Family Game Night
August 5, 2009
I hope you’re having a FAB summer! I spent the first part sick all day and all night, but thankfully, it’s pretty much over (except the occasional bouts of nausea). Earlier this year we purchased a Nintendo Wii Entertainment System. I’ve primarily used it with the Wii Fit to lose weight up until I got pregnant with our second baby. However, there are soooo many fun games I’d love to get for our family. And I’m a total Mario addict (have been ever since my parents bought me Super Mario Bros as a child).
If you have children, then you know that it can be a struggle to find things to do in the summer (particularly when we’re all concerned about the recession). While I don’t believe children should sit playing video games all day, I do believe they can be a fun, educational form of entertainment. Where do you go to get games? I usually look online. However…I was recently re-introduced to GameStop, a family-friendly source for entertainment. The store has family-friendly games for every entertainment system imaginable and I love the fact that they offer pre-owned titles at affordable prices.
GameStop recognizes that many of us are struggling financially, so they have declared every Tuesday Night from June 23 through September 1 Family Night In. Any family who makes a purchase on a Tuesday will receive an extra 20% trade-in credit on pre-owned games good towards the reserve or purchase of select Family Night In video game titles, coupons for $3 off any Baskin-Robbins cake purchase of $15 or more, and the opportunity to enter the Family Night In sweeps (ten families each week will be awarded a $25 gift card redeemable at a food vendor or restaurant of their choice for dinner and a Brownie a la Mode cake for dessert, courtesy of Baskin-Robbins).
We went in and purchased 30 Family Party: 30 Great Games for the Wii (with a gift card given to us by the company). I like that up to four players can play (which is great for encouraging the entire family to play together). Some of the games include track and field and playground games. It’s very interactive and a fun way to “compete.” And it doesn’t only feature “physical” games but those that challenge your mind. I may be old, but it took me just a bit to get used to using the control the way it’s supposed to be used to manipulate the character.
Overall, our experience at GameStop was favorable. The store we visited provided us with excellent customer service by greeting us when we arrived and assisting us in choosing a family-friendly title. Be sure to visit your local store all summer long.
Momfluence Summer Guide
July 9, 2009
Summer is in full swing and Momfluence has put together a fabulous summer guide! And hey, you’ll even see a review from moi here! Enjoy!
- photo by G Viciano
Looking for some great products to make your summer that much more fun and enjoyable? Looking to pamper yourself while the kids are off at camp? Or maybe you’re dealing with summer bumps and bruises. Momfluence has collected some reviews of great products that you need to know about! Check out what our reviewers had to say about these great summer finds. And don’t forget to stop by the Momfluence member giveaways listed at the bottom for some summer winning!
Featured Products
FishBites Swimmies - Spending time in the water is one of the most fun and exciting parts of summer. FishBites Swimmies by Swimways is a great solution to give the little ones the extra security they need in the pool, in a fun and exciting way.
Delsey Helium Fusion Carryon - If you are hitting the road or flying the skies this summer for your family vacation, the Delsey Helium Fusion carry-on offers a lightweight solution for packing your travel essentials.
Do Something Daily Calendar - Tired of hearing the kids say they have nothing to do? The DoSomethingDaily Calendar offers fun and exciting suggestions for things to do on each and every day of the year. Make memories with your family, every day!
Perlabella Pearls – Want to combat some of the wrinkles cause by sun damage? Perlabella’s Retinol solution helps to fight the signs of aging, that can be caused by excessive sun exposure and other factors.
More Summer Fun
Two Belles and A Bead Engraved Necklace
Member Reviews/Giveaways
Bonggamom – $50 Tiny Prints Gift Certificate
IceFairy’s Treasure Chest – KiNeSYS, Purex 3-in1, and more
Eccentric, Eclectic Woman – Bra Barrette, Skipping Hippos
Riding With No Hands – 20 Piece Rubbermaid Set
Consumer Queen – FurBuster
PlusSizeMommy – Giant Hershey Bar, Zensoy, and more
MommyNotGuilty – KidBanz Sunglasses
Robyn’s Online World – Kodak Digital Frame
Simply Being Mommy – EA Sports Active
Lattes and Life – Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs & http://www.lattesandlife.com/2009/06/parents-choice-infant-formula-savings.html”>Parent’s Choice Formula
Motherhood Moment – Summer Fun
A Simple Kinda Life – Summer Soiree of Giveaways
From Cribs to Car Keys - EcoStore $25 Gift Certificate and more
Miscellaneous Finds 4 U – Tiny Prints and more
All Momfluence guide reviews are product-provided, featured positions were purchased by vendors. Member reviews and giveaways are not associated with Momfluence.
American Heart Association National CPR and AED Awareness Week
May 8, 2009
When I was pregnant with my son, I had a little “heart to heart” with my family. I knew that there was going to be a time where I’d have to leave my son with one or all of them. I’m an RN so I don’t worry about how I would react if a friend or a neighbor needed CPR or assistance because he/she was choking. I also don’t worry about my ability to deal with a similar incident should it ever happen to my son (although I can’t presume I’d be as calm as I am with my patients). But up until a few months ago, I couldn’t say the same thing about the people in my life who were about to take care of my son. So I sent them all to get CPR certified at our local hospital. It was the only way I could have peace of mind leaving my 6 month old with, say, my father.
Summer is coming very soon and there are lots of activities for children to enjoy. But with activities like swimming, come real facts about what happens when people are not prepared. Unfortunately, more drownings occur in the summer months. For many families, summer is synonymous with water. You may vacation at the lake or spend weekends at the beach or tote your kids to swimming at the community pool. Regardless of how you plan on spending family time this summer, might I encourage you to get CPR trained? It’s easy and painless (I promise). Many of you may think, why? Maybe you think you can just call 911. Those vital minutes you spend calling and waiting for the ambulance to arrive can be spent doing CPR and increasing a person’s chances of survival.
The first week in June begins National CPR and AED Awareness Week. I highly encourage you to get trained (have I driven the point home yet?). Honestly, I hope no one who reads this ever has to use CPR. However, I hope that everyone who reads this, makes it a priority to get trained. As a busy, working mom, I understand time and child care restraints. The thought of trying to take a class right now makes me want to laugh since I know I have no one to watch my son. The American Heart Association realizes that adults are busy and may not be able to attend a traditional course in a classroom (which they do offer, by the way). For those of you who are self-learners, the AHA offers a self-directed course called CPR Anytime. In 22 minutes you (or anyone) can learn CPR (infant and child/adult). The kit comes with an inflatable, reusable mannequin and instructional DVD. We have one at home that my husband used since he couldn’t attend a physical class before my son was born and he learned a lot from it. What’s nice is that you can practice or brush up on the skills in the comfort of your home at your leisure, thereby building confidence.
We use the CPR Anytime Kits in the NICU where I work for parents getting ready to take their babies home, and they’ve been very effective when a class is unavailable. Once new parents have viewed the video, we have them practice and return demonstrate the skills, thereby encouraging questions and providing feedback.
I highly recommend checking out the site and finding a CPR training that works with your schedule.
Profuse thanks to Mom Central for this review opportunity!
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