Category Archives: Review

October 13, 2016 · 9:00 pm

This Elephant Can Help Your Child Fall Asleep-#Giveaway

Do you ever feel like you are fighting a losing battle trying to get your kids to sleep? If you are like most parents, you probably do some of the time. I recently found a book by Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin, a behavioral scientist who is also a life coach and leadership trainer. Carl-Johan has combined all these skills and experiences in developing the techniques in The Little Elephant Who Wants To Fall Asleep. This book is his follow-up to his #1 International bestseller, The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep.

The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep was a runaway success, exceeding 1.6 million copies and widespread media attention for its reported success in lulling children to sleep by employing positive-reinforcement techniques to promote relaxation.

The Rabbit garnered coverage far and wide for its reported success in helping children fall asleep using relaxation techniques. The New York Times featured the book in the “Letter of Recommendation” column back in April, with the writer stating: “A book whose powerfully soporific effects my son is helpless to resist.”

The Elephant Who Wants To Fall Asleep has the same objective of lulling children to sleep and improving families’ bedtime routines using all-new child-tested, parent-approved techniques. Beautifully illustrated by Sydney Hanson, this book is recommended for ages 3-7. There are prompts in the book where you insert your child’s name into the story.

The book follows Ellen the Elephant on her journey through a magical forest that leads to sleep. Along the way she meets different creatures and has soothing experiences that are designed to help children relax and slip quickly into sleep. Ehrlin even gives tips for how to use the techniques successfully to help children get to sleep.

Would you like a chance to win a copy of this great book? Enter the giveaway below.

Giveaway

Random House Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a copy of The Little Elephant Who Wants To Fall Asleep. Thank you to Random House Kids for the review copy and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

The Little Elephant Who Wants To Fall Asleep Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Penguin Randomhouse, Review

Tagged as Bedtime, Books, giveaway, Random House Kids, Sleep, The Little Elephant, Tips

October 11, 2016 · 5:54 pm

These Are Songs To Uplift, Heal & Empower Children and Families

Growing up in New Jersey, Jennifer Paskow spent hours in her bedroom singing songs from Annie, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Oliver! and other Broadway shows, alternating with sitting at the piano with her clipboard, writing songs in the mode of Carole King.

With admiration for Raffi and his child-honoring philosophy, and inspired by the spirit of her favorite album from childhood, Free to Be … You and Me, Jennifer Paskow’s objective with Make A Circle was to make a recording that would feel like a hug for humanity. Produced by Don Boyette (Michael Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Gary Clark, Jr.) and mixed and mastered by Robert Carranza (Jack Johnson, Beck, The Mars Volta, Los Lobos, Ozomatli), the album achieves and far surpasses Jennifer’s goal.

Make A Circle leads off by showcasing Jennifer Paskow’s rich, honeyed voice on Make A Circle, whose central message is to extend your love to others by learning to love yourself. The “love” theme continues with “The I Love You Song,” a peppy and very danceable straight up ode to affection. “On The Inside,” an anthem to self-esteem, encourages young people to look within to discover their intrinsic value. “Listen to Your Heart” sets its lyrics to a musical heartbeat and encourages a contemplative looking within for answers.

You can watch Jennifer sing Make A Circle HERE.

“I Am A Tree” connects us to one another and Mother Earth by presenting the metaphor of a tree connecting to the earth as an emblem of the oneness of all things, while “Celebrate This Day” urges physical movement to express the sheer joy of life. Continuing the celebration theme, Jennifer Paskow’s version of “This Little Light of Mine” is a manifestation of traditional hand-clapping gospel exuberance.

Celestial bodies receive their due in the wrap-up of this beautiful album. The soothing sounds of “Hello Moon” depict the wonder of being connected to nature and the universe, while “Long Time Sun” is an Irish blessing that Jennifer Paskow often sings at the end of the classes she teaches.

A trained music therapist and children’s music and yoga teacher, Jennifer Paskow has been an exponent of healing since she was a child. When not recording or performing publicly, Jennifer can be found teaching music at preschools and in a variety of “Parent and Me” music class settings, teaching yoga to kids living in shelters, and sharing her music with hospitalized children and their families as a volunteer with the acclaimed organization The Art of Elysium. Says Jennifer, ”Singing for kids in the hospital is a real highlight for me. I always walk away feeling joyfully inspired and rooted in my purpose. I’ve been doing community service since I was nine years old, and the ideas of giving back and supporting my community are deeply ingrained in my being. I believe in the interconnectedness of all life and that, as we give, we are receiving.”

MAKE A CIRCLE TRACK LIST:
Make A Circle
The I Love You Song
On The Inside
I Am
Listen To Your Heart
I Am A Tree
Celebrate This Day
This Little Light Of Mine
Hello Moon
Long Time Sun
The I Love You Song (acoustic)

Make A Circle will be available on iTunes, Amazon, and CDBaby.

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Filed under Entertainment, Music, Review, Toddler

Tagged as children, Families, Jennifer Paskow, kids, Make A Circle, Mommy Ramblings. iTunes, Music

October 8, 2016 · 1:22 pm

How To Help Your Child Spend #EveryDayWithGod-#Giveaway #FlyBy

With all of the negative messages that our kids are exposed to every day, it is nice to find ways to bring positive, spiritual and inspirational words into their lives. I was so happy to find a great book that does that and is on a level my little ones can understand.

Every Day With God is the newest 365-day devotional from VeggieTales. It is a book that can be read together and older kids can read alone. There are 2 versions, one for boys and one for girls. The updated content and art in this new version make the book even better!

Every day they can open the book to find a Bible verse, short devotion, thought of the day and a prayer. Through this book, kids can learn more about God as it helps them develop a habit of taking time each day to keep God close. More than that, the pages are full of words that can speak right to a child’s heart.

The words can calm an anxious child, give courage to a fearful child, lift the spirits of a child who feels down and more. Knowing that God has their back and will always be with them is very comforting in a world that can be very cruel. As children grow they face many things that can really hurt them and this book can help them to know, they are special and God created them perfectly.

When we read it aloud with our kids it can help spur thoughtful conversation. I like that I can quickly find the right verse to speak to a particular issue that might be needed. It is also a wonderful gift for any child and one that carries so much meaning. We will be adding this book to our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide which will be live next week.

Would you like a chance to win a copy? Check out and enter on our giveaway below.

Giveaway:

Propeller Consulting, LLC is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their choice of the Girl or Boy Version of Every Day With God Devotional. Thank you to Propeller Consulting, LLC for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian residents.

VeggieTales: Every Day With God Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

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

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Review, Spiritual

Tagged as #EveryDayWithGod, #FlyBy, book, Christian, giveaway, God, Inspirational, VeggieTales

October 3, 2016 · 6:33 pm

Finally a Pinto Horse That You Can Keep In Your House!

What kids would not like their own Pinto Horse? How about one sized small enough you can keep it in the house and large enough to handle 150 lb riders? If you think it sounds good, how about no stall clean up duties are needed. You probably think it is not possible but it most certainly is. Magic Cabin’s 28″ Pinto Horse is all you need!

This beautiful horse is as much fun to care for as it is to “ride.” When it is all decked out in its removable saddle and bridle, kids can use it for a chair, stool, or magical mount that carries them boldly into imagined adventures. The beautifully patterned brown and white Pinto features a handsomely detailed Western saddle. Take a look below at some photos I took of this great horse toy.

This horse is a lot of fun and my kids love it! It also make a great prop for photos for parents and photographers. If you are looking for a very unique and sure to be loved Holiday Gift, this would fit the build perfectly and it is going to be added to our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide when it debuts next week. Horse is for ages 3 and up. Total measurements of the horse are 31″ x 9″ x 28″.

Check out all the other great items available at Magic Cabin. So what do you think, can you see what a great gift this would make?

Reduce Migraines, Anxiety, Allergies, Asthma and More with This Natural Air Cleaner!

Can an air cleaner be beautiful? The answer is yes, especially if it is a Himalayan Salt Lamp. You may think they are just a pretty accent or night-light but they are so much more! They clean the air by releasing negative ions, the same kind that are produced by thunderstorms, waterfalls and the ocean. They are quiet and make no noise at all. There are no filters to buy, change or clean. The lamp lasts forever as long as it is not submerged in water. It requires very little maintenance besides unplugging it once a month or so and wiping it with a damp cloth or sponge.

The lamps come from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. Each salt crystal lamp is chipped out by hand and a hole is bored in the base for the light.The lamps are made up of 84 different minerals just like the human body. These natural inclusions account for the unique coloring and patterns within each lamp. The apricot colors come from Manganese. The robust red comes from Iron.

Benefits of Using A Himalayan Salt Lamp

The negative ions that are released by the lamp clean the air of Dust, Pollen (grass, weed and tree pollen), Animal Dander, Smoke, Odor, Mold Spores and more. The light emitted is calming and along with the natural colors can help relieve anxiety. They are said to be a natural way to help eliminate or relieve allergies, asthma, migraines and more.

I have been using Himalayan Salt Lamps in my home for years now. I love them. Not only do they create a very beautiful glow but the health benefits are wonderful. Everyone that sees them asks about them. They even help to offset the positive ions produced by televisions, computers and other electronics. The cord of the lamp has a toggle switch to turn it on or off. You can see more in my video below.

Save Now

If you are thinking that you might want to try a Himalayan Salt Lamp in your home, the Himalayan Salt Shop has some great specials. The 5-7 pound lamp in my video is now half price and there are big savings on sets of 4 lamps and more. You can save 20% by using the promo code USFAMILY when you check out on their site.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you have a Himalayan Salt Lamp? Do you want to get one? Do you have any questions for me? Tell me or ask in the comments.

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Filed under Decorating, Health, Home & Garden, Review, USFG

Tagged as Air Cleaner, Allergies, Anxiety, Asthma, Himalayan Salt Lamps, Natural, Salt Lamp, Stress, USFG, Video Review, Vlog

September 28, 2016 · 6:12 pm

Baby, Baby! Lets Baby See Who God Loves #BabyBaby #FlyBy #Giveaway

It is never too early to read to your kids. I started to read to mine in utero. I even had that Dr. Seuss book that was made to be read to your unborn child. When they are born and as they grow, keep reading to them. Sometimes those eager little hands can wreak havoc on the pages of books. As a book lover, that stage made me nuts. I soon learned sturdy board books were the option for us.

I want to share a great board book with you today. Baby, Baby! by Diane Stortz and illustrated by Allie Busby is a short rhyming poem book that celebrates the discovery and wonder that fill baby’s days. At the end there is a special reminder that Baby is always loved by God. This sweet book is perfect to add to any new baby gift or first birthday present. With the holidays fast approaching it would make a nice little Christmas gift for your baby or one that is close to you.

The book features such adorable illustrations of babies doing all kinds of things from riding in the stroller to banging on pots and pans. At the end a baby safe mirror is on the page to show baby who it is that God loves. Babies love to look at themselves and they will have so much fun seeing their reflection in this book.

Enter below for your chance to win a copy of Baby, Baby!

Giveaway:

Fly By Promotions is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a copy of Baby, Baby! Thank you Fly By Promotions for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Baby, Baby! Board Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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

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Filed under Baby, Books, Giveaway, Review

Tagged as #FlyBy, baby, book, giveaway, God, review

· 2:26 pm

Get Sharper Pencils & Help Fight Childhood Cancer with “Hello Yellow”

Do you think electric pencil sharpeners are the way to go? Think no one manually sharpens pencils any more? What if I told you there is a manual sharpener that works so well and effortlessly you might change your mind? Well, let’s find out because that is exactly what I am going to tell you.

Classroom Friendly Supplies has pencil sharpeners in a rainbow of colors that are more efficient and quieter that typical classroom pencil sharpeners. The owner of the company is an elementary school teacher who was looking for a better classroom pencil sharpener. In the last 10 years over 2,500 school districts have purchased Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpeners.

Check out the new “Hello Yellow” pencil sharpener below. You can see it in action in my YouTube video review as well. From now through November, Classroom Friendly Supplies is donating $1 to Childhood Cancer Awareness for every “Hello Yellow” pencils sharpener sold! I hope you will support this great cause and get a brilliant and bright pencil sharpener. These are available in single units or multiple unit packages.

This sharpener is so easy for anyone to use. My little kids love using it and never need help. There is no whining about anything. They like to do it and come away with a perfectly sharpened pencil every time! Check out my video below to see it in action.

If you have any question just ask them in the comments. So what do you think, do you think you will try one and support a great cause too? I hope you will, let me know.

What’s It Like To Go Time Traveling With a Hamster?

I love reading aloud with my kids. This summer we had the chance to check out Time Traveling With A Hamster by Ross Welford.

This book is packed with adventure and time travel. 12-year-old Al Chaudhury’s dad died when he was just 8 years old. On Al’s 12th birthday he received a pet hamster, a letter from his dad. The letter directs Al to their old house where he will find a time machine. The time machine is an ancient Apple laptop and a metal wash basin.

His father’s letter contains a mission that will require Al to travel back to 1984 and save his father’s life. You see there was a go-kart accident when he was 12 that is the cause for his death at age 39. If Al can go back in time and prevent that accident, he can change the outcome of events that happened after. Al is given a choice of accepting the mission or not and you can bet Al accepts. Time travel is not easy and Al finds out that going back in time 30 years requires more than courage and imagination. It requires lying to his mom, stealing a moped, setting his school on fire and keeping his pet hamster safe through it all.

This book makes a great read aloud book you can read a chapter at a time with your kids or one that older kids can read on their own. It is a really fun book to read together and leads to lots of great conversations afterward.

Ross Welford worked as a business journalist before becoming a freelance writer and television producer. He has worked on shows such asThe Big Breakfast, The Morning, and Bridezillas. This is his first novel. Follow Ross on Twitter.

So are you excited about this new book? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Peace of Mind Thanks To #BayAlarmMedical

Thanks to Bay Alarm Medical for sponsoring this post.

After my mom died, my 87-year-old dad was living alone and I worried about him. Even though I lived only a few houses away, I wondered, what if he fell or had a medical emergency? That was when I got him a medical alert system that he wore on his wrist to call for help. It gave me great peace of mind to know he would be able to immediately call for help if he fell or had a health issue.

My dad has since passed away but I was thinking about how medical alert systems are not just for the elderly but could be a life saver for anyone. They are especially helpful for individuals living alone especially in remote areas.

I remember the day a friend’s dad fell shoveling snow off his walk. He could not get up, the temperature was frigid and there were no close neighbors. My brother found him thankfully or he would have frozen to death.

I have a very close relative who is in his early 60’s, not elderly but a very active and vivacious man who lives in a remote location. I thought a Bay Alarm Medical Alert unit would be perfect for him. He is always doing work on his property out in the country. He chops wood, loves home improvement projects, mows with his tractor and maintains numerous bird feeders all over his yard.

I wanted to help eliminate the stigma that a medical alert system is only for the elderly. I hoped he would be open to testing it out and indeed he was. The system we received included a main console, a secondary help button, which we mounted in the bathroom, a pendant, wrist unit, vial of life and a pair of Boomba socks.

It was a very easy process to set it up and literally took about one minute. All we had to do was hook the main console unit up to the phone line. It is advised to test the unit after installation by pressing one of the help buttons.

We pressed the button on the pendant and a Bay Alarm Medical operator promptly answered through the main console and asked if we needed help. We knew quickly everything was ready to use in an emergency.

Bay Alarm Medical sends a form that you can list the people you want called in an emergency in addition to 911 if necessary. Another helpful thing that comes with the system is a magnetic Vial of Life which can be filled in with any medications taken. It can be placed on the refrigerator using the magnet on the back. This will assist paramedics in an emergency situation.

Inside the package was a pair of Boomba Socks, they come with every subscription as a Bay Alarm Medical partner. For each pair of socks they give away, they’ll donate an additional pair to the Socks in the City Program at the St. Anthony’s Foundation.

The In-Home System like we installed for our loved one is Bay Alarm’s most popular unti and trained operators can respond through the main console 24/7. It does require a landline but there is an In-Home Cellular unit that gives 24/7 medical alert protection without a wired phone connection. That unit is powered by AT&T’s 3G Network.

The Automatic Fall Detection unit works with both landline and cellular in-home alert systems and can automatically call for help if the individual cannot. They also have a GPS Help Button which literally can go anywhere because it has the speaker and button together in a compact mobile unit!

I hope he never needs to use it but knowing he is only one button away from getting the help he needs gives me great peace of mind.

If you would like to learn more you can check out all the Bay Alarm Medical products on their website. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay in the loop with them.

So did you ever think about getting a unit like this for a loved one? I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a comment and let me know.

1 Comment

Filed under Health, Life, Life Stages, Review

Tagged as Bay Alarm Medical, Emergency, Medical Alert, Peace of Mind, review

September 19, 2016 · 12:51 am

Get Great Looking Sunglasses That Are Kid Tough! #Giveaway

If you are a regular reader of Mommy Ramblings you will recall that I have posted previously about how much I like and recommend Real Kids Shades (RKS) sunglasses for kids. They are the only sunglasses my kids wear because they provide superior eye protection and can take the abuse kids dish out.

I can tell you that we have several pairs and even the first pairs that are close to 5 years old are still going strong. Not one pair has ever broken even when sat on, stepped on or twisted!

I have big news! RKS, the leader in UV Protective Sunglasses for kids 0-12 now makes sunglasses for adults with the same great features. You might think that young adults and adults would not need a frame that can withstand twisting and squashing. As a mom, I will tell you they are the greatest and they are my go to sunglasses.

Not only are they tough but every time I wear them, I get tons of compliments. They also led to a rift between my husband and I since he wanted them because they are “purple” even though technically called blue and he is a huge Jimi Hendrix fan.

This may not sound like much but imagine a man who has Ray Bans and Oakley sunglasses arguing that he should have these. Needless to say he did not win and I just love them. I think I will have to get him a pair because the other day our little guy accidentally broke a pair of his sunglasses and that never would have happened with RKS.

I have the RKS Waverunner and they have been on several vacations with me, survived a summer in the lake, climbed Whiteface Mountain and so much more.

RKS has such great padded cases that come with their sunglasses and my boys also received new Surf style sunglasses. My boys wear sunglasses all the time and they love theirs just as much.

I have even better news, you can enter the giveaway below to win a pair of your choice.

Giveaway:

RKS is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their choice of one pair of RKS Sunglasses. Thank you RKS for the review sunglasses and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Real Kids Shades Sunglasses Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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

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Filed under Fashion, Giveaway, Review

Tagged as giveaway, Real Kids Shades, RKS, Style, Sunglasses