Mama Sparkles

Start the New Year with Entertainment!

2013-01-04T22:37:00.000-08:00

To start the New Year off right, we recently went through all of our stuff and realized that we have way too much of it. We've got stuff literally spilling out of closets, books falling off shelves and no more space under the bed. So we're in the middle of purging, which feels great. I've also made two goals: to spend less money, and not to bring any unnecessary material possesions into our home.

In order to do this, I'm enlisting the help of The Entertainment Book. Whenever we have a birthday, holiday or special occasion, I'm going to try and give the gift of Entertainment, rather than a material object! I've got a chock full of restaurants, attractions, movie tickets, travel deals, grocery coupons and much more in the San Diego area, so I'm confident I'll be able to achieve my goals! Discounted movie tickets would be perfect for my birthday coming up. I'd also love an elegant dinner out for our anniversary...

Right now, Entertainment is offering 2013 books for over half off the regular price! You can also download mobile coupons for even more savings. Head on over to buy your copy and start your New Year off right!

Sparkle Spotlight: Chloe Lukasiak

2012-10-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I used to be a ballerina so naturally I'm into all things that have to do with dance. Recently, I've been tuning into Lifetime's reality show Dance Moms. Now, I could do without all of the show's drama and I tune out all of the fights, but I love the kids! They are a talented young group of dancers and I enjoy their performances. Eleven year old Chloe Lukasiak is a beautiful girl inside and out. She's a joy to watch and I love her innocent, fun loving personality. I had the privilege of asking her a few questions about what the world of dance means for her. Let's meet Chloe:

You have really grown as a dancer and a person over the last season of Dance Moms. We saw a vast improvement in your confidence. What are your goals for the near future? What do you hope to continue to improve upon?

I really just want to continue to grow as a dancer and believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to! I'd really like to try acting next, as well.

You are a very expressive dancer to watch on stage. How do you feel when you're dancing in front of an audience?

Even before I could really "dance", I always loved to perform. I really feel at home on stage and I love telling a story to the audience.

What is your favorite thing about competing?

Probably just performing. And seeing new places with my best friends.

Glitzy Girl is your new jewelry line. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Maddie (Ziegler) and I were talking one day about all the ribbons and pins and trophies we get from dance competitions and we thought, wouldn't it be cool if we could wear something pretty? Like a bracelet or something, so we came up with the charm bracelet idea and other girls seem to really like them, too!

Life as a dancer is not easy. What motivates you to keep dancing even when your body hurts or you're tired?

I just love to dance. And I always want to keep trying one more time. I guess that keeps me going?

You've got your hands full with the show, competing, school and Glitzy Girl. How do you balance it all?

I think my life is pretty much the same as its always been, just now there are cameras. So I think I'm just used to balancing it all because it's what I've always done.

You won a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School. Is ballet something you would like to pursue further?

Yes, I think ballet is very beautiful, but difficult. But the costumes are usually amazing!

Is there a style of dance that you haven't learned that you would like to try?

Hmmm, I would like to learn ballroom! I would love to dance in high heels!

When you're not dancing or at school, what do you like to do for fun?

Well, I like to read and shop, play with my sister, have sleepovers. You know, just normal girl stuff!

Do you have any advice for any future dancers?

Just be YOUR best, don't compare yourself to others, never let anyone get in the way of your dreams! And smile onstage!!

Thanks for taking time to chat, Chloe! Good luck with all of your dance endeavors!

Disney Announces Limited Time Magic

2012-10-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Check out this magical Disney ice sculpture in Times Square:

Beautiful, isn't it? Last week, Disney announced "Limited Time Magic", starting next year at Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts. Each week, guests will be treated to 52 special magical experiences that last for one week.

Here’s a sampling of what you can expect to see in 2013:

True Love: Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine’s Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Guests can celebrate their Valentine as Magic Kingdom and Disneyland turn up the romance, complete with their iconic castles bathed in hues of red and pink. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine collectibles will be offered for the week.

Independence Week: It’s red, white and blue as Disney Parks salutes America with a 4th of July Fireworks Party — for an entire week, with patriotic lighting bathing the Disney castles on both coasts. Mickey Mouse appears in his patriotic finest and guests will find special USA shirts, Ear Hats and other limited-edition souvenirs.

During “Long Lost Friends Week,” lesser-known Disney characters will move from the shadows to the spotlight with meet-and-greets on both coasts. Photo opps with characters that could include Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will surprise and delight guests. And Disney guests will even have the chance to vote online for which characters they want to see.

Pirate Week: Why talk like a pirate one day when you could celebrate these scalawags all week long? The adventures of Jack Sparrow come to life like never before during a bicoastal buccaneer bash in which Disneyland and Walt Disney World become pirate-palooza: pirate bands, pirate meet-and-greets and more.

Dapper Dans Sing Boy Bands: Dapper Dans, the iconic quartet from Main Street, U.S.A., will add a special finale to their show, claiming the title of the “Original Boy Band” and delivering a medley of hits from One Direction, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

Unleash the Villains: A Friday the 13th in 2013 is a special day, so Disneyland and Disney Hollywood Studios are staying open until the 13th Hour (1 a.m.). Maleficent, Capt. Hook, Jafar and other Disney villains host a dance party, complete with limited-edition collectibles and nighttime mischief on Sept. 13.

Golden Horseshoe Revue: The fabled Frontierland show returns to Disneyland for one month only, bringing back the corny jokes and enduring songs that were often enjoyed by Walt Disney himself.

Even more surprises and magical offers will be rolled out weekly during the magical year. The experience of the week will be announced in a variety of ways including in-park, Disneyworld.com, Disneyland.com, Facebook, Twitter, and the Disney Parks Blog – adding to the element of surprise. Just an extra sprinkle of magical pixie dust that Disney already does so well!

My Pinga

2012-10-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed my absence from blogging as of late. There are a few reasons for that, but this is one of the main ones:

Yes, that is Pinga covered in peanut butter. Earlier this summer, I emerged from the shower to find this scene. Bean had clearly enjoyed the spectacle too much to stop her. And then to top it all off, I took off her clothes to give her a bath only to discover a big poopy diaper! Not one of her finest moments. Here is a more flattering look at Pinga:

She's a charmer. She also loves animals and is very gentle with them.

We went through a period this summer where she wouldn't go to bed until after 10pm. Then she would cry in the middle of the night. And she wouldn't stop. Then...Bean started school in September and suddenly she started sleeping! Now they both go to bed at the same time with no crying and no fuss. It's glorious. Which means I actually have some time to blog now. Hope you'll all stick around while I cook up some more posts for you. And I would love some comments to know that you're reading!

Brick-or-Treat!

2012-10-19T11:12:00.002-07:00

When my mom was visiting last April for Bean's birthday, she bought ~~him~~ me the best present ever:

A full year membership to LegoLand California ! LegoLand is one of my top five places to visit. Every time I go, I can't stop smiling. Its endless charm, meticulous Lego workmanship and myriad things to do make it irresistible. It's got a water park, splash pad, miniature golf, aquarium, the museum-like Miniland, a giant sand play area and of course tons of fun rides and exhibits. And the food is great, too!

Last weekend we utilized our awesome passes to attend Brick-or-Treat Party Nights. Seriously, how cool is that name? Pinga went as "Daddy's Little Monster" and Bean was Captain America:

Aren't they cute? Of course, the highlight for the kids was trick or treating, or should I say BRICK or treating! LegoLand has two candy trails to choose from - The Enchanted Walk and The Miniland Overlook. The Enchanted Walk was absolutely adorable with its separate candy stations and enchanting, "foresty" feel.

We also saw some fun shows, like The Witchettes, Mail Order Monsters and Anthony the Magic Show. The kids were too pooped to stay for the fireworks, but we saw them as we were driving away! There are two more Saturdays left to experience Brick-or-Treat! Have you ever gone? What was your favorite part?

For Ruby

2012-10-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Kristin is honoring her sweet angel baby Ruby. Kristin is a beautiful person inside and out. I'm sad that she moved away from San Diego before I got to know her better, but I love reading about her adventures on her blog. Her tributes to her sweet Ruby are beautiful and often leave me in tears. She's celebrating Ruby's first birthday with 15 Days of Ruby Giveaways - one giveaway for each day Ruby graced us with her presence here on Earth. I love this idea! What a fun way to honor the memory of her little one. Today is the eighth giveaway, but there is still time to enter most of the other giveaways. And what's really fun is that each giveaway is hosted by a different blog so we get to discover new friends along the way. I invite you to join me and say hello to Kristin as well!

Sparkle Spotlight: The Twinkle Challenge

2012-10-14T21:13:00.001-07:00

At just two days old, my niece Chloe received life saving surgery from SickKids hospital in Toronto. My awesome sister started the Twinkle Challenge in order to raise funds and awareness for stem cell research at the hospital. This is an area that is very under funded, but with a little help and creativity from us, we can help them reach their goal of $10,000!

So, my sister's a wiz at playing the piano, so when a random piano was placed at the hospital she created the Twinkle Challenge. She decided to learn Mozart's Twinkle variations in just two weeks, play it live at SickKids and give back to the hospital that saved her daughter's life. Not an easy thing to do when you've got two kids at home, but she rose to the challenge and did a beautiful job! There is a fantastic introductory video on the website where you can learn more about this amazing project.

Will you join me in taking the Twinkle Challenge? You can submit your own challenge in the gallery section. Watch me play my simplified version of the twinkle variations! You or your kids can draw a picture, sing a song, do a dance, anything you want. And if you feel so inclined, please consider making a donation to this wonderful cause. Please let me know if you submit a challenge. I can't wait to see all of your creations!

My Bean

2012-09-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

My sweet Bean...where has the time gone? He has now started Kindergarten at "the panda school" where he gets to learn how to speak Mandarin. He loves his teachers and classes and he's already singing songs in Mandarin. What a wonderful experience it has been so far.

He has also taken a couple of karate classes which he's enjoying.Karate is said to instill discipline, respect and confidence, all of which we think he already has. We like the social aspect of it however, and hope that it will teach him to be, well, a little more outgoing and not so focused ALL of the time. "Ki-yah!"

He has been playing the piano for six months. This is his latest video, accompanied by yours truly.

All of this excitement makes for one tired boy, especially now that he has to get up super early for school!

Create Memories with Marianne Richmond

2012-03-01T22:44:00.001-08:00

So, now that I have two kids, I also have a ton of unorganized pictures lying about in piles. With my son, I wanted to do a scrapbook but I had to accept the fact that I just wasn't crafty enough for that. I ended up putting a few photos in an album and stopped there. And the pile of pictures has been growing ever since then.

Well, here's something a little more my speed: these memory books by Marianne Richmond are just the thing for people like me, who want a beautiful scrapbook without all the hard work. You can customize and personalize it however you like and the pages are cute and already decorated for you. All I have to do is add the photos! There's even space to handwrite little notes.

There is a complete line of book themes available, so you can create this a special gift for your daughter, son, granddaughter or grandson - whoever you want! This a great keepsake and would make a wonderful graduation or birthday gift. Check them out at The Organized Parent for only $15.95 each!

Use the code 21699 during checkout for 15% off your order until March 15th.

*Thank you to The Organized Parent for this review opportunity

Jillie Willie Aprons Review

2012-02-15T23:51:00.000-08:00

I've been on a cooking kick lately, which is slightly unusual for me. I think it has a lot to do with this Jillie Willie Apron. Seriously, how cute is this? It's not only trendy and chic, but it's functional too. There's a row of pockets hidden underneath the ruffle, so you can keep things organized while cooking in the kitchen. Love it!

This definitely beats cooking in an unflattering, old fashioned apron. These are so fun to wear that they make cooking more fun too! Other styles are available as well, including one with an attached kitchen towel. How clever is that? I'm constantly losing my kitchen towels and I love anything that makes my life easier, especially when I'm cooking.

These are affordable, at $35.95 and would make a great gift as well. There are even cute rubber gloves to match these aprons! You definitely don't see cute rubber gloves everyday. You can save 15% on these fabulous Jillie Willie aprons through the end of February. Just enter code 21698 at checkout. Click the button below to start shopping!

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

Disney Magic at California Adventure

2012-02-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we got to party like pirates at Disney's California Adventure Park! This was the perfect way to celebrate Pinga's birthday, as she had just turned one year old the day before. First up, was a special concert by the Never Land Pirate Band from the Disney Channel show "Jake and the Never Land Pirates." Sharkey and Bones put on a great show, and Jake, Captain Hook and Mr.Smee also joined the band onstage.

Bean was in awe of the pirate decor and the treasures!

Then it was time to hit the rest of the park. California Adventure has always been fun, but this was one of the best days we've spent at ANY Disney park! For starters, there's the incredible Mickey's Fun Wheel, a dream come true for Bean. I think the ferris wheel is his all time favorite ride, and this one did not disappoint! Both kids went on King Triton's Carousel and the new Ariel's Undersea Adventure, which was awesome. The best ride you'll find at any theme park is hands down, Soarin' Over California which had Bean absolutely giddy with excitement. We were tempted to scale the wall and check out the development of the new Cars Land , but decided it was probably better to wait until this summer when it opens. Here's a random pic of Pinga soaking in the magic:

All this excitement made us hungry and so we wandered into Ariel's Grotto in search of some yummy food. This was seriously THE best meal we've had in a long, long time. Both kids behaved themselves, and we got to sit outside right next to the water. Check out this amazing appetizer plate:

After scarfing down fresh mozzarella cheese, asparagus, yellow tomatoes, seafood, apricots, olives and much more, we ate up our delicious entrees. Bean opted for the seashell macaroni and cheese. When it came out, it was topped with goldfish crackers which I thought was adorable. Of course, he ate them before I could get a picture.

Pinga couldn't get enough of the Boudin Bakery sourdough bread. Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside. Delightful.

We finished the meal with this fabulous dessert plate. We were then informed that the meal included reserved viewing to the World of Color show - an added bonus to an already amazing experience.

We rocked it out at ElecTRONica before going to World of Color, which was the perfect way to end the night. The sequence of animation clips shown on the water "screen" were inspiring and almost had me in tears. The water fountains are absolutely breathtaking. This picture was taken right after the show ended.

We didn't get to check out the Aladdin musical or the Disney Junior - Live on Stage, but next time for sure! Right now, Disney has an awesome 2 day 1 Park per day for $99 deal for Southern California residents. If I were you, I'd buy it before it ends on June 5th and experience all that California Adventure has to offer!

*Thank you to Disney, who provided us with complimentary tickets to California Adventure.

One Year Later

2012-02-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

It's been one year since I gave birth a month early to this beautiful little girl. She was born on her Nana's birthday, which made the day extra special. She has just started walking and can crawl at lightning speed, just like her brother did. And, like Bean she hates to wear bibs. She loves to eat though. Some of her favorite foods are bread, strawberries and feta cheese. She can clap her hands, give high fives, point to her nose and say "Mama" and "Dada." Her favorite game to play is peekaboo. She has a favorite doll named "Dolly" and she and Bean constantly fight over his stuffed sheep. It's adorable. We're still working on sleeping through the night, but that will come...I think. Tonight we will eat the cake that Daddy baked just for her. Happy Birthday, my pretty Pinga. We love you so much.

Talk to Me, Talkatoo

2012-01-31T23:27:00.001-08:00

This is one of the neatest gadgets I've seen. Bean walks around with it and calls it a walkie-talkie. Then he pretends to record a secret message with it.

In fact, it's a Talkatoo Clip and you can, in fact record messages with it. You just push a little button to record your message, then push the big button to play it back as many times as you want.

I love that this works for both kids and adults. You can send you kids off to school with the Talkatoo and they can play your message while they're away. Or you can have them record something for you and you can listen to their sweet message when you're missing them the most! Bean is constantly talking about his Grandma, so the next time she is here we can have her use the Talkatoo. Then he can listen to her voice whenever he wants. Some of the best ideas are the simplest, and this is one of them. Try recording a message for your spouse! And at only $14.95, there is no reason not to get one! They come in different designs and colors too, which are available here.

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

Iotababy

2012-01-15T23:00:00.001-08:00

If there's one thing that I love having multiple varieties of, it's bags. I love that there are all different colors, styles, and sizes to choose from - keeps things interesting and a little more enjoyable when you're constantly running around with two little children!

This Iotababy Carryall is the newest addition to my bag collection. I love all the bright colors and it works great as a diaper bag when I need to carry a lot of baby gear. It would also work well as a beach bag, overnight bag or any kind of bag, really!

This bag doesn't mess around. It has seven interior pockets to keep everything neat and organized. This is genius, since I'm known for losing things quite easily. I think the best part though, is the fact that the pockets are laminated for easy cleanup. Every one of my other bags has crumbs or sticky melted chocolate stuck inside the pockets, which is kinda gross when I reach in to get something. I'm loving that this bag is so easy to clean!

I also received the Mom's Zip Cases which makes for even more storage and easy organization. They're great for storing my daughter's food when we go out, makeup, medicine, or other small items. So handy and they go perfectly with the carryall.

The Iotababy Carryall sells for $54.95 and the Mom's Zip Cases are $23.95 for all three. Find them at The Organized Parent and add a new fun bag to your collection!

*Thank you to The Organized Parent for this product review

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.