Barbara's Product Reviews & Giveaways

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.

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.]

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

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.]

May 10, 2012 ( 8:49 PM) | Kids' books | Permalink | Comments (15)

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.

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

Hurry Less, Worry Less

[ Ellen, Nana, Dee are the winners of this giveaway. Thank you to Abingdon Press for sponsoring it. You can purchase Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms at Amazon.]


Not just any book to tell you how to organize, prioritize, and relax - this one's based on Scripture and offers lots of specific help:
 

Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms

Dear Busy Moms, This Book is for You

 

You know the feeling. You're constantly trying to fit everything - work, laundry, shuttle service, you name it - into 24-hours. You want to enjoy every day with your family but you're just not sure where to begin.

 

Author Judy Christie offers hope, inspiration, practical ideas and reminders of how important you are in Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms. So take a deep breath and refresh your life.

 

Chapters include:

• A Map for Mom: Being the person you are meant to be
• Organization versus Procrastination: Assess, start, repeat
• Prayerful Not Fretful: Leaning of God in a hectic world
• Making Choices, Facing Changes: Realign as needed

A discussion guide is also included.

Chapters include:

• A Map for Mom: Being the person you are meant to be
• Organization versus Procrastination: Assess, start, repeat
• Prayerful Not Fretful: Leaning of God in a hectic world
• Making Choices, Facing Changes: Realign as needed

A discussion guide is also included.

Chapters include:

• A Map for Mom: Being the person you are meant to be
• Organization versus Procrastination: Assess, start, repeat
• Prayerful Not Fretful: Leaning of God in a hectic world
• Making Choices, Facing Changes: Realign as needed

A discussion guide is also included.

Thanks to Abingdon Press for sending me a copy of this helpful book - and for their generosity in sponsoring this giveaway of three more copies for MommyLife readers. Please leave a comment for a drawing 5/22.

May 10, 2012 ( 4:25 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (15)

Momumental by Jennifer Grant

[ Megan, Brooklyn, Sarah :), Michelle Mom of 9, and Lynne are the winners of this giveaway. Thank you to Worthy Publishing for sponsoring it. You can purchase Momumental: Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family at Amazon.]

I really liked Jenn's intentionality, which led to her decision not to have TV - and her grace, which led her to teach her children not to judge people who did.  It's that kind of self-honesty and humility that you will like too.

Worthy Publishing sent me this book and are generously offering five books to MommyLife readers.  Please leave a comment for a drawing 5/22.

May 10, 2012 ( 3:56 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (20)

Dear Photograph

[Renee, Jennie B., Sarah, Melanie and Diane are the winners of this giveaway. Thank you to William Morrow for sponsoring it. You can purchase Dear Photograph at Amazon.]

If every picture tells a story, photos contained in Dear Photograph tell a multitude. The concept is simple. Take a picture from your past to the place where it was taken, then frame it against the same spot. Dear Photograph started - and still exists - as a website, a gathering place for people to display their photo within a photo and to tell their stories. Now it's a fascinating book:

We all have moments we wish we could relive. We'd give anything to skid down the toboggan hills of our youth, to breathe in the smell of our children as babies, or to spend just one more minute with someone we've lost. Dear Photograph provides a way to link these memories from the past to the present, overlapping them to see how the daydreams of our memories collide with our current realities.

The idea is simple: hold up a photograph from the past in front of the place where it was originally taken, take a second photograph, and add a sentence of dedication about what the photograph means to you. The results, however, are astounding, which is why millions have flocked to dearphotograph.com and thousands have submitted their own Dear Photographs.

This stunning visual compilation includes more than 140 never-before-seen Dear Photographs, as well as a space for you to attach your own cherished photo. By turns nostalgic, charming, and poignant, Dear Photograph evokes childhood memories, laments difficult losses, and, above all, celebrates the universal nature of love.

I have loved browsing through the copy William Morrow sent me - it sparks many old memories of my own. And William Morrow is generously offering five copies to readers here at MommyLife. Leave a comment to enter for a drawing 5/22.

May 10, 2012 ( 3:37 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (10)

FIRST RESPONSE fertility test

[Katie is the winner of this giveaway. Thank you to First Response for sponsoring it. You can purchase First Response Fertility Test at Amazon.]

This giveaway is for a FIRST RESPONSE Fertility Test for Women:

Hi Barbara,

 

As you may know, April 22 - 28 is National Infertility Awareness Week, a time of year devoted to raising awareness about reproductive health and infertility. The disease affects over 7.3 million people in the U.S. (RESOLVE - the National Infertility Association), and for most there are no warning signs until they begin to try to get pregnant.

 

I wanted to share a giveaway opportunity for one of your readers for next week during National Infertility Awareness Week. You might want to let your readers know about a simple, at-home test women can take before trying to start a family - the FIRST RESPONSE® Fertility Test For Women. The test gauges a woman's ability to get pregnant by assessing her ovarian reserve. It is a great first step for any women to take before trying to conceive, and best of all it can be done in the privacy of her home, no medical appointment required.

 

The giveaway will include one FIRST RESPONSE® Fertility Test For Women shipped directly to your winner (suggested retail price: $24.99).

 

Below I've included some common myths about infertility debunked courtesy of Church & Dwight Co. Inc., maker of First Response, and First Response Spokesperson Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine.

 

Thank you for your consideration, and please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Best,

Stephanie

 

The Truth about Fertility - Courtesy of First Response and Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, OBGYN

 

MYTH: There is no simple way to find out if you have fertility issues before you start trying to conceive.

FACT: Before you even start trying to get pregnant, you can use a simple, at-home test to determine if you might face fertility issues, such as the First Response® Fertility Test For Women which gauges a woman's ability to get pregnant by assessing her ovarian reserve.

 

MYTH: Fertility problems only occur after age 35.

FACT: According to Dr. Minkin, while age is definitely a factor in your chances of getting pregnant, it's not the only one. Endometriosis, irregular periods and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome may limit your chances of becoming pregnant. Dr. Minkin suggests that if you're in your twenties and have been trying to get pregnant for over a year, or are in your thirties and have been trying for more than 6 months without luck, see your doctor for evaluation.

 

MYTH: Having sex as much as possible will increase chances of conception.

FACT: Chances of conception are highest during the time of the woman's ovulation. To ensure you know the two days of your cycle when you're most fertile and more likely to conceive, Dr. Minkin suggests tracking your ovulation with a product such as the First Response® Digital Ovulation Test. This test tracks your unique hormone levels to determine your personal LH surge, which precedes ovulation by 24-36 hours.

 

MYTH: Getting pregnant will happen right away once you stop taking the pill

FACT: Your body needs time to adjust to new hormone levels and return to your natural cycle. Dr. Minkin informs that you can get pregnant quickly; however your body will most likely need a period of readjustment.

Please leave a comment to be entered in the drawing 5/22.

May 10, 2012 ( 3:19 PM) | Health products | Permalink | Comments (2)

April 29, 2012

Wall decor

[Kristi is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Dezign With a Z wall decals for sponsoring it!]



Are these adorable or what? 

They're all from Dezign with a Z - which offers a huge selection of vinyl wall decals for you to use all over your house.  Not just baby's room - I just thought this was a good place to start :)

They let me choose a design for review - I got the drums for Jesse's room because he loves playing drums:



It worked out great.  Very easy to put on the wall, and to take off too - again and again.  Leaves no marks or residue on wall, so really good for renters :)




Check out all the products at Dezign With a Z wall decals.

They sponsoring a giveaway here for a $30 - no expiration date. Leave a comment for a drawing 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 5:33 PM) | Home Improvement | Permalink | Comments (46)

For my children - a Mother's Journal

[Karen is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Ulysses Press for sponsoring it! You can buy For My Children at Amazon]

For My Children is a very special keepsake journal where any mom can share her memories, dreams, and wisdom with her family in a format they can treasure forever.

OPEN UP AND SHARE YOUR MEMORIES, DREAMS, AND WISDOM WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THIS KEEPSAKE JOURNAL THEY WILL TREASURE FOREVER

•An easy-to-follow and heartfelt journal for moms to pass down their life story and joy of motherhood to their children

As a mother ages and sees her children go off into the world, she begins reflecting on her time as a mom and yearns to share memories with her kids. Beautifully designed and illustrated, this perfect gift contains creative prompts that spark Mom's recollections of fun family vacations, favorite childhood games, and special holidays.

The thought-provoking queries allow Mom to delve into her own lifetime of experiences -- her childhood and school years, falling in love and getting married, and, most of all, having and raising children. This collection of fill-in-the-blank lists is the easiest way for a mother to record on paper answers to the questions her children never thought to ask but will love to discover.

Ulysses Press sent me one to fill for my family, and is offering one to a MommyLife reader. Leave a comment for a drawing 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 4:56 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (21)

Together - Growing Appetites for God

Jessica, Dolisa  and Chelsea are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Moody Publishers for sponsoring it! You can buy Strength for the Moment at Amazon]



A little book with a big message, Together: Growing Appetites for God is the story of a mother and father who decided to get serious about building a relationship between their children and the Bible. 

As a mother of four, Carrie Ward is real and any mother will identify with the specific stories of how her children absorbed the stories of the Bible and made them their own.

In the rhythms of the family, there are hilarious moments - and poignant ones too.  I was especially touched by the story of how two years into reading through the Bible, they read the story of Job, never dreaming that in a year a family tragedy - a miscarried baby - would cause them to need that particular story to cling to. 

Carrie Ward does a good job of setting an example, showing that it can be done, accepting the less-than-perfect moments, and learning to trust that nestling the words of the Bible in her children's hearts will make a difference and is worth every moment.

In addition to the copy Moody sent me for review, they've promised three copies for MommyLife readers.  Leave a comment for a drawying 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 4:35 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (26)

Parenting with Scripture

Danielle, Emily and Jeni are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Moody Publishers for sponsoring it! You can buy Strength for the Moment at Amazon]

In addition to sending me a copy for review, Moody Publishers is offering three copies for MommyLife readers. Leave a comment for giveaway drawing 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 4:24 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (31)

Caregivers: Strength for the Moment

Deidre and Susan are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Image Publishers for sponsoring it! You can buy Strength for the Moment at Amazon

Strength for the Moment: Inspiration for Caregivers is a book for many people here and now. Uplifting, inspirational, a book to remember when you need a quick dose of encouragement.

The role of the family caregiver is very rewarding, but being a caregiver can also be physically and emotionally exhausting. Caregivers often feel overwhelmed by their work and the demands of those receiving their care, and these demands touch every aspect of their lives. Still, despite the challenges, millions of family caregivers provide care to many of the 36 million seniors living in the United States. AARP counts 65.7 million caregivers in America today--almost one-third of the adult U.S. population.

Strength for the Moment responds to the needs of these special people who give of themselves to help their loved ones maintain quality of life in the home. Combining inspiring stories, prayer and scripture, and practical advice, this book provides much needed encouragement, emotional nourishment, and affirmation.
           
Home care is a challenge, but it can ultimately be a deeply rewarding experience. Strength for the Moment promises to inspire caregivers and helps them face each day refreshed in their thinking and prepared to provide the best care for those they love the most.

Filled with Lori's experiences and those others, the lessons learned, Scripture and prayer.

In addition to the copy sent to me for review, Image Books is offering two copies for giveaway here.  Leave a comment for a drawing 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 3:59 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (13)

mOmma feeding bottle

Molly is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to mOmma for sponsoring it! You can buy a mOmma bottles at Amazon]

Momma Feeding Bottle With Slow-Flow Nipple

They sure didn't have beautifully-designed bottles like this way back when I started having kids. 

Love this sweet little bottle.  But also nice to know how it contributes to a healthier feeding experience:

When a mom started Lansinoh® by making HPA® Lanolin in her kitchen in 1984, her mission was to do what was best for moms and babies. Now, more than 25 years later, the company continues to reiterate that dedication by developing quality products and offering help and support to help moms reach their breastfeeding goals.  

 Understanding that today's modern mom is often back-to-work or on-the-go, Lansinoh has recently launched the Lansinoh® mOmma® Bottle with NaturalWaveT Peristaltic Nipple. Developed with over 50 years of research, The Lansinoh® mOmma® Bottle with NaturalWaveT Peristaltic Nipple gives mom confidence that her baby will take expressed breastmilk from a bottle while she's away, but return to the breast when she's back.

Some of the revolutionary features of the NaturalWaveT Peristaltic Nipple include:

• A wide, rounded nipple base which encourages a wider latch-on, similar to how babies latch naturally, and therefore promotes oral, facial, and jaw development.
• Is made of super-soft and flexible 100 percent silicone that is lined internally with specially designed grooves that are made to optimally compress and control milk flow.
• Has a hassle-free design with minimal parts that saves mom time.
• Is available in slow, medium, and fast flow to meet baby's changing needs.
• Features an AVST Air Ventilation System that reduces the intake of gas, a potential cause of colic or spit up.
• Is BPA-free.

In addition to the 8.4 ounce mOmma bottle sent to me for review, Lansinoh is offering one for giveaway.  Leave a comment for a drawing 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 3:44 PM) | Baby products | Permalink | Comments (8)

French Kids Eat Everything

Liz in DC is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to William Morrow for sponsoring it! You can buy a copy of French Kids Eat Everything at Amazon]


 Let me show you the back cover first: So you understand why I recommend this book, sent to me by William Morrow Publishers for review.



The subtitle of French Kids Eat Everything says it all: 

How our family moved to France, cured picky eating, banned snacking, and discovered 10 simple rules for raising happy, healthy eaters. . . .

Moving her young family to her husband's hometown in northern France, Karen Le Billon is prepared for some cultural adjustment but is surprised by the food education she and her family (at first unwillingly) receive. In contrast to her daughters, French children feed themselves neatly and happily--eating everything from beets to broccoli, salad to spinach, mussels to muesli. The family's food habits soon come under scrutiny, as Karen is lectured for slipping her fussing toddler a snack--"a recipe for obesity!"--and forbidden from packing her older daughter a lunch in lieu of the elaborate school meal.

The family soon begins to see the wisdom in the "food rules" that help the French foster healthy eating habits and good manners--from the rigid "no snacking" rule to commonsense food routines that we used to share but have somehow forgotten. Soon, the family cures picky eating and learns to love trying new foods. But the real challenge comes when they move back to North America--where their commitment to "eating French" is put to the test. The result is a family food revolution with surprising but happy results--which suggest we need to dramatically rethink the way we feed children, at home and at school.

Leave a comment for a drawing 5/9 and a chance to win your own copy!

April 29, 2012 ( 3:18 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (33)

Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters

[Rachel is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Grit&Grace for sponsoring it! You can buy a copy of Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters at Amazon]

Raising daughters? Then Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters may be just the book you need

She writes:

When you become "mom" you begin a huge and some days overwhelming new job.

Like most of us you had not planned, trained or was educated for this position. If you're anything like I was, it arrived with a good amount of anxiety, ratcheting even higher when I realized that I would be raising daughters.

The year this mom's cry for help was launched the best insights I found weren't from those that touted credentials. It wasn't the experts in parenting, or philosophers that hadn't spent a whole day with anyone under the age of five. It was other moms, the ones that had completed the job, possessing the bruises and knowing smile to prove it.
Their tales both entertaining and encouraging helped me the most.

These ladies took the time to explain to this young mom that motherhood was more than just one job and it was the most important one you'd ever do. They were the ones that gave me the practical advice that really worked. They were often the ones that by their very actions kept my head afloat making me believe all would be well.

In Help Wanted: moms raising daughters I get the opportunity to now tell you what I learned.

This book defines 13 of the jobs that I found an absolute must: Coach, Creative Counselor, Time Manager, Media Director, Academic Advocate, Professor of Gender Studies, Relationship Counselor, Sex Ed Teacher, Financial Consultant, Bodyguard, Communications Specialist, In-Home Demonstrator, Military Strategist.

I've included stories and strategies I developed along the way as well as some of that great advice I received from others. I'm sure you'll find the journey of raising daughters like I did, exhilarating, terrifying, rewarding, difficult, delightful, and most days a real joy. When the end of each day comes I can tell you is two things; you don't have to be a perfect mom to be a great mom, so go easy on yourself. Then raising daughters is absolutely the best job you will ever have.

Based on Darlene's practical experience raising two daughters of her own - calling on her own creative and managerial assets - Help Wanted is chock-full of real-life experience and lessons learned.

Thanks to the Grit & Grace Project for sending me a review copy and offering a giveaway copy at MommyLife. Leave a comment to enter the drawing - to be held 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 2:55 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (16)

A Perfect Pet for Peyton - 5 Love Languages

[Patty, Becky and Maena are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Northfield Publishers for sponsoring it! You can buy a copy of A Perfect Pet for Peyton at Amazon]

Second chance giveaway!

Gary Chapman seems to have never stopped applying his 5 Love Language model to specific situations: couples, families, parents, singles. Now he has found a way to teach them to children!

From Amazon:

This wonderfully imaginative children's hardcover book by bestselling authors Gary Chapman and Rick Osborne, featuring four-color illustrations (with hidden details!) by Wilson Williams, Jr., will help children learn the importance of love. Based on Gary's highly successful The 5 Love Languages®, A Perfect Pet for Peyton tells an entertaining and playful story of five children who each, with the help of Mr. Chapman and the unique pets at his special emporium, discover their own personal love language. Children and parents alike will experience firsthand the power of the love languages as they cuddle up and spend precious time together reading this book over and over again.

The cast of child characters in this whimsical story include:

Peyton, one of the birthday celebrants, loves to help others, and appreciates it when others do little things for him.
Penny, Peyton's twin sister, who receives love best when others spend quality time with her.
Jayla, one of Penny's close friends, is always saying nice things about people. Her love language is words of affirmation.
Kevin, one of Peyton's close friends, enjoys giving things to people.
Sofia loves to pet the animals, and to show her love for others with special hugs.

In addition to the copy they sent me for review, Northfield Publishing is offering three copies for MommyLife readers. Leave a comment for a drawing 5/9.

April 29, 2012 ( 2:50 PM) | Kids' books | Permalink | Comments (22)

April 12, 2012

Summer Bag from Simply Bags

[Shaina  is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Simply Bags for sponsoring it! You can buy this Summer Bag - and many other designs -  at their website]



This is the new Summer Beach Bag from Simply Bags.

Simply Bags offered me one for review and I had it embroidered for Sophia - because with her wedding May 19, I'm only thinking in terms of stocking her drawers and closets since soon it will no longer be up to me :)

I love the bag and may get one for myself (if there's any money left after the wedding :) Perfect for beach or any summer outings.

Summer Beach Bags

A practical and classic jute bag. These summer beach bags never goes out of season or style. Three great... always in fashion, nautical colors with traditional grommets and knotted handles.

The summer beach tote measures 18"W x 13"H x 7" across bottom. One inside zip pocket and snap closure.

See more and check out other styles of bags at Simply Bags.

And leave a comment for a 4/21 drawing to win one of these summer bags and have it personalized for you or someone you love.

April 12, 2012 ( 4:04 PM) | Apparel | Permalink | Comments (51)

SmartMune - immune support system

[Cheri is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to SmartMune for sponsoring it! You can buy SmartMune at their website]

Just getting over being sick for a couple of weeks - with kids coming home from college and lots of family celebrations and performances - no time to stay in bed and work on just getting well - it hasn't been easy.

But it's made me more committed than ever to being proactive about my health. So I'm eager to give this immune support system - sent to me by SmartMune - a try.

Many individuals discuss the level of stress they have in their lives. Many understand that certain levels of stress affect the immune system, causing stress colds. It is sometimes hard to find the balance of staying relaxed enough so that the body has ample time to recover from stressful situations. The creators of SmartMune recognize this issue and have created this supplement to help prime the immune system, so individuals are getting sick so often.

 SmartMune is a natural ingredient that is clinically proven to safely strengthen your body's key immune responses. SmartMune activates billions of innate immune cells that are part of the body's natural defenses, to prime the immune defenses without over stimulating the immune system. This unique ingredient's patented, year-round protection is the culmination of more than $300 million in research with leading university and government institutions. Clinical studies demonstrate that SmartMune strengthens the function of key immune cells, maintains energy, vitality and mental clarity, and activates key immune cells to protect against the harmful effects of stress.

You can read all about SmartMune, and if it sounds like something you'd like to try, leave a comment for a drawing 4/21.

April 12, 2012 ( 3:07 PM) | Health products | Permalink | Comments (9)

Firefly Hello Kitty toothbrush

[Margaret and Frances are winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Firefly for sponsoring it! You can buy Firefly Hello Kitty toothbrushes at Amazon]

You probably grew up with Hello Kitty. And there's nothing like passing on the innocent things of our childhood to our daughters - especially when they're good for them too.

Take this Hello Kitty toothbrush with a light up timer that will help your daughter look forward to brushing for a full two minutes.

Firefly sent me one to review - which I will pass on to my granddaughter Lily.

And they've promised two for my readers. So leave a comment for a drawing 4/21. Happy brushing!

April 12, 2012 ( 2:53 PM) | Health products | Permalink | Comments (19)

The Book of Doing

[Joy, Melissa, Priscilla, Jennifer and j dan are winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Perigee Books for sponsoring it! You can buy The Book of Doing at Amazon]

I've never seen a book quite like this - whimsical and imaginative - The Book of Doing: Everyday Activities to Unlock Your Creativity and Joy.

When did you last take the time to do the things you loved as a child: crafts, games, getting your hands dirty? Or feel the same delight and wonder that you took from your favorite childhood activities?

Despite the joy we gained from these pursuits, in our adult lives, we've left them behind-they're too frivolous, we're too busy or too old, and there's too much "real" work to do. It's time to change this mind-set. It's time to rediscover the things you love to do, because they energize, center, and connect you with the world in a meaningful and positive way.

The Book of Doing offers a collection of ideas and activities that encourage you to use your life as a canvas and explore your creativity through everything you do-to create and make, to explore and experiment, to play and build, to paint and cook-to do. Go ahead. Roll up your sleeves and get to it. It's time to do the things that make you happiest.

From the 97 random ideas, here are four:

• Use cupcakes as your canvas
• Change something "unmoveable"- your birthday, a room, your hair, your point of view
• Make a popsicle stick replica of your five favorite people
• Transcribe the word of a favorite song

Perigee Books is generously offering five of these wonderful books for MommyLife readers. Leave a comment for a drawing 4/21.

April 12, 2012 ( 1:46 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (19)

Kids' volume reduction headphones

Bess is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Aerial Headphones for sponsoring it! You can buy these wonderful noise reduction headphones at Amazon]

Received in my email last week:

As a parent, you're always concerned for the well-being and safety of your children- although your kids may not always see it that way. Early bedtimes, eating enough veggies, and limiting television all make the list, and now, the volume of their iPods will no longer be an issue. The concern over child hearing loss due to blaring mp3 devices has made its rightful way across the mommy blogosphere, even covered by The New York Times' The Motherlode. 

Aerial7 Headphones has just released their latest design, the ARCADE, a series of colorful children's headphones with revolutionary built-in Automatic Volume Reduction (AVR) technology. The ARCADE was also awarded the 2012 PTPA (Parent Tested, Parent Approved) Winner's Seal of Approval. With this technology, parents can rest assure that the volume never exceeds 85 decibels, the maximum recommended by the OSHA for children's ears. If at anytime the volume is bumped up too loud, the headphones will automatically turn them down to a safe listening level. The headphones also feature extra comfy ear pads that block out external noise, further lessening the incentive to turn up the volume. Kids will be drawn to the bright colorful patterns and child-friendly fit. 

Kids can now safely rock out in style. ARCADE headphones retail for $35 at Toys 'r' Us stores nationwide.

Since I have a couple of kids who still haven't gotten the idea that if someone in the front seat can hear your headphones in the back seat, then it's safe to say they're too loud, I was happy to receive a pair to review.

And I'm also happy to say these are really great for kids - great design - but also with a control to keep the volume below 85 db, safer for their hearing.

And Arcade is offering a pair for a MommyLife reader. Leave a comment for a drawing 4/21.

April 12, 2012 ( 1:04 PM) | Technology | Permalink | Comments (27)

The Drama Years - surviving middle school

[Julie and Annette are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Free Press for sponsoring it! You can buy a copy of The Drama Years at Amazon]

What a helpful book for parents of middle school girls! Jam-packed with input from the girls themselves about what are probably the most difficult years of all.

Based on what my own daughters went through as they left the safe cocoon of elementary school for three years of intense pressure - and yes, drama - as they watched their friends choose which path to take into the high school years, many they never dreamed would ditch their family's values for sex, drugs and danger. I think it was the breakdown in those female friendships that was really most painful of all.

While this book is neutral on spirituality, it has some great specific and practical insights and ideas for moms and dads.

From Amazon:

TODAY'S MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS HAVE IT ROUGH.

In a few short years, they go through an incredible number of biological and emotional changes, making this the most formative--and riskiest--time in their lives. Groups turn on each other, a trusted childhood friend can reveal secrets by sending a text message or updating a Facebook status, and deciding where to sit in the cafeteria can be a daily struggle. As any tween will tell you, life for a middle school girl can be summed up in one word: drama.

Haley Kilpatrick's own turbulent middle school experience inspired Girl Talk, a nonprofit organization in which high school mentors offer a "just been there" perspective to tween girls, helping them build self-esteem and develop leadership skills. Here, Haley delivers the definitive guidebook, packed with anecdotes from real girls around the country, who offer their insight into:

Why her friends' approval is suddenly vitally important

Why she feels pressured to be perfect

Why she's no longer telling her parents everything

What three vital things adults can offer to the girls in their lives to downplay the drama

Filled with practical strategies from tweens and teen mentors to help adults understand what girls today are facing, The Drama Years is a must-read for anyone struggling to help girls navigate the often difficult transition into adolescence.

Free Press is offering two copies of The Drama years to MommyLife readers. Please leave a comment for a drawing 4/21.

April 12, 2012 (12:16 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (7)

A Perfect Pet for Peyton - 5 Love Languages

[Sarah is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Northfield Publishers for sponsoring it! You can buy a copy of A Perfect Pet for Peyton at Amazon]

Gary Chapman seems to have never stopped applying his 5 Love Language model to specific situations: couples, families, parents, singles. Now he has found a way to teach them to children!

From Amazon:

This wonderfully imaginative children's hardcover book by bestselling authors Gary Chapman and Rick Osborne, featuring four-color illustrations (with hidden details!) by Wilson Williams, Jr., will help children learn the importance of love. Based on Gary's highly successful The 5 Love Languages®, A Perfect Pet for Peyton tells an entertaining and playful story of five children who each, with the help of Mr. Chapman and the unique pets at his special emporium, discover their own personal love language. Children and parents alike will experience firsthand the power of the love languages as they cuddle up and spend precious time together reading this book over and over again.

The cast of child characters in this whimsical story include:

Peyton, one of the birthday celebrants, loves to help others, and appreciates it when others do little things for him.
Penny, Peyton's twin sister, who receives love best when others spend quality time with her.
Jayla, one of Penny's close friends, is always saying nice things about people. Her love language is words of affirmation.
Kevin, one of Peyton's close friends, enjoys giving things to people.
Sofia loves to pet the animals, and to show her love for others with special hugs.

Northfield Publishing is hosting this giveaway, so for an opportunity to win your own copy, please leave a comment for a drawing 4/21.

April 12, 2012 (11:51 AM) | Kids' books | Permalink | Comments (16)

The 5 Love Languages for Children

[ Jill is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Moody Publishers for sponsoring it! You can buy a copy of Five Love Languages of Children at Amazon]

First published in 1997, The 5 Love Languages of Children - one of the spinoffs of the original 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell - has sold over a million copies.

As a young mom, I found this way of understanding my children very helpful when they were growing up, and the Love Language language has become part of our family conversation through the years.

From Amazon:

Does your child speak a different language? Sometimes they wager for your attention, and other times they ignore you completely. Sometimes they are filled with gratitude and affection, and other times they seem totally indifferent. Attitude. Behavior. Development. Everything depends on the love relationship between you and your child. When children feel loved, they do their best. But how can you make sure your child feels loved?

Since 1992, Dr. Gary Chapman's best-selling book The 5 Love Languages has helped couples develop stronger, more fulfilling relationships by teaching them to speak each others' love language.

Each child, too, expresses and receives love through one of five different communication styles. And your love language may be totally different from that of your child. While you are doing all you can to show your child love, he may be hearing it as something completely opposite. Discover your child's primary language and learn what you can do to effectively convey unconditional feelings of respect, affection, and commitment that will resonate in your child's emotions and behavior

I really appreciated receiving this newest edition for review and can heartily recommend it. Northfield Publishing is hosting this giveaway, so for an opportunity to win your own copy, please leave a comment for a drawing 4/21.

April 12, 2012 (11:31 AM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (27)

Chickyboom - fun kids' game - 3 winners

[Dianna, Jane and Debbie are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to the Blue Orange Games for sponsoring it! You can buy Chickyboom at Amazon]

Really excited about receiving Chickyboom - winner of several awards for children's games. A Jenga-like game of balance and planning for children 4 and up. Beautifully crafted wooden pieces, appealing to sight and touch. A a pleasure to review.

Check out Blue Orange for a bunch of cool and well-crafted games for kids.

If you grew up in a home with family games, be sure to continue this valuable tradition on in your family. And if you didn't, then you will find joy in starting something that will bond your family while building character in your children:

The Benefits of Board Games Playing games with your kids is a perfect way to spend time together -- and build learning skills at the same time.

By Alvin Rosenfeld

What your child most wants -- and needs -- is to be with you with no goal in mind beyond the joy of spending time together. He wants you to take pleasure in him, play with him, and listen to him. Nothing bolsters his self-esteem more! So why not pull out an old board game tonight? Playing games is an easy and excellent way to spend unhurried, enjoyable time together. As an added bonus, board games are also rich in learning opportunities. They satisfy your child's competitive urges and the desire to master new skills and concepts, such as:

number and shape recognition, grouping, and counting
letter recognition and reading
visual perception and color recognition
eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity

Games don't need to be overtly academic to be educational, however. Just by virtue of playing them, board games can teach important social skills, such as communicating verbally, sharing, waiting, taking turns, and enjoying interaction with others. Board games can foster the ability to focus, and lengthen your child's attention span by encouraging the completion of an exciting, enjoyable game. Even simple board games like Chutes and Ladders offer meta-messages and life skills: Your luck can change in an instant -- for the better or for the worse. The message inherent in board games is: Never give up. Just when you feel despondent, you might hit the jackpot and ascend up high, if you stay in the game for just a few more moves.

Read more at Scholastic

And I'm excited that thanks to the generosity of Blue Orange, MommyLife is hosting this giveaway of three Chickyboom games for my readers. Leave a comment for a drawing 4/21.

April 12, 2012 (10:57 AM) | Educational toys | Permalink | Comments (35)

January 30, 2012

A Mile In His Shoes

[Von is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to Vivendi Entertainment  for sponsoring it!]

January 30, 2012 ( 5:38 PM) | DVDs | Permalink | Comments (31)

AHCC immune health

[Monica and Kimberly are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks so much to the AHCC for sponsoring it!]

I've received a sample of AHCC to try for myself and have been taking it for a couple weeks, but don't want to wait to hold this giveaway since it is flu season and some of you may appreciate a natural alternative to the flu vaccine - one that works from strengthening your body's immune system

AHCC is an immune supplement immune supplement with over 80 supporting research studies.

In Japan, it is  leading alternative cancer therapy used in hundreds of cancer clinics throughout Asia.

It is also used in over 700 clinics to reduce the risk of hospital infections.

Tens of thousands of people in worldwide use AHCC, hoping to help their bodies fight the formation of abnormal cells, whose growth can lead to cancer, chronic disease and infections (such as the influenza / flu virus).

You can read a lot more at AHCC Research. 

AHCC is offering three bottles as giveaways here at MommyLife. Leave a comment and if I draw your name 2/6, you can try it too.

January 30, 2012 ( 5:08 PM) | Health products | Permalink | Comments (15)

Bad Kitty CD/book

[Sarah and Jill N. are the winners of this giveaway. Thanks to all who entered! And thanks to MacMillan for sponsoring it! You can findBad Kitty (Book & CD) at Amazon.]

I wasn't familiar with the Bad Kitty series until MacMillan sent me this Badd Kitty book/CD combo. Not your traditional children's fairy but with humor which both kids (older than toddlers) and adults can enjoy, with an emphasis on action and crazy cat antics.

Plot: Bad Kitty's family runs out of her food and offers her 26 healthy alternatives. Bad Kitty exacts 26 acts of revenge. But when the family comes home with 26 tasty tidbits, Bad Kitty runs through 26 acts of repentance. Four times through the alphabet A-Z

On the CD, Vanessa Williams reads two tracks, one with a Bad Kitty "meow" for children to turn the page when children are reading alone. Older kids will appreciate the track where the author Nick Bruel reads his own work.

ALA review:

Ostensibly about a cat that turns bad when her family runs out of her favorite food, this is really a clever alphabet book for kids old enough to appreciate the way words work. When a calm kitty overhears her owner say that healthy food is now on the menu, the high-energy artwork shows the cat in paroxysms of horror set against a series of blocks containing pictures of vegetables, alphabetically arranged from asparagus to zucchini. That's when Kitty decides to become Bad Kitty: she "ate my homework . . . hurled hair balls at our heads." Kitty changes again after her owner returns with an A-Z assortment of good, if peculiar, treats, some of which may give readers pause (a donkey named Dave). But Kitty is happy with them all, and to show her pleasure, she undoes all her bad actions--in alphabetical order. The cat, with seemingly dozens of expressions, is the star, but other aspects of the amusingly silly illustrations have equal weight. There's so much going on here that kids will find lots to laugh about.

MacMillan has promised two copies of this CD/book package to MommyLife readers. Just leave a comment for a drawing 2/6

January 30, 2012 ( 4:26 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (13)

Healthy Eating for Kids and Teens

[ Katherine is the winner of this giveaway. Thanks so much to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for sponsoring it!]

Today's food is a complicated business - what with scores of additives with complex chemical names and sugar with a dozen aliases.

This is an important book for parents who need more information themselves as well as a teaching tool to work with your kids.

Even for those who are offering their children good nutrition, it's important to teach them how and why we do it. Here's help:

HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY WEIGHT FOR KIDS AND TEENS:
NEW ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS PUBLICATION OFFERS PRACTICAL ADVICE ON DEVELOPING LONG-TERM HABITS


CHICAGO - The weight of American children has skyrocketed: On average, children today weigh about 10 pounds more than they did 30 years ago, and one in every three children is overweight or obese.

Helping children achieve and maintain a healthy weight is more important than ever, and a new book from Eat Right Press, the publishing arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), strives to help parents better address the nutritional health of their children.

Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens offers practical strategies for managing weight, learning to make good, appealing food choices, staying active and building better long-term habits for a healthy life.

"As parents, we are our children's first and best teachers and their most influential role models," said registered dietitian Jodie Shield, co-author of Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens. "This book will empower parents with the knowledge and tools they need to help their kids achieve a healthier weight in the fattening world in which they live and play."

Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight is designed not to be read cover to cover, but is a customizable book, allowing readers to choose chapters that are most appropriate for their families' needs. Two introductory chapters define a healthy weight and outline eight strategies, helping the reader decide which to choose first:

1. Eat With a Plan

2. Turn Off the Tube and Move

3. Pop the Soda Habit

4. Practice Portion Control

5. Fill Up on Fruits and Veggies

6. Slow Down the Fast Food

7. Sound the Alarm

8. Come Together

"Each of these strategies is backed by years of scientific research that can help children and teens reach and maintain a healthier weight," Shield said. "Studies have also found that each of these strategies may be essential to preventing unhealthy weight gain in kids currently at a healthy weight, as the strategies promote healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime."

Concluding the book are three weeks of sample menus to help the reader plan "Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight" family meals and snacks. The chapter offers more than 40 kid-tested-and-approved healthy recipes.

"Co-author Mary Catherine Mullen and I collectively have seven kids between 12 and 23," Shield said. "We are right there with parents. We know firsthand how challenging it can be to get kids to eat more vegetables, spend more time being active, replace wasted calories with healthy, nutritious foods, and even get the whole family to sit down and eat together on a regular basis. That's why Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight is the perfect blend of science and real-world experience."

Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens is available for $21.95 (paperback) on the Academy's website at www.eatright.org/shop and will be available at bookstores and online retailers in February.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is offering a copy of this invaluable book to one MommyLife Readers. Leave a comment and I will draw a winner 2/6.

January 30, 2012 ( 3:36 PM) | Books | Permalink | Comments (10)