Yummi Pouch

A few years a go a company came out with pouches filled with apple sauce and other blends that your kids could eat right out of the pouch no spoon required. If you are a parent you have probably fed one to your kid at some time or another. Both of my girls loved them and I found them to be very handy. That is in tell the girls got big and wanted to eat two or three at a time and I realized they were just too expensive for big kids to eat. I always loved the idea though and kept thinking someone needs to make refillable reusable pouches.  Well someone finally did they are called Yummi Pouch you can find them HERE . They come in sets of different sizes and price ranges from $8.99 to $35.00 depending on how big the set is and the size of the pouches. Pouches come in three sizes 2.5 oz, 6 oz  and 10 oz.  They come in white and blue are the solid colors they carry and then they have a set of pouches with patterns on them that are different colors.  Check out the pictures to see what they look like. Yummi Pouch are both BPA and PVC free. The best part they are completely reusable. We received a couple pouches in the different sizes and colors to test out.


First up ease of use they are very simple to use put the cap on the
pouch open the zippered end and pore in what ever puree your kids like and zip it shut just like a ziplock bag. We used apple sauce for our test just because that's what the girls wanted. I used a small funnel which worked well or you can spoon it in which worked equally well.  I found filling easy I did need to rinse off the zipper end of the pouch after I closed it as I tend to dribble a little but its was not a big deal. After I fill them I keep them in the fridge for the kids to grab as a snack or for use to take to the park.  You can also pop them in the freezer for a cold snack or to pack in a lunch box. To eat them you simply twist off the cap and suck or squeeze it into your mouth. They also have a spoon attachment that you can buy if you prefer it. My kids just like sucking it right out of the pouch.

I found washing to be easy they are dish washer safe just rinse with warm water expand and put them up side down in the dishwasher so the zipper part is facing down. I wash mine by hand because well we don't have a dishwasher at the moment.  I toss them in a sink of hot soapy water with the caps off and swish them around this usually gets them clean. Some times the zipper will get a little yuckie but i found a small brush like you would use on a baby bottle nipple works well to clean the zipper. It also fits in the spout nicely.

I was a little worried about the zipper popping open when the girls squeezed them because lets face it they get a little rough some times. So far we have never had one come open I even gave one to my two year old niece just to see if she could pop it open.  We found them to be tough pouches and I think they will last a long time. We have taken them every where to the park, on walks, in our back packs. Yummi Pouch has become our go to snack when we are out and about. I am truly happy with them in every way. I think I will get a couple of the pouch covers to help keep our Yummi Pouches cool this summer.

Disclosure I received this product free of charge so that my family could test them out and tell you what we thought. I did not receive any money for this review all opinions are mine or that of my kids.  

My Time with Grandma Bible Storybook

Reading is a huge part of our day. Me and the girls read anything and everything we can get our hands on. Our new favorite is called My Time with Grandma bible Storybook we have read it over and over and we never tire of it. Its a cute little hardback story book that is designed for grand parents to share with there grandchildren. To help them celebrate God's Love through easy to understand bible stories. Each story in the book includes a sweet love note from grandma and simple bible verses that kids can
memorize easily.  The Stories are just short enough to keep there attention but have enough information so that they are able to understand the scripture. Under the title of each story it gives a scripture verse which HotRod Princess loves because she can look it up in her bible.  The illustrations are so cute and beautifully done Snoopy loves to stop and talk about each picture and what is happening in it after we have read the short story.  Personally I enjoy the love notes that you find at the bottom of each page. There is a love note from grandma and one from God. They are both beautiful and give wonderful advice and inspiration.  It sells for $14.99 and can be found at several places. Click HERE for one of tyndale partner websites. I have ordered from them several times and have always received great customer service from them.

Disclaimer I received a free copy of this book from tyndale to do this review. All opinions are my own or that of my children. All photographs in this post are my own and may not be copied. 

Tommee Tippee Sipppy Cut

Introducing the Tommee Tippee limited edition sippy cup line. It's called the "Three Ring Circus" Collection. It features a new design on the brands signature spill proof Drink Cup, Sporty Bottle, Spout Cup and Straw Cup. Check out he picture to see the new designs. They are now available at Babies R Us they sell for right around $7.00 for a 2 pack and come in both boy and girl colors.
I used Tommee Tippee spill proof drink cups when the girls were younger I think I had all the styles at one time or another. I honestly loved the cups they worked great and I think the only time I ever had trouble with them leaking was when my daughter would get the lid loose.  They are great cups and they both of my girls loved them. We received a two pack of the new straw cup design and even though my girls are a tad big for spill proof cups they are in love with them. My 4 year old has drank so much water in the last week I am starting to wonder if she is going to float away.
I only have one small issue with the new straw cups we received. Some times the girls complain that they cant get anything out of it when the cup is full.  I think the girls are just sucking too hard on the straw and collapsing the soft flexible portion of it. They are older kids 6 and 4 and have more sucking power than a toddler does.
Like many spill proof cups there are a couple pieces you need to take apart when you wash. Its not a big deal for me and I found them to be simple enough to take apart and put back together.

Disclosure: I received a two pack of the Tommee Tippee Straw cup to test out for this review. All opinions are my own or that of my kids.

Protect It therapeutic Diabetic Sock

The product of the day is Protect It Therapeutic Diabetic Socks. These socks are recommended for people with diabetes, arthritis and sensitive feet. There are some key features that make these socks special: Protect It Therapeutic Diabetic Socks have a smooth-inside seamless toe, They gently hug your foot so they stay in place, They help to prevent skin injury and infection, Proven anti-bacterial, anti-odor, soft wide-stretch top and they keep feet dry. You can find them Here  they sell for around $40.77 for a pack of four. Which comes out to be about 11.99 a pair.  They have several different styles to
choose from Comfort crew, Comfort dress, and Active ankle sport. They come in either black or white.

I am not a Diabetic but my grandma was and my mom is border line which means she is still able to control it with her diet so doesn't need medicine just yet. She has been having trouble with cold feet and she also suffers from arthritis.  She was excited to hear that she was going to get a chance to try out a pair of Protect It Socks.
Things she Liked the best:
The arch support with anti slip technology, it helps to keep the sock in place without compression.
The Y heel pocket she said it cupped her heal well and made them more comfortable when wearing shoes.
She loved the soft feel of the fabric and seamless toe. She often has problems with seams rubbing so this was very nice. These are not a heavy winter sock so I was a little concerned at how they would do during our cold winter days. My mom has reported that they are keeping her feet surprisingly warm. I think this is due to the dual layer construction that wicks moisture away from your skin.

Over all she felt they were great socks and is refusing to let me try them.

Disclaimer: I received this item free of charge in order to test this product for the review. All opinions are my own or that of my Kids or in the case of this review my mom.

Rockin' Green Soap Giveaway

I was a cloth diapering mom I miss the days of cute printed diapers and inserts hanging on the line. Both of my girls used cloth diapers and I have used many different brands and styles. Every mom knows if you cloth diaper you need a good detergent. Rockin' Green was my favorite diaper detergent so when I got the opportunity to host a give away for them I had to jump on it.  Check out the details below:

We have a HUGE SURPRISE!  The Go Green in 2014 Giveaway is now live!  Enter to win 24 eco-friendly must have products for parents and kids. ONE LUCKY winner will be chosen on March 1st.  Everyone who enters will get something special as a thank you.  Enter here and the more points you earn, the bigger chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer I am just hosting the give away Rockin' Green will be selecting and sending out the products/prizes

Closer to Nature Orthodontic Pacifiers

Both of the girls were very picky on what pacifier they used.  We had a bunch of them laying around

pictures provided by tommee tippee.

that they did not like.  Tommee tippee was one that my youngest preferred. tommee tippee is announcing its new pacifier that is now available at Target, Babies R Us, and Buy Buy Baby. The new Pacifier set sells for about $6.99. The new pacifier has some great new features that I know my girls would have loved.
The new pacifiers are similar to tommee tippee's signature bottle line and use a nipple that is similar to the Mother's breast. They are specially designed for baby acceptance from the first attempt. They feature a symmetrical orthodontic shape and a traditional shield style with fun modern designs.  tommee tippee pacifiers are made from BPA and phthalate-free silicone. They are available in three sizes 0-3 months, 0-6 months an 6-18 months. The pacifiers come in both boy and girl colors and re dishwasher/sterilizer safe.

I received both a boy color and a girl color, I love the different sizes my girls used to gag on the pacifier if they were too big.  They are equally adorable I love how soft the nipple is it feels softer than some of the ones he girls had. The curved shape would fit baby's face comfortably and I love that the ring lays flat so that its not bulky.

Disclaimer: I received a couple sets of Pacifiers from tommee tippee free of charge in order to test this product for the review. All opinions are my own or that of my Kids

Meal Measure

This week I want to talk about portion control. Like most people I should be watching my portion sizes but I don't. Its time consuming to measure everything out and I forget exactly how big a deck of cards is. When I found Meal Measure I knew I had found a great tool. Meal Measure is portion control right on your plate. Its basically a ring that has measured spots for fruits/ vegetables, starches, and meats. 

 You lay it on top of your plate, place your food in each of the labeled spots then lift it off your plate. It gives you perfect portions each and every time.  Each cutout is 1 cup and has a 1/2 cup line so you can choose how much you want to serve on each plate. Its great for those of us on diets and people like my mom who are border line diabetic and control there glucose levels with what they eat. It really helps her remember how much she should be eating of each food group. It takes the guess work out of making her plate.  Meal Measure is dietitian recommended and follows the My Plate serving sizes. Its simple and super easy to use its comes in some great colors and the holes are big enough that I can wash them easily. You can rinse it with warm soapy water or place it in the top rack of your dishwasher. You can find Meal Measure HEAR  it sells for $12.98 and comes in Blue, Red, Yellow, and White. I received the Blue one and I love the color. 

Disclaimer: I received the Meal Measure free of charge in order to test this product for the review. All opinions are my own or that of my Kids. 

Glipit Bible

This week I received the glipit Bible I was very excited to get to try out a bible designed for kids. The

glipit Bible has a one-of-a-kind silicone cover. It was designed for kids ages 8 to 12. The silicone cover gives kids a unique way to create their own one of a kind custom Bible. Kids can spell their name, make a design, shapes, or just have fun popping the pieces on and off their Bible cover.  Each Bible comes with over 120 removable silicone pieces in four different colors including glow in the dark. The soft silicone cover is removable and washable and is easy to hang on to. It is written in NLT or New Living Translation. It has 26 pages of extra material in the front of the Bible to help kids know more about the Bible and God's Plan for their lives. The Glipit Bible comes in two colors purple and blue and it sells for about $24.99 and you can find it HEAR.
On arrival I thought this Bible is just cool. The cover looks great we received the blue one. The Glipit
is super fun to play with. I can see my self sitting in church popping these little silicone squares off an on the cover. I love the feel of the cover its soft and comfortable to hold. It has two silicone latches to hold you bible closed which is nice. My only real complaint is the print is very small. The bible is geared toward 8 to 12 year old so I expected a larger print.  I would say it is around a size 9 font kind of small for a child friendly print. Over all it is a nice bible the price is not bad. I love how easy it is to create a custom cover, and the glow in the dark pieces are very fun. So if you are in the marked for a fun bible for an older child this may be what you are looking for.

Disclaimer: I received the Glipit Bible free of charge from Tyndale in order to test this product for the review. All opinions are my own or that of my Kids. 

Rainbow Loom

Everyone has probably seen the Rainbow loom by now. Its been out for a while and with winter well on its way hear in Missouri I thought it would be a great beginning of winter product for the kids. You can buy the rainbow loom for around $16.99 depending where you go to get it. You can buy it directly from the Rainbow Loom site by clicking HEAR. You can also find them on Amazon, Michaels, and from several different sellers or you can get a list of retail stores from the rainbow Loom site Hear.

The basic kit comes with 600+ mixed latex free rubber bands,  the RBL hook with base opener, the Rainbow Loom and a set of directions. The box says 8years old and +  but my 6 year old is using it with adult supervision of course. They have a youtube channel where you can see videos of how to make different bracelets.  You can click HEAR if you would like to see some of demonstrations. 

The basic single pattern bracelets are fairly easy to make. Hotrod Princess picked it up fairly quickly and can now make a bracelet with just a bit of help. She has not tried to make any of the more complicated patterns. It is helping her fine motor skills and its helping her concentration. She has learned if she tries to jump around and doesn't follow the directions her bracelet will fall apart. It is also great for learning to make different types of patterns. I found that the youtube videos really help a lot with the more complicated patters. I made a ladder bracelet this morning It took me about 10 minutes to make it, watching and pausing the video along the way. Rainbow Loom  is a lot of fun. Its prefect for girls in the Tween age group. Once they start making them all their friends will want one. Its a great affordable last minute Christmas gift. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Disclaimer: I received a rainbow Loom and extra pack of rubber bands free of charge in order to test this product for the review. All opinions are my own or that of my Kids. 

Homeschool Helper App

As some of you know I homeschool my two girls. On challenge of home schooling is record keeping. I am lucky enough to live in a state that doesn't require a lot for record keeping. That being said I keep track of more than what my state requires mostly so that I can see there progress. We do a lot of on the go learning and hauling my laptop around is not always the best of options. I also find my self spending an hour or more every night logging lessons, time and grades for just one child. I will have a second grader and a kindergartner next year. With my current system that would mean 2 hours or more a night just for logging hours grades and assignments. Not counting the time that I will have to spend pulling together the next days work. I knew I needed an easier and faster system if I am going to survive next school year.

Home Page and super cool steaming coffee cup

I have had an android tablet for a couple years now. I mostly just use it for reading. I really don't have that many apps on it but it seems to go every where with me so I will always have a book. One day it hit me wouldn't it be great if there was a Homeschool app. Guess what I found the HomeSchool Helper App. Its available for both android and Ipad, and nook color and you can get it in the amazon store for Kindle.  It sells for only $4.99.  I immediately sent them an email and they agreed to let me review it.

The price is amazing  for less than meal at McDonalds I could get a HomeSchool app that would make my day easier. You just can beat $4.99. Its a one time cost including all updates.

Grade Calculator 

Some of the key features of the HomeSchool Helper are: the ability to track an unlimited number of students, manage students over multiple school years I love that I will be able to use this for years to come. You can duplicate students for effortless setup of similar students, record grades and track lessons for up to 14 different subjects, per student.  It has a grade calculator with (pasting ability) that makes figuring our grades so much easier. You can do a separate grading scale for each student and you can use a grade based or pass/fail based for your grading. Create lessons for any subject, the Lesson viewer provides calendar view of all lessons, with drilldown, You can auto create batches of lessons to save you time gotta love time savers. It has great lesson features that allow you to bump lessons, copy lessons and mass delete lessons. You can auto create grades from any lesson to avoid duplicate keying.  HomeSchool Helper has the ability to do lesson reports with parameters that can be emailed to students. You can also manage book list, field trips, task list. You can track daily attendance with no keying. It gives me the ability to Track time spent on each lesson with reporting this is  an important feature as it is a state requirement for us and I was very happy to see it. Reports can be viewed, saved or emailed for storage or printing. and you can do reports for just about everything (ex: report cards attendance, summary's and more)

Attendance Calender 

This app is beautiful It looks like a fancy planner when you open it. You click the steaming coffee cup for your settings. There is a sticky note for your help button. The eraser is the edit button. Click the pencil to add a new student. There is even a ticket you click for family field trips. The opening lay out is beautiful and so easy to use. I had both girls listed as new students with in minutes.
The grade calculator is probably one of my favorite features. I love that I can use it with out closing the assignment I am working on. It makes putting in grades and assignments so much easier.  I can add as many school years as I need to. There is no limit on the number of students. So I can use this baby forever. We do a lot of field trips and its great that I can log them while we are there and make notes. Being able to print off my records is also an important feature for me. I feel the need to have hard copies of everything, it makes it easy for me to print and store this years records with this years portfolio work that I am required to keep. The only feature that might be missing is the ability to create transcripts for high school students.  For us its not a big deal, there are lots of programs to help you write transcripts when the time comes.
HomeSchool Helper keeps everything together in one nice neat package. It keeps track of everything I need. Its easy to use and it looks beautiful. Best of all the price is fantastic for my classroom budget.  Below you can see the HomeSchool Helper App Trailer it shows you some of the great features of the app.

Find them on Facebook
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Buy that app on Amazon
See the website

A big thanks goes out to HomeSchool Helper for providing me with a free copy of the app to review all opinions are my own.

Double Wedding Ring

I have reviewed all sorts of products hear on my blog. What can I say I am a mom of many interest.Quilting

is one of my many hobbies. I love making baby quilts for all the new babies in the family. I have done some crazy patterns in the past but there has always been one pattern that I have been afraid to try. The Double wedding ring, it looks so complicated its got lots of tiny pieces and its all curves. My mind just keeps going back to how do I cut all those pieces and have them come out the same. I have just never been brave enough to try the pattern.  A few weeks a go Baycreek Quilting Products offered to send me a Acrylic Quilt template to review. They ask me to pick one that I would like to try. I was so excited I had never used a acrylic template this was going to be new for me. I had to flip through all the templates that they offer and decide on something.  Low and behold my dream pattern also my most feared pattern the Double Wedding Ring. I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try. I let them know what template I wanted and waited for it to come in the mail.

The templates are designed to help you cut your pieces more accurately. They are made of thick acrylic so you can use your rotary cutter safely.  I love love that the writing is etched on each piece so you can identify them easily. Its etched on so it doesn't rub off like paint would. Acrylic Templates save time and fabric and make it so you can cut multiple layers at one time. Baycreek Quilting templates are made right hear in the USA. Price's vary depending on size, color and what template pattern that you order. The one I received is the 15 inch Double wedding Ring. You can find it by clicking hear . The clear 15 inch sells for $24 and is worth every penny. The quality is much better than the ones I have looked at in the quilting stores and the prices are very reasonable.

This was my first Acrylic template so I was excited to give it a try. I pulled out my big box of scraps and started cutting. Its easy to use you basically lay it on top of your fabric and use your rotary cutter to cut around it. Each piece of the template is labeled with the name of the template and a letter. It did come with some simple instructions that were easy to follow. The only thing I would suggest about the directions is maybe put the template letter on the picture that they give so if someone was new to quilting they would be able to see how to assemble it a little easier. The templates have a 1/4 in seam allowance already included and this makes for nice cutting and sewing. After I got all the pieces cut out I laid out the arches on the table to make assembling them easier and faster. Sewing on this type of curve can be a bit tricky and I had to go slow. When It was all together this is how it came out. True to the template it was 15 inches. I couldn't be more please with how it came out and how easy the template made it all. 

I wish I had known about Baycreek Quilting templates sooner. These are perfect for both beginner and advanced quilters. I now have several BayCreek templates on my Christmas list.  http://www.quilttemplates.com/

Disclosure: I received this product at no cost for review. All opinions are my own or what my kids thought of the product

Dr. Scholl's Active Series

I am an active person I work out about 4 days a week. Before I had the girls I was a runner, now I do interval work outs and long walks, hikes and bike rides with the girls. About a month a go I received a complimentary set of Dr Scholl's Active Series Insoles from Influenster to review. I haven't suffered from shin splints in years but I tend to get pain in my lower back and feet so I was excited to give them a try. I haven't had a good pair of insoles in years.  The insoles sell for about $18.15 at walmart.  The price is reasonable most insoles are in that range. The active series fit my shoes well I did have to trim the length down a bit as they are a multi size insole and they are full length. I recommend trimming them a little at a time and then trying it in your shoe. I wear a size 9 but I only had to trim the insole down to a size 10. So far they have held up good and give me a decent amount of cushion when running around after the kids or knocking out a interval work out. My lower back feels better after a long day at the park or being on my feet in the shop. They give me good arch support and I like the heal cup. The active series is said to reduce shock up to 40% All in all I think the new Dr. Scholl's Active Series gives a decent bang for your buck.

Disclaimer: I received this product for testing purposes free of charge from Influenster.

Cuppow

Hear in Mo we drink our sweet tea from a Mason Jar. What can I say its just the way things are done around hear. While surfing around online one day I discovered Cuppow. If you drink from a Mason jar Cuppow products were made just for you. Cuppow makes these great mason jar drinking lids and a lunch box adapter called the BNTO that allows you to store dip right in side your wide mouth canning jar for lunches on the go. The Adapter lids allow you to turn any mason jar into a travel mug and they come in several different colors and you can get them for both wide and regular mouth jars. The adapter lids sell for $7.99 and the BNTO lunch box adapter sells for $7.99. The are all made of recycled BPA free plastic and are Made right hear in the USA and packaged with recycled material. you an find them by clicking HEAR

I received one wide mouth drinking lid and one regular mouth drinking lid and one BNTO to try out. To use the drinking lids you unscrew the jar lid replace the seal with the cuppow  screw the lid back on the jar and your done. They are reusable and have held up well with all the washing they have gone through in the last month. I only have the two lids so they get washed a lot. The hole on the drinking lid is designed so that you can used a straw in it. I don't normally drink with a straw but I tested it out just to be sure it really would fit and it worked wonderfully.  With Cuppow I don't worry about my drink getting spilled so much and its super comfortable to drink out of.





I also received a BNTO this was a totally new but I was excited to try it out. With the BNTO you will need the both the ring and seal to your jar. Take off the ring and seal put your snack in side in our case it was celery sticks. Drop the BNTO into the jar put in your dip ranch dressing for us. Replace the seal and ring and your set to go. Its completely reusable and it looks super cool and its all in one so it saves space. The girls though it was handy they kept asking what else we could put in it, one of them even suggested soup in the bottom and small soup crackers in the BNTO. Chips and cheese, Oreos and Milk the list goes on and on.


Disclosure: I received this product at no cost for review. All opinions are my own or what my kids thought of the product

Hot Straw

Have you ever burned the heck out of your mouth or spilled hot coffee all over your self while trying to take a drink of hot coffee while your driving. Yup been there done that several times. And how hard is it to take a drink of something hot while walking and push a stroller.  Lets face it its tricky but moms do it every day.  What mom is going to go with out coffee right.  Well Moms and coffee drinkers let me introduce you to my little friend the Hot Straw. I received a package of blue Hot Straws to try out. Hot Straw is a special straw designed for drinking hot stuff. Get this it doesn't melt or get soft in hot liquids. It Helps to prevent spills, Keeps Teeth Whiter, Its BPA Free, Dentist recommended reusable and Eco-Friendly. Wait there is more Its made in the Good Old USA. An get this its got a flat design so it fits in those funny lids that come on to-go cups.  You can find Hot Straw at www.hotstraw.com . Hot Straw comes in red blue pink and green. They come in two different lengths so you can order a straw to fit your favorite cup they come in 9in and 7in lengths. They are sold  for $ 8.49 and come with 4 in a pack. Or you can order combo packs for $15.29 and $25.99. Hot Straw even sells a cleaning tool for getting your straw super clean it sells for $3.50.

Pros:

• Well I love Hot Straw I can take my coffee with me in the car not worry about spilling it all over my self while trying to drive. 
• It is shaped to fit in the hole on those funny lids that come on to-go coffee cups.
• Its BPA Free  
• IT'S MADE IN THE USA
• Hot Straw is Dentist Recommended
• Its REUSABLE
• The Kids love drinking hot coco out of it and less of it ends up on there shirt.
• I also feel the price is affordable and budget friendly since they are reusable and should last a while if you take care of them.

Cons:

• Your are still drinking something hot and you still need to be careful.  OK so that is not really a Hot Straw con but I couldn't come up with any real Cons  

Disclosure: I received this product at no cost for review. All opinions are my own or what my kids thought of the product the photos are my own of the product I received but the logo at the top is from HotStraw.

Back-to-School Allergy Tips

As a mom with two little girls who both suffer from allergies I am always looking for a way to reduce allergens in our home. Iv been working with The Claritin  Moms Crew to help other moms with munchkins that suffer from seasonal Allergy's.  Today I want to share some very useful back-to-school allergy tips that Children's Claritin sent to me. I use many of these tips in my home and find that they really do help the girls.

1. Be sure to have Children’s Claritin, the #1 pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy allergy brand, on hand!

2. Multi-vitamins are building blocks to having a strong immune system. Make taking a multi-vitamin part of your

child’s daily routine.

3. Let there be light! Mold doesn't like sunlight, so try to keep your curtains open during the day. Should be easy

during the summer months!

4. Did you know that most pillows trap allergens, dust mites, and bacteria? Monitor the cleanliness of the pillow

your child with allergies sleeps on and replace if necessary.

5. Back to school season means lots of laundry for many moms. Be sure to remove laundry from the washing

machine promptly. Allowing wet clothes to sit in the washer means mold can quickly grow there.

6. Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor before and after school activities accordingly. Dry, windy days

can be particularly high in pollen.

7. Showering or bathing at the end of the day as opposed to the morning can be helpful in removing allergens

from body surfaces and hair.

8. Stay hydrated! Always send your child to school with a bottle of water. Drinking lots of clear fluids through the

day can help get rid of toxins and flush out body.

9. Peak pollen production typically occurs in early morning, so try to plan outside activities at other times of the

day.

Disclaimer: "As a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience." 

The LeapReader™ "Ready, Set, Read & Write" Party

I was given the opportunity to work with LeapFrog and MomSelect on a fantastic new Leapfrog Product.

Everyone Knows how much I love Leapfrog's learning products. So this was a great thrill for me to be able to host this party. Our Party was for the New LeapReader Ready, Set, Read and Write. We received a party pack to help us host the party. It contained two Leapreaders pre-loaded with Leapreader books and learning apps special for our party. LeapReader Books including Learn to Write Letters with Mr.Pencil writing Workbook, Talking words factory writing workbook and LeapFrog Disney-Pixar Monsters university 3d book and monsters university 3d glasses, Get Ready for kindergarten book, talking words factory flash cards, two Leapreader sampler books and lots of great information for parents and teachers regarding the new product.

I want to give you the basic information on the new LeapReader and how much it sells for on the LeapFrog site and of course my opinion of the product. First off The LeapReader starter system sells for $49.99 or LeapFrog offers several different bundle packages starting at about $79.99 to around $94.99. They offer the LeapReader pen in three colors blue, purple and green. you can find all this great stuff by clicking HEAR.

The new LeapReader is the complete learn-to-read-and-write solution. It combines all  three literacy skills, reading,writing, and listening. Practicing them together helps children learn the skills they need to help become confident independent readers.
First Up is the Learn to Read portion of the product a little like the original tag system you can touch the LeapReader to any page to sound out words letter by letter. Read the sentences in character voice and play fun games that help to build reading comprehension.  I love that the LeapReader can sound out the words when they get stuck. This is a great feature for new readers like the HotrodPrincess. She knows how to read but still gets stuck on words some times.

The Learn to Write Feature is new and is something the tag system does not do. You can use the LeapReader to trace letters and numbers and write words with interactive guidance as magic ink appears on special mess-free paper.  Thats right this baby teaching writing too and on mess free paper. That means it only writes on the special paper. No scribbles on the kitchen table score one for mom right. The Learn to write feature is Snoopy Girls favorite part. She is beginning to learn to write her letters and numbers and the guidance really helps her to make the letters correctly. The Interactive guidance helps to ensure she is getting the help she needs when I working with the HotRod Princess on something else.

Learn To Listen feature helps kids develop important listening skills, reading comprehension, trivia challenges and learning songs. The smaller kids loved listening to the stories and the bigger kids like the HotRod princess loved the Triva challenges and Snoopy and kids in her age range picked up the songs easily and were quickly singing along.

I also want to say that the LeapReader works with the tag books so all those tag books you already own can still be used a definite bonus way to go LeapFrog for making that possible. I love the big selection of books Leapfrog offers. My girls are book worms and we need lots and lots of books. With a library of 80+ books, audio books, games and more. there is enough to keep my girls reading for a while. The Girls love there tag system but they love the new LeapReader even more. I liked the Tag system but I am truly impressed with the improvements and upgrades that come with the LeapReader and I am so glad we were given the opportunity try it out and share it with friends and family. The party was big hit and the LeapReader is on the must have list for Christmas this year.

Pictures are from the leapfrog site because well I forgot my camera at home I will update with some photos and videos as soon as I get back.


Disclosure: I received these product at no cost to host this party for our friends at LeapFrog and MomSelect.  All opinions are my own or what my kids and guest thought of the product.

LoopRope

I am a do it your self kind of girl.  I can handle everything from building classic cars to wood working to sewing and quilting. I am forever finding my self needing to tie stuff down. When you have to tie something down you have one of two choices rope which is forever tangled up and if you stink at tying knots you risk losing your stuff.  Then there is the bungee cord  they are quick to use but you risk the hook coming loose and let me tell you from personal experience it hurts like you wouldn't believe when hits you, and at some point or another you are going to get caught in the cross fire when you try to stretch it just a little further to make it the right length. I recently found the LoopRope and this baby is a sweet. Its basically a bungee cord with loops along its length so that you can place a clip/hook at various points so you are not trying to over stretch it. You can make it just about any length or tension you need. Click HEAR to see the LoopRope site. They come in 3ft, 4ft and 5ft lengths and you can clip them together with there carabiner clips to make them longer if need be. They come in different packages prices starting at $13.95 on up to $59.95. They also offer different sizes of carabiner clips.

 I received the 5ft LoopRope Cargo Tie Down that comes with two stainless steel carabiner clips it sells for $23.95 Found Hear. I have tried the LoopRope out on a lot of things lately to see how it performed.  I strapped some lumber together with it. It worked well the loops gave me just the right length. The carabiner clips close completely around the cord so I didn't feel like it was going to pop loose. I tried the hooks on the edge of a truck bed a place where they can often times come loose and they held well I believe its because I could use the loops at different points so that it was not over tightened.  We ran it across the middle of our E-Z UP and hooked the clips on each side so that we could use the loops to hang out LED lights from. I even use it to strap the lid down on the trash can when our friendly raccoon decided to rummage in it for a midnight snack. It holds a trash bag on quite well too. It always seems to be the perfect length. I also love that I can hook more than one together to make it longer if need be. I even used it to strap down the bikes in the back for the truck. I love love love that it doesn't tangle up like rope does. It also fits neatly in the back compartment of the durango so that I always have it when I need it. The longer I have it I find my self wanting a few more of them. They would make a great clothes line for camping. I am thinking of getting a couple for my dad for Christmas this year they would be a great gift. 

Please remember that LoopRope is stretchy like a bungee and can snap back if you over stretch it. Use caution and take care when using. LooppRope should never be stretched over 50% of its un-stretched length.

Find LoopRope on: Facebook
See some videos of LoopRope in action on YouTube.

                                                                                   

Disclosure: I received this product at no cost for review. All opinions are my own or what my kids thought of the product.