Leslie Patricelli Books for Babies and Toddlers

I enjoy sharing books with my readers that I enjoy with my son Mekhi. He and I read together every night and I started doing this before he was born. As a result, Mekhi loves to read. So much so that he is more apt to reach for book before many of his toys. I truly enjoy listening to him "read" his books. 

Two new books added to his collection are Baby Happy, Baby Sad and Higher, Higher both written by Leslie Patricelli.  I love the illustrations in the books and the simple dialogue. After reading the books with Mekhi a couple of times he actually knows them by heart so listening to him "read" is truly satisfying. In addition to the simple prose, there are a number of different objects in each illustration for Mekhi to identify. These books are certainly a wonderful addition to my son's library and assist me in my preparation for teaching him how to read. Yes, I know he will be two next month but I believe that it is never too early to instill a love of reading in our children.  Next year this time perhaps he will actully be a reader! 

Eggo 'Bake Shop Twists

Although I am no domestic diva, there is one thing that I really enjoy - baking. I love whipping 

up a batch of cookies or baking cakes. Unfortunatly, my schedule does not always permit me to take the time needed to make homemade goodies.  I was thrilled when I learned about Eggo Bake Shop Twists.   These pastries filled with apple or strawberry are really delicious. It only takes a little over two minutes to prepare them and you have soft pastries to enjoy with your family. 

I tried both varieties and immediately thought that they would be an excellent addition to a brunch get together in my home - yes, I was inspired to entertain - or adding these pastries to our weekend breakfast menu.  Since I am working on watching my weight, these are not everyday treats (I find having sweet things triggers my sugar addiction) but I highly recommend them for a quick, easy, tasty treat to share with family and friends. 

I must extend a big thank you to Mom Central for giving me the opportunity to try this product and indirectly encouraging me to open my home to friends for brunch! 

The Household Guide to Dying

I know the title of this book is enough to make you want to run away right? Especially if you are a mother. The thought of dying before your children are adults and can take care of themselves is horrific. Unfortunately, in The Household Guide To Dying by Debra Adelaide, this is exactly what the main character, Delia is dealing with. Delia is a writer of of a column "Dear Delia" which I would describe as the sarcastic Martha Stewart's guide to domesticity. With acerbic wit she responds to questions submitted by her readers. Along the way it is revealed that she is dying and in her proclivity for domesticity and list writing she begins writing lists. A list for her husband to care for her children, a list for the future wedding of her daughter - future as in at least 15 years down the road.

List writing seems to help Delia work through issues and Delia decided that she needs to write "The Household Guide to Dying." For Delia, there are some things that she needs to resolve head on and writing is not enough. The book explores her relationships, past history and her future. This is a bittersweet read and I am looking forward to completing it because the air of mystery is killing me. Please don't let the title fool you into thinking this is a morbid book, it is a beautifully written, worthwhile read.

Thank you to Mother Talk for the opportunity to review this book.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

My son and I watched the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Pirates Treasure DVD and had a ball. I love the quirky characters and Mekhi is completely enchanted too. We don’t watch the show on a regular  basis so it is nice to have a DVD that we can watch at our leisure. I think that I am most impressed by the music on the DVD, all of the shows are entertaining and  teach valuable life lessons but the songs summarize the lessons of the show. 

This DVD will provide hours of entertainment for you and your child. It also includes 5 regular episodes and two new bonus shows including one that has not been released on the television series.  An additional bonus are the extra activities that we can utilize for continued enjoyment. Unfortunately for us, my son has misplaced the remote for the DVD so the extra activities will have to be unlocked when we locate the remote! Overall I enjoyed the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy Pirates Treasure DVD and certainly recommend that you add it to your collection.  Mekhi and I send a big thank you to Mom Central for giving us the opportunity to review this delightful DVD.

Nature's Source

I am always on the lookout for natural cleaners. I have a toddler and like to use products that do not contain harmful chemicals. When given the chance to review Nature's Source natural bathroom cleaner by the Family Review Network I had to take it. One of the things that appealed to me about Nature's Source is that it is made by the same company as Scrubbing Bubbles. I love SC Johnson's Scrubbing bubbles and a natural version would be the best of both worlds.

I have to say that I am not disappointed. Nature's Source cleans as well as Scrubbing Bubbles in a natural formula. I love the floral scent and I use it to clean all of the bathrooms in my home, including Mekhi's bathroom. Here are a few more facts from the website:

Nature's Source products use plant-based, biodegradable cleaners and they have the cleaning power of Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles, brand names you already know and trust. They clean naturally and effectively, leaving nothing behind but a fresh scent. The cleaners are more than 99 percent natural, packaged in recyclable bottles, partly produced by renewable energy from a local landfill, and recognized for safer chemistry by the Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) program.

Gotta love it. I highly recommend this brand, I think that you will love it too!

Disney on Ice

As a child one of the things I truly enjoyed was ice skating. When it was cold enough for the ice to freeze at the Mill Pond, we would skate there. At other times we would go to our local indoor skating rink or skate at a county park. I had my own skates and although I never took formal lessons, I was a very proficient skater. Because of my love for skating my mother took me to live performances, she did not enjoy the cold but was willing to watch others skate. I want to share the joy of live performances and skating with my son, he is too young to venture out and skate yet but he would love to see a live performance.

If you are like me and want to share the joy with your child, Disney on Ice is just the place for you to experience skating and performances with the beloved characters of Disney. Mom Central has partnered with Disney on Ice to offer you special discounts.



Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels*. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other restrictions may apply.
Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.

Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM code are as follows:

Houston
Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey
April 15-April 19

Dallas/Ft Worth
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
March 18-March 29

Sunrise/Miami
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 26-April 5

Toronto
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 18-March 22

Kansas City
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
April 1-April 5

Denver
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
March 12-March 15

Phoenix
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
April 9-April 12

Chicago/Rosemont
Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic
Sept 8-Sept 13

To learn more about Disney On Ice shows touring the country this year, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ and visit ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

I love bubble baths, always have and always will. As a little girl I would ask for bubbles in my tub and have fond memories have making beards and "shaving." I suppose I got that idea from watching my father shave and had loads of fun imitating him during bath time. I know that my mother relied heavily on Johnson's to ensure that my baths were playful. She also used the shampoo on my hair - remember no more tears?

This year Johnson and Johnson is celebrating its 50th anniversary and I know are a beloved company for millions of us the world over. I am continuing the tradition of using Johnson and Johnsons with my son. As a matter of fact the first "bath" my son received was at the hands of Daddy in the hospital and he used this brand.

I have been trying to share the joy of bubble baths with my son but he is not quite ready. He screams like a banshee when I add bubbles to his tub. For now, I maintain my memories and use Johnson's head to toe foaming wash to ensure my son is nice and clean. I will continue to convince my son that adding Johnson's Baby Bubble and Bath will make bath time even more fun. If you have a chance, check out this video celebrating the 50th anniversary. I thank Johnson's and Mom Central for giving me the opportunity to review the products.