5 Vinez Monkeys

Just a Quick Note...

2009-11-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let you all know that we made it home - safe and sound! And in record time, too! We made it from Ohio to GA in less than 10 1/2 hours. By myself with 5 kids, I think I deserve some kind of reward! :)

I came home to lots of goodies, so expect some great reviews soon!

It's good to be home!!

Giveaways Galore! Come Link Up!

2009-11-08T14:16:00.003-05:00

Time once again for our weekly round-up of giveaways around the net!

If you're hosting a giveaway, sponsoring a giveaway, or found a really great giveaway online that we need to enter, please leave a link here.

Remember to post your giveaways like this:

Name: 5 Vinez Monkeys - Yo Gabba Gabba (Music CD & Book) - 11/11
Link: Link directly to the giveaway
Shows up like this: 5 Vinez Monkeys - Yo Gabba Gabba (Music CD & Book) - 11/11

Leave your link here:

There's a Cow Outside!

2009-11-07T07:15:00.001-05:00

Before we left for Ohio, we were having problems with a cow getting into our yard about 10 times a day. We'd fix the fence, and she'd pull it back down. I even took a nasty fall while trying to get her back in the pasture. Such a pain!

As I was trying to think of something to post while we're gone, I happened across this old post:

"Randall, there is a cow outside."
"It's a cow farm. You're gonna find cows outside."
"No, I mean right outside. Looming. Like a ghost... Like a... a reaper."
"Naw, cows don't like houses much. They prefer it out in the meadow, where they can get a graze on!"

We really had a cow "right outside." Not so sure that it was looming as much as it was eating up our lawn, but there was a cow out there.

I did my darnedest to get the cow back in the pasture through the gate, but it was to no avail. Apparently, I look too much like an unwelcome relative and she retreated up the driveway. I woke up hubby and sent him after her. He got to the top of the driveway just in time to watch a car honking its horn, scaring the cow even farther down the road.

These are not our cows, but someone who rents the land from my grandpa. Unfortunately, these cows have tried - on more than one occasion - to take over our yard. The do-wappy little fence we have around our yard isn't enough to keep them out.

The cow is back in the pasture now, and the cows' owner has fixed the fence - for now. But, it's been our experience over the last year, that once a cow gets into our yard once, she's back in there several times again. Unless he takes this cow to another one of his pastures, I fear we'll have more dealings with her looming in our yard.

If you can even believe it, it is still the exact same cow that's getting in our yard, and it's been a year since I posted that! Me thinks that Suzy needs to find a new home. My freezer would be a good place to start. Steak, anyone?

Friday Funnies

2009-11-06T07:45:00.001-05:00

More posts from The Funny Things My Kids Say:

This morning I was helping Zander with his school work. In phonics, he has to read the words in the left column and then write the words under the correct picture on the page.

He got stuck on the word "pane." I had him do all of the other words he knew and then come back to that one. He got all of the other words finished and saw that all that was left was the word pane and a picture of a window.

He excitedly said, "Oh! I get it! A pane is when a window gets scratched!"

This morning, the boys were counting. Zander can go past 100 now, so he was showing off. Jace decided he wanted in on the action and started counting.

"1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,19,20."

Zander stopped him cold and said, "Jace! You skipped 16!"

To which Jace replied, "I don't know how to count to 16, so I just skip it!"

I had a horrible migraine all day, and the boys didn't understand that I needed quiet. After the 15th time of telling them to lower their voices, I said, "You guys, I am so tired of telling you to be quiet!" To which Zander replied, "Well, if you're tired of telling us, why don't you just stop?"

We were eating dinner tonight, and out of the blue, Zander asked, "Mom? Are you sure you weren't around when Mary gave birth to Jesus?"

Then, later that night, Gene gave me a kiss before he got his shower before work. Jace looked at him and said, "Hey, she's my wife." After Gene left the room, he told me that he was going to marry me just as soon as he was a grown up. I told him that if he was going to marry me, we needed a preacher, and asked him who the preacher would be. He said, "Daddy can be the preacher. He yells enough."

We have had major car trouble all day. My Expedition shakes like crazy and has absolutely no power. As we were driving to church this evening, we decided to turn around and go home. It just didn't seem safe to be in the truck on the mountain roads.

As we were heading back home, the boys couldn't figure out why we were going the wrong way. Zander shouted up to us, "Hey! Church is the other way! Preacher's gonna get mad if we get lost!"

Hope those gave you a giggle!!

InfantNutritionCenter.com

2009-11-05T16:36:00.000-05:00

On Monday, October 19, a fantastic new website from Mead Johnson launched called InfantNutritionCenter.com. (You can catch the webcast of the unveiling by clicking here.)

This website is full of information that every mom needs to know. It's a journey through infant nutrition and development that reveals exactly how proper nutrition affects development and how each individual nutrient affects the senses, bone formation, and even the immune system of infants. The website is full of new data, 3-D images, and is so much fun to explore. By exploring the latest research findings through pictures, graphics, and videos, you can discover the answers to all those questions you have. Want to know why DHA is important for your infant's eyesight? You can find the answer quickly and easily on InfantNutritionCenter.com.

This website brings together information from leading health centers and researchers across the country. That way, you can be certain that you are getting good, quality, and accurate information regarding your infant's development.
Some of the questions the website can help you answer include:

How can you make sure that your newborn gets the nutrients she needs to ensure healthy growth through her first birthday?
How do you keep her stomach from getting upset?
What should you, as an expectant Mom, eat to ensure that you stay healthy as your infant grows?
What vitamins do you need if you’re breastfeeding to ensure that you’re passing along the right nutrients to your infant?

I played around on the website for quite some time and couldn't believe all of the information I found! WOW! I wish I had this resource when I had my first child. It would have saved me so many unnecessary phone calls to my doctor's office. Now, I don't think a website should ever replace a doctor's care, but have you ever wondered, "Hmmm..... do I call the doctor about this, or not?" Those times are when it's wonderful to have a resource like this website. My favorite section on the website is the USDA MyPyramid for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. As a breastfeeding mother, I love that this breaks everything down and tells me exactly what I need to provide the proper nutrition for my babies.

The section on Nervous System Development blew my mind! I knew that babies' brains grew a lot in the first 2 years of their life, but to actually see how much, and how important proper nutrition is to babies was absolutely incredible. I have learned so much from this website, and I can't wait to dive in and learn even more. Our babies are amazing little creatures!

If you have questions about Infant Nutrition, and want to know more, please stop by InfantNutritionCenter.com today. Then, get ready to take notes! There's a wealth of information right at your fingertips, just waiting for you to explore.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mead Johnson. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Tasty Thursday: My Favorite Pasta Salad

2009-11-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Whenever there's a potluck, a party, or somewhere that I have to bring food, my favorite thing to bring is Pasta Salad. This recipe is for a very large serving of the pasta salad, so you can cut it in half if you don't need to feed a large crowd.

Ingredients:
2 - 12 oz boxes of Barilla Tri-Color Pasta
2 - cans of Large Black Olives
1 - 7oz container of diced tomatoes (in produce section, not canned)
1 - 4oz container of Feta Cheese (more if desired)
10 - 12 pieces of crumbled bacon (or 1 pack of Hormel's Recipe Pieces of Bacon)
Kraft "Tuscan House" Italian Dressing

To Make:
Cook the pasta as directed on the packages. Drain, rinse in cold water, allow to cool. Toss in olives, tomatoes, and bacon. Add Italian Dressing to taste. (If I'm making it to take somewhere, I use between 1/2 and 3/4 of the bottle. If I'm making it for us at home, I use the entire bottle.) Then, toss in the feta cheese. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until you're ready to eat.

This really is my favorite pasta salad, and it's so easy to make.

If you try it, let me know what you think!

Wordless Wednesday: He Fits Right In

2009-11-04T06:45:00.003-05:00

See? He's Mama's Little Pumpkin!

If you're participating in Wordless Wednesday, leave your link here:

Krysta's Kingdom Prince and Princess Club (Review)

2009-11-03T07:15:00.041-05:00

Krysta's Kingdom is a fantastic new educational tv show for children. Here's a bit of information about Krysta, the star of the show and a few of the other characters:

Krysta - Stranded on the magical island during a thunderstorm when her hot air balloon was punctured by Milo the hummingbird. On the island she finds a castle filled with statues of her and with her name engraved on the door. She now finds herself surrounded by talking animals that learn from her and teach her as well. A wondrous place where her best friend - Rex the Teddy Bear came to life. Kind-hearted Krysta loves all the animals, to teach them not only to spell, count, but to cook and explore their imaginations! She is the friend we all wanted while we were growing up!

Lady Liz - The Lady Bug - Liz is tiny, timid and scared of just about
anything except for letters. She loves to spell and teach her friends
new words.

Magic Mirror - The Magic mirror is inside the Library in the castle and
LOVES to tell stories and read books to all the friends in Krysta's Kingdom!

Milo - The Spastic Hummingbird - Milo is often erratic, energetic,
extremely repetitive but most of all loyal! He loves to count and once
started cannot control himself to fly in delight and counting gives
him flight!

Rex - The stuffed Teddy Bear - Brought to life when he & Krysta crash
landed on the island. Rex is the inner child in all of us that has an
unending thirst for knowledge. Rex is open to any and all adventures
but is scared of the dark. He is a great friend to all the creatures
within Krysta's Kingdom. Rex is very curious about other animals and
hopes to discover new friends and to finally figure out what kind of
animal a Stuffed Teddy Bear is.

Rudy - The Rubber Duck - Rudy loves the water and to go on adventures
with Krysta. Rudy is cute, cuddly and adorable, his sweet child-like
innocence makes him a favorite for each of his friends on the island.

My Review of Krysta's Kingdom Prince & Princess Club

I recently received 3 samples of the Krysta's Kingdom Prince and Princess Club monthly mailings to review.

The kids loved the mailings. Each envelope was colorful and decorated, and it made for a wonderful surprise. Inside, there was an activity sheet and a beautiful card full of information about that month's topic. We received a Sunflower Sheet & Card, a Ladybug Sheet & Card, and an Alligator Sheet & Card. The favorite with the boys was the Alligator Sheet. It had a fun activity to do on it, and we'll actually be taking that activity sheet along with us to do while we're in Ohio. We can't wait! The boys begged me to let them work on the other sheets, though, so I caved and let them entertain themselves while I packed for our trip.

Zander took the sunflower card and sheet. He loves word searches, and he had a ball going through and finding each word. He'd get so proud of himself every time he found a new word. I loved hearing him shout, "Hooray, I found it!" whenever he found something else.

Jace took the ladybug sheet and got to work on coloring it. He loves coloring, so this was perfect for him.

There are several things I love about the activity sheets and the cards:

The cards are beautiful. The pictures are vibrant and colorful and full of information.
Not only are these kits fun, they're also educational. The kids loved learning new facts about sunflowers and ladybugs.
They're great for any age. Lucy loved listening about the sunflowers and the ladybugs, and she loves to color. And Ashley enjoyed learning new facts and is looking forward to the alligator activity we'll be doing soon.

If you want to know more about Krysta's Kingdom or the , stop by the Krysta's Kingdom website today!

Disclaimer: 4 Kids Enterprizes sent me 3 of the monthly mailings to get my personal and honest review. The free items in no way influenced my opinion, but allowed me to give a thourough test to the products.

MagnaPlay Activity Travel Set (Review & Giveaway - 11/25)

2009-11-02T07:45:00.113-05:00

I have had the opportunity to review MagnaPlay in the past. In fact, I was even voted MagnaPlay's Mom Blog of the Year! I always love working with them and seeing what new products and concepts they come up with. For this review, MagnaPlay sent Lucy the MagnaPlay Magnetic Activity Travel Set .

Before I get to my review, here's a little information about MagnaPlay from their website:

The MagnaKase^TM is one of a kind magnetic activity case for use with MagnaPlay^TMactivities and has a Patent Pending. Children are known to have a short attention span and get bored very soon with their activities. The MagnaKase offers a very significant advantage as it is an open-ended toy when combined with other MagnaPlay activities designed for the MagnaKase. Children can engage themselves in different activities within a short period of time especially while on the go. Children will have fun, anywhere, anytime.

The MagnaKaseis a case with "magnetic receptive surfaces" that serve both as an activity board and storage case, and fits into a standard backpack. The MagnaKase does not contain magnets and metal objects will not stick to the magnetic surfaces. During travel, children can use the MagnaKase as an activity lapboard while in a car seat, in a flight, in a restaurant or even during a picnic as it is just the right size. They can use the lid as an activity board since the surfaces of the lid are magnetic. The MagnaKase can also be used with other MagnaPlay activities that are designed for use with the MagnaKase. The MagnaKase is eco-friendly as "the write-on wipe-off" feature of the case eliminates the use of paper for drawing and coloring.

MagnaPlay Toys are certified to comply with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008.

My Review of MagnaPlay's Activity Travel Set

I have been a fan of MagnaPlay since I was first introduced to them earlier this year. (You can read my first review of MagnaPlay here. It includes videos and tons more information about this wonderful company.)

The boys still use their MagnaKases all the time. Whether we're at home or on the go, the boys still love them. The only problem was, Lucy loves their MagnaKases too! She was always trying to butt in and play along with them.

Now that Lucy is 3, she's finally big enough for a MagnaKase of her own. She couldn't have been more excited when MagnaPlay sent her a red MagnaKase along with the Magnetic Wooden Alphabet Picture Puzzle and their Magnetic Letter Tiles. She now carries her MagnaKase around with her like a purse. If we're in the car, at home, or anywhere, she's playing with it. Her favorite thing to play with is the Alphabet Picture Puzzle. She has so much fun putting the pieces together, and she gets so proud whenever she makes a match!

We even use it for homeschooling. The Magnetic Letter Tiles have been great for teaching her letter recognition, and she now knows the letters needed to spell her name. I love when a toy can be used for so much more than just play! I also use the Magnetic Letter Tiles with Zander and Jace. Zander uses them to spell out his weekly spelling words, and Jace uses them to form little words like in, on, off, up.... and so on. The magnetic boards on the MagnaKase make it easy to use. As a homeschooling mom, I *love* these.

MagnaPlay products are fun, education, and a must-have this holiday season!

Want to try MagnaPlay for yourself?

To Buy: Head to the MagnaPlay website and purchase your favorite MagnaPlay items. Right now, they've got all their items on sale. PLUS, you can use the code 5vin2009 for an extra 10% off all sale items! Also, the MagnaPlay Activity Travel set can now be purchased from Amazon.com with Free Shipping during the Holiday season.

You Can WIN! I've got a MagnaPlay Magnetic Activity Travel Set to give away to one of my readers! The set will include the MagnaPlay Magnetic Activity Travel Set with the Magnetic Wooden Alphabet Picture Puzzle.

To Enter:
Head to the MagnaPlay website and tell me which item you'd love to have for your kids.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Enter the MagnaPlay Holiday Contest then, come back here and tell me the first name of the child you entered into the contest. (5 extra entries for EACH CHILD you enter in the Holiday Contest! They must be your child or grandchild, though.)
Blog About this Giveaway by copying and pasting the following (5 extra entries) :

Christmas is almost here. Looking for fun, educational toys for your kids? Head over to the giveaway that Angie at 5 Vinez Monkeys is having featuring MagnaPlay! You can win the MagnaPlay Magnetic Activity Travel Set with the Magnetic Wooden Alphabet Picture Puzzle.. You won't want to miss this giveaway! Stop by before 11:59pm ET on November 25th and enter to win!
Subscribe to us via email or reader. (Leave a comment for each that you do.)
Follow 5VinezMonkeys on twitter. (Leave your twitter handle here, please!)
Follow MagnaPlay on twitter. (Leave your twitter handle here, please!)
Tweet about this contest. (Unlimited - just leave a comment for each tweet!)
Grab our button and put it in your sidebar. (Leave us a link to your blog, please!)
Follow our blog - either through Google's Followers Gadget or through Facebook's Networked Blogs. Leave a comment for each one that you do.
Visit the new MagnaPlay Moms Blog and leave a comment on any post. Please leave a comment here with a link to the post you commented on. (Unlimited)

Fine Print:
Contest is open to residents of the US. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave the required comment as stated above. Giveaway will end on Wednesday, November 25th at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winners will be announced on Thursday, November 26th and will have 48 hours to claim their prize, or it will be forfeited and a new winner will be pulled.

Disclaimer: I received the MagnaKase, Wooden Alphabet Puzzle, and the Wooden Alphabet Tiles from MagnaPlay LLC to get my honest and personal review. The free products have in no way influenced my opinion.

Giveaways Galore! Come Link Up!

2009-11-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

It's Sunday! That means it's time to list your giveaways. If you're hosting a giveaway, sponsoring a giveaway, or found a really great giveaway online that we need to enter, please leave a link here.

Remember to post your giveaways like this:

Name: 5 Vinez Monkeys - Yo Gabba Gabba (Music CD & Book) - 11/11
Link: Link directly to the giveaway
Shows up like this: 5 Vinez Monkeys - Yo Gabba Gabba (Music CD & Book) - 11/11

Leave your link here:

Some Funnies for the Weekend...

2009-10-31T08:45:00.011-04:00

Happy Halloween!

I may not be here, but there will still be some new content added everyday. Be sure to stop by often.

Today, I thought I'd share some funnies from one of my other blogs. Here are just a few of the funny things my kids have said:

We bought Parker a HUGE blow-up playpen. (It was on sale for an absolute steal!) While we were blowing it up (because our air pump keeled out), we were all taking turns. All of a sudden, Jace burst into tears. When I asked him why he was crying he said, "Zander's going to use up all his air if he keeps blowing!"

Jace has been really sick all week. Last night, he was lying in my bed and Parker was next to him. Jace was talking away to Parker and then he accidentally called Parker "Lucy." I couldn't help but giggle when I heard Jace tell Parker:

"I'm so sorry, Parker. I know you're not Lucy. Blame it on Mama. She's the one who had all these kids."

Jace was mad at me this afternoon because I wouldn't let him do something that he wanted to do. He told me, "When I grow up, I'm going to do whatever I want to do!"

Zander jumped in and said, "Only if your wife says you can!"

This afternoon, as we were driving into town, we saw a bunch of trucks in front of our little post office, and yellow Caution tape. Ashley's eyes grew as big as saucers and she asked, "Was someone killed at our post office?"

(Now, you must know that we live in a teeny town, popluation... about 12. Nothing ever happens here, and if it does, Grandma tells me. She didn't tell me about someone being killed outside of our post office.)

As we drove past the post office, we saw that they were pouring new sidewalk, and the yellow caution tape was to keep people away from the freshly poured concrete.

I asked Ash why she thought someone had been killed, and she said, "Because on tv they only use that yellow tape at a crime scene."

I love having a large family, because you never know what you'll hear out of any of their mouths - at any given time!

What are some of the funny things your kids have said?

Time to Hit the Road!

2009-10-30T07:00:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it's the end of October. As this post goes live, I will be in a truck, heading toward Ohio with 5 crazy monkeys along for the ride. I must be crazy! But, when family and friends live so far away, you've gotta do what you've gotta do!

We picked this weekend to head back to Ohio simply because of Halloween. I love Halloween. Not the gory, gross side of it, but the silly, fun, CANDY part of it. Where we live in GA, Trick-or-Treating just isn't feasible.When the houses are half a mile apart, and each driveway is about half a mile long, you could do 2 houses and be pooped. Our first 2 years down here, we tried to be like the locals. Each year, all the kids head to town, dressed in their finest, and walk from table to table that businesses have set up, and get your candy. YAWN. (Oops. Sorry. Did I say that out loud?)

It's just not what I'm used to. The best part about Halloween is getting all dressed up, and freezing your butt off as you run from house to house to get your candy. Sometimes you know the people, other times you couldn't care less. You're just there for the candy!

So, I'm packing up my crew and heading North for some good old fashioned Trick-or-Treating. And I can't wait. We're headed to our old neighborhood, and it'll be fun to see our old neighbors again.

Our costumes are packed, and I'll have Dorothy (Lucy), the Wicked Witch (Ashley), the Lion (Parker), the Scarecrow (Jace), and the Tin Man (Zander) along with me. I can't wait to show them off!

Ya'all be good, and when I get back, I promise to have lots of pictures to show you.

And don't worry - there will still be LOTS going on over here on the blog. I'll make sure there's something new for you to read every day while I'm gone. So, visit often. Lord only knows what you may read on here while I'm gone. And I won't have internet access, so I'm praying everything goes smoothly!

Wish me luck! I'll see you soon!

Follow Fridays on Hold

2009-10-30T05:45:00.001-04:00

With vacation, I need to put Follow Fridays on hold this week and next week.

I apologize, and I promise that I'll come back with some great new blogs for you to follow.

Thanks for understanding!

El Tacodor - Family Taco Night Game (Review & Giveaway - 11/15)

2009-10-29T07:20:00.013-04:00

As if Taco Night wasn´t the best night of the week already, Old El Paso is giving it a whole new flare. El Tacodor^TM, the world´s only Family Taco Night Game, is a fun and easy way to keep your family laughing at the dinner table. Challenge family members to quick fire trivia, wordplay and pantomime, and share a laughter filled night at home.

MyBlogSpark recently sent me a fabulous package from Old El Paso to try out Family Taco Game Night with my family.

I can't wait to tell you about how much fun we had!

My Review of the El Tacodor Dinner Game

We have taco night once a week in our house. Normally, Thursday nights are reserved for this special night, but this week, we made an exception. Last night, we had taco night, and when I told the kids that we'd be adding something a little special to taco night - meaning GAMES - they got quite excited.

Old El Paso is my absolute favorite brand of taco products, so you can just imagine how excited I was to get offered the chance to be a part of this spark from My Blog Spark! We all love their Cheesy Taco mix, and their shells and tortillas are simply the best. Hubby grabbed all the ingredients we needed, and he even made dinner for us!

We put all the ingredients on the table, passed out plates, and got to work. Ummm.... Play. There's a great little starter kit for the El Tacodor^TM Dinner Game that you can download off their website. I grabbed the score sheet, a pen, and we were ready to go! We played at least one game from each section, as there are 5 types of games you can play:

Crunch Time - Beat the Clock Play
Meat-N-Greet - Family Fun Play
Lettuce Play - Pantomime Play
In the Lime Light - Performance Play
Say Cheese - Wordplay

We all had a ball! I haven't heard laughing like that at the dinner table in ages! We laughed so hard, our sides hurt! The kids loved the challenges Toon Time, Animal Action, Liplock, You Crack Me Up, and Spicy Words. My absolute favorite was the Liplock - you have to pick a partner and then name different vegetables without opening your lips - not a crack! Your partner must correctly guess 3 vegetables! After that, though, I'm thinking we need to brush up on our vegetables a bit! :)

We had such a great time, and we are definitely going to make the El Tacodor^TM Dinner Game a part of our weekly dinner routine. I loved watching the kids laugh and play - and EAT! Not one complaint came from anyone tonight, because we were way too busy having fun!

Want to Try the El Tacodor Dinner Game For Yourself?

It´s easy to play the El Tacodor Dinner Game. All you need are Old El Paso® taco fixings and a FREE game-ready El Tacodor Pack which includes instructions, a scorecard and a challenge sheet which you can download at www.ElTacodor.com.

I also wanted to let you know - you can also enter the Old El Paso El Tacodor Sweepstakes for a chance to win $5,000 just for having fun with your family. Other prizes include monthly giveaways of $300 cash cards, and weekly giveaways of gift certificates for Old El Paso products for the next five months. When you visit El Tacodor you will also find a link to coupons, a calendar to schedule your next taco night, topping choice chart and more!

Want to WIN? I've got a fabulous prize pack to give away to one of my readers! One lucky winner will receive (2) two coupons to purchase El Paso dinner kits and a $10 gift card to purchase any additional meal needs (i.e. meat, cheese, lettuce, etc) thanks to MyBlogSpark and Old El Paso.

To Enter:
Leave a comment and tell me what your favorite part of Taco Night is with your family.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Blog About this Giveaway by copying and pasting the following (5 extra entries) :
Taco Night = Family FUN! Head over to the giveaway that Angie at 5 Vinez Monkeys is having featuring Old El Paso and theEl Tacodor^TM, the world´s only Family Taco Night Game! One lucky winner will receive (2) two coupons to purchase El Paso dinner kits and a $10 gift card to purchase any additional meal needs (i.e. meat, cheese, lettuce, etc). You won't want to miss this giveaway! Stop by before 11:59pm ET on November 15th and enter to win!
Subscribe to us via email or reader. (Leave a comment for each that you do.)
Follow us on twitter. (Leave your twitter handle here, please!)
Tweet about this contest. (Unlimited - just leave a comment for each tweet!)
Grab our button and put it in your sidebar. (Leave us a link to your blog, please!)
Follow our blog - either through Google's Followers Gadget or through Facebook's Networked Blogs. Leave a comment for each one that you do.

Fine Print:
Contest is open to residents of the US. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave the required comment as stated above. Giveaway will end on Sunday, November 15th at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winners will be announced by Monday, November 18th and will have 48 hours to claim their prize, or it will be forfeited and a new winner will be pulled.

Disclaimer: I received the prize pack listed above from MyBlogSpark to get my honest and personal review. The free products have in no way influenced my opinion.

Wordless Wednesday: What a Difference a Year Makes!

2009-10-28T07:15:00.003-04:00

This is Parker last Halloween:

And here he is this year:

I can't believe how much he's grown! He's gone from a little baby to a little boy - almost overnight! SIGH.

If you're participating in Wordless Wednesday, leave your link here:

I am SO Proud of You!

2009-10-28T05:45:00.003-04:00

Every single one of the Birthday Bash Prizes were claimed! Every winner had an email address to contact them, and each of them claimed their prize well before the deadline.

Kudos to all of the winners. That was the easiest bash I've ever hosted! :)

Looks like we'll have to do things like this more often!

Auction for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-27T21:10:00.000-04:00

Starting tomorrow (October 28th), Bridget at Mint Green with Envy will be holding a 3 day auction for the benefit of Breast Cancer Awareness. She has several items that will be up for bid. 100% of the Proceeds will donated to http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

Please consider stopping by her blog and checking out the items she has up for auction! This is a great cause, and something we should all support!

The Teething Pain Relief Necklace (Review & Giveaway - 11/13)

2009-10-27T11:15:00.003-04:00

I was recently contacted by SuperMama to try out their product: the Amber Teething Pain Relief Necklace . Before I get to my review (and the giveaway!), I wanted to share some information with you about the Teething Pain Relief Necklace.

About the Product

SuperMama Amber Teething Pain Relief Necklace is a natural teething pain remedy for babies and children ages two months to two years.

Amber, the fossilized resin from prehistoric trees that date as far back as 50 million years, has been worn for centuries as a natural remedy to relieve pain, promote fast healing and boost the body’s own immune system. Worn against a baby’s skin, the Baltic amber necklace releases natural oils with proven analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that soothe teething pain and reduce inflammation as well as drooling.

While most other teething pain treatments involve applying gels, taking tablets or chewing biscuits, amber is different. The oils released from amber contain succinic acid, which recent scientific research has proven to have a beneficial effect on the human body. Benefits include stimulating the thyroid glands to help reduce drooling and soothe red, inflamed cheeks, in addition to other calmative and anti-fever functions. Simply put the necklace on baby’s neck, and it will work by itself (the necklace is not intended to be chewed, but simply worn).

The Baltic amber teething necklace has been around for decades in Europe, and is even sold in pharmacies in Germany and Switzerland, and is recommended by European Pediatricians.

My Review of the Teething Pain Relief Necklace
Parker is teething right now. He just cut tooth #8 and he's working on 9 and 10 as well. Parker started teething later than any of my other kids, but once he started, it took off like a rocket. Because he's cut so many teeth so quickly, it has been a painful, horrible experience for both of us. When SuperMama contacted me and asked if I'd like to try the Teething Pain Relief Necklace, I jumped at the chance. I would give anything to find something that actually provides relief to my poor little guy!

The package arrived late last week, and I immediately put it on him. I honestly had no idea what to expect, or how fast I could expect to see any changes - if there even would be any. I am not kidding when I tell you that I noticed a change right away.

Parker is a drooler. It's bad. But, when he's wearing the necklace, there's no drool. He doesn't gnaw on anything he can get his mouth on, and he actually seems happy. No Tylenol or Motrin needed.

I left the necklace on him all day Saturday. No drool. No cranky baby. We even went to a birthday party on Saturday night, and Parker was as happy as could be. He showed no signs of teething pain at all. I thought it was a fluke. There was no way this necklace could work that well that fast.

So, on Sunday, I left the necklace off all day. Parker was back to his old self - drool everywhere, cranky, chewing on anything he could find. Just miserable. Sunday evening, after church, I put the necklace back on him and couldn't believe the change it made in him. I'm convinced that this necklace really works - at least on Parker. There's no medicine involved - no messy tablets, no gels, nothing. Just clip on the necklace and go. How easy is that?

And the necklace offers several safety features that I LOVE:

It is CPSIA complaint, and has been tested in a 3rd party lab to make sure it's safe.
The clasp is made of plastic and the screw will break away with pressure.
Each bead (made of pure, natural Baltic amber) on the necklace is individually knotted for safety and durability. That means if the necklace breaks, only one bead will come off.
The size of the beads was selected so that if the baby ingests a bead, he will simply pass it through harmlessly.

Now, I don't recommend letting your baby eat the beads, but if something happened, it's good to know he'd be ok. And I love that it's individually knotted. It's that one extra step that makes all the difference in the world.

The only drawback is that I'm not comfortable letting him sleep in the necklace. So, that means we deal with the teething pain and discomfort at night. But, during the day, he loves wearing it, and I love how much it seems to help him. And it is a little pricey at $26, BUT, when you think about all the money you spend on tablets, gels, and other pain relief products for baby, it's really not such a bad deal.

Overall, I am really impressed with the SuperMama Teething Pain Relief Necklace . I know there's no such thing as a "miracle item," but this has really made a tremendous difference in Parker. I can't promise that it will work this well for you, because every baby is different, but I am really wishing I had had this with each of my teething babies!

Want to try the Teething Pain Relief Necklace for Your Baby?
To Buy: It's not available yet, but after Monday, November 2nd, you can head to the SuperMama website and purchase your Teething Pain Relief Necklace for $26.

You Can WIN! I've got a Mixed Amber Teething Pain Relief Necklace to giveaway to one of my readers!

To Enter:
Visit the SuperMama website. Then, come back here and tell me one advantage the necklace offers that you think you'd like.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Blog About this Giveaway by copying and pasting the following (5 extra entries) :

Cranky Baby? Is teething pain getting to be too much? Head over to the giveaway that Angie at 5 Vinez Monkeys is having featuring SuperMama! You can win a Teething Pain Relief Necklace. You won't want to miss this giveaway! Stop by before 11:59pm ET on November 13th and enter to win!
Subscribe to us via email or reader. (Leave a comment for each that you do.)
Follow us on twitter. (Leave your twitter handle here, please!)
Tweet about this contest. (Unlimited - just leave a comment for each tweet!)
Grab our button and put it in your sidebar. (Leave us a link to your blog, please!)
Follow our blog - either through Google's Followers Gadget or through Facebook's Networked Blogs. Leave a comment for each one that you do.

Fine Print:
Contest is open to residents of the US. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave the required comment as stated above. Giveaway will end on Friday, November 13th at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winners will be announced by Sunday, November 15th and will have 48 hours to claim their prize, or it will be forfeited and a new winner will be pulled.

Disclaimer: I received the items listed above from SuperMama to get my honest and personal review. The free products have in no way influenced my opinion. Please note that this product may not work the same for you.

Evenflo Smart Steps (Review)

2009-10-26T07:45:00.003-04:00

As a mom of 5, and a former toddler daycare teacher, I have seen more toddler meal times than a person could ever begin to count. I've had picky eaters, I've had super eaters. I've had babies in both the higher and lower percentiles for weight.

And yet, with each one of my children, I have constantly wondered if my toddler is eating enough. Am I serving the proper portion sizes? Am I causing my child to eat too much - or too little? It's easy to beat yourself up as a mom and wonder if you are giving your child exactly what they need.

Luckily, Evenflo has done something to help fix that problem! They have introduced their new Smart Steps Feeding line, and it is something that moms everywhere will be cheering for. (Myself included!) When eating habits start out healthy, it leads to a lifetime of healthy choices.

My Review of Evenflo Smart Steps

Mom Central sent me 4 of the new Evenflo Smart Steps feeding line products to test out with Parker. They sent the Insulated Cup, the Discovery Spoons, the Snack Stackers, and the Magic Labels. I'll take each product one by one and give you my thoughts and opinions.

First, the Insulated Cup - Even though the cup is pink, this is my new favorite sippy cup for lots of reasons. First, I love that it's insulated. The drink stays cooler longer, which is great for long car trips. Second, it comes with handles that Parker loves. He can grip them easily, and has no problems drinking from this cup at all. Third, there is NO EXTRA VALVE to clean or lose. This feature has me shouting from the rooftops! The cup is still spillproof, but there are no little pieces to get lost in the dishwasher or spend hours trying to get really, really clean. The spout is super easy to clean, and everything about the cup is fantastic. I'm stocking up on several more of the green and blue cups because I love this cup so much!

Next, we tried the Discovery Spoons. I'm kind of working on self-feeding with Parker, but not really pushing it. These spoons are perfect for him to hold in his little hands and try his hand at gripping and holding silverware. I love that it's soft, so he can't hurt himself. And the food is easy to scoop up, which is an added bonus for any toddler that's learning to self feed.

The Snack Stackers are the perfect size for snacks on the go. I can add fish crackers, cheerios, or any small snack to the bowl, snap on the lid, and we're ready to go. The lids snap on easily, and while they aren't difficult to remove, it's not easy enough for a baby to pull off. (Which is a good thing when you've got a little one who loves to try and remove every lid from every bowl he can find.) Another great bonus is that the lid attaches to the base of the bowl for a little extra stability. And, the bowls stack nicely for quick and easy storage in the cupboard without taking up a ton of space. The colors are bright and vivid, and they're great to have on hand.

Lastly, the Magic Labels (an iParenting Media Award: Honors Award Winner) are honestly one of the coolest ideas I've come across as a mom. They fit perfectly on the lids of the smart snackers. I'm able to fill each container, write a quick note to Daddy or the sitter on the label, and not have to worry. Then, when the lid gets washed, the note dissolves away! Now how cool is that? You can use any kind of pen or marker to write on the label, and there's no trace of the label left after washing! I love this idea, and I can think of dozens of uses for these. From labeling meals to snack all the way to labeling crafts and art supplies for homeschooling. They're fantastic!

Another product in this line that I didn't get to try - but am definitely interested in! - is the Portion Plate. Some of the features include:

Proper portion sizes identified on plates with colors and graphics.
2 pack plates with 2 dipping cups that can be placed in many locations on the plates.
Cups hold the child’s favorite dip or sauce. Cups can also be used to encourage picky eaters to try new foods. Either use of the cups – dipping or sampling, will allow the child to explore new foods.
Plate conveniently becomes a lid when turned over to allow storage of leftovers.
Plates easily stack for storage.
Slip resistant base for fewer spills.

Sounds like a product that I could have used a lot over the last 12 years! What a great idea! I will definitely be trying it out soon.

Now, I know you're dying to know how to get your hands on these Evenflo products, right? Well, according to the Mom Central website:

Evenflo Smart Steps is currently available to purchase at Babies R Us, Burlington and HEB and will be available in Walmart stores nationwide beginning in January 2010.

Our nearest Babies R Us is over 2 hours away, so I can't wait until the new line hits Walmart next year! In the meantime, I think I'll head to the Babies R Us website and order me a couple more of these insulated cups!

I also wanted to let you know that Mom Central has a link to a coupon on their (NEW!) website. Click here to check it out: Evenflo Coupon

Many thanks to Mom Central and to Evenflo for letting me try out these products. And thank you, Evenflo, for making toddler meal time a little easier on us moms!

Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Evenflo and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Giveaways Galore!

2009-10-25T07:45:00.000-04:00

I've had several readers ask me if I would start leaving a weekly link to giveaways around the blogopshere. So, in honor of them, I'm doing that here!

If you are hosting a giveaway, sponsoring a giveaway, or just found a really awesome giveaway that you'd like to share with us, please leave it here!

Be sure to include the Prize and the Ending Date as part of the "Name" in the link. Here's an example:
LuShae Jewelry Giveaway - 10/25

Then, be sure to enter all the fantastic giveaways you find below!

Leave your link here:

Birthday Bash Winners!

2009-10-24T13:30:00.003-04:00

I've got a whole slew of winners to announce, so let's get to it!

First, we had the Sweet Pea Creations $25 GC. The lucky winner is:

63. Gianna said... Pink Snowflake Holiday Birth Announcement :)
October 23, 2009 11:43 PM

Next, we have the Suzi Homemaker Personalized Diaper Tote Giveaway winner:

43. justicecw said... I love the personalized apron for my son! thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
October 18, 2009 4:54 PM

Next, we have the Blue Sherpa Babycapes winner:

52. Kim said... twitter follow u -kgail11
October 14, 2009 2:26 PM

Then, the Santa Letter Winners:

31. karenmed409 said... blogged entry #1 http://gummasplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/birthday-bash-kreative-kids-fun-mail.html ~ karenmed409 at comcast dot net
October 19, 2009 2:21 PM
and
59. Some Lucky Dog said... tweet http://twitter.com/someluckydog/status/5090237728
October 23, 2009 1:30 AM

The next winner is the one for the Ginger's Garden Baby Care:

33. Owen's Mom said... Tweet! ~ http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/5043880353 ~ andrea.kruse at gmail dot com
October 21, 2009 9:30 AM

After that, we've got the winner for the Usborne Books Giveaway:

147. dvice said... I like the In the Castle book
October 23, 2009 4:15 PM

We also have the winner of the Personalized Childrens CD:

33. justicecw said... Tweeted at http://twitter.com/justicecw/status/5102064638 ~ justicecw@hotmail.com
October 23, 2009 1:29 PM

The winner of the Harry Teddy Bat is:

56. justicecw said... I am a subscriber ~ justicecw@hotmail.com
October 21, 2009 10:17 PM

And, last but not least, the $25 GC to One Step Ahead Giveaway winner is:

80. mogrill said... The Secure Transitions baby tub is really neat!! Thanks very much for the chance. mogrill@comcast.net
October 20, 2009 1:04 PM

Congratulations to all the winners! (And justicecw, you need to head out and buy a lottery ticket today, you lucky duck!)

Winners MUST send an email to angie [@] 5vinezmonkeys [dot] com before Tuesday at 12:00pm (noon) ET with their name, address, and email address. Any prizes not claimed by noon on Tuesday will be given away during a LIVE giveaway on Wednesday, October 28th.

Thanks to everyone who participated! And a HUGE thank you to our sponsors for the birthday bash! Please take some time to visit them!

New Winner of the Not-So-Scary Halloween Giveaway!

2009-10-23T11:45:00.000-04:00

The last winner never responded to my email, so I've pulled a new winner in the $50 Halloween Download Bundle from YouCanMakeThis.com giveaway.

13. Danielle said... I want to try the "Candy Corn Cutie" outfit! Too cute!
October 8, 2009 8:21 PM

Congratulations! An email will be sent your way. Please respond by Monday at 8am in order to claim your prize.

Also, don't forget that our Birthday Bash Giveaways end tonight at midnight!

Yo Gabba Gabba! Music is... Awesome! (Review & Giveaway 11/11)

2009-10-23T09:00:00.001-04:00

Yo Gabba Gabba! is one of Lucy's absolute favorite shows to watch. She absolutely loves all the characters, and she can tell me anything that anyone could ever want to know about the show. And her absolute favorite part of Yo Gabba Gabba! is the music. Lucy *loves* to sing and dance, and Yo Gabba Gabba! really gets her moving.

Now, you can bring the music of Yo Gabba Gabba! to your CD player and your MP3 player! Yo Gabba Gabba! has released a brand new album called Music is... Awesome! both on CD and digitally. You'll be singing along with favorites from the show in no time like Party in my Tummy, I Like to Dance, and Get the Sillies Out, along with many, many others! This first-ever Yo Gabba Gabba! CD Release hits shelves nationwide on Oct. 20^th, 2009. The CD release is on the heels of the YGG! LIVE tour announcement for YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY playing in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

About Yo Gabba Gabba!
Yo Gabba Gabba! premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular series on television with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. The award-winning series is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. Jon Berrett and Michael Polis are executive producers. It was voted as one of the best new shows on television by TIME magazine, won a BAFTA Award in 2008, was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Television” Award by the Television Critics Association and is a two-time EmmyÒ nominee. You can learn more about by Yo Gabba Gabba! visiting their website: www.yogabbagabba.com

Last week was premier week on Nick Jr. and Andy Samberg, The Roots and MGMT were among the celeb guests who appeared with the Yo Gabba Gabba! gang during the week of new episodes, which aired Monday, Oct. 12 – Friday, Oct. 16. ( Nick Jr. was formerly named NOGGIN). Additional guest stars appearing throughout the premiere week included hip-hop legend Biz Markie, teaching preschoolers how to beat box in the recurring “Biz’s Beat of the Day” segment, singer/illustrator/composer Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO) in the recurring “Mark’s Magic Pictures” drawing segment, skateboarder Ray Barbee and musical guests Reeve Oliver, Lady Tigra and Little Ones. Yo Gabba Gabba!, currently shooting its third season, is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. The series airs daily at 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nick Jr. These episodes will be replayed so you can still catch them if you missed them last week!

Also, Yo Gabba Gabba! has recently gone LIVE! with their Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE: There's a Party in my City Tour. The announcement was such a hit that the first tour SOLD OUT and new shows had to be added! The tour will start in LA, head to NY and then hit Chicago. (This is when I still wish I lived in Chicago! My kids would *love* to go!) Tickets are available on YoGabbaGabbaLive.com and www.ticketmaster.com. (Children under one year of age will be admitted free to sit on a parent’s lap.)

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY Tour Dates:
*Recently Added

Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall
Saturday, November 14, 2009 11AM and 3PM
*Sunday, November 15, 2009 11AM and 3PM

New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Saturday, November 21, 2009 11AM – 2PM – *5 PM

Chicago, IL @ Rosemont Theatre
Saturday, December 5, 2009 11AM and 3PM

Our Review of Yo Gabba Gabba!
We recently received a copy of the Music is... Awesome! CD and the Meet My Family DVD to review. Lucy couldn't have been more excited when she saw the Yo Gabba Gabba! goodies in the review pack. The first thing she begged me to do was to put the DVD in. I did, and for the next hour and a half, I watched her jump, dance, sing, and interact with all the characters from Yo Gabba Gabba! Lucy has a very active imagination, and Yo Gabba Gabba is a wonderful tool to help foster her creativity.

After watching the DVD, we popped the CD into the stereo and got ready to groove! Lucy can sing the entire Yo Gabba Gabba! theme song, and she doesn't stop moving the entire time. When the second song came on, she started jumping for joy! It was her favorite song! Party in My Tummy! We sing this song at every meal and at snack time. It's a fun, easy way to get Lucy to eat her food, and encourage her to try new foods. We danced our way through the entire CD - all 21 songs! and then she wanted to do it again! Now, the CD has been uploaded to my iPod so that Lucy can have the songs while we're on the go, and it's also in the car CD player so she can sing along when we're on the road. (I have a feeling this will be the CD of choice for most of the trip to Ohio next week!)

I really do wish we lived in one of the tour cities. Lucy would flip if she got to see the live show! I guess I'll just keep everything crossed that the tour does really, really well and they expand it to more cities. (Ahem, Atlanta would be a great start!)

Want to Try Yo Gabba Gabba! for Yourself?
To Buy: There are lots of Yo Gabba Gabba! products you can buy! The Music is... Awesome! CD can be purchased on Amazon.com (among others) and downloaded from iTunes. You can also purchase the Christmas in Gabba Land Book (another item in the giveaway) and the Meet My Family DVD. And don't forget that you can catch Yo Gabba Gabba! on Nick Jr. every day!

You Can WIN! I've got a copy of the Music is... Awesome CD to giveaway as well as the Christmas in Gabba Land book. (The book features your favorite Yo Gabba Gabba! characters and you can personalize it with your child's picture.)

To Enter:
Leave a comment and tell me which Yo Gabba Gabba! character is your child's favorite.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.

Want Extra Entries?

Blog About this Giveaway by copying and pasting the following (5 extra entries) :
There's a Party on Her Blog! Head over to the giveaway that Angie at 5 Vinez Monkeys is having featuring Yo Gabba Gabba! You can win the new Music is... Awesome CD and the Christmas in Gabba Land book. You won't want to miss this giveaway! Stop by before 11:59pm ET on November 11th and enter to win!
Subscribe to us via email or reader. (Leave a comment for each that you do.)
Follow us on twitter. (Leave your twitter handle here, please!)
Tweet about this contest. (Unlimited - just leave a comment for each tweet!)
Grab our button and put it in your sidebar. (Leave us a link to your blog, please!)
Follow our blog - either through Google's Followers Gadget or through Facebook's Networked Blogs. Leave a comment for each one that you do.

Fine Print:
Contest is open to residents of the US. If you already do any of the above, you qualify. Please leave a comment for each of the extra entries you complete. However, you must first leave the required comment as stated above. Giveaway will end on Friday, October 23rd at 11:59pm (EST), and the winner will be selected via random.org. Winners will be announced on Thursday, November 12th and will have 48 hours to claim their prize, or it will be forfeited and a new winner will be pulled.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the items listed above from Michelle K. Sisco Public Relations, LLC to get my honest and personal review. The free products have in no way influenced my opinion.

Follow Friday: Week 16

2009-10-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

This week, our follow-worthy blog is Kim at What's that Smell?

I first found Kim last year, when I entered (and won!) a virtual baby shower, and have been a faithful reader ever since. Kim is honest, straight-forward, and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. And, she has a heart of gold!

Here's how Kim describes her blog:

What’s That Smell? is the journey through motherhood and beyond of me (Kim) and my friend Lori. Together we call ourselves “Accidental Mommies” because we never thought we fit the mold.
“An ‘Accidental Mommy’ is a mommy who never thought she was mommy material but has learned through poop, spit-up and tears that she has what it takes”

What's that Smell? offers fantastic giveaways, a fabulous gift guide, and fantastic tips for doing things you've always wondered how to do. (Like how to take a screenshot of an entire webpage.)

Head over to What's that Smell? and bookmark her site. You'll want to stop by often, I promise!

Kim, thank you for your wit, your humor, and all of the time you dedicate to your readers.

You're welcome to place this on your blog if you'd like:

If you're participating in Follow Fridays, leave a link to your post here:

Time To Break Out Your Lab Coat! (Review)

2009-10-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

Science is all around us. From the food we eat to the cosmetics we wear. Now, Elmer's has introduced 2 all-new science kits to promote fun and learning: Mythbusters Weird World of Water and the Magnificent Manicure Kit.

About the Mythbusters Weird World of Water
The Mythbusters activity kits are trial and error hands-on format, made popular by the Discovery Channel's top show. Each kit contains several myths for you to "bust" regarding the specific title. Besides the Weird World of Water, other kits include Power of Air Pressure and Forces of Flight.

With the Weird World of Water Kit, you can test the power of whirlpools, create a liquid rainbow, launch your own water=powered rocket, and more!

The kits are available nationwide at Toys "R" Us, www.toysrus.com, www.target.com, and www.walmart.com.

The Weird World of Water Kit just received the FamilyFun Magazine 2009 T.O.Y. award.

Suggested Price: $19.99
Age Range: 9+
Available Now

About the "Scientific Explorer" Magnificent Manicure Kit
Scientific Explorer partnered with UC Berkeley's Great Exploration in Math and Science (GEMS) program to create fun and educational science kits like the Magnificent Manicure Kit. In fact, the Magnificent Manicure Kit just picked up Creative Child Magazine's 2009 Toy of the Year Award in the Educational Toys category.

Magnificent Manicure Kits gives you everything you need to turn your house into a nail spa for the day.

The kit is available nationwide at Toys "R" Us and www.toysrus.com.

Suggested Price: $19.99
Age Range: 8+
Available Now

Our Review of Both Kits
Team Mom sent us both of the kits from Elmer's to test out and get our opinion. Ashley couldn't have been more excited. She loves science, so these kits were right up her alley!

First, let's talk about the Magnificent Manicure Kit:
Ashley and I did this one together. Ashley is such a girly girl, and the fact that she could make her own hand lotion and other products - well, she just thought that was so incredibly cool.

We opened the box and got to work. The instructions were easy to follow, and there were even questions throughout the entire process to get Ashley thinking while she was creating. Because Ashley loves science so much, this was a great way for her to see that science really is all around us. It deepend her love of the subject even more, and since we've done this product, she's now thinking more about the other products that we use every day. "Mom, what do you think they used to make this bubble bath?" "Mom, I bet I can name the solvent used in this baby wash." I love how excited this kit got her.

We went through the entire book of experiments, and by the end, our hands and feet were shiny and as smooth as could be. If I could make one suggestion for this product, it would be to expand it a little further. This would be the perfect Slumber-Party activity. If they made the kit to include stuff for 5 - 6 girls to make the products at the same time, it would give each of them something to take home with them the next day, and they would even get a little education (the right kind of education!) while having something as fun as a slumber party!

Next, let's talk about the Mythbuster's Weird World of Water kit:
My husband loves Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel, so I figured this would be a great way for him and Ashley to do something together. Not only was Ashley excited about the experiments included, my husband couldn't wait to dive into them either! And the boys just had to watch. They sat at the kitchen table with their eyes glued to what Ash and Daddy were doing.

The first experiment they tried was the Myth of the Deadly Vortex. The boys thought this was so incredibly cool. Especially when we added the beads to it and watched what the vortex did to them. Again, the kit asked questions along the way to help encourage learning. Love that! After the explanation of the experiment, there's a "Science Content" section that gets them thinking even more. It talks about what they saw in the experiment, and it encourages them to try different forms of the experiment.

The next experiment we tried was the Myth of the Man Who Could Walk on Water. This was my favorite experiment. I had no idea you could get a potato to float on water - or suspend it in the middle of a cylinder. But you can! It all has to do with the density of the liquid. And now even my 5 year old understands what "dense" means. (Referring to liquid. Not people. We won't go there.)

We also tried the liquid rainbow. But, we must have done it wrong because we couldn't get it to work. Instead, we just got a glass of red liquid. I think we're just going to have to try it again. And we are definitely going to try the Myth of the Pantry Projectile. The kids are dying to blast off a homemade rocket!

************************
As a homeschooling mom, these kits are exactly the kind of products that I can stand behind. The kinds of products that I want to have in my house, and the kind of products that I want around to encourage learning in my kids. To show them that learning doesn't just have to come from a book. You can get hands-on and you can have fun.

And I love that the kits come from Elmer's. They are absolutely a brand I trust. Honestly, before I received these products, I had no idea that Elmer's made more than just school glue! They've got a whole slew of products and divisions that I will definitely be looking into more.

I am really impressed with both kits, and Ashley has already added the other 2 Mythbusters kits to her Christmas wish-list. You can bet that I'll be getting them for her. I want her to grow her love for science even more, and I'll gladly purchase the products that will help do that!

Consider adding these kits to your tween's Christmas list. They'll thank you for it. And who knows? You may just end up with your own little scientist because of them.

Disclaimer: Team Mom sent me each kit to test out with my kids and get my honest opinions and feedback. My review is simply what I found to be true with the products. Others may have different results.