Wendi's Book Corner

Make a Difference in Your Child's Life - Find Out Their Learning Style

2012-02-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

If taking 1-2 minutes to find out your child's learning style could help you understand how they learn and what will make them more successful, would you do it? I certainly would.

Each child is unique, and not all kids learn the same way. I personally believe that sometimes, knowing HOW someone learns or communicates can lessen learning challenges and make learning more fun and enjoyable. I also believe that understanding and working with the way children learn can have a huge impact on their success and their self-confidence.

What is your child’s learning type?
There are three basic learning styles: Visual (seeing), Auditory (hearing) and Kinesthetic (physical touch). In general, children will learn using all three styles, but one will be more dominant than the others. Being able to help determine your child/children's dominant learning style can give you the tools to help your child succeed. (You may be interested in finding out about your own learning style too).

About Each Basic Learning Style:

Visual learners *Seeing*
Children who are visual learners have an easier time learning by looking at images, watching a demonstration and reading from a book. For visual learners, it’s easy to look at pictures and charts, but it may be distracting and hard to focus while trying to listen to someone talking or providing an explanation.

Auditory *Hearing*
Children who are auditory learners have an easier time listening to an explanation than reading about it. Having a child recite information they are learning out loud may help their learning, as well as having background music on. Distracting noises may hinder learning, so a relatively quiet space may be necessary.

Kinesthetic Learners *Touching*
Children who are Kinesthetic learners have an easier time learning through “hands-on” experiences. Doing an activity helps them learn. Kinesthetic learners may struggle to learn while needing to sit quietly. Writing things down (taking notes) will help the learning process.

Why it is Important For Parents to Understand Their Child’s Learning Style
By knowing your child's learning style, you can greatly impact the success of his or her learning. Ensuring that your child is able to understand how to learn more successfully will give them the tools to succeed and lessen learning frustrations.

It is important for children to be able to utilize all three learning styles, as there will be times when it is not practical or possible to utilize one or more of the preferred styles.

How do you Determine Your Child's Learning Style?
Spark Box Toys has provided a short quiz to help you find out! It is 7 questions long and will only take a moment or two to finish. At the end you provide your email so they can send you the results and some helpful information (expert advise on helpful approaches to work with your child) on your child's learning style.

According to Spark Box, studies have indicated that you can start seeing your child's learning type preferences as early as one year. Find out today what their style is so you can start empowering them now!

* Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Spark Box Toys via Karma Media. All opinions are mine, and information about Learning Styles was gained from their site.

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun, Week 8)

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to week 8 of our Pinterest weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow. I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc). So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link and/or a link to your Pinterest themed blog post below! (If you need an invitation to Pinterest, please let one of us know! It is QUICK and EASY to sign up!)

In honor of Valentines Day, here are a few of my favorite Valentine-ish "Pins":

Source: sixsistersstuff.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: whipperberry.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: theidearoom.net via Wendi on Pinterest

Now is a Great Time to Join And Save With Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

2012-02-06T19:00:00.001-08:00

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

With cold and flu season in full swing, and the start of a new year (many of us have changes to our benefits at the change of the new year), now may be the best time for you to look at saving money on your prescriptions and medical supplies for you, your family AND your pets!

If you are looking for ways to save money on prescriptions, Walgreens is offering a special discount on the annual membership for their Prescription Savings Club:

$35.00 will cover your entire family for one full year (including your immediate family members: spouse, dependents aged 22 years old and younger, AND your pets)

$20.00 for individuals

Some of the benefits of joining the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens include:

1. Savings and discounts on over 8,000 brand-name medications, and ALL generic brands

2. Discounts on flu shots, prescriptions for your pets, nebulizers and diabetic supplies

3. Bonuses when you use the Walgreens photofinishing services AND when you purchase Walgreens branded products

Plus, Walgreens stands behind their Prescription Savings Club by providing the following guarantee: "Prescription Savings Club membership is risk free. If you don't save more than the cost of your membership during the course of the year of your membership, then we'll refund the difference." (Taken directly from their Prescription Savings Club Page)

Stay updated on the latest Walgreens news by liking Walgreens on Facebook and following Walgreens on Twitter.

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun, Week 7)

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to week 7 of our Pinterest weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow. I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc). So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link and/or a link to your Pinterest themed blog post below! (If you need an invitation to Pinterest, please let one of us know! It is QUICK and EASY to sign up!)

In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl, here are a few of my favorite Football Food "Pins":

Source: cutefoodforkids.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: beautyandbedlam.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: closetcooking.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Lots of Love Giveaway Hop: Win a ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ERV $36.99, EZ Rafflecopter Entry) #lotsoflove

2012-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Lots of Love Giveaway Event. This event is hosted by And The Little Ones Too, Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink, Seeds of Life, and Taking Time For Mommy. This event features giveaways with a value of $25 or more at each of the participating blogs! Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win! This event will close on February 14th at 11:59 pm EST.

ZeroWater is sponsoring a giveaway for one lucky Wendi's Book Corner reader! One reader will win a ZeroWater 10-Cup Water Pitcher, which goes way beyond normal water filter pitchers to filter out almost ALL total dissolved solids that can be found in your drinking water. Taste water the way it was meant to be... Pure

You can find out more about ZeroWater and the 10-Cup Water Pitcher by reading the review here. (coming within a day or so)

If you don't see the Rafflecopter form below, please hit F5 to refresh the page. If that does not work, feel free to leave a comment and I'll check on it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: I am receiving one ZeroWater pitcher for review, and ZeroWater will be sending the winner their own new water pitcher. Good luck! :) Please understand that And The Little Ones Too, Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink, Seeds of Life, and Taking Time For Mommy, along with the other "Lots of Love Event" bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. However, we are responsible for contacting our sponsors regarding the winner's prize at the close of the giveaway. We expect that our sponsors will fulfill their prize agreement and ship them to the winners in a timely manner.

Chuck E. Cheese - Making Birthday Parties Fun and EASY @chuckecheese

2012-01-26T17:39:00.000-08:00

In the five years I've been planning kid parties, this was the EASIEST and MOST FUN we've had yet... and I even made the cake! I even had party guests comment about how fun it was and they were REALLY interested in having parties just like ours.

Our eldest son turned 5 on Christmas Eve, so we always work really hard to keep his birthday special and separate from Christmas. It was so easy to do with Chuck E. Cheese, and they were open all day on Christmas Eve.

The fun and games to be had at Chuck E. Cheese!

I started by reserving my party time online. I chose an early time, and got 100 bonus tickets for choosing an off-time. Once my reservation was finalized (I paid a $30 deposit), I received a call from the Chuck E. Cheese party planner/coordinator at our location. She was so helpful and thoughtful! We talked through the party and figured out exactly what I needed to do in order to be ready. She also called again the day prior to the party.

In most cases, you won't have to really do anything except decide what you want at your party (food, party favors, balloons, etc). In my case, I wanted to make the cake myself and bring ice cream and a few extras to add to the party favors.

The Candyland Brownie Cake I made for Logan's 5th Birthday!

To see how I made the Candyland Brownie Cake (and the wonderful recipe) click here (coming shortly)

The staff at Chuck E. Cheese made this the easiest party I've ever thrown. They helped me carry things to the table and set up, then helped keep the party on track, and coordinated bringing out and serving the food and the birthday celebration (Chuck E. coming to our table, singing, cake, etc). They even made sure everything was going great the whole time we were there, then they took care of the cleanup!

I think my all-time favorite part of this party was that my normally EXTREMELY shy son was so at ease with the staff and Chuck E. that he got up with Chuck E. Cheese (normally he will hide behind me, so this was an unknown territory for us) and even danced with him and did the Ticket Blaster all by himself! People were AMAZED! It just goes to show how much fun he had!

As a bonus, Christmas Eve was quieter than normal weekend days at Chuck E. Cheese and we got to stay at our table until we left as there were no parties scheduled after ours that needed the space.

Their website also has great activities and printables, as well as a great coupon page! We will certainly be doing more events and celebrations (as well as just having some plain old fun lunches/dinners and play) at Chuck E. Cheese!

One other huge plus in my eyes are the security measures Chuck E. Cheese has taken to ensure kids safety: Kid Check. As you arrive, your hand is stamped with a number that matches the kids you enter with (so make sure you are the one who will be leaving with your kids!). They will NOT let you leave with a child whose stamp does not match your own. There is someone at the entrance at all times.

Have you had fun at Chuck E. Cheese? I hope you'll leave a comment and tell me about it - feel free to leave a link too if you've posted about it!

~ Wendi

*Disclosure: I received some guest passes to help facilitate our birthday party in exchange for sharing our experience with you. My thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. :)

See Nemo in 3D! Watch The Official Finding Nemo 3D Trailer ~ Just Released!!

2012-01-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

FINDING NEMO returns to theatres for the first time in 3D September 14th, 2012!

Disney's Finding Nemo

Disney's Finding Nemo,

"Like" FINDING NEMO 3D on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingNemo

FINDING NEMO (In Disney Digital 3D™)
DISNEY•PIXAR

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Adventure
Rating: G
U.S. Release Date: September 14, 2012
Voice Talent: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Joe Ranft, Geoffrey Rush, Andrew Stanton,
Elizabeth Perkins
Director: Andrew Stanton
Co-Director: Lee Unkrich
Producer: Graham Walters
Original Story by: Andrew Stanton
Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds
Composer: Thomas Newman

Academy Award®-winning Best Animated Feature “Finding Nemo” returns to the big screen for the first time ever in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™. In this stunning underwater adventure, with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion, “Finding Nemo” follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

Notes:

·“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.
·The film won a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Musical or Comedy.
·At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time.
·Ellen DeGeneres won an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.
·In 2008, The American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made.

Pixar Animation Studios’ classic “Finding Nemo” returns to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™, introducing a new generation of family audiences to Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould), Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres).

Need to view the official trailer in another format? Here are more!

QuickTime: (.mov)
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_High.mov
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_Low.mov

Flash: (.flv)
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_High.flv
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_Low.flv

Windows Media: (.wmv)
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_High.wmv
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_Low.wmv

High Definition: (.mov)
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_1080.mov
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_720.mov
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_480.mov

iPad: (.mov)
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_iPad.mov

iPod: (.m4v)
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_iPod.m4v

Trailer information and pictures were received from Disney Studios along with permission to share with my readers!

~ Thanks Disney!

Perplexus: 3D Puzzle Fun For Your Brain AND Dexterity, GREAT For The Entire Family (And Friends) @Perplexus1

2012-01-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

The Perplexus Rookie has been a huge hit in our family, from our 2 year old to grandparents and friends! (Ok, so the 2 year old thinks it is neat and likes to roll it around and watch the little steel ball inside) Our 5 year old will really concentrate and see how far he can get the steel ball, and what started out with a tiny bit of frustration now provides loads of fun and quiet time.

I have left the Perplexus Rookie on our coffee table and I'm amazed that everyone who picks it up has a blast trying to get the little steel ball as far as they can. Every now and then I hear numbers being shouted out because people are so thrilled at how far they are getting in the maze. There are 75 sections of the maze, and some are VERY challenging. You have to turn and twist the ball just right to keep the ball in the puzzle without having to start over.

Players beware - sometimes the people wanting a turn get a little impatient and they try to see what they can do to get you to drop the ball off the maze so they can have their turn quicker.

This fun 3D puzzle is fun AND it is great for improving dexterity, thinking, problem solving, sharing, quiet-time, providing entertainment at get-togethers, etc.

In the box: You will get a little plastic stand to set the Perplexus Rookie on when it is not being used, and the Perplexus Rookie itself. The stand keeps the ball from rolling away, and also lets you pause your puzzle as long as no one else comes along to pick it up.

The Perplexus Rookie is a fully enclosed plastic ball that is filled with a 3D puzzle. The puzzle has a start and finish, with 75 stages in between the two. The object of the puzzle is to navigate a small steel ball through the maze from start to finish without the ball falling off the maze.

There are two other versions available as well: the Original and the Epic Perplexus!

Perplexus Rookie
Perplexus ~ 6 1/2" in Diameter
Ages 4+ ~ $22.99
Games / Puzzles / 3D

Edition Reviewed: Perplexus Rookie - Review sample received courtesy of the manufacturer, many thanks!

About the Perplexus Rookie:

From the Perplexus Site: Perplexus Rookie introduces you to the world of Perplexus and a whole new realm of perplexity! Perplexus Rookie will develop your skill as you learn to bend, twist and turn your way around the gravity defying barriers. Once you try it, you won’t want to put it down!

From Amazon: Perplexus Rookie will introduce you to the three dimensional, gravity defying world of Perplexus challenges. Flip, twist and turn the sphere to navigate the steel ball along the numbered tracks through 75 barriers of varying difficulty. Perplexus Rookie is easy to play but still challenging to complete. A domed finish keeps the ball in place at the end to secure your success! Fun for the whole family. 6 1/2" in diameter.

About Perplexus: (from the site www.perplexus.net)

The concept behind PERPLEXUS was created by 3-D design teacher Michael McGinnis in the late 1970′s as a project for an art class. Michael envisioned turning his creation into a toy. He had no idea this vision would turn into a decades long odyssey to get the game to market.

After almost 20 years, Michael met the inventors at KID Group, one of the premier inventing houses in the toy industry. They collaborated on the design to make it more suitable for consumers. It was finally ready. The original product was marketed as Superplexus.

Through many twists and turns in the toy industry, Superplexus got tangled up in some changes and ended up being shelved just as it was getting started. But that isn’t the end of the story…

In 2008, a group of enthusiasts contacted KID Group about licensing Superplexus. Busy Life, LLC acquired the rights to Superplexus and launched PERPLEXUS in its current form.

Find Perplexus on Facebook and Twitter

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Real Steel Comes Out on DVD and Blu-Ray This Week! We're Picking It Up - Are You?

2012-01-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

My 5 year old went and saw Real Steel in the theaters twice (with the family)... in two days... and LOVED it! So when we saw that it was coming out this week, I knew it was a must have. With that in mind, I wanted to see if there were any deals and this is what I found...

If you go to the movie's website here, you can print a $5.00 coupon good towards the DVD/Blu-ray/Digital Copy version of the movie.

Amazon has it for pre-order for $27.99 and they will ship it directly to your house with FREE Supersaver Shipping: Real Steel (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy)

Target has it on sale for $16.99 (DVD), $24.99 (DVD/Blu-ray), $29.99 (DVD/Blu-ray/Digital - $24.99 after Coupon) PLUS Save $5.00 when you buy a Real Steel action figure ($7.49)

Walmart $17.96 (DVD), $24.96 (DVD/Blu-ray), $27.96 (DVD/Blu-ray/Digital $22.96 after Coupon)

Best Buy $22.99 (DVD/Blu-Ray), $27.99 (DVD/Blu-ray/Digital $22.99 after Coupon)

Real Steel
starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo
Dreamworks ~ PG-13Available January 24th

About the Movie: (from the website)

Enter the not-so-distant future where boxing has gone high-tech -- 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots have taken over the ring. Starring Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter turned small-time promoter, Real Steel is a riveting, white-knuckle action ride that will leave you cheering. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the thrill-packed arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback. Visually stunning and complete with knockout bonus material, Real Steel is a pulse-pounding, inspirational adventure filled with heart and soul.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Review and Giveaway: Diamond Candles (A Ring in Every Candle) Wonderful Soy Candles With a Special Jewelry Surprise Just For You!

2012-01-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

If you haven't burned a Diamond Candle, let me tell you this: It is a wonderful experience... from the beautiful scent, the clean burning candle, and the surprise ring found in each candle (each candle has a surprise ring that you pull out as it burns, and the value ranges from $10, $100, $1,000 and $5,000).

Diamond Candles are soy candles, which burn cleaner and longer than parafin candles, and they are more earth friendly as they are made from soy beans, which are both a renewable resource and biodegradable.

They are available in over 26 scents. I got to review the Fresh Snow scent which is a combination of peppermint, patchouli and eucalyptus (but I think it smells more like egg nog and sugar cookies).

I let my candle burn for quite a while and at the earliest possible moment, I pulled the ring out of the wax using a wooden chop stick. The ring was wrapped in foil and laying near the golden seal that you can see from the outside of the glass jar. I layed it on papertowel and gently opened the foil to reveal a beautiful ring (pictured below). I'm sure it is one of the $10 rings, but it is still fun and really pretty!

Fresh Snow 21 oz. Candle
by Diamond Candles
21 oz. Candle ~ $24.95
Soy Candle

Edition Reviewed: 21 oz. Fresh Scent Candle - Review sample received courtesy of Diamond Candles, many thanks!

About Diamond Candles:

Soy Candles by Diamond Candles

We are so glad you are here! If you don't know much about us yet we have real rings worth $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000 in every single earth friendly, all natural soy candle that we make.

The combination of highly fragrant premium quality soy candles, an exciting and fun 'ring reveal' experience (what ring will you find?), and a ring to wear for months and years to come means making something as boring as burning candles in your home something to look forward to.

You can take a tour and learn more about us here, watch some 'ring reveal' videos, or go ahead and take the plunge and get your first soy candle!

-The Diamond Candles Team

Diamond Candles was founded in January of 2011. The founders had a desire to make buying candles fun again, while at the same time, make an attractive and earth friendly candle that you would be excited to use in your home.

There is a ring worth $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000 in every earth friendly, all natural soy candle we make.

We are coming to a retail shelf near you, but in the meantime you can order directly from our website here.

Once you burn your candle down and find your ring, head over to facebook and upload a photo or video of you and your ring for everyone else to see!

Win one of 30 Diamond Candles! Enter below (If the Rafflecopter form is not showing, press F5 to refresh)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun, Week 5)

2012-01-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to week 5 of our Pinterest weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow. I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc). So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link below! (If you need an invitation to Pinterest, please let one of us know! It is QUICK and EASY to sign up!)

In honor of all the snow and ice storms here in Seattle, here are a few of my favorite Hot Chocolate "Pins":

Source: atasteofkoko.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: myrecipes.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Check Out Hasbro's Annual Fun and Game Event Going On Now!

2012-01-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for great savings and amazing daily deals on some of your favorite Hasbro toys and games, then check out Hasbro's Annual Fun and Game Event going on now! You can register today at www.hasbro.com/fun to print over $125 in coupons (quantities are limited, U.S. only) and get access to incredible daily deals. All daily deals include free shipping!

Kids, ages 6 - 13, can also get in on the action by playing games for a chance to win hourly prizes from their favorite brands, such as My Little Pony, FurReal Friends, Littlest Pet Shop, Beyblade, Nerf, Transformers, Connect 4, Bop It! and Simon Flash.

Bloggers - Here is a Giveaway Opp You Can Participate in For FREE!

2012-01-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

ViSalus is committed to championing Life, Health and Prosperity around the world – supporting people to achieve whatever personal victories they set their mind to.

Bloggers - you are invited to participate in a Giveaway for $100 and a Visalus Balance Kit! It is FREE to join, and will help you gain fans for your Facebook page! By promoting this event (Do a blog post...) and then posting the Giveaway you will receive one Facebook entry per blog you participate with. Simply promote the FREE event letting your fellow bloggers know about it so they will sign up and we can all benefit from our combined influence. All bloggers are welcome! There is no minimum stats or maximum amount of bloggers allowed. Visit Two Little Cavaliers for all of the details.

Walgreens Is No Longer Part of Express Scripts Pharmacy Network - What This Means For You And What You Can Do

2012-01-12T13:03:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Across the United States many people have been affected by the fact that Express Scripts has not continued its partnership with Walgreens as part of its pharmacy provider network. This means that people whose prescriptions are covered by Express Scripts can no longer utilize their normal Walgreens pharmacy and the pharmacists they have come to know and value. It also means that people are having to find new pharmacies that may not be as convenient to their home or work.

This decision also affects approximately 6 million military beneficiaries who are covered by Tricore, which is part of the Express Scripts coverage. For more detailed information, read the December 8, 2011 Walgreens press release detailing some of the happenings between Walgreens and Express Scripts. So far, over 250,000 Tricore beneficiaries and supporters have signed petitions asking Express Scripts to re-negotiate its contract with Walgreens.

If you are one of the millions affected by this action, you can contact your local media outlets to voice your concerns and dissatisfaction.

Walgreens wants to help those affected, and they are offering discounts on their Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens for those who join between now and January 31, 2012. Discounted rates are $10/family, $5/individual - see the link for details and more information.

Stay up-to-date with Walgreens easily: Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook

Bring Bathtime to New Levels of Fun - Have a Glow-in-The-Dark Bath!

2012-01-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

I got this idea from Pinterest the other day... and it has been a HUGE hit in our house! Encourage the kids to have a little fun... in the bath... by turning off the lights.

Throw in a few glow sticks (we have a bunch from parties/halloween), so we just pick a few, activate them and throw them in the water for lots of bathtime fun. When you throw them in the water, they really light up. There are three thin bracelet sticks in the tub in this picture.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

PS - I did a search online and you can find these pretty cheap on Ebay!

Cafe Well - Your Healthy Online Social Network That Will Help You Get Healthy and STAY Healthy

2012-01-11T18:01:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cafe Well for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Every year I set some personal goals: eat more veggies, lose weight, feel better, have more energy... this year, I've decided that all I really want to do is improve my physical health (exercise more regularly and work on my tummy and back muscles, which were affected by a lengthy bedrest due to pregnancy complications). If I do this one thing, my thought is that all the others will be affected too.

I was really excited when I heard about Cafe Well, which is an online social network designed to help you get and stay healthy by providing wellness programs and activities that work by getting you involved. They have groups and communities that focus on specific health related areas, along with challenges, all of which you can browse and join in!

One of the current corporate wellness programs they have going is Race to the Moon, where members of HealthAmerica can join in and participate for a chance to win some really great prizes (Two people are going to win trips to Hawaii!)! So far, in under one month, members who have joined have walked over 5 Million steps! That is really impressive!

If I was going to create a health challenge, I think I would focus on increasing time spent doing physical activity - ie, walking, running, working out, taking stairs, anything you can track that will show how much physical activity is being done and how much I'm increasing. I think a challenge with friends would make it a lot of fun and keep me involved.

Would anyone like to join me and create a challenge? Maybe an activity-based challenge or a fruits and vegetables challenge? What do you think?

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun, Week 4)

2012-01-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to week 4 of our Pinterest weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow. I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc). So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link below!

Here are a few of my favorite S'mores "Pins":

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: macaroniandcheesecake.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: thecomfortofcooking.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Here is a Great Tool For Kids, Tweens, Teens and Adults - Customizable (And Printable) Chore Charts Online At GoalForIt.com

2012-01-10T16:28:00.000-08:00

We've got a newly turned 5-year-old, and an almost 2-year-old, and I've been trying for some time to get them both on a really good, solid evening routine that covers setting good habbits, responsibilities, reinforcing healthy habbits... you know, put your dirty clothes in the hamper, not on the floor where ever you were when you put your pj's on, floss teeth, brush teeth, put away toys before bed, etc. There are times when I get that routine going really well, and then it seems to fall apart because I get sick, or we have company over or something derails us. UNTIL NOW.

I've just been introduced to the wonderful Chore Charts at Goalforit.com, where you can customize chore charts for kids, teens, and gasp - yourself, and they are completely free!

I sat down with Logan and had him help me customize his very own evening chore chart, and here is the top portion of what we came up with:

Top portion of Logan's Evening Chore Chart

He got to customize the heading and choose the "stickers" he put on when he completed each task. Right now we are tracking our progress online, but I'd like to get a few printed and pick up some stickers so we can hang them on the wall and the boys can put the stickers on themselves.

And the best part? He so badly wants to be able to put the stickers on the sheet (online and in person, either way makes him happy), that he actively asked me if he could complete the things - this was one of the first times he ASKED to put his pajamas on, brush/floss his teeth, pick up toys, etc. I am amazed at how quickly and easily this got him on board with establishing a bedtime routine.

Once this routine is established and going well, I'm going to add a morning routine! This is so great!!

I'm also going to be taking the chore chart a step farther with the help of the online version by having a prize box with different color-coded prizes the boys can choose from based on how many points they earn each week. The best part is that the online chart can help you assign/track points, so it will be so easy to see where each boy is while earning fun prizes.

This FREE Chore Chart can help teach kids, tweens and teens many important lessons, including:
Responsibility A Chore Chart is an ideal way to help your kids feel like they are making a contribution to their family by doing their part around the house.
Understanding right from wrong; Setting behavior goals is an important way to help children strengthen their character and judgment.
Healthy Habits Teaching good habits involving nutrition and physical activity are the cornerstone of prevent obesity in children and adolescents.
Money Matters The optional point system teaches children three important lessons for managing money; earning, spending and saving.

Not only can I create/edit chore charts for the boys, I can make them for myself. GoalForIt.com has also given me the ability to create goals and lists that are also trackable/update-able. You also have the ability to browse other's lists and goals for ideas to use yourself. I've seen some great organizing and cleaning lists already that I plan to embellish with my own specific tasks.

I hope you will check it out and see what you can do with the tools on the website! I'd love to see a few more organizing schedules and Spring Cleaning / Monthly Cleaning Schedules! If you make one, feel free to come back and leave a message or a link to a post and I'll add it here. :)

*Disclosure: Mom Select and GoalForIt.com have sponsored this post, but my opinions are 100% my own and I stand behind them. I'm proud to share this great resource with you!

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun, Week 3)

2012-01-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late this week - yesterday was my birthday, and I was busy ALL DAY! Yikes, by the time I got the kiddos in bed, I fell asleep myself. :)

Welcome to week 3 of our Pinterest weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow. I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc). So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link below!

Here are a few of my favorite birthday "Pins":

Source: flickr.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: ohdesserts.net via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: paperyandcakery.com via Wendi on Pinterest

RAZ 2011: A Truly Rewarding Way To Spread Some Joy #RAZ2011 @Zhuniverse

2011-12-30T10:15:00.000-08:00

This year I was chosen as one of 100 bloggers to participate in the RAZ 2011 Program with Cepia, LLC the makers of the Zhu-niverse™ toys and MomSelect™. Each blogger received between 20-96 boxes of Zhu-themed toys to give to the local charity(ies) of their choice. This is the third year that Cepia has done their RAZ program and I am SO excited to have been chosen as one of the bloggers!

I ended up receiving 20 big boxes of traditional Zhu-Zhu Pet toys and their playsets. I bundled them into 28 bundles and started my quest for the perfect charity to work with. (Pictures coming when I find my camera that the kids ended up playing with over Christmas)

I remembered this wonderful charity that I was introduced to at a local community event this summer called Heartbeat for Wounded Warriors, and I contacted Janice, the Founder/President to see if they could use the Zhu bundles. She was very excited and started reaching out within her network to see who had the greatest need for the toys.

Janice actually had me work directly with Deborah, a Lead Family Assistance Coordinator working with the National Guard so I could get the toys to the divisions that needed them the most QUICKLY. When Deborah and I met in person, she explained that many of our National Guard members went overseas when called to Active-Duty, but when they returned to resume their normal jobs (they normally have every-day jobs during the week, and National Guard jobs on the weekend, until they are called to Active Duty), many of those jobs didn't exist anymore due to the downturn in the economy and businesses closing or down-sizing, and that many members are still having trouble finding permanent jobs. She then explained that she had plenty of families that would LOVE to receive the help of the Zhu toys for Christmas, and that she would be giving them to families that day.

Bundled Set - Close-up

Filled The Back of My Van!

Deborah (Right) and Me (Left)

When I think of both the RAZ 2011 program and the Heartbeat For Wounded Warriors, I will have to admit that the whole thing brought tears to my eyes more than once. Knowing the work that Heartbeat does for soldiers and their families across the US, and that they are a locally-based charity, I am so happy to have been part of their support network for a very short time. I highly encourage you to visit their website and read more about what they do and how they help families across the United States.

About Heartbeat For Wounded Warriors

Heartbeat—Serving Wounded Warriors provides emergency assistance, therapeutic services, support groups, and morale-building programs for wounded service members and their families in Washington state. Our focus is on the wounded and injured. Heartbeat is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

We offer our programs to wounded and injured service members from all branches of the military: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy.

How we help
Heartbeat’s programs and services for wounded warriors and their families are continually growing. We offer support for many types of needs: emergency, physical, emotional, and daily living.

-Current services and programs include
-Emergency financial assistance
-Back in the Saddle Warriors—equine assisted therapy program
-Scuba Warriors—therapeutic scuba activity
-Morale-Building programs and events
-ARC kits for incoming wounded warriors

Read more about Why They Help and their History at the Heartbeat website.

I'd like to say a huge Thank You to Cepia LLC for donating the toys, and MomSelect for coordinating and communicating about this great program! I'm truly blessed and consider this experience to have been a huge benefit to my local community, and I'm very proud to have been a part of it.

Check out all the great Zhu-Zhu toys at zhuniverse.com

*Disclosure: Cepia, LLC provided the toys for the RAZ 2011 program, and MomSelect coordinated the disbursement of the toys and all communication. I did not receive any form of communication or toys for this event, but ended up taking away the satisfaction that I got to be part of a large group of bloggers helping local communities.

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun Again!)

2011-12-28T19:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to week 2 of our Pinterest weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow. I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc). So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link below!

Here are a few of my favorite holiday "Pins":

Source: liveinternet.ru via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: retrohipmama.wordpress.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Slim-Fast: Vow to Wow With Their Easy 3-2-1 Plan

2011-12-28T18:00:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know about you, but I always struggle with the war to not gain additional weight during the holiday season because of all the wonderful foods that our family cooks, bakes and broils to share with each other. Another thing I really struggle with (and not just at the holidays) is skipping breakfast. The Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan can help me with both problems!

So what exactly is the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan? It is an easy to remember meal plan as follows:

About the Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan

• The new Slim-Fast shakes are part of the Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan, The plan gives you quick results* - done right. Plus it’s flexible so you can get the structure you want and the variety you crave.

Just follow the plan:

• 3 Snacks: Three nourishing snacks a day such as Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars, fruit, nuts or veggies • Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars provide a delicious calorie-controlled snack to help curb sweet cravings between meals

• 2 Slim-Fast Shakes or Meal Bars per day: Slim-Fast shakes and meal bars are delicious and satisfying, providing the balanced nutrition of a meal and up to four hours of hunger control

• 1 Balanced Meal: Enjoy one balanced 500-calorie meal per day. As a rule, try to fill half your plate with veggies, a quarter with protein, and a quarter with whole grains

Slim-Fast products are available at Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway, Kroger and online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook.

See? 3-2-1 - Easy, right?

Now for the best part! For someone like me who has two young boys to deal with in the morning and who regularly skips breakfast, a Slim-Fast shake is a great way to get some protein and nutrition into my morning to help fuel me for the rest of the day and to properly jump-start my metabolism. From there, it should be easy to stay on board!

Check out the Slim-Fast website, where you can enter to win $10,000 in their Vow to Wow Giveaway. Stay and check out all the great tips available as well. You can also enter via the Slim-Fast Facebook Page.

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun!)

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a brand new weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow. I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc). So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link below!

Here are a few of my favorite holiday "Pins":

Source: freestylinbeth.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: alphamom.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: freefunchristmas.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Looking For A New Cell Phone? Consider The LG Doubleplay

2011-12-17T13:00:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband and I are going to be looking for new phones pretty soon, and while we don't currently have data plans, it is something we'd love to eventually add, so I'm looking for a phone that can do it ALL!

My current phone has a touch screen, which I love, so I consider that to be a MUST as it makes things so much easier than trying to scroll through the menus. It also has a 2 megapixel camera, which is another MUST because we have kids... in fact, I'd LOVE a better camera.

I've recently discovered the LG DoublePlay™, which DOES have a customizable touch screen. In fact it has TWO - one main screen, and one smaller screen which can be used at the same time as the main one. It also has a full QWERTY keyboard which saves a lot of texting/typing time and reduces typos (at least for me).

The Doubleplay™ also allows you to check email, browse the web, and update Facebook. It also has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and an HD video recorder, so pictures and video can be uploaded and shared via email, Facebook and messaging. This is perfect for me because at 5 megapixels, pictures can be re-printed and shared at a much higher quality without being blurry. YEAH!

The LG Doubleplay™ is an Android 2.3 phone, so it gives users access to the Android Market™ and allows lots of great user customizations (customize your phone with seven different home screens and the ability to have up to nine touchscreen shortcuts).

It also has some great texting features to help make texting with one or more people easier. Both my husband and I text a lot in order to keep in touch with each other and with friends and family, so the technology available here will make things so much easier.

The LG Doubleplay™ is available exclusively at T-Mobile

Since the Doubleplay™ is going to make texting easier and more convenient, help me take better pictures and videos AND help me share them, not to mention allowing me to browse the internet, check email AND update Facebook, it seems to be a perfect fit for my needs.

So now I'm curious... How much time do you spend texting and interacting with your email and Social Networks via your phone? And will a phone like the LG Doubleplay™ save you time and frustrations? :)

Why Didn't I Know About *77 Sooner? Block Unwanted "Private Caller" Numbers To Your Phone

2011-12-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months we've been getting some annoying prank phone calls from a "Private Caller" REALLY late at night, which isn't good for sleeping toddlers. Calling them back or reporting them wasn't possible due to their blocked number not showing on our Caller ID. I finally called our phone service provider today to see if anything could be done, and they told me about *77.

*77 Stops any calls with blocked numbers from successfully calling our number. Legitimate callers can follow a prompt and unblock their phone number, while those wishing to remain anonymous will not be successful!

So if you want to block Anonymous callers from bothering you, use *77. For me it is a free service, but double check with your service provider to make sure it is included in your phone service!

I wish I had known about this service before!