Jumpin-Beans

As a parent, you learn so much. I remember thinking that babies would love bright colored objects, but once I became a parent, I learned that in the beginning stages, black and white were the most appealing to them.  It is always so neat to me to learn how babies function. Anyways, I was sent a couple books for review and to say Savannah thinks they are pretty neat is an understatement. Broxton, being the great big brother that he is, was eager to show her the books and they are now in her cube of books that we have in the living room that she "reads" every day.       FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. We were sent the slide and play books Pets and Safari from Wee Gallery .  These books are both heavy duty to stand up to kids playing.  W

As many know, we love books here.  I love reading and love reading to my children. Broxton would much rather me read TO him instead of him read, so we are working on that. He is in 2nd grade now and just came home the other day telling me that he has found books he likes!  He wants me to start buying him CHAPTER BOOKS so he can read them.  I pointed out that I had bought plenty of chapter books for him, he just needed to start reading them. The reason I am telling you this?  Sky Pony Press (we have worked with them on books before and are still working on building our library for Savannah with their great titles) has decided to give chapter books a try.  They have two that they have released and both sound pretty amazing.  I think Broxton would love them, so we might have to check these out soon!   FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product te

If I have not convinced you that Loot Crates are just the coolest thing, I am going to try again to do so today!   I am telling you, I may not even be a fan of some of the items in there (as far as the shows, I am not a Star Trek fan... I know, one of the few... but Marc is... so maybe you can count me half? ) but the box as a whole?  AMAZING!!!!   The July crate was going with the theme : Futuristic.  As soon as I opened it and saw the inside of the box, that is half of my excitement, seeing what they are going to do for the design, I knew it was going to be a fun one!   FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation My younger (college aged) cousin was here, so I thought it would be neat to see what he thought of the items inside the Loot Crate we recei

The weather is starting to get cooler. Know what that means?  Fall, y'all!  Football season, camping out, camp fires, HALLOWEEN, Thanksgiving and then BOOM- CHRISTMAS!!!!  That means I really need to get to planning my Christmas lists for everyone... and that always means a few DVD's to go under the tree.  Nickelodeon is getting in the spirit already, they have announced the "a very nick jr Christmas" DVD release!   I love when they grab a few favorites and put them on one disc, it makes it easier for travel! FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. Nickelodeon preschool favorites from the past and present come together to help celebrate the most wonderful time of the year in the all-new collection,  Nickelodeon Favorites: A Very Nick

Just received this email and thought I would share... Are you a Pirates of the Caribbean fan?

Once fall arrives, it is a great time for me. Living in Georgia, we don't get TOO cold... although having kids, it is pretty exciting when we do get snow.  Okay, even before kids, I was excited when it would snow.  I love the colder temperatures!   Anyways, Fall brings forth many things for us: Football Season Cooler Temperatures The changing of the view outdoors. Halloween Thanksgiving  Getting closer to Christmas!!! Since I am in my happy place, I thought I would share the happiness with you! One lucky reader will win a gift card. $20 to either TARGET or WALMART. Enter on the rafflecopter form below; a Rafflecopter giveaway

You know, it is tough being a kid.  There is so much going on and so many new things to learn. How to talk, walk, act, how to express yourself as far as moods and feelings. I never really gave it much though until I became a mom, but man... the struggle is out there.  While childhood is AWESOME, it can have moments of being pretty scary.  On one hand, you have adults there to help you out, but on the other hand, it is hard to express things.  We were sent several awesome items from the Moodsters line and I think they are great as far as helping kids express and understand their feelings and emotions. FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. The Moodsters children's books are based on research-backed curriculum developed by parenting and child exp

Childhood can be crazy, can't it???  For a while, Broxton was into the Ninja Turtles, then decided he wanted nothing to do with them. (That was after he begged to be one for Halloween one year!)  He has been wishy washy about it again, but as of right now, he loves watching them.  This DVD came out a bit ago, but it would be great to start thinking of different DVD's to add to Christmas lists for the TMNT fans you know! FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. The  Turtles  embark on an out-of-this-world adventure to save Earth in  Teenage   Mutant   Ninja  Turtles : Beyond the Known Universe , a two-disc, 12-episode adventure. In the first 12 episodes of season four of Nickelodeon's hit television show, Leo, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey embar

October brings cooler weather, football and of course HALLOWEEN.  Do you dress up? Do your children?  Any clue what the costumes will be this year?  In preparation for Halloween, I wanted to share a few tips for oral hygiene. Good to know year round!  Any suggestions you would add? FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. “Halloween is an exciting time for kids, so the last thing we want to do is take away their fun,” explains Dr. Bruno Sharp, a fourth-generation dentist who created a line of products called Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care, and is celebrating his 10 th  year as a Natural Oral Care provider. “We can still keep it fun and yet make it healthier. Most kids may not even realize that parents took steps to make it more natural.” Dr. Sharp offer

A show that Broxton loves watching is one called Odd Squad. I have blogged about it before, because he really does love watching it.   I will tell you now, he watches some really stupid cartoons, but when this show comes on, it actually makes me happy that he is watching it!  It teaches him MATH without it being boring and feeling like you are in a classroom/ Seriously, I don't mind the TV on when it is educational programming and that is why I love PBS.  Are you familiar with Odd Squad?  If you are, don't you love it?  If you aren't, and you have younger children around, check it out!  I bet you will become a fan of it too! Odd Squad just released another awesome DVD, Creature Encounters.  I have not given it to Broxton yet, I am thinking this might be a Christmas gift.  Let's see how these next few weeks hold up and then I will decide! FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or rep

There really are not many animated movies that my husband will sit down and watch without us begging him to join us.  The different Ice Age movies are in a world of their own though.  He will always watch them with us and normally if he sees one being shown, he will turn it to watch without us having to even ask.  Are you an Ice Age fan like we are?  The are all just soo good!!!!!! This is just an announcement about the release of the latest, Ice Age - Collision Course. I will share more with you once I get a chance to see it!   FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. Your favorite ICE AGE heroes are back and spacier than ever in this all-new animated adventure that's mammoth-sized fun for the whole family! Leave it to our beloved scavenger Scr

It appears as though everyone is back into the routines of school these days, right? That might mean packing lunches, maybe just snacks like Slammer Snacks, or possibly even both! We were sent a selection of their products for review and let me just tell you... they were supposed to be for Broxton's snacks, but they quickly turned into snacks for us all. They are just that good! FTC Compliant Review Policy:    The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are  my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. As I said, they were meant for Broxton.  I figured they weren't "just for kids" and since Marc works long hours, I thought a nice protein boost might be great for him.  He really enjoyed them and that meant more for us all!  Seriously, what would you rather your family be eating?  A protein treat like this in a squeeza