Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

Kids in the Kitchen? You Betcha! I love
to have my kids help me cook and even though
Rowan is just over 7 months I still drag her
walker or high chair into the kitchen and we
spend the time talking about what Mommy is
doing now. Not only does it foster a sense of
closeness between your child and you it also
allows them to start picking up early tips in the
kitchen and retain a level of comfort around
appliances and cooking in general that will stay
with them for the rest of their lives. Andrew started
really young, just like Rowan and by the time he
was 13 he cooked a complete Thanksgiving Dinner
by himself. And not a normal, run of the mill
Thanksgiving Dinner either but a full on Michelle
Style Holiday Meltdown Dinner. I never have just
a Turkey or a Ham or Roast for a Holiday meal
for with the hoards I feed I have all of the above
and that year I was recovering from a pretty serious
surgery I had only days before and there was no
way I could cook. I thought for sure Andrew would
just go with his Dad to an Aunt or an Uncles for
normally his Dad and Grandmother came to my
house but Andrew insisted on keeping the tradition
alive and making it himself. I didn't even have
a recipe box to help him for all mine are kept in
my head so he sat by my bed and wrote down what
I rattled off and made it all, complete with 4 pies
of different flavors, by himself. It was delicious and
quiet a feat for a 13 year old boy and there isn't a doubt
in my mind that he never would have been able to
pull it off if he had not pretty much grown up in
a kitchen. Part of the trick to get them so interested
is to offer them items to use that they can call their
own. Cookware that is made for them or if it is something
that does not offer a pint size variety, really cool to use!
Kids love to get down and dirty and would do anything to
help if you only give them a chance. Don't worry if
you are the blind leading the blind in the kitchen for it
does not matter how something tastes when you
are done it just matters that you made it together and
that fact will make it taste like a creation from the
kitchen of Cordon Bleu itself!

Recently I got a chance to do a product review
for some kitchen items that pretty much hit everything
a Kid could want. They are made for them, look cool,
fun to use and inspire a child to get up and cook!
Duralex makes dishes just for your children called Kiddishes
and Cuisipro makes some awesome tools for creating some
dishes they will just have a blast making. I was sent a complete
set for one of the Kiddishes and from Cuisipro a flour sifter
and a peanut butter and Jelly spreader. We never use
our Bread maker though Andrews Dad lives with his, better
model I think for mine is a pain, but anyway I thought it
would be pretty neat to make some bread to make an
awesome Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich to serve on the
dishes. It was a hoot! Andrew and I drug the Highchair
into the kitchen and started the bread. Now with our recipe
you don't have to shift the flour but what they hey, it is
a cool gadget and we wanted to make something for
lunch. Andrew claimed it and we had a little bit of flour
tossing going on in the kitchen for it was so much fun.
The 4 cups for the recipe went by so fast so we decided
we need desert and I grabbed some for a cream puff shell
recipe for this is what a shifter is made for, those yummy
good, knock your socks off pastry's where you need some
prefect flour and it needs to be just so. The part I want
you guys to understand it with my old sifter I hate shifting
flour and never make pasties anymore though I am certified
as a pastry chef. Some day I will give you all the details
but to be a master chef you have to go through levels and
each level takes a lot of effort and time. I went through two of
them and pastry would be one. I used to love it, when I had
the kitchen to go with it and Andrew and I have made some
really great things but as I grew older it just became a
hassle and I just bought from a bakery instead. My old shifter
was hard to use and you got quite a work out just turning
the dang handle and by the time I got around to kneading
I was already through for I was beat. Cuisipro's sifted
was like a hot knife through butter and so easy and fun I
had to beg Andy to give me a turn. I could have sat the boy
down with a hundred pound bag of flour and he would have
done it all. Once I got that away from him I wanted to
see if it was difficult to clean for that was also another
issue with my old one, wet flour turns into glue. At
a professional Kitchen you have power hoses at a dish
tank and the force there can knock anything off, at home,
no such power. With a lot of peoples water pressure you are
lucky to get a stream at all so I was a little worried, even more
since we sifted a lot and the thing was covered. Such an
easy cleanup, I just could not get over it. It was like Teflon
with the flour just falling off. Okay, Gadget one;
A blast
Easy to use
Easy to clean
Perfect for kids and parents alike!
While the bread cooked we made our puffs and
Andrew made some filling and we set the table. I love the
Kiddishes. They are just the right size for kids and stylish
too. I wish they made a Momdishes set for they were
that nice. See through, so when cleaning you know if
there is any kid goo left and also easy to clean and
the plates and cup are just the right size for young hands.
Rowan is now hooked on drinking from a cup and the only
down side to the Kiddishes is she does not want to drink
from anything but them now. I have bought 7 different kinds
of Sippy Cups for as cute as the kiddishes are she is still
to young to drink from something without a lid ( ah, let's
dump this too Mom!) and if I don't hold it for her she
will flip it. As a busy Mom I can't always sit there and hold
a glass for the baby so I need those lids. Rowan does not
agree. Rowan says make time Mom, I like the cup better
and I am a big girl now! The whole set just makes the
family feel she is apart of it and has her own place
in this world. It will not be long before she joins us
at the table and her own set of dishes screams she
is ready now to us. The fact that they are virtually unbreakable,
dishwasher safe, Microwavable and shock resistant is just
a perk on the whole package. The big sell here is they are
the right size and perfect for little eaters. That fact they are
100% recylcable is also a pretty big sell!
Back to the cooking now, the bread turned out
great and I have to say I think that is the first time
it did in our bargan basement machine. It might be
the sifter or it might be the fact Andrew has more
patience with things like that then I do but it was really
good for a change and I ate about 3 pieces before we even
broke out the spreader. Sorry, I just couldn't help mysefl,
there is nohting like fresh bakery bread! The thing that
made me mad was once we used the spreader I realized
it was worth the wait had I known how cool it would be.
Don't you hate it when you are making a PB and J and
you do the Peanut Butter first and then you are stuck
with two options:
1. Lick off the Peanut Butter, fine if you are making it
for yourself but you still need to rinse it so you are
not tossing your germs into the Jelly.
2. Wipe the Peanut Butter off on the bread. This idea
stinks, it always tears the bread and you never get it
all off and you end up getting Peanut Butter in the Jelly
all the time! YUCK!
Now there is a new option and a darn good one, the spreader
by Cuisipro works like a charm and no more Peanut Butter in
the Jelly, no more stopping mid-stream in your sandwich making
to clean off your knife and no more hassel. Peanut Butter on
one end, Jelly on the other and smiles all around! I loved it and
it is also big enough where even young children can handle
it and are able to make thier own sandwich for there are no
sharp edges and clumbsy fingers will have no problem grabbing
the thick middle and clean-up can wait to you have enjoyed
your sandwich, not before you can slather on the jelly. It is
also cute and we all know how I love things that are
cute for it is color coded, Jelly is purple and the
peanut butter is brown. If that isn't good enough for you
it is dishwasher safe and has a 25 year warrenty. I am
thinken they are pretty confedant on thier products to offer
something like that. Your Grandchildren will be making sandwiches
before the warrenty expires.
So let's recap here:
1. Andrew and I road tested some pretty cool kitchen
gadgets made by Duralex and Cuisipro.
2. We used the Flour Shifter when we made fresh bread
and it worked like a charm, easy to spin and cleans up
with no effort.
3. We used that bread to make some out of this world
Peanut Butter and Sandwiches and use our Cuisipro Spreader
to do it and decided that was one of the best kitchen inventions
ever!
4. The dishes were used to serve our feast and were
pretty much the icing on the cake! What a lovely time in
the kitchen.
Duralex and Cuisipro made for one fine time in the kitchen
at our house and a awesome review. If you have children or
even if you don't and just like to bake the items we used are
a perfect addition for any kitchen! Don't argue or get into Jam
every again, use your spreader and no more broken plates with
KidDishes! Want perfect flour for your baking? Cuisipro's Flour sifter
is the right tool for the job, Six thunbs up here!

You too can win this bevy of kitchen tools! To enter just head
over to Cuisipro or Duralex's web sites and take a look around then
come back here and post what one of their awesome kitchen
devices would work best in your house? The contest will start tonight
and run to midnight on April 8th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Cuisipro

Duralex


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Port a Pong and Sleepy Wrap Contests!

When Andrew was little I almost hated to shop for
him. I say almost for it would be blasphemy to say I
hate shopping for we all know it is what I live for, but
the truth of the matter 16 years ago it was much harder
to find items for a little boy that were adorable, functional
and affordable. You might get lucky and hit one or two
of those category's but it was very rare and hard to find
items that hit all three. The hunt for them became my
hunt for a white whale and the lack of places I could look
really took the wind out of my sails. Most of the time the
only places I could find items that were cute they were
at specialty boutiques and cost an arm and a leg. Other
then Onesies and socks I pretty much avoided places
like Kmart or Target or Walmart for they were stone
ages behind in fashion in comparison to Kids R Us
or the now defunct Marshal Fields. I also didn't have help
with Andrews Wardrobe for I am the only daughter of an
only daughter and my Mother and Grandmother had no
idea on what to buy a little boy. My Mother even resorted
to the old stand by of a Sailor Suit. UHG!


With Rowan life is so different. Not only have stores
like Kmart and Walmart got with the program and hired some
great fashion designers but Kohl's and JC Penny have even
stepped up their pace and when shopping for Rowan I feel
like a kid in a candy shop and still have more then lint left
in my wallet when I am finished with a spree. The racks upon
racks of adorable child's items can keep even a die hard like
me oohing and aweing for a life time and still only be dancing
around the tip of the Iceberg. One of my Favorite designers
of children's items of all time is Sandra Magsamen and
she is currently working with Walmart and JC Penny and
has some scrumptious designs for both little girls and little
boys. Whenever I go shopping and know I am going to either
of those two places I have to bring John along with me
just to mop up the puddles of drool I leave behind for just
looking through her collections is enough to leave me sporting
around a perpetual wet floor sign. Her bright colorful choices
and whimsical designs are enough to leave a Mom weak in the
knee's and she really knows the way to a Mom's heart for
everything is super functional. Take the dress I was sent
for review. It makes use out of an item we all have our
kids in and perfects it so the end result is practical and
adorable. The base for the Summer dress I have is a simple
Onesie but of a much better quality. It is thicker and warmer
and 100% Cotton and comes with Puffy Sleeves so it also
looks super girly and more then meets the eye. The Dress
that slips over is bright and cheery and flat out more then
anything precious and adorable. The total effect is that of
a sweet little girl in a field of bright yellow flowers on a warm
summer day. BUT, when you get to the heart of the matter it
is a Onesie underneath and therefor allows you super
quick access to a diaper change and Jr. will soon
be up and crawling or tottering away. The little boys outfit
allows just as easy access and is just as adorable and I
wish that she had her items in stores when I was dressing
my son. In fact every item I have ever ran across that is
of her design I just can't help but to squeal out loud with
delight at how cute it is! She makes items so precious they
are the kind that set off Baby fever when a Mom who has
sworn of more children sees.

Sandra does more then just make children's items and
she is a true artist in every aspect of the word. She is artist,
art therapist, creator of many different lines and Author.
I was honored to be able to review her clothing and have
been a fan of hers for a while now. Her Messages from the
Heart line of home decor, Jewelry, stationary, scrapbooking
items, children's items and more have been wildly successful
and one look at them and you will know why. Sandra makes
it a point to have her items priced affordable and has also
penned 35 books since she started 12 years ago. What I know
is I am really happy to have her around for she has made it
easy to keep my little girl looking like a fresh faced
Princess and always sweet.
Sandra Magsamen is also very involved in
Charitable events and Non Profit organizations but next
to her designs one of the things I like best about her is
she is still a down home girl at heart and lives in the
town she grew up in to this day. So if you are dressing
a little girl or a little boy, you have a vast selection of
items at affordable prices from her collection and will never
have to search high and low like I did over 16 years ago
for her items are available everywhere and her lines
at Walmart and JC Penny are very successful and are
sure to be around for a long time to come. If I had my way
Rowan would wear her items every day of the year for they
are just that cute! Who knows maybe she will fall in love
with Rowans little smile and I will have a model on my hands
for don't they get to keep the items they wear? Either way
I am chomping at the bit to get to the stores and see what she
has in store for us this Spring and Summer for if the dress
she sent me is just a sampling of what is to come we are all
in for a treat!

Sandra sent a Little boy item and a little girl one and
Rowan is seen sporting the dress but I have the little Boy
item available for one reader to win. It is an precious little
2 piece set in Blue for sizes 3-6 months. To enter just
head over to her site and take a look around then come
back here and post what you have learned in a comment.
The contest will start tonight and run to midnight on March 13th.

USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Sandra Magsamen


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Shred Sled and Pepper and Tanky Contests!

Oh how I detest laundry and the many loads I do.
Up and down the stairs, dang I forgot the softener again.
Will this stain ever come out? How many times must I
wash Rowans clothes a day? Um, just what is that stain
on my teenage sons clothes? ( I have given up on his items
and he now washes his own) and how is it that John can
produce as much Laundry as the kids and still look like
he is wearing the same outfit all the time? Rowan is the
worst offender though by far ( If I knew what Andrew washed
he might be, but fear prevents me from looking) and I change
this child at least 5 times a day if not more. Add in the burp
clothes, wash clothes and everything else I use to clean her
up during the day and you will find 2 to 3 loads are hers alone.
How does this darling bundle accumulate this
much laundry every day? Drool is number one, spills are
number two and meal time number three on the list of reasons
to change Miss Messy Butt. For drooling this girl is a faucet. I
keep waiting for some teeth to spring up but after 3 months
of drooling there are still no pearly whites in sight. At least with
some teeth in that always open mouth there might be some sort
of damming going on that slows down the drool for as it stands
it is 4 PM right now and I have changed her outfit 4 times. All
because of drool. Once because of lunch. I know you guys are
saying put a bib on that baby and I do! But a bib can only absorb
so much fluid before it too needs to be rang out and washed.
Yes, she drools that much. If there is a water shortage this
Summer Rowan could water my Garden and yours! Um, plus
the rest of the neighborhoods. She soaks through her bib, her
Outfit and her Onesie over and over again. Bech!
Next is her eating habits, cute at first, now it is a
hazardous waste exhibit. This girl hits her nose, her eyes and
her ears and insists on feeding herself as often as she can.
Her shirt looks like Picasso went to town and the only place
Rowan does not hit with her "Gerber Art" is her mouth! This
leaves all these beautiful clothes I buy her looking like a
Rochat test and ruined. When Bersica Futurewear asked if
I would like to do a review I said sure, then read all about them.
Water rolls off, Sure! Stain Resistant, ah ha, sure it is, maybe
a water stain. Now the no chemicals and environmentally Friendly
I could believe, so is lots of stuff now a days. Protects from
UV rays, now that is pretty cool but I can't shake the crazy claim
of water rolling right off. I am also liking the high quality and
durability for you know me and the Michelle Test, stuff has
got to last or to the Moon Alice! Well I agreed to do the test
but really didn't hold out much hope for the Water rolling off
or even the stain resistant part. Pleazzzzzzzzzz. I have heard
more imagination when my son explains why he didn't clean
up his room.

When I got the review item I opened it up and was
pretty darn happy it was pink and cute. Now it might end
up covered in Rowan drool but at least she will look adorable
doing it. The pants fit really good too. I so hate how baby pants
are either too too big or look like she is ready ahead of time
for the tidal wave of drool that is going to run down her front.
These fit just like pants I would buy would fit me, of coarse her
bootie is cuter! I grabbed a T-shirt and left off the bib for I
wanted to see the drool roll down faster and not fill the
Bib to its absorbent maximum first. With in minutes the shirt
was soaked so I thought here comes the show so I might as
well make it really fun and feed the baby some lunch too!
(ahahahahaha) I will show you some stains that resist! (ah ah
ahahahaha) Rowan had some bright orange Carrots and
her new favorite Blueberry dessert. I was pretty sure those
would show up nicely on the pink pants and was also just as
sure they would stay there for they have on the last three
things she has worn when she ate the Blueberry concoction.
Rowan loved her lunch and was so kind she helped me out
by feeding herself. A little for her, a little for the pooch, a
little for the floor, a little for, JOHN, can you take this bite
for me? Well the end result was a typical Rowan result
and she was a soaking wet, drool covered mess with Blueberry's
and Carrots all over everything and I had to give the heavy sigh
before I lifted her out of the chair for here goes the Super mess
and the tedious task of not only cleaning her but the chair,
the floor, the dog and changing her clothes. I got her out and
just stripped off the shirt for they were so soaked
she looked like she was in a mini me wet t-shirt contest.
I went to grab the pants but they really didn't look as soaked.
I mean they were covered in Blueberry's and Carrots but
the parts I did dare to touch were in no way soaked through
and in fact they just felt damp. I was pretty shocked for it
was easy to see the wetness was on the surface but that was
about it. I took them off anyway to get a better look. Chunks
of food, hum, Baby Wipe, NOW I was impressed. None of
the Baby food soaked into the material and was pretty much
laying on top and allowed me to simply take a baby wipe
and wipe it all gone. A few minutes later even the dampness
from the wipe had worn away and the material felt dry. I
have to say I was dumbfounded and could not believe it.
No way in a million years did I think this could really have
worked. Even more so with Rowan for she could flood the
Sahara.

Bersica Futurewear offers a selection of children's
clothing, all with their high performance material that
combines comfort, functionality, and technology. Everything
they make is geared towards children, their fashion, their
needs and though kids get to wear it the parents get the
perks. Not only will your kids stay clean you save detergent
because of it and since you air dry their items you are saving
energy too! I don't think I could ask for anything more. Their
clothing is also environmentally friendly and the are an
innovator in Nanotechnology. They are also extremely active
in environmental protection and truly are a product of the
future. The fact they can stand up to Rowan says it all!
Bersica Futurewear is going to show one of my readers how
great they are too! One lucky reader is going to win their pick
of either a pair of pants or a shirt for their child in their size
from Bersica Futurewear. To enter just head over to the site and
sign up for the Newsletter then come back here and post that
you have in a comment. The contest will start today and end
at Midnight on March 3rd.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Bersica Futurewear


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Zehn Naturals or Easy Lunch Box Systems Contests!

Now I love Rowan. I love everything about her and after
so many years of being told a little girl would only being
a dream you have no idea the joy I felt when I found out
I was going to have her. I felt like someone painted a silly
grin on my face for I wore it for weeks. As much as I loved
the fact she was on the way I hated the fact what the pregnancy
would do to my body. I lived on a diet for decades and not even
a year before Rowan was born I got back to the fighting
weight I was at in High School and that means it took me
15 years to take off the pounds Andrew added. 15 years from
now I will be getting close to my senior discount and the thought
of that broke my spirit. I swore I would not take that long
to lose the extra weight and would redouble my efforts to
lose it right away. To cement the deal I refused to even
think about Maternity clothes and Nursing wear for lets
face it, they looked like Maternity clothes and Nursing wear
and I felt if I let myself get on that wagon I would give in
on my struggle to get back in shape. When a friend asked
if I would like to go shopping with her to get some of the
for mentioned items I laughed, said no and told her if they
ever made clothes that look like they were for real people
with real tastes I would give it a shot. She sighed and we went
shoe shopping instead for she knew I was right, there really
isn't much out there.
Now when you baby is here you have the same problem
with Nursing wear and the fact that lacks style as well. You
would think that after a woman has a baby she is struggling
with her body image anyway and manufacturers would understand
that and go out of their way to make you feel vibrant and pretty
not like a milk machine who's glamor days are over. Then I came
across Expressiva Nursingwear and changed my tune. For
review I was sent a pair of Jammie's for let's face it, I spend more
time in them then anything else right now and it would be nice
to look pretty once in a while instead of a frazzled house wife.
I was sent the Empire Waist Capri Lounge wear Set in Pink and
was totally impressed. It looks more like Michelle Wear then
something from a Nursingwear line and was not only beyond
comfortable it was darling in its design and detail and I was
shaken my tushie as I walked through the house for I felt pretty
for a change. It is one of those rare pieces of clothing that hide
your flaws and highlight your assets without making you
look cheap. Put it this way, I looked good and my Grandmother
would not have tossed a shawl over my shoulders to
help me cover up the goods! Did I mention they are for
Nursing and designed perfectly for that purpose? Of coarse
I didn't for if I hadn't known before hand that they were perfect
for that I never would have known myself for I would have
bought these a few years ago just for me! Nobody else who
sees you in them is going to know they serve a purpose
either! The cut is great and design flattering and adorable
right down to the little scalloped trim on the sleeves and
legs that add an extra feminine touch but will they pass the
Michelle test? With Flying Colors, they did. I pulled, stretched,
poked, prodded and even curled my knee's up and stretched
them that way for I do that with T-shirts out of habit and most
times end up with a poof where the stomach used to be, these
on the other hand kept their shape. As for washing, no bleeding,
regular wash and I have washed them a lot. I have worn them
everyday for almost a week now and washed them twice
or more a day so I can promise you they are built to last.
You can not ask for better then that!
Expressiva Nursingwear has more then Jammie's at
their store and everything I saw was just as gorgeous
as the Jammie's and made for real women with real style
and not June Cleaver or that crazy lady you always see at
PTA meetings with the worn out bathrobe and better day
slippers. Their items look great and they have styles for
every taste all with Nursing in mind and looking good while
you are doing it. In fact their shrug dress looks just like
a dress I have in my closet now that I can not tell you
how many complements I have reviewed with that on.
I am also pretty sure I am getting the Baby Doll Tankini
Swim Suit even if Rowan will be on solids by then for
it is super cute and the perfect suit for someone like
me with body issues. Expressiva carries everything
there from Shirts, Dresses, Sleepwear, Undies and
accessory's and even a great line of Organic and
plus size items. The also have baby items like covers
and slings and everything has style, class and a function.
Perfect!
The Prices are great too and you are not going to
empty your wallet as you fill your wardrobe and I can
not think of a better shower gift idea for any expecting
mothers you know. They also have some really great
items on sale, a bargain on top of a deal. YES!
Expressiva Nursing is also kind enough to offer one
of my readers a $35.00 gift certificate for their store so they
can pick something great out for themselves. To enter just
head over to their site and take a look around then come
back here and post what you have learned. The contest
starts tonight and will run to Midnight on February 26th
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Expressiva Nursing


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Daisy Rock and Cir*Kis Contest!

Are you guys getting tired of listening to me ramble on
about family game night? I sure hope not for it is important
and a great way to stay close and have some fun in the process.
I know I talk about it all the time but I have found some games
I just have to share with you. The Company responsible for this
next batch of games is called Think Fun and that is so what
they do for we had a blast with the games they send and I have
to take a pause for the cause right now and let you guys know
that not only was their products good they were a great company
to work with on the review.You guys know how I feel about
customer service and how it has been slipping away in today's
dog eat dog world and how I like to point out those companies
that hold on to old fashion values and offer not only a great
product but a fantastic overall experience. This is one of those
places and I will be adding them to my top ten list. Rachel, my
contact with the company was just fantastic to work with and
was really concerned that you guys enjoy the giveaway as well.
They offer the personalized experience you never see anymore
complete with a hand written letter in the package I was sent
for review. No pre-stamped letter with a scrawl at the bottom
but the real deal. When you have questions you get an almost
instant response and they are right on the ball! Tops Ten Company
for sure and I am now a devoted customer but I know you guys
are dieing to know more about the games!
The first game we got to review was 36 cube and it was
too cool. It is a big ol' square with lots of little squares and
I would have to describe it as a stacking puzzle game. It is a
single player game but we used it as more of a competition
to see who could do it better and faster and got a little competitive
with it. The goal of the game is goal is to place the 36 colored towers
onto the puzzle base following two simple rules: there must be
one and only one of each colored tower in each row and column,
and the towers must fit in the base to form a perfect cube shape
with all towers at the same height. It sounds easy but it isn't!
You need a strategy and foresight and patience to put your
plan into action. A rushed moved might very easily end up
being a dead end! The game is for ages 8 and up but like I
said it can get tuff and for the younger kids playing I would
have to say it is a great way for them to learn sequencing and
how to think ahead and for adults it is a true test of skill.
Andrew, who thinks he is lord of all games played for hours
for he couldn't understand why he got stuck when he got
stuck and was determined to show the game who was boss!
Let me think about the benefits of this game for Andrew, hum,
hours of peace and quiet, WHAT A GAME!! I loved it too and
from my Grandfather I learned that Solitaire is a great way to
pass the time and always have decks of card around the
house, well, now that I gave this a whirl I have something new
to do when I am waiting on a load of Laundry or dinner to
finish. The Packaging it comes in is perfect for keeping it
organized and I have it sitting on the kitchen table right now
for it never even made it to the game shelf for we are just
using it too much!

The next game they sent was Smart Mouth and the
is a true family game and cracked me up for those silly teens
who think they know everything stumble all over themselves
in a crazy attempt to beat the rest of us. Slow down Jr. sometimes
you need to think before you blurb! How this game works is
players slide the Letter Getter device forward and back to reveal
two lettered tiles. The first player to spot and shout out a word
of at least five letters, beginning with the first letter tile and
ending with the second letter tile , receives those two tiles.
Player with the most tiles at the end wins. You better bring a
dictionary to the table because you kids are going to come
up with words you have never heard before and swear to you
they are real. Decide before hand if slang counts for we had
some pretty lengthy debates on real words vrs slang and I
was told I was out of touch more then once. Now we all know
I have my fingers on the pulse of society so I won! I have
no idea what all the Booing was about for those kids are
just jealous of my superior intellect and verbal skills! Even
Puzzle boy John took a backseat to me! This game is a blast
for all and is also a good way to help your kids with their own
verbal skills and spelling for a lot of the stuff they came up
with ended with the question, Huh? Where did you come up
with that? Spell it! There is not a doubt in my mind that this
one will be drug out at just about every family game night
and hang around for years to come. Even Rowan can join us
when she has a little larger vocabulary that includes more then
baa baa daaa doo!
The last game they sent holds a special place to us. I have
told you Andrew spend most of his early years in special educating
classes for his ADHD. Well I am not sure if you are aware of this
but a lot of kids in special education have a hard time learning
the normal way and need what teachers call Tactile re-enforcements
and Rush Hour was one of the things they used in my sons
class. The game has been around a while and for good reason,
it is a really good game and also works fantastic for kids that
have a hard time learning sequencing and patterns in the
same old boring way as other kids. If you child is struggling
do yourself a favor and pick this up. You can also grab it
if you just want to have fun. When we opened the box and
Andrew saw this he squealed like a little kid and ran off with
it as fast as he could. I had to chase him down to see what
he took off for I needed to know what we were reviewing. He
started playing this game in second and third grade and as
you can see he has nothing but found memories of it!
It is the simplest game to play and one of the hardest to win
and there are so many variations you will never get bored.
Players set up the game board according to pictures of traffic
jams displayed on different challenge cards, then slide blocking
cars and trucks out of the way to create a path of escape
through the congestion. This game has won multiple awards
and from personal experience and years of knowing this
game I can say with absolute certainty that is a justly deserved.
Like I told you, even schools use this and kids never think of
it as a teaching device, just plain old fun. I wish I could tell you
it is on our game shelf of family favorites but it is not. It is
in Andrews room and for the life of my I can't convince him it
would be just as safe on the shelf. He is determined to never
let this game out of his sight for his last copy got lost when we
moved in here years ago and though was on a list of things
to replace like so many things it got lost in the shuffle and
now that he has it back he has made it clear it is his and the
rest of us can borrow it under his watchful eye. How is that
for a glowing recommendation? It doesn't get much better! This
boy has video game systems and computer games all over the
house but Rush Hour sits on the corner of his bed and I am
sure there is some sort of booby trap set to ensnare anyone who
comes within three feet of it!
Think Fun is a great place for games and also a
great place that cares about its customers and was really
excited to share some of their items with you. They have offered
to let six of my readers walk away with one of these games.
They are giving two copies of each game away and to enter
just head over to their site and look around then come back
here and post what you learned and what game you would
pick if you won. In event of more then 2 winners picking
the same game the first two names drawn will get the game
of their choice and the other people will have the choice of
one of the other two games offered. The contest starts tonight
and will run to Midnight on February 20th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Think Fun Games


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Chuck the Yuck and No Throw Contests!

You ask a man what that product of the year should
be and you are going to hear about some car that has been
around forever but now comes with a whole new bumper.
Or you could hear about some ultra high deaf slim to
invisible thin TV that makes you feel like you are in the
game, or even a new golf club that costs so much you
buddies will talk about the price tag instead of the fact
that the only green you ever saw was the money for the
club leaving your wallet.

You ask a Mom what the product of the year
should be and she will say, "Chuck the Yuck!" The only thing
I have to say to these 3 very ingenious sisters is,
"What took you so long?"

Chuck the Yuck handled a subject that everyone in
the world has to deal with at one time or another and not
one single person wants to. The funny part is it is such a simple
product yet nobody thought of it before. What they are is
designer bags made to handle life's little upsets in a literal
way. When your use for it is over ya just seal it up and throw
it away or "Chuck the Yuck!" It doesn't matter what we do
everyone has a need for this every once in a while. Kids get
sick, Dad, the biggest babies, get sick, friends get sick and
even you do and we are not always in the comfort of our own
home and bathroom when it happens. Hey, even when we
are at home we are not always in the comfort of our bathroom.
Sometimes when you are sick you just don't have the strength
and energy to make it there. I cringe every time my Husband
is sick in bed and hollers out for me to "bring the bucket,"
for someone always has to clean that bucket out!
Well no more! "Chuck the Yuck!"
Next time he or my son is in bed with the flu I am just going
to bring them a stack of bags and Thermos of chicken noodle
soup a bottle of Fiji and some batteries for the remote and
stay far away after that. For somethings solitude is preferred.

There are so many others uses for these puppies too!
Don't grab that bag on an airplane, who knows who has had
their fingers on that already. You could walk off that plane not
only suffering from air sickness but something else as well.
When Jr has a really bad mess in his diaper and a simple
double wrap won't do. Chuck that Yuck! For that matter when
a child a little older can't make it to the bathroom don't toss
those panties in your purse, stick them in a Chuck the Yuck
Bag! Under Roo's cost some serious coin now a days! We won't
even mention what my purse cost! Even when Jr still hasn't
yet made the scene and is still 6 or 7 months from his arrival
you never know with those morning upsets when you are
going to have to " Chuck the Yuck!"
I could go on and on with these little "Chuck the
Yuck!" ditties for there are so many ways you can use them.
If I told you all the times I had to two finger a cloth to the
garbage I would have you running for a bag right now.
Now that I know about these I can carry the sealed bag
with pride and keep my head high! Even better these
water tight bags are also smell resistant so the hand that
is not carrying the bag doesn't have to be plugging my
nose. There have even been times I have taken the dog
to a friends house where I really could have used a
"Chuck the Yuck!" bag! She never would have known
about my little Boo's indiscretion and Boo might
still be welcome over there today!
Chuck the Yuck has been all over the news
lately but what they really need to be is in every Mom's
purse or Diaper bags. Every Dad needs to carry them too
but unless these ladies make bags with the Football
Schedule on one side and the Baseball on the other I
don't see that happening but we can all hope.

CTY wants to save you guys and is going to award one
of my readers with 2 packs of Chuck the Yuck bags, one
in each color. To enter just go to their web site and take
a look around then come back here and tell me in a comment.
The contest starts today December 20th and will run to January
30th at midnight!
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Chuck the Yuck!


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

5. Share a story about your Chuck the Yuck
experience on their web site! 5 Entries, please
post five times!

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Nourish and Rasco Dog Contests!

With Rowan on the scene I have spent a lot
of time shopping for clothes. For me, I love
to shop on line and over the years I have developed
my favorite sites. I understand their sizing, return policy
and know first hand what quality of product I am going to get.
With Rowan and the fact I have not been around
Babies in oh what, forever! I have no edge. I have
to go to the retail stores for things have changed so
much since Andy was a child that I wouldn't even
know where to start looking on line. To make it easy to
understand, when Andrew was a baby there was no
such thing as buying on line. The computer had web sites
devoted to information, games and chat rooms. Now
the Internet is part of every day life and I do pretty
well with most things but where do I go for
Kids Clothes?

Unlike her Toys where it doesn't matter
what retail outlet you buy them at they are still
the same toys, clothing is way different. Every place
cuts their clothing different and a size 1 at one place
can be a size 12 somewhere else. Plus it really bothers
me that since kids outgrow clothes so fast I have noticed
that manufacturer's do not use the same quality standards
as they do for adults. What I mean by this is since
the kids will only be wearing it for a few months it
is my opinion a lot of places make their clothes cheap and
I do not know how many pair of PJ's I have went through
where the Zipper broke super fast. Now you guys tell me,
Rowan is going on 6 months and I have lost 4
pair of Jammie's, all different brands, to a zipper that
jams and breaks. Now they can't says its because kids
are hard on their clothes and she fiddles with it because
out of these 6 months 3 she couldn't even find her own
hands much less a zipper. People will also say that it
is because she spends so much time in them they get
worn faster and that isn't true either. She is so messy and
is MZ Spit up so Rowan clothes are changed no less then
4 times a day, so at that rate she is wearing something
maybe 8 hours for a day, maybe once a week. About 6 wears
into it, the zipper goes boom! Now that makes me mad, I pay
$9.99 for a pair of Jammie's I get 48 hours of wear out of.
If that happened to my clothes I would be standing on
Donna Karen's front porch but since its a child we forget
it!
So my dilemma was where can I find reasonably priced,
cute clothes that do not fall apart and be able to trust
the place enough to order on line? The answer is Like Wear!
I found them through word of mouth and decided to check
them out. When I got to the site I was surprised to find out
that if offers sales opportunity's to Moms and other work
from home people. Sorta like Avon but with clothes and they
also carry more then just children's cloths they also carry
accessory's and you can order from the main site or one
of the retailers. I decided to start in the kids section and was
pleased with what I found. All of their items are simple, no
frills in timeless styles that your children can wear every day.
I found no fad styles that your kids will refuse to wear a few
months from now because the "super super chill brothers supreme
dream team from mars is no longer cool", but I did find designs
that would appeal to even the pickiest pallet of the pickiest
child. The clothes they did carry with logos were of things
that are going to be here 6 years from now and not go away
and can be passed down from child to child. Who doesn't love
a Tootsie Pop? Kids when I was little knew them and loved them
and I am sure my Grandchildren will too! Plus they are too cute!

I was sent a Dress for Rowan to review that was very
girly girl and adorable. It was pink and simple and I loved
the fact she could wear this dress to a fancy Do Dah! or to
the play ground and fit in either place. Clothes that are versatile
give me more bang for my buck and Momma loves that!
Even the T-shirts have styles that will never fade and feature
designs such as Peace or Love. Very sweet! I was also
impressed with the Quality. I did the Michelle Test with a
little more gusto then I would with adult items for like I told
you I am a little angry on the quality of children's items I have
been getting and they blew my test away. The dress has been
washed 17 times in the last week and still is the same bright
shade of pink as when I pulled it out of the box. It also
has not frayed and the seems are still tight as, well you know
that frog cliche'.

With the children's line of clothes I am most impressed
with the style and the fact is these are a mix and match item
and everything they make can be used with items already in
your child's wardrobe so there are endless possibilities for
wearing them often yet still looking like you have a different
outfit on each and every time! They also have some of the
cutest onesies and blanket for babies I have ever seen and
the bags are to die for! Final verdict on Like Wear!
I LIKE!

A LOT!

Check them out, maybe next time I buy I will be buying
from you!