Mama Sparkles

A New Year

2012-01-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

Isn't this the most perfect picture you've ever seen? This is Bean's preschool picture. I almost didn't order any because every time I try to capture his cuteness on film, it takes forever. I have to take multiple shots and then I'll maybe get one good one. I didn't want him to feel left out though, so I ordered the smallest package available.

Look at the result! Posing, smiling, and you can't even tell that he's missing his front tooth (Hubby thinks they photoshopped a tooth in, and I think it's just his bottom teeth showing through.) Whatever. It's an awesome picture. So here are a few things I want to accomplish this year:

Take awesome photos like this one

Blog more often

Continue to see Merry Mailbox grow

Start writing my children's book

Write more letters to friends and family

Eat good food

Spend more quality time with family

What do you hope to accomplish this year? Happy New Year!

Start the New Year with Franklin Covey

2011-12-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

This week, I spent hours going through tiny pieces of paper strewn all about, with important information written on them. This is my version of "organization", or lack thereof. I'm actually really disorganized and I lose stuff all the time. I always write things down and then I can't find them when I need them. There has to be a better way of organizing!

Thankfully, The Organized Parent has just what I need. Specializing in organizational products, they offer two planners by Franklin Covey. There's the Botanica Weekly Planner:

This planner has a lovely, simple design that's elegant and easy to use. It's nice and compact with ample space to jot down appointments and notes.

This is the Classic Simplicity for Moms Weekly Planner:

I love the bright, vibrant colors and how it's made especially for moms! You can keep track of your kid's schedules as well as your own, and also includes helpful forms to record critical information that I'm always losing.

These are reasonably priced, but if you order through the button link on my sidebar, you'll receive a discount. There's no excuse to not be organized next year (or in my case, I can at least try!) What are your New Year's resolutions?

*Thank you to The Organized Parent for this review opportunity.

There's Still Time for Mastercard and "Here's to Mom"

2011-12-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

There's still time to enroll your Mastercard for a special $20 gift card! For those procrastinators (like me) who haven't finished Christmas shopping yet, or have family members with birthday in December this is the perfect offer to take advantage of!

MasterCard wants you to relax this season so why not take some time for yourself, avoid a trip or two to those overcrowded malls and get some of your shopping done online in the comfort of your own home, and get rewarded for it? Beyond that, you’ll also enjoy the ease of budget management through simplified online tracking of your purchases.

Enroll your MasterCard debit or credit card in the Here's to Mom promotional program, and you'll receive a $20 MasterCard gift card just for shopping online! Just spend $200 online with your registered debit or credit MasterCard until December 31st and the gift is yours. Couldn't be easier, right? Happy Holidays, everyone!

*This is a sponsored post by MasterCard

Family Time Fun Games

2011-12-14T18:48:00.000-08:00

Have you been to The Organized Parent lately? In addition to all of the useful advice for parents like me who could use a little organization in my life, they also have tons of great products for sale. For instance, the Family Time Fun Games are the perfect way to spend some fun, quality time with your family, especially when life seems to get extra busy.

I was able to play the Original Dinner Games with my family. This is an award-winning collection of 51 dinner games to play while you eat. The best part? No game board or game pieces required! This was so easy to just open the box and pick out a game to play. The games are written on cards, which are color coded and organized into different sections such as: Memory Games, Creative & Critical Thinking, Phonics & Vocabulary, Numbers & Math, Silly Games and Social Skills. The games require little or no preparation, and really excel at getting the whole family involved.

While the games at best suited for kids age 6 and up, my four year was able to get in on the action as well. He's a pro at Milk Man Race, where you have to be the first to finish all your milk! There are also variations suggested on some of the cards to make the game more suitable for little ones.

Check out the entire line of Family Fun Time Games here. If you choose to purchase any of these fun titles, you can receive 15 % off! Just use promotion code 21512 at checkout, before December 30th.

You can also win a copy of Gather Round Dinner Games right here! This one features 132 dinnertime activities to play while you eat. Just push the button and complete the activity that lights up!

WANT TO WIN? One winner will receive a copy of Gather Round Dinner Games. To enter, comment on this post prior to December 21st at Midnight and tell me a game you enjoy playing with your family. Please leave your email address with your comment. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

Thank to The Organized Parent for this review opportunity.

San Diego Saturday

2011-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to San Diego Saturday! Updated as needed, this column is where I'll provide info about noteworthy events, attractions and fun things to do around town.

I love living in San Diego, because even when it gets "cold", it's still warm enough to enjoy all the lights and outdoor festivities of the season without freezing. Next weekend, A Christmas Tabernacle is set to debut at Liberty Station in Point Loma. This is a three day festival that celebrates the true meaning and spirit of Christmas!

What that means, is that you'll get to see a living nativity, a fun zone, strolling carolers, spectacular lights and concerts, Christmas trees, horse and carriage rides and so much more. There will also be a Santa's Village, complete with live reindeer and snow. Yes, snow! It's time to fish the snowsuit out from the back of the closet, because kids will be able to play in the snow area and take pictures with Santa. My son is going to be so excited. There will also be vendors selling yummy food and unique items so what are you waiting for? Buy your tickets today!

Tickets to A Christmas Tabernacle are available here The event takes place December 16th - 18th.

Winter Camp with KinderCare

2011-12-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

My son started preschool this year. While he loves going, I think I may enjoy it even more than him! It's nice to have a few hours of one on one time with my baby, and it's always great picking him up afterwards because I missed him! Winter break is coming up, and I'm wondering what I'm going to do with him while he's off from school. He's likely to get bored and start watching way too much television. I'm going to have to come up with some really fun activities.

Or, I could send him to the KinderCare Winter Science Camp! This is two weeks of fun activities for preschool and school aged children. Kids can do the whole camp, or just part of it, it's up to you! Week one is Radical Reactions. This is a week-long exploration of chemical reactions and properties of matter. I know that Bean would love to learn how bubbles form how do bubbles form, and conduct cool experiments like “Fizz Rockets,” Bubbleology,” “Super Slurpers,” and “Racing Slime.” Week two is about birds, planes, and kites
Preschoolers will learn about elements of flight through hands-on activities involving wind, air pressure, and propeller power. Bean is obsessed with kites, paper airplanes, and rockets so this is right up his alley as well.

The winter camp is held the last 2 weeks of the year: December 19th - 23rd, and December 27th - 30th. For more information and to enroll, visit their website here. Take a little break this winter, and continue to stimulate your child's learning while they're on vacation. It's a win-win for everyone!

This post was sponsored by KinderCare

"Here's to Mom" with Mastercard

2011-11-22T17:51:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but around the holidays I prefer to shop online. Last year, we ventured out to the mall and were met with the craziest line just to get in the parking lot! It took us nearly an hour just to get out of the traffic jam and go home. This year, I'll be shopping from my couch in my warm jammies!

MasterCard wants you to relax this season so why not take some time for yourself, avoid a trip or two to those overcrowded malls and get some of your shopping done online in the comfort of your own home, and get rewarded for it? Beyond that, you’ll also enjoy the ease of budget management through simplified online tracking of your purchases.

Just enroll your MasterCard debit or credit card in the Here's to Mom promotional program, and you'll receive a $20 MarsterCard gift card just for shopping online! All you have to do is spend $200 online with your registered debit or credit MasterCard between now and December 31st and the gift is yours. Easy, right? Happy shopping!

*This is a sponsored post by MasterCard

Celebrate Christmas with Tiny Prints

2011-11-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

I was browsing through Tiny Prints' gigantic collection of Christmas cards and I came upon this one. Isn't it sweet? And the fact that I had a baby this year who we call "Pinga" (named after the baby penguin in one of Bean's favorite animated shows), only makes it even more perfect. If I get around to doing Christmas cards this year, maybe we'll choose this one. Or how about this one?

Yeah, you knew I would somehow get Hello Kitty in there, didn't you? Seriously though, Tiny Prints has an amazing collection with something for everyone. I've always been impressed with the high quality of their products.

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern, and unique stationery from Christmas cards,New Years cards, party invitations, and address labels to thank you cards. Once the holidays have come and gone, Tiny Prints will still be here to fill your stationary needs with their exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers. All year round, you’ll find business cards,birth announcements and even custom wedding invitations. Come try the easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!
Take time to explore the site and see all they have to offer! Which card is your favorite?

Merry Mailbox

2011-11-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

Last month was a busy one. It was Halloween, Bean was adjusting to preschool, Pinga didn't sleep at all and...I opened an Etsy Shop!

As a child, I was constantly writing letters. It's always such a thrill to get a real letter in the mail, and to this day, retrieving the mail is my favorite part of the day. You can read about how much I love the mail here. Anyway, I felt inspired to open up Merry Mailbox and its accompanying blog, so that's exactly what I did.

At Merry Mailbox, I sell personalized letters from Santa Claus. I hope to open it up to other holidays and occasions in the future, but for now you've got three options. You can choose between the regular personalized letter, the religious personalized letter or the Baby's First Christmas letter.

I'm really excited about this, and the letters I've written so far have given me more joy than I ever could have imagined. I'm hoping I'll get to write many, many more of these as the holiday season approaches.

WANT TO WIN? To celebrate, I'm hosting a giveaway! One winner will receive a personalized letter of their choice. To enter, just leave me a comment. If you like, you can visit my Etsy Shop and tell me which letter you would choose if you won. Do this before Tuesday, November 15th at Midnight. Please also consider following me on Facebook and Twitter. You won't get any extra entries for doing this, but you'll get my appreciation for being awesome.

I hope this excites you as much as it excites me. Who will I get to write that letter to?

*The winner is #12 Stacey. Congratulations!

Growing Through Arts

2011-11-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I was a ballerina for several years. Discipline, self confidence, musical training, creativity, and grace are just a few of the valuable life skills that I learned by dancing. I do believe the arts can have a great, positive impact on children and that's why I was so excited to hear about Growing Through Arts.

Aleksandra Efimova, founder of Growing Through Arts and a former ballerina herself, has created a beautiful series of children's books. The Ballet Series includes storybooks based on classical ballets. I received The Cinderella Ballet title for review:

This is a beautiful, hardcover book with a fresh, modern twist on the original tale. The illustrations are lovely and engaging, and the tale includes lots of material to think about, making for multiple readings of the book. For example, questions throughout the book can be used to get children to teach children valuable, moral lessons. You could read through the book once, and then go back and discuss the questions. There is also a glossary of ballet terms at the back if you children wanting to explore the world the ballet and learn the words used in ballet class. There are endless possibilities, which I love.

We also received the Cinderella Practice and Play Book:

This concept is fabulous! It's an activity workbook combining the creativity and imagination of the Cinderella story. Children will do things such as matching the slipper to the right size foot, or putting all the numbers on a clock striking midnight. This is the perfect way to combine arts with education!

I'm really excited to share these books with my little girl when she gets older. I think she may appreciate it a little more than Bean, who has not escaped my balletic influence just because he's a boy. Still, he performed a pretty good arabesque for a two year old, don't you think?

Growing Through Arts also has a Music Series, which I am definitely planning on checking out one of these days. See their full line of products here and introduce your child to the wonderful world of arts!

For Dummies vs. The Complete Idiot's Guide

2011-11-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to read two books: Music Theory for Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory.I played the piano extensively during my childhood years and took many classes in music theory. I'm no dummy! However, I chose to read up on this particular topic because it's been a long time since I studied music formally, so I thought it would be nice to brush up on the basics. How did the books compare against each other?

Both are written knowledgeable individuals who hold a music degree. At first glance, I was more drawn to the Complete Idiot's Guide because of it's larger size. It reminded me of an actual music book. I also liked the bigger size for the practical reason that it was slightly easier to read the words. My husband on the the other hand, commented that the smaller book was easier to hold in his hand.

The two books also contain a musical CD to enhance the topics learned along the way. I enjoyed the exercises presented on the Complete Idiot's Guide CD. It was fun to see how many of the pitches and intervals I could guess correctly and was a good brain workout! The Dummies Guide CD presents some useful sounds, including how all the different types of scales, but I didn't as good of a mind workout as I did with the Idiot's CD.

The first chapter of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory introduces pitches and tones. This made great sense to me, seeing as how to understand music theory, you need to understand notes and how to read them. The Dummies guide starts off with an explanation of rhythm, also a practical approach. However, I preferred the Idiot's guide approach because of its emphasis on basic technical details. This technical style of teaching seemed to continue throughout the rest of the book as well.

In the end, I found that the Complete Idiot's Guide was better suited for me, I think because of my previous musical training. The The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory retails for $19.95 and Music Theory for Dummies retails for $24.99.

*I received a complimentary copy of both books for review purposes.

Sklonklish - The Sequel

2011-10-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

Take a good look at this cutie:

This little beauty does not like to sleep at night. She has woken up at least once each night for the past nine months. Recently it's been more like three or four times a night, due to sickness/hunger/teething/whoknowswhat

I've been neglecting my poor blog as of late, due to the fact that I feel sklonklish. The ironic thing is that she's so well behaved in public that she's convinced everyone that she's a perfect little angel. "You should see her at 2 am", I always say. Still, I look at that face and my heart just melts. It's a good thing she's so darn cute.

Kidlandia - Personalized Gifts To Last A Lifetime

2011-10-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

Kidlandia allows kids and their families to create personalized kingdoms of their very own, making for a fun, educational experience. From stretched canvases, fine art prints, posters, canvas scrolls, fleece blankets and much more, these are creations that look great and feature your own design that you can feel proud to display anywhere.

I asked Bean what he wanted to create. The placemats and the growth charts were tempting, but in the end we decided to go with a canvas scroll. We could choose from many themes, including Disney's Cars, VeggieTales, Spongebob Squarepants and other imaginary lands. Bean wanted the Play Paradise theme, so that's what we chose to personalize. The personalization was a simple process. There are places to write the child's name, birthday, title, plus up to 25 additional names. Bean had a great time listing all of his friends and family, and watching as they magically appeared on his map.

When it came in the mail, I was impressed with the quality. It was much sturdier and more colorful than I had anticipated. We found a place for it in his room and now Bean loves to look at his creation and see where everybody is. The process was easy, fun and one that I would definitely recommend, especially if you're looking for unique gift ideas. There are a myriad of products available, with something to suit everybody. Check out the entire line here.

*Thank you to Kidlandia, who provided me with a sample to review.

Freschetta - Proud To Support Pink Giveaway

2011-10-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

Freschetta is supporting National Breast Cancer awareness this month with their Proud To Support Pink program. You can show your support too, by purchasing specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas and Artisan Pizza Crusts. Simply enter the code on the package at www.ProudToSupportPink.com and $1 will be donated to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to support breast cancer research.

The site also has a place for people to share their personal stories with breast cancer or the stories of a friend or loved one. In addition, they are also giving away 50 pink iPod shuffles each week! Another 50 iPod shuffles will be given to cancer centers around America to be used and enjoyed by breast cancer patients during treatments.

Let me tell you - Freschetta frozen pizza is yummy! I really didn't have high expectations for it but I was pleasantly surprised. The cheese is real, and there is nothing "fake" tasting about it. My family really enjoyed eating it and I think that this will be our go to choice for frozen pizza in the future.

WANT TO WIN? One winner will receive a coupon to try any variety of Freschetta frozen pizza and two pairs of Freschetta Proud To Support Pink earphones. To enter, leave a topic related comment on this post prior to Wednesday, October 19th at Midnight. Please include your email address with your comment. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

*Thank you to Freschetta, who provided me with a sample to review. All opinions are my own.

Taste of Mama Sparkles - Smashburger

2011-10-03T19:26:00.001-07:00

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of the newest location of Smashburger in Kearny Mesa. I went with a friend and we were able to try out anything on the menu (except for the milkshakes, which we were given samples of).

Smashburger is known for their fresh, certified angus beef that's never frozen. The meat is smashed on a flat grill to sear in the juicy flavors. Finally, every smashburger is served on a butter toasted artisan bun and topped with a selection of real cheeses, fresh produce, and top-quality condiments. I had heard so much about their signature San Diego Smashburger so that's what I opted to try. It's loaded with fresh avocado, cilantro and onions, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and spicy chipotle mayo on a torta roll. The combination of flavors was outstanding, making for a very tasty, delicious burger. I also got some smashfries which were equally yummy.

My friend went for the Spicy Baja because she loves jalapeños. It also had pepper jack cheese, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion, and spicy chipotle mayo on a spicy chipotle bun. Sweet potato fries are on the side.

We were given samples of the milkshakes, made with Haagen Dazs ice cream. I preferred the vanilla to the chocolate but both were refreshing. The real ingredients in the food really made a difference. These were fresh burgers at their best. We left happy and extremely full and satisfied.

For all you San Diegans out there, Smashburger is giving us a little tour of Chicago for the month of October. The Windy City burger is made with juicy, smashed-to-order, 100% Certified Angus Beef, topped with layers of melted cheddar cheese, haystack onions, lettuce, tomato, and Gulden’s® spicy mustard on a hand-cut pretzel roll. This signature burger is only available until October 31st, so get there now! Check out Smashburger online for more info, locations and to view the entire menu.

Mickey's Halloween Party

2011-10-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

This past weekend marked the opening of Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland! Last year, we attended the park while I was pregnant with my little girl. We bought her a little Halloween onesie for her to wear when she arrived. This year, she got to wear it and see Disneyland for the first time, so this was a special trip for our family.

The park is absolutely gorgeous this time of year. So much thought is put into the detailed decorations and the Disney Villains are always fun to see! You can also see meticulous pumpkin carvers, barnyard animals as well as certain attractions specially adapted for the season.

For Mickey's Halloween Party, we were allowed into the park three hours prior to the event. We took Pinga on her first ride (Jungle Cruise) and rode the train. We enjoyed a yummy meal at our favorite restaurant, River Belle Terrace and explored a few shops. When it started to get dark, we changed Bean into his fabulous costume for the trick or treating:

Captain America! He was a huge hit. The trick or treating was a blast! There were treat stations galore offering excellent candy as well as healthy snacks. Even Pinga joined in on the fun. I really liked the setup of the treat trails. They were extremely organized and I got to see parts of the park that I'd never seen before such as the inside of the saloon.

Mickey's Halloween Party presents a special Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular, that is absolutely fabulous. It's got fun, high energy music, stunning visual effects that delighted our family. Don't miss these fireworks! After the show, I decided I had to check out Space Mountain's spooky transformation into Ghost Galaxy. Scary! But terrificly thrilling at the same time. Bean and I rode on Haunted Mansion (a must do) and then he noticed the "big waterfall" that was Splash Mountain. He really wanted to ride it and he barely met the height requirement. I was a bit nervous that he would be upset because he normally doesn't like to get splashed with water. He had nothing but a smile on his face the whole time - that's Disney magic for you.

There were also all sorts of fun dance parties and a costume cavalcade. Go here to see the remaining dates and prices of the event. This is one party where the fun never stops!

*Thank you to Disney for providing my family with complimentary passes to Mickey's Halloween Party.

DS Action and A Ride of Inspiration

2011-09-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is Chopper the Biker Dog. We met him along with a handful of other celebrities this past weekend at "A Ride of Inspiration". This is the annual charity motorcycle ride and poker walk event put on by DS Action.

DS Action is dedicated to improving the quality of life of all people with Down Syndrome. When I was pregnant with my son, his 20 week ultrasound indicated a soft marker for Down Syndrome. This meant that there was a small chance that he would be born with it. I spent the next two weeks alone, crying, praying, reading and researching. And then I felt peace - if this was how he was meant to be, then I was ready to accept that and be happy with my child. Bean does not have Down Syndrome, but the experience changed me forever. I have become more aware of and open to these beautiful people. Recently, I was prompted to research organizations in San Diego that I could get involved with, and that's how I learned of DS Action and this event.

The event was a blast! It was exciting to see the motorcycles take off. Even Elmo participated in the action!

There were performances put on by various local groups. Jr. Crew was an entertaining, high energy and impressive display of percussion movement. Then we saw a performance by Arms Wide Open, a special needs dance and movement group. Here at Mama Sparkles I'm always looking for things that make my heart sparkle - these performers did that and more. I was in tears. All I could do was hold on tight to my hubby while they sang and danced. They looked so happy to be performing and I could tell that their joy came straight from their hearts. They are an inspiration to us all.

There was also a kids zone, raffle, various vendors and food. I had the pleasure of chatting a bit with Sharla Hank, president of DS Action and an amazing and warm hearted person. If you are interested in learning more about DS Action and helping to raise awareness for Down Syndrome, please check out their website!

The Magic of Make Believe

2011-09-16T20:01:00.001-07:00

Last year, I went with my family to my hometown of Vancouver B.C. for a visit. My cute mother said she wanted to buy me a present, and I knew better than to argue. We happened to be at Granville Island, which has this awesome magic store. I promptly chose a magic kit containing a few entertaining tricks for all ages, and threw in a couple of my favorite childhood tricks and a wand. I think my mom was somewhat surprised at my gift choice, but it's not so surprising when you consider the fact that I've loved magic ever since I was a child. I was always doing card tricks and other simple magic around the house. When I find the time, I'm totally honing my magic skills and putting on a fantastic magic show for my kids.

In the meantime, I'll get my magic fix by watching fascinating movies like Make Believe. This film gives you a backstage look at the world of magic and the amazing talent behind it. Make Believe is a documentary that follows six of the world's best young magicians, vying for the title of Teen World Champion. We follow their personal stories as they journey to the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, the most important international magic competition for young people.

The teens, ranging in age from 14 to 19, display an incredible skill and passion for what they do. Each one is unique, intelligent and extremely focused on what they do. We meet Krystyn Lambert, the only girl and a classic beauty; Bill Koch, from Chicago has one last shot to win the title before he ages out; Hiroki Hara lives in a remote Japanese village and dreams of performing around the world; Derek McKee may be the youngest, but he definitely has an impressive trick up his sleeve that makes people take notice, and Siphiwe Fangase and Nkumbozo Nkonyana from Capetown, South Africa have an infectious energy that everyone loves.

It's inspiring to watch them work so hard for something that they love to do and to see it culminate at the final competition. I was struck by their innocence, charm and devotion to their art form. Through their backstories, we see the unique pressures that they face, their successes and failures, and most of all their passion. It's a good reminder that we really can do anything we set our mind to, and it's not always just a magic act - dreams really can come true! These youngsters are incredibly skilled and I only wish the film would have shown more footage of their amazing performances. Of course there can only be one first prize winner, but they are all winners in my eyes and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them.

Make Believe is available on DVD on September 20th, and includes over an hour of bonus materials. This film really is for everyone - I can't wait to watch it again!

*I received a copy of the film for review purposes.

Tummy Time with Infantino

2011-09-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

This past week, Pinga started crawling. Yes, crawling! She's growing up so fast, right before my eyes. I think the crawling is due to lots and lots of tummy time. Luckily, Pinga is not one of those babies who minds tummy time. She's always loved hanging out on the floor, and as soon as she could roll over, that's where she spent much of her time.

Tummy time was also facilitated by the use of the Right Angle Tummy Triangle by Infantino. Unlike a regular tummy time mat, the Right Angle Tummy Triangle features an incline to help develop upper body strength. There's also an adjustable activity arch with fun little toys. You can adjust it to three different positions to accommodate growing babies. Check out Pinga during one of her recent sessions:

In addition, it comes with a little separate music box which acts as a timer. You can set it to play music for one, five or ten minutes while your baby is using the Tummy Triangle. Even though Pinga can crawl now, she's enchanted with the music box and can't get enough of it.

To learn more about the Right Angle Tummy Triangle and how it works, check out this cute commercial. Find the Tummy Triangle at Babies "R" Us or for preorder at Amazon.

I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.

Bean's New Costume

2011-08-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

With summer barely coming to a close, Bean is already excited about Halloween. It's a big deal around here - last year, he painted a ceramic pumpkin, we bought every Halloween magazine available in stores, and Bean had a fabulous time trick or treating.

Costume SuperCenter has a myriad of kids Halloween costumes that I got to peruse and choose one from. I decided to go with one of the boys costumes, since I already had a couple in mind for Bean. When I called him over to the computer to pick one, he pointed to a completely different costume and said, "I want to be Captain 'Merica!"

This really came as no surprise, since we were just at Comic-Con a month ago, which we followed with a trip to the movie theater to see Captain America. Well, Bean loved the movie and so this Halloween he will be sporting the Muscle Captain America Movie Costume:

He's got a little room to grow, but he loves it! He couldn't wait to try it on. Unlike so many Halloween costumes, this one is not cheaply made and looks like it will hold up well over time. Plus, Bean looks adorable in it. He'll probably wear it to next year's Comic-Con as well, so he'll get good use out of it.

Check out Costume SuperCenter for more great costume ideas for the whole family! What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

*Thank you to Costume SuperCenter for this review opportunity.

Sparkle Spotlight - Ammo Books

2011-08-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of Ammo Books until I had the chance to review their Modern Art Memory Game. The game is brilliant! Bean is four, and he loves to play Memory. He's also really into art - he literally draws, colors and paints for hours at a time, so for him (and for me), this game is a winner.

The Modern Art Memory Game features playing cards with renowned artists, such as Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. It also comes with an accompanying foldout booklet featuring the name of the artist, name of the painting and the year it was created. It's a great way to introduce my son to art history, while perfecting his memory skills! The game can be adjusted to different skill level as well. For Bean, we only use nine pairs of cards. Older children and adults can use all 36 pairs and further challenge themselves by remembering specific facts behind each piece of artwork. This is a beautiful, quality game that we hope to play for many years to come.

I also received two children's books from this company: Counting in the Garden and Colors. These are board books, and they are absolutely gorgeous. I read them to both Bean and Pinga and they were mesmerized by the bright colors and detailed, imaginative artwork. I also perused the catalog and found plenty of other kids items that look promising, including the Nesting Blocks and the Deluxe Coloring Book.

Check out Ammo Books for yourself, and discover this imaginative world of modern design.

(Back) to School with Tiny Prints

2011-08-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

It seems like this summer has flown by and it's almost time for school again. Or, in Bean's case he'll be going to preschool for the first time in just three weeks! Where did the time go?

We talked a little bit about school today. He's excited to be a big boy and to play and learn with the other kids. He proudly wrote his name for me and wanted to practice his numbers. He's also looking forward to painting, reading stories, and spending time outside. Other than his orientation in a couple of weeks, I think he's pretty prepared!

Perhaps the only other thing that could make going to school even better would be some of the fun products from Tiny Prints' Back To School Line. I didn't even know such a thing existed, but I love Tiny Prints and so I was curious about what they have to offer. These Play Date Cards look especially fun, and what teacher wouldn't love an Appreciation Card? There are some really cute designs to choose from. I'm always so impressed with the huge variety that Tiny Prints offers and everything I've ordered has always been high quality. I find their customer service to be exceptional as well, something that's sometimes hard to come by these days. Check out the entire Back To School Line here. I'll look forward to using some of these supplies with Bean and also with Pinga, who will also be in school before I know it!

*Thank you to Tiny Prints and Global Influence for this review opportunity.

San Diego Saturday

2011-08-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to San Diego Saturday! Updated as needed, this column is where I'll provide info about noteworthy events, attractions and fun things to do around town.

San Diego, get ready for another local Smashburger! The newest Kearny Mesa location has its grand opening on Thursday, September 8th. Never been to Smashburger? I've been once, and it was deliciously satisfying. This could have something to do with the fact that a Smashburger is 100 percent fresh, and never frozen. Certified Angus Beef is smashed on a flat grill to sear in the juicy flavor. In addition, every Smashburger is served on a butter toasted artisan bun and topped with a selection of real cheeses, fresh produce, and top-quality condiments. This is the result:
Looks scrumptious, doesn't it? You can also look forward to chicken sandwiches, grilled and seared hot dogs, salads, garlic seasoned Smashfries and more. I am dying to try the Haagen Dazs shakes!

If you want a preview of the newest San Diego Smashburger location before everyone else, you may enter to win a chance to attend the “Sneak Peek Party” on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.! Email your full name, home address and mobile number to smashburger@ellecomm.com . Subject line should be titled “Kearny Mesa Sneak Peek Party.” Guests will be selected at random from the pool of entrants, and will be selected by Friday, September 2, 2011.

The new location will be open at 3737 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite F. Have you ever been to Smashburger? What's your favorite menu item?

Me and dENiZEN

2011-08-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

I'm a pretty easy going person...but nothing frustrates me more than buying a new pair of jeans. In fact, I would probably still be wearing my jeans from high school if they hadn't gotten all yellow and disgusting looking. The reason for my resistance is that jeans simply don't seem to fit me properly. This is because I need the smallest waist size available, but then they're always too short in the legs, even if I get the "long" length. Then the only way to get the length is to get a bigger size, and then they don't fit me in the waist. And if I do manage to actually find a style that fits okay, they cost a lot of money and always seem to be discontinued when I return to buy more. So then I'm back to square one. Yes, it's frustrating.

dENiZEN America Jeans debuted in July 2011, and are from the maker of Levi Strauss & Co. I figured it couldn't hurt to give them a try, especially since after giving birth my one pair of jeans don't fit anymore. Check them out:

Let me just say that I like them so much that I decided to wear them to the BlogHer conference a few weeks ago. They're snug in the waist, yet still comfy, and have plenty of length with a little bit of stretch. And the best part? The price! These are available at Target with prices ranging from $17.99-$29.99. You really can't beat that. I want to buy a pair for everyone in my family! I'm so excited to have finally found jeans that fit me AND are easy to obtain and purchase. I have a feeling me and dENiZEN are gonna be pals.

Follow dENiZEN America on Facebook to learn more about this great brand at Target!

Thank you to Team Mom and dENiZEN for the complimentary pair of jeans and review opportunity.

Gnaw On This

2011-08-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

When Bean was a baby, I used several items from Boon. In fact, I still do. I find their feeding, bath, and organization products to be extremely handy, even now. What's more, is that they feature innovative designs that are functional. It's the best of both worlds!

I recently had the chance to check out the Gnaw, which is one of their newer items. It's a stylish, multi-purpose teething tether, which is perfect for Pinga since she loves to put everything in her mouth. It has a handy little clip that I can attach to her clothes so that it can't go flying through the air or get lost. It also sports a sturdy, mesh-like opening at the top, for putting snacks or teething toys inside. I even put a little spoon inside and used it to feed her baby food. Sometimes, we don't even put anything inside - Pinga is satisfied with just gnawing on the tether itself. I'm not sure if the mesh fabric is meant to sustain babies' teething and gnawing, but so far we haven't had a problem with it unraveling or anything like that.

I'm happy to have found another great product to add our collection of Boon products! I think this one will last a long time, as well.

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WANT TO WIN? One winner will receive a GNAW. To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Tuesday, August 23rd at Midnight. Tell me another Boon product that you like. Please include your email address. Winner must provide a US mailing address.