"Watch Me Grow" Books from Sterling Kids

A few days ago I had the wonderful opportunity to share with you a review of two books in the "Watch Me Grow" series. These books are written by Mary Packard and illustrated by Lisa McCue. My daughter and I really enjoyed Little Chipmunk's Wiggly, Wobbly Tooth and Little Raccoon Learns to Share. You can read my review HERE.

So as you can imagine.... I am very excited to share with you two other books from the "Watch Me Grow" series...

Little bear is excited to hear there will soon be a new cub in the family! So she makes a welcome gift--a shiny mobile--out of the prettiest treasures she finds in the forest. But when the baby arrives, Little Bear's present is gone! Where could it be? A heartwarming take about welcoming a new member into the family--and becoming a big sister!

My Thoughts:
Oh this is the perfect book for our family! My little girl just became a big sister and we are still emphasizing what a special and important role it is. Before my son was born she wanted to pick out special gifts for the baby and be involved in all the preparations. This book brought back those memories and she talked about bringing the stuffed tiger she picked out for her brother to the hospital. I am a big fan of books for new big sisters/brothers that emphasises how wonderful a new baby will be and how special the big sibling is.

Tomorrow is Little Wolf's first day of school--but he doesn't know what will happen there. What new things will he have to learn? And will he be good enough to do it all? But by the time mama comes to take him home from class, a happy Little Wolf is sure about one thing: he can't wait to go back for a second day!

My Thoughts:
This book is a must for any little one going off to school for the first time! We just recently looked at preschool's for my daughter and she was so excited. But when we sat down and read this book I started to think to myself... she may be excited on the outside, but I wonder what she's worrying about on the inside. This book gave us the opportunity to talk about it. I asked her if she felt nervous or if she had anything she was worried about. Right now she says no.... but I am glad we have this book to read again as we get closer to September. I think it sends a wonderful message that it's ok to be nervous... it's normal to be nervous. And it sends a good message... that school is fun! 

Now that I have had the pleasure of reading all four of the books in the "Watch Me Grow" series and can confidently recommend these to parents of young children. I love that they all touch on real feelings and events in kids lives in a light hearted way. The characters are cute and loveable and the messages are short and sweet. Perfect for little ones! 

Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox

I am so excited that I was chosen to receive a VoxBox from Influenster! Basically, this a box full of goodies that I get to try out. What's so awesome about this opportunity is that I get to share my experiences with you and the companies, so I feel very honored to have this opportunity.

My box has already arrived... so get ready to learn about all the products in there! So I know you're all dying to know... what's in the box.....

• Colgate Optic White toothpaste, mouthwash and toothbrush
• belVita Breakfast Biscuits
• Nectresse sweetner
• Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes
• Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer

I have already started trying out some of these products and can't wait to tell you all about them!

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Purex with Crystals

Purex plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance

Purex plus Fabric Softener combines the enchanting fragrance of Purex Crytstals with the proven performance of Purex detergent.

Purex plus Fabric Softener with Crystal Fragrance is perfect for everyday laundry. Loaded with the most popular Purex Crystals fragrance, it will enhance your entire laundry experience by bringing the fresh scents of line-dried laundry and clean florals into your laundry room. Use with Purex Crystals for even more long-lasting freshness!

My Thoughts:

Ever since my son was born I truly feel like I live in my laundry room. We went from doing laundry 3 times a week to doing it daily. So I need to be able to count on my laundry detergent to get my family's clothes clean and smelling fresh. Especially with all the spit up going on around here!

I have been a fan of the Purex detergent for quite some time now. It's available at my local grocery store and at Target, so I am always stocking up. We have also used the crystals and I really liked them because of how great they made our laundry smell. So to learn that the two have teamed up seemed like an unbeatable choice for me!

We put this detergent to the test! We needed to remove stains and get our clothes smelling fresh and this saved us time and money. This all in one works and we are thrilled!

New Purex plus Fabric Softener with Crystals is available in the liquid detergent aisle at your local Walmart, Target, Kroger and other Purex retailers. 

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Purex brand provided me with a sample in exchange for a product review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

New "Watch Me Grow" Books from Sterling Kids

Written by Mary Packard and Illustrated by Lisa McCue

Little Chipmunk's Wiggly, Wobbly Tooth

Wiggle, wobble - what's going on? Little Chipmunk has always been so proud of his two front teeth, but now one is loose! He can't eat his favorite foods or whistle, and he feels too embarrassed to tell anyone. What should he do? This is the perfect story for every child who's lost a first tooth...and their smile, too.

My Thoughts:

My daughter recently came to me and asked me to help her pull her tooth out so the tooth fairy could come. For some kids the idea of losing a tooth is very exciting. For others it could be a little scary. But all kids are going to experience something new when that very first tooth starts to get loose. I think this story is the perfect one to share with your child to ease some of the anxiety and help them understand that it's a normal thing that happens to everyone. The illustrations are bright and cheerful and message is short and sweet. 

Little Raccoon Learns to Share

What luscious berries Little Raccoon has picked! She wants to eat them ALL. So when she spies her friends coming by, she hides behind a bush. Will Little Raccoon end up keeping the berries to herself - or will she see how rewarding sharing can be?

My Thoughts:

When this book arrived I saw the title and thought to myself, this couldn't have come at a more perfect time. My daughter is almost 4 and just starting to get to the point where she doesn't want to share. So we sat down to read this story together and now she often asks for it. It is a sweet tale that kids can really relate to. The message that is portrayed through this story is age appropriate and so important. 

I would highly recommend both of these books for the little ones in your life. They touch on real issues in a fun and lighthearted way. We truly enjoyed them!

Super Pretzel - PretzelDogs

PretzelDogs are bite-sized hot dogs bundled up in a toasty pretzel crust - from the maker of America's #1 selling soft pretzel, SUPERPRETZEL! PretzelDogs are made with a unique soft pretzel dough and are available in two varieties: Original and Cheddar Cheese.

• They are made with the highest quality ingredients, including top quality beef with no by-product
• Perfect minimeals, anytime snacks or appetizers
• Microwaveable and ready in seconds
• Each box contains 12 PretzelDogs

We used our picky eater to the test with these PretzelDogs. She likes hotdogs... and she likes pretzels... so this was something she was willing to try. And I am so glad she did because she LOVED them! We made a whole box of 12 so the entire family could give them a try, and to our pleasant surpise this little one was going back for more and more!

Our entire family agreed that these make the perfect snack. They are super quick and easy to prepare and are very tasty. We have even since purchased more because our little one will eat them for lunch and dinner. Score! I would definitely recommend you look for them at your local grocery store and give them a try! And be sure to follow SUPERPRETZEL on Facebook and Twitter for news and updates!

Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath and Kitchen Cleanser

Introducing Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath and Kitchen Cleanser

• Improved formula with superior cleaning power
• All-new bottle design
• New cap for improved dispensing

New Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath and Kitchen Cleanser is tough on stains, yet gentle on surfaces. The new and improved formula has more whitening power and less residue, for better rinsing. That means better cleaning and faster rinsing for your tile, grout, sinks, and tubs.

The all new bottle and cap design improve dispensing, preventing spills and making for a more efficient cleaning experience.

My Thoughts:

Ok, mommy confession time. Since my son was born 3 months ago... I don't clean the bathrooms as often as I should. I know, you are all laughing because this isn't much of a confession. Most of us are guilty of this because life is just too busy. And I don't want to miss out on time with my kids to spend time scrubbing the bathroom. So when I do get in there to clean I need something that works... and works fast. 

I was really pleased with this cleaner. I did think that it poured out smoothly and I was able to aim it where I wanted my cleaner to land. I have hard water, so I spend a lot of time cleaning around my faucet where the hard water builds up, and I was able to aim the cleaner right where I needed it.

This all purpose cleanser made my bathroom nice and shiny and smelled clean. The lemon scent was nice and not chemically smelling. I would recommend this cleaner for your bathroom and kitchen!

Click HERE to enter the Soft Scrub Sweepstakes for your chance to win free products!

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Soft Scrub provided a free sample of their Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Bath and Kitchen Cleanser so I could review it. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

LifebankUSA "Peace of Mind" Car Seat Giveaway

Through cord blood banking, you can collect and preserve potentially lifesaving stem cells, and doing so could one day save the life of your child or a blood relative. You can bank even more stems cells by collecting them from 2 usable sources of stem cell-rich blood: the umbilical cord and the placenta. Te service is called Placental and Cord Blood Banking, and it's available only from LifebankUSA. Whether you choose Placental and Cord Blood Banking or Cord Blood Banking alone, there are many important reasons to choose Lifebank USA. 

LifebankUSA is currently is currently having a fantastic giveaway on their Facebook page. LifebankUSA "Peace of Mind" Car Seat Giveaway is giving you the chance to be one of THREE lucky winners to win a top rated car seat, the Britax Marathon70-G3 Convertible Car Seat. Each car seat is valued at $231.99.

Click HERE to enter today for your chance to win!

Vera Bradley Baby Collection!

You all know I am a huge Vera Bradley fan. It's pretty much all I carry in terms of bags. I even have a pair of their sunglasses and now a new bangle! So I was really exciteed to learn about their new baby collection. It is focused on girls, but there are a lot of things for mom (awesome diaper bags!) and some things that you can make work for little guys (cute little bunnies and soft blankies!).

So check it out today

Puppet Monsters - Review and Giveaway

It's a Puppet, It's a Monster...

It's a Puppet Monster!

Puppet Monsters are unlike any toy I've come across. These puppets can actually be worn on your heads to help transform you into a crazy, silly, wacky monster. What a fabulous way to encourage creative and imaginative play!

Not only are these monsters unique in that your child becomes the monster by wearing it on their heads and controlling the arms with their own arms, but each puppet has endless possibilities. All of the features on the puppets are interchangeable. You can get accessory kits that allow your children to change up their monsters to express different personalities. 

The Puppet Monsters are a great way for your children to get involved and excited about imaginary play. They can act out skits, sneak up on family members, and so much more. I love all the possibilities that go along with these toys.

We were so excited to have the chance to check out Mr. Mustache in person. He is now practically part of the family. He shows up at the dinner table, has wrestle matches with my husband, and has even gone on adventures in the backyard. My daughter loves transforming into Mr. Mustache and taking on a whole new personality. 

Check out their website to learn more about your monster choices, accessory options, and how to order your very own Monster Puppet. And if you use the code PUPPET at checkout you can score $5 off!


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Welcome Baby - Magic Cabin

From our humble beginnings in 1989, to our full-color, full-size catalog of today, Magic Cabin has been guided by the simple notion that children's lives are enriched by ample time for open-ended, creatice, imaginative play. We believe in goold-old-fashioned make believe and in children's innate need to interact with simple, natural toys and crafts.

While childhood becomes endangered we pioneer towards protecting this special time in life by conscientiously selecting products that are beautiful and enchanting, sturdy and safe, and best of all, FUN.

I love to find companies that have similar values to my own. Magic Cabin is definitely one of those companies. I strive to encourage my children to be creative, use their imagination, and truly enjoy their childhood. After all, it is such a short time in their lives. So I find it to be my responsibility to provide them with quality toys that will also encourage imaginative play. Magic Cabin is just the right place to find those magical toys.

But did you know it's also a great place to find toys and items for even the youngest of children? Their easy to navigate website allows you to shop by age. So with my new little bundle I was anxious to check out the newborn section, and I was excited to see it filled with toys, blankets, clothing and more!

There are so many wonderful items for little ones. And a great place to look for fabulous gifts that are truly unique! So I was thrilled to be able to pick a couple of items tha they carry. I decided to get Sophie Giraffe - since she seems to be quite the famous little giraffe - and an incredible mirror for the car.

I have heard so much about this giraffe! He is light-weight and easy for little ones to hold. My little guy isn't up to the task of holding it yet, but he does love when I make it squeak! 

I am sure this will be a favorite toy and teether for quite some time. 

I love this mirror because it provides me with some peace of mind while driving. 

I can quickly and easily glance in my rearview mirror and have a perfect look at my little guy. 

I love the quality and variety offered by Magic Cabin. They have clearly put a great deal of thought into creating the selection of items that they offer. I feel confident shopping with them because I feel like I can trust they are choosing quality items that benefit kids and parents. Check them out today on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter!


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Wordless Wednesday

Wreck-It Ralph comes to Blu-ray on March 5th!

Wreck-It Ralph is coming to 3D Blu-ray on March 5th!

Prepare for adventure when the most original film in years' (Bryan Erdy, CBS-TV) that thrilled audiences of all ages drops on Blu-ray! From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping journey in Disney's Wreck-It Ralph. For decades, Ralph has played the bad guy in his popular video game. In a bold move, he embarks on an action-packed adventure and sets out to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a big heart. As he explores exciting new worlds, he teams up with some unlikely new friends including feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz. Then, when an evil enemy threatens their world, Ralph realizes he holds the fate of the entire arcade in his massive hands. Featuring an all-star voice cast and breakthrough bonus features that take you even deeper into the world of video games, Disney's Wreck-It-Ralph has something for every player. 

My Thoughts:
I can remember seeing the previews for Wreck-It Ralph when we went to see Brave in the theatres. My sister and my husband immediately got excited and couldn't wait to see it. It was then on my husband's "must see" list. But when it made it into the theatres I was uber pregnant and we missed it.

So we have been counting down to it's release on DVD. My sister had seen it in theatres and kept telling us we would love. She was absolutely right! When our review copy arrived we sat down for a family movie night, popcorn and all, and went on an adventure with Wreck-It Ralph!

Our family gave this movie two thumbs up. I loved that we could all sit down and enjoy a movie together. My husband and I have very different tastes in movies and this was perfect for us both. He loved being able to identify characters in Game Central Station, the adventures created by the cybugs, and pressing pause to see the "Intermission" and learning all about video game cameos and Disney cameos. My daughter loved everything about Sugar Rush. Her favorite character was Vanellope and she loved all the racing. My favorite part about this movie was the relationship between Ralph and Vanellope and how it developed. I also really enjoyed the fact that I found the movie unpredictable. I really didn't see the ending coming the way it did!

I would highly recommend this movie for everyone! It really is the perfect family film because there is so much for everyone to love. Be sure to check it out on Blu-ray on March 5th!

Welcome Baby - Tea

One of my favorite things to do these days is shop. Not for myself... but for my children. Shopping for them is so much more fun because it doesn't require me to try anything on (oh baby weight) and the clothes are just so cute!

One of my favorite sites to browse is Tea. Their collection of clothing is filled with some of the brightest colors, the happiest prints, and the most unique styles I can find. These styles are influenced by cultures all around the world. The company actually goes out and explores new places around the world and brings back these incredible styles, colors, and prints. What you will find can only be described as amazing!

While I do love the styles that Tea offers, my absolute favorite part is that their clothing is comfortable for kids. The materials are always soft and easy for children to move in. The combination of fashion and function has me sold!

For this review Tea very generously allowed me to shop their newest collection and select some pieces to check out in person. So I very excitedly picked something out for my little guy and my big girl for the upcoming spring season.

Little Man will be sporting the Ubuntu Stripe Hooded Romper:

I adore the bright colors, simple design, and comfortable style.

My Little Lady will be looking sweet and stylish in the Joburg Neck Wrap Dress:

I love the diversity of this dress. You can wear it as a dress in the warm weather

or pair it with leggings in the cooler months. More bang for your buck!

My entire experience with Tea was a positive one. From the well designed site that allows you to easily shop for your boy or girl (from infant to size 12), to the quick shipping and delivery, to the arrival of outfits that are truly even better in person. I would highly recommend you check them out!