Review and Giveaway : Laugh and Learn About Childbirth

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When I was pregnant with my now five-year-old son I read a popular pregnancy book that all my friends had read before me. Why they didn’t tell me that the book made pregnancy out to be the scariest and most unnatural thing in the universe – where whatever can go wrong will go wrong – is beyond me.

I wished that there was a book that would tell me what to expect my body to do while I was pregnant that didn’t make me want to crawl under my covers and cry. Thankfully, now there is with the Laugh And Learn About Childbirth book written by Sheri Bayles. Sheri’s Laugh and Learn DVD series is the #1 series of pregnancy classes in America – and she’s put everything from her classes into this little (and might I add portable) book!

Sheri has a free and easy style of writing. She writes like she is talking right to you (the reader). She doesn’t aim to scare you; she wants to teach you what to expectlaugh-and-learn during your pregnancy but in a reassuring way. Suffice to say that my “old” pregnancy book is going in the trash. I’d much rather recommend the Laugh and Learn About Childbirth to my girlfriends!

Learn more about Sheri Bayles’ Laugh and Learn series (along with her book) at her official website.

Buy It: Find the Laugh and Learn series at the official website or online retailers such as Amazon.com!

Win It : Thanks to Laugh and Learn, we’re giving away a gift pack consisting of Sheri’s 3 part DVD Series, book and a T-Shirt.  To enter and win, just following the requirements below:

  • One mandatory entry –  Visit www.laughandlearn.com and tell us one fact about Sheri Bayles, the author of this book.
  • Three additional entries – Follow us on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please leave your Twitter id.
  • Five additional entries - If you blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Please leave your post url in the comment section.
  • Entry is open to US shipping addresses only.
  • Giveaway closes on 22nd March 2010 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

christinesiggy

Review & Giveaway : Baby Bouquet From The Baby Bunch

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Babies are always a reason to celebrate!!  First babies, second babies, third babies or more, every baby deserves a special day.  Among my friends and family, we throw wonderful baby showers for first babies and then we plan special “Welcome to the World” days for subsequent babies.  That gives us time to not only spoil the Mama, but also to meet and cuddle the new little blessing.  I am always looking for new and wonderful gifts to share with Mama’s and babies alike.  Although blankets and rattles are cute, I love to find something extra special to celebrate the special day.

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About “The Baby Bunch”:
“The Baby Bunch” is a wonderful company that offers practical, functional baby gifts in amazingly sweet packaging. After the birth of her first son, Bryony Boxer and her husband Simon Martin created “The Baby Bunch” when many of the sweet gifts they were given were blandly packaged. The realized the need for a new concept and hence, “The Baby Bunch” was born.  Their goal was to create a gift that was attractive yet useful and included all the basic necessities for a great start in life.

Combining practicality with presentation, Baby Bunch gifts delight new moms and dads with super soft, 100% cotton baby clothes craftily rolled into blooming bouquets. Perfect newborn baby gifts, the Baby Bunch is safe for hospital delivery where ordinary flowers may not be permitted and makes an extraordinary baby shower gift basket.

Organic Baby Gifts make a perfect pick for eco-minded parents. And with our latest launch – onesies rolled to look like cupcakes and lollipops, baby gifts have never been sweeter! The best part? Baby Bunch gifts need no additional wrapping. Buy online and ship direct to enjoy these worry-free baby presents and skip the hassle of packaging.

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I was recently given the opportunity to receive one of The Baby Bunch’s Baby Bouquets.  When it arrived, I was amazed at the detail that went into creating such a wonderful gift.  The bouquet arrived in a beautiful, sturdy, colorful box with a plastic see-though lid.  It needed no additional wrapping and it was ready to be given as a gift.  The bunch I received included two onesies, one hat, one t-shirt, one bib, and two pairs of socks.  All of the clothing that were included, was made of baby soft 100% cotton and sized from 0-6 months.

The Baby Bunch has something for every gift giving need, Adorable Bucket Bunches, So Sweet Lollipop Baby Gifts, Yummy Cupcake Baby Gifts and even Fun and Colorful Crayon Rompers.

 They have also created a wonderful resource available on their website, a modern day “Baby Shower Planning Guide”.  It includes information on essentials such as foods, games, invitations, as well as Kid-friendly, Co-ed, and Adoption baby showers.

Buy It! : The Baby Bunch products are award winning and have been seen in Pregnancy and Newborn magazine, Good Housekeeping, and even on the Martha Stewart show.  You can purchase any of their unique and wonderful items on their website. Here’s a special offer to all our readers – Use Code: BUNCHGW10 to get 15% discount on any of our products, excluding the cost of shipping. Code will remain active until the end of March.kitchen_bunch

Win It!: The Baby Bunch has generously donated a Medium Size Baby Bouquet worth $59.95 to one of our lucky readers. Here’s how to enter:

  • One Mandatory Entry- check out The Baby Bunch and leave a comment telling us which item is your favorite.
  • Two Additional Entries- follow us on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please leave us a comment including your twitter id and your tweet url.
  • Five Additional Entries- blog about this giveaway and include a link.  Please leave us a comment including the blog post url.
  • Giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only.
  • Giveaway ends 15th March 2010 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

Good luck!!

 

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

Review & Giveaway : Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights “I’m a Rock Star” CD

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

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A couple of weeks back, I received a music CD of Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights’ “I’m a Rock Star”. Since both the younger boys were with me, I quickly popped into my Mac, and the first song, “I’m a Rock Star” rocks847805715_2210569_781ed on. Now, my youngest son is very much into guitars (and drums) right now. He’s barely 2, but when I say he’s into guitars, he’s INTO it. He’ll pretty much take up anything and pretend he’s strumming a guitar.

So, when this song played on, he kept on shouting, “KEE-TAR! KEE-TAR!”. Let’s just say, this song, along with “More Cowbell”, “Popcorn” and “Jump Jump” has been on the repeat list on my iPod Touch. Luckily, there are different genres (hip hop, jazz, folk to classic rock) within the album, which makes it lively, and strangely, colorful especially when the soccer-mom has to do the mundane school run. But, we must remember, this is for the kids (or so I tell myself).

About Joanie Leeds :

Steadily growing as one of Manhattan’s most recognizable kids singer, Singer/Songwriter Joanie Leeds has worked as the UWS Manager and most popular teacher at Gymboree Play and Music programs, and also as the music specialist for the JCC Nursery School of Manhattan. Currently she teaches at two Upper East Side Nursery schools (Central Synagogue and 5th Ave Synagogue) as their music specialist and freelances at a few other schools in the Manhattan area. Branching out and going on her own, Joanie can be seen all across the city at your special events and birthday parties!

Buy it! : This infectious hand-clappin’, finger-snappin’, thigh-slappin’, and a whole host of body movements, album CD “I’m a Rock Star” has been written and sung by Joanie Leeds and it’s only released on March 23rd. The full length DVD “City Kid Live” will also be released in March as well. Her album “City Kid” is also the “Parent’s Choice” Recommended Award Winner 2008! I pretty sure that “I’m a Rock Star” will win yet another award next year! All CDs and DVDs are available at her website, joanieleeds.com, iTunes and Amazon.

Win it! : How fantastic is this? Our wonderful sponsor will be giving away TWO of Joanie Leeds’ “I’m a Rock Star” CD to two lucky readers! You guys will be rockin’ with Joanie in your living rooms soon! Here’s what you need to do:

  • One mandatory entry – Visit Joanie Leeds’ website and tell us one fact about Joanie.
  • Three additional entries – Be our Facebook Fan, leave your FB name and Share4
  • Three additional entries – Tweet, tweet, tweet! Leave your twitter ID please.
  • Entry is open to all shipping addresses.
  • Giveaway closes on 8th March 2010 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

 

Review & Giveaway : Dolcette Designs

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

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Dolcetto Designs is a wonderful, family owned company based out of the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada that creates some of the most wonderful photo greeting cards on the market.  Thanks to Parent Reviewers, I was recently given the opportunity to learn more about this great company and even sample some of their work.

About Dolcetto Designs:

After searching for birth announcements for her first child and coming up empty handed, Shari- designer and owner of Dolcetto Designs, decided that she would have to create her own cards.  She wanted something that would reflect her own style and be something she would be proud of giving out.  During the process of creating that first card she realized her passion and soon began creating cards for every occasion.

Dolcetto Designs was birthed out of her belief that everyone should be able to have beautiful birth announcements, invitations, thank you cards, etc, regardless of the individual budget. Their goal is to provide beautiful products with great customer service at affordable prices.

Ordering a photo card from Dolcetto Designs is as easy as choosing as design from their fabulous gallery (each can be customized with colors, fonts, etc), uploading a picture with their easy to use Photo Uploader, choose a quantity, and check out.  You will receive your first proof via email within 24 hours and the entire process can take less than 2 days.

Elle+2Dolcetto Designs has a full array of wonderful products to offer their customers. I was so excited to be able to sample first hand the wonderful creations of Dolcetto Designs. Considering that my little ones are not so little anymore, I asked Shari to create a birth announcement for my newest niece, Elle. I emailed her a picture and a little bit of information and within hours she sent the most beautiful card. I was so wonderfully surprised with the ease of the process and so amazingly delighted with the end result.

Dolcetto Designs offers cards for all occasions:

  • Baby Photo Cards
  • Baptism/Christening Photo Cards
  • Birthday Invitations
  • Wedding Photo Cards
  • and Holiday Photo Cards.                                                        (photo courtesy of Jessica Sims Photography)

Buy It!: Take time to browse the great selections of cards offered at Dolcetto Designs.  You can purchase any of Dolcetto Designs wonderful creations on their website.  They will ship printed products throughout Canada.

Win It!: Dolcetto Designs has generously donated a photo card creation for one of our lucky readers. Here’s how to enter:

  • One Mandatory Entry- check out Dolectto Designs and leave a comment telling us which product is your favorite.
  • Two Additional Entries- follow us on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please leave a separate comment and include your twitter id and the tweet url.
  • Five Additional Entries- blog about this giveaway and include a link.  Please leave a separate comment and include the blog post url.
  • Entry is open to US and Canada shipping addresses only.
  • Giveaway ends on 3rd March 2010 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

Good luck!!

Review & Giveaway : Organic Insecticides & Repellents From EcoSmart

 

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I have one kid, two cats and one dog – so I’m always worried that the bug spray that I am using will hurt them in any way. We’ve got spiders in the garage, the occasional ants in the living/dining room and wasps in the bushes in our backyard. In other words – I am always spraying some type of creepy crawly!

I was thrilled to have the chance to try out a great  organic bug spray from EcoSmart – I received two bottles of EcoSmart Wasp and Hornet Killer for our bushes wasp-and-hornet_3out back. Unfortunately, I wasn’t really able to give them a good try because all the cold weather (and out-of-the-ordinary snow) that we’ve had in Virginia lately has chased all the creepers away!

I did spray some in our garage just to check out the smell and was happy that it smells kinda awesome! The spray has peppermint oil in it! As it is made from organic plant oil, this particular spray is also safe to use around children as well as pets. Though recommended  for outdoor (and attic) use, it’s not supposed to be “directly” sprayed on plants – but I think spraying around my bushes will still get rid of some of my wasps. Hopefully this spring I will be able to really try out the product.

About EcoSmart products:

EcoSMART’s technology is based on the natural defenses that plants and trees use for their self-protection against insects and pathogens. Unlike other botanical pesticides, EcoSMART’s formulas are composed of the most effective combinations of organic plant oils. EcoSMART’s patented technology combines plant oils that target and block a key neurotransmitter receptor site found only in insects and other invertebrates.

A great thing about the EcoSmart products is that they are not much more expensive than the name-brand products that most people buy anyway. There are also cool “bundle’s” available – like the “personal care” bundle or the “plant and garden” value bundle.

BUY IT : You can purchase EcoSmart products like  organic weed killer and more at local stores including Wal-Mart, Lowe’s and Home Depot or you can shop online at the EcoSmart website.

WIN IT :  Thanks to EcoSmart, we’re giving away a “Safe Lawn and Outdoor Value Bundle” worth $31.00  to one lucky reader of this blog. To enter for a chance to win, this is what you need to do:

  • One mandatory entry – Name one of the product in this “Safe Lawn and Outdoor Value Bundle“.
  • Three additional entries – Follow us on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please leave your Twitter id.
  • Five additional entries - If you blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Please leave your post url in the comment section.
  • Entry is open to US shipping addresses only.
  • Giveaway closes on  22nd February 2010 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

christinesiggy

Prizes For February Email Subscriber

The winners of our January 2010 email subscriber draw are:

  1. Jane Maritz
  2. Candace Trino
  3. Sarah Champeau
  4. Kay Heitfeld
  5. Pending reply from winner
  6. Pending reply from winner

 

 

And for the month of February 2010, our giveaways are 6 copies of Chicken Soup For The Soul : True Love.

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From the beloved, bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love is the latest addition to their popular collection of love stories, featuring 101 heartwarming and humorous love stories from people of all walks of life.

This title is  not only meant for the young but suitable even for a mature hopeless romantic  like me :) Though I am a pretty big fan of Chicken Soup For The Soul series of short story collections, I have to admit that I don’t read every one of them from cover to cover BUT True Love drew me in from the start and kept me reading page after page. Each story is so personal and unique and most important of all, they are REAL….stories you can relate with…..not those sappy, saccharine, and predictable made for the movies kind of stories. These are heartwarming, humorous, and poignant stories that I believe, may even be reflective of  some readers’ own relationships. It is an excellent book to find inspiration whether you’re just starting out in a relationship, going through a difficult one or simply want to find reassurance that there is such a thing as “ever lasting love”.

True Love includes chapters about love which develops over time with a close friend,  commitment, intimacy, and the unmatched beauty of old relationships that have been rediscovered. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, True Love will definitely be an ideal gift and perfect token for family members, a beloved spouse or just anyone who is passionate about love.

YOU CAN WIN THIS AWESOME TITLE COURTESY OF CHICKENSOUP.COM RIGHT HERE AT PARENT REVIEWERS. JUST SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED VIA EMAIL….WE’RE GIVING AWAY 6 COPIES. NO CATCH, IT’S THAT EASY!!!

 

* Prizes will be shipped to North America only.

 

Review & Giveaway : SkinMD Natural

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

smdn-orig-thumbIf there’s anything I absolutely can’t do without is, moisturizers. In Australia, it is reknown for its’ strong sunny weather. During summer, UV levels are constantly at the “Extreme” levels, which means, my skin is constantly in danger of getting drier and burnt to crisp. Having the love for the beach, doesn’t help it at all! YIKES!

I was more than happy to try out the SkinMD Natural : Face, Hand & Body Shielding Lotion on every part of my body. Yes, even my crocodile feet. I say, crocodile, because it is probably the most neglected part of my body, hence it is super dry, crackly and ….my sandals curl in disgust when they see my feet! After just a few days of trial, I noticed a remarkable difference. My skin (especially the feet), was very much smoother and it didn’t look like parched land (screaming for water) anymore!

I’m also very excited to learn, that SkinMD Natural has launched a new product with the sunscreen of SPF15! Slapping on sunscreen on a daily basis, is an absolute must for me, although I really hate the sticky feel of it, I don’t normally have a choice. The sponsors were so kind to send me a sample sachet, and I was so relieved to find that it was exactly like their original SkinMD Natural Shielding Lotion. It just felt silky smooth upon application and none of that sticky icky feeling. This is one lotion, I’d slap on my kids anytime (they’re always giving me a hard time, telling me how yucky some sunscreens are!)!

Buy It! : SkinMD Natural Shielding Lotion is extremely easy to apply. A small dollop on any part of your body goes a long way. If it is drier than normal, apply every few hours. Within a few days, there will be a noticeable difference, and you’ll feel it too. If used continuously, your skin will thank you, and you’ll look better.

It has also been recently awarded the “National Home Gardening Club Member – Tested & Recommended Seal of Approval”. SkinMD lotions are available in most pharmacies, or you can use their store locator here . I really love their website, it is so informative. Every ingredient is listed and they actually tell you why it’s in there!

Win It! : The sponsors are generously giving away 1 SkinMD Natural Shielding Lotion to a lucky reader. All you have to do is :

  • One mandatory entry – Visit SkinMD Natural Shielding Lotion and tell us one of their ingredients.
  • Three additional entries – Be our Facebook Fan, leave your FB name and Share4
  • Three additional entries – Tweet, tweet, tweet! Leave your twitter ID please.
  • Entry is open to all shipping addresses.
  • Giveaway closes on  15 February 2010 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

 

Review & Giveaway : ID Me Labels’ School Combo Pack

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

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When I was little and my mom still had to send me to school with an extra set of clothes she used this little “fabric pen” (that was supposed to be waterproof) to mark my name on my clothes. Unfortunately for her the pen never stayed put and she always had to re-mark the clothes.

Nowadays my son heads off to school with not only his stuff marked with his name but also his clothes and let me tell you – those names are not coming off!

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I got a chance to test both clothing labels along with all-purpose (think dishwasher safe) from a company called I.D. Me Labels. I promptly tagged my son’s extra clothes (jeans, t’shirt and underwear) and threw them in the hamper (they have to sit 24-hours before they are washed). I also tagged his backpack with a neat little alien Bag Tag (which lists his name and phone number). I even put a couple stickers on a sippy cup and his snack box – the cup eventually went through the dishwasher and the label is still sticking tight!

I love these labels – they really stick and they come in all different colors, fonts and styles. The combination pack that I received included several (each) of the All-Purpose Icon Labels, Streamline Labels and Stick on Clothing Labels. I also received a couple of the Bag Tags! I got to choose not only what the labels would say (of course) but also colors and even the font that I wanted to use. You can even order labels with a custom photo of your child which is really super cool.

BUY IT :  I.D. Me Labels are all weather-resistant, microwave and dishwasher safe. They even offer free shipping on orders over $50.00 (US only) so you can order tons of labels, get organized and keep track of your child’s stuff! I.D. Me Labels are available at their website.

WIN IT : Thanks to I.D. Me Labels, we’re giving away a School Combo Pack worth $59.95.  To enter and win, just following the requirements below:

  • One mandatory entry – Visit our sponsor I.D. Me Labels and pick your favourite choice of label.
  • Three additional entries – Follow us on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please leave your Twitter id.
  • Five additional entries - If you blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Please leave your post url in the comment section.
  • Entry is open to US shipping addresses only.
  • Giveaway closes on  9th February 2010 and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

christinesiggy

Book Blog Tour : Ferdinand Uses The Potty

 

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Author : Jay Tucker
Illustrations: D.E. West
ISBN-10: 1932690824
ISBN-13: 978-1932690828

 

First of all, I must say I love the shiny, vibrant colours and lovely illustrations used on the cover of book. This is a definite plus if you’re trying to attract a toddler’s attention. Ferdinand Uses The Potty tells the story of Ferdinand The Frog, who suddenly awakens one night to find  that his bed is wet. He is confused about the situation but fortunately, help is on hand. Ferdinand has a friend who had gone through the same experience and he encourages him to use the toilet. The big hurdle for Ferdinand was to overcome his fear of hearing the noise from the toilet flush. And this he ultimately did with much bravery.

Ferdinand Uses The Potty is a great book which encourages children to confront and overcome their fears about using the toilet.  I like that the pictures are big and vivid and the amount of wordings are also just perfect for a toddler’s attention. The story is short, easy to understand and though not perfect, the rhyming prose used by the author Jay Tucker, added some fun when you’re reading to a toddler. 

BUY IT : Ferdinand Uses The Potty is available for purchase at Amazon. You might also be interested to check out the FREE colouring pages available from the book’s website here.

And here’s a peek at what our panel of reviewers had to say about Ferdinand Uses The Potty:

Contests and Giveaways – All in all, it is a story worth reading to kids. I liked it, and more importantly, my daughter liked it. Ferdinand faced and conquered one of his fears – a very important lesson for kids! It is available for purchase at bookstores and at Amazon.com. Be sure to check it out!

Connie’s View – The rhyming, adorable character, Ferdinand and the bright, cherry illustrations make this a book that your child will want you to read again and again. My daughter had major fears of potty training and I wish that I had this for her. Seeing a frog go through it with the help of a child is a creative move. I recommend this to parents who are in the throes of potty training of going to give it a start.

 Happy Healthy Families – The story is humorous, gentle and fun. The dialogue between Ferdinand and his friend is written in a rhyming fashion, which made my boys enjoy the story even more. It will,I believe, help kids feel more reassured when it comes to their own thoughts and challenges with potty training.The only thing my 5 year old wondered about is whether or not Ferdinand continued to have any more “accidents” at night. Maybe we need a “Ferdinand Sequel??”

 Quiverfull Family – Written in rhyming prose, Ferdinand is a bold, enthusiastic exploration of overcoming bed-wetting and the commonly held fear about using the potty that can arise after children understand the basic concepts of potty-training. Ferdinand and his young friend don’t attempt to explain the basics of going to the potty, or even describe the event in much detail -– they rather focus in on being afraid of the toilet, and to some extent on wetting the bed.

Moomette’s Magnificents – Put this delightful, humorous book on your list of “must reads” or as a gift for any mom-to-be, daughter, daughter-in-law, daycare provider, homeschooling mom or friend who will be going through the challenge of potty training in the future!

 As They Grow Up – My son has been potty trained since he was 18 months old, but still has night time accidents. Deciding when and how to completely night potty train has been an issue that my husband and I are currently dealing with. Ferdinand The Frog Uses The Potty actually talks about one night when Ferdinand the Frog wakes up and realizes that he is all wet. The problem is, Ferdinand just can’t figure out why he is all wet. Luckily though he has a friend that explains to him to him what happened during the night and also there is nothing to be scared of when it comes to using the potty (Ferdinand the Frog was scared of the sound the toilet makes when it flushes). Finally at the end of the day Ferdinand realizes that using the potty isn’t so bad after all!

Rambling Moo – Generally, this book is a good start for those who wants to try to potty train their little kids. The story which is short and filled with colorful illustrations is perfect to hold a toddler’s short attention span.

Right Reads - Since the boy is toilet trained for the day, he can identify with the toilet, the word “pee pee” and having a tummy ache. However, the language used was slightly above his age level and also, the lack of descriptive words had him slightly puzzled…

Nevertheless, the storyline kept him hooked to the book from start to the end. For this, I think the author and illustator have down an excellent job.

Our Makiko – He loves the book so much -so much that after that first time, he asked for me to read it twice to him! And everytime, he never fails to laugh aloud on those parts I mentioned. And actually, the Ferdinand Uses the Potty book is on the table beside our bed as I type this post. So if my son’s reactions were bases to this review, then I would give a two-thumbs up for this book.

Review : Kidjot.com

kidjot-logoWithout a doubt, everyone I know has a Facebook account. How do I know this? Simple…. whenever I meet new friends or bump into old ones, we’ll ‘Facebook’ each other by the end of the conversation. I think it’s the equivalent of ‘let’s keep in touch’. And that’s the thing. While we all have Facebook accounts, I’m pretty sure we don’t want to share every little news or updates with everyone. I mean, yes, we can twitter, but it’s about us. Sometimes, we have news about our relatives or our own kids, where we just want to keep it within the family and close circle of friends. Let’s face it..seeing someone’s uncle pinching someone’s daughter’s cheeks isn’t exactly what we really want to see on Facebook, right?

And that’s where Kidjot.com comes in. Here, we can share every snippet of our family’s life with everyone who won’t find it remotely boring. It’s super easy to sign up, just your username, password and email. Thereafter, it’s setting up the household details like my name, my husband’s and of course, the 3 boys. Easy, takes less than 5 minutes, depending just how many kids/hubbies you have! LOL.

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[sample screen, courtesy of kidjot.com]

Here’s why I personally like it:

My family doesn’t have to create a username for each person. We can all login with the same username and password, but create our stories in our respective names! So, all our stories are kept in one single neat site, but in their individual pages!

It’s one way of detailing the scrapbook part of your life. For instance, capturing photos of my eldest son’s dance in his junior concert would be easy, but I’d also like to explain the feelings that I had for him, his very own thoughts as he danced through it.  It’s a great family project that everyone can get involved with. Grandparents or relatives in distant states/countries, can add in their side of the story, or add in a trophy or three, as positive encouragements.

It’s quite different from Facebook or a blog, because when you want to add your side of the story in Facebook or a blog, it’s not part of the big picture, it’s just merely comments here and there. So, visually, Kidjot.com is better presented, just like a storyboard, instead of fragmented pieces lying everywhere.

About (as written by the co-creator, Chris Fawcett) :

The site came about as a result of my family seeing a need in our own lives for something like this.  Up until 5 years ago, we all lived within 15 miles of each other.  Today, we’re spread out over the eastern U.S.  We wanted a way to connect with each other that was more private than Facebook and also would allow us to revisit these memories years later.

So we came up with the idea for Kidjot, and thought it was a good enough idea that other families would use it too.  The main creators are myself and my brother Jon.  But my wife, Jon’s wife, and our parents have all been highly influential.  Jon programmed 100% of the site while I directed the look and feel and functionality and handled the business side.

Since we started testing in September, my extended family has added over 60 stories (we call them Jots) to the site.  I already find myself occasionally going back to re-read them, so I can only imagine how cool it will be 20 years from now to look back on these memories.  The site has also allowed us to reconnect with a cousin that we never really knew growing up.  It has made our family better.

Buy It! : I do sincerely believe that Kidjot has come up with a gem. Once you’ve gotten your family and extended family on board, there will be no end to the stories/memories that will be stored in here. When you or your kids look back into their lives (’jots’), the ol brains will be jogging down memory lane.

Right now, Kidjot is offering a free 6 months subscription to everybody! Thereafter, there is an annual fee of USD10 (which is pretty darn low, if you ask me). In fact, if you sign up now, you’ll get to participate in their  $100 Amazon gift certificate sweepstakes! What? Where? Here, at Kidjot.com!

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

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