At least I have a beautiful baby, and he is healthy! He still has a bump on the top of his head. It is hard, and that is a bit worrisome. I asked the Dr. about it, and she said it was odd to her that it was still there after 2 months. She said sometimes when they give shots, and they hit a vein, kids can get a harder lump from calcium build-up (from the blood). So, she thinks that may be what it is. Too hard to tell. She said we could maybe go to a Skull Dr., but with Cole being so little, there really isn't too much the Dr. could do. So, we wait. Madelyn had her 2 year check up the same day as Cole's 2 month. She is finally on the charts with her weight! She is now 23 pounds (still a little peanut), but she is growing well. She will just always be petite, I think. She a busy little girl, and learning more everyday! I can't believe my little baby girl is a toddler. Of coarse, she loves to say, "NO!" and she is learning Independence with getting dressed/undressed. She loves to give kisses and hugs, and is our cuddler.
For the last two nights, we have had friends over for game night. We love having friends over and entertaining. On Friday night, we had over our friends Lisa and Donnie. Our other friend, Jody and her husband were suppose to come over, but they had forgotten. We had fun playing our new Yatzee game. Good laughs, and fun. Then, on Saturday evening, we had over Jodi and Ben. We have really enjoyed playing this game called Ticket to Ride. I was hoping to review the game on my site, but no luck. It is a really fun game, and my husband especially loves it because it is trains.
I am sorry I haven't been writing too many personal blogs lately. I have been so busy with 4 kids. It really makes a difference from 3 to 4.....especially since they are all under the age of 4~ Caleb will be 4 end of May. I do want to get better with writing about our kids, what they do, and our family times. I will try to get more pictures uploaded too.
Tonight I am going to go pick up Nathaniel from his weekend with his Dad. I hope he had a good weekend with his Dad. We have been going through some things with Nathaniel and we are seeking guidance. I pray that we can help him get through his heart issues. He is 10 years old, and in such a crucial moment in his life. The other night we sat down with him and let him say anything he wanted to us. He could share his feelings, anger, fear~ whatever he wanted. If he was mad at us, or whatever. He had to stay respectful through it. It was amazing what our results were. I will have to go into more details about that another post. I hope you all had a good weekend. More later.

Family Game Night

Did you grow up playing Battleship, Connect Four, Sorry, Boggle and Yatzee? These were some of my favorite games growing up! Yatzee is still a favorite of mine. I love that Hasbro and EA games have come out with these games for our video gaming systems like the Wii and
Playstations! Now our kids can enjoy these fun and entertaining games without us worrying about losing the pieces. Family Game Night has the classic games hosted by none other than Mr. Potato Head himself. He makes faces, sounds and flys around your own gaming room showing you around. In your room, that you can design, you can display trophies you win.
The games are fun to play and there are added twists to the game, like power chips with Connect Four, Reverse Yahtzee and Sorry Sliders. You can also host a Game Party by choosing your favorite games, number of players, and time you want to play.
Family Game Night can be played by mostly 2 players, but some games you can play up to 4 players. The suggested retail price of the Playstation 2 version of Family Game Night is $19.95. You can also get this game for the Nintendo Wii. The rating is E for everyone.
Our family, especially me and Nathaniel, love playing this game. We really enjoy the Battleship game! It is so fun to sink each others ships~ that is once we find them. If you love video games, I suggest this game. There is great strategies with the games, and you can have fun outwitting other members of your family.

Natural Sweetness!

I am trying to be more natural with products that we use, and especially things my family and I put in our mouth. It really is amazing the difference our bodies can feel when we eat better and healthier! Just recently, I started back up with Weight Watchers, and this has made me even more aware of what I am choosing to eat. I know that sugar products can sure put on the extra pounds, so I am interested in using a different source to add the sweetness. There are two products that I have been recently asked to review: Steviva and Fructevia.
Steviva is a pure sweet powder that is from the organic stevia leaves, the "Stevia Rebaudiana" bush. When refined into a white powder extract (stevioside), Stevia becomes 200-300 times sweeter than sugar and sweetens without raising blood sugar levels. What is really amazing with Stevia is there are no calories, carbs,artificial ingredients or fillers~ PURE AND NATURAL! Steviva increases energy and aids digestion by stimulating the pancreas, and doesn't harm healthy teeth. Sugar does the opposite, I know from experience that sugar can give me a quick energy boost, then I usually crash. You can cook with Stevia, depending on the recipe. You can find recipes on the website (Steviva.com). I think Steviva is a better option to sugar for these health reasons, and because it will help you not take in extra weight that sugar would supply. Steviva is available in 1.3 ounce bottles, 1 kg. bags, bulk, and more. You can find them in the natural heath section of your local grocery stores.
Fructevia is a new product from Stevia, and it tastes just like sugar! You know what? You only use half of Fructevia as you would sugar because it is much sweeter! Plus, Fructevia has only 5 calories per packet, and one packet equals 2 tsp. of sugar. Fructevia is a proprietary and patented blend of all natural ingredients Fructose, FOS, Stevia and Magnesium Carbonate. It contains no GMO's, gluten or chemicals. It is safe for diabetics, low carb dieters, (like Weight Watchers!) low glycemic dieters, and people that suffer from hypoglycemia (like my husband). Fructose, Frutevia's primary ingredient, is a natural fruit sugar that is easier on the body than glucose (table sugar) due to the low glycemic index. It absorbs more slowly in the body to provide longer lasting energy with little effect on blood sugar. I am happy that Fructevia is great to use in cooking and baking! Fructevia is available in 1 and 5 pound resealable bags.
I think these products are great, and they are a healthy choice for me! I fully recommend the Stevia products, and I am anxious to purchase the Steviva Blend for my cooking and baking needs. I would thank Thom King, founder of Steviva Brands, Inc., for creating a great alternative to sugar.

"Dont Let Me Go" Review and Giveaway

The true story of how a father and his teen daughter connected through an ice axe and well-worn running shoes.
One day after reading a book about a wilderness adventurer, David Pierce’s fifteen-year-old daughter Chera announced that she wanted to climb a mountain. What David heard behind that wish was a bold declaration: “I’m growing up, Dad—what are you going to do about it?” A few weeks later they bought matching backpacks.
Over a three-year period they climbed five mountains and ran in two marathons. Together they suffered sore muscles, bitter cold, sprung knees, shin splints, and broken spirits. But they also reveled in blazing sunsets, glissaded on a glacier, and celebrated numerous victories great and small. And in the process, they built an unshakable father-daughter bond that will stand the tests of time.
In Don’t Let Me Go, David Pierce—the husband of popular Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce—offers a down-to-earth, funny-yet-serious book for parents with the same universal appeal as Bob Carlisle’s heart-tugging song, “Butterfly Kisses,” only with well-worn running shoes and an ice axe. David W. Pierce is the co-author of two children’s books with his wife, popular Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce, and a memoir, Salvage. He has written ten short stories appearing in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. A professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University, he also teaches at Taylor University in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. David and Chonda and their family live in Tennessee.

You can purchase the book online at ChristianBook.com or Amazon.com.

I have one extra copy of this book to offer for a giveaway! Contest open to the USA. To get your first entry, comment on any of my posts. With your comment (on this post), link to the comment you left on my site. You may comment on as many posts as you want to for each separate entry! You have many chances to enter this contest! In order to qualify, you must do what is required. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 1ST, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Play 'n' learn Spoon~ great for tots!

Small children, like pre-toddlers all the way up, enjoy the "do-it-myself" stage very much! It can be a challenging time, especially if you are in a hurry. Feeding time with small children should be an enjoyable time, and one that children can learn from and explore. I was excited to see the Play 'N Learn spoons from Baby Human! These spoons are designed with the self-feeder in mind. The spoons come two in a package with a suggested retail price of $8.99. The spoon's handles are curved to align with your baby's mouth. Many times small children have a hard time aiming their utensil in their mouth, and the Play 'N Learn spoon helps direct food to the target! What I especially like about Baby Human's Play 'N Learn Spoon is that it is BPA, phthalate & lead-free! With that in mind, this eating utensil is safe for my baby's mouth.

Have you ever seen your child gag themselves with a spoon? It isn't a pretty sight, and they don't appreciate the experience! Plus, you may get that food to represent itself. The Play 'N Learn spoon has a mouth guard to prevent the gag reflex. I appreciate this genius design!

Since babies haven't established their left-hand or right-hand favor yet, the spoons are designed to be used with either hand, too!

I think the spoon a great transitioning utensil to head toward a table spoon.

Baby Human's products were created and designed from single mom, Kimberly Kirkup, who has an autistic son. She designed her products with the child in mind.

DS Game GIVEAWAY!

I don't personally have a Nintendo DS, but I wish I had one. I love video games, and I am not afraid to share that. I bought my son a Game Boy Advance for his success with potty training (that was 8 years ago). Someday, we may have to get a Nintendo DS. Anyway, The Game Factory has offered to sponsor a giveaway to my special readers for the World Championship Games Nintendo DS game! This game just came out this month, and up to 4 people can play!
From The Game Factory Site:
Description:
World Championship Games is the most realistic athletics simulation available on handheld consoles.
Create and customise your own athletes and compete with them in 14 different events at world famous arenas! Use the stylus to control your athletes as they run, throw, jump, shoot and more. Beat world records and collect medals to unlock additional events and other bonus items!
Challenge your friends and play the game as Nintendo WFC, Multi-card and single console 'pass around' modes for 2-4 players! World Championship Games is the most realistic athletics simulation available for a handheld console.
Featuring thirteen events with career, tournament, multi player modes and some of the most well known international stadiums. World Championship Games, quite simply, has it all. Unlock extra events by winning medals and compete in the ultimate test of human strength and endeavor - the Decathlon - and prove your are the best!
Key Features:
Accurate presentation of 13 events - 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin, 1500m, rifle shooting, pistol shooting and archery
Decathlon (career), Tournament, Quick Event, Practice and Multi player game modes
Achievements - Break records, accumulate medals and earn trophies to unlock additional events, stadiums and other hidden items
Create your own customized athlete with distinctive attributes
Superior character, animation modelling and in-game A.I.
Compete with other gamers via online multi player option/leader board

Seriously, maybe I should start saving for that DS, because there are so many fun sounding games! I bet you are wondering how you can win this game? To get your first entry, comment on any of my posts. With your comment, link to the comment you left on my site. You may comment on as many posts as you want to for each separate entry! You have many chances to enter this contest! You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 1ST, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK!
This contest is made possible from Family Review Network & The Game Factory!

Winners & new contest!

Here are two new winners! The first winner is the lucky winner of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy DVD: lisagee
The second winner is the winner of the Littlest Pet Shop game for Nintendo DS from EA: cdziuba!!
Congratulations to the winners! Thank you to the sponsors who offered the prizes and thank you to my readers for entering the contests!

Check out the new contest: Parenting By Nature: Review and giveaway!
PLUS, more to come this week...stay tuned!

Parenting by Nature: Review and Giveaway!

I enjoy checking out new products for our kids! It seems that there is always something new and great! I was recently introduced to an excellent online store called Parenting by Nature.

Parenting By Nature offers so many great products including baby carriers, feeding gear and dishes, wooden toys/teethers, babylegs, keepsakes and diapering/ training necessities....plus more! I love the selection that this Mom owned online store offers! Not only do they carry super great products for our kids, but their products are safe! All of their products are environmentally safe, chemical free, and made especially for our children. Their products, in my opinion, promote healthy happy babies/kids, and healthy happy parents. After being a parent for over 10 years, I have become more aware of how products affect our children. I want the best for my kids, and I am more cautious as to what they use/wear. Parenting By Nature is located in Canada, and has been selling cloth diapers, baby slings and baby products since 2004. Having more than 15 years of retail management and customer service experience, the owners behind Parenting By Nature strives to provide quality products and excellent customer service. I got the Blue Celery Baby Sling/Wrap Hybrid, and I can say that the customer service was fantastic. Myorder was shipped promptly. I got two confirmation e-mails to say that they received the order, and then when it was shipped. Not only is the sling easy to use, I love babywearing and I am thrilled that Parenting By Nature supports and promotes babywearing! The Blue Celery is an organic, 3 piece sling. It is 2 loops and a sash...easy to use, and can be worn in 5 positions. Plus, it is extremely comfortable!

Parenting By Nature holds a 5-Star Rating and Customer Choice Award at The Diaper Pin, and 5 star reviews at The Babywearer. The family owned and operated online store carries a large In-Stock Selection - Convenient & Time-Saving! All in-stock orders ship within 2 business days. If you see something they don't carry, you can suggest them adding it, they love customer relations. Most of Parenting By Nature's products are Mom or Dad invented and/or created and are not found in mainstream stores. They support other small business owners and WAHM’s (work-at-home-moms) as much as possible. I am so happy that I was introduced to them!

Parenting By Nature has offered to sponsor a giveaway for my readers! You have the opportunity to win a Blue Celery Baby Sling/Wrap Hybrid! Here is what you need to do:

To get your first entry, go to Parenting By Nature and look around. Pick out the color of Blue Celery Sling you would like to win, and comment about it. Then, you may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment AND/OR Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win!! Click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on April 1ST, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK! Contest limited only to the US and Canada.

Here is a special code to receive a discount to use toward your first purchase: 100+ Free ship in Canada - use sassyfrazz

Bob the Builder ON SITE: Skyscrapers

My son has been on a Bob the Builder kick lately, and he was so excited about the new Bob the Builder ON SITE: Skyscraper movie that just came out today, March 17! This Bob the Builder DVD is just like the other Bob the Builder episodes...he is a great builder with positive thinking and a great Can-Do team!From Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment, Bob the Builder ON SITE: Skyscrapers, is jammed pack with real live skyscrapers being built. Bob and his Can-Do Crew hammer out solutions that lead to a job well done. From start to finish, the team proves that The Fun Is In Getting It Done! Bob the Builder ON SITE: Skyscrapers is available ONLY on DVD, and is never-before-seen on TV.
Synopsis
Reaching new heights in construction, Bob and his Can-Do Crew – Dizzy, Roley, Lofty, Tumbler, Flex and the rest of the team – take future architects and contractors out for another on-site adventure, this time to learn how the urban tower – the skyscraper – is built. From drafting the blueprints to laying the foundation, finishing the top-most floor and installing the elevator system, Skyscrapers breaks the process down into engaging, easy-to-follow stages, incorporating Bob the Builder’s delightful animation and charming characters, along with live action construction site footage. The sky has no limit in this latest title from everyone’s favorite builder!
SPECIAL FEATURES
· Build It with Bob Puzzle
· Trivia Tune Up
· Bonus Episode Roary the Racing Car in “Big Chris learns to Fly”, the all-new animated series from the creators of Bob the Builder

This is a great DVD for children, and one that will be watched over and over. I really like that Bob the Builder has come out with a DVD that is not only entertaining, but educational as well. Kids are thrilled with the animation of Bob the Builder, and is excited to see live-action with the added footage of the skyscrapers!

NOW available online or in stores for SRP $14.95.

SassyFrazz Shares

Here’s a list of 10 web sites to bookmark that can help your kids beat Spring Break boredom if they’re staying home.
Best Set-and-Forget Web Environment for Kids
· KidZui – KidZui is actually not a Web site at all – it’s the Internet made just for kids. It gives kids access to millions of Web sites (including all of the below), YouTube videos, games and photos that have been vetted by a team of parents and teachers. Kids love the cute little avatars they can create and the safe social networking features, and parents love the fact that there’s no chance of enquiring minds stumbling across anything inappropriate.
Best Web Sites for Kids
· Club Penguin – A snow-covered virtual world where children play games and interact with friends in the guise of colorful penguin avatars.
· Lego.com – Ideal for the Lego fan, your child can watch Lego comics and movies, play games and construct their own Web page to show off their creativity.
· Nick.com – Your child can pledge to save the world, play games, check out the latest news on SpongeBob or create a virtual life on Nicktropolis.
· PBSKids.com – With games themed around Sesame Street, Clifford, Curious George, Arthur, Barney and other kid classics, your kids will have fun "interacting" with their favorite characters.
· Poptropica – This virtual online world lets kids create a character, play games, compete with other kids and travel between islands on a blimp to explore new areas. 

Best Online Game Sites for Kids
· Cartoon Network Games – With more than 200 games featuring favorite cartoon characters, your kids can hunt monsters with Scooby-Doo, play Ninja Survival or follow the Path of a Jedi.
· Funbrain – Part of the Family Education Network, the site provides educational activities for parents and teachers, as well as interactive games to help your kids with math and reading.
· Funschool – This site, provided by Kaboose, is designed for elementary-age kids and offers free educational games as well as printable activities, coloring sheets and craft projects that will help your kids learn while having fun.
· Hot Wheels Games – For car fans, Hot Wheels has dozens of vehicle-related games that let kids drive through mazes, race friends and solve puzzles.

Ideal for baby showers, birthdays, baptisms and spiritual holidays, or simply to celebrate one’s joy over the birth of a new baby, Faith Baby products are made of super-soft 100% cotton. Onesies come in a variety of colors, in sizes from 3-6 months to 12-18 months. Toddler t-shirts come in four color options, in sizes 2T-4T. The new “frilly” infant pants are one-size fits most from six to 12 months, and will soon be available in new color variations. Gift boxes with a blue or pink tulle ribbon are also available. With each order, customers receive a bookmark featuring McGuire’s favorite bible verses, and visitors to the website can submit prayer requests, which McGuire personally prays over every day.
***McGuire is offering a 10% discount to my readers if you use coupon code PR0309***

This Mother’s Day, consider building a tribute for a special mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend on http://www.tributes.com/. Spend time sharing your favorite photos, memories, and other artifacts of their treasured life, so their life story will never be forgotten.

Pink is for girls, blue is for boys...get cute with NEW Lollipop Onesies in Pink & Blue from Baby Bunch! See Lollipop Onesies in Pink & Blue and a whole bunch more at The Baby Bunch!

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, LUG will be offering a choice of a FREE GRASS GREEN Freight Box Container, Eco Shopper or Dolly Pod with any $85.00 purchase. Order notes must say "GREENPROMO" and the name of the complimentary item you wish to receive. This offer is valid March 1 to March 31st. Get a sneak peak of their new Spring 2009 Collection Facebook. Join Lug on Facebook for the latest updates and member only specials and contests! This month on Facebook they are giving away a FREE nap sac and tango travel wallet. Visit website for details or on Facebook - Search for Lug (as a Group Page).

Americans are now saving their money at a staggering rate of 5% as they look to get back on financial track, spend smarter, think through purchases, and most importantly, save for purchases instead of putting them on plastic. These smarter savings habits align directly with SmartyPig – the only truly social bank – and its goal of reversing the credit card mentality.

Pick your video camera or video phone and take a 3-minute video of your family/a family doing their part to save our environment such as the videos “Just Fight Bag” or “High School 1 Go Green Clean Up Team” found on the following link - http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=justdoonecontest. When submitting a video not only are you encouraging others to be green, but you also are entering for a chance to win a cash prize of $5,000.00. The deadline to register is April 1, 2009.

There's a new trustworthy tool for parents while on the road- Care4Hire.com. The team at Care4Hire.com has been helping families find quality child care for over 20 years. Parents can view a free preview of available babysitters through their local neighborhood mapping technology, run a background check, and check references all with the click of a mouse. In fact, the site was designed by a mom to be as easy to use as possible!

Out of the Mouths of Babes: Parenting From a Child's Perspective

Being an attachment parent, I agree with so much of Dyan Eybergen's book, Out of the Mouths of Babes: Parenting from a Child's Perspective. She shares her views on Bedtime and sleeping through the night, toilet training, fears of our children, eating, sibling rivalry/conflict resolution, sexuality, discipline, and self-esteem. She shares how her and her husband easily grasped onto the attachment theory, which is meeting your child's needs when they have needs, when her boys were babies. They responded to the cues that they gave~crying when hungry, wet or tired...then they just acted on those cues. (I am an avid breast feeder on demand, and that is an example of attachment parenting.)

I was very encouraged by Dyan's book, because her and her husband did the same things with their children, like co-sleeping. Her toilet training stories are quite comical, and it is fun to read the things that some kids think. One of her quotes is, "I don't have to wipe; my pee will wash it away." Talen, age 2 3/4

One of the sections in her book shed some light on something I am dealing with currently...Fears of children. She talks in her book about the middle child feeling left out between the pride of the first born, and the darling baby. Two of our children are dealing with some middle child fears, I think, and it makes me realize I need to step it up in the attention department.

Out of the Mouths of Babes, is a great read! Dyan Eybergen has a lot of great advice and insight.

From the back cover:

For those who have struggled with parenting strategies that have failed or worked for one child but not another, Out of the Mouths of Babes offers a unique parenting approach tailored to working with the personalities of individual children, ultimately educating parents how to observe and appreciate every experience through the eyes of their child.
Parent, educator, and pediatric psychiatric nurse, Dyan Eybergen shares how relying on the principles of attachment theory works for both her and her husband as they raise three boys with very different personalities. Eybergen details how she learned to develop an understanding of how her children were thinking and feeling by paralleling their experiences with her own. She teaches that parents who learn to rely on this theory can uncover successful solutions to such frustrating child-rearing dilemmas as:
*Sleeping through the night
*Eating at all ages
*Toilet training
*Sibling rivalry and conflict resolution
*Effective discipline
This innovative guidebook will help parents empower their children to acquire new skills, effectively problem solve, manage conflict, and develop a healthy self-esteem, and most importantly, offers a new choice for parents who believe there are other alternatives to the one-size-fits-all paradigm of raising children.

About the Author:

Dyan Eybergen, a paediatric psychiatric nurse, has more than ten years experience working as a therapist and parent educator. Dyan and her family were guests on the cable television show "For Kids Sake," along with parenting expert Barbara Coloroso. Eybergen resides in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and three sons.

Thank you MotherTalk for this book review! It is a great resource for new and "seasoned" moms!