Beaches WonderFALL

I know where I want to go on MY next vacation: Beaches Luxury Included® Family resort located in Turks and Caicos! Labeled by Parents Magazine as a "Top Ten" family beach resort, Beaches Resorts seems like it would be perfect for my next family getaway. With four all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, all set upon the most gorgeous white sand beaches in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica, the hardest part will be deciding which Beaches to choose!

And what do you get for your money? Unlimited dining from a variety of gourmet and specialty cuisine restaurants serving great breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not only are the standard meals included, but kids and parents have access to "anytime snacks" and beverages. During the day you can play tennis, golf, or just go to one of their state-of-the art fitness centers. To take advantage of the beautiful water setting, Beaches offers snorkeling and scuba diving with all equipment and instruction included. From wading pools for the littlest tots to awesome Pirate's Island Waterparks sure to keep the big kids entertained, and amazing pools that feature swim-up bars where parents can relax with friends, Beaches has something the whole family can enjoy.
When the sun sets, families can get together and enjoy nightly entertainment and stage shows or parents can schedule a nanny for the kids, while you enjoy some adult time at the piano bar. At the end of the night everyone can collapse and rest up for the next day in beach side top-notch accommodations, from ocean view and beachfront rooms to lavish one and two bedroom suites, some including your very own personalized Butler Service. Even roundtrip airport transfers, hotel taxes and all gratuities are included.

Not only that, there are also some amazing programs at Beaches Resorts your children will love! From spending time with Elmo and friends as part of The Beaches Resorts Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street® and story time with Elmo, baking with Cookie Monster, dancing with Zoe, exploring with Grover, making music with Bert & Ernie, to Sesame Street stage shows, character parades and character breakfasts (for a nominal charge). Supervised kids camps for all ages are available, from newborns to tweens and teens, the Crayola Art Camps and an Xbox 360® Game Garage, featuring the latest video games the entire family can enjoy. All makes me wish I was a kid again and certainly reassures me that the kids will be well entertained while my husband and I enjoy some adult vacation time!

I know what you are thinking...worried about summer crowds? Don't be! Beach Resorts has just announced their "WonderFALL Celebration" which takes place during the off-peak season months of September and October! During WonderFALL, you can save up to 45% off published rates and get 2 Nights Free (on stays of 7 nights or more). And as part of this WonderFALL Celebration, Beaches has a great fall line up of special events and activities. From even more Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street® that includes the premiere of a brand new stage show and a new activity with Abby Cadabby, exclusive Gordon and Elmo live performances and special parenting workshops hosted by Sesame educators, to Dive In Movies, "Baby You're A Star Photo Contest"( where your little one could win the chance to be featured in the next Beaches brochure) and even a celebration for Grandparents, it's all happening ONLY this FALL at Beaches family resorts! Be sure to check out their website for all the cool promotions!

This review was sponsored by Mom Central Consulting.

Keeping Safe This Summer

Ah, summertime. Kids everywhere have given rousing shouts of glee when the last school bell rang and the carefree days of summer began. Even my 5 year old sang his "school time is over" song with gusto as he graduated preschool this year. And it's our job as parents to make sure that summertime is as carefree as it can be for our kids. That means addressing safety issues from insects bites to sun burns to keeping hydrated in this heat (over 100 F here today already!) And I'm delighted to share with you some ideas for keeping safe this summer (in conjunction with Mom Central, The Clorox Company and the MommyDocs):

Have a Sun Protection Strategy: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Look for products that provide "broad spectrum" coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Use this sunscreen routine with your child--daily application 30 minutes before going outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner if swimming, toweling off, or sweating). Creating a routine will establish good habits for the future. In addition, don't forget a wide brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun protective clothing.

Keep Pests off Your Little One: In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child. For pesky mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellent. Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on children under 2 months old.

Keep the Pool Cool and Clean: Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as bacteria. To keep the pool free from unwanted "swimmers," after each use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of ¾ cup regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age when they are around any water; whether it's a bucket, a small backyard plastic pool, or the local community pool.

High Heat Means Hydrate: Excessive heat exposure may cause your child to experience a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink! Make sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.

Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies: Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail, and picnicking in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather. But all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid cream or calamine. If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not getting better, call your doctor right away.

About Mommy Docs: "We are 2 moms, 2 docs, with 2 husbands, 4 children, 2 dogs and 2 silver minivans." You can "meet the mommy docs" here and peruse their site here for even more great summer time safety tips. Their website contains a wealth of information in various formats: podcasts, videos, a separate blog with even more questions & answers, and FAQs on specific ailments. Or you can even e-mail them your medical questions! I have bookmarked this page - Mommy Docs really fills a gap in for me now that my children have outgrown my Dr. Sears Baby Book (my "other" bible). Just remember to keep this in mind:

About The Clorox Company: The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2007 revenues of $4.8 billion. With 7,600 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in 25 countries and markets them in more than 100 countries.

This review was sponsored by Mom Central Consulting.

The Pregnancy Journal

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS MELISSA!

The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy

by A. Christine Harris

List Price: $19.95

Spiral-bound: 206 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books; Spi Rev edition (January 20, 2005)
Language: English

Product Description: "Since its publication in 1996, this definitive journal for expectant families has sold over a million copies. Author A. Christine Harris brings a revised and thoroughly updated edition to today s parents-to-be. Still featuring daily entries, a personalized timeline, and pregnancy glossary, the revised edition provides a clearer picture of the baby's in-utero development and the latest advice about giving a growing baby every advantage prior to birth."

When I was pregnant with my first child, I did a lot of research. I wanted to know exactly what was going on with my body and my baby. I remember finding a website that showed how the baby was developing week by week and I printed those pages out and put them in a 3-ring binder so I could read it as the pregnancy developed (I really did!). I read as many books as I could get my hands on and quizzed my doctor endlessly. I wish I this Pregnancy Journal had been around because truly, it looks to be the best book I've ever seen for the type of information I had been craving.

The journal is organized into chapters:

Chapter 1: Personalizing the Pregnancy Journal
Chapters 2 through 10: Lunar Month 1 - 9*
Chapter 11: Full Term Plus
Chapter 12: Labor and Delivery Details (including a few pages to fill in about your new baby and the world around him)
Glossary/Index

*"development is measured in lunar months, not calendar months, which consist of 28 days organized into four weeks of seven days each"

At the beginning of each Lunar Month chapter, there is a page that has "things to do this month" and each day of the journal has some detail about your baby and a separate fact about you and your pregnancy, and sections called "For Your Health", "Did You Know" and "Parenting Tips." At the bottom of each page is a quote from a literary or historical figure - two of my favorites are: "People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one" by Leo J. Burke and "The most important thing a father can do for his children is love their mother" by Theodore Hesburgh (which happens to be on a framed print in my son's room). And I love that the book is spiral bound - seems like that would make it a lot easier to write in. This journal is a must-have for anyone you know who is contemplating pregnancy or just got pregnant (you'll want to have this from the very beginning!)

About the author: A. Christine Harris, Ph.D. is a professor of Psychology at Cosumnes River College, chair of the college's Behavioral Sciences Department, coordinator of the Women's Studies Program, and author of the book Child Development.

Two companion books also sold by Chronicle Books, and written by A. Christine Harris are: Baby's First Year Journal : A Day-To-Day Guide to Your Baby's Development During the First Twelve Months (Spiral-bound) and The Toddler Journal : A Week-By-Week Guide to Your Toddler's Development from Ages 1 to 3 (Spiral-bound).

This amazing journal is available for purchase on the Publisher's Website or at Amazon.com and you can find other reviews of The Pregnancy Journal in Storknet and The New York Times.

**WIN IT!! I'm giving away my brand new copy of this journal because I will not be having any more babies and have no need for it. If you want to win it, leave a comment here telling me who the book will be for if you win it. YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Giveaway is open until midnight, EST, Thursday July 3, 2008. Good luck!**

Mother Talk

Schlage Electronic Keypad Locks

Who has a key to your home? Your cleaner? Your neighbor? Multiple family members? How does that make you feel? Not very secure I bet. I know I used to worry all the time about all the keys that are out there - what if someone lost one? How do I get them back from cleaners I've "let go" and did they make a copy first? And what about you moms of older "latch-key" children? Do you worry about them keeping track of the key every day?

I'm not the only one with concerns. Take a look at this recent Mom Central survey:

➢ 80% of Mom respondents reported that stories of local crimes encourage them to rethink their current locks.

➢ 70% of Moms have given keys to people who are not members of the household and when asked to consider how many non-residents have keys to their homes, 86% reported feeling at least moderately concerned.

➢ 84% of Moms have experienced a child, babysitter, or housekeeper entering a designated "off-limits" area in the home, sometimes with serious consequences.

➢ Almost half (48%) of survey Moms said they would like to leave a spare key hidden outside of the house but don't feel comfortable doing so.

➢ 84% of respondents reported that house members have been locked out of their home at least a couple times per year.

Schlage Locks has found a way to address all those concerns with a new electronic keypad lock and deadbolt. The keypad allows access via a four-digit code that can be customized so members of your family, guests, nannies, and service providers can all access your home using different codes. Each code (up to 19 on each lock) can be easily set up for a new person or deactivated if you no longer want someone to have access to your house. No more keeping track of spare keys, sending your children to school with a key around their necks, or changing the entire lock if your keys get lost or stolen. No more worrying about you or your child being locked out of the house! Brilliant!

The locks come in a variety of models. The lock I was sent to try out was the Plymouth Design: "The timeless solid brass Plymouth design is a simple and elegant complement to any entry door. FINISH SHOWN: 505 Bright Brass MODEL NUMBER: BE365 PLY 505"

Features and Benefits:

• Innovative Turn Lock feature allows you to lock & leave without a key
• Provides the convenience of keyless access; customizable to fit your security needs
• Ideal for front doors, side & back doors, garage entry doors, etc.
• Easily replace most existing deadbolts with a screwdriver in about 30 minutes
• Ready to use right out of the box - 9 volt battery included
• No programming required; preset with two user codes so it's ready to use right out of the box

My husband installed the lock on our front door and he agreed - it was incredibly simple to do so. Within the advertised 30 minutes, we were up and running. And I love not having to have a key to leave the house. For instance, when I leave in the morning, juggling so many things in my hands like we all do, I just touch the SCHLAGE keypad and turn the outside deadbolt and that's it. When I return, I just enter my code and turn the deadbolt back. No need to carry a key on our evening neighborhood walks! No need to search the bottom of my purse for a key when I get home from work with two hungry kids ready to get inside already! (If you are worried about the battery dying and being stuck outside, the locks come with an actual key as backup - that was MY first question).

I highly recommend Schlage Electronic Keypad Locks. Purchase one yourself for your own peace of mind.

This review was sponsored by Mom Central Consulting.

TripFLIX

TripFLIX

Actors: Alex Fast, Emily Woodhouse
Directors: Ilana Bittner, Matt Craven
Format: Anamorphic, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Studio: TripFLIX LLC
Run Time: 120 minutes
Price: $19.99

Gas prices got you down? Having to scale back your summer vacation plans or cancel them all together? Have I got good news for you. Take your family on a cross-country vacation without even leaving your living room with TripFLIX!

"Welcome to TripFLIX, the award-winning interactive travel adventure (be sure to click on that link - this DVD has gotten some VERY impressive rewards!), now available on DVD! TripFLIX (http://www.tripflix.com/) is a fun-filled interactive DVD that features some of the coolest kid-friendly places to travel across the U.S. (and with 25 featured locations, you’re bound to find something close to home – important considering astronomical fuel prices!) The DVD is designed to help families pick an unusual travel destination – whether it’s clear across the country or right in their own backyard – and also to keep kids entertained and excited while en route. TripFLIX is packed with trivia questions, funny banter from the teen hosts/travel guides, and little known facts about destinations as varied as “Carhenge” in Nebraska and Space Camp in Huntsville, IL.

TripFLIX features twenty five fun and educational destinations from coast to coast! There’s something here for everyone, for kids of all ages! These family-friendly adventures are sure to entertain for countless hours, while teaching valuable lessons about the history and culture of the United States of America. "

I am a HUGE fan of this DVD and I'm not even the target audience! I have to confess that I popped this DVD in, with plans to watch about an hour one night and the rest another time. After all, I get up at 4 a.m. each day and I need my sleep. But I started watching TripFLIX and I was hooked! I ended up staying up late just to watch the whole thing at once (though you can watch individual segments as you wish). Told with a deft sense of humor (I enjoyed the Afraidiana Jones segments in particular - though I'm not sure I got that name right!), the segments will hold your child's attention as he or she is learning some really fun facts about our nation and it's history. I have to say, I, myself, learned a great deal I didn't know (like where the phrase "Your nose to the grindstone" came from!) and because of this video? My family is going to search out for the World's Largest Wooden Elephant when we travel to Atlantic City this summer.

The teenage hosts (Emily and Alex) are very, very good actors and have a genuine friendship and rapport that keep the "plot" moving. This DVD took 40 crew members filming through 36 states with 7,800 miles of driving and 13,000 miles of flying. Wowsa! My hat is off to the producers, Dave and Ilana Bittner. I'll be watching this (over and over) again, let alone my kids!

Not convinced yet? Be sure to check out the TripFlix trailer here along with a sample destination (Space Camp!) and a bloopers reel. Then head on over to TripFlix to purchase your own copy.

I am proud to be a member of Team Mom, which sponsored this review.

Oopsie Dazie!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS ICE CREAM MAMA!

Oopsie Dazie - Creative Hair Accessories for your Girly Girl!

"Clips so cute you'll buy outfits to match!"

The founder and designer of Oopsie Dazie is a stay at home mom of two, and she decided to start her own business, "making unique, trendy and affordable hair accessories for babies thru tweens!" And what a wonderful business it is. Cindy mailed me three samples of her work and I am very impressed!

We received two Baby Gator Clips w/Grip Strip [(0-2 years or thin/fine hair) $2.00 each] and one Spring Clip [(3 years and up) $3.00 each] (those are baby gator clips in the picture above). I use clips every day on my daughter's fine hair (holding back bangs as we grow them out). Regular clips usually slip right through her hair and get lost. Not so with these Oopsie Dazie clips! The "Grip Strip" kept that clip in her hair through hours of play. And they are gorgeous too!

The ordering process looks simple enough as well - the hard part would be choosing the fabric!:

"How to Order:
Step 1: Choose your ribbon and clip type in the order boxes at the bottom of the page
Step 2: Allow us to add the perfectly matched topper
Step 3. If you prefer gems, buttons, flowers, etc., add those instructions in the comments section when you checkout."

Besides clips, Oopsie Dazie also has:

--Bows $3 and $4

--Headbands $5 and $6

--Headwraps $1.50, $3 and $5

--Ponies $3

--Clip Caddies $10 and $18

--Bobbies $2 and $3 (spell out your child's name on a bobby pin! very cool!)

Bonus? FREE SHIPPING to U.S. and Canada residents!

**WIN IT! Cindy is graciously offering a giveaway of any two products of your choice (not including the clip caddies) to one winner! To win, cruise on over to Oopsie Dazie and leave me a comment here telling me the fabric and style you'd choose if you win. BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT or you will be disqualified. Giveaway ends Monday, June 30, midnight, EST. Good Luck!**

Living The Dream

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS BUDDHA GIRL!

If you didn't win and you'd like to buy a t-shirt, use the coupon code 14blog to get 15% off! The code is good until July 31st !

LTD Chix

"Did you ever "dream" life would be like this?

Apparel for Mom's Like You!

Living the Dream: Fun Apparel for On-the-go Moms with a Sense of Humor

What happens when a former account executive (Nina Frye), and a former CPA and corporate financial analyst (Cindi Schmitzer) "trade in everyday jobs to pursue the challenges of raising children?" They start Living the Dream of course! And they've developed a line of t-shirts to reflect the "dream" all of us moms are living.

The tee-shirts (and new! a pack of 10 notecards) come in 10 different designs, all of which I would LOVE to have in MY wardrobe one day because each one reflects a different part of my life so perfectly:

This is the Working tee I received for review (click on the link). The shirt is a beautiful aqua "100% cotton jersey crew neck with contrasting white trim at the neck, cuffs and hem." It fits perfectly and suits me perfectly (the description on the web site? Perfect for me, as a mom with a full time job outside the home! "Who says you can’t have it all? Working mothers unite! You can indeed bring home the bacon and fry it up in 30 seconds in the microwave. What you can’t have are expensive, dry-clean-only suits in light colors. Or makeup that's applied before you get to the office. Or on-time appointments. Or matching shoes all the time. But other than that, you can so pull this off. ")

LTD Chix has several sizing choices too since we all know Moms do not come in any one shape or size!:

Fitted T-shirts - They are soft, comfortable, fitted t-shirts that run small, please order one size up.S (2-4) M (6-8) L (8-10) XL (10-12) - these are approximate sizes.

Loose-fitting T-shirts - They are a more loose-fitting style that runs true to size. S (4-6) M (8-10) L (10-12) XL (12-14) 2XL (Plus size) - these are approximate sizes.

Long sleeve T-shirts - Soft, comfortable, fitted long sleeve t-shirts that run small, please order one size up.S (2-4) M (6-8) L (8-10) XL (10-12) - these are approximate sizes.

Thermals - very light weight and soft. They do not shrink and run big. Please order one size down.XS (4-6) S (6-8) M (8-10) L (10-12) XL (12-14) 2XL (Plus size) - these are approximate sizes.

And I'm not the only one who loves this company. LTDchix was named a Top 100 Home-Based Business in America !

And something exciting right now? They are having a contest and you could be a big winner! In their own words:

"Hello Everyone, Soon it will be time to present our 2 new latest designs for the fall/winter season. However, instead of Cindi and I deciding what they would be, we are offering our LTDchix fans a chance to participate in the creation of these designs. We will be introducing a new “Mom" and the latest news is that we will also be introducing a new “Dad” line. We would love your help with ideas. Please submit your idea for a new mom and/or dad. The winner will win a free t-shirt with their winning design and recognition on our site with your photo wearing the t-shirt. Please email ideas in detail along with how many kids if any, should be included in the design. Written descriptions are welcome as well as drawings. Please note that the drawings should be simple and to the point. They cannot contain too much filler otherwise, the t-shirt looks too busy. The contest is for one month and will be open from June 15 – July 15, 2008. Please submit your descriptions and drawings to info@ltdchix.com. Thank you and look forward to receiving all of your great ideas. Good luck!"

**WIN IT!! LTDchix is generously giving one lucky winner a t-shirt of their choice!! To win, go to their website and tell me the name of their illustrator in an email to me at cpamomva at hotmail dot com (subject line: LTD CHIX). Giveaway is open until midnight, Friday the 27th of June, EST. Good Luck!**

Mama Rock's Rules

Mama Rock's Rules
Ten Lessons for Raising a Houseful of Successful Children

By Rose Rock (with Valerie Graham)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Collins (April 8, 2008)

List Price: $22.95

"Being a parent is not about being right, it's about doing right."

Product Description from Publisher: "As a mother who does not shy away from the hard conversations, Rose isn't afraid to present strong ideas about boundaries, discipline, choices, and consequences—and she tells it like it is. In Mama Rock's Rules, Rose shares the funny and highly practical lessons she learned both as a parent and an educator, while offering strategies for teaching a child to be self-reliant in this world. Written with a kicky blend of maternal spirituality and a "don't mess with me or you won't get old" sense of authority, the book spotlights 10 vital rules, each tackling a specific parenting issue. From "I Am Your Mama, Not Your Friend," which helps parents regain their authority and establish respectful relationships with their children, to "Don't Lie Down with Anything You Don't Want to Live with Forever," which takes a different approach to the often tricky conversation about sex, each topic is lovingly explained and bolstered by stories from Rose Rock's own childhood and parenting experiences. We will also hear from her own kids, as they share memories and anecdotes about what it was like to grow up in the Rock household. Rose's heartfelt and no-nonsense advice—delivered with a dose of wit and homespun humor—will resonate with thousands of parents and will inspire them to teach their kids right, whether their brood is one child or ten."

I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it. Why? Because my mama is a LOT like Mama Rose. While I thought she was the meanest mother ever when I was growing up, now I see how wise she really was. Just like Mama Rose Rock (yes, she is the mom of comedian Chris Rock). And if you are tired of all the usual discipline books or simply bewildered by all of them, be sure to pick up this one. It may be the only one you need.

Mama Rock gets back to the basics - back to the time when children were children and parents actually parented them. Her ten chapters cover the range of necessary rules that enabled her to raise such successful children:

1. I Am your Mama, Not Your Friend
2. No Child Really Wants to be Left Alone
3. Wipe Your Mouth Out Before You Come Into the House
4. Feed Them and They Will Tell You Everything
5. You Are Whatever You Answer To
6. Reading is Righteous
7. Push "Unable" off the Table
8. Don't Lie Down with Anything You Don't Want to Live with Forever
9. Good Memories Are the Best Things You Can Give Your Children (Besides Good Manners)
10. Spirituality Is Not Just for Sundays
    
    

Every chapter has stories and examples on the side of the pages (from Rose's family and friends) that relate to what is on the page - and she wraps up each chapter with a nice summary called "Remember Mama Rock's Rules and Strategies." Another cool extra is "Mama's Mojo" sprinkled throughout - her "best secret weapons" (specific strategies).

5 out of 5 binkies. An excellent and practical parenting manual.

"To be a parent is and should be a calling. There is absolutely nothing as great, challenging, or rewarding as raising a child. In all things, remember the main truth: You are the parent!"

Rose Rock
Rose Rock, mother to 10 children and 17 foster children, is an educator specializing in preschool and special education. For 17 years she taught and operated a preschool and day care center first in New York and then in South Carolina. A sought-after speaker, Rock founded Rock This 619, a nonprofit youth empowerment organization. She is also the host of the weekly radio program "The Mom Show," broadcast from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Valerie Graham
Valerie Graham, a graduate of Harvard University, is a writer, magazine editor, and society columnist. She is part of the on-air and production team of "The Mom Show" with Rose Rock. The mother of three children and the grandmother of four, she lives in South Carolina.

Baby Gizmo Buying Guide

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS JENN!

The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide: From Pacifiers to Potties . . . Why, When, and What to Buy for Pregnancy Through Preschool

by Heather Maclean with Hollie Schultz

(the Mom Editors and Founders of BabyGizmo.com and Creators of the Award-Winning Little Laureate Series - see my review of that awesome product here)

List Price: $16.99

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 12, 2008)

Product Description from Amazon.com: "The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide is the first comprehensive baby product reference book designed to go to the store with you. Instead of what to buy, Heather Maclean, a mom and founder of the Little Laureate and Baby Gizmo websites, will teach you how to buy more than 400 different types of baby products. Featuring definitions, product history, and key features, this is a real-life, everything-you-need-to-know resource. It includes advice on whether you really need a product, when to buy it, and how long your baby will use it. This guide will help you make the right purchase the first time to match your unique lifestyle and needs. It is designed to help you be a smarter, more efficient baby product shopper-to keep your thoughts and research organized and to get you in and out of the store in record time. The great writing and fun "been there, really do understand what you are going through" tone will make this guide every expectant parent's favorite book."

From the back cover: "You've waited your whole life to get your hands on that magic baby product scanning gun. And it's brilliant fun. For the first three hours. And then it gets downright overwhelming...You're a smart chick-why is this so hard?" [AMEN, sister! I have two degrees and a professional license - and still had a hard time figuring out what my baby really needed!] This buying guide tells you:

• What you really need versus what's just nice to have
• Which products to include (and not!) on your baby registry
• The best time of year to buy certain items
• Which products to store in the perfectly packed diaper bag
• How to avoid the "bad baby product buying cycle"
• Even which products can make you pretty (hint: see page 163)"

This must have buying guide for all new moms is easy to follow; it is divided into chapters like Baby Carriers, Car Seats, Layette (or Bitty Baby Clothes), Safety Gates and Toys, all of which are organized alphabetically for ease of use. Other chapters include "contents of the perfectly packed diaper bag," "ten things we wish we knew when we were first-time moms", and a complete glossary "every baby product on the planet." Amazing. I only wish this book had been around the first time I had a baby!

**WIN IT! I have a brand new copy of the Baby Gizmo Buying Guide to give to one lucky winner! To win, simply leave a comment here telling me why you want it AND LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT. Giveaway is open until midnight, EST, Saturday, June 28, 2008. Good luck!**

Meet the Hippos

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS SUNNY LITTLE BLOG!!

Hip Hippos
Price $7.95
Board book
Pub. Date Apr. 30, 2008
Pages 18
Publisher Key Porter Books Limited



Sad, Mad, Glad Hippos
Price $7.95
Board book
Pub. Date Apr. 30, 2008
Pages 18
Publisher Key Porter Books Limited



One Hippo Hops
Price $7.95
Board book
Pub. Date Apr. 30, 2008
Pages 18 Publisher
Key Porter Books Limited


Hippos sad,
Hippos blue,
Having nothing
Else to do.
No books to read,
No games to play,
Hippos sad,
A real gray day.

From the publisher: "Meet the hippos—a lovable, zany crew ready to escort children and parents through the all-too-often boring concepts of counting, colours, and moods. But not this time! These hippos wear purple flip-flops and blue dungarees; they pull hair when they are angry (and end up in the time-out chair!) and sulk when they are sad; they jump out of planes with parachutes, and slide down snow-covered hills on sleds. And they even play in one awesome marching band!

Written by beloved children’s author Jane Yolen specifically for the youngest reader, and brought to life with Vlasta van Kampen’s rollicking, colourful art, this playful series features sturdy board-book construction (complete with rounded edges) that will stand the test of time. And that’s a good thing, since these three gems are bound to become “read it again” classics!"

Truly, these are "must have" board books to your children's library, no matter their age. Both my 5 and 3 year old loved these books. The cadence from the rhyming keeps their attention, as does the beautiful drawn illustrations of those droll hippos; even I look forward to reading these over and over again (and that's a true miracle as you mom and dads know after reading the same book, night after night after night). These amazing books from Key Porter Books are available at bookstores and specialty shops nationwide (for instance, Amazon.com). And be sure to check out The KP Wire, where you can find the latest book news for young readers: "If you're in the market for cool books, give-aways and generally fun stuff this is the place for you."

About the Contributor(s)
JANE YOLEN is one of North America’s most successful and respected authors for children. Among her best-loved titles are Owl Moon, Devil’s Arithmetic, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and Briar Rose. Her list of awards includes the Caldecott Award, the World Fantasy Award, and two Christopher Medals.

VLASTA VAN KAMPEN’s award-winning children’s titles include: Beetle Bedlam, The Last Straw, ABC/123: The Canadian Alphabet and Counting Book, Orchestranimals, and Marigold’s Wings. Vlasta has earned numerous honours, including the Governor General’s Award, theGraphic Arts Illustrator Award, the 2001 IODE Award, and the Blue Spruce Award.

**WIN IT! The publisher is generously offering a full set of these wonderful books to one lucky reader! To win, head on over to Jane Yolen's website and find out the name of one of the many awards her books have won and email it to me at cpamomva {at} hotmail {dot} com. The giveaway is open until midnight, EST, Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Good Luck!**

Win an Awesome DVD set with your Proposal Story

From the awesome Christine at Mothering Heights:

"A proposal says a lot about the individual man- or woman!- doing the asking, and it speaks volumes about a couple’s relationship.

In celebration of Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s June 24th release of Definitely, Maybe on DVD, Universal Studios is giving away a movie pack to the bes proposal story posted on Mothering Heights. You could easily win a copy of Definintely, Maybe; Love, Actually; and Notting Hill.

So Moms (and Dads) start tapping on those keys and post your BEST proposal story in the Comment Section below.

Love...such fun to contemplate, especially around Father's Day wouldn't you say?"

The Maternal is Political

The Maternal Is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood and Social Change

Edited by Shari MacDonald Strong

with foreword by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

List Price: $15.95

Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Seal Press (June 1, 2008)
Language: English

Product Description : "Exploring the vital connection between motherhood and social change, The Maternal Is Political features more than 40 powerful, hard-hitting literary essays by women who are striving to make the world a better place for children and families — both their own and other women’s — in this country and globally. From the mom deconstructing playground "power games" with her first-grade child, to the mother who speaks out against misogyny during an awkward road trip with her college-age daughter and friends, to the mother of sons worrying about the threat of a future military draft, The Maternal Is Political brings together the voices of women who are transforming the political and social: one child, one babysitter, one peace march at a time."

43 essays. 44 writers. 43 different subjects grouped in three categories (Believe, Teach and Act). Beginning with the quote "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world" (William Ross Wallace) and ending with essayist Valerie Weaver-Zercher's "And when we do rejoin the (social) movement, it is possible that we will agitate and march and advocate from a deeper place...we will act from that cavity our children have hollowed out of us, that place where breath begins," this book will grab you and not let you go.

Essays ranged from Cindy Sheehan’s “Good Riddance, Attention Whore,” written when she "quit" the peace movement, short essays by two well known politicians (Nancy Pelosi and the late Benazir Bhutto); and stories from well known authors Anna Quindlen (I may be her biggest fan - if you've not read Black and Blue, get yourself to the library stat), Tracy Thompson (author of The Ghost in the House - a book I've had on my amazon wish list for a while) and Anne Lamott (Traveling Mercies); work by the cofounders of my favorite magazine Brain, Child (Jennifer Niesslein and Stephanie Wilkinson - must remember to mail in my renewal already!); and other equally talented writers.

I wanted to read this book ever since I heard about it, in its infancy on editor Sharon Macdonald Strong's blog; heck, I wanted to contribute but never did get the courage up to submit anything. Much like many of the writers in this book, I was never particularly "political" until I had children. Then I came into my own as a woman and as a mother. Now the world around me - security, health care (and lack there of), guns, education - became more important to me. Why? To make a better world for my children. For your children. So I started with one important tool in my arsenal - my writing. On The Soccer Mom Vote, I am not silent (though I have been inactive lately - reading this book has underscored for me how important it is for me to get back to writing over there). There I can raise my voice to join with mothers around the world. Mothers like in this book.

On a personal note, I have to say that the essay that resonated the most with me was "The Mean Moms" by Helaine Olen. When she said, "For years I thought it was just me. I'd never done well in cliques before, and motherhood, it appeared, was one vast network of former teenage girls," I literally yelled out loud, "RIGHT ON SISTER." Obviously that struck a chord as I've been dealing with some vicious moms myself lately. Helaine, thank you for giving voice to my angst. Thank you for recognizing how terrible other moms can be to each other and letting me know I am not alone.

So, The Maternal is Political. What's it about? Social change. Making the world safer. Ensuring a brighter future. As author Tracy Thompson wrote in her essay entitled "Rebel Mom:" "Sisterhood is powerful, but baby, motherhood is nuclear." Join in the motherhood and raise your voices high.

About the editor:
Shari MacDonald Strong is a freelance writer who lives in Portland, Oregon. Her essay “On Wanting a Girl” appeared in the Seal Press anthology It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising Daughters (edited by Andrea J. Buchanan). She writes the “Zen and the Art of Child Maintenance” column about motherhood and spirituality for Literary Mama (http://www.literarymama.com/) and soon will be writing a political column there (also titled “The Maternal Is Political”). She serves as editor of the creative nonfiction department at Literary Mama, writes an ongoing column for Mamazine (http://www.mamazine.com/), and is the organizer for Mother Talk™ events (http://www.mothertalk.org/) in Portland, Oregon. Shari worked as an editor and copywriter in the publishing industry for fifteen years (most recently as a freelance contractor for a division of Random House), and her writing has appeared in a number of publications including Geez magazine (http://www.geezmagazine.org/). She has appeared as a guest blogger at Leslie Morgan Steiner's "On Balance" blog at http://www.washingtonpost.com/, and has blogged at Austin Mama. Shari MacDonald Strong's Website

Mother Talk : this review is excerpted here.

The Blood of Flowers

The Blood of Flowers: A Novel

by Anita Amirrezvani

List Price: $23.99
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (June 5, 2007)
Language: English

"Let THE BLOOD OF FLOWERS, nominated for the 2008 Orange Prize for fiction, a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and a #1 Book Sense historical fiction pick take you away to 17th-century Isfahan, Persia, the fabled land where Anita Amirrezvani spins this lush, mesmerizing tale about a carpet-weaving girl, her fate and her misfortunes."

Product Description: "In 17th-century Persia, a 14-year-old woman believes she will be married within the year. But when her beloved father dies, she and her mother find themselves alone and without a dowry. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to sell the brilliant turquoise rug the young woman has woven to pay for their journey to Isfahan, where they will work as servants for her uncle, a rich rug designer in the court of the legendary Shah Abbas the Great. Despite her lowly station, the young woman blossoms as a brilliant designer of carpets, a rarity in a craft dominated by men. But while her talent flourishes, her prospects for a happy marriage grow dim. Forced into a secret marriage to a wealthy man, the young woman finds herself faced with a daunting decision: forsake her own dignity, or risk everything she has in an effort to create a new life."

Brilliant, simply brilliant! Exquisitely written, it is hard to believe this is the author's debut novel. The story opens in a remote 17th-century Persian village where the 14 year old narrator (who remains nameless throughout the book) lives with her parents. Their lives are simple but happy. Then tragedy strikes with the untimely death of her father and the girl and her mother are forced to live with a rich uncle and his family in the city of Isfahan. As poor relatives, they are treated as servants but the uncle, a master rug maker for the shah, does consent to teach the girl his trade after noticing her obvious skill and love of the art. Unfortunately, his wife convinces him to accept a three-month "marriage" contract for the girl with a rich horse trader (called a sigheh, these "marriages" allow a man and a woman to marry each other for a temporary period of time, and any children born from such unions are considered legitimate. Men pay women for this privilege, and the participants determine how long the arrangement will last. Such marriages can be made for as little as an hour or can go on forever. This struck me as prostitution so I wasn't thrilled with this plot twist but I really admired how the girl made this situation work for her in the end).

I don't want to give away any more of the plot but suffice to say that the girl (and her mother's) "fortunes" depend on her ingenuity and strength of will. From abject poverty to relative success, the girl has to make her way in the world and determine where her destiny lies (not an easy task for any of us, let alone a teenager in 17th century Persia with few options). The book also contains several mystical Iranian folktales as told by the girl's mother, a master storyteller and complete details (the research is obvious - I read in the back of the book that it took the author 9 years and three research trips to Iran to write this book) on the art of rug making.

I was not able to put this book down - staying up all hours to finish it and even reading at stoplights in the car! And I doubt you will either. 5 out of 5 binkies.

Other reviews here.

About the Author: Anita Amirrezvani was born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in San Francisco. For ten years, she was a dance critic for newspapers in the Bay Area. She has received fellowships from the National Arts Journalism Program, the NEA's Arts Journalism Institute for Dance, and the Hedgebrook Foundation for Women Writers. Amirrezvani is a student in the MFA program in fiction at San Francisco State University. More about Anita Amirrezvani (click on the link) - also click here for an Author Interview and Visit Bloodofflowers.com where you can read or listen to an excerpt.

It's New! It's Improved! Celebrate and Win!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS THAT CHICK!

So you MIGHT have noticed the new look around here. Like the new look? I absolutely love the fresh new colors and I think it's a lot easier to read. And the header is perfect for me - I have short red hair too! It was a breeze to spiff up the place...because Revka did all the work for me!!!

I've posted about R S Designs before and also here :"I think Revka ROCKS! She did a wonderful complete re-design on my weight loss blog and it was so inexpensive too. She was very patient with me as I struggled to verbalize what I was looking for and she ended up just nailing it. I love, love, love my design over there. So much so, I'm hiring her to redesign this site as well."

And now she's finished the redesign. What do you think? Spiffy, no?

Check out Client Testimonials here, their Design Gallery here, and their Products and Pricing page here. Then get on over and place an order for your own re-design!

Now, to celebrate the new digs....a giveaway!! Here is a brand new pair of earrings I got at my last Premier Jewelry party. I never wore them because when they came in, I decided they just weren't me and so now they are looking for a new home. Do they appeal to you? Want to take them home? Just leave a comment here, any comment and I'll enter you in the drawing. Want FIVE extra entries? Put up my new button (grab the code of my sidebar) on your sidebar and leave a second comment here telling me the address of your blog. As always, be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Giveaway closes at midnight, EST, Friday, June 13, 2008 (let's have a LUCKY Friday the 13th!). Good luck!!

The Crimson Portrait

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS MEG!

The Crimson Portrait: A Novel

by Jody Shields

List Price: $23.99
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

From the publisher: "THE CRIMSON PORTRAIT, written by Jody Shields, was inspired by the little-known but extraordinary real-life collaboration between artists and surgeons in the treatment of injured men in World War I. THE CRIMSON PORTRAIT is a suspenseful tale of desire, deceit, and the metamorphosis of identity, as spellbinding and provocative as the author’s bestselling first novel, The Fig Eaters."

Product Description from Amazon.com: "This haunting love story--the magnificent new historical novel by the author of the national bestseller The Fig Eater--makes unforgettably real the ravages of love and war. Spring 1915. On a sprawling country estate not far from London, a young woman mourns her husband, fallen on a distant battlefield. The eerie stillness in which she grieves is abruptly shattered as her home is transformed into a bustling military hospital. Recoiling from the chaos, unhinged by grief, the young widow finds unexpected refuge in a tender young soldier whose face, concealed by bandages, she cannot see. Their affair takes a fateful turn when she confronts--and seizes upon--the opportunity to remake her lover in the image of her lost husband. THE CRIMSON PORTRAIT is a novel of glittering surfaces that belie dark truths. Its rich cast comes into focus as the novel peels back layers of suspense and intrigue to illuminate the abiding mysteries of affinity and desire."

Sounds intriguing, no? Except it wasn't. To be honest, reading this book was, for me, like watching paint dry. That's not to say it was a poorly written book at all; indeed, I think the book was well written in the poetic style. However, I was expecting a novel, not a poem. A keep-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat novel and this just did not deliver. I kept on reading it though, not only because I needed to review it, but because I really wanted to know the ending - what happened with Catherine and Julian? Did Anna finally admit her love for Dr. Kazanjian? Unfortunately, the ended left me just as confused as I was at the beginning. I'm still wondering on those answers!

If you read the reviews on Amazon.com, you'll see that this is really a

"love it"{‘As full of emotional detail as The English Patient’ Los Angeles Times ‘Dark and atmospheric…wonderfully descriptive and poetic’ USA Today; ‘Compelling…exquisitely written…without a false line’ Washington Post}

or "hate it" {"Unbelievably dull. Reading this book was like sitting in a doctor's office waiting room book, nothing in between"} book.

Unfortunately, I'm in the latter camp. One out of Five Binkies.

About the Author: Jody Shields made her debut as a novelist with The Fig Eater, which was hailed as "an atmospheric thriller" (Los Angeles Times), "stylish and compelling" (Chicago Tribune), "a bewitching visit to late-imperial Vienna . . . enjoyable and intelligent" (Times Literary Supplement). She lives in New York. More about Jody Shields (click on the link).

You can go here to Read an Excerpt or **WIN IT - If you think you'd like to try this book on for size (do you like poetry? serious introspection? You may be in the "love this book" category), leave me a comment here and I'll draw one name at random to receive my gently used copy. Giveaway ends Thursday, midnight EST, June 12, 2008. Good Luck!**

Gloves in a Bottle

Gloves in a Bottle

I recently received a sample bottle of this skin shielding lotion to try out. And just like the Skin MD shielding lotion I reviewed before, I loved Gloves in a Bottle; let me tell you, this product does an amazing job of protecting your skin!

To review what a shielding lotion is: "The outer layer of your skin consists of dead skin cells - it's a protective layer designed to protect the delicate living cells of the deeper layers of skin. This layer of skin needs to stay moisturized to protect the deeper layers of skin. In order to keep the moisture (water) from leaving the outer layer of skin, the skin produces natural oils. These oils also help keep irritants away from the deeper layers of skin.

Regular washing with soap or exposure to chemicals can remove these natural oils.When the natural oil is stripped from the outer layer of skin the moisture (water) quickly leaves the outer layer of skin leaving the skin dry, irritated, and itchy. Worse, the deeper layers of skin are left exposed to harsh damaging substances including detergents, solvents, cleaners, paint and thinners, gardening chemicals, dirt and grease, latex gloves and powder, etc.This results in more dry, irritated, and itchy skin that becomes chapped, cracked and damaged.

Hand and skin lotions only replace natural oils with artificial ones. These offer temporary relief that does little to heal the skin. Regular use of lotions can actually cause the skin to produce less natural oils. Gloves In A Bottle is a shielding lotion – it bonds with the outer layer of your skin and helps lock in your natural oils and moisture – the reason why dermatologists recommend Gloves as an effective dry skin treatment."

Unlike other lotions I've tried, Gloves In A Bottle was rapidly absorbed into my skin and felt completely natural - not greasy at all! I also love that it does not wash off, but comes off naturally with exfoliated skin cells; so many regular lotions come right off when I wash my hands which means repeated applications. Not so with Gloves in a Bottle - just reapply every four hours for continued protection! And I'm not the only one who loves it. Click on the link to read what many dermatologists say about Gloves In A Bottle.

Bonus? It's greaseless, non-sticky, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, completely safe and non-toxic so I can safely use it on my kids as well.

**WIN IT. I have three sample packs for the first three people that leave a comment saying they'd like to try this remarkable product. Leave your email address so I can contact you for your snail mail. **

Sex and the City: The Movie Companion Book

Sex and the City
by Amy Sohn

List Price: $29.95
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Collins (May 30, 2008)
Language: English

Product Description from Amazon.com:
"From the team who brought you Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell comes this must-have companion to the movie millions have been waiting for. This sleek hardcover volume gives reader exclusive entree into the world of Sex and the City: The Movie.

In addition to a storybook-style telling of the film, the book includes mouth-watering bonus features not available anywhere else: behind-the-scenes stories from Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, star and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, writer and director Michael Patrick King, as well as producers and other key cast and crew members; a guide to the movie's multi-millionR