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The Cutest Kids Kitchen Playsets

Play Kitchen for Girls

“Having a two-year-old is like having a blender that you don’t have the top for.” – Jerry Seinfeld

While searching for amazing gift ideas to share with you guys – I came across a really great site filled with the cutest educational toys for kids – CP Toys! I am just in love with their selection – and this little girl’s play kitchen is at the top of my “Wish List” for Abby!! Ohmyheck – this is the cutest thing, right? And there are a ton of additional pieces you can purchase, like a baking set with a little mixer and cupcake tins. Of course, there are tons of other great toys to choose from – and they make it super simple to find the perfect gift. You can search by category, by age, by price, and more!

Special Deals:

Visit their site to get some fun free savings offers –

They’ll also send you out periodic emails or mailers with great discount codes, sale event notices, and cool coupons exclusively for mailing list members.

More High-Quality Play Kitchens at Great Deals

When shopping for kids toys, gear, and accessories, it’s tough to find things that blend in with the look and style of our home. I don’t want my house to look like a daycare when you walk in the door – But I don’t want to hide away all of the fun toys and playsets either. Here are a couple more great choices that would be a perfectly chic fit in any families kitchen:

  1. KidKraft Vintage Kitchen – This is so sleek and modern – it doesn’t scream “kids!!”, so it’s right at home in any kitchen. Love the details, and the clean and stylish all-white look.
  2. Red Retro Kitchen – This kids play kitchen is SO fun! Again, it’s very modern, and totally cool. I love kids toys – but I love to find things that look great, so that I can make them a part of our home’s decor, instead of just hiding them away in a playroom.
  3. KidKraft Tasty Treats Pretend Food Play – Such a great value! 125 pieces of fun play foods and accessories, for under $20 bucks – perfect.
  4. Mom and Me Cookbook – This is so adorable. Abby and I have matching aprons that we use when we cook together, and love trying recipes from this book. {Did you see that one of our recipes is featured in the new Baby Brezza Cookbook ? I was so excited to see our pictures in there!}

I’d love to hear from you guys – what’s your favorite play kitchen for kids? Do you struggle with finding great kids toys that blend into with your home design too, or do you keep things out of sight in a playroom? Do you have any great product suggestions for me to check out?? Leave me some comments!

Check out more fun stuff – Playroom Organization & Storage Ideas and Super Cool Kids Toys – on Pinterest!

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Posted by on December 6, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Deals and Coupon Codes | 1 Comment

Build a Better Smile – Oral Health Care for Toddlers

Taking care of toddler teeth

Taking Care of Toddler Teeth

Abby got her first teeth really late. She was born at the end of July, and started teething in November. I could feel little teeth wanting to poke through, and thought that it meant she’d have her first little pearly white pop through any time. I was so wrong – she didn’t get her first tooth until she was almost a year old!

First Dentist Visit

Since she just started to get her teeth at 12 months, I hadn’t even thought about going to a dentist yet. But I recently learned that it’s recommended that kids see the dentist for the first time when they get their first tooth, or by a year old – so at 15 months, we’re behind schedule. Many parents have the misconception that baby teeth don’t require too much care or concern, since they’re just going to fall out anyway. But this is why it’s important – 40% of children will suffer from cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. Getting an early start on good oral hygiene ensures that children will have healthy gums when their “Big Kid” teeth come in, and that they’ve developed good habits to take great care of them.

Some Challenges and Solutions:

  • It’s tough trying to use a toothbrush on a baby: While those infant-style toothbrushes might be cute, they can be a big challenge. An easier option is to use baby teeth wipes to remove plaque from baby’s gums and budding teeth. Super simple, and very effective.
  • I’m worried the visit to the Dentist will be scary: Kids can be scared of what they don’t know – so teach them about the dentist early on! Read toddler books about teeth brushing, or fun videos, to get them used to the idea. Abby watches her Baby Signing Time videos daily – and one of them talks about brushing your teeth. Soon after, she became super interested in watching us brush, and wanted to brush too! Watching the videos and reading the books has made it fun for her – so I’m sure our first dentist visit coming soon will go smoothly.
  • What else you can do: Avoid putting baby to bed with a bottle after 12 months. Limit the amount of juice or other sugary drinks that children drink out of a sippy cup during the day. And of course, have kids brush after eating sticky candies or snacks – that sticky food can do a lot of damage to those little teeth.

 Oral Care is Important for the Whole Family!

Those baby and toddler teeth aren’t the only one’s that are important – the rest of the family needs to build some great habits too! Cavities are no fun for anyone – they can be really painful, and the bills for dental work add up really quickly. That’s why I’m excited to announce a new campaign from Listerine and Reach – the Oral Care Challenge!

The Oral Care Challenge

To get started, gather your whole family together, and build some excitement for the challenge. Maybe offer rewards, or break into teams. Talk about why oral health care is so important, and then let them know what their challenge will be…

The challenge is for everyone in the house to Brush, Floss, and Rinse every day, twice-a-day, for two full weeks.

Why is this so important? Because, while your family might be great at brushing every morning and night, brushing by itself misses 75% of the germs in your mouth! By flossing between teeth, and following with a great rinse, you’re doing a much more effective job, and fully protecting all those pretty teeth in your family’s smiles.

Protect Your Family’s Smile: From Toddler Teeth to Grown-Up Grins!

The smiles on your families face are the best part of the day – so make sure you’re helping them protect them! On your next shopping trip, make sure to stock up on some new products, to help make the challenge fun – Learn more about the full line of products from Listerine, and how they can help. Sign up for the ListerineKids newsletter for some money-saving coupons. And read some fun facts and tips on smart oral health care for kids too.

Savings Alert: $1.25 off when you buy any ONE LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® Anticavity Flouride Rinse

Join Me in the Oral Care Challenge!

Stay tuned in two weeks to learn how our challenge went – how successful we were, what challenges we faced, and our plans to improve. Are you planning to join the challenge too? Share your story in the comments!

{Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Listerine and received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

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Posted by on December 6, 2011 Filed Under: Tips | No Comments

The Importance of Family Photos at the Holidays…

Watching holiday parade

“We do not remember days; we remember moments.” – Cesare Pavese

This quote is so true for me – and looking at my favorite family photo’s can make those great moments totally fresh in my mind. Photos become especially important to me at the holidays – to remember people who are no longer with us, to reminisce over pictures of Christmas when I was a kid, and to cherish the memories that I’m now making with my own little family. A picture can totally capture those moments worth remembering – so I wanted to put together a whole series of posts over the next week that will focus on holiday photos!

Holiday Lighted Parade

“She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes.”  – Frank Deford

Yesterday we took Abby to the annual Holiday Lighted Parade downtown. Last year she was just a baby, only 5 months old, and I’m not sure that she shared my holiday enthusiasm from her bundled up spot in her car seat. But this year she loved it. She loved having Daddy boost her up high so she could see the lighted trucks and tractors, the horses pulling carriages, and especially the parade of dogs in lighted vests. {She’s a HUGE fan of doggies. A seriously huge fan.} I forgot to bring my camera, so thank goodness for my iPhone. The pictures weren’t great, since I had no flash – but I’m so glad to have captured the evening in photos.

Abby and Daddy

“Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories.” – From the movie An Affair to Remember

So, over the course of the next week, watch for tons of great photo related posts! The amazingly talented Amber Miller will be sharing some great photo tips. I’m going to search out some great deals and discount codes that you can use to print favorite family photos, create memorable holiday cards, or make other fun photo-themed gifts. I have a few reviews and giveaways I’m pretty excited about too! So watch for more “Holiday Photo Week” posts from now until the 12th.

A few of my favorite holiday posts:

  • Holiday Card Freebies: Use this resource to get up to 50 different holiday cards for free. I posted this last week – so I can’t guarantee that all of the offers and codes are still available!
  • Family Photo Day: This is a super fun new idea from Shutterfly that I think is so cool. Check it out, learn how to get some discounts, and set up your own “Family Photo Day” event!
  • Elf Yourself Video: Use your favorite family photos to create a totally free – and totally funny! – video.
  • 10 Tips to Get Ready for the Holidays: Yep, that’s exactly what this post is about. I share 10 holiday-prep tips – Because it’s only 20 days until Christmas!!
  • DIY Holiday Gift Ideas: 8 cool ideas for DIY Christmas gifts to make this year, that people will actually want to receive!
  • Holiday Baking Deals: Some of my very favorite holiday baking items, at big discounts!
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Posted by on December 5, 2011 Filed Under: Holidays | 4 Comments

Party Time with Thomas & Friends! #Megabloksparty

Thomas Mega Bloks

‘Play is the highest form of research.’ – Albert Einstein

Thomas & Friends + Mega Bloks = Another super fun event from MommyParties! We received a ton of awesome stuff to host a great party for the kiddo’s, their friends, and my mommy friends too. We’ve actually never played with any of the Mega Bloks sets before, so I was super excited to check ’em out – And I’m definitely impressed! I had pictures Mega Bloks as more of a “Little Kid” type toy – but these were fun for ALL of the kids, from 16 months to 9 years old. I love how easy it was for the kids to follow the directions, and they loved that they could create the set on their own. Keep reading to learn more about these super cool toys, plus some ideas you can use for your own party.

Playing with toy train set

‘Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.’ – Kay Redfield Jamison

Each of the kids got to pick a new toy – They could choose from Mega Bloks Diesel Works Set, or the Mega Bloks Thomas Set – both are super cool. The box that they blocks are in opens up, and flips over, to become a little ramp for the train to cruise down… And Abby thought this was the COOLEST thing ever! She says, “Chooo Chooo!” and runs to chase it after it rolls away. The bigger kids set theirs all up in a row, and had races to see who’s train could go the farthest. The moms all loved that this was a great travel set.

Thomas & Friends Mega Bloks set

“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.” – Plato

We also got one “Big” set for the kids to check out – Megabloks “Day at the Dieselworks” – and it was definitely a hit with both the kids and the moms. While lego sets can be a challenge even for some of the bigger kiddo’s, this Mega Bloks set was perfect – the older boys helped to guide the little one’s, and while they could put the whole thing together without any help from the grown up’s, it was just challenging enough to make them feel really accomplished when they finished it!

Thomas Mega Bloks toy sets

“Make each day your masterpiece.” – John Wooden

Another thing I thought was pretty cool about these toy sets is that they all fit together. So, if you’re little one is going to a playdate, they can bring along one of the smaller toy sets, and it’ll hook right up to the bigger toy sets, as you see in the picture. This would be a great way to set up a Mommy Group playdate, or birthday party… Have each of the kids bring their own Thomas toys in a smaller travel case set, and they can all hook ’em up to play together! Here are a few other ideas you can use to host your own party:

Thomas-Inspired Snack ideas:

  • Chugga, Chugga, Choo-Choo Chocolate Cups: We made these Dirt & Worm style, which you’ve probably made before. Very simple, but always entertaining – especially if you’ve got little boys at the party!
  • Railway Trail Mix: Any type of Chex Mix would work great for this – find a ton of different varieties here: Chex Mix Recipes.
  • Steamin’ Engine Fuel Punch: Pour 2 64-oz. bottles of fruit punch into a big bowl. Add a 16-oz. can of frozen OJ, and stir until it’s mostly melted. Then add half of a 64-oz bottle of pineapple juice. Right before the party, add in 2 bottles of ginger ale, add ice and some sliced oranges on top – stir and enjoy!

 

“It is in playing, and only in playing, that the child is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self.” – D.W. Winnicott

  • Check out my Google+ Album for the rest of the party pictures, or check them out on Facebook.
  • Sign up for the Mega Bloks Newsletter for fun product updates, and promotions.
  • Check out the other amazing parties on the MommyParties Facebook page.

{Disclaimer: Thank you to MommyParties and Mega Bloks for providing us with some super cool new toys, ideas, and party materials for this event! All photo’s and opinions are 100% my own!}

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Posted by on December 5, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews | 1 Comment

{Direct Sales Directory} Staci Shares Her Inspiring Story!

Arbonne Direct Sales Rep

Staci from Arbonne

You’ve met Staci from Arbonne before – I shared a little bit about how she got started with Arbonne, and what excites her about her business. And you can find her contact info in the Beauty, Skin Care, and Cosmetics category of the Direct Sales Directory. You can email her anytime if you have questions about products, and she’ll give you personalized suggestions on what would be best for you. And if you’re interested in building your own Arbonne business in the new year – she would love to have you join her team!

Read Staci’s Inspiring Story –

Arbonne is all about ordinary people, like me, achieving extraordinary things. It’s all about empowering yourself, as well as others, to develop the innate abilities, talents and natural success that every last one of us possesses. As my team grows, my dedication to Arbonne grows. As I move through the ranks of District Manager, to Area Manager, I am bringing people along for this outrageous ride! I want people not just from Long Island, New York, but also Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and any other person out there in any other state in the U.S.A. to join me!

Her Personal Goal is Empower other Women!

It’s my goal, in my life, to make sure everyone that I meet, knows about Arbonne products. How they are pure, safe and beneficial for people to use on themselves, their family and their friends. I would never use any other products on my kids, nor would I ever use any other products on myself! As I reach out to show people these amazing gifts I have, I’m always on the lookout for those who want to EMPOWER themselves. Those who want financial freedom. The freedom to work for themselves and never have to answer to their boss, or ask their boss for a day off to spend with their sick child, or to spend time away on a vacation for Spring Break!

Imagine what you can achieve…

I’m in search of those who want to drive a car, without having to PAY FOR THE CAR! Not just any car, a White Mercedes Benz of YOUR CHOICE. It’s your name on the Title, not Arbonne’s name. They just pay for the car! I want to find people who crave traveling, because when you do Arbonne FULL OUT, you earn trips to places like Atlantis, Bahamas, NYC and Hawaii. There is no better place to be right now, then Arbonne. It’s not just the money you make, the products you will share, or the trips you’ll earn, or the car you’ll drive – it’s about the lives you will change with this gift of Arbonne.

Arbonne provides for her family

My favorite part about Arbonne is being able to leave my business to my family. TWO GENERATIONS of my offspring will benefit from my hard work, dedication and LOVE of Arbonne. No corporate job ever offered me anything like that. I’d be lucky if I was allowed to pay for my own medical insurance, maybe get a life insurance policy thrown in.

And I started it all with just a couple hundred dollars for my ID number and some Gold Bags to share with the world.

Join my team, become a preferred client, or become a client. Any way you dice it, Arbonne is going to change your life for the better. Join me over at my site, www.stacigerardi.myarbonne.com, get to know me and sign up!

The Direct Sales Directory

Staci’s story is exactly what I love to promote with my Direct Sales Directory! As busy moms, it can be really difficult to find income options that are flexible enough to allow us to play an active role in our families lives, while also be rewarding enough to be worthy of the time and effort we put into them. You can browse the great companies listed in the directory to find the one that is the perfect fit for YOU and YOUR family! Build your own business, be your own boss – And build a better future today!

Are you a Direct Sales Consultant who is excited about sharing your business? Learn more about the how to join the Direct Sales Directory today! 

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Posted by on December 4, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping | No Comments

{Direct Sales Directory} Save on Advocare Products!

Joint solution sale product from Advocare

Advocare Savings!!

Tiffany and Sean from Advocare want to share a special promotion with you – this is only available for a limited time!! This is only available until December 6th – but check out their site for more great products, and stay tuned here for the next savings announcement coming soon!

Save on Joint ProMotion – keep your joints healthy from the inside out!!

You can come by and shop from Tiffany and Sean’s Advocare site anytime by visiting them in the Weight Loss and Natural Products section of the Directory – you’ll also find their contact info, if you have any questions at all about how their products work, or if you’d like to get started building your OWN Advocare business in the new year!

Reminder: Get all of your holiday shopping orders in before December 16th for Christmas Delivery!

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Posted by on December 4, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Deals and Coupon Codes, Green Living | No Comments

{Guide to Great Gifts!} Gifts for the Fashionista!

Straightening Iron

“The difference between style and fashion is quality.” – Giorgio Armani

Do you have a total fashionista to shop for this year? Would you love to buy a gift for the teenager in your life that will make her consider you to be “Cool” again, at least momentarily? {Teenagers are a fickle bunch, aren’t they?} Well, if you need a gift that’s guaranteed to impress, I have a couple favorites to share with you!

“I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little – if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” – Coco Chanel

Remember my “No More Frump Mom Challenge?” Well, I have not been as successful as I had planned. That’s putting it nicely, lol. But, I’m still working on it – and as I have been putting together some New Years Resolutions {both personal and business} – I asked for some tips from the smart women I know. Based on their tips, I knew that one thing I really needed to invest in were some new style tools. So, as after researching a couple that I think are totally awesome, I wanted to share them with you too! These are both amazing gadgets to invest in for yourself – and would also be perfect gifts for any women on your list! {How excited would one of your girlfriends be to get a gift to help HER out of the frump mom slump too?}

  • This ceramic hair flat iron by Karmin is a voters favorite, and has a ton of really cool features – it heats up super fast, so you can style in a hurry on busy mornings. It’s made of a totally cutting-edge ceramic, which leaves your hair smooth and super shiny. And it’s got a curved edge, which means you can use this to curl and flip too!
  • The best hair blow dryer ever – this one has ceramic coils and an ionic technology, which means you get a totally frizz-free experience! I’ve been told that investing in a really good quality blow-dryer is going to totally change my life {and they promise that this is not an exaggeration!} so I’m going to give this one a try.

What do you think?

Do you have a little diva to shop for this year? Or maybe another super-busy-mom friend who totally needs these tools? What are some other great gift ideas? And what are your biggest challenges in staying out of the “Frump Mom Slump?” Let’s chat in the comments!

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary compensation in exchange for sharing my honest opinions and favorite products – as always, all opinions are 100% my own! I’m totally lovin’ both of these products, and think you will too!}

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Posted by on December 4, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping | No Comments
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