Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Worlds of Fantasy
I had the great pleasure of attending Disney on Ice's, Worlds of Fantasy. This was truly a fantastic show! My children sat and watched in amazement as the Cars' beloved characters of Lighting McQueen, Sally, Matter, Ramone and Flow drove all around the ice with grace. The whole time I was wondering how they did that, while my children smiled with delight.
After Cars, the graceful beauty of the Little Mermaid took the ice. The love story of The Little Mermaid was beautifully retold through music and skating. The characters gracefully moved across the ice. Ursala looked as if she was gliding on the ice. The costumes really made it feel as if you were watching the movie.
The Lion King retold the story through all it's classic songs. The creativity of the costumes were unbelievable. Pumba was just like in the movie, and the buffalo stampede was creatively executed.
At last Tinkerbell took the ice. The colors and the scenery were beautiful! With Fairies and pixie dust flying, it was a delight for all to watch. Tinkerbell's story left you with a message to be proud of yourself for your uniqueness and that everyone is important no matter how small you feel your roll may be.
Catch Disney on Ice's Worlds of Fantasy when it come to your area, you will not regret it! Tickets start as low as $16! It is currently in Southern California at the Honda Center, Anaheim from December 22- 27; Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario from December 30 - January 3; and the Long Beach Arena, January 6-10, 2010.
Visit www.disneyonice.com to see when they will be coming to your area!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas from Glasses USA
December 23: Take $25 off any order totaling over $80! Use code: almostxmas
December 24: Take $18 off any order totaling over $65! Use code: silentnight
December 25: Take 25% off any order of eyeglasses! Use code: merryxmas
http://www.glassesusa.com
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Personalized Call from Santa!
No more standing in long lines at busy malls to see Santa Claus! SantaSpeaking.com offers you live personalized phone calls from the REAL Santa Claus, in the comfort of your own home (or wherever you are traveling!). When Santa calls personally, Santa will know everything Santa Claus SHOULD know.....friends names, pets names, how they are doing in school, their favorite toys, and most certainly whether they made the Naughty or Nice list... right down to the details!
A live phone call from Santa Claus from SantaSpeaking.com offers the most exciting and memorable way to talk to Santa! Completely personalized, completely fun, and totally believable!! So make your list (and check it twice!), schedule your personal phone call from Santa for the 2009 Christmas Season today and witness the awe on your child's face when they talk to Santa. It's fun for the entire family!
AND to capture this memory of a lifetime SantaSpeaking.com will record the entire conversation between your child and Santa Claus and send you a (very cute) keepsake CD in the mail, OR we can send the MP3 to you by email so you can quickly send to all of your friends or family to hear! Don't forget to order your recording...you'll be so happy you did!
Visit www.SantaSpeaking.com
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Swanky Giveaway: Cocotier Kids
Contest open to US and Canadian residents ONLY. Contest will end at 11:59pm December 31st. If winner does not respond within 72 hours, another winner will be randomly selected.
Enter here!
Swanky Giveaway: Baby Bling Couture
Win a couture wipes case from Baby Bling Couture!!!
Contest open to US and Canadian residents ONLY. Contest will end at 11:59pm December 31st. If winner does not respond within 72 hours, another winner will be randomly selected.
Swanky Giveaway: Dizzy Daizy Creations
Contest open to US and Canadian residents ONLY. Contest will end at 11:59pm December 31st. If winner does not respond within 72 hours, another winner will be randomly selected.
Enter here!
Automated Man
Visit http://www.automatedman.com
Monday, December 07, 2009
Removeez - Get Stuff Off Your Skin!
Removeez gets stuff off of your skin naturally. Made with a blend of soothing citrus oils and plant extracts, Removeez was created to get all the hard-to-remove stuff off of your skin without using harsh cleaners or scrubbing your hands raw. It leaves your hands soft and pleasant-smelling as well (which is a BIG bonus).
I have to say, I was a bit skeptical when I first received my Removeez kit that contained a few sample bottles of the product and a bunch of testing items such as bandaids, permanent marker, temporary tattoos, tar (yes TAR....in a little plastic container), etc. All I can say is, when a company sends you items in a test kit, they better be certain their product holds up. Removeez held up and then some. Not only did Removeez remove everything in the test kit that the product claimed it could remove, it also removed something from my hands it didn't claim to remove: superglue. Just so happen that I chipped a Christmas decoration that needed to be super-glued, but then got distracted when the phone rang and ended up getting super glue on my fingers. I tried scrubbing it off with soap and water, but that didn't work. Then I remembered I had my Removeez and decided to give it a shot. It took a couple of drops of the Removeez and some coaxing, but the super glue did come off my fingers and my skin was quite thankful.
I highly recommend Removeez to one and all. It's non-toxic, free of parabens, phthalates and PPG's and is dermatologist-tested. It was created by parents (and the best children's items usually are created by parents), it actually works, smells great and a little goes a long way. Removeez makes for a great stocking stuffer and is a perfect gift for any parent, teacher or human being really on the planet. Seriously, this stuff works!
Check out Removeez at http://www.removeez.com/ to purchase Removeez or get more information about the product. Removeez is also available at Amazon.com and Fred Segal, and other select boutiques across the country.
Want to win some Removeez for yourself ('cause when you get it, you'll want to keep it for yourself and not give it away as a gift)? Post a comment why you would love to get some Removeez and we will choose a couple of random winners who will receive a FREE Removeez! Contest ends on December 18th. Winners will be notified via email. Please be sure and include your email in your response/comment!
Have the Kids Been Naughty or Nice?
You know almost everyone uses Santa as a good behavior motivator at this time of year. I have found someone to give you a little extra help. Elf on the Shelf is a clever little book and elf doll set that gives them a constant reminder to behave nicely.
This darling read aloud book explains to the children that this little elf has been sent to your home to watch and report back to Santa. Every night while the children are asleep, this magic little elf flies to the North Pole to tell Santa just how naughty or nice the children have been. And when he returns he finds a new look out point to observe from.
You may wonder how you might answer the questions that you know your little ones will ask, well you don't have to. This book has covered almost all the questions your children can come up with. The book explains that the elf cannot move or talk to the children because Santa gave him rules that he has to follow, and breaking the rules would be naughty. He also cannot be touched too much or he will lose his magic and not be able to report back to Santa. However, the children can talk to the elf and tell him what they want Santa to bring them for Christmas.
My children, 6 and 4, bought into it! They are convinced that this elf has been leaving every night to tell Santa all about their behavior. Each morning they are excited to see where the elf has moved to. One morning they got a little worried because they couldn't find him right away. My daughter asked if he was maybe giving a naughty report to Santa and is why he hasn't returned yet. This little elf is certainly keeping them on their toes!
Get yourself some extra help with Elf on the Shelf! You can buy at Barnes and Noble in store or online at www.barnesandnoble.com. This book set can also be purchased at www.amazon.com.
A Xmas Gift to Treasure Forever!
Every child needs something special to cherish from their childhood. An Adorable Kinders Rag Doll is the perfect present for you to give a child. These unique dolls are sure to delight all.
The beautifully crafted rag dolls started as a mother's dream and are now a son's legacy. Aranza made her first doll for her baby sister when she was 16 years old. She loved to create and design. She now has 3 children of her own. When her oldest son graduated High School he was determined to help his mother make these adorable dolls a success. Just when everything seemed like it was coming together, her son, Ivan passed away from an undetected heart condition. Her dream stopped there until a friend became a partner to make a dream come true and a legacy for her son.
Each Adorable Kinders Rag Doll is 100% soft and are 18 inches tall. The dolls and clothing are washable. There are 26 different, darling characters to choose from with names from A to Z. All the dolls are made in the USA.
My daughter loves her Adorable Kinders Rag Doll. She has been taking her to bed with her since her arrival. The doll is so well made. The clothes and shoes are easy for my daughter to remove and redress. Each doll has yarn for hair, and I love it! Unlike a Barbie doll, Adorable Kinders Rag Doll hair does not get knotted and ratty. The hair is so easy to care for. All you have to do is run your fingers through it and it falls back into place.
Whether you have a son or a daughter, Adorable Kinders Rag Dolls are the perfect gift. Visit www.AdorableKinders.com for a local retailer near you or to purchase one online.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Say Hello to Your New Favorite Item in the Medicine Cabinet!
Flu season is here. And it has recently gone though our house like wildfire. Fortunately I was spared, but my poor boys and husband were hit hard. I did however have a new tool that helped make things just a bit easier. The Thermofocus Family Thermometer is truly the best on the market. I have both a temporal and digital ear thermometer. Neither have been as accurate or less intrusive. Using the Thermofocus is a breeze, simply press the "happy face button" aim the red light at the forehead until the two dots align and voila the temperature has been taken without even a touch!
Thermofocus also takes the temperature of household items, aim it at the bath water to make sure it's not too hot, check baby's bottle, heated food, or even just the room temperature. We played around with the Thermofocus quite a bit before actually needing it for medical reasons, but when those fevers showed up, we were prepared.
Made in Italy, the Thermofocus is FDA approved. It uses harmless infrared technology and measures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. The unit comes with an excellent instructional DVD and also has a 2 year warranty. For more details be sure to visit the BV Medical site.
I simply can not stress how much I am loving this thermometer. It's as easy as aim and press, there are no pricey probe covers to buy and you won't have to poke, prod, or irritate an already irritated kid to get an accurate temperature.
The Thermofocus is available on Amazon.com and qualifies for free super saver shipping. Trust me when I say this is something you'll want to keep in the medicine cabinet, always and forever!
No Soup for You! Holiday Fun for the Grown Ups
Looking for a great gift to take to a party this holiday season? Or how about something fun for the hubby? Pressman's Seinfeld Trivia Game would be an excellent choice. I mean who isn't a fan of Seinfeld, right? What I love about this game is that you don't have to be a complete expert to play the game and have fun. Join Elaine, Kramer, Jerry & George as they move around the board while you answer fun trivia questions that will bring you right back to those glorious Seinfeld years of hilarity. Each trivia card has two questions on it, an easy one for the average fan and a hard one for all of you expert Seinfeld maniacs! This means everyone can play at their own levels... it's genius. Get the soup from you know who, and well, you know how it goes!
Available on Amazon.com for only $14.99, you can't go wrong! Buy two and you'll get free super saver shipping. Don't wait until The Jerk Store calls to let you know they're out of you, get your fingers on that keyboard and order up!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Kangacoo Thanksgiving Sale
Kangacoo is offering 25% off on all their designs now through Sunday, November 29th. Check out all their darling new winter clothing. Visit www.kangacoo.etsy.com.
Kangacoo is also now offering a boy's clothing line as well as sizes up to 5T to meet the requests of all her clients.
Get your little one something original this holiday, and they'll really stand out in the crowd!
Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of Fantasy
This Holiday season catch the new ice spectacular Worlds of Fantasy presented by Disney On Ice. Come and see the action packed show with all your beloved characters from Cars, Tinker Bell, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.
Get there early and experience the Disney Princess Pre-show free with the purchase of a ticket! You will be able to see enchanting ball gowns and mementos from the Disney Princess stories as well as a special appearance by a Disney Princess.
Disney On Ice will be in Southern California this Holiday season. Get your tickets for Los Angeles - Staples Center: December 17-20, 2009; Orange County - Honda Center: December 22-27, 2009; Inland Empire - Citizens Bank Arena: December 30 - January 3, 2010; and Long Beach - Long Beach Arena: January 6-10, 2010. All venues have both matinee and evening showings.
There is a special offer for all of our readers! Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for a Monday through Friday matinee show, or receive $4 off all weekend shows (4 tickets must be purchased to receive the discount) by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code MOM. This offer is not valid on rinkside or VIP seating.
Treat your family to something extra special this holiday see Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Layla Grace Update
CYPRESS, TX 77429
Layla's Prayer Team
www.laylagrace.org
http://www.twitter.com/laylagrace
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Great Gift Alert: SkyBelts, The Tweens in Your Life Will LOVE Them!
Looking for a great gift for those hard to buy for tweens in your life? Look no more, I've found the solution for those picky little people! SkyBelts are the ultimate accessory, available in 22 colors, the interchangeable wonder makes the perfect addition to any wardrobe. Easy to "operate" and comfy too, SkyBelts are available in two sizes (S/M which fits up to 32" and M/L which fits up to 42"). All belts fit the SkyBelt buckle, so once you have purchased your first belt, you can add other colors for only $12.95. After choosing your colors, be sure to pick out some SkyClips to add some personality to your gift! Made to collect/trade, SkyClips are a fun way to show your personal style. The enameled clips simply slide on and off the belt making it easy to change your SkyBelt's mood.
Looking for something with a little more pizazz? Check out the SkyBelts with bling! You can even have them customized with an initial.
Visit the SkyBelts site today and cross those tweens off of the shopping list. One stop shopping for boys, girls, and if I were you, I'd pick up a little something for myself too!
Info You Need to Know by The Toy Industry Association
With the concerns we all have with toy safety, the new testing laws, and wanting to be sure that the toys we buy for our families during this holiday season will be not only safe but loved and used by our children, I'm excited to share some new resources with you.
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is our industry's trade organization: the one that hosts Toy Fair in February in New York, and the one who has led American toy makers through the new toy safety testing laws and standards they must meet. And now, the TIA is reaching out to moms like us to help us understand how to buy safe, and great, toys. They created two websites for consumers. One is www.toyinfo.org. There's a neat video here that provides tips for shopping for safe toys and how to keep your children safe with their toys after they're home.
The site will be an ongoing source of news for parents, with regular updates. Check the home page often for new videos, to sign up for recall alerts, to learn about new safety initiatives and more!
'Tis the season to buy toys for the youngsters in your life, and TIA has another great new resource to help! A second website, found here, showcases the top toys in 11 product categories that have been nominated for the 2010 Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY). Well-recognized as the “Oscars®” of the toy industry, the coveted awards program is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To celebrate, TIA is sharing for the first time its list of finalists with you and your readers.You may want to consider using their holiday shopping list when you begin your hunt for great toys for kids this year.Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Perfect Gift for Your Young Scientist!
Have you got a young scientist on your hands? The Young Scientists Club has what you need. The Young Scientists Club has multiple award-winning science kit for your kids. These kits are geared for children 5 and over and allows them to see science happen right before their eyes.
As a former elementary school teacher with a sub credential in science, I found the Magic School Bus Going Green kit very impressive! Not only is the kit fun, but it helps children learn the scientific process and the terminology. These kits include everything you need for each experiment that is not typically found in a household. With multiple guided experiments your child is sure to learn and discover amazing things. Each experiment guides the child through the process and encourages them to record their results and draw conclusions about their discoveries. In the back of the experiment booklet there expected results and conclusions for your child to compare.
Visit The Young Scientists Club at www.kidsciencekits.com and explore. With The Magic School Bus Series, Nature Series, Let's go Science Series, The Young Scientist Series, and Adventure Science Series you are bound to find more than you can imagine for your little scientist.
Be the 3rd reader to email me at lynne@swankymoms.com and receive a free Young Scientist Kit.
Monday, November 16, 2009
HABA for the Holidays!
Ever heard of HABA? I have, and until recently I thought they were just a toy manufacturer! I had no idea they made high quality fantastically fun games as well. HABA is an amazing German company that has not sold out to cheap plastic parts and easily broken pieces. Their unique games prove to withstand the beatings of repeat play without a scratch.
We're big on games around here. In fact our game closet is a little ridiculous. We have tons and tons of games. We play tons and tons of games. My favorites are ones that involve cooperation and teamwork. Ones where my boys actually have to work together instead of "trying to win." There aren't too many of those around, so Castle Knights was really a refreshing discovery. Made for 2-4 players, ages 5-99 (I love that it goes to 99!), players use a special construction tool to build the castle towers. Really fun, really unique! Also, on sale, which makes it even better!
I recently spent some time browsing a great site that features an extensive HABA collection. Maukilo.com features only the finest European toys and has fantastic prices to boot! Their site is very easy to navigate and I love their "daily steal" which changes from day to day and features a great item with a significant discount.
You may want to alert Santa that www.maukilo.com would be a GREAT place to get some unique ideas!
Friday, November 06, 2009
Play This Way Every Day
Developed by a Doctor and mommy of twins, this "U" shaped interactive floor mat is used to encourage children and their caregivers to play a variety of exercises with theme based cards. The card decks come in subjects such as: Animals, Foods, Dress, Outside, Play, Fruits & Vegetables, Go and Home.
This educational game can be used for fun at home or professional use for teachers, speech therapists, and moms who homeschool their children. The "U" shaped mat was developed for convenience, so the child wouldn't be knealing or stepping on the cards and the clear pockets makes it easy to slip the cards in and out and protect them from getting damaged. A great way to play in an education way!
To find out more, visit www.playthisway.com
Baby Bunch
Pretty and Practical!! What an awesome gift for a new mommy! Everything baby needs when he/she arrives home from the hospital, all in one beautiful bouquet, so pretty you wont want to take it apart! Each Baby Bunch includes, one bib, one hat, one pair of mittens, two pairs of socks, one long sleeve onesie, and one long sleeve romper suit. Each item is carefully wrapped like a beautiful bud and surrounded by pretty fabric and wooden flowers and presented in a clear top, sturdy box ready for delivery. Baby Bunch will even ship and deliver your beautiful bouquet to your gift recipient along with a personal note. The Baby Bunch would also make a spectacular centerpiece for a baby shower!!
GreenSmart
I received the GreenSmart Neogreene water bottle kozy and laptop sleeve and both items are fabulous! My son uses the bottle kozy for school, it has a clip so can be easily attached to his backpack so he wont lose it. It also keeps his water nice and cool! I use the laptop sleeve, it is a great way to pack your laptop and keep it safe from damage.
GreenSmart products are made with Neogreene which is made with toxic free materials and uses 25% less electricity and 25% less petroleum to produce and the best part….it doesn’t have that awful chemical smell. Neogreene is also lightweight and waterproof!
To find out more visit www.greensmart.biz
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Sponsor: LoLo's Garden Jewelry
Visit www.etsy.com/shop/lologarden
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Teleflora Migi Bouquet
If you know someone that just delivered a beautiful baby boy or girl, check out Teleflora’s Migi bouquets!! Great bouquets for new moms!! They are so adorable, and also come with something you can use after the flowers are gone! Teleflora kindly sent me the Migi's Baby Elephant Bouquet by Teleflora and it was absolutely gorgeous!!
Teleflora has flowers for EVERY occasion and even "just because"!! Check out this amazing Halloween bouquet. Let your loved ones know you are thinking about them with a beautiful arrangement from Teleflora.
Teleflora would like to offer a 10% discount. The coupon code is: SWMIGI and is good through to the end of the year.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Pressman Game Feature: Family Fun for Everyone!
Let's start with the silly! When I first saw Ring Around the Nosy, my immediate reaction was, "Oh, I hope those masks fit on adults..." Well guess what? They do! This game is a hysterical blast and everyone we've played it with has had a ton of fun. Ring Around the Nosy can accommodate up to 4 players. Each player dons a lovely elephant mask, trunk and all. The game board is a square piece of cardboard where you lay your colored rings. Each "elephant" must use only their trunk (pretty tricky and a guaranteed laugh) to pick up their matching colored rings. The first player to pick up all 3 rings is the winner! The game is labeled for ages 5 and up, but we played with some three year olds and just modified the rules, they were able to use 2 fingers to help get the ring on and it worked just fine. The kids don't know it, but I think I might have to bring this game to the next "grown up" party we attend. I can only imagine the hilarity of it after the adults have had a few drinks...
Now for the smart! Rummikub was (and still is) one of my most all time favorite games. I remember playing it with my grandparents, parents, and friends too! Sometimes we'd play game after game for hours. I haven't played in a while, so when I saw Pressman's Rummikub for Kids I got super excited to share it with my boys, ages 5 & 8. This clever edition uses shapes, numbers & colors to help players learn sequencing which will prep them for the "grown up" version of Rummikub. There are 3 levels of play, so you can modify it to fit the needs of your children. This is a great option as my 8 year old needs more of a challenge than my 5 year old. However, if we are all playing together, we can play the "middle" version. Rummikub for Kids can be played with 2-4 players and is labeled ages 4 and up. If you are a Rummikub fan, this is a must have for your family. I love that it's a "thinking" game and really gets the brain going.
Visit the links below to purchase either of these terrific games! OH, and you might want to give Santa a heads up that either of these games would make great holiday gifts.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
EcoBuddies
EcoBuddies is moderated for safety and has safe chat features that enable parents to only let their children see and say pre-approved phrases while playing on the website. It is free for all players, but there are great benefits for users who decide to buy a membership, such as the ability to collect extra rewards, purchase special items in the game for their online character (such as a candy-apple colored electric convertible), and gain access to our top secret EcoBuddies Members Only Newsletter.
Memberships are $6.25 for one month, $28.75 for 6 months, and $44.75 for a year. To visit EcoBuddies click here: www.ecobuddies.com
Thursday, October 08, 2009
The Inconvenient Bag: SUPER SALE
My favorite shopping bags are on sale, pick some up before they are sold out! Normally $11.00, The Inconvenient Bag is offering prices as low as $5.00! I met the owner Marc Sahara a few years back and placed an order with him. My bags are still in perfect condition, and I continue to get compliments every single time I use them. Think holiday shopping, a set of these would make a fantastic gift to anyone on your shopping list!
For more info, visit:
The Inconvenient Bag