One Big 'Pyle' of Love

$20 LeapFrog App Center Download Card only $15.52!!!

2012-01-28T20:42:00.000-05:00

Since getting Elijah his LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet I have kept my eyes out for the best LeapPad software deals! This is the best deal I have seen since before Christmas on App Center download cards!!!!

$20 App Center cards for only $15.52! Woohoo! Elijah's already told me what new apps he wants!
I have no idea how long this deal will last, so order soon!!!

Please note, this post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Wordless Wednesday: Officer Elijah On Patrol!

2011-11-09T01:56:00.001-05:00

Now Reading: Moomettes Magnificents- What is StumbleUpon and How Does It Benefit Bloggers – Tutorial

2011-11-09T00:48:00.001-05:00

I've used Stumble Upon for years. As a matter of fact I created a second account when I began blogging because I love it so much! So when I read this post on Moomettes Magnificents about StumbleUpon I not only gave it a "thumbs up" I knew I had to share it with all of you!

What is StumbleUpon and How Does It Benefit Bloggers – Tutorial

http://moomettesmagnificents.com

While you're there make sure to check out the rest of Cindi' posts and subscribe to her RSS! Her posts are always so informative, thoughtful and all around AWESOME!

Music Monday: Gorillaz - 19-2000

2011-11-07T07:32:00.002-05:00

Elijah calls this his "Cool Shoeshine Song" He loves to dance to it and loves the video. Who doesn't love a gigantic moose... lol

Gorillaz - 19-2000

Music Monday: This is Halloween - Jack Skellington & Halloween Night - Wow Wow Wubbzy

2011-10-31T04:16:00.002-04:00

Since I did Elijah's Birthday song last week today for Halloween/His Birthday I will share two of his favorite Halloween songs!

This Is Halloween - Jack Skellington

(Nightmare Before Christmas - Danny Elfman)

Halloween Night - Wow Wow Wubbzy

Wordless Wednesday: The Birthday Costume

2011-10-26T00:57:00.000-04:00

Elijah was trying on his birthday costume and I just loved his poses! Too bad it was on my cell phone and not the real camera! Can you believe he's going to be 3!?!?!?!

Music Monday: Ting Tings- Happy Birthday (From Yo Gabba Gabba)

2011-10-24T23:08:00.002-04:00

Ting Tings- Happy Birthday (From Yo Gabba Gabba)

Happy Music Monday! Today marks one week until Elijah's 3rd Birthday!!!

*sigh* Time goes way too fast! I cannot believe he's going to be 3!!!!!

This is one of his favorite Birthday songs, so I thought I would share! <3

Happy Birthday Elijah!

Gazillion Bubble Show coming to Baltimore

2011-09-30T18:01:00.000-04:00

This Baltimore fun family event gives new meaning to "Good Clean Fun!"

Gazillion Bubble Show will be making a stop during it's first national tour right here in Baltimore! The Hippodrome will be featuring artist Fan Yang and his amazing bubble masterpieces on October 20th, 2011!

...to continue reading this story on my Examiner.com column click here

Free Fall Baltimore! FREE arts, theater, music, & more!

2011-09-30T16:37:00.000-04:00

Want to get out and enjoy some fun activities with your family in October without cutting into your budget? Check out Free Fall Baltimore! All totally FREE events in Baltimore!

It's easy to find something for everyone with all the great activities; Art & Museums, Dance, History & Heritage, Lectures & Readings, Music, Special Events, Theater, and Workshops.

All activities listed on the Free Fall Baltimore website are FREE on the dates and times noted. Many events require advance reservations.Check out the website for the full listing and to get more information.

Looking for something to do kid friendly? Make sure to check for the "k" symbol for activities especially designed for children.

Visit http://freefallbaltimore.com for more information!

Family Movie Night - Free Dumbo Printable!

2011-09-19T02:33:00.002-04:00

Elijah and I have a special time together on nights I am off early. We like to call it "Momma and Elijah's Cuddle Movie Time." We have spent many many nights cuddled up in bed watching a movie and eating snacks. Of course among the first movies I introduced him to were the Disney classics I grew up with. I cherish this time with him and know that family movie nights are not only great bonding time, they can also be used as an educational experience.

On September 20th Disney is releasing a special edition of one of their greatest classics, Dumbo. Available for the first time on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download. A classic I could not wait to share with him, Dumbo not only features an adorable elephant that I knew Elijah would like, it also teaches the important message to love ourselves for who we are.

To coincide with the release of the movie, Disney is offering a limited time printable PDF activity sheet for a Dumbo family movie night.

The sheet features the following activities that are not only fun, but also help your children take the most away from the movie:

Family conversation starters help you to know where to begin talking to your children and getting the most out of the movie's messages. At 3, Elijah is a little too young to fully understand all the lessons but we were still able to talk about Dumbo's ears making him feel sad and different at first, instead of unique and special. I even asked Elijah to pick out a part of him that makes him unique and special. Of course being the 3 year old boy he is, he said his "dancie." Which is apparently the part of his body that makes him a really awesome dancer...
Elephants to color
Fun Facts about elephants
A fun thumb print activity
A great elephant snack idea, Circus Peanut Popcorn

Available a limited time only (through September 25th) get your free Dumbo

Family Movie Night printable here: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/play/printables/dumbo.htm

Do you have Family Movie Night with your children? What's your favorite movie to watch?

Do you discuss the movie afterwards?

I hope you enjoy the printable and can't wait to hear about your Family Movie Night experiences!

This post was sponsored by Disney. The author was compensated in return for her agreement to blog about Dumbo's 70th Anniversary release and the Family Movie Night printable. However, all opinions are honest and that of the author. We wouldn't blog about something we didn't 100% honestly support!

Vote for Us! CBS Baltimore's Most Valuable Blogger

2011-08-22T22:38:00.002-04:00

Baltimore’s Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011

We've been nominated for Most Valuable Blog

in the Lifestyle category!

Vote daily until September 9th and share your love for us!
There's no sign up or anything required, just click on the vote button to be counted!

Thank you!

Music Monday: Owl City - Alligator Sky ft. Shawn Chrystopher

2011-08-15T14:32:00.000-04:00

Owl City - Alligator Sky ft. Shawn Chrystopher

We LOVE Owl City!

Check out more of Adam's amazing music and get to know him on his Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Happy #MusicMonday!

Kohl's Cares for Kids - Clifford The Big Red Dog Books

2011-07-30T21:54:00.003-04:00

Since 2000 Kohl's has been raising money for kids' health and education initiatives in communities nationwide. One of the ways they do that is by donating 100% of the net profit from the sales of Kohl's Cares merchandise program, which includes exclusive stuffed animals and books. In the past there have been characters from Dr. Suess, Winnie The Pooh, the adorable Llama Llama book series and more. This year Kohl's is adding the child favorite, Clifford the Big Red Dog from the books by Norman Bridwell, to it's merchandise that have been part of the Kohl's Cares program.

More than $180 million has been raised to date through the Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program since it started in 2000. This year promises to only increase that number more and help even more children.

When it comes to kids, Kohl's cares. We support kids' health and education initiatives in communities nationwide. With over a decade of dedication and millions of dollars raised, we aim to give kids a happier, healthier future. From injury prevention, immunization and nutrition programs to scholarships and cause merchandise, we are committed to making a difference for kids so that someday they can make a difference in the world.

Now through September visit any of Kohl's 1,097 stores nationwide or Kohls.com to purchase adorable plush of Clifford and his pals or one of four classic Clifford books by Norman Bridwell for only $5! If you missed it I posted a few days ago about the plush.

The four books, featured for only $5 each, are some of my favorite classic Clifford stories. Clifford The Big Red Dog, Clifford The Firehouse Dog, Clifford's First School Day, and Clifford's Birthday Party all come in hardback and are guaranteed to delight your children for years to come. I know I can't wait to add them all to Elijah's book collection!

A little more about the books -

Clifford The Big Red Dog : "This "Clifford, The Big Red Dog" book by Norman Bridwell captures the spirit of Emily Elizabeth's favorite companion and his friends. In this story, it's simple to spot Clifford, even when he hides behind the house. Story shows how easy it is to spot the mischievous Clifford as he plays hide-and-seek with Emily Elizabeth." 64 Pages, also features a second story.
Clifford's First School Day : "This "Clifford's First School Day" book by Norman Bridwell captures the excitement of anyone's first day. See Clifford get caught in messy misadventures that make the small red puppy more lovable than ever. Story takes you along for Clifford's first day at school — filled with finger painting, cookie baking and messy misadventures." 56 pages, also features a second story.
Clifford, The Firehouse Dog : "This "Clifford, The Firehouse Dog" book by Norman Bridwell teaches fire safety in a fun way. See Clifford unexpectedly help put out a fire and rescue people from a burning building. In this story, Emily Elizabeth and Clifford take you on a visit to Clifford's brother, Nero, a fire rescue dog." 56 pages, also features a second story.
Clifford's Birthday Party : "This "Clifford's Birthday Party" book by Norman Bridwell captures the excitement of Clifford's big day. Help everyone's favorite Big Red Dog celebrate with all of his friends. In this story, you'll help Clifford celebrate his birthday with big gifts, a huge cake and an extra-special surprise." 56 pages, also features a second story.

To find out more about Kohl's Cares please visit www.kohlscorporation.com
To purchase Kohl's Cares merchandise, including Clifford books, please visit Kohls.com or any of the nationwide Kohl's Stores. To find a location near you check the store locator on their website.

This post was sponsored by Kohl's. The author was compensated a monetary fee of $100 per post, up to two posts, in return for her agreement to blog about Kohl's Cares. However, all opinions are honest and that of the author. We wouldn't blog about something we didn't 100% honestly support!

Notable Newness Freebie: Free Magazine Subscriptions (Bridal Guide, Working Mother, and Wood)

2011-07-29T17:56:00.000-04:00

Free Magazine Subscriptions!

There are three new offers for free magazine subscriptions through ValueMags I thought you all might like!

If you've been a reader for a while then you would know I have received tons of free subscriptions from ValueMags in the past. I have never and you will never receive a bill or need to cancel it. I have occasionally gotten renewal notices when the free subscription is running out, which are optional and can be ignored if you don't want more issues. After you submit your mailing address you may get a page of offers, I always just check no in every box and until I get to the end. After submission you can expect to see your first free issue arrive in 6 to 10 weeks.


12 Free Issues

4 Free Issues

8 Free Issues

To keep up to date with all my free stuff posts make sure you subscribe or check back often and look for Mailbox Monday and Notable Newness Freebie posts.

Remember to always use a separate email just for freebies if you sign up for them to prevent your mail email from getting junk and third party ads you don't want! To make signing up for free stuff easier consider using the AutoFill Forms and InformEnter add-ons for the Firefox web browser. I use them both and have even written a tutorial for InformEnter you can view.

Kohl's Cares for Kids - Clifford The Big Red Dog Plush

2011-07-28T23:47:00.001-04:00

When it comes to kids, Kohl's cares. We support kids' health and education initiatives in communities nationwide. With over a decade of dedication and millions of dollars raised, we aim to give kids a happier, healthier future. From injury prevention, immunization and nutrition programs to scholarships and cause merchandise, we are committed to making a difference for kids so that someday they can make a difference in the world.

Now through September visit any of Kohl's 1,097 stores nationwide or Kohls.com to purchase Clifford books or an adorable 13.5" tall Clifford plush for only $5! They also have made adorable plush of his pals, Mac, Cleo and T-Bone. Each character is from 10 to 12" tall and made of the softest polyester fiber. They are also made for children as young as birth, so it's never too early to a Kohl's Cares collection for your child or a child you know. Elijah owns many of the Kohl's Cares plush and I can tell you for only $5, these are quality plush! From a past Kohl's Cares campaign Elijah received Max the Duck from Jackie Urbanovic's books as a present from his grandmother. It quickly became one of his favorite stuffed animals ever. He has had it over 2 years now, sleeping with it at night and dragging it around the house, and it still looks brand new! We will definitely be adding Clifford to our collection of Kohl's Cares Plush!

To find out more about Kohl's Cares please visit www.kohlscorporation.com
To purchase Kohl's Cares merchandise, including Clifford and his pals, please visit Kohls.com or any of the nationwide Kohl's Stores. To find a location near you check the store locator on their website.

Stop back Saturday when I will tell you a little more about the Clifford books that are included in the program!

This post was sponsored by Kohl's. The author was compensated a monetary fee of $100 per post, up to two posts, in return for her agreement to blog about Kohl's Cares. However, all opinions are honest and that of the author. We wouldn't blog about something we didn't 100% honestly support!

Music Monday: Owl City - Fireflies

2011-07-25T17:34:00.000-04:00

Owl City - Fireflies
Elijah loves this song and video!

Music Monday: Britney Spears -Till The World Ends

2011-06-13T12:38:00.000-04:00

Britney Spears -Till The World Ends, A great dance beat to get the whole family up and moving!

Help fuel kids’ futures, One drive at a time: The Road to Literacy Test Drive: Update

2011-05-21T13:46:00.004-04:00

Last month I told you about us looking for a new family vehicle and Chrysler's Road to Literacy Test Drive. If you didn't catch that post you can check it out by clicking here. I talked about Chrysler's current promotion and some of the specs of the Town & Country. All that was left was for us to go test drive one.

Right now it's a great time to test drive a new 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and I'm glad we did! Chrysler is just coming to a close with their program, Road To Literacy Test Drive. Test drive a Town & Country now through June 1st (next week) and they will donate five books to the school of your choice, plus an additional five books to a school in need. Donating over 150,000 Scholastic books across the country, Chrysler believes a bright future begins with a solid education for our children.

We went last week to a local Chrysler dealer and were thrilled with the 2011 Town & Country. We looked at the differences between the Touring, The Touring-L, and the Limited versions and decided on test driving the Touring-L model. I couldn't believe all they had to offer!

Their Stow n Go seating is awesome! Not to mention its a van so more trying to cram everything we want to take into a 2 door! I love the fact that everything is out of sight too, hidden underneath and out of the way. We could keep so much in the van all the time without it taking up precious space; extra outfits, diapers, wipes, toys for Elijah and all those items we have to lug in and out of the house every time we get in the car.

I'm totally in love with the optional Entertainment Group. It features a rear-seat entertainment system with two wireless headphones, satellite radio and a touch screen stereo interface with 30GB of digital music storage! To sweeten the deal there is a single-DVD player and a third-row screen, which swivels with Swivel 'n Go seating. There is even SiriusXM BackSeat TV available! That's enough options for Elijah to enjoy all his favorite music, tv shows and movies; more than enough to keep him occupied on even long road trips! And with the flip down kiddie mirror I can check on him easier than ever!

I could go on and on about all the options, but this post would end up being 7 pages long. It's just easier to go test drive one yourself and check out their website!

Speaking of test driving, the ride was SO smooth. A V6 automatic transmission, Electronic Stability Control, 16-inch wheels, automatic headlamps, fog lamps, power-adjustable pedals and cruise control; they've added so much to make your drive as comfortable as possible! And that's just some of the options on the Town & Country we tested. I can't tell you the amount of options actually possible!

I can't tell you enough good things about the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country! Go test drive one today and see for yourself! And don't forget to visit their facebook page before you go for more information on how to participate in the Road To Literacy Test Drive!

Chrysler on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChryslerTownandCountry

You can also visit Chrysler's website to get full information and options about the Town & Country!

http://www.chrysler.com

This post was sponsored by Chrysler Group, LLC. The author was compensated a monetary fee of $100 per post, up to two posts, in return for her agreement to blog about the Road To Literacy Test Drive. However, all opinions are honest and that of the author. We wouldn't blog about something we didn't 100% honestly support!

Dressing your toddler on a budget

2011-05-20T23:46:00.006-04:00

Thank you Old Navy for sponsoring my post today about baby and toddler styles. Old Navy is giving you 30% off everything in their baby and toddler summer collection, plus get an additional 15% off in-store.

Elijah in his Easter suit.

Even at two and a half, Elijah has a real sense of his style. He likes to pick his own clothes and will let you know what he does and doesn't like.

When Elijah was born he was 8lbs and never really 'newborn' size, he wore size 2 infant shoes within the first month and I quickly realized that every outfit I bought him looked like the one I had just taken off of him Everything was pale blue and had a puppy. It was cute but I still searched for something more interesting. His very first pair of shoes were a pair of baby Converse; high top Chuck Taylors. I wear black high top Chuck Taylors and thought it would be cute for him to match me.

The next obstacle with dressing Elijah was how quickly he grew out of things. I would spend $30 an an adorable outfit, only to find the third time I put it on him he had already grown out of it. That's when I decided I needed to come up with ways to still dress him adorable, but needed to spend about 1/4th what I was spending.

Infant Boys' Tops & Tees by Old Navy
Boys' Accessories by Quiksilver

Some of Elijah's style

Elijah's style of clothing he likes is simple. Is it soft, not hard or itchy? Does it stretch and it's not too tight? Does it have something to do with Halloween on it, a spider or a monster perhaps? Does it have Batman or a superhero on it? Does it have Snoopy or another of the Peanuts gang on it? Does it look like an item of clothing mommy and/or daddy wear? If it fits any of those qualifications it's sure to be a hit with Elijah!

His style makes it easy to shop so many places and get the best deal possible. Here are some tips on how I dress Elijah on a budget while keeping with his style.

Shop Sales and Clearance!

Try not to buy clothing right as your child needs it. Because you're rushed to buy it you're more likely to pay full price. Buy at least one season and size ahead. As we are coming into spring there were some great sale and clearance winter clothes everywhere! Winter coats that were normally $50 were on sale for $2! I buy everything end of season. Coats, bathing suits and seasonal wear especially!

Shop Consignment Shops!

There are so many great finds in consignment shops. Most consignment shops are pretty picky about what they take so you should know what you are buying is in gently used condition and you should get pretty good life out of it. I shop at a local consignment store called Kid to Kid. I have bought so much there and never had a problem with anything. Most of what I bought has actually looked brand new. The great thing about most consignment shops is when your child outgrows something and it's still in good shape you can sell it back to them for store credit and purchase your child something new using the credit! No money out of pocket to completely refill your child's closet! Consignment shops are also a great place to find brand names and licensed characters for practically nothing!

Join or Create a local swap group!

There are a few great groups on the Internet I've used to swap and I LOVE it! Check out www.thredup.com and www.swapmamas.com! I've used them both a few times and loved it!

I hope you can use those ideas to help dress your toddler in style for less! What other ideas do you readers have to dress your toddlers in style on a budget? Share in the comments below!

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received $50 in exchange for this article. All opinions are that of my own.

Help fuel kids’ futures, One drive at a time: The Road to Literacy Test Drive.

2011-04-29T17:48:00.001-04:00

When Elijah was born we realized we needed a new family car. We have yet to finalize our decision. It's a big purchase and we need to consider whats best for our family long term.

Before I was a parent, I would never have considered a minivan... that is until I saw the Chrysler Town & Country. They had me at "Stow 'n Go seating" but add into that the words "touchscreen stereo interface" and I was hooked. I had to learn more about the Chrysler Town & Country.

The 2011 Town & Country has been totally redesigned inside and out. Now featuring a more refined exterior and a much more luxurious interior this minivan is visually appealing and comfortable! With features like automatic headlights and wipers, power-adjustable pedals, driver seat, and tailgate, rear parking sensors, and even that touchscreen stereo interface and Stow 'n Go seating system I mentioned earlier, you will certainly feel like you are driving a luxury vehicle. And did I mention those features are equipped on even base models? The Chrysler Town and Country is available in three different packages: Touring, Touring-L and Limited. If you think the base model is loaded, you have to check out the Limited! You can even add on a twin-screen entertainment system with Sirius TV! They add much more to this van and you may never have to get out!

The only thing left for us to do is test drive one! Luckily it's a great time to test drive a new 2011 Chrysler Town & Country! Chrysler has recently launched a new program, Road To Literacy Test Drive. Test drive a Town & Country now through June 1st and they will donate five books to the school of your choice, plus an additional five books to a school in need. Donating over 150,000 Scholastic books across the country, Chrysler believes a bright future begins with a solid education for our children.

Please visit http://www.facebook.com/ChryslerTownandCountry for more information on how to participate in the Road To Literacy Test Drive!

Looking for Exclusive Easter toys to get your kids hopping?

2011-04-17T09:24:00.000-04:00

All week I will be posting articles in my Toy Column sharing the coolest, the most unique, the most wanted, and the most exclusive Easter toys around! As I post there I will update you all so you can check them out!

2011 Easter Exclusives from the Disney Store

Build your own Easter basket with LEGO

Goal For It! Success Made Simple

2011-04-14T03:59:00.002-04:00

Being a 2 year old is tough. Just ask Elijah. Lately he has been testing his boundaries so we have been working hard to set behavior expectations and routine schedules for him that are best for him and us. Recently I was introduced to a great site, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

GoalForIt.com makes success simple! With their Chore Chart, Behavior Charts and more, we parents can make it a little easier to track what our active 2 year old is up to, reward the positive behaviors, and discuss how to better handle the negative ones. Oh and did I mention, it's FREE!

Goal For It isn't just for children either! The site is packed full of useful resources for organizing your goals and your life, for the entire family.

Daily Goals Chart is the simply way to create positive habits & effective daily goals.
Chore Chart & Behavior Charts are the fun way to teach kids of all ages responsibility & proper behavior.
My Lists, Get organized the fast and easy way using our quick To Do List.
My Goals, Goal Tracker simplifies goal setting so you can create the action plans that achieve desired results & make success happen.

Creating my account took less than two minutes and Elijah's first chart was done in less than 5 more. It was so simple! It allows you to name the chart and customize it with the age of your child and other information. The next step is to customize the look and theme of your chart. I was so surprised how many great theme options they have. I let Elijah choose his and he loved one with space and 3 cute little aliens.

Next you choose the chores and responsibilities, behavior goals, and/or healthy habits you want to add to your child's chart. Custom tiles are also a nice option if there isn't a selection you want. You can do a combination of those or do separate charts for each area. I just did one for Elijah mostly using the behavior goals we want to work on. We did add a few responsibilities though, such as going to bed on time. Other options they offer is to change the order of the goals, change the days of the week for each individual one, and you can even add a points system onto the chart making different goals worth different amounts of points.

Once you have your chart complete the site will save it for you to return to anytime. You can check the progress, update your goals, and if it's easier than updating every day online, they even offer a printing option! We may print ours and hang them on Elijah's door, allowing him to place a sticker before bed on each goal he met for the day. That will get him excited and active in his goals!

I really am glad we found GoalForIt.com when we did and hope it helps your family make their goal success much simpler too!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored through a partnership with BSM Media. Though I will receive a monetary payment for this post, all opinions are 100% my own and in no way influenced by the sponsor. Seriously, that site is AWESOME!

5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party 2011!!!

2011-04-01T20:15:00.004-04:00

Welcome! If you are from the UBP and this is your first visit I hope you like my blog and return often! Make sure you comment below with your blog URL so I can find and visit you too!

If you are not from UBP let me explain! UBP is The Ultimate Blog Party! This year it runs from April 1st through the 8th. You might have seen the banner for it on my right sidebar for the last month! Started by 2 of my favorite ladies, Janice and Susan from 5 Minutes for Mom, UBP is (in their own words last year) "About friendship, growing your network, and having some good old fashioned blogging FUN!" It's like a big blog carnival! Participating bloggers publish a “party post” introducing themselves and then party hop through the linky lists meeting other bloggers. 5M4M and many of the participating blogs are even offering special giveaways for playing along! So you get to meet new friends, read new blogs AND win prizes!

Check out the official party post at 5M4M for more details so you can play along!
You can also participate by including the hashtag #ubp11 in your tweets!

Speaking of which, let's get on with the PARTY!!!

Let me tell you a bit about myself and this blog:

♥Mom, Graphic Designer, Marketing & Social Media Superhero! Owner of NCDI Studios & a few awesome blogs! Author of Baltimore Examiner's Children's Toy column! ♥ -- I am Erin Jean McAllister-Pyle, most often than not you will see me as ErinJeany when it comes to web stuff!

I am 26 and from Baltimore, Maryland. I have a two year old son, Elijah. He's the star of this blog, and the star of my life.

Before Elijah I had a job with the government, co-owned our design/photographic business and also worked as a retail store manager. I was busy busy! Once I got pregnant with Elijah I was put on bed rest very quickly early on due to complications and began doing graphic design full time from bed. One of my college degrees is in graphic design and I have loved it all my life so it wasn't a big deal. Though most of my pregnancy was spent alone sitting in bed, I didn't get bored very fast after I discovered the bigger world of blogging. I had kept an online journal and a blog for over 10 years, had a Live Journal and a few others so I wasn't new to the concept, just new to the amount of friendship and fun that can come out of it. I joined a few blogging social circles and before long I created this blog to coincide with the arrival of my son and start a new chapter of my life. From there I started a few other blogs, wrote for a few other places, and really opened up my network. It wasn't long after that I started doing product reviews too! It was like a whole new world was opened up for me. This is my little piece of parenting blog space. Originally entitled 'From Son Up To Son Down', this blog has seen many changes since it was first created in 2008. Over 3 years later here I am. I have been nominated and gotten a few awards, I have been featured in a couple of awesome places, I have been part of some amazing communities. I've worked with some awesome companies on reviews and sponsored content. (psst if you're a brand or company you can check out my PR page here) I also write a Children's Toy column for the Baltimore edition of examiner.com. I'm even cool enough that I have a facebook fan page! ;)

Enough about me! The real star of this show is my son, Elijah! From my pregnancy to the moment he entered this world, NOTHING could have prepared me for this little guy. He is so adorable, smart, and perfect. I never knew it was humanly possible to love someone so much. Born on my favorite holiday (I swear I didn't plan it) October 31st, 2008 he changed my life forever! I love sharing his life with all of my readers every week! Just check in every Wednesday for my Wordless Wednesday Meme posts and see photos of some of the things he is up to! You can also always check out the Starring Elijah category to see all posts with him!

If you want to surf around a bit while you're here, I think my blog navigation is pretty self-explanatory (even though I do need to desperately update my banner and design!)! Just check out the right side bar, you can find a list of categories for easier navigation through the archives. There are a few categories that may be a bit odd at first glace so I will give you a little synopsis. Anything with Adding to the Pyle is posts about pregnancy. There are not many there since I started this after Elijah was born but I hope to one day transfer my old journals here. Pyle Inn is posts about our home and Pyle of Love is posts related to our family. I think you can figure out the rest. Please feel free to subscribe too so you can get all my updates straight to your favorite RSS reader or email!

If you want to connect in other places you can check out my new{er} personal blog which I haven't updated in forever but will start to again soon, erinjeany.com. I stick all the stuff there that doesn't fit in with this blog. I LOVE memes and have even came up with a few of my own I do there such as 'What the Friday? The answers to things you never asked." where I do a random survey. I also share some of my video game love, Twilight love and love of all things random there.

You can also send me an add on Facebook: facebook.com/erinjeany
or
Follow me on Twitter: @ErinJeany

Just give me a shout so I can follow back!

I could tell you a lot more about me but I think this post has gotten long enough already!

Thanks again for stopping by! Happy UBP! Have Fun!

Pretty Neat - Organizing Book {Review and Giveaway}

2011-03-14T14:07:00.011-04:00

We all have an area of our lives where we suffer from organizational stress. I consider myself a very organized person but in some areas I could really use some work. For me, the worst area of organizational stress is my office/creating area. It doesn't seem to matter how many organizers, folders, bins, boxes, drawers, sorters I have, there is always something better out there that is magically going to get me organized.

Now to the normal person my office may look organized and beautiful. I have all my folders labeled and sorted, all the art supplies separated by type and labeled, all the scrapbook paper organized, all the fabric and thread sorted, etc. BUT I have one big issue with my desk. It doesn't look like the organizational fantasy I have in my head. You know that big beautiful dream office and craft room that is so amazing you drool walking in; that is so organized you can walk in and find everything and anything in .03 seconds; that seems to keep itself organized and cleaned up after even the most intense crafting session.

The authors of the book "Pretty Neat" know what I am talking about. Organizational fantasy to them is called Organizational Porn, or Org Porn. Now the first time I heard this term I laughed (actually I still laugh) but now after reading their book I not only understand the term, but appreciate it. Many times I have seen the images of offices and desks and drooled thinking how I wish my office and desk looked like that. Clean white lines with splashes of vibrant color, everything in it's place, completely clutter free.

From the Amazon.com product description:

Negative self-image. Fantasy-induced overspending. Marital tension. A new kind of airbrushed concoction is wreaking havoc on homes and psyches, and Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore have a name for it: org porn. It’s in magazines, coffee table books, advertisements, and TV shows, promoting a perfect — and entirely imaginary — world in which everything is always pristine, serene, and flawlessly organized. Pretty Neat is a handbook that embraces the chaotic reality that lies beneath org porn’s glossy veneer, offering pithy anecdotes and candid advice from experts and real women alike on tackling organizational inertia. Funny, irreverent, entertaining, and helpful, the book covers all facets of clutter-control, from tried-and-true tips for conquering to-do lists and wrangling family schedules to ideas on excavating inboxes, eliminating excuses, and delegating housework. Most importantly, Pretty Neat insists that women need to stop holding themselves to impossibly high standards, and focus instead on defining their own, realistic organizational goals. Full of engaging examples from everyday women, Pretty Neat offers readers unorthodox, surprisingly simple methods to reduce their org porn–fueled stress, insisting that perfection is impossible — and unnecessary — in this messy, unpredictable world called real life.

I LOVED this book! Pretty Neat is not your average organizational book. It begins with organizing your life and goes into organizing your stuff. My favorite part of the book are chapters 1 and 2. Establishing standards and priorities are the topics of these two and I think that is the hardest part of organization to me. I get these insane 'org porn' standards in my head and they become priority, thus making REALISTIC organization standards and goals impossible to obtain. After reading just these two chapters and going through the exercises they suggested I realized that I had a lot to work on standards and priorities wise.

Now as for the rest of this book it really depends on what areas you need the most help with with what chapters will impact you the most. I read through the book once and am working on a second time through. I think I can take more from it now that I understand the over all message.

Bottom Line: Did I like the book? Yes. Would I have bought it? Yes. Did it help my organizational skills and benefit me by reading it overall? Yes. Would I recommend it to others looking to improve their lives and homes organization? Yes.

To buy Pretty Neat you can shop on Buttoned Up, Amazon.com,or buy it for your Kindle.

Win it!

To enter leave a comment below with one of the following answered. (this is a required main entry)

Share the area of her home or life that has become the biggest source of organizational stress OR
Confess a funny story about either an area that has become out of control inside her home or a way in which she has given up organizing and covered up instead (i.e. shoving items under the bed, designating one room or closet as the catch-all, etc.).

For Extra Entries leave separate comments below for each:

Follow me on twitter (@erinjeany) and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this unlimited times a day as long as you leave 1 hour in between tweets and remember to comment back here each time you do.
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Good Luck! This giveaway is open to US only, Sorry. Limited to one main entry per person. Entries will close 3/21/11. Winner will be picked by random.org and contacted through email on 3/22/01. Prize will be send directly by sponsor. This review was unpaid, and done in exchange for a copy of the book, no monetary compensation took place. All opinions are that of my own and were not influenced by the sponsor.

Remember to be safe this St. Patricks Day, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

2011-03-11T01:49:00.004-05:00

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and it’s not the luck of the Irish that will keep the roads safe – it’s planning ahead for a safe and sober way home.

For many Americans, St. Patrick’s Day has become a popular night out for drinking and celebrating with friends and family. Unfortunately, some of these people might also be driving home from their festivities and therefore, the night out has also become potentially dangerous.

On St. Patrick’s Day 2009, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above, according to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

That's why it's important to remember to:

• Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you leave for your event.

• Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi. Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.

Even if you will not be celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day, keep in mind that in 2009, 1,119 occupants of other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers, so pay attention to others on the road. And remember, you don’t have to be “falling down drunk” to be too impaired to drive safely. Even a few drinks can impair driving…and a buzzed driving crash has the same consequences as a drunk driving crash.

NHTSA needs your help in keeping the roads safe for everyone this St. Patrick’s Day by spreading the word that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please consider posting about Buzzed Driving on your blog or facebook wall and follow Buzzed Driving on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Don't rely on dumb luck this St. Patrick's Day. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.

This post was written and published as part of a Global Influence partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council. I was NOT compensated for sharing this information.