Hop Along Friday - Week 21

Welcome to the 21th edition of Hop Along Friday, hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Take A Mom's Word For It, This Adventure Our Life and Belly Charms! 

Please feel free to follow through and link up to facebook and twitter accounts as well once you get on someone's page, but please only link your blog up, here. As always, we continue to invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us!

You can still be rewarded for participating! Each week we will use random.org to pick a "featured blog" of the week from the previous weeks link ups! Want your blog featured? Then you have to link up! Here's how you can join in on the fun;

• Link up to your blog using our inlinkz link list, below.
• Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 5 slots.
• Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)
• If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love!

This is a new list every Friday, so please remember to come back and link up!

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Hop Along Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace. FYI, however, if you follow me and leave a comment, guaranteed, I will follow you back!

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

This weeks featured blog is #18 from last week!

Baby Diner By Lil' Diner LLC

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Any person with a child will understand completely when you say, "When you become a parent, you won't eat a hot meal again!" In our house, my husband and I both share in the responsibilities of setting JJ's dinner, getting him in his high chair, giving him his food and watch him as he's eating. Don't be fooled, though, because it doesn't end there. You have to constantly make sure he isn't choking, dropping his food in his lap or dropping it on the floor. It's also impossible to give him a plate or bowl because inevitably it all of his food somehow ends up on the floor, himself and us. It's impossible to deal with.

Lil' Diner LLC has invented a super cool little gadget that is making my life as a mom, easier and helping me to have hot meals again, no joke. Lil' Diner has created what they call their Baby Diner and it's a neat little device that keeps those plates, bowls, etc, ON the high chair, table, counter, etc. No more picking up food and serving plates off the floor. With the Baby Diner, the plate sticks to the high chair and it saves cleaning time, for sure. Lil' Diner was kind enough to offer up a Baby Diner for review.

Likes: I love that when we go out to restaurants we don't have to worry about JJ eating off of dirty tables. We can give him a plate and we don't have to worry about him throwing it off the table and having it break. He can eat off of a clean plate like the rest of us and it makes me feel so much better. At home I can make sure his high chair table is clean but out at a restaurant, I can't guarantee the person before us was clean and tidy as I'd like them to be. This is a must have gadget for everyone with kids, even older ones who need help keeping their tray of food on the table. As a kid we had issues with our plates sliding around while we tried to eat our food.


Dislikes: I wish it was a little harder of a plastic to keep it from bending but it's all just a visual preference.


Rating: 10 out of 10!


Would you like to have a Baby Diner for yourself or someone you love? Here's how you can!


Buy It! Visit Lil' Diner, LLC and purchase a Baby Diner for $14.99 $7.49, for a limited time, only!!!


This contest is CLOSED!
Congrats to the winner, Pamalot!

I would like to send a special Thank You to Lil' Diner for providing us the item reviewed as well as the giveaway item(s)! I was not compensated in any other way for this post and will not receive commission off sales. These are my own honest opinions that have not been swayed by the company in any way.

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Groegg™ - Keen Distribution

Keen Distribution is the mastermind behind the innovative new product, the Groegg™. The Groegg™ is a digital thermometer that changes colors to let you know, at a glance, that your sweet baby's nursery is too cold, too warm or just perfect for safe sleeping conditions. Room temperature is a key factor in creating a safe sleeping environment for your little one and Groegg™ makes it super simple. It is recommended that your child's room be kept between 61°F and 67°F to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The Groegg™ is a great visual reminder to act accordingly when your baby's nursery is not within the safe sleeping temperature. The Groegg™ glows a bright yellow when between 61°F and 67°F, a chilly blue when below 61°F, a warm orange when between 67°F - 76°F and a HOT red when above 76°F.

The Groegg™ features a super easy to use room thermometer that changes color within certain temperature ranges, a digital room thermometer with a permanent "back-lit" LCD readout, a nice, soft, little 'nightlight' ambiance, an included power adapter, instructions and a safe sleep guide, all included! Keen Distribution was gracious enough to send us one of their Groegg™'s for review in our son's nursery.

Likes: First, I have to talk about how easy this thing is to use. Simply plug it in, wherever your baby is sleeping and in about .2 seconds, the thermometer shows you the temperature, as well as the matching color to go with. Bam, Done! It's as easy as that. You can move it with you, wherever baby is sleeping and instantly get the temperature of the room. I love the matching colors and I love the soft lighting it gives my son's nursery. It's great if he wakes up in the middle of the night, it gives him just enough light to see where he is and not wake up scared, but not enough to wake him due to it being to bright. It's a great little invention and I love it! This is a great baby shower gift as many soon to be parents (or veteran parents, too!) don't think about safe sleeping temperatures for babies. This will be a great and gentle reminder for them to do so!

Dislikes: I have no dislikes, I would, however, love to suggest a slight alteration... I would LOVE it if this little egg came with a battery option, that way I didn't have to find a plug, every time my son fell asleep in my room (which is OFTEN) or in the living room. This would allow me to just grab it and set it down, instead of having to search for plugs. This does not change my view on the product, though, I still love it!

Rating: 10 out of 10!

Would you like to have a Groegg™ for yourself or someone you love? Here's how you can!

Buy It! Visit Keen Distribution and purchase a Groegg™ for $29.99!

This contest is CLOSED!
Congrats to the winner, Terra!

I would like to send a special Thank You to Keen Distribution for providing us the item reviewed as well as the giveaway item(s)! I was not compensated in any other way for this post and will not receive commission off sales. These are my own honest opinions that have not been swayed by the company in any way.

Brilliant Lenses

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Brilliant Lenses makes your favorite pair of glasses just that... brilliant! Brilliant Lenses isn't just your favorite eyeglass cleaner. It's your favorite eyeglass cleaner with added scratch resistance barrier!! Not only does it clean your glasses to a brilliant shine, but it also layers on an added protection against marks, scratches and blemishes on your lenses. Brilliant Lenses was kind enough to offer up a Double Pack for review.

As a mom and especially as a mom wearing glasses it's extremely difficult to keep my eyeglasses sans fingerprints, smudges, baby slobber or the dreaded scratches. Not only do I wear glasses but Sr does, too, so we both have to worry about about keeping our glasses in good condition for our safety and more importantly, JJ's.

Brilliant Lenses does just that. It removes the greasy finger prints, the baby slobber, the little dirty food prints, etc. It removes it all with one easy spray and wipe with their handy optical microfiber cloth. It makes it pretty simple, even for a mom with an 11 month old. If I have time to clean my glasses (and protect them at the same time!) you can, too!

Brilliant Lenses is alcohol and ammonia free! The double pack offers two 7ml bottles of Brilliant Lenses cleaner and an optical microfiber cloth, as well as a super handy carrying bag! Brilliant Lenses cleans glass & plastic lenses, has SR-8 scratch resistance and also works great on phones, monitors and mp3 players! Not only does SR-8 work to protect your glasses from scratches, but it's also great for resisting soiling and water spots!

Wondering what SR-8 scratch resistance is? SR-8 is a Polimer Additive that reduces surface tension making cleaning easier each time it's used. SR-8 coats the lenses and leaves a protective barrier and improves the scratch resistance each time it's used and will not dry out protective coatings.

Would you like to have some Brilliant Lenses for yourself or someone you love? Here's how you can!

Buy It! Visit Brilliant Lenses and purchase a single pack for $4.99 or a double pack for $7.99!

This contest is CLOSED!
Congrats to the winner, Susan!

I would like to send a special Thank You to Brilliant Lenses for providing us the item reviewed as well as the giveaway item(s)! I was not compensated in any other way for this post and will not receive commission off sales. These are my own honest opinions that have not been swayed by the company in any way.

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

CSN Review - Paint Mug & Knife Set

Now you all know that I am a huge fan of CSN Stores. They have just about anything you could want from over 200 shops, all under one roof. What can be better than that? They have a great selection of products and they are my favorite place to shop, by far.

Recently, CSN hooked me up with yet another review and this time I choose to review a Paint Your Own Mug by Wild Republic as well as a 14 piece Bakelite Traditional Knife and Block set from Ginsu. Here's what I think about each of these products:

I love that this little mug can be personalized to whom ever we choose to paint it for. It can be a super cute little Christmas present for a grandparent, a birthday present for a cousin, a Mother's or Father's day gift or it could even be a special little mug for a special little boy. We have a super cute little "special" plate that says, "It's YOUR special day" that we plan to use for special occasions; birthdays, graduations, special achievements, etc. and this little mug would be perfect to paint like that, as well.

I also love that it can be personalized to match any occasion. It's easy to do and even the smallest little one can paint on this mug. Who doesn't love abstract art, anyway. There's no 'color inside the lines' or requirement to paint a certain picture. The fun is up to you and what you want to do. (I'm a poet! :) ) I love the price and I love that it's cheap enough to get one for each child without spending an arm and a leg.

Mug Rating: 10 out of 10!

Now on to the Ginsu Knife & Block set. My husband and I have had the same knives our entire marriage and he had them way before that, I'm sure of it. They're wood handles, super old and as dull as a butter knife. No, I'm pretty sure a butter knife would cut better than our old knives. Safety is a top priority in our house and dull knives are NOT safe. The more pressure you put on a knife, the easier it is for the food your chopping/slicing/etc to become unstable and the higher the chance of possible injury to you or someone else in the house or in our case, neighborhood. The sharper a knife is, the less pressure you have to put on it to cut the food item, the safer it is because it's easier to control and maneuver. Needless to say, when I received these knives I was super excited to try them out. I have to say, I'm in love. While they're not the most expensive knives out there, by far, they're pretty freggin fantastic. They slice and dice and chop and mince. I'm a food network groupie and 99% of the time that's what's on my TV. I love to cook and ease of use when it comes to a knife is everything to me. These knives slice through things like they're butter. They're super sharp, easy to handle and are just great. They received great reviews from other CSN Shoppers (you can read for yourself - here) and that is a must, for me. The only bad thing I've read about these knives, from other owners, is that they tend to get tiny rust spots when put in the dishwasher a few times. However, when you think about it, they're metal. Any metal is going to rust when exposed to moisture and high heat over time. (My advice is to keep a can of Bar Keepers Friend around just for such an occasion. - It will remove the rust without even having to scrub!)

Ginsu Rating: 9 out of 10!!

Overall CSN Rating: 10 out of 10!!

Would you like to have a Wild Republic Paint Your Own Mug or a Ginsu 14 piece Knife & Block set (from CSN Stores) for yourself or someone you love? Here's how you can!

Buy It! Visit CSN Stores and purchase a Wild Republic Paint Your Own Mug for $5.99 and a Ginsu 14 piece Knife & Block set for $29.99!

I would like to send a special Thank You to CSN for providing us the item reviewed as well as the giveaway item(s)! I was not compensated in any other way for this post and will not receive commission off sales. These are my own honest opinions that have not been swayed by the company in any way.

LINK EXCHANGE

I'm looking for people who would like to exchange links with me. You know, yours link on my site and my link on yours. If this is something you'd be interested in, please let me know!

stephanie[at]mynewlifeasmom[dot]com

Stepping Stones Together

Stepping Stones Together is an personalized online program designed to assist us in helping our children not only read better but enjoy reading. They have a choice of 30 themed stories from their beginning reading library which has been categorized into 3 reading levels. The program also includes over 100 reading comprehension questions that have been designed to build your child's level of reading comprehension, thinking, reading fluency, speaking and writing abilities. Stepping Stones Together also includes a daily writing program to help extend your child's reading and writing abilities. It's includes extension games, personalized behavior incentive chart and personalized certificates for completing a leveled series every 10 days. Stepping Stones Together also provides parents with E-Alerts which help keep you on target with your child's individualized program as well as gives you access to blogs and newsletters to provide you with current research as well as tips and tricks to help engage new readers. Stepping Stones Together is designed for children ages 3 to 7, however, they acknowledge that children are ready to read at different ages. Is your child ready for Stepping Stones Together?

As you're probably wondering, my son is 10.5 months old. How in the world did I review Stepping Stones Together? Well, my little LAMB's (Life As Mom - I just added the B because I thought it was cute - don't judge), of course I had a few super amazing readers (and they're wonderful children) come to the rescue! I had them review the product and answer a few short questions about the program.

Stepping Stones Together was reviewed by the following people:

Ruth and her 7 year old daughter, M. Ruth can also be found blogging over at My Devotional Thoughts. Here is what Ruth had to say about Stepping Stones Together:

How old is the child or children that you were interested in using this product on? 

7 years old

What made you want to test this product on your child? 

My daughter loves reading, but sometimes it is hard to get her to read.

What is your favorite and least favorite part or section of the program? 

I really like the fact that it has many high interest book subjects. I also like the questions at  the end--writing  prompts especially. I think if you were homeschooling your child especially, you could really put the time into this that you need to. For the average parent, he/she will probably not take the necessary time to go through this with his/her kids.  The incentive program is pretty nice.  I wish that the books were in color--I think that animations and colors would make it more exciting for kids.

What is your overall impression of the program? It is a good program for the most part, but I think a lot of children would lose interest.  My daughter is way beyond this reading level, but even so, the lack of color and interactive features would not keep her interest. It would not be something my daughter would have ever liked.  I like the incentive program and the questions, but I think that it also requires a lot of time from busy parents. I need something that my daughter can do more on her own.

Would you be interested in purchasing this program for your children? I think the price is a little high.  I'd like to see it offered at a better price.

Overall Rating: 6/7

Lindsay and her 4 year old daughter, R. Lindsay can also be found blogging over at Life on Packard Family Farm. Here is what Lindsay had to say about Stepping Stones Together:

How old is the child or children that you were interested in using this product on? 

4 years old

What made you want to test this product on your child?

She's learning to read and loves the process. I wanted to make it fun for her.

What is your favorite and least favorite part or section of the program? 

I loved the coloring books. A great way for her to review and become familiar with the words while reading and coloring. My least favorite was the fact that it wasn't very phonics based. I really want her to learn to sound out words and the stories, while simple, don't follow the most basic phonics rules in the first set, so I would be basically helping her memorize versus letting her sound out the words herself.

What is your overall impression of the program?

I think it's a brilliant concept.

Would you be interested in purchasing this program for your children?

I would probably purchase this for my daughter after she had already learned to read, as more of a practice and review.

Overall Rating: 7.5 as a 'learn-to-read' program & 9 as a 'review-and-practice' program

Would you like to have a membership to Stepping Stones Together for yourself or someone you love? Here's how you can!

Buy It! Visit Stepping Stones Together and purchase a 90 day membership for $19.99 or a 1 year membership for $39.99!

This contest is CLOSED!
Congrats to the winner, C's Mommy!

I would like to send a special Thank You to Stepping Stones Together for providing us the item reviewed as well as the giveaway item(s)! I was not compensated in any other way for this post and will not receive commission off sales. These are my own honest opinions that have not been swayed by the company in any way.

Meet Me on Monday

This is the second week participating, and counting!!!

I really enjoy this one and hope you do, as well!

Meet Me on Monday

hosted by Never Growing Old

 

How many TV’s do you have in your home?

Let's see. We have 3 in our house.

A 58" in our living room, a 42" in our bedroom and a 32" in the office.

 

What is on your bedside table (nightstand)?

 Right now, to be honest, I think there is a phone, a lamp, my cell charger and there's a good possibility that there may be a baby blanket.

 

How many pair of shoes do you own?

 My husband thinks I own around 30 pairs..

I think it's more than that! *snicker*

 

Can you change a flat tire?

 Heck no! That's what road-side service is for! Didn't you know that people murder women who get out to change their flat tires?! Um, yeah!

Okay, honestly, I've never had to, but I'm pretty sure I could if I had to.

 

Do you prefer sweet treats or salty treats?

Both! I love treats that have a sweet AND salty side! Peanut butter cookies, kettle corn, etc. I always add a tiny pinch of salt to my sweet dishes, it gives it much more depth of flavor. Yum!

Hop Along Friday - Week 20

Welcome to the 19th edition of Hop Along Friday, hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Take A Mom's Word For It, This Adventure Our Life and Belly Charms! 

Please feel free to follow through and link up to facebook and twitter accounts as well once you get on someone's page, but please only link your blog up, here. As always, we continue to invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us!

You can still be rewarded for participating! Each week we will use random.org to pick a "featured blog" of the week from the previous weeks link ups! Want your blog featured? Then you have to link up! Here's how you can join in on the fun;

• Link up to your blog using our inlinkz link list, below.
• Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 5 slots.
• Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)
• If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love!

This is a new list every Friday, so please remember to come back and link up!

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Hop Along Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace. FYI, however, if you follow me and leave a comment, guaranteed, I will follow you back!

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

This weeks featured blog is #125 from last week!

.delicious.

Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday is a great new event that happens every Wednesday. It's kind of like other Wednesday programs that you've heard of.. where you don't post anything but a picture, but it goes with a theme every week.

How do you participate? Come back here every week and get the new theme for the week. It can be interpreted in any way you wish. Take the theme and run with it. There are a few things you should know, before we begin.

Please link up to your exactly post url. NOT your main blog page. We don't want to have to search your blog for your Wonderful Wednesday entry.

Please come back to link up, every week! As I said, there will be a new entry theme every week so make sure you come check it out! Miss one? Please feel free to post two in a row!

Once your post is up, make sure you link up with the link list below so others can check out your entry, as well! Make sure to follow me via GFC or email, so you can stay updated as to when Wonderful Wednesday is posted.

Please make sure you link back so others can find the entry themes, as well!

This weeks theme is:

Delicious

What do you find delicious?

 Cherry Garcia Cupcakes... anyone?

APPLY TO BE A CO-HOST/CO-HOSTESS

Twitter Hop Tuesday ???

Do you remember this? I'm thinking I want to get it started again! I would love to get more twitter followers and this was always a great way to do so. I would love to have a hostess help me with this every week. If you would like to apply to do so, please do so here:

CO-HOSTESS APPLICATION

Want to play along? Simply follow the host, me, in the first spot, then link yourself up! Then you can spread the word!

TWEET!

Have you linked up your twitter account with #twitterhoptuesday

Hop on over and link up with @mynewlifeasmom

Okay, so this is super easy to do, just link up your twitter account below. Twitter'ers only, please. If you'd like to participate in a blog hop, please do, but please don't link up your blog here. We have other programs for that such as Hop Along Friday, Meet Me on Monday, etc.

It's a brand new list every week so make sure you come back, every Tuesday!

Please make sure your link title is under the following format: @yourtwittername

Please link to your twitter account, only!

.ten months.

{dear my sweet boy}

You are ten months old. Ten whole months. I know I say this every single month but it's so true. I can't seem to fathom how so much time has passed so quickly. You are no longer my tiny little baby boy. You're growing into such a little boy and it breaks my heart and makes me proud, all at the same time. You have the cutest little sense of humor and it cracks me up! You think so many things are funny, even when we're trying not to be. Sometimes you get into things that you're not supposed to and when Mommy and Daddy get really serious and tell you, NO NO! You think it's very silly and start laughing at us. It's so hard not to join in your laughter. You are so silly and so dramatic. You're very expressive and oh how i love it. You love making silly noises and singing. You love reading your books and trying to help us shower. You stand at the bathtub and bang on the side. It's funny to hear you screaming down the hallway as you're crawling toward the bathroom. You're so excited and want everyone to know it. You get to the shower and throw back the curtains as if to say, "HELLO! I'm here!". You makes us laugh every single day.

You've learned so many things this past month. You had a few issues this month and sometimes they were funny, sometimes they weren't so much, but all in all, we made it through and you've made it such an amazing journey along the way.

first gooseegg - 08/23

started crawling - 09/03

stood by yourself - 09/07

waved hello - 09/10

You were trying to walk to Daddy and missed a step. You fell forward and knocked your head on the leg of the side table. You ended up with a huge gooseegg and a bruise that lasted for 3 weeks. It was aweful.

You've been mobile for months, now, since you were 4, maybe 5 months old, but just this month you started to crawl. Actually crawl. Now you zoom around the house and are attempting at walking. How time changes around here. One minute you're oblivious as to how to accomplish something and the next minute you've figured it out and are a pro. You learn things so quickly, it's unbelievable.

You love your toys and love your books even more. I love how much you love to flip through the pages and "read" us the story. You're so cute as you lay on the floor and jibber jabber and smack the pages as you go. You love animal books the best. Especially ones with textures. You love to eat the hair on them and tell us all about them. You're so precious.

Well, Sweet Little man, Mommy & Daddy love you more than anything in this world. Stay kind and always keep your precious little personality and cute sense of humor. We love you and everything you do.

More than life itself.

.ten months.

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday

Here are a few blog hops that I'm participating in, today. I hope you all say hello and feel free to follow. Let me know if you do and I'll be sure to follow back!

Have a great day!

Discover Fall TV's Best Entertainment with TiVo!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of TiVo. All opinions are 100% mine.

 The TiVo Premiere as well as the new TiVo Slide remote is making it possible to discover Fall TV season's best entertainment and with these things, they're making it easier than ever! Did you miss the season that swept the 2010 Emmy Awards, like Modern Family or Mad Men? TiVo has an exclusive search and TiVo Collection features can help you catch up in just a matter of a few clicks of the button. You can find upcoming episodes, entire seasons (previous seasons, that is) all on Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand or Blockbuster on Demand.

Are you tired of being the only one who missed a high profile series? Now you don't have to! You can now subscribe to the Fall TV Guru Guide and find all the must see TV shows premiering this fall. You won't have to miss a thing! You can't also follow your favorite actors onto their new projects! With TiVo Premiere you can check out everything your favorite actor participates in and watch it via Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Netflix, Blockbuster OD or your cable line up! How amazing is that! You don't have to worry about loosing them once your favorite show ends.

Did you know that TiVo isn't just a DVR?!? You can use TiVo to search for your favorite TV shows, web videos and movies whether it's on cable, netflix, blockbuster OD, youtube videos, Amazon VOD and more!

We're on the hunt for a new DVR and I'm in love with TiVo! I'm not kidding. I've been begging for one for a few years now and I'm thinking it's going to be the must have this Christmas. I don't think I can live without it anymore. My family is huge on fall premieres and we're so excited for our shows to start back up. We BIG into Criminal Minds, NCIS & NCIS: LA, Law & Order SVU, The Mentalist, CSI: Miami, and more! As you can tell we're big into cop shows. Could it be because my husband used to be a cop? Maybe, but I love them just as much as he does, if not more.

TiVo is going to be a godsend. Now I won't have to miss my favorite shows while we're out and about shopping for some little monkey's first birthday, halloween, spending the holidays with friends and family, etc. It's the must-have gadget of the last few years, I think.

Do you have a TiVo? If you do (and more importantly if you don't) you should keep updated about their latest features and newest gadgets by following them on facebook. You can follow their Facebook Fan Page here.

You can also Enter to Win a new TiVo Slide in the 30 Slides in 30 Days Sweepstakes. This Sweepstakes ends on September 22, 2010. For official rules and requirements, please see their page.

Little One Books - Touch and Feel Baby Animals

Little One Books is a company that I've partnered up with to bring you not only amazing books for little ones but music and videos, as well! Little One Books is a great company that helps you (grandparents, aunts, cousin's, etc) pick age appropriate material that is suitable for any occasion. Holiday's, birthday's, picnics, or for everyday. There's no more guessing what book would be good for the children in your family. Little One Books has their products categorized by age which makes it super easy for those family members who would like to purchase a gift for your child but is unsure what is appropriate. They do the work for you!! How great is that?! Little One Books was kind enough to send us TOUCH and FEEL BABY ANIMALS for review.

Like: I love that my son loves this book. It's one of his top favorites and I am so proud that he will happily choose a book over a toy, any day! He LOVES his books. So much so that instead of getting him a much needed toy box, our next purchase will be for a book shelf that he can store all his books on. One that's kids sized, of course, where he can reach and pull out any book that he wants. He's not like most kids, who just like to pull the books off the shelf and then go to playing with his toys. He spends 99% of his time crawling around the floor and flipping through his books. He actually studies the pictures and loves to be read to. It makes me extremely proud. Especially coming from a family of non-readers. I love that this book is entertaining. He loves to feel the different textures, study them, learn about them. He loves to eat them. He loves to feel them. He loves to rub his face, hands, feet, etc, on the different textures. it's cute to see. I love that the colors are bright, the textures diverse and overall it teaches him about baby animals. Not just puppy dogs and kitty cats, but real animals. Bunnies, elephants, gorillas and more. He really enjoys this book.

Dislike: I wish it was a bit bigger, as in more pages and had more animals but overall, I love it.

Rating: 10 out of 10!

Would you like to have a TOUCH and FEEL BABY ANIMALS for yourself or someone that you love? Here's how you can!

Buy It! Visit Little One Books and purchase TOUCH and FEEL BABY ANIMALS for $6.99!

This contest is CLOSED!
Congrats to the winner, Njos Family!

I would like to send a special Thank You to Little One Books for providing us the item reviewed as well as the giveaway item(s)! I was not compensated in any other way for this post and will not receive commission off sales. These are my own honest opinions that have not been swayed by the company in any way.

Fogless Shower Mirror W/ Squeegee By ToiletTree Products

ToiletTree Products has created a wonderful product that is certainly used around our home. They've created a fogless mirror for your shower that enables you to shave, pluck your eyebrows or pamper your face with your favorite skin care products... all while you shower! Why not save time and energy by taking care of the skin on your face while you're showering, anyway!

This patent pending mirror is designed and guaranteed not to fog in the shower. How great is that? You don't have to worry about using those nasty fog free sprays or worry about suction cups constantly falling off. This mirror comes with an easily removable silicone adhesive that keeps it on, for good, until you want to remove it, of course. This mirror comes with a silicone squeegee that easily slides in a special slot on the bottom of the mirror stand which is great for keeping it clean and ready to go as well as a nice flat spot to hold your razor, tweezers, etc. This mirror is designed not to rust, discolor or damage your bathroom surfaces. This mirror measures in at 6.5 inches tall by 8.5 inches long by 1.5 inches wide and weighs less than one pound.

Likes: I love that it really doesn't fog and I'm not just saying that. My husband takes HORRIBLY hot showers (so hot that I couldn't stand to take it that hot, ever!) and if it doesn't fog in that type of environment, it's not going to! I also love the included squeegee. You don't have to worry about dried water spots on the mirror ruining your view over time. Simply squeegee it off after your shower and you'll be good to go for a long time to come.

Dislikes: It does seem very light and kind of cheaply made. It doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart or anything close but it doesn't seem like it was made to last forever. I also think it's overpriced.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Would you like to have a Fogless Shower Mirror w/ Squeegee from ToiletTree Products for yourself or someone you love? Here's how you can!

Buy It! Visit ToiletTree Products and purchase the Fogless Shower Mirror for $29.95!

Like what you see? You can also follow ToiletTree Products on your favorite social networking sites!

ToiletTree Products on Facebook

ToiletTree Products on Twitter

I want to send a special thank you to ToiletTree Products for providing us with the review item. I was not compensated in any other way to write this post and all statements within it are my own, honest opinions.

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Meet Me on Monday

I've never participate in this before but I haven't written anything in a few days and I'm getting the itch, for sure. So here goes....

Meet Me on Monday

hosted by Never Growing Old

1. What is your all time favorite movie?

My all time favorite movie would have to be the Twilight Series, for sure.

Followed by 7 Pounds and My Sister's Keeper

 
2. How often do you go over the speed limit?

Everyone goes over the speed limit. You're allowed 5 over and I know I take at least 3 of them. I don't "speed" or drive crazy with my son in the car, nor do I hardly ever. Usually the only time I go anymore than 3 over is when I'm on the highway and traffic calls for it. ie: moderate traffic all going more than 3 over.. (not with my son in the car, though)

 
3. What really gives you the creeps?

Psycho murderers who are surely standing in the dark waiting to murder me when I'm alone. I hate being in the dark, especially alone! Creepy! Oh and I don't like the woods much either. Yes, I still go camping but have you ever seen Wrong Turn. Nuff said.

4. What is your favorite snack?

Snack? Snack as in grabbing something quick to hold me over till dinner or snack as in I'm just looking for a little something sweet to satisfy my sweet tooth? I would say... my favorite snack would have to be popcorn. Homemade preferably! It's very low fat, you can add just about any flavoring to it that you'd like and you can eat a ton without feeling full or regretting it later. Perfect!

 
5. Would you rather be a dog named Killer or a cat named Fluffy?

Hmm, being a person who prefers dogs over cats I would like to say that I would like to be a dog named Killer. However, when I think about it makes me think that someone naming their dog Killer is either a teenager that doesn't much care about their dog or someone who is trying to make it vicious and either beats it or neglects it. (not pointing fingers just had too many bad run in's during my years of rescuing) That makes it seem like a cat named fluffy would be better. Except when I think about that it makes me think of an old crazy cat lady who spoils the heck out of her cat and probably has neighbors who hate her or the cat. I'd probably be the cat shot at with BB guns or the like. I think I'd still take being a cat named Fluffy. At least maybe my owner would keep me inside and spoil the heck out of me.

Glidden™ Paint

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Glidden. All opinions are 100% mine.

Over the years of marriage and home ownership, as well as renting, one thing my husband and I know about is painting. We've spent quite a few weekends painting our rooms, everything from super calm earthy colors to some extremely bright make-ya-want-shades-in-the-house colors. I've hand painted murals on walls as well as super fun borders. When it comes to painting, we go big or go home. We love to do it and we definitely have fun.

Speaking of painting, when it comes to purchasing paint, Glidden is who we go to. I'm not kidding. I'm not saying that because I was paid to write this post. I'm saying it because I just love Glidden paint. They have great colors, many to choose from and some amazing Ready-to-Go paint testers that you can use when looking to paint your space.

Like I said, if you're wanting to test out a few different colors you can test drive their products with Glidden™ Ready-To-Go Paint Testers. They're having a contest that started at midnight on June 1st, 2010 to give away Paint Testers. If you're not fortunate to snag one of these testers, you can always find Glidden's paint testers at any Home Depot location that are very inexpensive. They're unique from other brands because they include a super handly little brush that allows you to try it out without having to buy even more products. They're also great for families with kids or in our case, a husband who isn't gentle when moving household furniture. We always seem to have knicked corners, scratched walls or marks that can't be covered up. Glidden's testers can be used to touch up those spots without having to purchase a whole can that probably won't be used. It's less to store and you don't have to worry about moving around large messy cans in order to touch up a 1/2 inch scratch on the wall.

I also love Glidden because they have amazing ideas with Gliddens Top 10 Color Palettes and XL paint chips. Their color palettes are assembled by experts and are great ways to express your personality. It's a very easy way to choose the perfect combination of colors. They're large paint chips are also great to help you experience your color of choice in your rooms lighting and they also have two coordinating colors right on the back. They couldn't make it easier, really!

One of my favorite things is the Glidden Room Painter. You can find this, here. I love looking at my favorite colors and seeing what they would look like in a room. Like this, I would love to have a playroom like this for my son.

(click image to enlarge)

Have you used Glidden™ Paint? What's your favorite Glidden™ Paint color?

Hop Along Friday - Week 19

Welcome to the 19th edition of Hop Along Friday, hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, Take A Mom's Word For It, This Adventure Our Life and Belly Charms! 

Please feel free to follow through and link up to facebook and twitter accounts as well once you get on someone's page, but please only link your blog up, here. As always, we continue to invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us!

You can still be rewarded for participating! Each week we will use random.org to pick a "featured blog" of the week from the previous weeks link ups! Want your blog featured? Then you have to link up! Here's how you can join in on the fun;

• Link up to your blog using our inlinkz link list, below.
• Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 5 slots.
• Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)
• If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love!

This is a new list every Friday, so please remember to come back and link up!

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Hop Along Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace. FYI, however, if you follow me and leave a comment, guaranteed, I will follow you back!

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

This weeks featured blog is #31 from last week!

CSN Bedroom Sets

One of my favorite hobbies is to browse online for things we're looking for around the house. I love searching for the lowest price, best selection and quality products. I love reading their reviews and looking at pictures. One of the many things that my husband and I have been shopping for since we got married was great bedroom furniture sets. We're looking for something contemporary. Simple yet stylish. Something that looks like we actually care enough to make our bedroom look nice, unlike it is right now. We have super gorgeous bed linens that I love but I would LOVE to have a headboard and matching dressers, nightstands and maybe even a foot board! One thing that I have my eye on is a platform bed. Those look great!

What do you guys have in your room? Is it matching? It is completely thrown together?

Aquiring Sign Language By Guest Poster Emily Patterson & Kathleen Thomas

Early Childhood Education – Acquiring Sign Language

One of the keys to surviving in a tilted economic system in which opportunities to achieve a decent standard of living will be limited is versatility – and the ability to communicate articulately in a variety of ways with the widest possible audience. This includes bilingual ability as well as the ability to communicate in non-verbal ways for the benefit of the disabled – primarily the deaf.

At the same time, a growing shortage of qualified interpreters fluent in American Sign Language has led to more career opportunities – and if current trends continue, it's likely that skilled ASL interpreters will have little problem securing lucrative employment in a society where such a commodity is destined to be in short supply.

Signing Before They Can Speak

A great deal of research has clearly demonstrated that the early years – ages 2 to five – are the best time to educate children in different modes of communication and language. This goes beyond the spoken word (though it is an optimal time for children to learn a second language); many young children have an aptitude for signing as well.

This is not as odd as you may think. As you know, many indigenous peoples around the world, including American Indian nations, have used sign language for centuries to facilitate communication with other tribes with whom they do not share a language. Some paleontologists and anthropologists theorize that Neanderthals – who apparently lacked the vocal mechanism to produce many spoken words – depended a great deal upon hand gestures to communicate.

In fact, recent research suggests that sign language is innate. An article published in the Boulder Daily Camera in 2003 presented strong evidence that babies as young as six months old communicate with their hands:

"...by 6 to 7 months, babies can remember a sign. At eight months, children

can begin to imitate gestures and sign single words. By 24 months, children

can sign compound words and full sentences. They say sign language reduces

frustration in young children by giving them a means to express themselves

before they know how to talk." (Glarion, 2003)

The author also cites study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development demonstrating that young children who are taught sign language at an early age actually develop better verbal skills as they get older. The ability to sign has also helped parents in communicating with autistic children; one parent reports that "using sign language allowed her to communicate with her [autistic] son and minimized his frustration...[he now] has an advanced vocabulary and excels in math, spelling and music" (Glarion, 2003).

The Best Time To Start

Not only does early childhood education in signing give pre-verbal youngsters a way to communicate, it can also strengthen the parent-child bond – in addition to giving children a solid foundation for learning a skill that will serve them well in the future. The evidence suggests that the best time to start learning ASL is before a child can even walk – and the implications for facilitating the parent-child relationship are amazing.

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the network of Texas Educational Child Care facilities belonging to the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose Educational Child Care Schools.  Primrose Schools are located in 16 states throughout the U.S. and are dedicated to delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum throughout their preschools.

All thoughts and opinions are purely the opinions of Emily & Kathleen and may not directly express the opinions of The My new life as... MOM Team.