Infantino's Food Line~ Annabel Karmel

I absolutely love the new baby feeding line that Infantino carries! I wish these products were around when my other kids were little babies. It can be a challenge to transition from breast feeding to solid foods, and buying all those jars of baby food can not only get spendy, but I often think that maybe if I knew exactly what my baby was eating, I could make sure that my baby is eating the healthiest foods. I loved seeing the new line of feeding products from Infantino! The Annabel Karmel products are great for making your own baby food, and preparing foods for your baby simplier and easier.

I really like the Stackable pots, because there are a few different sizes and each size is a perfect serving for your little one. I love the colorful containers for easy food on the go, and to put the container in the diaper bag for later feeding. The Stackable pots come in three different sizes, and they stack together for easy storage. These food pots are freezer safe and microwave safe, which make them very usable! I really like that I am able to store my frozen baby food in these stackable pots and bring the food on the go. While my baby's food is thawing, I am traveling, and then when it is time for eating, my baby's food is easily available.
Making my own baby food is a great way to know what my baby is eating. I love that I can make a big portion of food, and then I can fill up the Freeze Tray. Then, when my baby's food is frozen, I can store the food in the Stackable pots, or place into another container. The Freeze tray will hold 9 servings of foods, and I like that each is separated, so I can put many different foods like fruits and vegetables into the Freeze Tray at one time. Each food portion is 1 oz. and is perfect for your baby's appetite. I love that the Freeze tray is dishwasher safe, too!

My older kids love the Fill & Freeze pops, even though they were designed for the babies! :) The Fill & Freeze Pops are perfect for those aching gums when babies are teething, or for a nice cool summer treat. I love the recipes to make your own fruit pop, naturally good without any chemicals or unknown items. You can make Fruit Frozen pops with just fruit and 100% fruit juice! The Fill & Freeze pops are dishwasher and freezer safe, and there are four different colored pops. Each freeze pop has a handle for easy holding~ perfect for little hands.
Infantino carries a great line of baby feeding products! I also love the Fresh Food Mill~ for easy puree and grinding foods for your baby, and the Mash & Serve Bowl for making the fruits and vegetables easier to eat.

My little one loves to eat what I eat, and with the Annabel Karmel feeding line, I can eat my food, and show my baby that he is eating what I am eating~ it is just prepared a little different. Annabel Karmel feeding line has made my food preparations easier, and I am happy knowing what my baby is eating. Plus, my baby likes the flavors of the foods, too!

Infantino has also launched a brand new website this month! Be sure to check it out at infantino.com .

I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.

DaBib is celebrating and offering a great deal!

DaBib has just earned it's 2nd US Patent - which means that all of their product packaging needs to change!! DaBib has been an incredible hit with parents, and I am personally thrilled with this bib (I did a review on one). DaBib is celebrating by giving their customers a special savings on all of their current bib styles, and move out their old packaging in the process. For a limited time, all DaBib styles are available for purchase on the DaBib website for $9.99 each!! This special pricing is only available through FEBRUARY 28, 2010, or while supplies last. So help them celebrate & get in on the savings! And keep saving your kids' fabulous clothes in the process! Trust me, the DaBib is an amazing bib that covers your child, goes on and off easily, is hard for your child to easily remove, and has a built in crumb catcher! The bib is designed with a pouch that you can flip forward to catch those straying crumbs from your little eater, or help protect your infant with eating those runny foods.
Go check out the DaBib's now! ~makes a great gift, too!! :)

Crayola makes great products for Christmas gifts! (review & giveaway)

Crayola has been around a long time, and they have super products that kids (of all ages) can enjoy. We recently got three new products from the Crayola line to review, and I am so excited about these products! My kids had so much fun trying these out, and now they are a new favored activity around the Sassyfrazz household!
Crayola Beginnings Color Me A Song:
Color me a song is a drawing/coloring table that kids can color to music on. Kids can hear a drum, piano, guitar and/or a trumpet, and the music switches between different musical styles such as salsa, rock, swing and country. When kids slide a piece of paper into the slots on the board, music starts up. When kids start coloring the tune plays to their speed: slower, a slower tempo, and when they color faster the tempo picks up. The portable drawing and music creation station features a pressure-sensitive board that matches a melody to the artist´s pace. There is a great slide out storage for crayons when not in use. That is helpful!
Color Me a Song was named a "Toy of the Year" by Family Fun magazine and one of American Baby magazine´s picks for "Best Toys of the Year." For children 24 months and up; suggested retail price is $24.99.

Crayola Glow Station:

The Glow station is so fun, and makes no mess! This is the ultimate drawing pad for toddlers/preschoolers (in my opinion). Seriously, a drawing pad that kids will want to draw on, and if they get inclined to color with the wand off of the drawing pad~ no mess!

The Glow Station is a glow-in-the-dark pad and when kids draw on it with the light wand, their creations are illuminated! The Glow station comes with stencils, cut-outs and texture sheets to make fun pictures. The light wand can be used alone, or you can attach the diamond shaped crystal on the end to make amazing designs...my kids like the star-shapes it makes.
The drawings last a little while, even when you don't touch the light wand directly onto the Glow Station. After a few minutes the designs will disappear. One thing we found fun with the Glow Station: If you lay your arm on the glow station with the lights on, then turn off the lights and removing your arm...there is an impression on the Glow Station! Very fun product!
For children ages six and up; suggested retail price is $29.99.

Crayola Color Explosion Glow Dome:

The Glow Dome is a very fun product~ especially in the dark. The Glow dome comes with six special markers and stencil sheets. Kids can use the stencils to draw scenes on the dome, or use their own imagination. The center of the Glow Dome comes out, and can be laid onto a stencil for easy transfer, and kids just trace the picture onto the plastic center.
The Glow Dome comes with 2 sheets of stencils, but more can be downloaded online.
The outside of the Dome can be colored on, too. It was fun to see my children's creativity come to life. My oldest drew a man/alien on the outside and when he turned the dome on, the man was running around the outside of the Dome! How creative! The Dome has several settings for rotating the outside of the Dome to give dimension and life to your creation. On the inside, lights are displayed, and there a a few settings to change how the lights are displayed.
The kids were so excited when we turned out the lights and the Glow Dome lit up the room. I hope that my pictures can show you what fun these products can bring! I know my kids love them! For ages six and up; suggested retail price is $29.99.

Our family recommends these great Crayola products, and would like to suggest these items for your Christmas shopping.

Crayola would also like to share some exciting news about the Give the Gift of Creativity Sweepstakes, where you can enter to win a 7-night Caribbean cruise for a family of 4 on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Entering is simple! All you have to do is visit http://www.crayola.com/gifts/vacation and create a Crayola wish list for your child. You can choose from a list of fun wishes like Star Surfing, Wave Walking and Rainbow Whirlpools. Crayola will then recommend an item from their Holiday Gift Guide that corresponds to the wish. You can enter once a day, and an extra entry is also available for those who share the wish list on Facebook.

Enter to Win a Glow Dome!

Crayola has offered to giveaway a Glow Dome to one of my readers. To enter to win, share what you would chose from the Give the Gift of Creativity Sweepstakes wish list. Contest ends December 29th, 2009.

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday with some other great Crayola product you found on the Crayola website. Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from MyBlogSpark and Crayola. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway prize to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Hallmark for Christmas (plus 2- $25 gift card giveaways)

Christmas is right around the corner, and I think it has really come up quickly! I have talked to several other people that are just surprised at how quickly Christmas has come this year! If you are like me....BEHIND...on the Christmas shopping, gift ideas...well, Hallmark has some great ideas to help you out!
I think Hallmark does a fantastic job with having such great products, sentimental products, gifts to give everyone on your list. I know that Hallmark products will be ones that give out this Christmas! (even if it is a little late)

I love the new Digital Scrapbooks that Hallmark came out with! The Digital Scrapbooks come in different themes, and you can choose which one you would like. You can personalize your digital scrapbook with music, photos, and text messaging all in one to be displayed on a digital photo frame (one of my wish list items), computer screen, television screen or anyplace that you can use a USB drive. You can make more than 50 personalized slides with the digital scrapbook from Hallmark! That is a lot of photos! It is simple to use, too! Just plug in the USB, access the drive, click on the icon, download and enter the codes. You can save your work as you go. This makes a great gift to give someone, or buy it and personalize a gift for someone!
Another great Hallmark product is their new DVD Greetings. This is a great way to bring the traditional holiday letter to life. You can pick photos to insert into your online letter, and animation brings it to life. Each DVD Greeting hosts a template that can be edited and customized with personal photos. You simply burn the photos onto the DVD in your Hallmark card. Everything is included in the Hallmark card: Card & DVD. It is easy to make, and fun to send!
A Hallmark product that is so fun to give is the Recordable Cards. These cards are so fun, because you can include your own personal 10- second message inside. Some of Hallmarks recordable cards have music, and some don't. There are more than 30 holiday Recordable Cards to choose from. The Recordable Cards with Music also feature a 30-second song clip which plays after the message. These are fun cards to personalize, and fun to watch the recipient to open up.

The new products were designed to help families celebrate and capture the memories and joys of the holiday season.


ENTER TO WIN:
Hallmark has offered to giveaway two $25 Hallmark Gold Crown Gift Cards. To enter to win a gift card, share your favorite holiday memories and what your definition of Christmas is to you.
Contest ends December 29th, 2009.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday with a link to your favorite Hallmark product. Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Hallmark. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer gift cards to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Great Gift idea for Christmas: Darda Victory Lane Race Track (Review & Giveaway)

I grew up loving race tracks, and I enjoyed watching my brother put them together and racing with him. Now, my boys can enjoy racing cars~ as well as my husband! We got the new Victory Lane NASCAR Play Set from Darda to review, and this 60 piece set was very easy to assemble. My son, age 11, loved putting the track together.
The tack pieces slide easily into the other track pieces with a plastic connector. The directions were easy to follow, and the kit came with everything included.

The only tricky part to the Victory Lane race way was the loop-de-loop. You have to twist the track just a bit to get the loop, but it wasn't difficult.

Then, the fun begins. My boys put their cars at the starting point~ right next to the checkered flag. With a push of the red button, a plastic setting comes out to keep the cars in place. To charge the cars, all you need to do is pull the car backward on the track until the sound gets a little louder. NO BATTERIES! I love that! Our household goes through so many batteries, and I was delighted to find out that this set didn't need any!

Get ready, start your engines, GO! Push the Green button and sit back to see which car will take first place! My boys loved watching the cars go through the loops next to one another. It is fun!

I think that the Victory Lane Race track is a great gift to give kids this Christmas! The race track is flexible, sturdy, and provides hours of fun and entertainment. My boys, and even my daughter, loves to play with this race track. This play set features two NASCAR heroes, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, in their trademark DuPont and Lowe’s branded cars. Even if you aren't into NASCAR, racing is so much fun! Full track size is 53” x 25” x 12.5” $64.99 • Ages 4+

About Darda:

Darda cars were introduced more than three decades ago in Germany, and they made their way to the U.S. shortly after that. Since then, young children all across the world have been enjoying these simple hand-wound cars. Check out the selection of Darda cars available online at http://www.dardatoys.com/ Darda is a division of Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., based in Milwaukee (& Baltimore). It’s a 78-year-old family owned and operated business, primarily focused on model trains but also manufactures racing products (Darda & Life-Like Racing).

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A RACETRACK FROM DARDA?

To celebrate Christmas time, Darda is offering to sponsor a giveaway of either the Victory Lane or the Power Loop Pyramid. Contest ends December 29th, 2009.

To enter, leave a comment below about which set would you most like to purchase for your child (if money wasn't an issue) and why?

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday with a link to your favorite consumer-created Darda video on YouTube ( just type in Darda cars in the search window if you want to explore.) Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Darda. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a race track to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Automoblox Minis make for a great Christmas gift! (Review and Giveaway)

One really fun, educational, creative, and innovative toy that I have been introduced to are the Automoblox cars. The newer version of the Automoblox are the Automoblox Minis!
The Automoblox Mini line is a smaller version of the traditional Automoblox car. These cars are made with quality and detail. I love the wooden cars, and so do my kids! The parts to these cars are made with quality materials, and you can tell that much thought went into the design of these cars. Once put together, the Automoblox cars glide smoothly across the floor. The wheels are made so well! I love the look of these cars, so styling! One really fun feature of the Automoblox minis is you can mix and match the pieces to design many more cars. If you want to get the cars back to how they came, you just match up the colors to color coordinate. The Automoblox minis can fit in the palm of your hand, too! These cars are perfect for families with more than one child to share with each other. I love that about the minis...makes sharing a little easier.
Ages 3 and up, $30.00 Made by Manhattan Toy found at Maukilo.com.

Would you like to enter to win a $25 gift card to Maukilo.com? You can get these great Automoblox mini cars, or pick out something else you may want. To Enter, visit the http://www.maukilo.com/ site, and comment here with something you learned about the company, or an item you would like to purchase with your gift card (if you won). This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until December 23rd, 2009.

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and comment about something you learned from visiting the Maukilo website. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Maukilo.com. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a Gift Card to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Hickory Farms makes a great gift for Christmas~

My Dad was an Insurance Agent when I was little, and we got a special, and thoughtful gift almost every year from one of his customers. We loved this gift, because it was a tasty treat, and it was great to fed us when we were hungry! The great gift was a gift basket with meat, cheeses, sometimes fruit, and fun strawberry candies. I am pretty sure that the baskets we received were from Hickory Farms. I think, as an adult now, this gift is a superb gift to give someone whom you don't really know what to get them, or if you think they have most everything they need. I recently reviewed a wonderful gift basket filled with delicious meats, cheeses (block and ball style), crackers, and candies from Hickory Farms. The display of the basket was gorgeous, and the basket was delivered securely. I think that Hickory Farms takes great pride in their products and services, from how they delivered their product and what it was all about. We brought our basket of goodies to our family Thanksgiving Day get-together, and everyone enjoyed the appetizers. The Hickory Farms basket had a few different flavors of the meat and cheese, and it was fun to taste the differences. I recommend Hickory Farms and think that their products/services are great and make fun gifts to share with others.

For a limited time this holiday season, for each Party Planner Gift Box sold, Hickory Farms will donate $5 to Share Our Strength, a leading national non-profit organization working to end childhood hunger in America. Additionally, for 40 of these gift items, Hickory Farms provides free military shipping, allowing our troops across the globe to share in holiday traditions. Visit hickoryfarms.com to learn more about these two opportunities as well as the variety of gift boxes available! I think that Hickory Farms really does a great job to rise above the bar in their efforts to accommodate needs and give from their heart. (my opinion)

Check out Hickory Farms for your Christmas shopping! Their products are great tasting, and many people really enjoy receiving a gift that will make the tummy happy. :)

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a Hickory Farms gift basket to facilitate my review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Books for gifting this Christmas~ from Randomhouse.

I love books written by Lisa Tawn Bergren, and my kids are thrilled to read them, or have us read to them. Lisa's books are filled with words that speak to the heart of kids (and adults) and the pictures are just priceless.
God Gave Us Christmas, is about an adorablelittle polar bear that is curious and asks many questions. Her curiosity brings her to some questions that children may ask at Christmas time, like: “Who invented Christmas?” “Is God more important than Santa?” Little cub learns that God loves her, everyone, so much by sending his son for us. Mama Polar worded her answer very well, and she told her little cub about the best Christmas present ever!
I think that these questions are valid questions, and I love that Lisa's book helps guide parents tell their children (through reading) a way that will answer their question.

God Gave Us Love, is a fun and heart-warming story about a Little Cub and his Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure. The fishing trip is interrupted by otters, and the young polar is not happy that the otters are in the way. This book teaches kids about loving others, even when they are unlovable. The little bear asks questions like "Why is it easier to love those we like?" " Where does love come from?" "And why does God love her so much?"
Grampa Bear patiently answers his little grandson's questions by explaining the different kinds of love we can share: the love between friends, the love between families, the love between moms and dads, and the love for God.
He also assured Little Cub that because of the love God has given him through his Son, there’s nothing he can do to make God love him any more or any less. Through Grampa Bear’s encouraging Little Cub to love others with a “God-sized love,” children will be inspired to love others and to be patient, gentle and kind, so that in every way, they too can demonstrate God’s love. One of the best lines in this book is this: "His Love brings out the best in us,"and this one, "Because we want to love others as God loves us, we don't always feel like loving them. But when we choose to, it is always the right thing."
I recommend each of these books from Lisa Tawn Bergren, and these books would make a great Christmas gift to your child, or some other special one in your life.
Another great book that would make a great Christmas gift is Treasured, by Leigh McLeroy.
Treasured is a book about our most treasured keepsakes, or where we happen to store them. Our "treasured places" hold the very being of ourselves, and they represent the story of our life. This book reveals God as being a collector, and his great book: THE BIBLE, is full of his treasures. Within the pages of the Bible you will find Abraham's Knife, A bloodstained piece of Wood, and a Golden Bell. All of these items, and more, are described in detail and how God's "treasures," help us get to know the Heart of God. This is a great book for motivating you to get to know our loving and living God, and to have a "treasured" encounter with him.
Author Bios:
Leigh McLeroy is the author of The Beautiful Ache and The Sacred Ordinary. An avid collector and recorder of everyday moments, words, and wonders, Leigh’s keen eye for God’s presence in ordinary life infuses her writing and living with a deep, insistent joy. A frequent conference and event speaker, the author makes her home in Houston, Texas, and posts often on http://www.leighmcleroy.com/ and http://www.wednesdaywords.com/.

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than 1.5 million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Love follows in Lisa’s classic tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She lives in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.

You can purchase these books, and others, at the RandomHouse.com website.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Wii Games (**Approved**) for your Holiday Shopping Lists...

Looking for a video game to give someone for Christmas? Here are a few that I have recently received to review, and I recommend them (so do my kids)!

MySims Agents
This game starts out with you as a secret agent. You create your agent specialized for you, then you take on an identity. The city you are in appears normal, but underlining the city is crime, mischief and suspense. As a agent, you will need to search for clues and solve cases by balancing, jumping, climbing to where ever the case leads. At the beginning of the game, you are equipped with a crowbar, a magnifying glass and a wrench. As you gain in your experience, you will get more tools to help you on your quest to track footprints, pick locks, hack into computers and do molecular forensics. The more mysteries you solve the more well known you become and more experienced. This game is fun, because you are totally engaged in the mission of defeating the enemy and you get to go on fun adventures like: taking a private jet to reach an ancient temple, a spooky mansion and an icy mountaintop chalet. Throughout the game you are given rewards of unlocking rare items, and you also can recruit other agent MySims to help you increase your team. Your recruits can be sent out to solve cases while you continue to investigate Morcubus. This game also has from mini games included. (1 Player rated E for everyone) **My son HIGHLY recommends this game! He said it is one of his favorites!** From EA games. SRP $49.95

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2: Hosted by Mr. Potato Head!
Gather the family around the TV for a fun night of games galore! Up to 4 players can participate in Hasbro's Family Game Night 2. You can choose between 5 games in two different modes (classic and the new version) of play. This game is a sequel to the award winning Family Game Night, and with the new FGN 2 you can win and collect parts for the Mr. Golden Potato and become the ultimate show champion! You can earn new themes and trophies the more you play.
Here is what games you will find on Family Game Night 2:
OPERATION : You will have to search and find the piece needed to be removed to perform surgery on your patient. Once you find the piece, you are brought to it and you need to grab on and carefully bring the item out (between shapes).
JENGA : (This is one of my favorites!) You take your Wii remote and pull out the Jenga piece that you think may come out without toppling the tower of blocks over. The suspense is almost unbearable! Can you beat the game?
BOP-IT : You can twist it!, BOP-It!, Pull it, shout it in this game of copy. You can play this game with spoken instruction or sound instruction. Great game for concentration.
CONNECT 4x4 : All new way to play this game of 4 in a row diagonally, vertically, and horizontally.
PICTUREKA : Find the clues given in the cards laid out.
You have the option to play with your Nintendo Mii and you can even customize Mr. Potato Head. (4 player game rated E for everyone) **This is a great game to enjoy with the family. It is a great game to play for just a short time period (if you are short on time) or you can enjoy for a longer time frame.** From EA games and Hasbro. SRP$39.95

LITTLEST PET SHOP
Set with an all new cast of quirky pets and their best friends, you can enjoy this game with your favorite LPS friends. Loaded with new mini-games like: Busy Bakers, Wags and Tags, Kibble Cups and Strike a pose.
Busy Bakers: Order up! Fill your pets' orders using the different colored bone shaped cakes, fillings and toppings.
Wags and Tags: Tag, you're it (and you don't want to be it). Try to stay away from the pet who is it. The longer you can prevent getting tagged, the more points you get.
Kibble Cups: Keep your eyes glued to the cup with the yellow ball! If you are playing with a friend, their ball is purple. As the cups switch around, follow the one with your ball closely. Once the cups stop, select the one with your ball.
You can explore new towns with your favorite pets, and dress them up for the outing. Venture on quests, deliver invitations, serve up ice cream, and style your pets as you get ready for the biggest Littlest Pet Shop party of the year, you may even have an unexpected (and new) pet arrive for the festivities! In the Littlest Pet Shop Friends, you can play with your best friend! Each pet has a best friend that will help them prepare for the parties. You can also play the mini games with your best friend (in real life) creating a great co-op play feature, and if you earn a blue ribbon for an Expert game, you will unlock a new accessory to the boutiques.
(2 player game rated E for everyone). **Fun interactive game for kids.** From EA games and Hasbro. SRP$39.95

Taking care of a baby is a lot of work, good care, and demanding. My Baby First Steps is a game where the player will take care of a baby from 15 months to 30 months. You will see your babygrow, learn how to walk better, learn to speak better, and do new things. You get to put your baby to bed with a story, give him/her a bath, go shopping, dress and change your baby and more. Using the Wii remote you can hold and shake a stuffed toy to get your baby to walk across the room. Your game has two important people to help you on your journey with caring for your baby. Clara, the pediatric nurse, gives you advice to help your baby, but she is also firm if you aren't careful with your baby. George, is a pediatrician, and he follows the development of your baby since birth. He suggests the steps to take to help your baby with exercises to help him grow. The game has several places in the house you can go with your baby: living room, kitchen, bedroom, dressing room and more.
There is a progress book that you can access by opening a flower menu. This tells you all the information about your baby and profile. This tells you the time you have spent on this game, your baby's that you have cared for, number of objects your have and more. You can see all the information on your baby (weight, name, size, learning skills) In this book is also the instructions from George for the exercises you should do with your baby. **I think this game is a good game for fun. My kids enjoy this one. They like that they can pick to be a mom or dad, and what sex their baby is. They like having a "surprise" baby, too (where the computer picks which baby you have). I think it is good for kids to see what kind of things/activities are involved in taking care of babies.**
(1 player game rated E for everyone) From My Baby Village. SRP$29.99

Join the Greatest Show on Earth and bring it into your own living room! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey just came out with a video game that brings you to the heart of the circus. In this game you will get to go clown bowling (you are the bowling ball), be a human cannonball, juggle the balls with your Wii remote and nunchuck, work in the ring with the tigers, walk the high-wire (can be played using the balance board), ride down the high wire on a unicycle and more. This game has several mini games to enjoy with a friend or alone.
You can edit what your player looks like: skin tone, clothing wear, and hair color. As you play, you will unlock special costumes as prizes. Earning Barnum Bucks you can buy costumes, food, toys and prizes (clown car, bag of peanuts, mini circus train, clown fish and more)
**This is a fun game.** This game is from 2K Play and Feld Entertainment. SRP $39.99
(2 player game rated E for everyone)

This review was sponsored by EA games, MyBabyVillage and 2K Play. They have supplied me with Wii games to sample for review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

MN Lynx game WNBA(Womans National Basketball Association)

I had never been to a Women's basketball game before, especially a NBA Women's game. I had the opportunity to attend a WNBA game through OnetoOne Network. Our team for Minnesota is the MN Lynx, for Women. My family and I went to the game on July 28th, 2009. The Lynx were playing against the Los Angeles Sparks.

It was an exciting game! The Lynx had a bit of a rough start to their game, but they soon "got their game on." It was fun seeing all the fun moves and fancy passes the girls did with the ball.
During the first quarter, Joe Schwei (team contact) came with goody bags for our kids! My kids loved their care packages! Inside the bag was a t-shirt, water bottle, personal photo of one of the Lynx gals, bookmark, poster, headband, and a bandanna. It was a generous gift for my kids, and they loved the treasures. Now we can "advertise" for the Lynx.
A few times during the "time-outs, or half-time" there were opportunities for participation from the crowds. The Lynx had basketball shoot-offs: one that included a trip to New York, and one that won other prizes. During half-time, the mascot: Prawl, did a toss up with t-shirts to those who could catch them. It is fun how the team and the mascot engage the fans.

The Minnesota Lynx team is a great group of women! It was fun to watch those gals in action! They are hard working, and aggressive on the court. I really thought that they sported great team work and sportsmanship.
We had great seats for the game, too! We sat in the second section up from the floor level. We had a great view, and could really enjoy the game. Madelyn loved the mascot the best. She really wanted to hug him and say hi, but he wasn't close enough to him. The game ended with the Sparks barely beating the Lynx. It was a very close game in the end, and I am glad we were able to attend this fun game! Thank you OnetoOne network and the MN Lynx for letting us help with this blogging opportunity.

If you would like to attend a WNBA game, you can click (This LINK) to receive discounted tickets.

"Along Came You" book review

"Before you I slept soundly all night long. After you, I wake to watch you sleeping."
"Before you, I read books with a thousand pages. After you, I read your favorite book a thousand times."
These are a couple of my favorite statements in the book, "Along Came You." This book is such a sweet revelation about the transformation from life without kids, to the new lifestyle once they enter our lives. Parents sacrifice much to have kids, but the joys and pleasures sure out-weigh life without children(in my opinion).
Summary of the book:
What happens when the pleasures of a tidy, carefully decorated home are traded for the excitement of high chairs and noisy toys? When quiet evenings and carefully planned schedules are traded for busy days and crazy nights? What happens when the desire to experience joy is replaced with the desire that another would experience joy? Karona Drummond weaves images of life before kids with life after kids. Children will delight in this love song written to them about the joyful change they bring about and how the loving sacrifices of their parents transform a simple life into an abundant life. This book is a truly a touching glimpse and a warm reminder of the parent heart of God.
About the author:
Karona Drummond likes to make up lighthearted songs and poems. She is married with two kids and a dog. Karona is a certified elementary school teacher. She has taught preschoolers for over 15 years. She spent several years at Texas Woman's University Child Development Center and several years at the University of North Texas Child Development Laboratory.
About the Illustrator:
Estelle Corke had been told to write less and draw more when she was 8, and by age 12, she had won the $1 first prize at the local art fair! Now, she considers her career in illustrating children's books a privilege of a lifetime.
I loved this book, and I loved the way the book displayed the relationship between a mom and her daughter. The love between the mom and daughter is displayed so vividly in the words and the pictures. I love the detail that Estelle drew in the pictures~ even the wedding rings on the mom's finger. SRP: $15.99

Double Daring Books for Girls (Challenge) Book Shower!

I am thrilled to be a participant in a book shower for the authors of the new Double Daring book for Girls! Andrea J. Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz have compiled a whole book of double daring adventures, crafts, stories, sports and knowledgeable facts to encourage all those daring girls to put themselves to the challenges. It is a great book to learn new things, and try your hand at the activities and crafts! Even my son had a kick out of the Math Tricks and used them to stump his peers and his teacher.
The Double Daring Book for Girls is a follow-up to the bestselling book: The Daring Book for Girls, and has all new material. Girls will learn how to play football, catch a fish, make a labyrinth, learn about the Chinese New Year, how to make a scarecrow, what words impress, the Nobel Prize, learn about the origin of phrases and idioms, being a detective and much more!
I have really enjoyed reading this book, and some of the contents brought me right back into my childhood days, and the fun things my friends and I did and learned about.
I think the Double Daring Book for Girls makes for a great book for any homeschooling family because you can use so much of the information and activities in your studies. Did you know that you can learn how to paint a room, how to build a raft, make antique paper, how to make a rope ladder, and learn about the history of the bicycle....all found in the Double Daring Book~ Plus so much more!

I was asked to host a dare on my site to help promote this great book, and also participate in the book shower for the authors. So, I thought it would be fun to make our own piñata out of papier-mâché as something to dare my readers to do, but instead, I have decided to make a snow globe. I know winter is over, but who says it is too late to make a gift for someone. I personally love homemade gifts, and love to give them to people. So, I am daring you, my readers, to make a snow globe. I will give you the directions that are in my Double Daring Book, and you can make one. I would love it if you could post this on your site, link to me, and let me know you did it. I think it sounds like fun! I will work on my globe this week. I am actually going to ask my 10 year old son to make one with me. (even though he is NOT a girl). I will post the picture later this week of what my globe looks like. What a fun craft, huh? The Double Daring Book for Girls is packed with such fun craft ideas!

Here is what you need to do to make a snow globe: (taken from the book)

1. You need a glass jar with a lid that screws on tight. (even a small baby food jar)
2. Fun doodads that will fit inside the jar and glued tightly on the inside of the lid. (plastic dolls, game pieces, Legos, etc.)
3. Glue, or clay that is strong enough to keep the doodad connected to the lid. (hot gun glue, super glue, modeling clay, or florist clay)
4. Glitter
5. Water
6. *Optional: glycerin, to make the water a bit thicker so the glitter moves slower.

First, glue the doodad to the lid of the jar with the glue of choice. Modeling clay will even hold the doodad. Set aside to dry fully, and make sure it is really sticking. Then, when the glue is dry, fill the jar most of the way to the top with cold water, leaving some room for air. Add a few teaspoons of glitter and *glycerin*. Close lid tight, and shake. Once you have the right amount of water and glitter, take the lid off and dry well. Put some glue on the inside of the lid, and glue it tight to the jar. You can hold it with clay, too. Allow the whole thing to dry before shaking.

That's it! Doesn't it sound like fun!? I think you should make a snow globe with me! Your kids can really have fun with this project, too!

Here is a quote from the authors:
Daring is all around us. It is in girls who break barriers and girls who help out friends. It is in girls who scale mountains and girls who speak their minds. It is in girls who make things and girls who ask questions, girls who set their sights on adventure and girls who find adventure in their own backyards. Daring is about finding your journey and following your dreams—getting off the sidelines and getting in the game, whatever your game may be.
So fire up your inner daring, turn the page, and remember the daring girl credo: Enjoy yourself, learn new things, and lead an interesting life.
Go on—we double-dare you!
Andrea J. Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz

So, you have been officially DARED!! Will you take the challenge and join me in making a snow globe?

You can purchase the Double Daring book for Girls online at Amazon, and you can also look in your local bookstore. SRP: $26.99

Great Mother's Day Gift!!

I was very fortunate to review for a new jewelry online store and got myself a stunning Mother's Day bracelet! I love my new bracelet! I have each of my four kids initials on it, along with their birthstones! I have always wanted a bracelet with my children's names and birthstones on it, and Elisa Ilana made the perfect bracelet!
Elisa Ilana designs beautiful Mother's bracelet styles and customizes each one to fit your needs/wants. I love that Elisa Ilana makes their jewelry with sterling silver and 14 Karat Gold. The stones used with the jewelery are semi precious stones. The different designs on the beads are so pretty! I love the selection of them! The Emerald stones seem a bit lighter than the dark, rich color Emeralds have, but that just may be the way the stones are. I wear my bracelet almost daily, even though it looks more like something I should wear while dressed up. I just love it that much!
To make a bracelet like I have you just go to the Mother's Bracelet's section and then click on the style #237376. Then you just select how many strands you would like, type in the names/initials of your child, select their birthstones, and pick the measurement of your wrist for sizing. It was easy to pick out the selections I wanted for my bracelet. I would like to mention how quick the service was with Elisa Ilana, too!
Elisa Ilana is not only known for their custom jewelry, they are also widely known for their support of cancer research and cancer awareness through their cancer awareness collection. The Cancer Awareness Bracelet is seen in In Style, Vogue, W, Bon Appetit, Vanity Fair, Lucky, Architectural Digest and others! Elisa Ilana also offers prostate cancer, aids, American Heart Association, and breast cancer awareness jewelry!
Elisa Ilana has created and sold handcrafted jewelry since 1996, and each piece is carefully made by hand in Omaha, Nebraska. You can find them in the Mall called Westroads in Omaha, or you can see them at an art show. They use the finest metals, semi-precious stones, crystals, and lamp work beads available.
So, if you would like to create/design a special bracelet for your Mother's Day gift, or any other gift for someone special....let Elisa Ilana create your gift!

Diaper Cakes (and Wreaths) by Becca~

I really enjoy coming across creative, inventive, and fun gifts to give people! I received a Diaper Wreath from Diaper Cakes by Becca. What a fun and useful gift to shower a new mom upon the birth of her baby! The Diaper Wreath is a great decoration for the baby shower, and even comes with a door hanger! The Diaper Wreath that I got is a "Duck" wreath. It has a great assortment of products tucked in and around it for a new baby. Here is what my wreath has: 2 adorable rubber ducks (miniatures), blocks~ spelling out DUCKY, Johnson & Johnson lotion, baby powder, Shampoo and Body wash (travel size), 2 feeding spoons, 2 wash cloths, Desitin cream packet (travel), and a bib. Holding all the items in place are 10 (size 1) diapers, and 12 fun colorful links wrapped up in polka dot ribbon. What a fun display! All the items can be used with your baby, except the diapers, due to sanitary reasons. I think any mom would love to be blessed with a Diaper Wreath by Becca! Diaper Cakes by Becca specializes in Diaper Cakes...and even Environmentally Friendly Diaper cakes!
Diaper Cakes by Becca started in 2006. Becca wanted to make an extra special gift for her new nephew, so she designed a personalized diaper cake for him. With the success of her cake making, she started Diaper Cakes by Becca, and have made over 600 customers happy! She makes all cakes personalized to fit what the customer is specifically looking for.
Are you looking to find the perfect, personalized, and creative gift to give a new mom? Maybe you would like to find a diaper cake for a first birthday? During the month of March, Becca has a great promotion going on! She has a special discount on any 3 Tier cake that is ordered! Plus, all her wreath's are on sale this month! Each one is marked down individually! Every month Becca has "the featured cake," which is a special promotion. Once in awhile she has a discount on store cakes when she finds a great deal that makes the cost lower. She keeps prices low so that EVERYONE can get a great diaper cake.
Go check out Diaper Cakes by Becca to personalize your gift today! See here for her prices and contact information!

Christmas Eve family photos

I wanted to share our family photos from our family Christmas celebrations (Christmas Eve) and my side of the family Christmas celebrations (Christmas Day). I blogged about our Christmas festivities (click here), and you can read about it, if you would like. Both days were great, but (as usual) my only regret is that I didn't take very many photos. I really need to get better about taking photos. Moments pass by and the kids grow up so fast!

Here is a glimpse of our morning on Christmas Eve.Caleb was really into the gift opening! He was very excited to get Mickey's Speedway Race track!

Madelyn was so excited about her Elmo, she just giggled and kissed him. Of coarse, she said, "Cute!" then, she did more giggling!
Nathaniel loves his Pokemon cards. The pants he has on are from my parents. He loves flannel PJ bottoms! It was fun watching Madelyn open gifts this year. She got excited about tearing off the paper.
Now, here is a glimpse into our Christmas Day celebrations over at my brother and sister-in-law's house for my side Christmas get-together.
These girls are three of my nieces reading about the real "Christmas story" from the Bible. This is a yearly tradition. It is fun to have the nieces and nephews read the story, it used to be one of us adults.
Madelyn was having fun listening to the story of the birth of baby Jesus.
After the Bible reading, it was gift giving and opening. With all those niece and nephews, the whole process can be overwhelming. They all sure had fun, though.
The little girl in blue had Madelyn's name for Christmas, and she was so excited to give Madelyn her heart-felt gift. She wrapped up her Dora Doll house and accessories. It was a gently used gift, and my sister was wondering if that was ok with me. I am totally fine with "recycling" gifts. The kiddos don't mind if it is in a new box, or played with...it is still "new" to them!
Madelyn was very excited to get a doll house. She has played with it every day since she got it for Christmas. Her cousin picked a great gift to give!
After the gift exchange/opening, Terry crashed on the couch.
This is a picture of my oldest nieces, and one nephew. For the longest time I used to tell my oldest nephew that he was my favorite nephew....then, my sister's started having boys, so now I can't say that anymore. He sure holds his own in the group of all those girls, though! The ones on his lap are his two sisters.
Caleb had a lot of fun playing with this cousin, even though he is almost 5 years older than Caleb.
Here's the little girls having fun playing with the dollies. It is so cute seeing Madelyn loving playing with the bigger girls! The one in pink is one year older than her, and the one in the blue dress is 3 years older than her. (She is the one who gave Maddie the doll house).

That was a sneak peek into our family celebrations! I wish I had more pictures to share!