Mom Knows Everything

For The Love Of Music

2012-01-27T08:41:00.003-04:00

Children love music and my kids are no exception. Unfortunately the music program at their school only offers Music Class once a week. Luckily we have a musical family. My father-in-law plays the guitar and he taught my husband to play. In turn my husband taught our daughter to play and is currently starting to teach our son to play.

I think music is a very important part in a child's development. It teaches them patience, gives them a sense of accomplishment, and it's fun. Whether your child is interested in playing a gibson dsm acoustic guitar like my children or learning to play the piano encourage your child's love of music.

Getting Your Child Active With Outdoor Wooden Playsets

2012-01-25T11:25:00.002-04:00

Keeping your children active is very important. A great way for your children to get physical activity is by simply playing outside. A great fun way for your children to be active while playing outside is by having a playset for them.

Playsets come in various sizes and themes to fit your child's interest. A great place to find the perfect playset for your child is at Carolina Playsets. Carolina Playsets offers a wide range of high quality wooden playsets in various themes including boats, castles, traditional swings and many more. They carry products from well known manufacturers such as Adventure Treehouse, Gorilla, and Creative Playthings. They also carry rubber mulch play pits. This rubber mulch is made from 100% recycled rubber and offers a safer and more durable alternative to traditional wooden mulch.

Carolina Playsets also offers free on-site yard evaluations, delivery, and installation. I love the fact that they offer free installation. It means that Carolina Playsets considers you not only a valued customer, but they also considered the safety of your child. Having their professionals install your playset means that it will be safe and secure for your child to enjoys years of fun and enjoyment safely.

Not only does Carolina Playsets have a great selection of playsets and top quality service, they also offer great prices. Their prices are extremely competitive and will challenge any alternative playset price on a comparable unit.

Playsets offer not only tons of fun, but also a way for your child to be active.

Baby Shower Keepsake

2012-01-23T07:38:00.002-04:00

When it comes to babies women get the best of the deal. Sure we have to go through the whole 9 months of pregnancy and then labor, but we also get to have a baby shower while men only get to get macanudo cigars.

I love going to baby showers and I love hosting them. When it comes to baby showers one of my favorite things to have is a memory blanket. A memory blanket is when you get all the guests at the baby shower to sign a blanket and then you embroider the names on the blanket over the signatures. When the baby is born you then present the blanket to the new mother. It's a great keepsake to the new mom!

Camera Critters #198

2012-01-21T10:24:00.002-04:00

Camera Critters is a weekend meme, about what else but critters, created my very own BBFF, Misty.

This is the third sweater I made for our dog Drake in two weeks. Evidently I have way too much time on my hands. If this keeps up Drake is going to have more clothes than me and he's going to need pallet racks to store them all. What can I say though, Drake is a sweetie and it's so cold outside he needs something to help keep him warm.

Nintendo 3DS Review

2012-01-19T10:39:00.003-04:00

The hottest new craze in hand held games is the Nintendo 3DS. My son recently got one for his birthday and I have to say both him and I are very impressed with it.

The 3DS comes in Aqua Blue, Flame Red, and Cosmo Black. It features a 3D display on the upper screen and also allows for 2D display with the switch of a button. The 3DS has a lot of different features other than the 3D function including built-in motion sensor and gyro sensor, two control pads, 3D camera which allows for 3D photos, 3D video, and 3D stop-motion animations, and many other great features. The 3DS comes with a 2GB SD memory card so you don't have to buy your own like with the DSi. The 3DS is also backwards compatible which means it can play DS and DSi games.

My son loves playing the built in software including the Mii Maker, Face Raiders, and AR Games. Not only is the 3DS a big hit with my son, but my daughter also wants one for her birthday because it does so much more than her DSi.

For more information about the Nintendo 3DS you can check out the Nintendo website.

This is not a sponsored review.

Lost Mittens

2012-01-16T08:19:00.002-04:00

It happens every winter. Kids always lose one of their mittens.

When we were a child our parents used to put a string through out coats attached to our mittens in an effort to keep us from loosing them. I don't like the idea of having a string attached to my son's coat so in an effort to keep him from only having single mittens I've come up with a few ideas on how to deal with lost mittens.

1. When knitting mittens I always knit 3 mittens that way if one gets lost he always still has a pair of them.
2. If you purchase mittens instead of knitting them yourself then purchase similar color mittens.
4. Use mitten clips to attach your child's mittens to their coat. They are similar looking to short suspenders.

How do you deal with lost mittens in your house? If you have any ideas or tips feel free to share them with in the comment section.

Free Doggie Sweater Knitting Pattern

2012-01-11T21:43:00.003-04:00

During the winter months it gets very cold outside. We bundle ourselves and our children up when we have to go outside, but what about your pets, they get cold too.

Our little dog Drake hates the cold weather, so we decided he needed a warm sweater for when he goes out for his potty breaks. Instead of paying $30 or $40 for a doggie sweater I decided to knit him one.

I used a free pattern I found on Lion Brand Yarn website. All you have to do is register, and registration if free, and you have access to loads of free patterns including the one I used to make Drake's sweater.

I'm Back

2012-01-10T06:48:00.003-04:00

It's a new year, the kids are back to school, and I'm starting to feel better. Thank you all for your concern and well wishes. Come back soon to check out new posts about cleaning products, recipes, helpful hints and tips about parenting and home.

2011-12-02T10:26:00.003-04:00

Due to health issues I will be taking the rest of the month off. I will try to get some guest posts. Thank you all for your support.

Be Back Soon

2011-11-28T09:44:00.001-04:00

Due to some issues I will be taking a short leave of absence from blogging. Thank you for you patronage and check back again.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:16:00.000-04:00

Save Money With Coupons by Answers.com Great Coupons & Deals

2011-11-23T13:15:00.004-04:00

We all could use a little extra money and a great way to do that is by saving money using coupons. Answers.com has just released a new coupon and deals site called Coupons by Answers.com that finds you the web’s hottest deals, coupons, and special offers from thousands of popular retailers for their various shopping needs including consumer electronics, home and garden, clothing, travel and much more.

I love coupons and this site has is jammed packed with amazing coupons and deals. They have coupons for well known and popular stores like Target, Old Navy, Walgreens, and so many other stores that every day people shop at.

With Christmas shopping in full swing now it's more important than ever to save money where you can and Coupons by Answers.com has some great coupons and deals to help you with your holiday shopping such as ToysRUs where you can save money on Lego, Mega Bloks, Koo Koo Zoo & Koo Koo Kennel toys, and many other toys on your children's Christmas wish list.

If you're looking to save money on the latest electronic gadgets for your husband then you should check out the Best Buy coupons they have. You can save on HP TouchPad Tablet with 32GB Memory, Samsung 46" 3D LED-LCD HDTV, and Canon 18.0-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera, as well as many other electronics.

Saving money is always a good thing and Coupons by Answers.com can help you do just that. Check out all their great coupons and deals and let me know what your favorite coupon is.

Helping With Homework

2011-11-23T12:32:00.002-04:00

Homework has sure changed since I was in school not only for my teen aged daughter, but also for my son in grade 1. When it comes to my son homework is much more fun and it is given at the first of the week and has to be completed by the end of the week which means he has all week to do it. When it comes to my daughter in high school the amount and complexity of her homework is intense. Sometimes I don't even understand it and I did get a college degree. In times like this I use my good friend Google to help with her homework. I'm able to find all kinds of useful information and things like report designers and PowerPoint examples to help her with her homework.

When your child's home has got you down use your computer to help solve the problem so you can help your child.

How To Carry Your Packages This Holiday Season

2011-11-22T12:38:00.002-04:00

The busiest shopping day of the year is almost here and on Black Friday many people will be carrying arm loads of Christmas presents they bought. In order to avoid stress and damage to your back that may result in laser spine surgery there are some things you should know about carrying packages.

- If the object looks too big ask for help carrying it.
- Spread the weight out over your whole body. Don't carry all the bags in one hand.
- Make multiple trips to the car to place your packages in the car so you don't have to carry all of them.

2011 Holiday Gift Guide - Memorex Universal Game Selector

2011-11-21T11:50:00.006-04:00

My children love playing their Nintendo DS, but they often they have a tendency to change the games often. Because the games for them are so small, about the size of a SD card, they often get misplaced and lost. Nintendo DS games costs around $40 and replacing lost games can get to be very expensive. I have found the perfect solution for this though, the Memorex Universal Game Selector.

The Memorex Universal Game Selector fits into where the game cartridge goes, allows you to store 3 games and easily switches from game to game with a touch of a button without having to remove the games. This means no more lost or misplaced games.

Product Features -

Universal design compatible with the Nintendo DS™ Lite DS™ Lite, DSi™, DSi XL™ and the new 3DS™
Allows you to store and play up to three DS and/or 3DS games LED backlit speakers and d-pad add an element of style
Slim design allows for playing without impeding access to all controls
Plug and play by simply plugging into any DS console game cartridge port
Powered by the DS console and no batteries required

The Memorex Universal Game Selector is a huge hit in my house with both the kids and me. The kids love being able to switch what game they are playing so easily and I love the fact that I'm not searching for lost games or having to buy new ones to replace the lost ones and then finding them a few weeks later. If your children play any of the Nintendo DS consoles then this is a must have and would make a great Christmas gift!

You can find out more information about the The Memorex Universal Game Selector by clicking here and it can be purchased for around $19.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, Sears and Kmart.

The product in this review was given to me free of charge. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product. No other form of compensation has been given. I am not responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. Click here for my disclosure policy.

Your Favorite Shows Without Breaking The Bank

2011-11-21T07:42:00.003-04:00

This is my favorite time of year for watching television. With all the holiday specials on you don't want to miss a thing. Television can be expensive, but with the great Charter Cable TV Deals you will be sure to not miss any of your favorite holiday shows and save money at the same time.

Charter Cable offers a variety of bundle packages including bundle packages and HD and DVR services. Another great thing about Charter Cable is that they have On Demand. You can choose from over 6000 different shows including sports, popular television series, children shows, and new movie releases. Charter Cable also has parental controls so that you can be sure your children are watching family friendly television shows and not have to worry about what they are watching on TV.

Charter Cable allows you to watch what you want to watch without breaking the bank. With their wide range of different programming packages you'll be able to get the channels you want and not miss out on your favorite shows no matter if it's science fiction, history, or sports. Enjoy this holiday season with your favorite holiday specials, new and old time favorites, on Charter Cable.

Saving Money On Christmas

2011-11-18T10:27:00.003-04:00

Christmas is just a little over a month away so it's time to start thinking about Christmas preparations. Christmas is a very expensive time of year and saving money where every you can is very important. I found two great Christmas deals to share with you.

The first is some amazing Christmas Central deals on a wide variety of Christmas decorations. They have everything from savings on lights, tree stands, and even $80 off a life size Santa decoration.

What's Christmas without Christmas cards and the next deal I have to share with you is Christmas Cards Direct coupons that can help you save on your personalized Christmas cards this year. Everyone loves getting personalize Christmas cards and with the help of this great deal you can save money while ordering yours.

Christmas is quickly approaching and saving money is a great way to make your holidays a little more festive.

$100 Gift Certificate From Balance Bikes Canada Winner

2011-11-17T07:04:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Cheryl, the winner of the $100 Gift Certificate From Balance Bikes Canada.

Saving Money & Winning Prizes With Social Networks

2011-11-16T15:07:00.001-04:00

We all use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to connect with friends and find out whats new, but did you know social networking sites can also help you save money and win great prizes? You can find great coupons and deals listed on company and product Facebook and Twitter pages. I've gotten some great coupons, including free items, on Facebook such as Nice N' Easy hair dye and Crystal Light drink mixes. You can also find out about great contests companies and stores are also having. Damart UK holds a Thermal Thursdays contest on Twitter where if you follow them on Twitter and retweet the contest you can have a chance to win a pair of their famous thermals.

So the next time you are on Facebook playing Farmville take some time to search for your favorite products and company's Facebook page and get some great coupons. And when you are on Twitter catching up on the latest news from your favorite celebrity look for favorite store's or product's Twitter page and check out any contests they are having. Social networks aren't just for socializing, they are also for helping you save money and win great prizes so the next time someone says you're on social networking sites too much you can just tell them you're saving money.

Last Chance To Enter To Win

2011-11-16T07:29:00.003-04:00

Today is the last day to enter to win a $100 gift certificate towards a new bicycle from Balance Bikes Canada. To find out how to enter simply click here.

The winner will be posted tomorrow. Good luck!

Clean Well Antibacterial Hand & Face Wipes

2011-11-15T10:51:00.002-04:00

With the cold and flu season upon us we want to make sure our children stay as healthy as possible. One thing that can help to protect your kids, and yourself, from colds and flu's this season is to wash your hands as often as possible. Unfortunately water and soap aren't always available when you are out and about so that's were Clean Well Antibacterial Hand & Face Wipes comes in.

Clean Well Antibacterial Hand & Face Wipes kills germs with the knockout punch of a patented formulation of thyme oil wrapped in the velvet glove of the warm, inviting scent of vanilla. Perfect for fall and winter and it evokes childhood memories of baking and ice cream! Convenient individual pop-up wipes make saying goodbye to germs and dirt as simple as 1, 2, 3 - pull a wipe from the canister, unfold and wipe over hands. A better way to clean hands. Each canister contains 40 Biodegradable Wipes.

Wipes are always a great thing to have in your purse and in your car. Kids can be a little on the messy side and with Clean Well Antibacterial Hand & Face Wipes you can clean up their face and hands and while killing the germs that make them sick. Clean Well Antibacterial Hand & Face Wipes kills 99.99% of germs without the use of alcohol so they are a kid friendly. I love the fact that not only do they kill the germs, but they also moisturize the skin because we all know how the cold air can dry out your children's skin and makes it red and chaffed.

You can purchase Clean Well Antibacterial Hand & Face Wipes and any of their other wonderful products from their website, Whole Food Market, select Target stores, The Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Amazon, and other retailers.

The product in this review was given to me free of charge. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product. No other form of compensation has been given. I am not responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. Click here for my disclosure policy.

Dr. Drip Coffee

2011-11-14T07:23:00.003-04:00

Like every other mother out there my days are busy. One thing I depend upon to get me through the day is my coffee. Not only does it wake me up in the morning it helps to relax me during the hectic pace of the day. I'm very particular about my coffee. I prefer brewed not instant depending upon what time of the day whether I want regular or decaf.

When it comes to making yourself a cup of coffee making a whole pot sometimes is a waste. If it's just you drinking the coffee why bother making a whole pot. Dr. Drip Coffee is the perfect solution.

Dr. Drip is a single serve brewing system that is also recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. You simply open the single serving pack, place the brewing system on top of your mug, pour in hot water, and enjoy your cup of brewed coffee.

Another thing that is great about Dr. Drip Coffee is that you can throw it in your purse and take it with you. A lot of my friends don't drink coffee, only tea or those that do drink coffee use instant. With Dr. Drip Coffee you can enjoy your brewed coffee anywhere whether it is at home, at a friends house, at work, or even while camping.

Dr. Drip Coffee comes in four different types.

- The Double Daily Remedy Premium Signature Blend
- The Ultimate Pick-me-up Dark Roasted Sumatran Blend
- The Organic Tonic 100% Organic Blend
- The Decaf Energizer Decaffeinated Premium Blend

Not only is Dr. Drip Coffee great tasting, it's also convenient. You can find out more about Dr. Drip Coffee and how to order it by going to www.DrDripCoffee.com.

The product in this review was given to me free of charge. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product. No other form of compensation has been given. I am not responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. Click here for my disclosure policy.

Topricin A Safe And Effective Pain Reliever

2011-11-11T11:58:00.008-04:00

As mothers we often worry about what's in our children's food and what's in their medicine. When it comes to their food we check ingredient lists and choose what's best for them to eat. When it comes to their medicine you worry about recalls and side effects so it can be a lot more difficult to choose what best, but thankfully there is a product like Topricin.

Topricin is a safe and effective homeopathic pain reliever and healing cream that contains natural biomedicines. It doesn't contain petroleum or chemical preservatives which makes it an ideal treatment for the whole family. Topricin offers a variety of products including Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream, Topricin Junior, and Topricin Foot Therapy Cream.

Topricin Junior is an all natural product that formulated for children's injuries to safely and effectively treat your children's pain. Kids often get bumps and bruises, scrapes and cuts, strains and sprains simply from playing. Topricin Junior stops the pain while it helps to heal the damage that is causing the pain. Specially formulated for children, pediatrician-recommended Topricin Junior is odorless, greaseless, and free of parabens, petroleum, and other chemicals so you know that it's safe and effective for your child. It is such a safe and effective product that it is a Winner of the 2010 Parent Tested/Parent Approved (PTPA™) Seal of Approval. Topricin cares so much about children that not only did they make this safe and effective treatment for your children, but they also are donating 5% of all sales of Topricin Junior to Ryan McElroy Children's Cancer Foundation.

Topricin Junior is effective for -

Bruising
Bug Bites
Eczema
Growing Pains
Insect Bites
Joint Pain
Minor Burns
Muscle Sprains
Scrapes
Scratches
Strains

I love this product and so do my kids. They love the fact that when they have a boo-boo and pain they don't have to take yucky tasting medication for it to feel better. They also like the fact that it's not a stinky cream. I love the fact that it's safe and effective for my kids, and it makes them feel better.

Topricin Foot Therapy Cream is an all natural product that formulated for foot and ankle pain. It is perfect for common sports injuries such as plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, strains, sprains, leg cramps, and impact injuries and bruising. It's effective for heel pain, gouty arthritis, peripheral neuropathic pain and neuroma.
It is completely safe for diabetics who often have foot issues. Topricin Foot Therapy Cream soothes the burning, throbbing nerve pain in the feet, as well as treating dry, cracking skin in the feet.

Topricin Foot Therapy Cream is effective for -

Burning Nerve Pain
Heel Sours
Bunions
Gout
Sports Injuries
Plantar Fasciitis
Shin Splints
Sprains

My husband works on his feet all day lifting heavy objects. By the end of the day is feet and legs are often very sore. Topricin Foot Therapy Cream works great to soothe his aching feet and legs.

Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream is the safest alternative to all prescription and non-prescription OTC pain relieving medication. It stimulates and supports the body's desire to "Heal the Damage that is Causing the Pain". Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream contains11 homeopathic medicines which are proven to be safe and effective for the elderly, children, pregnant women and all skin types.

Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream is effective for -

Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Joint Pain
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Trauma Injuries
Shoulder Pain
Lower Back Pain
Muscle Cramps
Bruises
Strains
Post Surgical Pain

Between all the typing I do and all the Christmas knitting and crocheting I've been doing my carpal tunnel syndrome has been really acting up. I found that Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream works great for it. It's effective, doesn't smell, and it's non-greasy so it doesn't interfere with the work I have to do.

If you're looking for a natural, safe, and effective pain reliever for you and your family then I suggest you try the line of Topricin products.

The products in this review was given to me free of charge. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product. No other form of compensation has been given. I am not responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. Click here for my disclosure policy.

How Much Turkey Do You Need

2011-11-10T13:49:00.000-04:00

When it comes to Thanksgiving we all automatically think about turkey, but how much turkey is enough turkey. It always seems like we either never have enough turkey or we end up with way too much left over turkey. When it comes to figuring out exactly how much turkey you need a great rule of thumb is to purchase 2 pounds per person. If you are having a large family Thanksgiving dinner with 20 quests then you would need at least a 40 pound turkey and you might need floor scales to weigh it, but you want to make sure you have enough turkey for everyone so 2 pounds per person is the general rule. If you want to make sure you have some left over turkey I suggest you purchase 4 extra pounds that way you have enough left over for hot turkey sandwiches.

How Expensive Is It to Have a Child Today?

2011-11-10T13:47:00.003-04:00

Having a child is the most wonderful thing in the world, but it can also be one of the most expensive things. Things like food, shelter, clothes are most commonly thought of when you think about the costs of raising a child, but what about all the other costs involved? Things like health care, dental care, daycare, school costs, activities, gifts, and personal items all add up. It costs around $10,000 per year to raise a child until they are 18 years old.

Guess what happens when they turn around 18 years old? You child will need to go to college or university to get a post secondary education which is a must in this day and age. So far it costs you around $180,000 to raise you child to their 18th birthday and now you have to come up with money for college or university. Including such things as room and board, books, and miscellaneous expenses it costs anywhere in the range of $20,000 to $40,000 per year depending upon the type of school you child attends. Thankfully there is help though. With Gerber Life child insurance you can start saving now for your child's post secondary education. We all want the best for our children and providing the best education we can for them is a must.