Friday, December 3, 2010

{20 cards for 1.99}

still haven't ordered your Christmas cards? Well go to to get 20 holiday cards for 1.99!! WOW!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

{Free baby carrier}

Yes you heard me right. Get a free baby carrier from sevenslings.com by entering promo code valpak! Just pay shipping (11.95)

{Storytime for me review}

<a style="display: none;" href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP20cadab4a23d83d23b85d85e5bb3ede5"><span></span></a>


I had the opportunity to review a couple of electronic books from Storytime for me over the past couple of weeks. I have three kids that LOVE books and LOVE to read any scrap of paper they can find. My 4 year old is starting to be very interested in learning to read by himself so I was so excited for these interactive books.  We chose these two books to read. . .





Here are the PROS:
      It is very easy for kids to use. As the narrator is reading the words are highlighted in yellow so that they can see as well as hear the word! GREAT for little kids learning to read.
      Good subjects for the books handling everything from dealing with emotional situations to learning about other countries.
      Great selection of many different books.
      The books are very useful when you don't have time to read that book for the 21st time in a row and you need to get dinner started. :) They can do it themselves.
      I asked my 4 year old if he liked the books and he said "Yes mommy, I really liked the book"
      There are different options for reading the book ie automatic page turn or manual page turn.

Now for the CONS:

  • Call me old fashioned but I enjoy paper books.
  • The narrator can sound a bit choppy, but when kids are first starting to read it can be helpful to separate each word.
  • The animation can be a bit cheesy
  • The books are short 2-3 minutes
  • Books can be expensive if you order one at a time, but are a great deal if you buy a bunch at once.
Conclusion:

So all in all I think that they are a good product for busy moms that need help reading with their children. Good price for the product (1.18 a book if you buy 50 credits) For myself I will most likely stick to regular books. There just is something magical about the good old paper books.



If you would like to try it out before you buy it Storytime for me has offered all my readers 2 book credits for free!!! Thanks guys! Follow this link to sign up and receive your two free books.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM20cadab4a23d83d23b85d85e5bb3ede5">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">Product review</a> & <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">giveaway</a> Disclosure.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

{GIVEAWAY}

Enter my giveaway hosted by Kendra from The Things I Love Most! Three ways to enter, two great prizes, and one great coupon code! http://thethingsilovemost.blogspot.com/2010/12/on-1st-day-of-christmas.html

{United States Trivia Pack}

<a style="display: none;" href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPb09e9b8f288432a0628bf7a6f1b8ed42"><span></span></a>


My second review, yea!  I was able to review the United States Trivia Pack by Python Printable Games this past week. My Husband and I really had fun learning all the new things about each state as we went through them. I originally wanted to try this with our kids but seeing as they are so young it just wasn't possible. Some of the questions are TOUGH!

 Pros:
  • This game was A LOT of fun for my Husband and I, but as some of you know we are random fact junkies. :)
  • This could come in really handy when you kids have to do projects on school on a specific state!
  • Easy to order, download, and print
  • No lag time with shipping! Comes directly to your email inbox after you order it
  • If you loose a game card, no worries! You can just print off another one without having to buy anything again!

Cons:
  • If you want these to last you will want to laminate them and use a ring to secure them all together (but hey you can still print out more if you loose or damage one)
  • Some of the questions are really tough!
  • Not suitable for kids under about 13
  • A little pricey for something you have to print out and put together.


Conclusion:
I really liked the United Stated Trivia Game for teens or adults. If you (or your family) likes random facts like ours does you will love it! Is is worth the 20$. . . to me yes I think it is. If you are looking for a fun game for your young children I would recommend something else.



If you would like to see more of the products offered by Python Printable Games click here. Also they have a section for free printables including coloring pages and triva! click here to see the free printables page.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMb09e9b8f288432a0628bf7a6f1b8ed42">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">Product review</a> & <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">giveaway</a> Disclosure.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

{Christmas cards}

If you are like me you have not ordered your Christmas cards for the year. If you have, you are Awesome! Well instead of going to the store to do all the designing, ordering and pickup, use one of the many online sites to do everything and have it shipped to you WITH envelopes. This year I used Walmart.com because it is super simple, around .36 cents per card (including envelope) and they ship it free to your home. Can't get much better than that! Hurry and get yours done so that you can stress less as Christmas gets closer.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Thanksgiving "china" made simple

So I know like me most of you LOVE Thanksgiving. All the family together, yummy food, and remembering all of the blessings that we have. 

I know one thing that I HATE about Thanksgiving. Dishes. After all of that yummy food and good company who really wants to spend more time in the kitchen doing dishes? Not me.
Well now there is an alternative to tacky paper plates or having to wash all of your pretty china and risk getting it broken.


Well I have found a site that offers the best of both worlds. The beauty of china and the ease of paper plates.
Check it out  http://www.smartyhadaparty.com/. They really have a beautiful selection for a reasonable price. Make your holiday season a little less stressful and take time to enjoy the little things.

Friday, November 12, 2010

{Just say NO}

This is a phrase that is useful in so many ways. What I am specifically talking about is saying no to things that will leave you over-extended and stressed out. I don't know about you you but I always am finding myself in the position of automatically saying yes to everything asked of me. No thought involved. I swear I hear the words hey would you mind? . . or, could you possibly?. ..  or I have a favor to ask of you, and I say yes. I don't even know what the thing IS that I have just agreed to, but I have said yes. I find myself VOLUNTEERING for things also that I know I do not have time for too. Gaaah! I mean seriously? Am I the only one that has this problem?


As I have been trying to simplify my life and get back down to the root of things that really matter to me I have come across this idea. When we say yes to something or someone outside the home, we are saying no to someone inside of it. Upon hearing this I began to look at saying no differently. I wasn't saying no to get out of helping someone, I was saying no to give the attention that is so desperately needed to my family and my children. We should help with what we can and who we can, but it should not take priority over our family. Family IS the most important thing in our lives next to God. 

So to shorted this post into one sentence.
Say no to everything you truly do not have time for.

{The Beginning}

I am sure many of you out there are in the same stage of life as I am. Married with children at home. Well I don't know about you but I feel like all I do is run around all day with everything that needs to get accomplished. I figure that there has GOT to be a way to make life more simple. I am dedicating this blog to finding ways to do things more easily, or to finding products that are inexpensive and will help us hard working moms (and dads) get things done more quickly. I welcome all of you to comment freely! If you have any products that you love or tips on how to make life more simple for all of us, PLEASE, email me and tell me about it! I will try and post once a week, but in the spirit of this blog, if life gets crazy I may skip a post. So bear with me. Hope you find some great tips here and that you can make your own life more simple and really take time to enjoy the little things in life. ENJOY!