Category Archives: Parenting

Perplexus Toys Top Pick 2nd year

So last year I picked the Perplexus as a top pick for Kids on MamasLittleHelper.. for me it was My son and his favorite gift all year.  I actually got to try it out at a blogher event and gave one to my son. Then proceed to buy 9 more and give them to all his friends.  They we a huge hit for the 10th birthday parties he attended.

It is still a top pick for me!

So if you don’t know what to buy the kids this is the gift!!!

  • It has no batteries
  • Causes kids to focus and concentrate as they move the ball through the maze
  • It is a truly durable toy/puzzle
  • teaches patient
  • it does not make noise
  • mind powered thinking involved
  • Young and old will be addicted to solving this puzzle many many times
  • My son asked for the other versions
  • every kid who touched it had to play with it.  great for all
  • a great gift go to gift for all birthdays and holidays
  • it has no batteries (had to say it twice)

The added some new versions

The new harder version: Perplexus Epic $21.95 on amazon

and a younger version Perplexus Rookie from $18.25 on Amazon

Disclosure: I received a sample of these toys free of charge the opinions in this post are completely of my own.

 

Empowering Your Daughters

Teach your daughter to be independent empowered women.   A empowered women who can stand on her own 2 feet and be resilient at challenging time.  Here are my top 6 ways I help to empower your daughter with self-respect, girl  independence, great body image, and resilience.

  • Resourceful That she is self sufficient and resourceful where there is no light.   I want her to understand that faith.  Have a belief in a greater good is important and will always help you through rough times. Empowerment comes from within.
  • Independence When I first met my husband he told me the reason he  love you was because “you are independent you allow me to be part of you life you will never need me to survive”.   I want my daughter to understand it takes a very strong man to be with a very strong women.  Allow a man to be part of her world.  That my husband is the ying to my yang and he completes me. I teach my daughter that she can go things herself that she can take her car to the shop and take out her own garbage. She see the respect that I have for my husband and the respect he has for me.  Where as our love  is not perfect, we do have times where we butt heads but it is never for a traditional role. Independence but one together, empowered and loved.
  • Intelligence I tell her she is smart every day, ask her what she did today. This lets her know her thoughts are important she is intelligent . I tell her she can be and do anything. I really truly mean it as a child my mother want us to have opportunities that were not available to her.  She stood by why I petitioned to be on the football team.  I fought it up the ladder.  I wore a pregnant statue of liberty shirt with “ERA” on it every other day in the 5th grade.  She washed it every day for me. She knew things were to be different for me.
  • Support I will stand by her when she makes choice in life, I don’t agree with to but knowing her choices are her life.  My mother knew nothing about fashion when I went in to it but she supported my decisions it regardless …long as I had a real college degree when I left college.  A option she never had as a teenager. Support from other is the easiest way to empower your daughter.
  • Consequences to her actions is the way to empowerment of your daughter,  I understand you might not wait until you are married to have sex.  But make sure you are old enough to deal with the consequences and take precautions. Also make sure it is with someone who loves and respects you, and that will make it special.  That would be a gift you my daughter will cherish for the 1st time.
  • Body Image I will tell my daughter she is beautiful. In still Positive body image I will lead by example letting her know I think I am beautiful  no matter what size I am.  I have never said I am fat in front of her or I am ugly because that is a state of mind in negative thoughts that just brings you down.  I never also say diet,  I might eat less and make better choices  but we never go to the fat dark side.  I want my kids to be around food and learn to limit rather than hide. I have heard many people say there happiness is tied to there weight. How about Happiness tied to being happy with oneself.  Empower yourself to empower your daughters.

If you say it often they will believe. So that is my Parenting Rant. What do you do to empower your daughter or kids?

Painting Rocks Gift Kids will love to give

Painted rocks make an excellent gift for kids during the up and coming holiday season.  Great  to give to a relative or special someone.  We painted some rocks we picked up on our vacation this summer to give to my inlaws for there anniversary. It was very special because the kids painted the themes of the vacation.

This is a great idea for your kids to do for a holiday gift .

what will you need :

  • Rocks
  • Acrylic paint (permanent kind) found at hobby stores AcMoore or Micheal’s- I bought the primary paints (red, yellow, blue, – white , black)
  • Paint brushes
  • Plastic plates or old lids  for paints , cups for water
  • Paper towels
  • Clear gloss spray
  • old clothes or smock
  • Newspaper of some thing to protect table

You might want to paint rocks white before you start so that the true colors of the paints come out.

My kids mixed there colors but I put the paint on the plates.. a little goes a long way.once dry the adult clear coats the rocks with spray so they will not chip over time.

Enjoy I painted one too.

Let you little Picasso come out.   Rocks are fun to find and fun to paint and better to give.  A  little natural canvas for kids.

enjoy..Have a handmade holiday

Furry Christmas

So this past Friday, My family and I were invited to attend the opening day of the Sesame Places Very Furry Christmas.  We had a blast.  I took my daughter age 6,  my son age 10 and his friend.  This was the start of a new tradition Sesame place at Christmas. Sesame place was decorated beautiful for Christmas with over 300 trees and  characters dress in holiday attire.   the has spilling poinsettia pots. The lights were amazing.


They had a lightening of the 25ft  Christmas Tree which was a musical with dancing lights on the trees. Very fun my daughter was entranced.   They also had 3 Christmas stage shows and the Christmas parade down Main Street.  The kids cheered as the parade rolled by.

I got some of the Kettle corn I have to sat it was some of the best I have every had. Great treat in the cooler temps.

My daughter made her list for Santa and got to take her picture with them.  Which was great because we got to avoid the mall and have fun at the same time.  So it was a real bonus.

If you are thinking what about my big kids. I was worried that the older boy would not have a good time they rode the rides the entire time and asked to come back again.  Thanks for Sesame for having us and letting the big boys to be little again.

Sesame Place A Very Furry Christmas are open Friday, Saturday, and Sundays from now till Christmas then for the week of  Christmas, Tickets are $19.99 each for non pass holders or 13.99 to add Christmas pass an to 2011/2012 sesame place season pass.   Sesame place is so close to Philadelphia 30 from Center city, 2 hours from New York and 2 hours from DC so it is worth the trip for a fun Christmas thing to do.  I love the idea of coming in between Christmas and new years be sure to check out the Sesame Place web site.

Disclosure: I did recieve these tickets from Sesameplace for free but the opinions in this post are all of my own.

 

Ugly Dog Sweaters

Dog Sweater for a DobermanDog Sweaters are a great gift for your pooch this holiday season. Because Baby it is cold outside

I found LLyod our 10 week old  Doberman sweater in the $2.50 rack when you walk in to Target.   They actually call them “Ugly Dog Sweater.” He will out grow it by Christmas so why not have a little fun the time he is little.  Yes that is a raindeer.

RainDeer doggie Sweater

Grundy I wearing a Martha Stewart from Last Season from PetsMart.  I found it was the only dog fleece that fit the unusual proportion of a bull dog.  Great fit for Bulldog Dog Sweater. My husband says he looks like he is stuffed in a sausage casing.


bulldog in a sweater

Here are some other winners  this holiday season

From Baxterboo.com which seemed to have the best selection of  ugly dog sweaters.. I am sorry Buddy’s

The last one looks like the shirt swallowed him.. too funny.

How does your dog stay warm this cold winter.

 

New Dog: Doberman

In case you have not heard I got a new Friend Loyd  a 9 month old  Red Doberman. Where as I love Grundy our bull dog. I miss having a doberman after the loss of my precious Hershey 2 years ago, I still miss him all the time he was my boy if you read my post on Hershey you will understand.  Plus I really like having a big dog around the house.  Dobe is my breed (since my husband introduced me to them).   So this is Loyd –  potty training going good,  he knows how to sit and he is learning to walk on a lead.

I love training a doberman because they are smart.. one of the smartest breeds (#5 on the list).  They are great with kids.   Graceful breed.  If you have ever been afraid of a dobe fear not they are wonderful. Read the lists dobes make great addition to a family.  Ask any one who has know a home pet they are trainable it is all in the training,  so teach to be nice they will be.

Grundy is liking a friend not too keen on sharing of his bones

I don’t know if he will be a good therapy dog like my beloved Hershey but we will see.

 

LeapPad Review

So we recently had our Learn share, create Leapfrog party. We had 5 adults and 11 kids attend ranging from 3- to 11. One 3 year old and one 11 year old. We received the leappad and leapfrog tag to introduce the product to my friends and learn about the product. I have to say I was really impressed and so were my friends. We have owned many leappad products. My son had a Leapster that was handed down to my daughter. When he got a Digi so we were not stranger to the leapfrog family of products. The leappad: I gave the leap pad to my daughter the night before the party, to learn about it as we took a drive. My daughter is 6 and was able to use the leap pad without any assistance. My guest and I were impressed with the graphics. The Leappad worked the same way an adult tablet of computer tab would work with motion movement, finger and stylus. The leappad had a game called Rolly Polly Picnic where you moved the pad and moved the bug to get food for the picnic think maze ball gave but animated. Another of my daughters favorite was the Twisty Tracks using the styles you tap train tracks with a pen to get to a train tracks to head to a bank. The kids are rewards with short education films. One of the other Leap Pad apps that played to many of the little boys at the party was the Cars game. They boys were entranced by Mater and Lighten McQueens voice and them reading a story . Then once the page was finished they got to play a racing game. I learned from the leapfrog site on Line there are many Character games and apps for the kids to play with. Including Disney princesses, .. and more. So great that your kids can learn from some of there favorite child characters. The leap Pad also played full length video, we watched the Letter Factory on the leap pad. Great for travel, and yes they have a jack for head phones. Another amazing feature of the Leap Pad was the Camera /video feature.. My daughter and girl friends loved the fact that they could record their own TV show themselves. They were recording there parents as well. My daughter kept on introducing the leapster to her adoring fans. My daughter is a true camera hog so this is perfect for her. You can buy a many different apps and also buy an app card for a gift. The application are downloadable or you can buy them at the local toy store. The Leap Pad takes 4 AA batteries to run.

Leapfrog TAG: The other system that was sent to us for the Leap Share create party was the tag system . The leap tag system was also a fun hit the kids including the older kids could not put it down they. We were not unfamiliar with the tags system but new to us was the world map. All the kids and the adult conjugated around the map. The one side was a game where you located the country they other was the country were you learned facts and Phrases in the countries native language. My daughter kept on say Bonjor Mommy every morning. My 11 year old son learned location which helped during schools geography lessons. Both the parents and kids loved the fact side of the map. And the borders of many countries have changed. The kids also used the leap frog book which are great for teaching kids how to read. My daughter has used the leapfrog tag book to read every morning in her room since the party. We had a great time at the party the kids love the leap frog cupcakes, leapfrog gelatin with gummy worms, and froggy grapes. The kids loved the party and most all the leap frog products. To check out more photo from my leapfrog party Disclosure: I received all the leap frog products from leapfrog for free for this part. The opinions stated in this post are of my own.

Halloween in over Wordless Wednesday

My daughter went as a Butterfly Barbie,  My son was Link from Legends of Zelda

She looks so grown up…but she still wanted to be Barbie

All night every asked him if he was an elf or peter pan..my son talked to every person and started a conversation talking to all the home owners.  For me

I love Halloween it is perfect day..

  1. you get to dress up and be whom every you want to be
  2. candy
  3. no Halloween holiday let down- next Thanksgiving
  4. people who never get visitors get them on Halloween
  5. parents get to watch pure joy in their kids (helped sugar)

Unity Day Anti Bullying

anti bullying

So today is Unity Dance Day to stop bullying.  Childhood bullying is a really issue in our schools.  Last year we had a incident with a child on  my sons sports team.  The mom refused to admit that her son bullied my son till,  her son admitted hitting my son with a wet towel and picking on him.  Prior to her sons confession, the mother was kind  enough to say to me “No wonder why your son is they way he is, look at how you are.”  As she pushed me into a face to face confrontation with the 2 boys.  Apparently,  the apple does not fall far from the tree.   We all have been effected by bullies and our kids  will be too .. it is time for it to stop!

Bullying has accepted as normal and part of growing up. Bullying should NOT be the norm and our children have the right to feel safe and respected for the unique individuals they are.   So Dance for Unity and help to stop bullying.

anti bullying tee

We had to make a Unity Day tee shirt for my daughter to  wear to school and dance to end bullying.

  • Using letter,
  • Cotton fabric,
  • Heat and Bonds
  • printed out paper letters
  1. Iron the heat bond to the fabric
  2. Print letters out of computer to trace (50-60 pt font))
  3. Cut our Letter from fabric using paper letters as a guide or trace
  4. Peel off backing paper of letters
  5. Place on tee and iron

Did you  dance today with your kids?

 

We are not Traditional Moms

So she learned how tie her own sketchers shoes.  One more step to her not needing me for the little thing. Don’t get me wrong I am happy but it is bitter sweet.  She is my baby.  I look back I missed a lot even though I was here for most of it.

When my son was born I went back to work. I breast fed him and pumped 3 times a day because of the guilt of being a working mother and not being there for him. (of course also the health reason) But it was because I want to be providing for him what others could not.  When he started solid food  I made his own babyfood.. mainly because of the need to be there for him.

I was in Boston on a business trip,  when he walked for the 1st time to my husband in Florida.  I spend a month before his 3nd birthday in  Korea. I missed a lot with my son.  It was hard to know that my husband was doing a lot for our son.  But that is the way the cookie crumbed. I always thought I would like to stay home.   The truth is I need to work and earn and contribute (I also have to).  This is a concept that is difficult for others understand.  But it is my reality and no judgment to others who have chosen a different path.

It is truly a tripled edge sword.   I have spoke to others career women moms. It is a struggle because they love what they do ..but they are  angry because of missing out and also having to be the provider. You start to feel like a trapped rat.

I changed my life to be home, then unsettled I started my own superhero cape business.  Because of my need to build  I grew my business.  I was not suppose to really grow till my daughter was 5 .. best laid plans.  I took off when she was 3.  Even though I am working in my house- I work all the time.  I have missed it.. and I was there.  The day came, I had to put her in daycare to work at home.

I feel superexhausted a lot. My husband lost his job 1 ½ year ago so he works with me on Babypop. I do loving him around because he gets to see and help in my everyday.   But  again I am same position I have been struggling and juggling .  We have a difference mothering experience than that of our mothers.  It is hard for us to related to traditional roles,  we longing for a simpler life but want our own world. There is that sword again… Sometimes it sucks.

But today I saw her tie her own shoes.