The PlayBright Early Learning System

Earlier this year, I put my son in preschool.  He absolutely loved it.  And then flu season came around and I pulled him out.  Now that we have a newborn in the house, I’m weighing whether or not to put him back in preschool.  I’ve never even considered the option of homeschooling, but I know that I’m fully capable of educating my children at home.  Preschool, in my mind, was always more about giving him social interaction in a structured setting rather than providing formal education.

I have been looking for some type of educational program to do with my son while we’re home.  Our days are filled with books and play, but as he gets older, I really want to set aside some learning time.  I was recently contacted by PlayBright to check out their Early Learning System.  The series of early learning guidebooks were published by the Children’s Home Society of Washington and developed with input from child developmental scientists, brain researchers, and early educators.  The goal of the program is simple:  Empower and equip parents so they can create learning opportunities through play for their kids on a regular basis.

One of my favorite takeaways from the program is that it is in the “day-to-day, moment-to-moment experiences” that a child learns.  The books will teach you how young brains develop, how a child learns best, what skills are important for a child to learn, in what order skills develop, the tools and actions that support and encourage a child’s learning, and activities that will help a child develop particular skills.

The system has 2 components:  The Keys to Learning Book and the Guidebooks.  The Keys to Learning Book ($39.95) will help you understand how a child’s brain develops during the early childhood years.  The Guidebooks ($25.95) focus on a single year of a child’s life (up to age 5) and help you understand a child’s four major developmental skill areas.  I like the developmental milestones checklist to keep track of how my children are progressing.

The Keys to Learning Book is really for parental use.  It is used to help you as a parent, understand how your child develops which will help you then implement some of of the ideas presented in the Guidebooks.  It’s also beneficial in helping parents come up with their own unique ways of fostering their child’s development with consideration to their unique personalities.  The Guidebooks really help you as the parent put what you’ve learned into practice.  Each book focuses on a year of life and includes a checklist for developmental milestones, a list of safe toys that help a child grow in a particular stage, and a series of activity pages (that make up a bulk of the book).  I definitely think you’ll find a nice combination of activities you probably already do with your child, and new ones to help foster your child’s development. I particularly find the 0-12 month Guidebook beneficial, because this is the age range where I find myself wondering how to engage an infant.

Play is the best way for children to learn.  The PlayBright Early Learning System is a great way for parents to become actively involved in their child’s learning.  And who better to teach them than the ones who spend the most time with them? For more information, just visit their site!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

PUR’s Safe Drinking Water Initiative *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Angie. Congrats!

I like to think I’m fairly conscious of my impact on the environment.  Over 90% of the products we use in our home are “green,” and we do our part to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  One of the most challenging aspects for me was giving up my bottled water.  I *know* it’s not any better than tap water.  I *know* that the plastic bottles are a huge environmental waste.  And it wasn’t until I tried out PUR Water Filtration Systems that I stopped buying bottled water.

I know that I have concerns about drinking water straight from the tap (mostly because of the way it tastes).   However, we live in a country where we don’t have to worry about a shortage of safe drinking water.  Something I recently learned was that 4,000 children die every day from illness and disease related to unsafe drinking water in developing countries.  That number is daily, which to me is unthinkable.

PUR has partnered with the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) to alleviate this global crisis by providing clean drinking water to those in need.  In January, PUR is partnering with Summit on the Summit, a celebrity climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for it’s clean drinking water efforts.  Celebrities participating in the event include Jessica Biel and Alexandra Cousteau.

You may remember that I reviewed the PUR Water Filtration System earlier this year. It’s a great way to give your family clean, safe water while respecting the environment.  Bottled water has not been found to be any safer or healthier to drink.  Using the system will save you money (up to $600/year) and the environment (up to 3200 plastic bottles).  The PUR water filter removes contaminants such as atrazine, lead, microbial cysts, and pharmaceuticals (I had no idea medications could be found in drinking water!).  And for every PUR Water Filtration System purchased, a child will have one week of clean drinking water through CSDW.  For more information about this initiative, simply visit their site!

Win It! One of you will win a PUR Water Pitcher!  Simply leave me a comment with something you found interesting on their site.  Comments will close on January 15, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.

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

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review.  The giveaway was sponsored by PUR.

Prehistoric Fun With Playskool’s Monty Rex

I recently told you about Playskool’s More Than Play Campaign, “an educational initiative designed to show parents how play lays down important foundational skills needed for advanced learning like reading, writing, mathematics, critical problem solving, and conceptual thinking.”  Choosing a toy should be a well thought out, researched endeavor.  Since play is critically important for a child’s development, parents should try to choose toys that will help foster and support this development.

We’ve purchased several Playskool toys for my son over the past two years.  I didn’t always pay much attention to the learning potential, particularly when he was younger.  More and more I’m getting selective about the toys I buy him because a. toys can get expensive and b. many toys only get played with for a very short period of time.  I want to invest in toys with lasting value.  I don’t want to purchase something that will end up in my son’s toy box, virtually untouched.

Playskool’s Dinoroars line offers children the opportunity to experience life-like prehistoric animals.  My son has had his Triceratops for several months now and still enjoys him.  And now, Monty Rex joins him.  Monty Rex belongs to the Dinoroars line and is the largest (from what I can tell).  He walks and talks roars, just like a real T-Rex.  My son was a little scared the first time they met.  But they’ve been getting to know each other and have now come to like each other.  Take a look:

The toy is highly interactive and has various sensors that allow a child to elicit responses from Monty.  He also plays 3 dino tunes (so fun!).  I like when he burps.  My son likes to “roar” with him.  Monty comes with a discovery sheet so that as your child gets older you can help him/her learn some facts about Monty.

Monty is as lifelike as a toy can get.  Some of the developmental benefits include fostering imagination, conceptual thinking, language, cause and effect, fine motor skills, problem solving, and bonding/attachment.  I see my son engaging in a lot of pretend play these days and Monty is perfect for that.

For more information on Playskool’s More Than Play Campaign, or information about their toys, head on over to the site.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Wordless Wednesday

Ten Dollar Pizzas in 2010 *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Marci.  Congrats!

Pizza is one of my favorite foods.  And while I have my local favorites, I’m not entirely picky when it comes to pizza because I don’t envision how it would be possible to make a “bad” pizza.  Speaking of pizza, we’ve been eating a lot of it because it’s so convenient to have it delivered and to not have to spend time cooking or cleaning up the kitchen.

The well-known pizza chain Pizza Hut, is offering a fabulous deal for the new year.  For $10, you can get any pizza…any size, any crust, any toppings.  That is an incredible deal!  I am thinking that we must do a Pizza Hut night this week so we don’t have to cook.  I honestly don’t think I could make pizza from scratch with all the toppings for $10.  And, there are no limitations to this offer and for $1 more you can get a stuffed crust pizza. So choose from Pan Pizza, Hand Tossed Style Pizza and Thin ‘N Crispy Pizza and any number of toppings.

This offer is available for a limited time, and I honestly don’t know what that time frame is.  Follow them on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest!

Win It! I have a $10 gift card up for grabs so one of you can take advantage of this deal for free!  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite pizza from Pizza Hut!  Comments will close on January 13, 2010 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.

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

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review.  The giveaway was sponsored by Pizza Hut.

191 Unlimited

I have to admit that I’m really enjoying shopping for our baby girl.  It’s just so much easier to find cute, girly clothing for her.  There is no shortage of options like there is for little boys.  Shopping for my son, as much as I enjoy it, has always been a challenge.  The clothes I want for him are either difficult to find or very expensive.

Enter 191 Unlimited,  a company offering fashionable shirts for men and boys.  The company was built with four principles in mind: awesome fit, extreme comfort, innovative detailing, and affordability.  If you visit their site, you’ll notice that all of the boys look smart and dressed to a T.  I would dress my son like that all the time if I could!

Earlier this week, my husband pulled out the camera and took some informal pictures of us.  We dressed my son in the Stage Dive Boys shirt with a pair of jeans.  I’m so biased because he’s my son, but I think he looks so adorable and so much more like a little boy than a baby.  You can dress these shirts up for a special occasion with a nice pair of pants, or use them for more casual days out with a pair of jeans.

The shirts are made from a cotton/polyester blend and are detailed with an embroidered design on the front (both sides).  Boys’ shirts retail for $54 and are available on the site and at major department stores like Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Runway Maternity Fashion: Moody Mamas

It’s hard to believe that one week ago, I was pregnant and now I’m not.  I’m not complaining…at all.  It’s just the strangest feeling to be pregnant for almost an entire year and then one day you’re just not.  I am overjoyed at having our baby girl with us.  I’m not one who does pregnancy well.  I don’t glow and generally just feel awkward.  Because I think that there might be a women or two out there who feels the same way I do, I appreciate and support companies that strive to help the pregnant woman look and feel beautiful.

Moody Mamas is a line of maternity and nursing clothing popular among celebrities (Jessica Alba and Tori Spelling).  And I’m not surprised that this is the case since they’re clothes are hip and trendy.  When I got pregnant with my son, I only knew of one store that sold maternity clothing (and you are probably all familiar with it).  I wish I had known that other options like Moody Mamas existed.  Most pregnant women experiencing normal, healthy pregnancies continue to work and engage in their normal activities.  It becomes increasingly challenging (especially in that third trimester) to find comfortable, fashionable clothing to wear to work and outings.  Whether you need something casual for the weekends or something more formal for work or going out, you’re certain to find that Moody Mamas offers much in the way of style.

Now, if you’re like me, you perhaps can’t justify spending a lot of money on an entire maternity wardrobe that will only be worn for less than one year.  Many woman spend up to $1000 on a maternity wardrobe they will likely never wear again (unless they have more children).  Fortunately, Moody Mamas recently announced that they would be selling their clothing online at Target.  When I visited their online site, I found that the most expensive piece retails for $59.99 (compared to pieces starting at well over $50 on their main site).

Moody Mamas was surprisingly started by two women who’ve never had children.  Their goal was to design a “bold, daring collection” inspired by the runways.   Some of the styles are hip while others more sophisticated.  Much of what I’ve seen I’d wear long after the pregnancy (particularly since I don’t see myself fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes in the foreseeable future).   Target offers comfortable lounge-wear, nursing essentials, everyday casual-wear, and dresses for going out.

I received a gorgeous pair of black pajamas.  They’re super soft and cozy and I wore them until I delivered. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) they still fit since I am still rocking a bump!  I can actually wear the pajamas for lounging around at home because they don’t really look like your typical pajamas.

If you’re looking for affordable maternity and nursing wear that you’ll enjoy wearing during and after your pregnancy, check out Moody Mamas.  You can also visit their main site and click on “Steals & Deals” for savings up to 60%.  They’re also having a sample sale if you’re in the Los Angeles area.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

My Christmas Gift From HoMedics

It’s not too often that I get a box I’m not expecting.  You may remember I reviewed the Restore Clean Water System, courtesy of HoMedics as part of my holiday gift guide.  The company was kind enough to send me a gift every mother needs…a Therapist Select Shiatsu Massage Pillow.  I’ve always wanted something that could give me a massage whenever I wanted one.

The massage pillow can be used for the neck, back, or shoulders and also has a heat option.  It’s perfect for sitting and lounging around recovering from having a baby!  The pillow is soft and plush and I particularly like the heat option.  The Shiatsu Massage Pillow retails for $39.99.  Thank you HoMedics!

Brusha Brusha Spinbrush

I feel very fortunate because my son just loves brushing his teeth.  I believe it’s because we brushed his teeth with him when his first tooth erupted.  We’ve always been really positive about the experience.    In fact, HE wants to do it all by himself and doesn’t like when mommy or daddy try to “help” him.  The slight problem is that he hasn’t quite mastered the proper way to brush his teeth.

Arm & Hammer, the creators of the Spinbrush, now offer a version for kids.  This battery-operated toothbrush “promotes healthy brushing, removes plaque, and massages gums.” One of the things we’re trying to work on with my son is that he needs to brush longer and all of his teeth (not just some of them).  He’s usually “done” before we think he should be.  According to Arm & Hammer, kids brush 38% longer with the Spinbrush when compared to a regular brush.  I honestly don’t know how that equates with time, but I do know that my son enjoys brushing with it (he’s particularly fond of the Soccer Ball themed brush he received).

The brush head is a little larger than the one he typically uses but it’s definitely still appropriate for the size of his mouth (he’s 2 1/2).  The handle is where the characters are housed and I think maybe it could be slightly less bulky for toddler’s hands.  It’s battery-operated (and batteries ARE included) so it may take children a bit of getting used to since this may be their first experience with a toothbrush of it’s kind (it was definitely my son’s first experience).  He was never scared of it, just hesitant (and that didn’t last long).

Be sure to check out their tips for kids on brushing their teeth correctly!

The Spinbrush toothbrush is disposable (just like a manual toothbrush) and retails for approximately $6.29.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

All About Baby: Seventh Generation *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Tiffany.  Congrats!

One of the reasons I enjoy the product review side of my blog is that I get to try new products I otherwise would never have the opportunity to try.  And the other aspect I enjoy is the opportunity to share with you about the products we use all the time in our home.  There are some companies I can’t speak enough about.

Seventh Generation is one such company.  I was using their products long before product reviews.  I feel completely comfortable cleaning the bathroom with my toddler in the room, washing baby bottles and sippy cups with their dishwashing liquid, and having both of my children in their diapers.  And that’s because “Seventh Generation is committed to being the world’s most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home.”  Their entire line is non-toxic to both you and the environment.  You can look at the list of ingredients on each and every product and feel confident in their safety.

I can clean my bathroom (or any other room) with their products without donning a mask or opening windows.  My son had chronic diaper rashes until we finally made the switch to Seventh Generation’s diapers.  (hint hint:  Order them through Amazon.com’s Subscribe and Save option for THE best pricing ever).  I wash our children’s clothing with their Baby Laundry Detergent and they never get rashes or skin irritation.  Sure, I’d like their toilet paper and paper towels to be a bit softer (but they’re 100% recycled!).  But they function well so I’m happy.  Some people care about having “white” paper products.  I really don’t care what color they are, as long as they do what they’re supposed to do…particularly since many whitened products are done so by way of a chemical called chlorine.

I received a deluxe baby kit, courtesy of the company which included items like diapers, wipes, etc.  I was very excited about trying their chlorine-free pads and tampons (TMI?).  And what better time than after having a baby!  They’re just as soft and absorbent as other brands without the chemicals to go with them.

There are many companies with labels like “green” and “eco-friendly.”  I truly believe Seventh Generation stands out among the rest because of their commitment to both the consumer and the environment and their complete transparency about their products.

Seventh Generation is doing something truly amazing.  Million Baby Crawl is an initiative to help change the current chemical law (which only requires testing on 200 of the 80,000 chemicals on the market).  You can learn more about this initiative on the site.

Win It! One of you will win a Green Baby Kit.  Just leave me a comment with something you learned on the site (that wasn’t in my review).  Comments will close on January 12, 2010 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.

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

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Next Page »