Friday, April 29, 2011
Hey y’all we’re back doing another dialect vlog hop, these are so much fun—how could we resist. Once again I have my BIL Travis (or as I like to call him Travie Trav) and once again he’ll make you laugh, cringe, and wanna throw something at the computer monitor…trust me he’s texting and vloging and that should be illegal lol. Anyway if you wanna know what the dialect vlog hop is all about head on over to MamaDweeb.com to get all of the details and check out all of the participants! Oh FYI 3:32 is worth every single minute spent watching this video…you can thank me later!
The Words:
why, outside, chic, boutique, February, Right of way, Porsche, Behind, Tomorrow, Bye, Organization
The Questions:
Pin & Pen – do you same them the same or different?
What do you call a place you go that serves mainly alcoholic beverages?
What is the grey tape that can fix any broken object?
What do you call someone that isn’t “cool”?
A phrase your grandparents always said?
What do you call a girl that acts silly and unintelligent?
Slow as ______
Quick as _________
Happy as a ________
How Do You Say Vlog Hop#4
Hey, hey, hey…boy do I have something awesome to tell all of you! If you’ve been a MIBR reader for a while you know that we’ve had a “Fun in the Sun” blog party every year around May or June, but this year I decided to mix things up a bit and do a “What’s HOT For Summer” kinda, sorta blog party…and you’re all invited!! We have some fabulous products to tell you about and some mega fantastic giveaways too! You can check out a list of participating companies below!
Make sure you grab out “What’s HOT For Summer” button and put it on your blog! If you grab the button before Sunday May 1st you will get 5 extra entries into ALL of the giveaways and trust me when I say that you will definitely want those extra entries when you see the list of prizes!
“What’s HOT For Summer” Participants!
Sponsored by Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks
Make sure you grab out “What’s HOT For Summer” button and put it on your blog! If you grab the button before Sunday May 1st you will get 5 extra entries into ALL of the giveaways and trust me when I say that you will definitely want those extra entries when you see the list of prizes!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
What’s better than making Mom smile on Mother’s Day? How about making mom smile and helping a good cause?
This Mother’s Day, join Macy’s in their “Thank a Mom Movement” which not only celebrates mom but empowers you to select which charity you want Macy’s to donate $5 (up to a total of $400,000) to in her honor.
So how does it work? All you have to do is send a FREE e-card to the amazing moms in your life and Macy’s will donate $5 to the charity of your choice (from the 5 mom approved charities below)! You can visit Macy’s Facebook Fan page to find out more about the “Thank a Mom Movement”, create and send a free e-card, and to learn more about the 5 amazing mom-approved charities!
I chose to have $5 donated to Futures Without Violence formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund ®. As someone who fought their way out of an abusive relationship this charity is very special to me and I hope that all of you will create a card, put a smile on the face of the special moms in your life and help a good cause…it takes minutes, but those minutes can help impact someone’s life forever!
You can check out each of the 5 amazing charities involved in the “Thank a Mom Movement” below! And make sure you go to Macy’s Facebook Fan page, send a card, and help change lives!
Being a stay-at-home-mom means that the majority (i.e. ALL) of the household chores fall to me, most days I don’t mind vacuuming,mopping, doing dishes, and sorting laundry, but there is one chore that I detest and dread every day of the week--making dinner. Now I used to love cooking, I really wanted to be a chef, but once you cook 3 meals a day for years and years and years it just becomes repetitive, boring and a major pain in the butt. I do however, love finding new cookbooks and trying out new recipes to try to break up the monotony and I was recently introduced to a cookbook that I think all of you busy moms and dads may just want to check out…4 INGREDIENTS!
The name pretty much says it all, and if you’re like me the thought of cooking with only 4 ingredients is one that induces excitement! 4 INGREDIENTS: More Than 400 Quick, Easy, and Delicious Recipes Using 4 or Fewer Ingredients is a must-have cookbook for moms and dads everywhere.
About 4 INGREDIENTS
Life-long friends, Kim and Rachel are ordinary mothers (with six boys between them) but they are also accomplished career women. Together they dreamed up the idea of 4 INGREDIENTS one night over a glass of wine to make their lives easier, and it grew into a thriving multi-million dollar empire. (You can even get it on iTunes). 4 INGREDIENTS is already a breakout bestseller in Australia and the UK with more than 2 million copies sold! Now Atria books is bringing 4 INGREDIENTS to the US!
Kim and Rachel’s mantra is “Keep it Simple” and they’ve come up with simple, yet stringent, guidelines for 4 INGRIENTS.
* All of the recipes can be made with just 4 or fewer ingredients
* All of the recipes are explained on average in only 4 sentences
* All of the recipes can be prepared with just 1 cup, 1 Tablespoon, & 1 teaspoon
* All of the recipes have been repeatedly tried and tested…and are delicious!
I received a copy of 4 INGREDIENTS to review and I have to admit that it took a minute to get used to the differences in some of the European recipes and ingredients, but it didn’t take long to find a recipe that I just had to try—Baked Ravioli
Ingredients
1 container )20-28 oz.) fresh ravioli (cheese or meat)
2 1/2 cups of your favorite pasta sauce
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
3 sprigs parsley chopped
Preheat oven to 180C. Cook ravioli according to packet instructions, then drain. Line a casserole dish with a thin layer of pasta sauce, add a layer of ravioli, sprinkle a layer of cheese and a touch of parsley. Repeat layering process finishing with a layer of ravioli, top with remaining pasta sauce, and cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is golden. Cool slightly, before cutting into squares as you would lasagna.
Though I’ve never heard of some of the ingredients there are a ton of recipes that are super simple, quick, and oh so easy to prepare. And the best part? Oh that’s easy, being able to put something amazing on the dinner table and not having to break the bank buying ingredients!
You can find out more about the 4 INGREDIENTS cookbook as well as information on how to order on their website!
*I received the above product from the company or PR agency in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary or other gain.*
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
With everyone in anticipation of the Wedding of the Century I thought I’d take this opportunity to let Consumer Savings Expert Andrea Woroch give those of you who are planning a wedding and dreaming of a William and Kate Like affair, but in reality have a very tight budget some tips on how to have a lavish wedding on a shoestring.
Sound the trumpets! After eight long years, Prince William and Catherine ("Waitie Katie") Middleton will walk down the aisle Friday in a fairytale wedding. Contrary to all the pomp and circumstance, the happy couple actually lead a very modest life in a $1,200-a-month farmhouse in Angsley, Wales. If William wasn't heir to the throne, one gets the feeling they might plan a more intimate and reasonably priced affair. That doesn't mean they'd have to forgo all the bells and whistles, however.
If you're planning a wedding and would like to exchange vows in a more royal fashion on a limited budget, read on for 15 tips to help you tie the knot in style without sacrificing your savings.
1. The Proposal
Prince William took Kate all the way to Kenya to propose over a champagne dinner. While you can't replicate the location, you could pop for champagne and cook your own dinner. If you're looking for something a bit more romantic, try Michael Scott's incredibly romantic, candle-laden proposal on "The Office."
2. Princely Invitations
The royal invite is a relatively simple 8-inch-by-6-inch card that says the Lord Chamberlain has been "commanded by the Queen" to invite the holder to the wedding. Eliminating all the extra envelopes, tissue paper and fuss of traditional invites is both very modern and much less expensive. To save even more, opt to create the invite on your home computer or visit sites like PrintRunner.com which offer easy-to-follow directions on custom wedding invitation cards.
3. Pre-marital Counseling
Once the question has been popped, it's wise to seek a bit of advice. The royal couple will meet with both the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury, but you can turn to your own spiritual adviser or check with your county mental-health center for a recommendation to a counselor who charges on a sliding scale.
4. Wedding Rings
The royal couple will exchange wedding rings made with gold from Wales' Clogau Mine. William is also having Kate's ring engraved inside, a sentiment common couples can easily duplicate. For an excellent price on rings, check out pawnshops and discount jewelry merchants, like Amazon. Watch for promo codes for even more savings on jewelry.
5. Teeth Whitening
Want to know a secret? Kate donned invisible braces and had her teeth whitened for the wedding. (She also lost weight, but that's another topic.) One of the cheapest ways to purchase a teeth-whitening session is via one of the group-buying services, such as Groupon and LivingSocial. Otherwise, try a more affordable drugstore product like Crest White Strips to make your smile dazzle on the big day
6. Flowers
Catherine's floral selection is easy to duplicate as she's planned a white pallet reminiscent of an English garden. While hot-house flowers are nice, it's much less expensive if you ask a variety of friends to share the bounty of their backyard gardens. Or you might use silk flowers, which can be repurposed to decorate your happy new home.
7. Bouquets
Queen Victoria created a tradition when she included a bit of myrtle in her bouquet to symbolize "constancy in affection and duty." Her highness later planted the sprig so future brides could share a piece of her bouquet. Not only is this an inexpensive and lovely idea but planting the sprig is very eco-friendly.
8. Tuxes
An all-tuxedo ensemble at the altar has become rather passe. Follow Prince William's lead and wear your military uniform, or go your own way with a simple suit. Don't have a suit? Thrift shops have some surprisingly good deals on quality jackets, pants and two-piecers.
9. Dresses
Lucky Catherine has her choice of gowns, from Vera Wang to J. Crew, and she can wear what she likes as there's no protocol on bridal wear. Everyday brides, however, can save by renting, borrowing or hitting second-hand shops. For those looking for a gown online or in-store, plan to buy discount gift cards before checking out to help lower the cost by up to 30-percent off.
10. Tiaras
Not everyone wants to wear a tiara, but it would be hard to forgo this headwear if, like Kate, you could chose from 80 stunning tiaras in the royal family collection. Brides who want to look more like a princess than a pauper might check out costume shops for realistic-looking tiaras at rock-bottom prices.
11. Music
Princess Diana rode to her wedding in a glass carriage. Trumpets sounded upon her arrival and three choirs serenaded her walk down the aisle. While that might be overdoing it just a touch for your wedding, there's no reason you can't replicate the sound with recorded music. For a more personal touch, ask a friend to play and sing.
12. Location
Commoners might find it difficult to fill St. Paul's Cathedral, but you don't want to overlook the many low-budget locations open to you. A nice backyard, local church, public park, community garden, historical building on your local university campus...there's no end to low-cost locations if you begin to think outside the box.
13. After Parties
Queen Elizabeth is hosting an intimate luncheon for 700 at Buckingham Palace, then the oldsters will clear out and 400 of the younger guests will enjoy an evening of dining and dancing. While you might need to scale down the numbers, you can follow the same blueprint. Hold a small champagne reception directly after the wedding for the senior crowd and, if you'd like to go really low cost, a potluck dinner followed by dancing to your favorite iTunes.
14. Honeymoon
Princess Diana and Prince Charles spent their honeymoon in Hampshire, England, but it looks like Kate and William will head to equally chilly Canada. Not all of us have a former colony to tour, but we can get away for a nice hiking weekend or time at a friend's cottage. If your budget has been destroyed by the wedding itself, there's always the option of a staycation. Turn off the phones and computers and turn your home into a spa, movie theater or whatever suits your fancy. Just don't tell anyone where you are.
15. Trousseau
Despite having a millionaire's bank book, Kate is an economical clothes shopper, which can't be easy when you have to wear all those hats. The soon-to-be-princess also doubles her wardrobe by sharing with her sister. You can follow Kate's tips or hit thrift shops, second-hand stores and the big boxes for your trousseau. Target, in particular, has a comparatively upscale clothing selection at very reasonable prices.
Tips contributed by Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, is available to share "How to Throw a Royal Wedding on a Pauper's Budget" with your audience for an in-studio, satellite or skype interview. Andrea has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more as a media expert source. To view recent interviews or find more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com.
Remember a while back when I told you all how much my husband and I enjoyed our recent wine sampling from flipflop wines? Well, we recently received another wine to try out a German Riesling imported and bottled by the same wine merchants as flipflop wines.
I mentioned in my last review that of the 3 wines I was able to try out I really enjoyed the Riesling the most, so when I was asked if I would be interested in sampling a German Riesling I was more than happy to oblige.
About The Rudolph Muller “Rabbit” Riesling
The Rudolph Muller ‘Rabbit’ Riesling aka “The Bunny Wine” was produced from grapes grown in the Rhein region of Germany. It is a modern style of Rielsing with aromas and flavors of peaches and pears. The ‘Rabbit’ Rielsing won the GOLD MEDAL, L.A. International Wine Competition, 2010.
The wine’s crisp and fruity flavors are a perfect match with firmer cheeses, pastas with cream sauce, lighter seafood dishes and cuisine with Asian spices.
We received two 3 liter Octavian’s of the 2009 Rudolf Muller Bunny Riesling to review a few weeks ago, as we had only recently moved into our new house we decided to save the Riesling for a housewarming party that we were planning and I’m so glad that we did. With several of our friends on hand I introduced the German Riesling and asked all of them to try it, I must admit, most of our friends are not wine drinkers, but several of them really enjoyed the Riesling and a few even wanted to know where they could purchase it! When I first tried the German Riesling I was very surprised at how low key and smooth it was, not surprisingly those were the same terms most of our party guests used to describe “The Bunny Wine”.
If you’re new to wine, like I am the Rielsing is a perfect choice as it’s sweet taste and fruity aromas make this wine smooth and perfect for a novice wine drinker. I cannot wait to try this wine with a pasta dish, I have one set aside that is perfect for this wine…see, I’m turning into a wine aficionado right before your eyes!
You can check out more about the 2009 Rudolph Muller ‘Rabbit’ Riesling and purchase a bottle to try for under $20 on the Underdog Wine Merchants website.
Also make sure you check out flipflop wines on Facebook!
Monday, April 25, 2011
As most of you know we recently moved into a new house (thank goodness for that), our first order of business in our new house was redecorating the big girl’s room. I had a vision of purples and blues and cute accessories and bedding and we ended up with something very close to what I had envisioned since we decided to take the house! Though the girls were absolutely ecstatic to have a “cute room” I think I was a little more excited to get to design the room of my dreams, hey, it’s alright to live vicariously through your kids every once in a while…right? My favorite part of decorating the girls’ room was picking out all of the accessories that truly made it their own and one of my absolute favorite accessories is a personalized fairy print from Kranky Krab that matches the room perfectly.
I hadn’t heard about the Kranky Krab (love the name by the way) until very recently, but as soon as I had a chance to check out the website I knew that I would fall in love with the designs in a big way. The Kranky Krab is the brainchild of designer and illustrator Tracy Hopkins and she is very good at what she does. Check out Tracy’s bio below as well as a little more information about Kranky Krab!
About Tracy Hopkins
Hello!
My name is Tracy Hopkins. I'm a designer and illustrator originally
from Chicago but now living in Orlando, FL.
I've recently started to sell my children's art products and I wanted
to introduce myself and my products. At the same time, I'd like to
inquire about review and giveaway opportunities if you feel my
products are consistent with your website message.
I've been working with several Mom bloggers offering a $25 gift
certificate giveaway and / or a review product of their choice.
Since much of my work is personalized, it's best to let people pick
what they'd like themselves.
A little about me...
I have always had a love for children's art, as well as a love for
animals which find their way into my work.
For several years I worked as a designer for Harcourt School
Publishers illustrating and developing Flash based games for grades
K-6.
In 2006 I went freelance and have continued to work for them as well
as National Geographic School Publishers and Harcourt Religion
Publishers.
My process begins with everything drawn first by hand. This
illustration is then scanned and digitally colored and textured using
Illustrator and Photoshop.
My prints are then created using a professional large format printer
with archival inks on high quality fine art stock, with some pieces
printed directly to canvas.
Aside from Tracy’s designs being absolutely whimsical and adorable everything is 100% handmade, including the frames, mats, and magnets and that is very impressive to this artistically challenged mama. We recently received one of Tracy’s designs to review, naturally I chose a print that complimented the girl’s room. When I received the print I was so impressed at the quality, the print itself if vibrant and flawless and the picture frame compliments the print beautifully. I chose a personalized fairy on a purple background (which matches the purple in the girl’s room) to review I had the print personalized with my daughter Savanna’s name since the fairy in the print reminded me of her…and it’s pure perfection! Of course, Kranky Krab offers so much more than fairy prints; personal prints, letter magnets (with adorable designs) and name frames are just a few of the many items that the Kranky Krab offers! You don’t have to take my word for it, just check out the personalized fairy print that I had made for Savanna and decide for yourself!
Savanna’s personalized fairy print prominently displayed above her bed!
A close up of the fairy print…does the purple match perfectly or what!?!
That’s just too adorable right? And did I mention that this print is only $25 AND that all orders to the US and Canada ship FREE until July 1, 2011? So what are you waiting for…go check out Kranky Krab and give your little one something to smile about every time they walk into their room!
How would you like to win a $25 GC to Kranky Krab? Wee, one very lucky MIBR reader is going to do just that…you can check out all of the giveaway details below!
Win it!
To enter this giveaway please visit Kranky Krab and have a look around and then come back and leave a comment on this post telling me what other item you would love to have for your lil one! this is mandatory and must be completed before extra entries are allowed!
Extra Entries!
Please leave separate comments for each extra entry.
2 Extra Entries Each
“Like” Kranky Krab on Facebook
“Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook
Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising on Google Friend Connect
Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising in Twitter
Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising via Email
Follow Crash Test Reviews via GFC
Grab our MIBR button
“Like” Crash Test Reviews Facebook
Follow Crash Test Reviews on Twitter
2 Extra Entries Each Daily
Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (be sure to include @Allie_23 in your tweets)
Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall
5 Extra Entries Each
Submit this giveaway to a linky or giveaway site (please leave URL in comment)
Blog about this giveaway and link to this post
This giveaway ends on May 9, 2011 . One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winners post. Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to reply and claim his or her prize.
*I received product from either the company or the PR rep for the company to review. All opinions are 100% mine!!!*
Friday, April 22, 2011
In honor of Earth Day I thought I’d post a few ways that you and your kids can do this Earth Day to help make our world a better place. Me and my kiddos will be planting a few new trees in our back yard as well as donating their gently used toys to our local Goodwill instead of throwing them out…they may only be small things, but every little bit helps!
From LiveStrong.com
Community Cleanup
Schedule a community cleanup day with the kids. You might focus on an area such as school grounds, your neighborhood or a community garden area. Cleaning up the local area helps the environment and creates a sense of community with the kids and other residents.
Garden
Planting seeds or plants on Earth Day is a natural option for kids' activities. The type of plant depends on the area. If space allows, plant a tree or large vegetable garden. Growing your own vegetables lets you eliminate the use of chemicals.
Toy Swap
Throwing away old toys results in more waste in the landfill. Instead of tossing the toys that are boring, help the kids organize a toy swap. Each child brings her old toys that she no longer wants, and the kids swap toys with one another. That way, each child goes home with different toys, and nothing ends up in the landfill.
Pledge
Earth Day offers an opportunity for kids to think about their own actions and how they impact the earth. Help the kids create an Earth Day pledge that states what they promise to do to keep the earth clean while protecting the environment. Have each child sign the pledge.
Green Committee
A kids' green committee puts the responsibility in the hands of the children. This idea works well in a school setting or other situation when a group of kids meets regularly. The green committee monitors the school to make sure the other kids are making green choices. They also find new ways to make the school green, such as adding recycling bins or planting flowers.
Make sure you check out LiveStrong.com for more great ways to help keep our planet clean and green on Earth Day and every day!
Hey y’all! I have some winner’s to announce, but first I want to let y’all know how sorry I am that I’m a few days late in posting these. With the semester almost coming to an end for me I have been SUPER busy writing papers, doing discussion board posts, and taking exams so I’m sorry that it’s taken me a few days to get around to posting the winners. I also want y’all to know that coming up soon, May 1st to be exact, we will be starting our “What’s HOT For Summer” feature chock full of the best products for the coming summer…so make sure you keep an eye out for more information, including how you can snag extra entries…and you WILL definitely want extra entries…one of the giveaway’s is for a laptop! Stay tuned!
Here we go…first giveaway up is the LaRue Across America giveaway and for that we have 2 winners!
First winner is:
susanlanai
I'd love to win this for my little one.
Second winner is:
wildcat32
I would love to win this for my son.
Next up we have the Calypso Studios giveaway!
Winning number is:
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
107
Timestamp: 2011-04-22 05:46:05 UTC
Winner is:
Mary
I follow on GFC. (mamie316)
mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com
Congrats to all of the winners and remember to be on the lookout for more details about our “What’s HOT For Summer” feature!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Ever since I saw the first episode of Extreme Couponing on TLC a few weeks ago I’ve been a woman possessed. With 4 hungry kids, 1 grumpy husband, and 1 goofy BIL to feed every little bit helps and let’s just be honest, who in their right mind wouldn’t want to know how to save 99% off of their grocery total? Anyway I watched the premiere episode of that show in awe, and immediately following the show I saif to myself, “Self, you ARE going to learn how to do that!” and I kinda, sorta, a little bit did!
I will be the first person to admit that I am NOT a couponer, at all, I will use them from time to time but more often than not I forget that I have them and by the time I make it to the register, alive, without killing one of my screaming kids the last thing I’m thinking about is using coupons. So when I decided that I was going to start really couponing I had no idea how much work it is, and let me be clear it is WORK, but it’s also work that if done correctly can really pay off. Since I just really started couponing I have quite a bit of work to do before I can compete with the likes of Nathan and The Krazy Coupon Lady, but I must admit I’m off to a pretty good start. You can check out my latest trip to Walmart and the awesome deals that I scored using coupons.
Keep in mind that this is only the 2nd time that I’ve actually went to store and shopped with more than a couple of coupons in hand, and unfortunately my WalMart didn’t have several of the items that I wanted or the quantities that I needed, but all in all it was a good haul!
Nivea for Men/Women Body Wash (2)
Regular Price: $3.97
Coupon for $3.00 off on 1(from 4-17 RedPlum2 circular)
Body Wash rang up at $3.00 each so final cost for 2 body washes=FREE
Finish Quantum Powerball (1)
Regular Price: $2.77
Coupon for $1.00 off (from 4-17 Smart Source 1)
Final Price = $1.77
You can go to Finish’s Facebook page and find out how to score $1.75 off Finish products!
Kotex U Panty Liners 18 ct. (4)
Regular Price: $1.24
Coupon for $1.00 off any Kotex U Panty Liner (from 4-17 Smart Source 2)
Final Price= $0.24 each for a total of: $0.96
Reach Floss 55 yds. (4)
Regular Price: $0.88
Coupon for $1 off 1 (from 4-17 Smart Source 1)
Final Price=FREE
Bic Comfort3 Advance Razor 4 pack (1)
Regular Price: $2.96
Coupon for $3 off (4-10 Smart Source)
Final Price= FREE
Bic Disposable Razors 12 ct (2)
Regular Price: $2.94 (I chose to purchase the more expensive razors, you can actually get this deal for as little as $0.57!)
Coupon for $2.00 off (from 3-27 Smart Source 1)
Final Price= $1.88
Total cost before coupons= $28.03
Total after coupons=$4.61
There are a TON of resources available online if you’re interested in couponing that you should definitely check out! My personal favorite is Couponmom.com as everything is laid out for you so you can save so much time and that time translates into money…so make sure you check it out!!!
I wanna know, do you coupon? Do you extreme coupon? What’s the most you’ve ever saved in one trip to the grocery store?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
I’ve mentioned several times here on Misadventures how much I love K’NEX and every time I think I’ve seen the best from them they surprise me again. Not too long ago I did a review for the Mario Kart Wii K’NEX Mario and Luigi, and we loved those construction sets, most recently we received the KID K’NEX Roary the Racing Car building set to review.
About the Roary the Racing Car building sets from KID K’NEX
With these new sets, kids ages 3+ can build Sprout TV’s popular red racecar and friends plus build and play in the exciting world of Silver Hatch Race Track! Roary the Racing Car sets include an adapter that lets the cars run on popular toy train track systems. These sets are brand new so we have a very limited number of samples.
Since Lil Man and Lil Diva didn't get to help as much as they would have liked building the Mario and Luigi building sets I decided to let them have full control of building the Roary the Racing Car set. The building set was the perfect size and difficulty level for my two youngest kiddos (ages 2 and 3) and they were able to complete the building set with very little help from me. I really appreciated that the size of the pieces in the building set were big enough for my lil ones to easily handle and manipulate so building the set never became too frustrating for them, if anything they were more and more encouraged as the added each new piece to the set. I think the most enjoyable part for me was seeing my babies build Roary on their own and the pure excitement and joy that washed over their faces as they showed off their masterpiece to the rest of the family.
You can check out the K’NEX website to find out more about the Roary the Racing Car building set that we review as well as tons of other great K’NEX products for all ages!
Buy it!
You can purchase the Roary the Racing Car building set online at http://knex.com/.
Monday, April 18, 2011
One of our favorite things to do as a family is have Game Night playing everything from hunting games (mom is not too into this one) to sports, but the real fun happens when we pull out the dancing games…we all love them and have a blast playing them!
We’ve bought plenty of dance games for Wii but my personal favorite is one that I only recently had the pleasure of trying out—Country Dance. Now if you know me at all you may be a little puzzled by that last statement, because I am not really a country music kind of girl, but this game makes country music my kind of music in a big way!
Country Dance for Wii from GameMill Entertainment, features chart topping tracks from some of country music’s biggest stars—past and present! Country Dance features some of the biggest names in country music including Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Johnny Cash, and SO many more! You use the Wii remote to mimic the moves on the screen, earn points for getting your groove on, and Boot, Scoot, and Boogey your way to a higher score than your competitors.
Being someone who loves every type of music but country, Country Dance was a definite stretch for me and honestly I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, but after the first song I was hooked. Not only does Country Dance feature one of my all-time favorite songs, “Watermelon Crawl” it has something for just about everyone from Johnny Cash to Miley Cyrus! We have had a blast every single time we play this game, I do have to admit that I do kinda, sorta get a little too competitive sometimes and run around saying something like, “Yeah, that’s right…I so own this game!” when I win, but that doesn’t happen too often…only when I play. Seriously though if you and your family love dance games you will LOVE Country Dance, it’s full throttle fun, high energy, and an awesome way to get your family up and moving! Country Dance is rated E10+!
Make sure you Like Country Dance on Facebook and follow Country Dance on Twitter!
Buy it!
You can pick up Country Dance for Wii
My oldest daughter Taylor loves to sing; I always joke that she was born singing, but it’s pretty close to the truth as she’s been singing since I can remember. Taylor’s dream is to be a singer and I have to admit she’s actually very good (and no I’m not just saying that because I’m her mom) and if she had some professional training I have no doubt she could easily fulfill that dream. Unfortunately Small Town, Ohio is not crawling with voice coaches and let’s be honest professional voice lessons can be mega expensive.
I recently had the opportunity to review a product that I think could definitely give children who dream of becoming singers more of a fighting chance. Voice Lessons To G0 is a vocal training series that helps children learn how to sing correctly released by She Sings Out, Inc. Ariella Vaccarino, the voice behind Voice Lessons to Go, has been teaching voice for 18 years and is an accomplished opera singer who has also sung on several films. “Voice Lessons To Go for Kids! v.1-Sing Out Proud!” is the first CD from the Voice Lessons to Go series and is designed for children pre-k through 6th grade to learn how to correctly warm up their voices while having fun. The CD advises children on healthy singing including guidance on posture, breathing, and dictation. Music terms are explained to music which makes learning the correct way to use their voices fun and entertaining. Vaccarino created “Sing Out Proud” with the intention of providing quality vocal instruction to children regardless of their location or experience level, and at a price that most parents can afford.
We received the CD “Sing Out Proud” from the Voice Lessons To Go series to review. When I told Taylor that I had received the CD she was eager to pop it into the CD player and get started, but was very quick to come back to me and say, “Um mom, it’s opera.” Once I explained to Taylor that the lady who was doing the teaching was indeed an opera singer and that she needed to give the CD a chance she took my advice and gave it another listen…and she was glad that she did. After a while in her room, and a lots of what appeared to be warm up exercises and singing Taylor came out of her room and informed me that she really liked the CD and that she thought that it definitely helped her learn what to do and not to do when she was singing. I must admit I was skeptical, when am I not, but after listening to Taylor sing after listening to the CD for several days in a row she does seem to have a little bit better control of her voice and she sounds amazing, though to be fair I did absolutely think that before!
If you have a little one who dreams of becoming a singer and voice lessons are not really in your budget right now, Voice Lessons To Go is a great alternative. You can find out more about Voice Lessons to Go on their website including information about all of the Voice Lessons To Go products!
Buy it!
You can purchase Voice Lessons To Go v.1 Sing Out Proud online at http://voicelessonstogo.com/ for $14.99 and get FREE shipping on your order if you’re in the US!
* I received the items mentioned above to facilitate my review…all opinions expressed are my own*
Friday, April 15, 2011
After what seemed like months of rain we’ve finally had several amazingly warm and sunny days here in southeastern Ohio, and I for one couldn’t be happier! After a very cold and snowy winter the thought of long walks through the neighborhood with the kids is very pleasant and most welcome ! Of course, with the selection of double strollers around here being nearly non-extent and my old stroller being a huge pain to operate that once pleasant thought suddenly isn’t all that pleasant anymore.
I’ve actually been in the market for a new stroller for a while now and I think that a jogger stroller is exactly the kind I need. Of course having a jogging stroller would mean that I would actually need to jog, and I’m pretty sure that’s the reason I still haven’t gotten one. That being said I would love to have a jogger, maybe that would motivate me to get in better shape, and that’s definitely not a bad thing. Knowing that my children actually want me to push them in a stroller as opposed to them throwing wild fits like they used to when I tried is almost motivation enough in itself, but losing a few pounds in the process just makes it that much better!
Then there are BOB strollers, and I love and desperately need/want one of them! I have been lusting after a BOB stroller for months now—yes, lusted, what, some people lust after cars and people, I lust after strollers. Not only do they have very nice jogging strollers, they also have some pretty awesome double strollers too! Far be it for me to discriminate and choose just one of my must-have features when I can get a bob stroller with both!
Since I now know that I can get all of the features I am looking for in one stroller it looks like the those long walks around the neighborhood are definitely back on, and trust me when I say that Lil Man and Lil Diva will both most definitely appreciate that they can enjoy the beautiful warm Ohio spring days with mom, of course Mommy probably isn’t going to be enjoying them nearly as much as they are!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
My Lil Man is all boy…he likes dirt (mommy does not), he likes bugs (mommy really dislikes bugs), and he LOVES anything and everything exciting and adventurous (he gets that from his mommy). I can’t count the times that I’ve noticed Lil Man off in a corner playing happily by himself, uh well, himself and a couple of his action figures, the imagination that boy has is definitely refreshing! Lil Man’s love for fun, adventure, and action figures just got a whole lot more exciting when he found out about the new Boysterous line from Manhattan Toy!
I have been a huge fan of Manhattan Toy for a while now, they never cease to surprise me with the quality, durability, and creativity inspiring toys! My children have adored every single toy they have received from Manhattan Toy and they are actually one of the only toy companies I recommend over and over to friends and family…I really do love them! Manhattan Toy recently introduced their Boysterous line of “action figures with a twist” for boys ages 3-8. The Boysterous collection includes 5 rambunctious boys: Slap Shot Sam, Touchdown Dylan, Shredding Sean, Goalie Gavin, Half Pipe Pete ( $17 each) and the ultra cool (in other words you will want this) Extreme Sports Zone™ ZipBin ($30).
About the Boysterous collection:
There are five sports themed action figures in all: hockey, skateboarding, snowboarding, soccer and football. These exciting sports themed action figures are fun to pose as they go zipping and zooming all-around their adaptable Zip-Bin® playing field and park action sports.
Each action packed figure comes with their own sports equipment: hockey puck and stick, skateboard, snowboard, soccer ball and football. Magnetized feet and hand allow each action figure to grab their gear. Boys can collect all five for lots of exhilaration and sports fun!
We received a couple of the loveable, rambunctious Boysterous boys for our review; Shredding Sean and Goalie Gavin as well as one of my favorite toy items this year the Extreme Sports Zone™ ZipBin. Lil Man was immediately all about the Boysterous boys and Lil Diva quickly followed suit. Almost as soon as I took the items out of the shipping package my two lil ones had run off with them to “play that soccer, mom” as Lil Man put it. To say that Lil Man and Lil Diva were excited about their new toys is a definite understatement; for days after they arrived Lil Diva carried around the Sports Zone ZipBin telling everyone, “this has my boys in it”. I’d tell you that the Boysterous collection was a big hit at our house, but I think seeing is believing…you can check out Lil Man and Lil Diva “reviewing” the Boysterous boys in the video below.
Lil Man and Lil Diva Reviewing the Boysterous collection from Manhattan Toy
I told you they loved it! You can also check out the Boysterous video on YouTube to find out more about the Boysterous collection of action figures for today’s boys! Now I know that you just have to know how you can get your hands on a couple of these cute little guys…right? You can check out all of the Boysterous boys and pick a couple up for your lil guy online at http://www.manhattantoy.com/.
So how would you like to win Shreddin Sean the Snowboarder from the Boysterous collection for your lil man? Giveaway details below!
Win it!
One lucky MIBR reader is going to win Shreddin Sean from the Boysterous collection from Manhattan Toy! To enter this giveaway please visit Manhattan Toy and have a look around, come back and leave a comment telling me which one of the Boysterous Boys is most like your lil man…this is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed!
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This giveaway ends on April 28, 2011 . One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winners post. Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to reply and claim his or her prize.
*I received product from either the company or the PR rep for the company to review. All opinions are 100% mine!!!*
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
My husband Jamie has been talking about cleaning up his credit since we got together nearly 5 years ago, for one reason or another we’ve always had to put it off--until this year when we decided that it was definitely time. We have been throwing money away (as he puts it) paying rent for far too long and we finally decided that if we wanted to buy a house his credit score was going to need some major improvement!
At the beginning of the year Jamie took the first steps to cleaning up his credit by going online and getting his credit report and then he immediately got to work figuring out a plan of action. Before anything else we thoroughly checked his credit report to ensure that there were no accounts that could be disputed and I cannot stress how important this step is…Jamie had 3 accounts that were duplicated on his report and all of them were negatively impacting his credit score. Our goal next was to pay off, in full, everything that was reporting each month so that no more damage would be done to his credit score from the monthly reporting. We were able to take a portion of our income tax return and pay off the larger accounts which made it much easier to tackle the rest. Once that was taken care of we set up payment arrangements for a few smaller accounts that were still in good standing in order to keep them in good standing. It’s also worth noting that almost every debt collection company is willing to work with you to get your account in good standing, as one lady told me recently, “We tell us what you can afford!” It’s also extremely important to remember that once you set up payment arrangements paying them on time is a necessity, nothing is worse than having a debt collection company unwilling to work with you after you’ve flaked on your commitment!
That was in February and I’m very happy to report that as of this month my husband has no negative accounts on his credit report, he owes zero debt, and already his credit score is reaping the benefits! We’re taking our time and slowly building his credit score so that this time next year we can buy our first home without having to worry about past debt looming in the background…and I must admit that is a great feeling! If you’re trying to build your credit you can look online for a free credit score offer and be well on your way to rebuilding your credit as well!
At the beginning of the year Jamie took the first steps to cleaning up his credit by going online and getting his credit report and then he immediately got to work figuring out a plan of action. Before anything else we thoroughly checked his credit report to ensure that there were no accounts that could be disputed and I cannot stress how important this step is…Jamie had 3 accounts that were duplicated on his report and all of them were negatively impacting his credit score. Our goal next was to pay off, in full, everything that was reporting each month so that no more damage would be done to his credit score from the monthly reporting. We were able to take a portion of our income tax return and pay off the larger accounts which made it much easier to tackle the rest. Once that was taken care of we set up payment arrangements for a few smaller accounts that were still in good standing in order to keep them in good standing. It’s also worth noting that almost every debt collection company is willing to work with you to get your account in good standing, as one lady told me recently, “We tell us what you can afford!” It’s also extremely important to remember that once you set up payment arrangements paying them on time is a necessity, nothing is worse than having a debt collection company unwilling to work with you after you’ve flaked on your commitment!
That was in February and I’m very happy to report that as of this month my husband has no negative accounts on his credit report, he owes zero debt, and already his credit score is reaping the benefits! We’re taking our time and slowly building his credit score so that this time next year we can buy our first home without having to worry about past debt looming in the background…and I must admit that is a great feeling! If you’re trying to build your credit you can look online for a free credit score offer and be well on your way to rebuilding your credit as well!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
My children love being creative; whether they are drawing, painting, sculpting, or building, they are always finding some new way to have fun and be creative at the same time. I have been a huge fan of K’NEX for a while time now; I love that all of K’NEX’s products inspire creativity and encourage parental involvement which is awesome!
When I was asked to review a couple of K’NEX Mario Kart Wii Building sets I was so excited, yes me, I mean the kids were ecstatic too, but who doesn’t love Mario? We received the Mario and Kart building set as well as the Luigi Bike building set to review. Since the building sets were for ages 6+ my brother-in-law Travis let Lil Diva and Lil Man help him (which was really more like watching than helping) put the sets together.
About K’NEX Mario and Standard Kart Building Set
Build Mario and his Standard Kart from Mario Kart Wii! Includes a buildable Mario figure, a banana peel item, plus a pull-back motor and K'NEX pieces to build his standard kart, exactly like in the game. Collect them all and race your friends! The package can be re-used as a ramp for even more after-building fun. For ages 6+
Kinley and Uncle Travis building the K’NEX Mario and Kart
About K’NEX Luigi and Standard Bike Building Set
Build Luigi and his Standard Bike from Mario Kart Wii! Includes a buildable, Luigi figure and K'NEX rods, connectors and bricks to build his Standard Bike, exactly like in the game. You can also use the package as a ramp when you're done building! For ages 6+.
How adorable is Mario? Too cute!
They are truly so much fun and so darn cute!
Lil Diva had a great time helping Uncle Travis build Mario and Luigi! And because the finished product was too so adorable I decided to display them on s shelf in my sons room…they look adorable and add the kind of charm to my sons room that only Mario and Luigi can! If you have some Mario and Luigi fans in your house make sure you check out K’NEX full line of Mario Kart Wii building sets!
Make sure you check out K’NEX on Facebook and be sure to check out the K’NEX website for more cool new Mario Kart Wii products, contests, videos, bonus builds and all around fun stuff coming in June!
* I received the items mentioned above to facilitate my review…all opinions expressed are my own*
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