Finding Our Way Home

When kids get a bit "loopy"

2013-06-18T15:57:00.000-05:00

Fresh Produce has a vibrant selection of clothes

2013-06-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hey ladies are you looking for some clothes with fresh vibrant colors for you or your little girl? If so check out Fresh Produce. I would like to thank Fresh Produce for sending me a cute and colorful dress for my little one to try out (for free).

They do not have a huge selection of children's clothes right now, but they have a cute collection. Check out the colorful sundress Lauren is wearing.

She wasn't in the modelling mood, but I was actually surprised she didn't mind wearing a dress. The
"made in the USA" dress is a soft cotton and washes great. So far the colors have not faded and the dress has not shrunk ( I do wash my darks in cold water, and dry on low heat). I love the summery aquarium print with all the vibrant colors. The dress is a size small (which said 2-3T size). Lauren is skinny, but average length (at 2 1/2 years old) and the dress is a bit big on her. (I have a onsie on under in the pictures). I was thinking of putting it up for next year, but she seems comfy in it.

I could even match, picking out a tank of the same pattern in my size. They have a much larger selection for ladies. They also have a plus size section which is nice, and accessories to match so many of the styles.

Check them out for some fun summer selections! Visit http://freshproduceclothes.com/

Kidobi has great videos for little kids

2013-06-16T20:56:00.001-05:00

I know all too well that children learn from what they watch. I have seen positive things from this with my children, and unfortunately the negative also. I have been searching for online video sites for children that are fun, educational and safe. I want to thank Kidobi for sending me a code to try out their site for free, as well as a couple gifts for the family (my son loves his piggy bank).

Kidobi is an online video content provider for children ages 2 to 6 years old. It's a helper to us parents, automatically generating customized video playlists for up to three children on an account. I like the automatic playlists, but I also like that you can add videos to the playlists (or to their favorites) also. Plus each child has their own playlist, favorites and history. If you do not like a video you can even block it from their playlist. You can also find many videos in Spanish also. You can search for videos using the search bar, or by themes. One note, I found if you use the search bar then start each word with a capital letter, otherwise they do not come out with any results. They have fun and educational videos from many different characters. Some well known to us are Pocoyo, Sesame Street, Shushybye and Daniel Cook.

My son, who is actually older than the recommended age likes the Daniel Cook videos. I really wish they had more "real life" characters like this so that it was a site that my son would like to go on. I like that it is for the young ones, but he is still at the age that parents like me need sites for him. Unfortunately he is the one that I have been searching for better sites, because he loves Youtube, but he finds too many inappropriate videos that way. So I am still searching for other ways. If anyone can give me some recommendations I would love it. He loves watching Lego City videos, Videos of real life things like Trains, elevators and fire alarms. He also loves cartoons....but these are what ends up getting him into trouble. I hate that "adult" content has to be animated these days. I have even tried blocking things, but then he can't get any of the types of videos that I don't mind either. So any suggestions would be great. Or I wouldn't mind if Kidobi would have a section for older children or children with autism that like these type of "stim" videos.

I would definitely recommend it for the younger kids. It seems to be a great site if you want your young children to be able to watch videos on the computer without catching inappropriate ones. Since all the videos are pre-screened by educator and child development experts, parent are reassured of the age-appropriate, educational value.

Kidobi is also available as an iPad and Android app and can be found online at www.kidobi.com. You can also like Kidobi on Facebook and follow on Twitter for the latest updates.

Blue Nile jewelry (giveaway)

2013-05-31T18:26:00.001-05:00

I want to thank Blue Nile for sponsoring my blog. I recently received a pair of really pretty earrings for free to review. Blue Nile is a jewelry site with a large selection from simple earrings, like the Leaf Chandelier earrings in sterling silver, to extraordinary jewelry like the Oval Sapphire and Diamond Pendant.

They have a large selection of engagement and wedding rings and sets. I like that you can custom design your own diamond jewelry, whether it is an engagement ring or a pair of earrings. They have a large selection and you could really spend a lot of time picking out some great jewelry. If you are not sure what to look for when choosing your jewelry they even have an "education" section to help you figure out what everything means when it comes to choosing diamonds, gemstones, pearls and precious metals.

I received the Leaf Chandelier Earrings in Sterling Silver to try out. I thought they were really pretty. I think they look nicer on than they do in the pictures from the website. They are very flexible and the beaded design really catches the light. They have a great shine. Wearing them they are comfortable and light. I think they would be great to dress up any outfit. I will be wearing them tomorrow to a wedding reception. They are a nice option instead of wearing expensive gemstones, priced at $40.

(Picture from Blue Nile)

Giveaway:

Thanks to Blue Nile one of my lucky readers can win a pair of the Leaf Chandelier Earrings (in a gift box)!

To enter:

Visit Blue Nile and tell me another piece of jewelry you would love. (mandatory entry)

Extra entries:

Follow Blue Nile on pinterest, facebook, or twitter. (one entry for each follow)

Follow me on facebook , pinterest, or twitter (one entry for each follow)

Share this giveaway on facebook or twitter. (one entry for each share- 1 per day)

Please leave a seperate comment for each entry, along with the links to those entries and a valid email to contact you if you are the winner. This giveaway is open to US only. The giveaway will end on June 15 and the winner will be chosen by random.org.

Love the virtual "try on view" feature from Firmoo.com eye wear

2013-05-30T21:40:00.000-05:00

I've recently been wearing my new glasses I got for free thanks to Firmoo. FREE....yep that is right! You can get a pair free too (just pay shipping). You can visit Firmoo.com and go to their "First Pair Free" section where you can choose from a selection which all you have to pay is shipping. Pretty good deal huh....they even have full refund for dissatisfaction.

You haven't ever bought glasses online before? That is ok. They have a nice tutorial to help you out in deciding which frames to try. You will need to know your prescription. I got my prescription a few years back and have never bought glasses from a regular store since. Other times I have pretty much gone with styles I knew I would like (ones similar to the types I bought from eyewear stores). This time thanks to their "try on view" I decided to go with something completely different, and it paid off. I have gotten a lot of compliments on my new glasses and have many people tell me they like them better or just as well as my other styles.

I wanted to try a pair of plastic frames. I have never bought a pair like this before because of my face shape. I have a hard time getting ones to fit that don't end up hitting my cheeks. This time I checked out frames that had pictures of others with similar nose/cheeks as me that I thought looked good. I then simply took my pic with my webcam and "tried them on". What is nice is your picture is there again in the future if you create an account and sign in.

I loved that you get nice frames and lenses, and also items to care for these. I got a nice hard case, a cleaning cloth and screwdriver set also. My plastic frames are so light and comfortable to wear. At first I started out swapping back and forth from my old to my new pair.....now I only wear my Firmoo glasses. They are so comfortable and unlike my metal frames do not lose their shape. I really like them!

Now I guess it is just time to check out their sunglasses! Of course with my face the stylish big frames just don't look good on me. I prefer to get regular frames and then have my lenses tinted instead. Firmoo offers a wide selection of tinting, gradiant tint or photochromic lenses. So guess that is what I am in the market for. Happy Shopping!

Id On Me is a great way to feel more secure

2013-05-30T18:59:00.003-05:00

I want to thank ID On Me for offering to let us try a couple ID On Me bracelets for free. Having children with special needs I am always looking for ways to help me feel more secure. Them wearing an ID or medical alert bracelet is one way that helps.

The ID On Me bracelets come in two designs. One for identification and one as a medical alert. They have adjustable wrist bands. I tried these out and the wrist bands adjust very well. The bracelets were able to adjust small enough to fit on my 2 year old and large enough to be big on myself. The wristbands are latex free also. They come as a standard black wristband that fits 4.5 to 7.5 inches. You can also get them in gray, striped, or XL wristbands (purchased in the accessories). The pendants come in several different colors also.

They have a water resistant compartment and include 4 Tyvek, waterproof inserts. I tested these both out. The compartment I ran under water and it completely stayed dry. I then also ran the Tyvek inserts under water after I had written on them with a ultra fine Sharpie. I was able to completely dry the insert with a paper towel and it looked just as good! I was really impressed. I like that the bracelets come with four of these inserts. My children's conditions have changed over time and I like that I can change the information if needed. Also I could even switch them from one wearing it to another just by changing the insert. It is so simple.

The bracelets were comfortable and really light. They weight less than 1/4 oz. They have made this over protective mama very happy! I completely recommend them for anybody wanting that peace of mind.

The ID On Me also come as pendants which can be used as a necklace, on a key chain, as a zipper pull, on a backpack, or even as a dog tag! For more information or to order a bracelet or tag for yourself please visit www.idonme.com . I think they are very affordably priced. The medical or ID bracelets are priced at $14.00 and the tags are priced at $10.

Disney's Planes releases August 9

2013-05-30T12:27:00.002-05:00

Save on all the labels your family needs

2013-05-30T11:53:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year when our kids are off to camp or traveling to friends. Parents like us are busy looking for their items or cooking something up to send with them. Otherwise we are busy in the garden or organizing the house.

Thanks to Kidecals you can label all the things your family needs. They offer labels for just about anything. I love their DIY/ Gift labels. I think they are a great way to label the items you are sharing with friends that you worked so hard on.

I am big on labelling my kids things that they take with them places. Seeing this is a sponsored post, I will be getting some labels for free to check out thanks to Kidecals. I have lots of labels for Zach and Kennedy, but need some cute girly ones for Lauren. So these will probably be the type you will be seeing:

I also think these mustache labels are the funniest and think they would be great for a party.

Can't wait to get some for yourself? Check out Kidecals waterproof labels and save 15% using promo code: awesomelabels at http://kidecals.com/

Wummelbox launches in the US

2013-05-21T14:21:00.001-05:00

The European-style arts & crafts subscription service for kids, Wummelbox is now available in the US. We got to try out the 1 month trial subscription, Wummel, at home for free. This was a sponsored item which would regularly be priced at $34.95. You can also choose a "Little Wummel" with is a 3 month subscription priced at $24.95 per month, or the "Big Wummel" which is the 12 month subscription priced at $19.95 per month.

What is a Wummelbox? It is box full of project materials for your child. It provides all the materials to create projects based on a particular theme. Each box contains materials for approximately 3-4 activities. They are designed to inspire learning, creativity and exploration.

We received a Wummelbox with a theme of time travel. It came in a box with each project wrapped in tissue paper, with a card describing the theme and stories and instructions. The only thing we needed to provide was some water (for the water colors) and our imaginations.

Zach had fun checking out all the projects. While some of them he didn't play with a lot he did like putting the items together and painting. The materials that came with this project were to make a couple different items to use your imagination about going back in time, and time traveling. It also came with materials to create a game based on wild life footprints.

The crafts were easy enough to do for younger children. They are designed for children aged 3-8 years old. I even let my 2 year old do some of the stamps with help.

I think these would be nice during summer break. If you are like me you may not have tons of craft ideas popping into your head. It is kind of nice to have something delivered right to you with instructions and ideas as well as not having to shop for all the materials. That is my biggest issue, finding all the materials needed when I do find a craft idea I would like to do with the kids. I also think if you are going away this would be a nice "take with you" item. This would be nice when on a week vacation so you don't have to hear the "I'm bored" comment. Everything is right there and perfect for that rained out day...or those days you want to do something more imaginative.

For more information or to purchase a subscription you can visit www.wummelbox.com

Disney’s PLANES releases in theaters everywhere on August 9th!

2013-05-07T15:06:00.002-05:00

May the fourth be with you (giveaway)

2013-04-30T21:11:00.003-05:00

Who doesn't love Star Wars.....especially when they are paired with Angry Birds! My son is just getting to like action figure type characters and thanks to the help of the Angry Birds he has come to love the Star Wars characters, Angry Bird style.

Thanks to Hasbro Game Night we got another Angry Birds Star Wars game to add to our collection. Zach got Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga Death Star game for Christmas and that started his love for the Angry Birds Star Wars edition items. Now he really loves the Angry Birds Star Wars Millennium Falcon Bounce Game we received for free from Hasbro Game Night. Approximate retail price: $19.99; Ages: 8 & up; Players: 1-2

The game was pretty easy to put together, and a game that most ages can participate in. To play the game each player bounces the three balls at the Millennium Falcon to knock down as many enemy pigs as possible and land in the cockpit to score big. Here is Zach in action:

While you can play as multiple players her really loves being able to play the game by himself also. It is good for hand-eye coordination. We also liked that you actually use the box that it came in. It comes with stickers so you can decorate the box to look like space, then you use it for the backdrop to catch the balls if you miss. While some of the Millennium Falcon is made out of cardboard and comes apart occasionally, he really likes this item. He keeps it right on his desk so when he plays Angry Birds on his computer that is there. Players can also unlock Angry Birds Star Wars in-app content with a special code found in the game pack. (Charges may apply for app.)

We also received one of the new Angry Birds Star Wars Foam Flyers. This item he likes but he actually doesn't really play with it much. They are nice size (3.5") and make nice collectibles for the kids. I think if you had multiples they would be more fun to let them fly around the house to actually playing Angry Birds Star Wars with. Approximate retail price: $9.99; Ages: 5 & up

I guess the next one on his wish list would be the new Angry Birds Star Wars AT-AT Attack Battle Game. (Approximate retail price: $39.99; Ages: 5 & up. Available: Now)

Stack, launch, and destroy with the AT-AT ATTACK BATTLE GAME, which includes 21 blocks to create the signature AT-AT, a LIGHTSABER LAUNCHER and 12 ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS figures — including two that are exclusive to this set! Players can also unlock ANGRY BIRDSSTAR WARS in-app content with a special code in each pack.

Giveaway:

One lucky reader can win a Star Wars Angry Birds toy! (US only)

To enter:

Leave a comment telling me which Angry Birds Star Wars product you would like the most.

Extra entries:

Share this giveaway on facebook, twitter or google plus. (1 entry for each share)

Follow me on facebook, twitter, google plus, sverve or pinterest (1 entry for each follow)

Follow Hasbro Game Night on facebook www.facebook.com/hasbrogamenight or follow on Twitter: @hasbrogamenight. (1 entry for each follow)

This will be a quick giveaway as I need the winners information by May 4th. This giveaway will end at Midnight on May 2nd and will need to respond with in 24 hours to claim their prize. Please leave a separate comment for each entry and a valid email to contact you if you are the winner. The winner may not receive the same toy I received. The prize fulfillment is at the discretion of Hasbro Game Night.

Free resource for help diagnosing Sensory Processing Disorder

2013-04-27T15:29:00.005-05:00

	1 in 20 children suffer from some form of Sensory Processing Disorder...

	It is a startling statistic. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is affecting more and more kids, often being diagnosed incorrectly as ADD or ADHD. In addition, every autistic child has some degree of SPD. With early intervention, the affects of SPD can be lessened. Author Jennifer Shaw shares her own family's journey in the book Life Not Typical, now used as a resource by the Autism Speaks organization. For a limited time, Jennifer is offering two important sections of her book absolutely free! These two sections help parents correctly diagnose SPD as well as offer a list of resources for families to find the help they need. Here's the direct link for the download: Free SPD Info.

Go Go Babyz Wagon Stroller is on my most wanted list

2013-04-24T20:12:00.001-05:00

Go Go Babyz has some awesome looking products that many parents would love to have. Having two children that can not walk I have really been looking for something to help me get out more with out breaking my back.

I actually love the look of all the items they have, but I really want their newest product, the Wagon Stroller. I have been looking for something that I can fit in my vehicle along with all the kids and Kennedy in her wheelchair.....yeah it doesn't leave me much room. I also have been looking for something that I can pull vs push because....well just try pushing a wheelchair and stroller, it is nearly impossible to do at the same time. If only they made double wheelchairs. On top of it I need something with enough support to hold my daughter that is not stable sitting and being moved. That is why the Go Go Babyz Wagon Stroller is on my most wanted list.

Why I like the Wagon Stroller:
1. Folds up like an umbrella stroller, so it will fit in my vehicle even when all the seats are full

2. Has the options to have 1 or 2 custom seats with a 5-point safety harness can be set in two positions: upright and reclined. This is a must have for a child that tips over easily like mine.

3. Wagon Stroller can be pulled with its traditional wagon-style handle in front or pushed like a stroller with a rear telescoping handle.

4. Designed to meet the ASTM Stroller Safety Standards. With its wider footprint it is less likely to tip over like other wagons

Got to have it!

p.s. The sidekick looks pretty darn cool too!

Disclosure: I am posting this because I really really want one of these....but I am also using this as an entry for a chance to win one. These are my personal opinions. The information and pictures are from GoGoBabyz website.

Love this song "Your Child" by Jennifer Shaw

2013-04-23T21:07:00.001-05:00

Music Video featuring Special Needs Kids wins Telly Award

Nashville, TN - April 10, 2013 - The 34^th Annual Telly Awards has named Jennifer Shaw as a Bronze winner in the Internet/Online Video-Music Video category for her song “Your Child.” Co-written by Shaw and Lifeway’s Songwriter of the Year, Paul Marino, the song is featured on Shaw’s latest album, Someday, produced by Marino. The music video debuted a few weeks ago on Focus on the Family’s “I Am Pro-Life” Facebook page to over half a million followers and has been used by Joni Eareckson Tada’s organization, Joni and Friends, a
worldwide organization which serves people with disabilities.

Director Jeffrey Kubach (L) with Shaw

Produced and directed by Jeffrey Kubach whose credits include the hit television shows “Survivor” and “Burn Notice,” the video of the song “Your Child” features real-life photos and videos of special needs families from across the country. Shaw, whose own son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), invited special needs parents via her website and social networks to send in their photos and stories. The video depicts various special needs conditions including Down’s Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, as well as Shaw’s own son who was diagnosed with SPD at a very young age. SPD is closely aligned with autism in that every autistic child has some form of SPD. One study estimated that 1 in 20 children in the U.S. are affected by the disorder. Shaw’s first book entitled, Life Not Typical: How Special Needs Parenting Changed my Faith and my Song, chronicles the family’s journey and was recently added to the Resource Library of Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. Shaw will be a special guest on the Family Life Today radio show in the coming weeks as well as being featured on Insight for Living Ministries.

The “Your Child” video was selected from among 13,000 entries from all fifty states and numerous countries. A judging panel of over 500 accomplished industry professionals, each a past Telly winner, judged the competition. The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. Past winners have included NBC Universal, Sony, Walt Disney, Johnson and Johnson, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, among many others.

Scene from "Your Child" video

With degrees in both piano and vocal performance, Shaw completed her graduate work in opera performance at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. A former professor at Cedarville University, Shaw is now a popular speaker and top 40 Billboard artist, garnering a #3 hit song on the national Inspirational radio charts. For more information on Jennifer Shaw and to view the “Your Child” video, visit www.JenniferShaw.com or YouTube.

Our family's favorite channel goes green this week.... "Dig into Earth Day" with Sprout and welcome the new show Tree Fu Tom

2013-04-22T06:56:00.001-05:00

The premiere of Tree Fu Tom kicks-off a week-long celebration called"Dig Into Earth Day," which promotes conservation and the importance of caring for the environment. Sprout marks Earth Week by being a part of NBCUniversal's Green is Universal environmental initiative, and will be turning its on-air and online logos green for the entire week.

Tree Fu Tom follows the adventures of Tom a boy who straps on a power belt and through the power of movement magic called 'Tree Fu', can transform into a tiny, mighty magical superhero and travel to a wondrous enchanted kingdom called Treetopolis that exists inside a tree in his back garden. Tree Fu Tom encourages viewers to be active by jumping, making physical moves and saying specific words to "send the magic" to Tom.

Sprout and Sproutonline.com will "Dig into Earth Day" with many other activities too...you can check out the videos on TV, but if you can't catch them there check them out at http://www.sproutonline.com/stunts/dig-earth-day . There are also many printable and activities online that you can help to teach your children to be green.

You can catch Tree Fu Tom today at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Carmex Skin Care (giveaway)

2013-04-08T14:48:00.001-05:00

So winter is finally over....well unless you are like us, and still getting the cold and snow! This has been a rough winter, especially on mine and my family's skin. I really have been using Carmex on mine and my kids lips all winter when we got chapped lips. Now we are using Carmex Skin care to help heal our dry, rough skin.

The Carmex Hydrating Lotion has rich healing ingredients, including Aloe and Vitamin E to moisturize your skin. The lotion goes on smooth and leaves your skin feeling soft . For the drier areas you can try the Carmex Healing Cream. The Healing Cream is more concentrated than the lotion, so you can use less and penetrates better for rougher, dryer areas. I also think it absorbs into your skin a bit more than the lotion. I think they feel almost the same, except notice the cream feels a little heavier on my skin after. I like the lotion more for my hands, and the cream more for elbows, knees and feet. I like the scent of the lotion more than the cream. They both have the "carmex" mediciney scent, which goes away after time. The Cream I think is a bit stronger at first. They both smell like powder to me, but I think I like the aloe scent in the lotion the best.

How's your skin been this winter? Need a little healing power?
Win it! One lucky reader can win a full size tube of both the Carmex Hydrating Lotion and Carmex Healing Cream!

To enter:
Leave a comment telling me how this winter has affected your skin.

Extra entries:
Follow me with twitter, facebook, google plus, pinterest, or subscribe by email.
Follow Carmex with twitter or facebook.
Share this giveaway or pin the products.

One entry per type of follow or share. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. This giveaway is open to US only. The winner will be chosen by random.org. The giveaway will end on 4/15/13.

Disclosure: I received the products for free to review. These are my personal opinions.

Quit having your money go down the drain. Get Sink Magic

2013-04-08T13:05:00.000-05:00

So the other day my husband walks in and asks me why the kitchen sink stopper was sitting on the floor in the family room. My short answer was "that's where it landed". That is where it landed when I tossed it because it was the second one that did not actually stop the water from going down the drain!

I get so tired of running soapy dishwater, to then find it all gone when I go to wash my dishes. It is such a waste of soap and water (= money down the drain)! So I pulled out the Sink Magic.

Sink Magic is a portable sink water diverter. It is in my opinion the best sink stopper around! It is easy to use, plugs up the drain very easily and effectively. Then on top of it you can run the water, and it will never overflow. (Yes I have forgotten about the water before). The water doesn't leak out of the plug, it will only go down the top part, which is what it is made to do.

I love to let my dishes soak. There are many, many times by the time I get to around to washing the dishes my water is getting cold. Instead of having to run a whole sink full of water again I can just turn my water on and let it fun into the full sink. This freshens and warms the water back up without having to use a lot more water. This is a great way to save some money on water waste. I thought my Sink Magic was a bit too long for my sink (or my liking). It was very easy to shorten it up, so I didn't have to put as much water in my sink, and kept me from getting puddles or a wet shirt when I put in larger items that would raise the water level. I followed their video to shorten my Sink Magic. It was super simple with a quick soak in boiling water, followed by cold water. In a way that is also really the only con I have with the product. It is bulkier than a traditional stopper, so you can't fit at many dishes in to soak, or bigger items do not sit flat in the sink. I will take the loss of space though, because at least it doesn't lose water!

It is also a good item to use for keeping your rinse water cleaner, or to wash immediately while you are running the water. I'm the type that rinses my dishes with running water. I can now just let the running water pour into the same spot as my wash water. Which again keeps my wash water hot. My husband likes to have the opposite side full of water to rinse with. I think the Sink Magic would be good for that side as well, he could keep that water hotter by running a little at a time.

The best feature to me is what I told you in the beginning. It saves me from being frustrated because my water is leaking down the drain. It is the best stopper I have ever found!

Paul Anka - Duets available April 9 (giveaway)

2013-04-05T17:36:00.002-05:00

DUETS available everywhere April 9, 2013,

through Legacy Recordings, with spring tour dates to follow

DUETS - Track Listing
(Legacy Recordings 54848 98676 2)
1. Walk A Fine Line – with George Benson and Michael McDonald (B)
2. Find My Way Back To Your Heart – sung by Paul Anka, background vocal by Tita Hutchison (A)
3. Do I Love You (Yes, In Every Way) – with Dolly Parton (B)
4. This Is It – with Michael Jackson (B)
5. I Really Miss You – with Leon Russell (A)
6. Think I'm In Love Again – with Gloria Estefan (B)
7. Pennies From Heaven – with Michael Bublé (A)
8. Crazy – with Willie Nelson (B)
9. You Are My Destiny – with Patti LaBelle (C)
10. Les Filles de Paris – with Chris Botti (B)
11. It’s Hard To Say Goodbye – with Celine Dion (C)
12. She’s A Lady – with Tom Jones (C)
13. Hold Me ‘Til the Morning Comes – with Peter Cetera (C)
14. My Way – with Frank Sinatra (B)
Key:
(A) Brand new recording.
(B) New version. Features either new vocals or new musical instrumentation.
(C) Previously appeared on the 1998 album A Body Of Work.

Wow the soft music on this album has some great names! Right now I am enjoying the smooth music, listening to "My Way" ,Paul Anka with Frank Sinatra.

You can preorder this now on Amazon. It will be released next Tuesday (4/9/13).
You can enter to win a copy of this CD right here!
One lucky reader (US only) will win Paul Anka-Duets CD here.

To enter: Leave a comment on which duet you would really like to hear.

Extra entries:
Follow me with facebook, twitter, pinterest, google plus, sverve, or subscribe to this blog by email (links in sidebar)
Share this giveaway on facebook, twitter, or google plus.
Pin this album

One entry per follow/share. Please leave a seperate comment for each entry. This giveaway is open to US only. The winner will be chosen randomly. The giveaway will end on April 15.

Disclosure: I was provided the information and album download for free from Sony music on behalf of Legacy Recordings.

World Autism Day

2013-04-02T08:44:00.000-05:00

In honor of my son and many others let's celebrate it.

#mamavation monday... No time for fooling around, this month I am challenging myself

2013-04-01T06:51:00.000-05:00

Seeing I have really not had any will power to stay away from all the junk and to keep exercising I have decided to challenge myself this month.

Three challenges:
1. Exercise in some way, even if it is just a walk, every day this month.
2. Stay away from the Easter candy! and cut back my portions.
3. Replace a meal with a Right Size Smoothie.

I have had a really hard time not overeating lately. Lunch time is especially hard for me, because I just never seem satisfied. I think if I can do some exercising before lunch and replace it with a Right Size smoothie then maybe I can stay away from opening up the fridge or cupboards to find more to eat. I have tried the Right Size Smoothies, and really like them. I feel like I am having a treat...which I think might help in my aspect of not being satisfied. So I thought instead of starting out with a typical lunch meal, I could start out with what I think as a treat (the Right Size Smoothie), and maybe then I will not over indulge.

It will be challenging too, but I just have to stay away from the Easter Candy. So no snacking on the kids candy, and I have decided to not do a basket for us adults like I normally do. I found myself snacking on some jelly beans over the last couple weeks and that sugar is just too addicting.

I have so many ways to exercise at home...now I just have to get doing it. It is getting a little better outside so maybe I can actually get walking too.

ps....seeing mamavation is about raising healthy families, come enter my giveaway for My Gym "Mymo's Adventures" DVD. to get the little kids active right at home.

Disclosure: I have received free samples of Right Size Smoothies and Mymo's Adventure DVD. These are however my personal opinions using these products.

Announcing My Gym's Fit and Healthy Family Contest, and giveaway for My Gym "Mymo's Adventures" DVD

2013-03-30T08:47:00.001-05:00

Established in 1983, My Gym is a leading fitness center destination for children with more than 260 locations worldwide, including international locations in China, France, Canada and Brazil among others. More than 30 additional locations are planned to open worldwide in the next 12 months. My Gym combines innovative, early physical education/pre-gymnastics classes with state-of-the-art facilities to empower children - ages 6 weeks to 13 years - by helping them acquire the skills, confidence and positive self-image needed to become healthy young adults. My Gym’s award winning, structured, noncompetitive, and age-appropriate classes and birthday parties enhance children’s overall development through games, music, exercise, sports, gymnastics, puppets, special rides, and fun. The children gain strength, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor proficiency, agility, flexibility and social skills.

On April 1, My Gym will be announcing their “My Gym's Fit and Healthy Family” Contest on their Facebook page! In celebration of My Gym’s 30^th anniversary, they are searching for the fittest family in North America.

In order to enter the contest, participants would need to visit My Gym’s Facebook page and follow the instructions, which will include submitting a photo and essay. Thirty families with the most votes will receive a prize package (that will include a certificate from the President’s Council of Physical Fitness Sports and Nutrition and a gift package from BabyGanics and free MyGym and Chuggington DVDs).

The thirty families will then have an opportunity to win the grand prize! The package includes top items from Little Tikes, one free year at My Gym, including kids classes and a birthday party!

To celebrate their 30th Anniversary we were able to check out their fun DVD "Mymo's Adventures".

This DVD gets kids moving and using their imaginations. The “Mymo’s Adventures” DVD features the gym’s irresistibly cute mascot, Mymo, as he engages children and leads them on six awesome, interactive adventures. The DVD combines animated fun, live action workouts and a wisecracking puppet named Alphonzo Bartholomew III. “Mymo’s Adventures” is created to educate, entertain and motivate children to be active and helps them to develop their coordination, balance, flexibility, strength and fine/gross motor skills.

I really like the combination of animation, puppets, videos of animals, along with the actual kids following Mymo's adventures. The activities are cute, fun and easy enough that many children can do them. Having a two year old that can not walk, I think I can even use many of these to help her imitate and play along. The activities also have enough space in between that they do not get too tired out. I think it is a great way to get active while being inside. They give you cute activities that you can grab some indoor items and play along. I really like how they use their imaginations to participate. Grab your clothes basket and broom, and they are off on a rafting adventure!

Win it! One lucky reader can win a copy of "Mymo's Adventures". (open to US and Canada only)

To enter: Leave a comment telling me who you would win this for.

Extra entries:
Share this giveaway on facebook, twitter, google plus, or pinterest. (you can use any of the share links at the bottom or your own. 1 entry for each share)
Follow My Gym on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/mygymfun
Follow my Blog on facebook, twitter, pinterest, google plus or subscribe by email (1 entry for each follow...links in sidebar)

Please leave a separate comment (including an email and the link for the entry) for each entry. This giveaway will end on April 10 and the winner will be chosen randomly.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this DVD for review. These are my personal opinions.

Tune in tomorrow for the new "Sing It, Laurie" on Sprout

2013-03-24T20:20:00.000-05:00

TUNE IN ALERT

SING IT, LAURIE!

NEW ANIMATED MUSICAL SHORTS FEATURING THE VOICE AND LIKENESS OF LAURIE BERKNER

TO DEBUT ON SPROUT ON MONDAY, MARCH 25

PRESCHOOL NETWORK INTRODUCES MUSIC-THEMED CONTENT TO AFTERNOON BLOCK

AND NEW MICROSITE ON SPROUTONLINE.COM

Sing It, Laurie!, the new animated musical preschool series co-created by best-selling children’s recording artist Laurie Berkner and Little Airplane Productions’ Josh Selig, is coming to 24-hour preschool television channelSprout. The short-form series will debut exclusively on the network beginning Monday, March 25. Sing It, Laurie! is the first collaboration between Laurie and Little Airplane, the Emmy Award^®-winning studio behindWonder Pets and Small Potatoes.
Starring Laurie’s voice and featuring her original music written for the series,Sing It, Laurie! is about a little girl who uses her music and songs to help her better understand the world. In every episode, Laurie sings a song about a theme such as dressing up, having a party or making artwork. The series also stars Grammy Award^®-nominated recording artist Lisa Loeb who performs the roles of twin sisters, Mellie and Nellie.

In addition toSing It, Laurie, Sprout will be introducing a variety of music videos into its afternoon block between the hours of noon and 4:00 p.m. ET, featuring other popular children’s artists. Also in conjunction with the debut of musical afternoons on Sprout, a music microsite will be launching on SproutOnline.com where preschoolers and their families can watch full-length videos on a special video player, and play games such as “Sing It Laurie Musical Adventures” and “Chica’s Costume Concert.” Additional videos featuring some of Laurie’s most popular songs will also be available online.

To watch a preview clip ofSing It, Laurie! Click here

I had to share this, as we have been looking forward to it starting tomorrow since we saw the clips for it. My family has been a huge fan of Laurie Berkner for a long time now. I have loved watching my kids dance and sing along with her since Kennedy was little. She still loves her, and so do I. I am so happy to now see her on my children's favorite network, Sprout!

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Best of Widget

2013-03-24T20:07:00.000-05:00

Well by now the kids have been in school and we are hearing all about their best friends. Well how about Wubbzy's friend Widget? Zach has been a big fan of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and now he gets to watch a DVD of Wubbzy's friend Widget with "Best of Widget".

Best Of Widget! features six episodes – plus a special bonus show – that showcase the busiest builder and fix-it whiz in all of Wuzzleburg! Fans are in store for BIG adventures as Widget modifies a road racer for the Wuzzleburg Derby in “Widget’s Wild Ride,” tries to become a ballerina in “Gotta Dance,” and invents a solar-powered super-robot in “Gidget Super Robot.” Additional episodes featured on the brand-new DVD include: “Eggs Over Easy,” “Widget Gets The Blooey Blues,” “The Super Fixers” and “Where’s My Wiggle Wrench?.” I am sure your little ones will love all the cool gadgets from Widget, as much as my son does.

He was very excited to see another new release from the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! series. These DVDs make great gifts and with Easter just around the corner they make great basket fillers.

Produced by Bolder Media, Inc. in association with Starz Media’s Film Roman Animation Studio, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! has been a hit with young viewers and families since its 2006 premiere on Nickelodeon^®. The top-rated series, which airs daily on Nick Jr^®, supports preschool social skills – sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others, self-awareness and the use of humor as a coping skill. Although their world is more fanciful and imaginative than our own, Wubbzy and his friends deal with the same social and developmental issues faced by preschoolers. They learn how they fit into a group, how to understand their own feelings and those of others, how to get along with one another and about the value of friendship and community.

Giveaway
Win it! One lucky reader can win a copy of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Best of Widget. (US only)

To enter:
Leave a comment telling me who this DVD would be for.

Extra entries:
Follow my blog with facebook, twitter, google plus, pinterest or by email (all in the sidebar)
Share this giveaway on facebook, twitter, google plus
Pin this DVD

Please leave a seperate link for each entry, along with the link to that entry. Make sure to leave a valid email in one of the comments in case you are the winner. This giveaway is open to US only. The winner will be chosen randomly. The giveaway will end on April 10.

Disclosure: I received a copy for free to review. These are my personal opinions.

Make A Wish and color some Easter eggs

2013-03-17T07:14:00.003-05:00

We had some fun coloring Easter eggs virtually and for real, thanks to Heinz and PAAS. First we checked out the Heinz PAAS Easter Egg Decorator App. This was a lot of fun and is a great way to help some children receive a wish! Heinz Vinegar and PAAS Easter Egg Dyeing Kits have partnered to bring you the Easter Egg Decorator app, available both online via your computer and through the iTunes App Store. Now through March 31, when you decorate and share a virtual egg using the free app, Heinz and PAAS will donate $1, up to $25,000 to Make-A-Wish.

As many know this is something our daughter has received (a wish from Make-A-Wish) and we would love help spreading the word to use this fun app, and make some money for Make-A-Wish. You can simply search "PAAS/Heinz" in the iTunes App Store and download the app, or access it from your computer at www.heinzpasseaster.com . I am sure your kids would love creating these virtual eggs, just as we did.

You can find this information on the many PAAS Easter Egg Dyeing Kits too. We had some fun using some of the new kits to dye eggs at home. Make sure to add some Heinz vinegar for more vibrant colors.

This year we tried a few new PAAS decorating kits. We enjoyed the Deggorating Doodles, a kit that includes 4 food grade markers that we used to color and write right on the egg shells. This was a favorite of my sons as he loves writing names and numbers everywhere. We also tried out the Touch of Velvet. These came out nice, but we had a hard time getting many of the stickers off the sheet and on the egg. When successful they were pretty, and were actually velvety feeling. I love the Velvet Easter Bunny. The other one we tried was the Volcano Eggsplosion kit. This did not work for us. I do not think I had the eggs hot enough though seeing the directions were to use it right after they were done cooking. I had cooked my eggs the night before and then set them in hot water to try it out. We got one to look speckled, the rest I washed off and started over.

PAAS egg decorating kits can be found at most major grocery, drug and mass market stores at an average price of around $4.25. So if you haven't dyed any eggs yet, this is the perfect time. Go try some new stuff out and remember to try out the virtual egg decorating app. I am sure this may give you some ideas on decorating your real eggs. At the same time you could be helping Make-A-Wish, who grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy!

Now through March 31, when you decorate and share a virtual egg using the free app, Heinz and PAAS will donate $1, up to $25,000 to Make-A-Wish. www.heinzpasseaster.com

Disclosure: I received free product to review from PAAS and Heinz. Also a personal thank you to them for donating to Make-A-Wish.

#mamavation monday... disappointed in myself

2013-03-04T12:03:00.001-06:00

Last week I got an email from someone wanting to do a blog post featuring my weight loss. I haven't answered it seeing I was pretty embarrassed and disappointed that my weight loss was 3-4 years ago and since then have gained it all back.

My schedules are so different from those days, and my stress level has been so unpredictable that I just can't seem to get back with it. My posts are always the same. I try for a day or two and then get stressed and am back to emotional eating. I don't really feel like exercising, but know I would start feeling better if I did it.

I am just disappointed in myself lately, and wish spring would come so I could get some more sunny weather to help boost me up!

This post is sponsored by Roni Noone and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post.