Sesame Street Goes Global

I, like many of you, grew up watching Sesame Street.  My son absolutely adores Sesame Street (I know, I know…I’m violating AAP’s number one rule!).  He especially loves Play With Me, Sesame.  I must be naive but I really never thought about the fact that children all over the world watch Sesame Street too!

About a month ago, Putumayo Kids released Sesame Street Playground, a CD/DVD set which features songs and music videos from Sesame Street productions around the world.  The mission of Putumayo Kids and Sesame Workshop is to reach children around the world and help them gain an understanding and respect for other cultures.

This our first exposure to music by Putumayo Kids and we love it!  I play it in the car all the time for my son who laughs and tries very hard to “tell me all about it” (he is a babbling toddler).  I think he’s most fascinated by the music videos we’ve watched on the acommpanying DVD.  The music is rich, upbeat and ethnic with a truly diverse feel.  You and your children will recognize many of the songs including Rubber Duckie sung in Chinese, the Sesame Street Theme sung in Dutch, and Elmo’s song sung in English.  The CD features songs from Brazil, France, China, India, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, Palestine, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and the US, all of which were produced in the country of origin.  The DVD is a compilation of 5 music videos with characters developed to reflect the diversity of children in each respective country.

I truly believe in exposing children to different cultures at a young age and I think this CD/DVD set does a great job of introducing cultural concepts to children in a familiar way.  The other day I left the CD in the car and it was playing while I was driving (without my son) and I never turned it off!  Kudos to that!  You can purchase Sesame Street Playground on the site for $14.98.  Be sure to listen to clips and watch a preview of the video on the site.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf5rHMQLdVo&hl=en&fs=1]

Pumpkin Carving

My son loves to go on walks and it seems like every house we stop at has a pumpkin (although he calls them nanas).  So we bought him his very own pumpkin and he loves it!  Here are some shots of him and daddy “digging in”! Enjoy!

Pretty and Personalized at The Pink Poodle Boutique (Plus a Giveaway)

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you so much for stopping by and entering.  The winner is Kimberly.  Congratulations!

I absolutely adore products I can personalize.  My husband and I have always been avid but amateur photographers.  From digital scrapbooking to photo invites we try to add that personal touch to our creative projects.

Earlier this year I planned my son’s first birthday with the help of my friend Kristin.  How fun would it have been to have personalized confetti on the tables?  The Pink Poodle Boutique now offers personalized and custom-made photo confetti.  Ordering is actually really fun, quick, and easy!  Select the shape you’d like, message, color, and photos and you’ve got a personalized bag of confetti that will cover 2-4 eight foot tables!  We took 3 photos of my son (taken over the past year), chose 3 messages (Joshua is 2,
Celebrate, and Happy Birthday), and picked out 3 vibrant colors (Turquoise, Yellow and Orange).  I was most impressed by how clear the pictures look considering how small the confetti is.  The confetti is printed on acid-free paper which means it’s safe for scrapbooking.

The sky is really the limit in terms of how creative and personal you want to be when ordering the confetti.  From confetti shapes and colors to font and text colors, you can match the confetti to the theme of your event.  Each 2 ounce bag (with 1000 pieces) retails for $8.00 (without photos) to $12.00 (with photos).

Win It!  The company has generously offered to give one of you a gift certificate for a bag of Personalized or Photo Confetti.  Head on over to The Pink Poodle Boutique and take a look around.  Come back and leave me a comment telling me how you’d design your very own bag of confetti.  Comments will close on November 10, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here the following day. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.  That means you can gain up to a total of three entries!

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter.

Blog about this giveaway.  It doesn’t have to be a separate post.  Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Trading for Girls

Contrary to popular belief, girls enjoy trading cards just like boys.  I can attest to this since I was an avid collector of a trading card so digustingly popular, I almost cringe.  I collected the oh-so-popular Garbage Pail Kids (although I have no idea why my mother would let me).  Thankfully, parents now have a sweeter, more magical option with Bella Sara trading cards for girls.

Bella Sara trading cards feature beautiful pictures of horses and positive, inspirational messages like “be the first to say you’re sorry.”  Girls will love collecting, trading, and playing games in the online land of North of North.  Each card features it’s own unique activation code that can be used to place each horse in it’s own stable.  I really like the fact that it teaches young girls responsibility since they are then able to care for their horses by feeding, brushing, and cleaning their stalls.

Later this month Bella Sara is expanding it’s family of horses to include the adorable Baby Bella foals (how cute is that?).  There will be 10-day kick-off celebration on the site starting November 6 where girls can win daily prizes, print off birth certificates for their baby foals, read stories and access special codes.

The website is nicely designed and would keep a child occupied for quite some time.  Bella Sara trading cards are targeted towards girls ages five and older.  Each pack of seven retails for $2.99 and can be purchased at big-name retailers like Target and Toys R Us.  You can also download a Target-exclusive coupon directly from the site.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRxSSV9uwV8&hl=en&fs=1]

Who Wants to Win a $50 Apple Gift Card?

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you so much for stopping by and entering.  The winner is Brandy.  Congratulations!

I am can be a shopaholic.  : )  Fortunately I am very good at finding the best bargains.  I always use coupons and buy things on sale.  And…I always shop around, particularly when it’s a significant purchase. But it’s not enough to get the best price.  I also want real feedback from people who have purchased a product so I can make an educated decision as to the best brand, model, etc.

Ciao is a new online shopping community and features thousands of accurate, honest reviews from real people.  Ciao knows that real customers want real information to make purchasing decisions.  On the site you’ll find reviews on everything from cell phones, laptops, and MP3 players to movies and beauty products.  What’s great about the site is that you’ll find reviews on the latest and most popular products.  I personally want to get more information on whether or not I should get an iPhone or a different smartphone.  If you become a member, Ciao will pay you $1.00 for every qualifying review.

They’ve just started posting video reviews which is a nice addition since I always like to see a product in use when possible.  Membership to Ciao is free and allows you the opportunity to connect with other users and customize your reviews, create wish lists and gift guides, and keep track of the products you like or dislike.

Win It!  One very lucky reader will win a $50 Apple Gift Card.  Fortunately for me it’s coming straight from the company!  : )  The giveaway rules are a little different so please pay attention.  First you’ll have to become a member of Ciao (it’s free, remember?).  Then you need to visit the site and write a review on a product of your choice (it’s painless, I promise).

Follow this easy three-step process:

1.  Enter the product you’d like to review (i.e. iPhone)

2. Click on “write a review” and share your experience using this product as well as rating, with the Ciao community of shoppers.  Be sure to do a full-length review.

3.  Join the Ciao community, start connecting with other shoppers and earn money for your reviews.  You can even upload a video review if you’re ambitious.

4.  Once you’ve completed these steps and have written a review (120 of your own words), post your Ciao username and a link to your review in the comments section on this blog post.

I’m really jealous that I can’t enter the contest myself looking forward to reading your reviews!  Deadline to enter is November 6, 2008 at 10 pm PST.  US residents only.  Comments not following the rules will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Profuse thanks to Ciao and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity!

Note: this contest is also open to current Ciao.com members, just be sure to include a link to a new review to qualify for this giveaway.

A Generation of Huggies

You know a company has longevity when they’ve been around as long as you have been alive.  This fall, Huggies is celebrating 30 years of helping moms through the diapering and potty training phases of childhood. I probably wore Huggies diapers and my son has worn them too!

They recently went on a 5 city tour which kicked off in New York City with celebrity mom Allison Sweeney.  All the best things happen in NYC!  : )  Check out some of the footage from the events.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpEpzOegOaA&hl=en&fs=1]

It wouldn’t be a celebration without prizes…for you! There are two contests going on right now…the Generation Huggies video contest and the Generation Huggies Sweepstakes.  You can enter both directly on the site and the details are below.

About Generation Huggies:
Now through November 20, 2008, create a video reflecting on “What Motherhood Means to Me.”
1. Videos can be uploaded to www.GenerationHuggies.com
2. Videos should be no longer than 60 seconds in length and no larger than 5MB.
3. Everyone can participate by giving a hug, or vote, to their favorite video through November 30, 2008.
4. Judging ends November 30, 2008.

About Generation Huggies Sweepstakes
Anyone can enter the Generation Huggies Sweepstakes for a chance to win $30,000.
1. From now until Nov. 30, 2008, enter online by visiting www.GenerationHuggies.com.
2. The grand prize winner will receive $30,000 and will be chosen in December 2008.

Visit www.GenerationHuggies.com for the official sweepstakes rules and details. Entry is limited to one per day per person or e-mail address during the Sweepstakes Period. Void where prohibited; no payment or purchase necessary. The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States plus the District of Columbia, age 18 or older.

Get In Shape Girl: Lullaby Exercises by Chicks-N-Chickens (Plus a Giveaway)

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  The winner is Jenna.  Congratulations!

I am a busy mom!  I work part-time, we just bought a house, and I write for several different sites including my own.  So guess what always gets put aside…working out!  I pay for a gym membership every month and it is literally 5 minutes from my house.  Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to get to the gym with my husband’s hectic work schedule. It’s frustrating since I used to work out several times a week.

After my son was born, I aspired to get my baby weight off as quickly as possible, definitely before the end of the first year.  This goal proved to be much more difficult than I had realized.  Chicks-N-Chickens launched a postpartum fitness program on DVD earlier this year, called Lullaby Exercises. I only wish I had known about the program after my son was born so I would not have been so frustrated with the last stubborn 10 pounds.

While it’s likely that your baby will sleep right through Lullaby Exercises, this lively, fun workout is designed to get you moving!  A couple of weeks ago I put my son in the Ergo and we started grooving to the hip tunes of Lisa Phenix.  I have to admit that I’ve never really had much success with fitness DVDs.  I’m quickly learning that if I’m going to get exercise in, I have to do something that offers the flexibility of working out at home.  And at only 35 minutes, you’ll get a decent workout without worrying about your baby getting bored, hungry, or fussy.  The squats are amazing and who knew you could tone your tummy without having to lie down?  Check out a preview!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjwVGv5Fs6U&hl=en&fs=1]

I have worn my son since he was born and I’ve learned to do pretty much anything with him in the carrier. Working out with him was a first, and I have to say that I got a really good workout (you know, the kind where you sweat!).  The music and workout are a really nice mix of soothing, fluid movements for babies while still maintaining an upbeat feel.  You’ll dance, sway, stretch and feel good afterwards!  My son was a very fussy baby and I really feel like this would have helped me get him to sleep while getting in some cardio benefits for myself.  While the recommended age for using this program with your baby is eight weeks to one year, my son really enjoyed this (perhaps because he’s so used to being in the carrier).  We laugh and he just enjoys being danced and bounced around.  And I don’t have to go to the gym!

Founder Darcy Novo Albrecht incorporates her years of fitness and “mom” experience into  this program to give moms a creative way to tone and shape their bodies while soothing their babies to sleep.  You can purchase Lullaby Exercises on her site for $29.95.

Win It!  I have a Lullaby Exercises program (including CD and DVD) to give away to one very lucky reader, courtesy of Chicks-N-Chickens. You’re absolutely going to love this!  Head on over to the site and then come back and let me know what you like most about the program or how you think it will benefit you.  Comments will close on November 7, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here the following day. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.  That means you can gain up to a total of three entries!

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter.

Blog about this giveaway.  It doesn’t have to be a separate post.  Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

THE House!

I cannot believe that we have finally moved into our very first home.  Jason and I are beyond excited and extremely a tad bit overwhelmed.  We have waited so long and have saved for so many years and it has finally come to fruition.  If you can believe it, we put an offer on this house in July, the day before we left for BlogHer.  We never knew it would take almost 4 months to close and move in.  I have to say that there were times when I really doubted that the house was meant for us.  I knew that buying a foreclosure would take more time than a straight sale, but never realized HOW long and what hoops we’d have to go through to make it happen.  My amazingly patient husband was the one who encouraged me when I lost hope and wanted to give up the entire process.  

Over the weekend we moved from a tiny one bedroom apartment to an almost 1400 square foot house. With new paint, carpet, and some cleaning we were ready to move in.  All I can say is that I’m hoping we don’t move for a very, very long time!  So, without further ado, here are some of the pictures from this weekend.  Please bear in mind that we JUST moved in on Saturday so we are obviously in boxes and pretty much in a mess.  Our son’s room is the worst.  He’s never had so much room to play or throw his toys around.  

BTW…I am a little behind on posting winners but don’t worry…I’ll be catching up in the next day or so since our spotty internet reception has been fixed!  Enjoy!

Innovative Solutions: Mabel’s Labels

My son and I were at Whole Foods the other day and a very nice lady informed me that my son had taken off one of his shoes.  If only we had someone else constantly on the watch for the stuff our kids throw, drop, or misplace.  It’s inevitable…children are going to lose things.  We might as well accept it so that we don’t lose sleep over the $20.00 sippy cup or the $40.00 pair of shoes.

I met Tricia from Mabel’s Labels a few weeks ago while attending Mammalicious in Orange County.  Not only is she friendly and genuine, she is one of the moms behind a fabulously ingenious company.  Just like other moms and dads, the women behind Mabel’s Labels were frustrated with the amount of kid gear that never returned home.  With the state of turmoil our economy is in at present, we are all trying to save money where we can.  I can’t afford to buy duplicates of toys or gear that my son has lost and perhaps you share my sentiment.

Mabel’s Labels are durable, personalized labels for anything and everything that could possibly get lost at school, day care, or elsewhere.  The sticky labels are dishwasher, microwave and UV safe, and the clothing labels are laundry safe.  Tricia took my son’s love for trains and designed an adorable set of blue, green and red labels.  I’ve already stuck his labeled sippy cups in the dishwasher and the labels look new just like they did when I first stuck them on.  

The company has expanded their product line to include personalized stationery products , identification wristbands , and household labels .  I’d like to get some My 411 Wristbands for my son since we just found out he is allergic to penicillin.

I can’t even begin to share with you the diverse array of labels you’ll find at Mabel’s Labels .  Fortunately you can buy combo packs to get you started.

Mabel’s Label’s is also looking for Buzzmama’s to spread the word about the company.  Check out all of the information on the site.

Innovative Solutions: Mabel’s Labels

My son and I were at Whole Foods the other day and a very nice lady informed me that my son had taken off one of his shoes.  If only we had someone else constantly on the watch for the stuff our kids throw, drop, or misplace.  It’s inevitable…children are going to lose things.  We might as well accept it so that we don’t lose sleep over the $20.00 sippy cup or the $40.00 pair of shoes.

I met Tricia from Mabel’s Labels a few weeks ago while attending Mammalicious in Orange County.  Not only is she friendly and genuine, she is one of the moms behind a fabulously ingenious company.  Just like other moms and dads, the women behind Mabel’s Labels were frustrated with the amount of kid gear that never returned home.  With the state of turmoil our economy is in at present, we are all trying to save money where we can.  I can’t afford to buy duplicates of toys or gear that my son has lost and perhaps you share my sentiment.

Mabel’s Labels are durable, personalized labels for anything and everything that could possibly get lost at school, day care, or elsewhere.  The sticky labels are dishwasher, microwave and UV safe, and the clothing labels are laundry safe.  Tricia took my son’s love for trains and designed an adorable set of blue, green and red labels.  I’ve already stuck his labeled sippy cups in the dishwasher and the labels look new just like they did when I first stuck them on.  

The company has expanded their product line to include personalized stationery products , identification wristbands , and household labels .  I’d like to get some My 411 Wristbands for my son since we just found out he is allergic to penicillin.

I can’t even begin to share with you the diverse array of labels you’ll find at Mabel’s Labels .  Fortunately you can buy combo packs to get you started.

Mabel’s Label’s is also looking for Buzzmama’s to spread the word about the company.  Check out all of the information on the site.

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