Right now through the end of March, you can run over and get 4 FREE Dr. Seuss book digital downloads from Kidthing!   How perfect for my new Sony Reader!
The titles offered are:
:: Hop on Pop::
:: Horton Hears a Who::
:: Green Eggs & Ham::  (My favorite!)
:: The Cat in the Hat::
So here is what you do:
1. Download the FREE kidthing 2.0 application.
2. Go to the “Store” tab, enter “KTCODE-NEA5RAA” into the search engine and hit ENTER.
3. Add the 4 books to your cart
4. Go to checkout and download your books for …

Last week, I told you to quit whining and get rid of the laundry and Badger Mom wanted to know how many items her kids actually needed, anyway.
Instead of just replying to her comment, I thought it would be best to write a post with my answer.   Now, please understand that everyone’s needs are different, but this should be the bare bones of each person’s wardrobe.
You need to sit down and plan how many outfits each member of your family needs. Most families wash the laundry once a …

Several times over the past couple of years, I have talked several times about how my girls have become huge fans of the Barbie DVDs (as well as myself, surprisingly). P1 and P2 probably think they are Barbie, truth be told, so each time she comes out with a new DVD, they are in love with it, dancing around and singing the songs after the first time they see it.  P3 is now getting right in line with them too.
Mom Central recently let me know that the Sing Along with …

This contest has closed and the winners are announced HERE.
Thanks to everyone whoo enjoyed our little inpromptu giveaway!  Watch for our Mother’s Day one in April!
I love to read but rarely have time these days.  However,  32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching was a quick and easy read, written in short, entertaining chapters by someone who knows.  I have seriously laughed and cried the whole way through the book. Written by Phillip Done’, his tales from the elementary trenches are both heartwarming and hilarious at …

Brainy Baby DVD’s are more than just your ABC’s, let me tell you!  Created with the intent of providing something reality-based and intelligent – for both parents and children, Brainy Baby was started in 1995. Their videos now feature multi-ethnic children, toe-tapping original music, nursery rhymes and instrumental classics and their product line now includes over 100 product offerings including videos, CDs, books, games, and toys!
A brand new study found that “The Brainy Baby Company today announced the results of a study conducted at the University of Texas, Austin, which …

Welcome to this week’s edition of the 3Ps in a Pod Goody Roundup!!

In case this is your first visit to the Goody Round Up, it is posted each week.  If you would like your giveaways listed here, just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, by all means, list it again! Also, if you wish to send in your contest listing, feel …

Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year as it is sometimes called, is a time for family, fun, and friendship.  As part of our family is Chinese, we celebrate this fantastic holiday and decided to share it with you as well!
Here is how it will work: Beginning tonight, I am hosting a a great CNY Gift Guide.  During the next two weeks, I will continue to add other wonderful gifts that you might want to consider giving (or getting!) as a gift yourself.  The actual Giveaways start being listed on …

Image compliments of Hoodie1313

Well, this day just keeps getting better and better.  After being woken up at 5 by my Hubby and the cat, things were going alright for a a while.  Then the children started getting up for school, and yet, things were going smoother than they have been.  Until it was time for P1 to brush her hair.  I guess she brushed her hair as well as she ever does and yet she was shockingly compliant when it was time for me to double check her …

You know how I love China’s Orphans. After all, they gave me my P3!  Now, of course, times have changed and it is difficult to get a healthy child from China but there are many, many children still available with what could be very remediable medical conditions here in the US and other economically advantaged countries.  Of course, you really want to be able to bring home a child who has had all of the loving care possible, just like my P3 – Not an easily guaranteed thing.

Well, at …

As you likely know by now, I love Build a Bear.  Not only do they make adorable plush of top quality but they also are incredibly generous, most especially to those in need.
Each year for the past seven years, Build-A-Bear Workshop, through their yearly Huggable Heroes searches, Build a Bear has honored and rewarded 58 kids for doing amazing things to make a difference and help others.  This year, ten Huggable Heroes, between the ages of eight and 18, from the United States and Canada, will be selected …

 
It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads. The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, “Now what’s the matter?” With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with …

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This contest has closed and the winners are announced HERE.
Thanks to everyone whoo enjoyed our little inpromptu giveaway!  Watch for our Mother’s Day one in April!

Yes, I realize that November has passed and thus ended  National Adoption Month but I have a few additional things I want to share.
One of the things we did not go over is Foster Care.  I received the following information from one of the great PR reps I work with, Wendy Will from Wilks Communications.
“As the government looks to next year’s budget to determine …

With our eldest child being exceptionally bright and inquisitive, the question regarding Santa’s authenticity has already come up several times….although, as you can see from this picture taken only last year, when faced with reality, she still believes.  Nevertheless, we have been working through how to help P1 understand yet not spoil the magic of Santa and all he represents.  This article below written by Martha Brockenbrough and posted on Cozi, provides the perfect answer for us.  I thought it might help a few of you out as well.:)
Ho, Ho, …

Well, it’s been a great couple of weeks, and we were able to donate some wonderful toys to some needy children. Again this year, our Because It’s Christmas Kids & Charity Giveaway is a success because we had very generous sponsors who helped support and charities and provided prizes for the giveaways.
For each prize pack, the entries were tallied in the order the gifts were revealed, so while the counts for each post started over at #1, we added them all together in the orders below.
Prize Group 1 …

Toys are very important for all children so if you can get a toy that they enjoy and encourages exercise, that is a decided plus.  Add to that the fact that said toy is safe, fun, made in the USA, and made from recycled plastic milk cartons and you would really have a great toy.
Meet that great toy.
I give you the Purple Jump Rope from Green Toys.
Top features:

100% cotton rope
Handles made from 100% recycled plastic
6 ft adjustable rope
Super safe: no phthalates or BPA
Made in USA

Crisscrosses, can-cans and double-unders are all …

It is not unheard of for a child to request an animal for Christmas ~ a kitten, a dog, even a horse.  However, when the Holiday has passed and the novelty has worn off, sometimes that is when the problems begin.  Well Hasbro to the rescue.
This cute little pooch is a whole lot less trouble the traditional sort.  He is 8 x 8 x 11 inches ; 1.4 pounds and soft as can be.  He comes in White, Pink and Light Blue but that is only the beginning.

Meet I-DOG …

Don’t you just love Build-A-Bear Workshop?  It is a fun and happy place that becomes magical to your child as they  build their own furry friend.  They carry everything from traditional Teddy Bears to Zoo Critters, Donation Animals to clothing for them all, Build-A-Bear really has so many different choices and allows for such personalization that you are sure to find the perfect Christmas gift for each person on your list.  In fact, Santa may even shop there…they are that good!

While I have yet to have the opportunity to build …

Books have always been a wonderful thing for me to have.  My parents always read to me and books were something that could transport me from this world  into another.  Now, even as an adult, this magic is something I love to share with my own children, especially special books we read only during certain times of the year.  Brought to us by the wonderful folks at Leaping Antelope Productions and by Marilee Joy Mayfield and Tracy La Rue Hohn, The Snowman’s Song is a Christmas Story that we can …

Bella Sara….the name synonymous with beautiful and magical horses who are loved by children – especially girls – world wide.

Bella Sara™ is a magical world of horses where children can expand their imaginations through play. Originally launched in Denmark by Gitte Odder Braendgaard through Conceptcard, Bella Sara inspires and empowers children with positive messages and the magic of North of North.  Published by Seattle-based game company Hidden City Games, Bella Sara began as a trading card game that has since expanded into an international product line. With three set releases …

Can you believe that the Play-Doh brand is over 50 years old? Now known for the ability to give hours of colorful, creative play, Play-Doh was first introduced in 1956 and for quite some time, it only came in white.(You could win a Trivia Contest with that knowledge!)  Now owned by Hasbro under the Playskool division, Play-Doh has continually come up as The toy to get by children around the world.  In f 2003, the Toy Industry Association even named Play-Doh to its “Century of Toys List”.  That really says …

Welcome to our special Thanksgiving Day edition of the 3Ps in a Pod Goody Roundup!
After all of the Turkey and Stuffing and Pumpkin Pie has been cleaned up, sit down, relax and put your feet up and surf a bunch of fantastic giveaways.  Don’t worry…you can still hit the Black Friday specials!
Anywho, time to go win some stuff, right? Right!
Remember, if you would like your giveaways listed here, just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will …

Build-A-Bear Workshop really amazes me with depth of their creativity and the generosity of their hearts.  Every year they have something or someone new that will light that spark in a child’s eye, and more accessories than imaginable to dress them up in.  Kids really love and need a special friend that is all their own -  I know my girls sure do – and Build-A-Bear makes quality and unique toys that can hold up to all of the loving a child can give them.
This is especially important this time …

Holiday shopping season is here again and the Global Influence network has some great gift ideas for you, tried and tested by real moms. Click on the links to check out what our team of reviewers had to say about each of these gift ideas, and then take a moment to enter our fun giveaway and take a chance at winning some of these fabulous products.
Featured Reviews Pouchees -
Busy moms need all the help they can get to stay organized and keep life as simple as possible. …

I love the Salvation Army.  They do good things for people and make it easy for the rest of us to bring out our best selves by caring about others.  I love it at this time of year when we to a store and the bell ringers are there, greeting you and hoping that you will your donation to the little red kettle.  I love to give my girls the chance to learn compassion and to have giving hearts when we see them by giving them whatever change or cash …

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This Giveaway is closed.  Congratulations to #120 Colette!
Thanks to everyone who participated!  Watch for more great products in 2010!
One of the most important decisions you can make for the …

When you are waiting for your precious child, it can seem like forever and as we all know, money does not grow on trees.  Most adoptive families get very, very creative in ways to save, find and/or make the money they will need for the expenses that just normally accrue with the adoption of a child.  In our case, we held some awesome garage sales, saved, and incurred some debt.  We were incredibly blessed by the kindness and generosity of others and will be forever grateful.
Listed here are some of …

“Mo-om, are we there yet???”  If you have kids and take them any further than next door, you have likely heard this in one form or another.  Well, have I found the cure for that – and no, I do not mean extra Benadryl all around!;)
Meet TravelKiddy, our next giveaway in the Because It’s Christmas 2 Kids and Charity Giveaway.  TravelKiddy is a company that has taken a fun and amazingly simple approach to the issue of traveling with children and trying to keep them entertained.  Jen, the Momprenuer behind …

A little while back, I was offered the chance by Mom Select to host a “ZhuZhu Pets” Party.  My girls are always game for a party so I said sure, send me what I need for the party.  Much to my surprise, a very large box arrived containing some adorable little critters who have now been nominated Toy of the Year and are hot, Hot, HOT!
In case you have been in some hole under the Polar ice cap and have yet to hear about the ZhuZhu Pets, let me enlighten …

Once upon a time I was a little girl (shut up – I said it was once upon a time) and every Christmas season, I looked forward to getting to see my favorite shows, shows like Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, The Year Without a Santa Claus (my v-e-r-y favorite!), Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, The Little Drummer Boy, and Frosty the Snowman.
Well, the good people at Build-a-Bear have come up with yet another adorable rendition of a cuddly creature – Frosty the Snowman!  This is first of the gifts for Prize …

If you have a little girl in your life, chances are that at one point or another she will be head-over-heels for horses.  I know I sure was and in a way, I still am so nothing is more fun than sharing that with my middle daughter, P2.  A while back, I had the chance to post about Bella Sara and Baby Bella. That is when I introduced P2 to them for the first time.  Since then we have learned about Treasures & Miniatures compliments  of Team Mom, helped with …

While you may or may not have heard of Bravo Sports, you are sure to know about Barbie.

At Bravo Sports, we don’t just sell sporting goods, we live the lifestyle behind our brands. Whether it’s fun, funky, or functional, mass-market, specialty or core, we provide today’s sporting goods market with a full line of quality outdoor products. Employee approved from suits to sneakers – Bravo Sports.

When my girls first started to want to ride a scooter, I was not at all sure that was something I wanted my little girls …

Ever stopped in at Pinky Scout (formerly known as Duck, Duck, Goose)?  Well, what are you waiting for?
I have to hold myself back literally each time I go by there online because their things are JUST SO! DANG! CUTE!
And their stuff is not just for girls either…tip of the iceberg people, tip of the iceberg!
Well I just got an email about their Fall Fashion Sale
Up to 40% off select lines.  Mim Pi, ZaZa Couture, Indygo Artwear and more!

Free US Shipping on all orders over $100
Prices are marked. No coupon code …

Well, welcome to this week’s edition of the 3Ps in a Pod Goody Roundup!
Time to go win some stuff, right? Right!
I am going to try and have them in a more organized fashion for you so bear with me and feel free to leave me a comment or two of what you like and what you don’t.  Remember, if you would like your giveaways listed here, just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. …

We are going to try adding a new semi-regular post called 3Ps Bits ‘n Pieces.  This will be a place where I can post some quick bits of information that I have come across and think you might want to know about yet not something I have time for an entire post on.  Many other bloggers do this as well including a couple of my favorites – A Cowboy’s Wife, and Just a Mom’s Take On Things.
Please Note: Many of these are not in my own words, but …

Welcome to my Weekly Roundup GOODY Roundup! Time to go win some stuff, right? Right!
Here is the deal: If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway, just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, by all means, list it again! Also, if you wish to send in your contest listing, feel free.  This post goes up each …

Yesterday I learned of a wonderful combination and I am so excited to announce the news today!!  Many of my friends have been sharing the merits of Frigidaire’s incredible new appliance line.  Well they have chosen now to kick it all up a notch by taking their commitment to mothers everywhere one step further by joining forces with one of my favorite oft-admired and philanthropic celebrity moms, Jennifer Garner!  I knew I liked that woman!
You see, not only is Jennifer a huge fan of the time-saving features of the …

I am not sure if my girls will be watching the President when he talks to school kids today but I told them they might.  How about yours?
No doubt you are aware that there has been much debate over this speech and whether it should be introduced in the schools. Regardless of what side of the line you are on, this creates a golden opportunity to talk to your children about why school is such an part of their future – important enough that the President is taking time …

As you may have heard, recently Continental Airlines’ Flight 128 hit severe turbulence, causing injuries to at least 26 people. One passenger said he felt the plane drop without warning while flight attendants were in the aisles. Some were thrown against the roof injuring at least 26 — including four seriously — and forcing an emergency landing in Miami.  When I read this, all I could think was Wow!
I have recently flown a couple of times and it really made me think about this very thing.  What about my kids?  …

And a happy Sunday to you! Since Sunday is the beginning of a new week, it seems like a perfect time to share the things I have found throughout the past week. So here we go…some of my favorites!
Flip’n Fridays – Since Flip video cameras are all the rage, this fun new meme from Cat seems like the perfect fun addition.
How to Wear a Seatbelt – Seems like something very mundane and obvious, right?  But how many of us actually wear them or put them on our …

Today, school is over and P2 comes running in the door to show me something.
P2:  “Mama, guess what – Guess What?!?! ”
Shows me a heart-shaped bracelet.
“This means *John Doe and I are R*E*A*L*L*Y gonna get MARE-EED!”
And with that she happily skipped off.

*The  names have been changed to protect the innocent.:)

If you are a regular reader here, you have heard me rumbling about some behavioural issues we have been having with P1, our bright and shiny 7 year old.  She is as smart as a whip and twice as sassy these days.  Some of that is to her benefit and some, yeah, well, not so much.  She has always been a very emotional child.  On the positive side, she can have the most tender of hearts and give you an all-encompassing hug that you can see, feel hear and taste, …

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND COMMENTS ARE CLOSED
The winner is:
Staci A.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
#90 from the combined totals from her and What’s That Smell?
Pirates off of the Play! cd would definitely be a favorite around here!

When I hear the name Milkshake, I think of something delicious and nummy yummy that slides down easy, don’t you?  Well I have a different sort of Milkshake in mind than the usual but all of the above still apply.
In case you are not familiar, let me introduce you to MILKSHAKE, one of …

Parenting is NOT for wimps.
Sometimes I feel pretty overwhelmed at the volume of things we need to be teaching our kids, each and every day.
Fostering a mindset of abundance in your children is one of the greatest gifts you can give them — especially during less than ideal economic times.  Doing so helps them see the world as full of opportunity for those willing to work diligently toward their goals.  Young people with an abundance attitude realize that wealth is not finite and …

Well, we are officially back in school….woohoo!! How do I know we are back in school? You mean other than the fact that tranquility reigns at our home until about 3pm M-F? Well, that would be because P1 came home with a reminder from her First grade English teacher that the kiddos are to read at least one book a night and then mark it off on their reading log. P1 LOVES to be able to mark off the design of the month – Oct was …

Speakaboos Releases Holiday Classics; Features Storybook Favorites Read by Celebrities, Songs, and E-Cards
All Titles Now Available on iTunes and Rhapsody
New York – December 10, 2008 – Speakaboos (www.Speakaboos.com), a publisher of exceptional digital content for children, today released its holiday classics library, featuring storybook videos of well-known holiday stories read by celebrities, as well as holiday songs and e-cards. All storybook titles are available for immediate viewing on Speakaboos.com for free, and may be downloaded for offline viewing. Additionally, the complete Speakaboos …