Holiday Gift Guide - Joovy Groove UltraLight

This year I had something on my list that every mom and dad need. A great, lightweight stroller. Our family is headed off on a great adventure in the New Year... a trip to Disney World! Since we will be traveling with two kids and 5 adults we decided that it would be a better idea to bring two single strollers rather than one double. This way we can split up throughout the day.

Traveling with a baby as young as my son will be a first for me. So I had a checklist of things that I was looking for in a single stroller. It has to be light. On and off buses all day.... the lighter the better! We need to be able to functionally use the basket. Between sweatshirts and souvenirs... the basket can get full fast! It has to recline. I am hoping he will be able to nap on the go and avoid going back to the hotel. There has to be a canopy and it needs to provide enough shade. The Florida sun can be hot!

With lots of research and a bit of experience, my letter to Santa was written. I was wishing for a Joovy Groove UltraLight. And then.... Christmas came early! I was given the opportunity to check one out in person for review. Woohoo!

I have some experience with Joovy and LOVE my double stroller, the ScooterX2. So I felt confident that this stroller would meet my expectations. What I actually found was that it exceeded them... greatly.

Every point on my list was met:
Lightweight: only 12.78 pounds - and it has a carry strap! Toss it over your shoulder and go!
Functional basket: Large and easily accessible!
Recline: Unlimited recline positions to 149 degrees
Canopy: Oversized (perhaps my favorite feature... the canopy is huge!)

The Groove UltraLight was very easy to put together. All we had to do was attach the wheels, put on the canopy and attach the shoulder straps. Within minutes we were ready to go!

We got the Blueberry color.... and I love it! 

I have fallen so in love with this stroller and all of the fabulous features that I now want to replace our other single stroller with a Groove UltraLight to better meet the needs of my daughter. The back is nice and high, which would allow for her to nap should the occasion arise (oh please please please!). I also love the idea of providing her with the great shade that Joovy's canopies cover. And the handles are so nice and high that this stroller is just over-all more comfortable for my husband and I to push. Not to mention the cup holder... crucial for my husband who loves to have a beverage on hand.

Our Donald Duck has already checked it out and given it his seal of approval.

Joovy has never let me down with their great way of thinking, functional designs, great color options, and quality of products. But perhaps what really makes this company stand out is it's customer service. I had to call with a quick question and they were so friendly and dedicated to making sure everything was perfect. They had an answer for every question and made me feel comfortable. Two thumbs up!

Make sure you check out their website to learn more about the Joovy Groove UltraLight, as well as the other great products they carry. You just might find the perfect gift for someone on your list... or one for yourself! You can also follow them on Facebook for the latest news and great contests and giveaways!

iCaughtSanta.com - FREE Photos!

iCaughtSanta.com is a really fun way to bring even more holiday magic into your home. It's as easy as 1-2-3. Simply upload a photo of your tree, stockings, house.... really anything.... and add in a fun image of Santa. Then you can show your kids that you caugh Santa in the act!

We did this a couple of years ago with my daughter and she thought it was the coolest thing ever. This is a fun and affordable way to make the magic come alive. And right now you can do it for FREE!

Simply go through the steps and then at checkout enter the code SantaShare for your free picture. This code expires on December 10th... but you can use it as many times as you want to up until that point. So share the magic with family and friends!

I just did this fun process and made a great photo of Santa getting caught in front of our stockings! It was quick and easy and look how great it came out!

I am really impressed with how easily you can move Santa around and size him to fit your photo. And he comes out looking crisp and clear.  We don't have our tree up yet, but it's going up this weekend! So I will be sure to share some more fun pics once we deck our halls.
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.

Holiday Gift Guide - Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas!

101 Joyful Stories about the Love, Fun, and Wonder of the Holidays
Christmas is an exciting and joyous time of year, a time of family, friends, and traditions. You will delight in reading these 101 festive stories about the joy, wonder, and blessings of the season. This collection is filled with merry and heartwarming stories about holiday traditions, family, and goodwill. Remember, all of our stories are "Santa safe" so they can be enjoyed by the whole family. A fantastic holiday gift and a great way to start the season!

My Thoughts:
It has pretty much become a tradition for me to get the latest Christmas Chicken Soup for the Soul book each year. And as many as I read I just can't seem to get enough. There is something magical about reading the most personal tales from people's lives that bring them joy. It's like stepping into their home and feeling the warmth and love of the holiday season through their eyes.

I really enjoy reading a couple of short storied each night before bed. Being tucked in under the warm blankets and visiting with people I've never met but can almost feel like I know them. It really gets you in the holiday spirit. This would be a great gift for someone special this holiday season!

Holiday Gift Guide - Phineas and Ferb: Quest for Cool Stuff

Join Phineas and Ferb on an out-of-this-world adventure as they dig, drill, and explore for hidden treasure for their Museum of Cool in their newest ride, the A.T.T. (All Terrain Transformatron). Play as Agent P and stop Dr. Doofenshmirtz from releasing his horde of robots on the Tri-State area.

Available On: Nintendo 3DS™, Nintendo DS™, Wii U™, Wii™, Xbox 360®

My Thoughts:
This game is a lot of fun! My daughter loves to watch Phineas and Ferb and I can honestly say it's a show that my husband and I can sit down and enjoy with her. So now that she is starting to play some video games I figured that this one would be a hit.

I think the storyline in this game is key. It really keeps her motivated and interested to see what's going on next. And the game moves at a good pace for kids. It can keep her engaged and interested for quite some time. The music and sounds are great and really add to the experience.

The only trouble we had was with some of the controls. You really have to be pretty spot on with your jumping. But I think with time she will get the hang of it better. It wasn't enough to discourage her from playing!

This would make a great gift this holiday season for any kid who is a fan of the show. It really is true to the characters and general theme of the show. Lots of family fun!

JFK A New World Order

JFK: A NEW WORLD ORDER

COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF JFK WITH AN ALL NEW BLU-RAY + DVD COMBO DOCUMENTARY

Over Six Hours Of The Myth And Memory of JFK The Man Who Captivated A Nation!
Fifty years after his death, President John F. Kennedy’s life and legacy continues to capture the hearts and minds of an entire nation.  Experience the history all over again as a new generation of Americans is introduced to the compelling story of this unforgettable leader, and the political dynasty that he left behind. Insightful and concise, this eight - part documentary series covers the life of JFK, from his perilous birth to his dramatic assassination in 1963.




My Thoughts:
The assassination of JFK happened before I was even born. My grandparents would talk about the young, handsome president as if they had known him. The emotions in their voices were strange to me as they didn't know him. But the pain of that day had clearly hit them hard and stuck with them.

With the 50th Anniversary upon us there has been a lot of coverage in magazines that I read. So I was slowly starting to get to know the more personal emotions behind the tragic event. And for the first time... I started to understand my grandparents pain.

Whether you agreed with his politics or not, no one can argue that November 22, 1963 wasn't a tragic day for our entire country. But perhaps what has hit me the most was the loss of a father and husband. Stepping inside his life, learning about his relationship with his wife and his children make this even even more tragic.

This documentary series is enthralling. JFK was a truly interesting man from birth to death. This DVD covers a lot of territory in only 6 short hours. It is historically so important and I'm glad that I got to know him... and can now understand better what happened that day to him and to all of those standing by.

Holiday Gift Guide - Mr. Tiger Goes Wild - Review and Giveaway

A wild picture book—about being yourself.

Mr. Tiger lived a perfectly proper life in a perfectly proper city and everything was perfectly fine . . . until the day he had a wonderfully wild idea! Why choose to stay in the stuffy city when there is a whole wide world of wilderness and wildness to explore? So Mr. Tiger bounds off on an adventure to discover where he really belongs.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild shows us that there’s a time and place for everything. Even going wild.

Recommended for ages 3-6

My Thoughts:
I really do love books. As a teacher and a parent I have a real appreciation for children's books that portray important messages that boost self esteem and address real childhood issues in fun ways. With that being said, I have read hundreds of children's books and enjoy many of them. But this book.... tops them all.

When this book arrived I was excited because I knew that Peter Brown is a Caldecott honor artist. But when I began turning the pages I was just so impressed in so many ways.

First of all, the message. Be yourself. Don't be who people want you to be or expect you to be. Be you... and do what makes you happy. What a powerful message for kids just trying to fit in. My daughter is only 4 and I am already dealing with her wanting to dress like her friends and have the same toys. Wear what you like and play what you like to play. You are only 4 for a short time... so be true to you! This book helped open a lovely conversation with her about just being her beautiful self and enjoying every minute of it.

Secondly, the illustrations are just fantastic! From the dull, muted colors of the city to the vibrant colors of the wilderness.

Thirdly, the layout and pace of the story was perfect. There are pages with no words at all... but the illustration has so much character that you know exactly what the artist is trying to portray. The story is short, sweet, and perfect for bedtime reading.

This is a book that kids and adults can relate to. We all need to get a little bit wild at times. And it's so important to realize how to take the best of two worlds and make your own world where you are happy and you can be yourself.

I would highly recommend this book! And be sure to check out some really fun activities on Peter Brown's website. With gift tags and ornaments... your kids will have a blast!

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LifebankUSA “Peace of Mind” Winter Car Seat Giveaway

As the only company that offers cord blood, placenta blood and tissue banking -- and the first to release placenta-derived stem cells for a successful transplant -- New Jersey-based LifebankUSA is a technological leader that is pioneering key medical innovations in the field.  Owned by the Celgene Corporation, a world-class biopharmaceutical company, LifebankUSA also operates a robust donation program and collects cells from anywhere in the US for use primarily in advancing medical research.

There’s only one opportunity to save your baby’s stem cells for the future... 

As an expectant parent, your baby’s health means everything. Right now, he or she is protected in the womb and will soon enter the world. There is a lot to think about and prepare for, but an invaluable step you can take when your child is born is to preserve his/her stem-cell rich cord and placenta blood The ability of stem cells to save lives via cord blood banking has proven successful for replacing abnormal or diseased cells, and treating life-threatening blood disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.  In fact, since 1988 stem cell transplants have been used to treat some 80 diseases.

LifebankUSA is dedicated to providing peace of mind for you and your family. As a mother of two I strongly urge you to check out LifebankUSA and all that they have to offer as the only company that offers cord blood, placenta blood, and tissue banking.

GIVEAWAY
In the true spirit of "Peace of Mind," LifebankUSA will be giving away three top rated Britax Marathon 70-G3 Convertible Car Seats.

Please Click HERE for your chance to win!

Holiday Gift Guide- Pound Puppies: Holiday Hijinks

Available Now on DVD

Can the Pound Puppies gang — Lucky, Niblet, Cookie, Strudel, Squirt and Mr. Nut-Nut — make sure that every pet has a family of their very own this holiday season? Find out in this merry-filled disc, packed with five of your all-time favorite holiday episodes!

Winner of the 2012 Humanitas Prize in Children’s Animation, the Pound Puppies series is currently airing on The Hub in the U.S. and YTV in Canada and stars the voices of Eric McCormack, Yvette Nicole Brown, Michael Rapaport, John DiMaggio, Alanna Ubach, René Auberjonois, and M. Emmet Walsh.

Episodes Include:
I Heard The Barks On Christmas Eve
I Never Barked For My Father
Barlow
Good Dog, McLeish
Prince And The Pupper

My Thoughts:
As an animal lover and a holiday enthusiast this DVD is a welcome addition to our family's collection of holiday DVD's. There is something really special about the idea of a new puppy for Christmas. Of course, after watching this my daughter desperately wants a puppy for Christmas. Can we take a rain check, Santa?

My daughter loves watching Pound Puppies and I love having this DVD for this holiday season. Each episode is short and sweet and filled with holiday cheer. The puppies are each unique and have their own personalities. But they are truly the best of friends... all looking out for each other. It's a great DVD to share with your kids this holiday season.

Holiday Gift Guide - Educational Insights

Based in Southern California, Educational Insights, is the manufacturer of playful products with serious educational value, including subject-specific classroom products, teacher resources, educational toys, and games. Our products are designed by seasoned educators and parents who know that, first and foremost, learning must be fun.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to check out one of the fabulous products offered by Educational Insights, Shelby's Snack Shack Game.

This preschool counting bone-anza is a summer day trip to a dog beach! Shelby buried bones in the sand and needs your help collecting them. Help her dig up the most bones and you win! Kids take turns using the adorable Shelby Squeezers to fill their dog bowl with bones while they practice early counting and number skills. Sounds simple, but be careful—spin a sneaky seagull, and you’ll lose some bones or get sidetracked chewing a flip flop and miss your turn!

2–4 players. Grades Pre-K+ - See more HERE.

My Thoughts:
As the parents of a preschooler I know how important it is to make learning fun. My daughter craves learning because we turn everything into a game. This is a fabulous game to play with your little ones where they will practicing counting skills in a fun way.

For my daughter, anytime mommy and daddy play with her the game becomes oodles more fun. This is the perfect game for parents and children to play together. It doesn't take long to play, so it's great for a quick game after dinner. And I have already noticed that my daughter's counting skills are stronger after playing this a few times. She asks to play... so I know it's a winner!