Category Archives: Main Page Post

October 26, 2014 · 1:25 am

Minted, Premier Marketplace For Independent Design In Holiday & Christmas Cards and Much More!!!

Prepping and sanding, that’s what my weekend has been like so far. We are working fervently to get our front porch finished before the snow flies. Wait, what did I just say? Before the snow flies? It isn’t even Halloween! I know, but in upstate New York, the weather can change faster than you blink. We just need to get the porch floor stained and then put the rails back on and we’ll be good. Flying snow reminds me of Christmas and the upcoming holiday season will soon be upon us. I am really excited to share a great site I just found called Minted. Have you heard of it? Minted is the world’s premier marketplace for independent design. Their mission is to find exceptional artists and designers all over the world and bring their work to consumers who appreciate great design.

Minted crowd-sources design and art from a global community of independent designers, then sells their best designs as fine products such as stationery, wall art, and décor for the home, holidays, and occasions. I love their site and what really caught my eye are the great Holiday and Christmas cards that are available. Some I really like are:

minted-Christmas-Ribbon-Card - Copy

minted example - Copy

Minted-Family-Album-Card - Copy

Minted-Peace-Love-Joy

Minted-VIP-Santa-Workshop-Pass

Minted -Home-Grown - Copy

Minted-Let-Your-Heart-Be-Light

Minted also has party decor like Party Banners, Invitations, Menus and more. They have Save The Date and Wedding Invitations as well as these Mommy Cards:

Minted-Mommy-Calling-Cards

Minted-Mommy-Calling-Card-Pretty-Playdate

Business Cards:

Minted-Beaded-Business - Copy

Minted-Personal-Chef

Limited Edition Art Prints, Custom Art, Photo Gifts and these adorable Room Signs for kids:

Minted-Girl-Room-Sign

Minted-Kids-Room-Signs

Minted also wants to save you time this year and will print recipient addresses on your envelopes at no charge when you order holiday cards. You can also take 10% off right now with the promo code JOY2014 but hurry it ends Monday! You can follow Minted on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Check it out and let me know what you think. Right now it is bedtime for me, the morning comes fast and I have a porch to finish.

Sentosphere, My Perfume Maker Holiday Gift Guide Pick & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

Sentosphere USA has been operating since 1995,
and has supplied hundreds of retailers throughout the US
with artistic and educational games, kits and toys.

myperflogo

my perfume maker site

My Perfume Maker is a classic among educational kits. Eight natural essences or fragrances from the world’s most beautiful sources allow children seven years or older to create more than 100 different “eau de toilette.”

My Perfume Maker uses the highest quality fragrances available on the market, and many have found that the resulting bouquets are also very enjoyable in the bath. The kit includes a perfume guide that makes creating perfumes a fun and educational activity.

If you are looking for a great gift idea for the little girls on your Holiday Gift List, you should check out My Perfume Maker by Sentosphere. This kit will delight girls who are creative and let them mix their own signature scents of perfume. It will bring out the scientist, inventor and of course please the princess in all of them. The kit is colorful and fun, full of natural essences and fragrances along with droppers that will allow them easily to add the right amount to the empty colorful bottles to create their own line of perfumes.

My Perfume Maker

Perfume Maker

Perfume Maker 1

Perfume Maker 2

perfume maker 3

Mommy Ramblings is adding the Sentosphere My Perfume Maker to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.

Sentosphere is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky winner will win their own My Perfume Maker! Thank you to Sentosphere for the review kit and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Sentosphere, My Perfume Maker Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Christmas, Crafts, Giveaway, Holiday, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Shopping

Tagged as 2014 Holiday Gift Guide, Christmas, Create, Educational, fun, Gift List, girls, giveaway, Kit, Mommy Ramblings, My Perfume Maker, play, review, ScentoSphere, Science

October 21, 2014 · 2:05 am

Sneak Peek At Mommy Ramblings 2014 Holiday Gift Guide & Tommee Tippee Gingerbread Collection!!! #TommeeMommee

I was actually toying with not doing an official 2014 Holiday Gift Guide this year but after being approached by so many sponsors who wanted to be included, I decided to go ahead and publish one. I know it is not even Halloween but it seems like once we hit mid-October we start zooming toward the holidays like a snowball down a mountain. I wanted to give you a sneak peek at our new Holiday Gift Guide Graphic and some of the products and companies that will be featured.

Now for a sneak look at a special collection on our Holiday Gift Guide:

Tommee Tippee has the most adorable holiday theme products that are exclusive to Babies R Us. Having a baby on Christmas Eve like I did, I totally adore the whole line. How sweet is this gift set for the new Christmastime arrival? Shop Babies R Us to see the entire Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Gingerbread Collection.

The gingerbread collection by tommee tippee is a limited edition range of essential baby products decorated so that they bring to life a magical fairy tale world where the gingerbread people live. The designs feature wonderful scenes of seasonal festivities, gorgeous gingerbread houses, delicate snowflakes and stockings brimming with presents, ready for the holidays.

The gingerbread collection features two brightly colored closer to nature feeding bottles in green & red. The closer to nature bottle comes with all the revolutionary features you would expect from tommee tippee, a unique, easy-latch-on nipple shape, designed with breastfeeding experts to mimic the natural flex, stretch and movement of a natural breastfeeding action.

The super-absorbent Closer to Nature Milk Feeding Bib helps to protect baby’s tender skin, with a unique dribble catcher that absorbs moisture, helping prevent rashes on baby’s sensitive skin.

That is just a glance at what will be a packed Holiday Gift Guide full of ideas for Men, Women, Teens, Kids, Toddlers, Babies, Pets and more!!! Make sure you follow us so you don’t miss a thing!!!

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Filed under Baby, Baby Gear, Christmas, Exclusive, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Uncategorized

Tagged as #TommeeMommee, babies, Babies R Us, Bibs, Bottles, Closer to Nature, Exclusive, Gingerbread Collection, Holiday Gift Guide, Limited, Mommy Ramblings, Newborns, Pacifiers, Shop, Sneak Peek, tommee tippee, Tommee Tippee Brand Ambassador

October 20, 2014 · 10:47 pm

Ornaments With Love, Personalized Christmas & Holiday Ornaments Review and Giveway!!!

I am kicking off our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide with Ornaments With Love. For the last several years I have had the great privilege to work with Ornaments With Love on reviews and giveaways. I have to say the beautiful personalized ornaments and table top decorations are such a treasured pieces of our Christmas decor. The personalization makes them so special and we look forward every year to a new ornament to celebrate the season and our family.

Ornaments With Love 2012

Ornaments With Love Train

You may remember the fireplace tabletop decoration and multi-car train I showed you in the past. This year I decided to get an ornament with all our names we can hang on the tree and went with the Personalized Fireplace Family Christmas Ornament with Stockings & Candles. It arrived fast and with great communication. The ornament is finely crafted and beautifully personalized with our names and the year as well as Merry Christmas on the hearth.

Ornaments with Love 2014 2

Ornaments with Love 2014

You can personalize the ornaments with the names, years and messages that you want. The site is so easy to navigate and the extensive choice of ornaments and decor will astound you. Ornaments for families big and small, grandparents, teachers, sports fans, expectant parents, pets, new parents and much more. You can also find Ornaments with love on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

You can also find Ornaments With Love in Mommy Ramblings 2014 Holiday Gift Guide!

ornaments with Love new parents

Ornaments With Love is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog winner will win an ornament of their choice (subject to availability). Thank you to Ornaments With Love for sponsoring this great giveaway and for the review ornament. Open to US and Canadian residents. Good Luck!!!

Ornaments With Love Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Christmas, Collectibles, Giveaway, Holiday, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review

Tagged as Christmas, Decorations, giveaway, holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Mommy Ramblings, Ornament, Ornaments with Love, Personalized, review

· 12:57 am

Easy Appliqued Holiday Shirts You Can Make For Thanksgiving & Christmas!!!

You may remember my tales of woe from learning to sew in my post where I showed how I finished an antique vanity as a sewing table. Aside from an owl pillow I made in 6th grade Home-ec, my attempts at sewing were nothing to write home about. However, I’m not a quitter, so I was ready to give it another go when I wanted to create some cute whimsical holiday shirts for my kids and family.

I bought some long sleeve cotton shirts and then visited the craft department for some fabrics. The first shirt I was going to try to make was a turkey for Thanksgiving. I planned to make the turkey body in brown flannel fabric so I bought a yard of that since I also planned to use it for the Christmas shirts, then I picked several other fabrics for feathers. I also purchased some polka dot fabric for the antlers and solid red, yellow, black and green for various accents. Armed with my array of fabrics and some notions like colorful buttons and embroidery thread, I was ready.

I drew my turkey template free hand onto some card stock and cut it out. I thought I would do feet too but did not end up putting feet on the design.

Turkey shirt 1

I washed the shirts and all the fabrics prior to sewing anything. After I ironed the fabric I cut the pattern shapes and laid them out how I wanted, then when my design was the way I liked, I secured the fabric pieces with a sewable heat bond. After that it was off to the sewing machine where I sewed around the pieces with an applique stitch. The first shirts were a bit laughable but my little ones thought they were great and with every shirt I got better.

Turkey shirt 3

Turkey Shirt 4

Turkey Shirt 5

Turkey Shirt 2

Turkey Shirt

For the Christmas shirts I did the same thing except I made a moose template which honestly ended up looking more like a reindeer but nevertheless is still cute. I was in a rush because we were using them for a picture but would like to add bows on my daughter’s shirt and mine as well. For all the boys I want to add a bow tie.

This is the light hold heat bond that is sewable, I just wanted to hold it in place so I did not need to use pins for sewing. It worked well.

Moose Shirt 1

Moose Shirt 4

Moose Shrit 2

Moose Shirt 5

Moose Shirt 6

Christmas Shirts

Applique shirts_edited-1

I made 9 shirts in all (2 turkey shirts and 7 Christmas shirts). It really gave me confidence to make friends with my sewing machine and if I could do this, anyone can. I know they are far from perfect but they are made with love and to me that is what matters the most. If you would like any more specifics please ask.

4 Comments

Filed under Christmas, Crafts, DIY, Family Fun, Fashion, Holiday, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Toddler

Tagged as Applique, buttons, Christmas, Crafts, DIY, Family, floss, fun, Gifts, holiday, learning, material, memories, Mommy Ramblings, Moose, notions, Projects, Reindeer, Sewing, Shirts For Family Picture, thanksgiving, tread, Turkey, whimsical

October 19, 2014 · 11:24 pm

K5 Learning Online Reading and Math Program Review!!!

K5 Learning is an award-winning online reading and math program for kids in kindergarten to grade 5. Kids work at their own level and their own pace through a personalized program of over 3,000 online tutorials and activities.

Designed principally for after school study and summer study, K5 is also used by homeschoolers, special needs and gifted kids. K5 helps your children build good study habits and excel in school.

I recently tried this program out and it was easy to set up and customize for my kids. Before they begin they enter their name and grade level, then design a character that looks like them or anything they like. Next, your child is ready to start learning through fun games. The math facts for my 5-year-old was done integrated with a bowling theme and it was engaging and kept his interest. It is a program that both he and my 7-year-old look forward to playing not something that is a drag. It will save their progress, give reports and let children switch between math, spelling and math and reading lessons easily.

Parents will find it easy to monitor progress and identify areas where their children need more help or practice. There are 2 logins, one for parents and one for kids. The kids are logged in to an easy to navigate dashboard and the parents have a dashboard that lets them view reports on their child and get the details of how they are progressing. To view a video of how the system works click HERE. The software is designed so that children as young as 4 can use and navigate the lessons by themselves.

This program is great for both kids that attend school or are home schooled as well as pre-school age children. If you are looking for a reading and math enrichment program, you should check out K5. You can view sample lessons HERE. There is a 14 day free trial you can use to see for yourself how it works and how your child likes it. You can also download a free ebook, “How to Help Your Kids Succeed in School” filled with practical advice and specific activities by clicking HERE. To set up the free trial click HERE to get started. Let me know what you think.

Oh and you can get free printable worksheets by clicking HERE.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Save 30% with Exclusive Discount Code on Amazing Dream Team Pets!!!

Dream Team Pets are much more than a bedtime toy-they’re an innovative kid’s sleep aid that helps end the bedtime battles of trying to keep your child in bed. Developed with the help of a pediatrician, Dream Team Pets bedtime routine empowers kids as they reward their Pet with stickers and a certificate for a good night’s sleep.

dream pets dog

dream pets cat product

dream pets lioon

If the child wakes up from a nightmare, there are no hard feelings because the responsibility is on their Pet, but when they successfully sleep in their own bed, the kids feel a sense of accomplishment as they reward their Dream Team Pet. What makes this unique is that the kids think they are training their Pet, but really they are sleep training themselves!

dream pets bed

Mommy Ramblings’ Readers receive 30% Off Dream Team Pets with Promo Code: USFGUIDE
The pets are available as a playful puppy, magical cat and mighty lion. The Dream Team Pets can be purchased on Amazon.

dream pets cat child

dream pets child dog

Safety 1st Alpha Elite 65 Convertible Car Seat Giveaway!!! #OurSummerJourney

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You may remember reading about our Summer Journey and how Safety 1st made my kid’s road trips much more comfortable and most of all safe! Now Safety 1st is giving one of our blog readers a chance to win an Alpha Elite 65 Convertible Car Seat! This car seat is so versatile because it goes the distance and works with children as small as 5 lbs right up to 100 lbs! Use rear facing from birth to 40 lbs and forward facing from 22- 65 lbs. When you child is older it becomes a belt positioning booster good for kids up to 100 lbs. The QuickFit harness is easy to adjust in height from the front of the seat and the 3 position recline takes just one hand to operate. LATCH equipped seat has a removable infant head support, padded arm rests and a cup holder.

Safety-1st-Car-Seat-Giveaway-#OurSummerJourney

Product Description

With a harness rated to 65 pounds, the Alpha Elite™ Convertible Car Seat is helping keep children in harnesses longer. As an extended-use car seat with superior comfort and convenience features, it’ll please parents and children alike through 3 separate stages: Rear-facing infant car seat, Forward-facing car seat with harness to 65 pounds, and Belt-positioning booster!

The Safety 1st Alpha Elite 65 Convertible Car Seat Features:

Extended use car seat – rear facing: 5-40lbs and forward facing: 22-65lbs
Belt positioning booster 40-100lbs
5-point harness with center front adjustment
QuickFit™ Harness System adjusts height from front in one easy step
3-position recline, adjusts with one hand
Removable infant head support
LATCH equipped

Safety 1st is a Dorel Juvenile Group brand, the global leader in car seat design and manufacturing and the trusted experts for baby products that make life easier and more enjoyable for both parent and baby. Safety 1st offers a wide variety of top-rated products, such as Air Protect car seats, high chairs, thermometers, safety gates, play yards and much more, that offer modern parents and their children both convenience and comfort. At Safety 1st we remain committed to giving you peace of mind for every 1st you and your child experience.

Features

The Safety 1st Alpha Elite 65 Convertible Car Seat is an extended use car seat that includes rear facing 5-40lbs; forward facing 22-65lbs; belt positioning booster 40-100lbs
5-point harness with center front adjustment, QuickFit™ Harness System adjusts height from front in one easy step – never needs re-threading!
3-position recline, adjusts with one hand. Removable infant head support. Removable infant lumbar support
Padded, pivoting armrests. Removable cup/juice holder
LATCH equipped. Meets or exceeds Federal Safety Standards

Product Dimensions (in inches):28.2 x 22.2 x 21.5

Enter To Win!!!

To enter the giveaway to win a Safety 1st Alpha Elite 65 Convertible Car Seat use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!! Open to US Residents. Thank you to Safety 1st for the review seat and for sponsoring this spectacular giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!

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31 Comments

Filed under Baby, Baby Gear, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Shopping, Toddler

Tagged as 100 lbs, Alpha Elite 65, Belt Positioner, BIRTH, Car Seat, Convertible Car Seat, Giveaway #OurSummerJourney, Mommy Ramblings, Safety 1st

October 13, 2014 · 5:14 pm

Chicken Soup For The Soul: Reboot Your Life Book Review & Giveaway!!! 3 Winners!!!

chickensoupforthesoullogo

Are you feeling a bit down, need something to change? Do you want to go in a different direction? We all fall into ruts at times, with our jobs, our relationships, our lives.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot Your Life will inspire, invigorate, and empower you to break out of your rut. With its powerful stories of taking chances, positive life changes, and finding new paths to happiness, you will be inspired to find the courage to reboot your own life! The book is packed with 101 inspiring personal stories of change that will motivate and encourage you to find your own new path to happiness.

csfts reboot your life book

Every chapter begins with a motivational quote about rebooting or changing what you don’t like in your life. As you read the stories of people who began again even when most people would feel it is too late, you will be cheering for them and left with a healthy dose of inspiration for whatever course you wish to navigate. You can purchase this book on Amazon.com and you can read the first several chapters there as well.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Three lucky blog readers will win their own copy of Reboot Your Life! Thank you to Chicken Soup for the Soul for sponsoring this great giveaway and for the review book. Open to US residents. Good Luck!!!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot Your Life Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review

Tagged as 3 Winners, book, Chicken Soup for the Soul, giveaway, Inspiring, Mommy Ramblings, Motivational, Publishing, Reboot Your Life, review

October 8, 2014 · 9:25 pm

“Thunder And The House Of Magic” DVD Review and Giveaway!!!

THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC

Directed by Renowned 3D Filmmakers Ben Stassen and Jeremie Degruson,

With Original Music by Ramin Djawadi

Featuring the Music of Selena Gomez

Bring home this internationally acclaimed animated features today on DVD and on two-disc Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and digital), available exclusively at Walmart stores

This fall, venture inside an intriguing mansion full of endearing animals and a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos, and spellbound by the exciting animated adventure of THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC. Already a great box-office success in much of the world, this highly entertaining family movie is directed by renowned 3D filmmakers Ben Stassen (Fly Me to the Moon, Sammy’s Adventures: Escape from Paradise) and Jeremie Degruson (A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventure), with original music by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones). The film also features the music by Selena Gomez.

Shout! Factory is proud to present THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC on DVD and on two-disc Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and digital), available exclusively at Walmart stores everywhere. The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack allows viewers to enjoy THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC on the platform of their choice and includes spectacular movie presentation on Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and a digital copy of the movie.

THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC is a whimsical animated family adventure, bringing to life a unique story with a great sense of humor, positive values and universal appeal. Brimming with spectacular animation and endearing characters, this internationally acclaimed motion picture delivers a fun and captivating movie experience for the entire family.

The film tells the story of Thunder, an abandoned young cat who stumbles into a magical old mansion operated by a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos. Owned by a retired magician, the house is occupied by an assortment of his wacky assistants who don’t all welcome the new houseguest. But when the magician lands in the hospital and his scheming nephew puts the mansion up for sale, our young hero and his new friends join forces to save their magical home.

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Filled with laughter and adventure, THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC is a wonderful tale that you and your little ones will love.

THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC is written by James Flynn, Domonic Paris and Ben Stassen, based on an original story idea from Ben Stassen. The film is produced by Caroline Van Iseghem and Ben Stassen, executive produced by Olivier Courson and Eric Dillens, and features original music by Ramin Djawadi. The 85-minute film is produced by nWave Pictures in association with Studiocanal and Anton Capital Entertainment.

THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC Two-Disc Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack contains the following special features: Movie presentation on Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and a Digital Copy of the film

Origins
Character Animation
The making of the soundtrack
Teaser
Trailer

THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC DVD contains the following special features:

Origins
Character Animation
The making of the soundtrack
Teaser
Trailer

Shout! Factory is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky winner will win Thunder And The House of Magic on DVD! Thanks to Shout! Factory for the review copy and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Thunder And The House Of Magic DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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4 Comments

Filed under Entertainment, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review

Tagged as DVD, giveaway, Mommy Ramblings, review, Shout! Factory, Thunder And The House Of Magic