Barbara's Product Reviews & Giveaways

October 16, 2012

Pomegranate Kids - beautiful, artistic, educational

He thought I might be interested in their products and invited me to take a look. Wow - I love their stuff - not just for kids, but for everyone with a certain aesthetic that likes to send or surround themselves with things of art and beauty.

Pomegranate Kids provides such very special, unique and beautiful things for children, including

Coloring Books



Puzzles

  

Esoteric books



And so much more!!!

And, btw, these items are packaged in nice, thick boxes that will last a long time rather than falling apart. Just the quality presentation will make your children want to take care of them.

Believe me, I had a hard time choosing, and will undoubtedly be doing some Christmas shopping at Pomegranate Kids. Please browse their site and dream. Leave a comment for a drawing 10/29 - two lucky winners will be able to choose a special item themselves!

October 16, 2012 ( 7:48 PM) | | Permalink | Comments (39)

Make the Bread, Buy the Butter

When Jennifer Reese lost her job, she was overcome by an impulse common among the recently unemployed: to economize by doing for herself what she had previously paid for. She had never before considered making her own peanut butter and pita bread, let alone curing her own prosciutto or raising turkeys. And though it sounded logical that "doing it yourself" would cost less, she had her doubts. So Reese began a series of kitchen-related experiments, taking into account the competing demands of everyday contemporary American family life as she answers some timely questions: When is homemade better? Cheaper? Are backyard eggs a more ethical choice than store-bought? Will grinding and stuffing your own sausage ruin your week? Is it possible to make an edible maraschino cherry? Some of Reese's discoveries will surprise you: Although you should make your hot dog buns, guacamole, and yogurt, you should probably buy your hamburger buns, potato chips, and rice pudding. Tired? Buy your mayonnaise. Inspired? Make it.

With its fresh voice and delightful humor, Make the Bread, Buy the Butter gives 120 recipes with eminently practical yet deliciously fun "Make or buy" recommendations. Reese is relentlessly entertaining as she relates her food and animal husbandry adventures, which amuse and perplex as well as nourish and sustain her family. Her tales include living with a backyard full of cheerful chickens, muttering ducks, and adorable baby goats; countertops laden with lacto-fermenting pickles; and closets full of mellowing cheeses. Here's the full picture of what is involved in a truly homemade life--with the good news that you shouldn't try to make everything yourself--and how to get the most out of your time in the kitchen.

Love this book - I'm feeling very challenged to make more things myself.  For instance, Jennifer Reese points out that a flour tortilla - which tastes so much yummier than store-bought - costs 10 cents to make as opposed to 25. 

On the other hand, there's the time factor.  And Jennifer Reese understands that.

For everything from onion dip to grapenuts to chocolates, she walks readers through the process, weighing the hassle factor and cost comparison and talking through her conclusions.  For instance, she recommends buying a turkey, but only after killing, plucking and cleaning one herself - which itself is the ending of a funny story.

Some things will surprise you:
 

MAKE:             hot dog buns pancakes chocolate cake guacamole eggs benedict yogurt hummus dill pickles cured meats whipped cream bagels

BUY:                          baguettes sashimi hamburger buns burritos turkey hot dogs coffee liqueur rice pudding corn dogs English muffins ice cream cones

BOTH: roasted chicken tortillas applesauce mayonnaise salsa cream cheese onion rings graham crackers pasta Pop-Tarts chocolates

This book is fun to read and packed with food for thought (no pun intended.  I am reading mine cover to cover to see what new things I might learn from Someone who isn't just talking the talk, but walking the walk.

Through the generosity of Free Press, I also have two to give away.  Please leave a comment for a drawing 10/29.
 

October 16, 2012 ( 5:28 PM) | | Permalink | Comments (35)

Cardboard Children's Playhouse by Boutique Cascades

Lightweight, strong and mobile, this cardboard playhouse will win over the hearts of your children, who will use their creativity to decorate it to their own taste, with crayons, paint, paper and other materials.

When Boutique Cascades sent me a cardboard playhouse to review, I was very happy to pass it on to my granddaughter Lily, who just turned five. Her eyes lit up as we contemplated the possibilities - what she could color her house with after her big brothers set it up.

What a great idea! Kids have been making houses out of cardboard boxes forever, and the folks at Boutique Cascades have taken it a step further - providing a safe cardboard product that will inspire your kids - perfect o pull  out of a closet some day when the winter doldrums set in!

Why buy the Children's Cardboard Playhouse?

Entertaining

Making a miniature playhouse out of a cardboard box is an activity that has been entertaining parents and children for ages! We have understood that, at Cascades, which is why we have used our creativity to manufacture our own cardboard house...

Doors, windows, skylights, mailbox... it's all there! This indoor cardboard house will charm you and entertain your children, who will transform it into their own little home. Since one of the pleasures of cardboard is to be able to decorate it with anything that falls into their hands, prepare crayons, paint, stickers and paper to derive hours of pleasure!

Stimulate the imagination and the creativity of your children with Cascades' miniature playhouse.

Green

Cascades' nice playhouse can even take pride in being environmentally sound!

In fact, this playhouse is made with 100% recycled corrugated cardboard. When you are ready to dispose of it, since it is also recyclable, you can simply put it into your recycling bin. This house differentiates itself from all the other plastic toys.

When giving a "to be coloured" Cascades playhouse, you will be offering an original and an eco-responsible gift to your children. Since it is strong, they will have it for a long time and will be able to add a variety of decorations over the years.

Safe

Entertaining, environmentally sound... safe?

Exactly!

The Cascades children's playhouse is much safer and more resistant than an ordinary cardboard box. Assembling it takes approximately 10 minutes, and requires no glue or tools!

Because it is made of cardboard, this "to be decorated" house is lightweight, therefore safer for your children. The corners have been rounded, to reduce the risk of injury.

How would you decorate yours? The possibilities are endless - but my suggestion is to try to give it up to your kids so their imaginations can soar!

Boutique Cascades has graciously offered to send one MommyLife reader a cardboard playhouse of their own. To be entered, leave a comment for a drawing 10/29.

October 16, 2012 ( 4:37 PM) | | Permalink | Comments (26)

Ninja® Cooking System

I've been cooking with a Slow Cooker for 40 years and I love it - pop everything in in the morning, and then you're good to go.

But this cooking marvel is more than a Slow-Cooker and I can't wait to use ALL the features the Ninja^® Cooking Systemit provides. First of all, I totally love that even just using it as a slow cooker will eliminate a lot of extra pots and pans. Being able to sear meat before cooking all day is great because the searing locks in the juices so the meat is tender and moist.  And putting all that stuff together in one fell swoop for spaghetti?  Who would have thought?

The Ninja people were kind enough to send me one for review. Last night I made a dish with boneless pork chops, rice and a special sauce Tripp made. It was perfect.  Tomorrow I plan to roast a chicken. 

I think this would be a great blessing to a senior or someone at college. While it's a little pricey, the number of things it does makes it especially useful for someone without a stove top or oven.

Who has time to cook healthy meals? As schedules heat-up this Fall, the new Ninja® Cooking System is the perfect dinnertime solution to help keep your cool - saving time and serving up easy, healthier meals, all from one convenient countertop pot.  Now, it's possible to make complete meals - layering the main course, vegetables, and pasta or rice inside the Ninja® Cooking System pot - in just 30 minutes, even from the freezer, cutting cooking times by as much as 30 to 50 percent.

 

·         Steam-Infused Roasting and Baking - Revolutionary steam roasting and baking provides quicker cooking, plus healthier and moister results. Steam-infused roasting cooks meat evenly and cuts the cooking time by up to 30 percent, keeping more natural juices in the meat while taking the bad fat out.  Baked goods are more moist too, and can be prepared with up to 50 percent less fat.

 

·         Fast One-Pot Meal Making - With Triple Fusion Heat, complete meals can be made in just one single pot. Home cooks can layer meals by cooking dry pasta, veggies and meats all at the same time in the Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System. Meats cook more evenly and casseroles have a savory and crispy finish, with more crunch on the bottom and sides.  Frozen seafood and other frozen items can even be prepared in 30 minutes.

 

·         SEAR-ious Slow Cooking - The Ninja Cooking System has both stovetop settings and slow cook settings which allows the home cook to use the same pot to sear and brown meats and vegetables to add more flavor to the meal. The stovetop can be used after slow cooking to deglaze sauces, and to add delicate vegetables for a perfect texture. The slow-cooker is programmable; allowing you to set the cooking time, which will automatically keep warm once cooking is complete. 

Browse the Ninja^® Cooking System website to see more.

Particularly impressive:

5-Year Guarantee

Full-service 5 year agreement PLUS FREE shipping and FREE return shipping. If you have any problems with your Ninja^® Cooking System in the next 5 years we'll fix it or send you a new one, all for FREE - including shipping both ways! V.I.P. Service Guarantee not valid outside the contiguous U.S.

I really am thrilled to try out new products for review - especially because they give me the opportunity to sponsor a giveaway for my readers. One MommyLife reader will win a Ninja^® Cooking System for her very own. Just leave a comment for a drawing 10/29!

October 16, 2012 ( 3:21 PM) | | Permalink | Comments (45)

The Sparkle Box - a new Christmas tradition

Want to teach your children that Christmas means so much more than gifts? Want to play down consumerism and materialism leading up to the day we remember Jesus' birth? Want them to really live the words "more blessed to give than to receive?"

Here's a book that can start a beautiful new tradition in your family - with the story of a boy whose parents begin the holiday season with a Sparkle Box, where they deposit notes of things they did for others, offering it Christmas morning to Jesus.

The book not only introduces the tradition through a story - which young children need to learn (hey, don't we all? - which is why the Bible is a collection of stories) - but it has a shiny, shimmer Sparkle Box included which you can unfold and use year after year.

I especially like the texture of the dust jacket, so children can "feel" the sparkle. Montessori emphasizes that the more senses involved, the more successful learning will be. And concrete impressions made in these early years will stick with a child forever.

And I like the very natural-looking pictures.

THE SPARKLE BOX - Official Book Trailer from Ideals Books on Vimeo.

Here is the synopsis from Amazon:

The moving story of an uncommon gift and how giving to others shows a little boy the true meaning of Christmas.

Sam is so excited about Christmas! He's thinking about his Christmas list, anticipating holiday parties, and puzzling over one very mysterious gift -- a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. In the midst of the festivities, Sam and his family participate in various acts of kindness to others. On Christmas morning, when Sam finally opens the Sparkle Box, he finds only slips of paper that record the family's good deeds. Sam's parents explain that the things that they've been doing for others are, in fact, a gift for Jesus -- for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes. Ages 4-8.

Includes a glitter-coated fold-out Sparkle Box!

More information at Ideals Books

Thanks to Ideals Books for sending me this book to review and for offering one for a MommyLife giveaway. Please leave a comment for drawing 10/29.

October 16, 2012 ( 2:35 PM) | | Permalink | Comments (18)

September 28, 2012

Buy Shoes on Wednesday

[The winners of this giveaway are Amy Jane, Newt, Emily and Karen. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to William Morrow for sponsoring it. You may purchase Buy Shoes on Wednesday and Tweet at 4:00 at Amazon]

Very clever book - and one that will have a lot of practical use for any mom!

Are you thinking that you might have gotten a better deal on a purchase if only you'd known the right moment to buy? Do you wonder if your workout would be more effective at another time of day? Have you worried that your tropical vacation plans might land you on an island paradise just in time for monsoon season?

Mark Di Vincenzo's eye-opening, phenomenally useful New York Times bestseller, Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon, captured the attention of consumers across the country--and saved readers time, money and trouble. Now he's back with hundreds of brand-new timing tips! Do you know:

(1) The best month to buy a cell phone?
(2) The best day of the week to take your car in for repairs?
(3) The best week of the year to visit Mexico City?
(4) The best time to confront someone who "unfriended" you on Facebook?

Get more for your money, maximize your time, take better care of your health and be savvier about your career--simply by changing the time you do certain things. Timing truly is everything!

Including up-to-the-minute info like what is the best time to list on Craig's List, the best day to have your tweets retweeted, the best time to approach someone who'd unfreinded you on facebook.There are thousands of reasons you will like this book!

And William Morrow has set aside four for MommyLife readers! Just leave a comment for drawing 10/12!

September 28, 2012 ( 6:31 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (27)

Weelicious - 140 fast, fresh, easy family recipes

[The winner of this giveaway is Trisha. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to William Morrow for sponsoring it. You may purchase Weelicious at Amazon ]



Very cool cookbook by Catherine McCord, founder of the website Weelicious.com.

Loaded with gorgeous pictures that will motivate you to try these unusually healthy but tasty recipes - all perfect for pleasing the eye and palate of adults and children. Simply brilliant strategy for getting your child used to eating good food:

Our kids can be great eaters!

After her son was born in 2007, Catherine McCord sought out resources to teach her how to prepare fresh, healthy, appealing meals for young kids--but she came up empty. With culinary school under her belt and a hungry baby to feed, Catherine started Weelicious.com, a website that has since grown into a comprehensive offering of kid-friendly family meals.

Complete with beautiful color photos, tips and tools, lists of pantry staples, feeding plans, and more than seventy new recipes never before seen on Weelicious .com, Weelicious makes it easy to get kids eating healthy foods from their first bite. Catherine teaches parents how to turn their kids into great eaters who appreciate food and are open to exciting new flavors. With Weelicious you will:

• Stop being a short-order cook--whip up unique, delicious, and healthy recipes that everyone in your family, no matter what their age, will love.
• Inspire your kids to eat healthfully without resorting to sneaking or trickery--discover a wealth of great tips for getting kids to eat just by paying attention to how their food is prepared and presented.
• Get kids in the kitchen from day one--introduce kids to a variety of foods and include them in the cooking process to set them up for years of positive eating habits.
• Shop effectively (and make it fun)--bring your kids to the farmers' market or grocery store for a hands-on learning experience when it comes to meal planning.
• Give kids some choice--strategically allow them to have more input and control over what goes into their bodies so they can "own" their choices.

From first-food favorites such as Sweet Potato-Coconut Puree and The Teething Cookie to family-friendly Veggie Nuggets, Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese, Chicken on a Stick, Shrimp Tacos, and Cheesy Chicken Taquitos to treats like Banana Bread Cake, Raspberry-Cream Cheese Heart Tarts, and Chocolate Velvet Beet Cupcakes, these recipes are perfect for little taste buds and sophisticated adult palates alike--and best of all, every single recipe has been created with health and wholesomeness in mind.

More than just a cookbook, Weelicious is the ultimate cooking bible for families--a resource that will stand the test of time as the family grows!

You know you want this cookbook! William Morrow has set aside one for a MommyLife reader. Leave a comment for a drawing 10/12!

September 28, 2012 ( 5:51 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (26)

OCEAN complete sinus irrigation

[The winner of this giveaway is Ellen McClure. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to OCEAN for sponsoring it. You may purchase the OCEAN complete sinus irrigation system at Amazon]

Our family has been using a Sinus Cleanse system (kinda like a NetiPot) for years - with dramatic results. My kids, who used to have several bouts of colds and sinus infections each year have been so healthy we only see their pediatrician for wellness checkups.

But because I'd heard of some fatalities involving bacteria from the neti pots reaching the brain, I was very interested when I received this product - which is a more sterile system - for review:

OCEAN Complete® Sinus Irrigation

OCEAN Complete® Sinus Irrigation provides a convenient and easy to use two-in-one nasal saline therapy: a special nozzle for nasal sinus irrigation and a unique saline mist applicator for nasal moisturizing.  Utilizing an exclusive non-medicated salt blend formula, the OCEAN brand nasal sinus irrigation system is safe for frequent daily use.

Two convenient delivery options in one great nasal irrigation product

The orange nozzle irrigates and liquefies mucus, clearing nasal passages, while the white nozzle provides a moisturizing saline mist to counteract dry climates.

When should you use OCEAN Complete® Sinus Irrigation?

• For general moisturizing during dry climates and cold temperatures, and while spending time in enclosed spaces (e.g., air travel, office buildings, etc.)
• To relieve allergy, cold & flu symptoms in a safe, non-medicated manner
• To help relieve congestion by thinning mucus
• To return moisture caused by drug-induced dryness
• To help reduce nosebleeds from dryness
• To moisturize and irrigate membranes following nasal surgery
• To relieve dryness associated with oxygen treatments and CPAP machines for sleep apnea

Additional OCEAN Complete Information

• OCEAN Complete FAQs

This is worry-free and easy to use. Ocean Saline Nasal Care has promised the same Sinus Irrigation system to one MommyLife reader. Leave a comment for a drawing 10/12.

September 28, 2012 ( 1:20 PM) | Health products | Permalink | Comments (11)

GoSmart Sheepskin restpad for computer

[The winner of this giveaway is Nana. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to Go Smart for sponsoring it. You may purchase the Go Smart rest pad at Amazon]

Have you ever received something you didn't even know you needed? Then you know the feeling I had when I opened a package from Go Smart and found this incredible rest pad inside.

Y'all know I'm a writer, but what you might not realize is that my right arm/wrist/hand take a beating as I put in 8 hours a day at my computer. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this wrist pad. The sheepskin really makes it so much better than the molded or gel pads. And in the winter, I know it will be lovely to have my writst resting on something warm rather than my cold desk (we keep our temperatures low in the winter).

I hope there is someone out there who needs this as much as I do, because Go Smart has promised one to a MommyLife reader.:

GOSMART RESTPAD

Soft Sheepskin mouse pad for the ultimate pressure relief for computer users

Relieves 2X as Much Pressure as Other Wrist Rests

Patent-Pending Mouse Pad Takes off the Pressure for Aching Wrists, Carpal Tunnel & Repetitive Wrist Injury Sufferers

August 15, 2012, Los Angeles, CA - GoSmart, Inc. www.justgosmart.com announced today the GoSmart RestPad, an innovative new patent-pending mouse pad with a luxurious 100% natural sheepskin wrist rest designed to give soothing comfort and ultimate pressure relief for computer mouse users. The GoSmart RestPad is a new kind of mouse pad, featuring a removable sheepskin wrist rest designed to give pressure relief for anyone using a computer for hours, for those with repetitive wrist injury, or for those suffering with Carpal Tunnel. Validated to relieve over twice as much pressure as other wrist rests, the GoSmart RestPad underwent extensive testing with advanced tactile array sensors that measured the contact pressures underneath the wrist to show the GoSmart RestPad's superior results.

A perfect "Back to School" must-have gift for the hard-working student or computer user alike, the rich looking and plush GoSmart RestPad fits your school or home décor, available in tan, brown, or pink microfiber. Also very easy to keep clean, the sheepskin is attached to the mouse pad with Velcro, so it can be quickly removed and washed. In addition, the mouse pad's design is more comfortable at 38% larger than other pads, matching the widescreen aspect ratio of modern displays, and the wrist rest area is also larger and rounded to maximize user comfort. Other user friendly features include a rigid construction with a high friction rubber base so you always have a flat and stable area for maneuvering your mouse.

"The GoSmart RestPad is like a relaxing vacation for your wrists. Once you use it, it will be very difficult to go back to using a hard mouse pad again," said Jae Son, President and Inventor, GoSmart, Inc.

GoSmart RestPad Features:

• Ultimate pressure relief.

• Warm, soft & breathable, 100% natural sheepskin.

• High quality, large, and stable construction.

• Great for those with Carpal Tunnel or repetitive wrist injury.

• More comfortable at 38% larger than other pads, matches display's widescreen aspect ratio.

• Rigid construction with high friction rubber base for flat and stable area to maneuver mouse.

• Sheepskin is removable, easily washed.

• Available in tan, brown, or pink.

For more information on the rest pad and other products, visit Go Smart

Just leave a comment for a drawing 10/12!

September 28, 2012 (10:20 AM) | Technology | Permalink | Comments (20)

Van der Hagen Shaving Kit for hubby

[The winner of this giveaway is Hannah Elise. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to Van der Hagen for sponsoring it. You may purchase the Van der Hagen Shaving Kit at Amazon]



I was so excited to receive this beautiful Shaving Set - a perfect blend of traditional and modern - to review. Years ago, Tripp went through a period where he used a brush and soap and lathered up the old-fashioned way. He seemed to enjoy it immensely - sort of a zen-like experience. Sometimes we forget that in opting for the quick and convenient, we lost those small moments of self-indulgence - not the big materialistic ones, but the kind where we linger an extra moment or two and find a small oasis of tranquility.

So I plan to put this away for Tripp for Christmas. While at some point in our hectic parenthood, he must have given up those extra minutes, I'm guessing that where we are in our lives now he would be ready to pick up this lovely habit again.

Plus, I get to host a giveaway for a set like this for a MommyLife reader:

Guys get the Granddaddy of All Shaves with Van Der Hagen Enterprises' Premium Shave Tools

Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 21, 2012 -- With more than a hundred years experience and available at retailers nationwide, van der Hagen Enterprises, manufacturer of premium shave products for men, is declaring granddads had it right from the start: a bowl and a brush has always been the better way to shave. The familyowned company's handmade, retro-inspired products make for a more cushioned, precise, and functional shave at an affordable price.

For over 20 years, the van der Hagen family has been the world's premier specialty bar soap manufacturer. Their products include quality badger and boar bristle brushes, scented and unscented shave soaps, monogrammed shaving bowls, post shave balms and lotions, face scrub, and more. Each van der Hagen soap is kettle processed and handmade with the highest grade fatty acids and pure ingredients like Mango, Cocoa Butter, and Glycerin. Plus, dapper johns have their pick of either van der Hagen's Classic line or Luxury line, depending on their fancy.

"van der Hagen shave products aren't designed with any gimmick in mind," says Marty van der Hagen, President of van der Hagen Enterprises. "For centuries, men have been using a self-lathering shave soap and brush to get the shave they desire; there was never a need for fancy gel-to-foam creams then and there still isn't now. Our consensus is if it was good enough for your grandfather, it is good enough for you. Why fix what was never broken to begin with?"

Despite the brand's old timey feel, van der Hagen Enterprises' back to basics approach is not for quirks, but for functionality. Research shows that applying a shave soap with brush not only exfoliates skin, but it also lifts whiskers in a way which results in a much closer and more cushioned shave. In addition, van der Hagen Enterprises' kettle processed shave soaps and formulas make for superior razor glide, rinse clean, and won't clog razors or pores. Much like a well-poured draft beer, van der Hagen's shave suite gives men a taste of the frothy, consistent, and smooth.

"All of our soaps are made a batch at a time from quality, American-made ingredients in our Texas-based factory," says van der Hagen. "However, while we have maintained the time-tested, quality-driven hand-made process of the past, we have also incorporated many modern technologies to ensure our products are nonirritating, non-comedogenic, and as pure as possible."

Now, more and more men are telling their aluminum shave cans to scram and getting with the times...the old times, that is. As Pappy van der Hagen might say, "Keep your shoes shined, your hair combed, and always shave with a bowl and a brush." It's time to start shaving like a man.

For more information, please visit Van der Hagen.

Just leave a comment for a drawing 10/12!

September 28, 2012 ( 9:52 AM) | Men's | Permalink | Comments (18)

August 23, 2012

The Midwife of Hope River

[The winners of this giveaway are Christina, Jan, Clare, Sharon, and Cam. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to William Morrow for sponsoring it. You may purchase The Midwife of Hope River at Amazon]

The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife is a book that has a lot going for it, especially an author who knows her subject (Patricia Harman was a midwife herself), her geography and her history.

Set in Appalachia during the Depression, this is the story of Patience Murphy, a woman with a past trying to carve out a future for herself as a single woman, but mostly guided by her desire to serve others through her skills as a midwife.

The perspective of this book is secular - though Patience recounts a life full of people who have religion, she has none herself. Still, believers are presented with dignity and respect.

Because of the time period and Patience's political leanings there are many references to women's suffrage, union battles with figures like Emma Goldman thrown in as past associates. Because of her present environment, there are  references to unsafe mining conditions, racial prejudice and the Ku Klux Klan.

With a highly personal main story - Patience is open to the secrets of others, but holds her own very close to her heart - these references enrich and enlarge the plot.

This is not the kind of book I would normally choose, but once I started reading it, I enjoyed it until the end. The writing is intelligent and the birth scenes will resonate with anyone who has given birth or seen another woman give birth. 

I especially hope that all midwifes find their way to it.

William Morrow has reserved five copies for MommyLife readers.  Please leave a comment for a drawing 9/10. 

August 23, 2012 ( 8:04 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (28)

Healthy Foods A to Z

[The winner of this giveaway is Colleen. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to Moonstone Press for sponsoring it. You may purchase Healthy Foods from A to Z at Amazon]



I received this copy of Healthy Foods from A to Z from Moonstone Press - and I'm glad I did.

Each page is devoted to a letter of the alphabet, with a very artistic face created from fruit and vegetables that begin with that letter.  Presented in English and Spanish and with a heavy dose of creativity!

My guess is that just sitting with a child who might be a little finicky in their eating habits - naming and pointing together to the familiar fruits and vegetables - would break down subconscious barriers a child might have to trying new things.

And of course, ultimately, the real barrier-breaker is mom - who serves up a wide variety of food - even things your mother didn't serve.  People always ask me why my kids love vegetables and my only answer is that I serve them every night and the whole family eats them.  Lately, we've tried cooking fresh beets and everyone loves them too.

But I digress.  The book also has a template and directions so you and your kids can make your own funny faces, ideas for other projects, and als0 - very valuable - a chart with nutrition information on all kinds of food.  This is something you can study with your children - each absorbing what you can at your respective levels.

To win your own copy of this unique book, please leave a comment for a crawing 9/10!

 

August 23, 2012 ( 7:50 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (11)

Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer

[The winner of this giveaway is Tina. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to Exergen for sponsoring it. You may purchase the Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer at Amazon ]

Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer

Way back in June, I received this new-fangled thermometer for review.

Okay, so I'm kidding with the new-fangled, but as a megamom, I've been watching the development of thermometers for 44 years. Yes, that includes the old rectal thermometers, the less invasive but less accurate battery-powered, the strips - you name it, we've used it at our house.

So I was pretty excited to receive this, but since it was only days before my fateful vacation, I put it aside to review when I got home. We all know what happened a few days later, when I broke my leg in California and came home - ending up in the hospital, where the nurses used this amazing thermometer.  When I came home, I got to use it too! 

It is way cool - friendly to children, and yet producing results in which adults can be confident.

All I can say is Thank You, Exergen!

The Temporal Scanner Thermometer is a totally non-invasive system with advanced infrared technology providing maximum ease of use with quick, consistently accurate measurements.

Advanced, patented technology measures temperatures with a gentle stroke across the forehead.

The TemporalScanner Thermometer has been clinically tested for accuracy compared to rectal thermometers and temperature sensors inserted in the heart during course of patient treatment and accepted for use in major hospitals, making it the ideal thermometer for use with newborns, infants, children or adults.

The TemporalScanner has patented software, providing arterial heat balance.

This unique process determines temperature by accurately measuring the balance between the tissues warming from arterial blood and tissues cooling (warming) caused by heat loss (gain) to the environment.

In addition to the one they sent me for review, Exergen has graciously offered an Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer to one winner at MommyLife. Please leave a comment to enter a drawing for September 10. If you like, you can leave your funniest thermometer story.

August 23, 2012 ( 5:54 PM) | Health products | Permalink | Comments (34)

Soft Gear Booster Seat

[The winners of this giveaway are Renee Taylor and Dirtdartwife. Thanks to all who entered - I wish I had one for each of you! And thanks to Soft Gear for sponsoring it. You may purchase  the Soft Gear My Booster Seat at Amazon .]

Soft Gear My Booster Seat

Soft Gear - a company you can count on for practical, well-designed baby/toddler products, sent me this booster seat for review. What I like about it is the fact that it gives to the body of the child.

The way my Montessori teacher training changed my life - so that I'm always looking at things from a child's perspective - I can't help but think how much more comfortable a cushy booster like this would be than a hard plastic one.

Also, from a safety standpoint, less likely to shift around on a hard chair.

And best of all - American made!

• Features: Portable, Padded Seat, Contoured Seat, Fits Most Chairs, Rubberized Grip
• Safety and Security Features: Slip-resistant Feet
• Material: Foam
• Care and Cleaning: Wipe Clean With Soap and Water
• High Chair Max Weight Capacity: 50.0 Lb.

show more details

• Booster Seat Max Weight Capacity: 50.0 Lb.
• Manufacturer's Suggested Age: 3 Years and Up
• Dimensions: 5.5 " H x 15.0 " W x 14.0 " D
• Weight: 1.5 Lb.

Gonna tuck this one away for the expectant parents I mentioned before - sorry, gotta keep you guessing until I get permission to say something :)

But in the meantime, Soft Gear has promised a booster seat just like this to each of two winners at MommyLife.  Leave a comment for a drawing 9/10, telling me a little something about the child you plan to sit in this seat.

August 23, 2012 ( 5:26 PM) | Baby products | Permalink | Comments (24)

The Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing

[The winner of this giveaway is Adrienne . Thanks to Bright Starts™ for sponsoring it. You may purchase  Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing or other Bright Starts™ products at Amazon.]


The Bright Starts™ sent me this  The Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing for review - so grateful because I have just the perfect parents-to-be to pass it on to - but more about that soon! If this were a car, you would say it was loaded:

Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing Find baby's favorite speed with this innovative portable swing. The Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing is a win for parents and babies--from its machine-washable padded seat right down to its bright yellow, non-slip feet. With six distinct speeds to choose from, you'll find it easy to suit your little one's mood--and our patented TrueSpeed™ technology keeps those speeds consistent even as baby grows. The Comfort Recline™ seat gives you a choice of two positions, and WhisperQuiet™ operation makes this swing silent in use. Wrap it all up in the super-fun animal decor and you've got a perfect travel companion. Part of Bright Starts™' Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™ Features:

• TrueSpeed™ Technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows
• Comfort Recline™ seat with 2 positions
• Whisper Quiet™ operation
• Easily folds for storage or travel
• 5 point harness
• Machine washable seat pad
• Non-slip feet

Oh, how I wish these days of baby swings - and their precious cargo - weren't over at my house. But I hope to see this in use sometime soon (my lips are sealed for now, though).

In the meantime, Bright Starts™  has generously offered a Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing to one lucky MommyLife reader. Please leave a comment - especially if you or someone you know is expecting. Drawing 9/10!

August 23, 2012 ( 5:16 PM) | Baby products | Permalink | Comments (22)

August 7, 2012

Discovery Girls: Middle School Survival Guide Series

[The winner of this giveaway is Melissa. Thanks to Discovery Girls for sponsoring it. You may purchase the Discovery Girls' Middle School Survival Guidesat Amazon

From Discovery Girls - a group I have recommended highly for several years - for reliable resources for 'tween and teen girls:

We're super excited to announce that the 2nd Edition of our popular book series has arrived! Just in time for "Back to School!"

Discovery Girls Middle School Survival Guides deliver the best strategies so girls can successfully deal with friendship troubles, embarrassing moments, life's toughest problems, body issues, school pressures and much, much more. All of the books reinforce the power of girls to overcome disappointment, develop positive images about themselves, seek the right kind of help, talk to their parents and learn how to grow from failures.

This four-book series will help your daughter successfully deal with friendship troubles, embarrassing moments, life's toughest problems, body issues, school pressures and much more.  All of the books reinforce the power of girls to overcome disappointment, develop positive images about themselves, seek the right kind of help and learn to grow from failures.

This will be blessing for any mother to pass on to her daughter - and a wonderful opportunity to read and discuss together to reinforce the positive lessons and open up lines of communication.

I am passing the set Discovery Girls sent me on to my granddaughter.  And I'm happy to announce that Discovery Girls has also set aside a 4-volume set for one winner here at MommyLife.  Please leave a comment for the drawing 8/20!

August 7, 2012 (10:55 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (22)

Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy

[The winner of this giveaway is Tam. Thanks to Aurora for sponsoring it. You may purchase Raggedy Ann or other Aurora products at Amazon

Who doesn't love Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy?  And who wouldn't love to win their choice of one?

Aurora Products has partnered with Hasbro to reach a new generation of children with the long-beloved characters of parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.  As a mom of 12 who's seen countless childhood trends come and go, I can say my heart skipped a beat when I opened the box that came in the mail with a brand new Raggedy Ann inside for me to share with . . . . well, maybe it's time to let out the secret: this one I'll be putting away for Sophia's honeymoon baby, due in February - the first new baby in our family for a long time!

Here's the official scoop:

• Aurora is thrilled to work with Hasbro to bring a new generation of children into the fold of this classic and beloved brand with a new line of plush dolls striking just the right balance of vintage and modern elements
• Aurora is very excited to showcase these handmade pieces that feature exquisite detail including fine facial features and yarn hair with the classic loop style. These are heirloom treasures that can be passed on for generations
• The 8", 12" 16" and 25" classic Raggedy Ann or Raggedy Andy rag dolls are: $10, $15, $25 and $35 respectively
• The Fancy Pals style -- Raggedy Ann Butterfly or Red Ribbon -- are 7" and $17 each
• Four highly anticipated holiday styles join the line later this year. The Raggedy Ann "Chilly Chic" and "Santa's Helper" and Raggedy Andy "Chilly Chic" and "Santa" are 16 inches and SRP is $27
• All Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy items are great for ages 18 months and up
• Aurora's official website is www.auroragift.com
• Aurora is on Facebook at facebook.com/auroraworld
• Aurora is on YouTube at youtube.com/auroraworld1
• Aurora's Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy can be purchased at retail or online at the official Aurora shop: http://shop.auroragift.com (direct link: http://shop.auroragift.com/products/category/1570.0.1.1.1025077.0.0.0.0) -- ***please note: FREE Shipping on orders over $50 until August 31st, 2012. Use promo code: YooHoo12

But here's what I have to say: I've seen a lot of Raggedy Anns over my 64 years, but these are truly exceptionally made and the creators aren't exaggerating when they say heirloom craftsmanship. You will not be disappointed if you order these to put away for birthdays or Christmas - or just a surprise present now.

This kind of quality means a doll that can be passed down for generations. So if you don't have yours anymore, you can start again with your kids.

Aurora has promised one winner at MommyLife her choice of a 16" Raggedy Ann or Raggedy Andy - or one of the 7" Fancy Pals.  Just leave a comment for a drawing 8/20.

August 7, 2012 (10:37 PM) | Toys | Permalink | Comments (29)

Your Boy: Raising a Godly Son in an Ungodly World

[The winners of this giveaway are Donna, Jeanette and Bridget. Thanks to B&H for sponsoring it. You may purchase Your Boy: Raising a Godly Son in an Ungodly World at Amazon ]

From back cover:

"As mothers we have a brief time to make a godly impact on our sons; to grow the next generation of godly men. It is perhaps the highest calling God can give a woman."

If you are the mother of a son, especially one in the tween or teen years, then you know that you are in a war for his mind, body, and soul.

From his very first step to his first big steps into manhood, the things of this world relentlessly compete for his attention.  But a mother - the number one woman in a young boy's life - points her son to all things eternal.

Your Boy: Raising a Godly Son in an Ungodly World  addresses the complex culture young men face today. As both an award-winning author and fellow mom of boys, Vicki Courtney shows what mothers can do to raise godly sons despite negative worldly influences.

Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails; we know what little boys are made of. Now find out what it takes to make a man.

Full of sound, biblical advice - and structured for individual or group study - with questions at the end of each chapter to help you personalize what you have read - this book is a great addition to any Christian family's library.

Thank you to B&H Publishing (who also publish two of my books) for sending me a copy and offering three to giveaway to MommyLife Readers.  Please leave a comment for a drawing 8/20.

August 7, 2012 ( 9:18 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (34)

Your Girl: Raising a Godly Daughter in an Ungodly World

[The winners of this giveaway are Jennie, Sandy and Stacie. Thanks to B&H  for sponsoring it. You may purchase Your Girl: Raising a Godly Daughter in an Ungodly World at Amazon]

From back cover:

"God, help us to raise this generation of girls to be Yours and Yours alone."

If you are the mother of a daughter, especially one in the tween or teen years, you know you are in a war for her mind, body, and soull.

Your Girl: Raising a Godly Daughter in an Ungodly World does not shy away from the issues most critical to raising girls in today's world. Addressing topics ranging from body image to the high calling of motherhood, the necessity to enter the battle to counteract negative influences of the culture is made both clear and possible.

Award-winning author and fellow mom, Vicki Courtney encourages moms to rely on God's word while passing down key godly attributes such as worth, modesty and purity. Your Girl also helps mothers teach their daughters to stand for truth, protect their hearts, and navigate the uncertain currents of girl drama.

"This is a fabulous book! Your Girl is not only touching, it is teaching! Vicki's approach is biblical, straightforward, and relevant." -- Beth Moore

Full of sound, biblical advice - and structured for individual or group study - with questions at the end of each chapter to help you personalize what you have read - this book is a great addition to any Christian family's library.

Thank you to B&H Publishing (who also publish two of my books) for sending me a copy and offering three to giveaway to MommyLife Readers.  Please leave a comment for a drawing 8/20.

August 7, 2012 ( 9:03 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (26)

Cleaning House: Ridding families of youth entitlement

[The winners of this giveaway areLaurie, Elizabeth, and Jill. Thanks to Waterbrook for sponsoring it. You may purchase Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement at Amazon

Former White House Employee...

Cleans Up Her Own House

 

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement(WaterBrook Press, May 8, 2012) began when self-described enabling mother Kay Wills Wyma kicked off an unusual one-year experiment to introduce her five children to the basic tasks of independence.

 Along the way not only did her kids change...but the task of un-enabling five twenty-first century American kids opened her eyes to valuable insights...available to all parents seeking to rid their children of youth entitlement.

While today's well-intentioned parents are doing all they can to facilitate their children's rise to greatness, parents are realizing that the hovering is backfiring. Now, if or when, kids even leave home--they are increasingly helpless and dependent. Parents' attempts to boost their kids' success are instead enabling their failure with the unspoken message: "I'll do it for you because you can't."

Wyma has found that what kids really need to hear is, "I believe in you, so I'm going to make you work." From making beds to grocery shopping to disinfecting a bathroom, her family experienced for themselves the ways meaningful work can transform self-absorption into earned self-confidence and concern for others.

Cleaning House not only chronicles Wyma's family's journey to independence, but also offers insight, humor, and practical steps to parents desiring to overcome youth entitlement in their own households.

Author Kay Wills Wyma has five kids, ages four to fourteen, and one SUV with a lot of carpool miles. Before she transitioned to stay-at-home mom, she earned an MBA, worked at the White House, and dabbled in international finance. Happily married to Jon, this recovering enabler is committed to equipping the next generation to achieve great things in the future by piling on the responsibility today. Kay enjoys inspiring other parents of adolescents and teens through her blog TheMoatBlog.com.

I love this book! Chock-full of thought-provoking material sure to engage even those parents who feel they've covered all the bases when it comes to bringing up responsible, accountable kids - and a blueprint for those whose kids need a serious character overhaul. After all, we're raising them to be adults who know how to take care of themselves. Very reader-friendly and well-written.

Sure to inspire parents whose kids will be the beneficiaries for years to come

Thanks to Waterbrook Press for sending me a review copy and offering 3 copies for giveaway. Leave a comment for drawing 8/20.

Love,

August 7, 2012 ( 8:26 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (63)

May 29, 2012

Easy Canvas Prints

[Deborah is the winner of this giveaway - congratulations! And thanks to Easy Canvas Prints for sponsoring it!

Just in time for Father's Day!!!  Easy Canvas Prints offered to make one of my photos into a print I could hang on the wall, so I sent them one I took of Josh and Hattie last Thanksgiving.  It turned out so well!



Wouldn't this be a great gift for Father's Day?  Easy Canvas Prints has promised a free print to one of my readers.  Just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing 6/7 - which will be plenty of time, because besides doing a great job, this company is super-fast.

Heads up! Wait until I announce the winner 6/7 before ordering yourself - there might be a little something to sweeten the outcome for the losers, too!

Love,

May 29, 2012 ( 5:45 PM) | Home decor | Permalink | Comments (42)

Sticky Mosaics - no-mess crafts

[This was a hard contest to announce the winners for, because I wish we could all be winners! These are so much fun - and no mess - and so many of you wanted them.

Thanks to Sticky Mosaics for sponsoring this giveaway. The winners are Chrissy, Donna and Francine. You can find Sticky Mosaicsat Amazon or at their website.]

If you've read my books or know much about Montessori, you know that this kind of concentration is something you want to encourage in your children, as the ability to concentrate is the cornerstone of learning.

This is my youngest, Justin (one of our adopted sons with Down syndrome) hard at work on the Sleeping Beauty storybook sent to me by the Orb Factory, who have an interesting craft concept:
 

We make educational, mess-free crafts that are perfect for grandparents and their grandchildren to complete together.  

Our crafts are simple to use and most follow a numbered legend, much like the classic paint-by-number kits. They produce not only perfect results, but also a special memento of time shared together.

This is a great idea for getting grandparents engaged with their grandchildren - - - But it's also a  craft that will elicit maximum concentration and requires minimum supervision once you show your child how to do it.

Good for development of pincer grasp, concentration and independence.

This is one product I will be buying more of myself - just to have when someone needs to focus. Not being very crafty myself, I am grateful someone has thought of something that requires so little of me.  Just keeping it real :)  I know I'm going to order Robots next.

There are jewelry boxes, Gladiator outfits, Veggie Tales - lots of items in addition to the storybooks. Please go to Orb Products and browse to see what I'm talking about.

Then submit a comment for a chance to win your choice.  Orb Products has promised three winners, who will be announced 6/7 - which kit will you pick?

Love,

May 29, 2012 ( 4:02 PM) | Educational toys | Permalink | Comments (39)

BrainStrong for brain health

The winners of this giveaway are Carol (adult). Karen (kids), Amy (toddlers), Leslie (prenatal). Thanks to Brainstrong for sponsoring it! You can purchase Brain Strong at Amazon

What is BrainStrong?

BrainStrong is an entirely new category of supplement. It's a full line of brain health products that recognizes the brain has different needs at every stage of life. That's why BrainStrong provides four natural, essential daily supplements with optimized DHA nourishment for pregnant women, toddlers, kids and adults. And all BrainStrong products are powered by life'sDHA™. After all, no matter what your age, you want to live up to your potential.

• For expectant mothers, BrainStrong Prenatal supports a healthy pregnancy and aids in the development of an unborn baby's brain and eyes.* BrainStrong Prenatal may be used for pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and while breast-feeding.
  
  To learn more about BrainStrong Prenatal click here.
  
  
• For Toddlers, BrainStrong Toddler is an important DHA source for brain health development of children ages 1 to 3.* A toddler's brain grows to about 80% of adult size by age three and 90% by age five. While children outgrow their need for breast milk and formula, they never outgrow their need for DHA.* BrainStrong Toddler contains more DHA than any other over-the-counter toddler supplement or toddler vitamin.
  
  To learn more about BrainStrong Toddler click here.
  
  
• For Kids, BrainStrong Kids is an optimized DHA source of nutrition for kids ages 4 to 12. It helps the cells in the brain, retina, heart and other parts of the nervous system continue to develop and function properly.* BrainStrong Kids contains more DHA than any other over-the-counter kids supplement or vitamin for children.
  
  To learn more about BrainStrong Kids click here.
  
  
• For adults 55+, BrainStrong Adult is an optimized nutritional supplement for the brain, powered with life'sDHA™ - an algal DHA - that not only supports brain health, it's the only brand of DHA shown in any clinical study to result in memory improvement.*†
  
  To learn more about BrainStrong Adult click here.

For more information, go to Brainstrong

I am definitely going to start taking the Adult Vitamins Brainstrong sent me. And they've offered to sponsor a giveaway here at MommyLife of each of their products: Adult, Prenatal, Kids and Toddler. To enter, please leave a comment telling me which ones you are interested in entering - it can be any or ALL of them - for a drawing 6/7

Love,

May 29, 2012 ( 3:38 PM) | Health products | Permalink | Comments (13)

May 28, 2012

Letting Go of Perfect

[The winners of this giveaway are Susan, Joani, Alice, Karen and Sheila. Thanks to B&H for sponsoring it. You may purchase Letting Go of Perfect: Women, Expectations, and Authenticity at Amazon]

Letting Go of Perfect: Women, Expectations, and Authenticity

Have you ever felt as though you didn't recognize yourself in the mirror and yet you're frantically trying to keep that image together? Felt bound by the dreams you had for life that you now realize have forced other expectations on you? Or maybe you've laughed at one of those insanely ridiculous moments in the day when absolutely everything goes wrong and no matter what you do, the grand purpose seems elusive.

Let's be honest. We all have a standard in our head that we believe is the perfect Christian woman, wife, and/or mother. Yet, have you ever really examined what that standard is? Yes, God absolutely has standards for what those roles are to be, but is He our source, or is it the peer-pressure-don't- be-the-odd-one-out-on-Sunday-morning drive to fit in that is driving us away from authenticity and raw faith to outward performance?

Review
Amy Spiegel knows this struggle well and notes, "so many of the women I know seem to feel the same tension in their own lives, teetering on the edge, praying someone will be there to catch them if they fall." There is a grand purpose to where you are today; join Amy in Letting Go of Perfect, to look at what it means to truly know the woman in the mirror as well as the God who created, redeems, and equips her.

"We have to surround ourselves with people who speak truth to our ragged souls. Amy Spiegel is one of those people, and I treasured reading her words because they reminded me that behind every woman we encounter is a story that can't be told from her lipstick or her minivan."
Angie Smith, author of I Will Carry You and What Women Fear

About the Author
Amy Spiegel is a mom of four active kids, wife to a college professor, and graduate of Taylor University with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Political Science. Yes, a Christian author with a degree in something that involves the environment, indicative of her drive to shatter stereotypes and walk in faithfulness no matter the perception. She has spoken at various women's events, writes weekly posts for WisdomAndFollyBlog.com, and helps her husband, James Spiegel, with his writing projects like the book about their family adventures, Gum, Geckos, and God. She's sharp, funny, and really cares about the relationship that matters most.

Thanks to B&H Publishers for sending me a copy - and promising five more for MommyLife readers. Please leave a comment for a drawing 6/7!

Love,

May 28, 2012 ( 4:12 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (16)

Be a Better Dad Today

[Alice Tucker and Monika are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks to Regal Books for sponsoring it. You can purchase Be a Better Dad Today: Ten Tools Every Father Needs at Amazon.]

As someone from a hardscrabble background who grew up to be a purposeful parent, I find this dad's story resonates.

His work resume is quite impressive, but that doesn't necessarily qualify him to teach about fatherhood. However, Chuck Colson was ready to vouch for his credentials - and even wrote the forward for this book:

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Be a Better Dad Today: Ten Tools Every Father Needs

Gregory W. Slayton, best-selling author and father of four, doesn't beat around the bush: "Being a good dad isn't only vital for the future of our families and our society . . . it is critical to our own development as men." Be a Better Dad Today is an inspirational and practical guidebook for every father who wants to become the best dad he can be--for his family's sake and his own. With humor, empathy, common sense, tough talk and engaging stories from his personal experience, Slayton reveals user-friendly, simple-but never- simplistic techniques that will help every dad fulfill his God-given responsibilities. Whether readers are parenting younger or older kids, boys or girls, they will find wise insights and practical, doable action steps for becoming the father God created them to be!

"I grew up with an absentee father, and when I became a father myself, I determined not to follow that same path. I wrote this book for dads like me who are looking for ways to be better dads. Now with the book out only one week, we are getting feedback from mothers who are equally grateful for the lessons shared by dads around the world in this book I was honored to write," Gregory Slayton explains.

Gregory Slayton discovered how to Be a Better Dad Today, through trial and error. Now he shares the secrets, tried and true. A husband embracing Be a Better Dad Today: Ten Tools Every Father Needs will give Mom a Mother's Day gift she is not likely to forget.

To underscore his commitment of strengthening families, Gregory Slayton has committed to donate 100% of his book royalties to charity. In addition to this, Slayton is making his book available to the Fellowship of Fathers Foundation, so they can offer a free book to ANY active duty military man requesting one through their military Chaplain.

Thanks to Regal Books for sending me a copy of Be a Better Dad Today and for promising two more copies for MommyLife readers. Leave a comment for a drawing 6/7.

Love,

May 28, 2012 ( 2:26 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (12)

Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox

[Cindi Colby is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks to all who entered! You can purchase Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox, Key Lime Green at Amazon]

Diaper duty can be a formidable task- especially for first-time dads! With this toolbox, he will be up for the challenge. This hilarious and memorable gift includes a mask, goggles, rubber gloves, poop poncho, biohazard bag and so much more!!

Give the new dad in your life a fighting chance when he takes on his first dirty diaper!

Features:

• Mask --toxic fume filter for when it doesn't smell like roses.


• Goggles --for protection against your own mini version of Old Faithful.


• Patent Pending Poop Poncho --need we say more???


• Tongs --Several inches of steel separation between you and the little warm wrapped gift.


• Turkey Baster --for precision hiney washing.


• Ear/Nose Plugs --use with care.


• Pacifier -- scream plug.


• Baby Wipes -- for cleaning baby bottom and various parts.


• Diaper for Newborn -- cute as a kitten until it gets wet then it looks and smells like a sewer rat.


• Bio Hazard Bag and Rubber Gloves --for quarantine containment of the nuclear meltdown.


• Emergency Formula Container-- doubles as a PeePee cover for WeWe.


• Hand Wipes-- to clean up afterward. (For Dad's use only).


• Picture Frame -- this is your badge of honor.

Fun Stuff 4 Babies sent me one to review and will send one to a winner of the 6/7 giveaway at MommyLife - in time for Father's Day! Leave a comment telling me who you'd give it to :)

Love,

May 28, 2012 (10:26 AM) | Baby products | Permalink | Comments (8)

May 10, 2012

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Couponing

[ Sandra K321 is the winner of this giveaway. Thank you to Alpha for sponsoring it. You can purchase The Complete Idiot's Guide to Couponing at Amazon.]

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Couponing

I'm pretty excited about this one!  Because I have always felt somehow inadequate when it comes to this art/skill/craft/hobby/way of life.

Some of it is the lack of time.  But some of it is that the subject just seems so overwhelming, I don't even know where to start. 

I have friends who make a science of saving money.  I only wish I could have the contents of their brains sucked into mine, a la The Matrix.

BI have a appreciated a few of the Complete Idiot's line of books - notably The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Catholicism, which I read when I first converted and needed a crash course.

Whether you're a novice or a pro, this book will take you to the next level. And Alpha is offering one for giveaway. Leave a comment for a drawing 5/22.

Love,

May 10, 2012 ( 9:23 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (16)

The Woman Who Changed Her Brain

[ TG, Diane, Amie, von, and Rebecca Bode are the winners of this giveaway. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sponsoring it. You can purchase The Woman Who Changed Her Brain: And Other Inspiring Stories of Pioneering Brain Transformation at Amazon.]

Just received this and have only had time to skim a little, but wanted to get this in on this round of giveaways so some of you could start reading it too.

This promises to be very helpful for anyone who has a learning disorder or loves someone who does:

The Woman Who Changed Her Brain: And Other Inspiring Stories of Pioneering Brain Transformation

Barbara Arrowsmith-Young was born with severe learning disabilities that caused teachers to label her slow, stubborn--or worse. As a child, she read and wrote everything backward, struggled to process concepts in language, continually got lost, and was physically uncoordinated. She could make no sense of an analogue clock. But by relying on her formidable memory and iron will, she made her way to graduate school, where she chanced upon research that inspired her to invent cognitive exercises to "fix" her own brain. The Woman Who Changed Her Brain interweaves her personal tale with riveting case histories from her more than thirty years of working with both children and adults.

Recent discoveries in neuroscience have conclusively demonstrated that, by engaging in certain mental tasks or activities, we actually change the structure of our brains--from the cells themselves to the connections between cells. The capability of nerve cells to change is known as neuroplasticity, and Arrowsmith-Young has been putting it into practice for decades. With great inventiveness, after combining two lines of research, Barbara developed unusual cognitive calisthenics that radically increased the functioning of her weakened brain areas to normal and, in some areas, even above-normal levels. She drew on her intellectual strengths to determine what types of drills were required to target the specific nature of her learning problems, and she managed to conquer her cognitive deficits. Starting in the late 1970s, she has continued to expand and refine these exercises, which have benefited thousands of individuals. Barbara founded Arrowsmith School in Toronto in 1980 and then the Arrowsmith Program to train teachers and to implement this highly effective methodology in schools all over North America. Her work is revealed as one of the first examples of neuroplasticity's extensive and practical application. The idea that self-improvement can happen in the brain has now caught fire.

The Woman Who Changed Her Brain powerfully and poignantly illustrates how the lives of children and adults struggling with learning disorders can be dramatically transformed. This remarkable book by a brilliant pathbreaker deepens our understanding of how the brain works and of the brain's profound impact on how we participate in the world. Our brains shape us, but this book offers clear and hopeful evidence of the corollary: we can shape our brains.

Free Press has generously offered five books for a MommyLife giveaway. Leave a comment for a drawing 5/22

Love,

May 10, 2012 ( 9:15 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (22)

Sally Simon Simmons' Super Frustrating Day

[ Cheri, Kathryn Judson, and Lisa are the winners of this giveaway. Thank you to The Mother Company for sponsoring it. You can purchase Sally Simon Simmons' Super Frustrating Day at Amazon.]

As you know, I have four sons with Down syndrome - 3 of whom were adopted after the birth of our son Jonny and his younger sister Maddy.

One resource I really love that is working to provide tools for families like mine is The Mother Company. You might remember that I raved about their invaluable DVD about feelings: The Ruby Show.

They just sent me their newest offering, Sally Simon Simmons' Super Frustrating Day.

One strategy parents and teachers of kids with autism use is using stories with which they can identify to help them deal with the trouble spots in their lives. 

A major trouble spot is the lack of ability to understand and communicate their own feelings, so we are constantly trying to help them learn more about them and how to express them in a way that won't hurt themselves.

This book is superb and deserves a place in the library of every special needs classroom or home affected by autism.  Putting into practice the three R's of successful children's books - rhyme, rhythm and repetition - it tells the story of Sally Simon Simmons' valiant efforts to put together the highest double-decker sandwich she can.  When her first efforts fail, she becomes frustrated, which makes her even less successful. When she finally can understand and accept her feelings, she does better.  But she goes on to accept gracefully that in the end things didn't trun out as well as she wanted.

Actually, this isn't just for autistic kids.  It's really for any kids who could use some help with their feelings.  Remember that children are not abstract thinkers.  When we want to teach them something like this, it must be through stories.

The Mother Company has generously offered three copies of this wonderful book for MommyLife readers.  Please leave a comment for a drawing 5/22.

Love,

May 10, 2012 ( 8:49 PM) | Kids' books | Permalink | Comments (16)

Spot It! Family game

[ Thia and Maria are the winners of this giveaway. Thank you to Blue Orange Games for sponsoring it. You can purchase Spot It at Amazon - and I heartily recommend it for every family with little children or disabled children.]

I'm kind of thinking that Blue Orange may be becoming the Pixar of children's games.

Remember the last one I reviewed - Chickyboom?  We're still having fun with that chez Curtis.

Now the folks at Blue Orange sent us this simple fun game - Spot It, which is currently rated the #1 card game at Amazon!

Spot It games are instantly accessible, take about 30 seconds to learn, and is enjoyable for everyone from ages 7 - 100. The game gets intense, fast, and sometimes noisy, but most of all it's flat out fun and never gets old.

Put your visual perception skills to the test with Spot It, a fun, fast-paced, and simple card game that everyone aged 7 years and up can enjoy. In a group of two to eight players, you'll draw cards and match symbols, like light bulbs, snowmen, or puppies, but with one catch--only one matching symbol exists between any two cards. The first person to spot the matching symbol and call it out wins.

Spot It

• Ages: Seven years and up
• Requires: 2 to 8 players

At a Glance:

• Challenges visual perception, mental processing, and matching skills
• Includes five individual mini-game options
• Travel-size tin for convenient on-the-go game play

Spot the matching symbol between any two cards. View larger.

Fast-Paced Observation Game for the Whole Family

The Spot It game consists of 55 circular cards, each decorated with eight symbols. There are more than 50 symbols in all, including images of hearts, snowflakes, dragons, and lightning bolts, as well as words such as Stop, Art, and OK. The symbols are universal in nature, allowing everyone, including young children, to participate in the family fun.

Because the game requires quick mental processing, it moves fast, challenging your visual perception, memory, and matching skills. Your group of two to eight players will delight in spotting the matching symbols and agonize over getting beat to the punch by a faster player.

Spot the Matching Symbol to Win

Playing this card game is easy. Simply draw two cards at random and place them face up on the table so that everyone can see. Find the matching symbol between the two cards. The first player to call out the name of the matching symbol wins. The winning player then draws two new cards, places them on the table, and repeats the process.

If two players are tied for first at the end of the game, the winner is settled by having a duel. Each player draws one card and places it face up on the table at the same time. The first player to spot the matching symbol between the cards and call it out wins the duel.

Play Five Individual Mini-Games

In addition to regular game play, this game lets players choose from five individual mini-games with separate rules and objectives. Choose such contests as The Tower, The Well, Hot Potato, The Poisoned Gift, or Triplet and play them in any order. The player who wins the most mini-games becomes the champion.

This card game comes with everything you'll need to play, including a convenient travel-size tin container so you can take this card game to parties or on trips.

This looks like fun to take on family vacation. Please leave a comment for a giveaway 5/22. Not sure how many BlueOrange is setting aside yet, but will post the number when I know.

Love,

May 10, 2012 ( 4:42 PM) | Games | Permalink | Comments (36)